Chapter 2

Patty cried when I told her I had to go home. We had become close. I guess I was her new father figure. Sheila didn’t say anything, but I could tell she wanted me to stay as well. Nina had a minute alone with me. “You’re a damned fool Randy if you leave. Sheila is perfect for you.”

“I know, but I can’t let my ranch go to hell. I need to be there. I’m way overdue as it is. My neighbors will be extremely worried. Nina, don’t say anything, but I plan on being back here in another month to see how things are going. I feel like I’ve pushed you and Sheila into something and I’m hoping it will be a smooth transition for you. You must remember your family knows nothing of your plans and may object.”

“No they won’t, they may not like it, but they will follow my lead as head of family. That’s just the way it is.”

“Ah, Nina, there is more than just family involved here. Sheila and Patty are too. I don’t want one of your kids unhappy to be out here in the wild. Say one of your girls is unhappy and she finds some man to run away with. That could be the death of her and that would make you feel really bad.”

“I see your point. I’ll try not to demand. Maybe you could meet with the whole family before you leave.”

“I’ll plan on it. Now, how long before Sheila can be left alone?”

“She should have someone here all the time for the next three days.”

Okay, I’ll shanghai somebody going by and pay them to stay until we or I get back.”

“I guess you know what you are doing.”

The next morning I was getting the team hooked up. Nina did most of the lifting and managed to get the harnesses on the horse without me lifting much. She had insisted. I drove the team around front ready to pull out onto the trail. Nina and Sheila were inside. Sheila was arguing that she would be fine and for Nina to go along. I got down off the wagon and was sitting there on the front step.

I heard a horse coming slowly along headed for town. “Montana, what are you doing?”

“Brad Bricknell is drunk and nothing is getting done, so I took the day off. I’m almost out of chawing tabacy. Figured I wouldn’t be missed. How’s the woman?”

“Mending well. Fever’s down. Say, I need you to do something. The nurse needs to go to town and I’m driving her, but she won’t let Mrs. Pierson stay alone. Would you keep her company?”

“Me ... me after the Bricknell crew shot her? You’re crazy. She wouldn’t have nothing to do with me.”

“Step down and we’ll see. You had breakfast? I think there is a hank of side-meat left and there are always eggs.”

“That’s mighty tempting. Go ahead and ask. I was just looking for excuse to head to town.”

“Sheila, you don’t have anything against Montana do you? He’s hungry and I offered him breakfast. He can hang around until I get back.”

“Of course he can. Nina, you get going to town. I’ve seen Montana going by and he’s stopped to talk sociable like. Montana, sit down. Patty, you’re the cook this morning. I’ll sit and visit.”

“Ma’am, I’m real sorry you got shot.”

“It hurt some, but I’m on the road to getting well. Randy, take all the time you need, I’m sure I’m in good hands.”

After Nina and I had the team trotting along for awhile, I said, “I think it has been long enough and about now Montana is already in love. Sheila sure grows on a person.” I got a disgusted look from Nina.

A couple of miles further along, Nina grinning, asked, “How long did it take for you to fall in love with Sheila?”

I grinned, “About the same length of time as I said it would take Montana.”

The sheriff saw me drive up and hitch to the tie-rail. Nina stepped down telling me she was going to round up her five kids and I was to meet her at her place. She pointed to an alley. “You’ll see it when you get beyond the regular buildings.”

The sheriff sauntered over and asked how the widow was. “She’s good this morning. She went through a spell of fever and I worried some that she wouldn’t pull through.”

“Somebody watching her today?”

“Yeah, Montana came along and said he would sit with her. We need supplies and I came on in. Nina wants to talk to her kids while we are here. I also want to go into the bank. I see it across the street. How’s the banker? Is he honest?”

“Too honest. The bank is a little over extended, but solvent. I don’t know if he has much money to lend out.”

“That’s okay, I wasn’t looking for a loan. You said there was a livery stable in town. Where’s that at?”

“Down this street and to the left. That’s the west side of town where most of the area ranchers have holdings. Bricknell is the only rancher out the widow’s way. You were going to tell me a little more about yourself.”

The sheriff wasn’t really asking me if I was honest, but then maybe he was. “Sure, my life’s an open book. I own a little ranch a couple of hundred miles south of here, at a place called Surcingle Valley. There’s three other ranchers in the valley. Maybe you’ve heard of it.”

“The name’s familiar. One of the ranchers is named Boyd as I recall.”

“No Boyd that I know of. There is a Borden, though, fifty or so, and has a family of five kids.”

“That’s the one.” The sheriff was pretty damned sharp. I was too. I had just verified I actually knew the valley.

While we were talking, I saw Nina with a young woman and young man come out the back of the store and head down the alley. Both were short and stocky. “Well, I won’t hold you up. Are you hanging around long?’

“Nope, heading back soon. I’m sticking at the widow’s until she can manage on her own. The least I can do for her sewing me up. Say, she said when her husband was killed his revolver was never returned to her. Any idea what happened to it?”

“It’s in my office. I’ll put it under the wagon seat before you leave.”

“Thanks, she might need it. She certainly knows how to use it.”

“You got that right.”

I went into the store and gave the clerk the list of goods I needed. “That the Pierson wagon you come to town on?”

“It is.”

“If you’re ordering for her, it’s cash money.”

“It is. Something you should orta keep in mind, she’ll be bringing in a load of potatoes and such in a week or two. If you want them I’ll tell her to get cash money rather than credit.”

“But she has an account run up and she ain’t got no man to do for her. I can’t keep a widow woman on the books.”

“There must be another business in town that deals in turnips and melons and potatoes and squash. The beans she has go with the beef every one eats. I’ll tell her to find out.”

“But then she won’t pay her bill at all.”

“Hey, I was just joshing you. I’m going to pay her bill before I leave. I think she said it was $47.17. That’s correct isn’t it?”

“Yes.”

“You might give her good credit for her produce, though. I’m coming through here next spring and I’ll ask to make sure you did. Besides that, the sheriff is giving her gun back, and I know she knows how to use it.”

“I heard about that. Mister, I’ll treat her fair, I promise.” I smiled saying to put the order together and I would pay and load it when I finished my business in town.

I headed across the street to the bank. I went inside and asked of the teller if I could see the banker. I was ushered into his office and was introduced. Banker Simpson looked a little harried. “If you’re looking for a loan, I can’t loan out more than a hundred dollars and I have to have good collateral even then.”

“I’m not here for that. I have a question. Do you ever sell paper on a loan you have made?”

Simpson perked up. “Maybe, that is if it was in default, I might. What loan are you referring to?”

“Let’s talk about this a little before I say. The word is that you may never get back the interest owed on this particular loan and very lucky if you get the loan itself back. I might work with you a little so it isn’t a total loss to the bank. I hate it when a bank is a little shaky.”

“This bank isn’t at all shaky. We don’t have too much capital, but we could cover all of our accounts if need be.”

“But you would feel better if you had a loan like I described paid off wouldn’t you?”

“Certainly. I only have two loans that are in default. I have a feeling you are referring to the Brad Bricknell property.”

“That’s the one I am interested in. Do you have a description of the property? I’ve never even looked at the ranch.”

“I could show you the description and the account if I thought you are serious.”

“I’m serious and if I purchase the paper, I might consider moving to the area. I was just talking to the sheriff and he knows where I’m from. You must have heard about the trouble Mrs. Pierson had a few days ago. I’m sure she would speak for me. She’s a fine upstanding person.”

“She is, but she is a widow with no man.”

“But she does own a whole section of land and she hasn’t been in here to the bank asking for a loan. Her husband has been dead for six months, so she must be solvent.”

“She owes the general store.”

“No, she doesn’t. I was just talking to the owner. Also, she will be bringing in wagon loads of produce to sell. That will take her through the winter. But let that slide and talk about this account Bricknell has with the bank.”

“I’ll get the description.” I received more than the description. Simpson had ridden over the entire ranch when the loan was applied for. I spent over an hour listening to him. We covered the buildings, which weren’t much, and what the range was like. It got real quiet when I asked about water.

“There is plenty of water, but Bricknell hasn’t filed on it because he didn’t have the fee. The bank was waiting to see if he paid off the loan. If we foreclosed, I was going to file on it and it would help the bank sell the property. I even have the description of the water. There is water enough on the ranch except in a dry year so I didn’t feel it was imperative because the water is contained within the boundary of the land he claims.

“Okay, let’s talk money. The amount of the original loan that Bricknell took out is a given. According to your figures, Bricknell paid down the loan about $900 dollars. If I paid you what the original loan was then the bank hasn’t really lost any money, has it?”

“But that loan was taken out five years ago.”

“I understand that, but remember I’m talking cash money here, paid to you in gold the day after tomorrow. I’m going down to the livery stable and buy me a horse. You think it over and give me your answer when I return.”

“You’re pushing awfully fast.”

“I know I am, but I have to leave town this week. I’m ten days late held up by an injury.”

“What’s the injury?” I pulled up my shirt and showed him. It was red and terribly ugly. Simpson shuddered when he saw what it looked like.

“The sheriff know about this?”

“Of course, he saw it when it was worse than this. It is almost healed up and I’m ready to ride. Uh, I want this kept quiet. Nobody needs to know my business. You may ask the sheriff what he thinks of me, but no details. If you want to check up on Mrs. Pierson’s credit, you may ask what her status is at the general store.”

I left the bank and found the livery stable. The liveryman had seven horses for sale. They all looked decent. I had him put them into a corral and I walked in watched them circle. I spent a half hour at this. The pretty chestnut was priced the highest, but I knew he wasn’t the best. I had my eye on an ugly grey gelding, but paid the least attention to him. I said I wasn’t interested in the chestnut and the two small fillies. “Set the same price on the four remaining and let me take my pick.”

The halter came with the grey and I left the chagrined owner knowing I had bested him as I led the mount away.

Now I went down the alley and found Nina and her family. The oldest boy spoke, “We want to talk to Mrs. Pierson before we decide.”

“Fair enough. This is a big decision for you and you should look into everything. You can ride in the wagon when your mama and I leave town today. Bring some blankets because you won’t have time to return until tomorrow. If you reach an agreement, you will have full use of the wagon and the team. You know if your house here doesn’t belong to anyone, you could tear it down for the salvage.”

“We have already discussed that we would.”

I asked Juan, the oldest boy, to go purchase a couple of girths for my saddle because Sheila said she had to cut both to get the saddle free of my dead horse. I headed for the bank, telling the Gonezalas family that I had one stop and maybe two, before I was ready to go.

Simpson took my deal. Not only that, he had sketched out a description of the water source. I was going to ask Montana to put up corner markers sometime early tomorrow and I was going to have them recorded making my filing legal. I handed Simpson five gold pieces earnest money and said I would be back with the rest of the money within 48 hours. He was almost dancing when I headed for the store.

We had a little problem at the store. I settled up for what I purchased today and I settled up Sheila’s bill. The Gonezalas’ family carried everything out to the wagon. The store owner held up the two Mexicans young people who worked for him, telling them he would fire them if they didn’t return to work.

The girl spoke. “Mr. Samuel, my Mama wanted a picnic and she is caring for Mrs. Pierson so we won’t be in until tomorrow afternoon. If you find someone to replace us, it has been nice working for you, but Mama comes first.” Soon I wheeled the wagon around in the center of the street heading east. We were loaded with goods and Mexicans. Oh, and an ugly grey horse was tied to the wagon.

Rosa was singing “Lorena” and José was playing on his guitar when we drove up to the homestead. Sheila and Patty were standing in the doorway when they heard us coming down the trail. Montana was leaning on the corner of the house. Nina did the introductions. Josephina and Rosa were kind of roly-poly like their mother. Teresa, the youngest was slim as were one of the two boys. Nina organized the unloading.

I motioned to Montana and led him away from the house. “How are things over to the ranch?”

“Gone to hell. I guess I got to find me another place to live out my days. Cookie is about ready to run off. Bricknell sells one critter a week to the butcher and the proceeds he gets goes for drink. The boy and I take care of the stock that’s around the barn. We’re down to half pay and lucky to get that.”

“What’s half pay?”

“$10 a month.”

“Would you hang around a spell if your wages went back up to $20?”

“Sure as hell would. What do I have to do for it?”

“About the same as you have been doing except for one thing. I need someone to put markers up around the big spring and some land around it. I’m filing on it and it needs markers to be legal.”

“What are you up to?”

“This can’t get out just yet, but I bought up the paper the bank held on the Bricknell ranch. I got to leave the day after tomorrow and it will be a month or more ‘till I get back. I’ll take over the ranch then.”

“You’d keep me on for certain?”

“For certain.”

“How do I know where to put the markers?”

“I have a sketch that the banker drew to say where and he made out a paper for each marker with my name on it. A marker is stones piled up and visible with the paper under the top one.”

“I know. I’ve seen enough of them in my time. There is plenty stone around so I won’t have to lug them far. Hell, I’ll bet I can get it done tonight. I’ll ride over and tell you when it’s done. I got one question for you. What in hell are you doing with them Mexicans?”