Chapter 8

I heard Burt get up and get ready for bed. When Rocky came out, he leaned against the wall, not saying anything. It was time to tell Rocky about whom I saw in the saloon this morning and what I heard. “Rocky, I saw Mike in a saloon this morning while having a beer. You remember Mike, don’t you?”

Rocky sat near where we could talk without Burt hearing what we were saying. “Of course I do. What did he have to say?”

“I didn’t make my presence known to him. He was trying to recruit a man to help him rob the bank. You told me one time how your sideline business plan worked. I believe Mike was using the same plan. It didn’t sound as if it was going to happen too soon. The town is going to be our town and our bank. I don’t want anything like that to go down.”

Rocky was silent, mulling over what I just said. “Kid, I don’t either. What can we do to prevent it?”

“Rocky, I’ve already done a little. I saw Steven right after and told him what I had heard. Some of it was made up, and I said I was recruited once, just as I heard this person doing. Steve said he would warn the Sheriff by saying he heard a rumor and told him he might want to look into it and watch out for that happening at the bank.”

“Son-of-a-Bitch, this is my past catching up with me!”

“Not necessarily. I said this happened to me while wandering alone before I met you. I had stopped, and these men came and tried recruiting me. I didn’t want to do this, so I got up after these men went to sleep and managed to take my two horses and ride away. Your name was never mentioned, so you shouldn’t worry about it.”

“Thanks, Kid, that is good to know. You think of everything, don’t you?”

“For my friends, I try to. Let’s hang it up. We are traveling home tomorrow.”

We organized our things, loaded our suitcases, hooked them to our saddles, and mounted. Burt Weatherly held up his hand. “Wait a minute, you two, let me go into town and buy you breakfast. You said you weren’t leaving until 10:00. I want to impress on you both that, in one way or another, this is a good place to live. I’m talking to you mainly, Rocky, from what I see of the Kid and his plans, he’ll become the top dog in town in just a few years.”

We started toward town. Rocky paused in front of the big trees where I had suggested Rocky build on that plot of land. “Kid, the only good place to continue Jenkins Road is where those trees grow. That Lawyer of yours is damned smart in seeing that. I’ll have to keep Mable satisfied with another location.”

“Rocky, this woman of yours sounds like something wonderful. How did you meet?”

“Rocky turned to me, “Kid, shall we tell Burt about Mable and Atea and what they did for us?”

“Sure, I’m proud of their actions.”

“Okay Burt, the quick story goes like this. I met Mable in town a few times, and when the Kid and I went to town, we stayed with her. It wasn’t often, for the town was four hours away. Back at the ranch, I had this Indian woman living in a tepee with her son and a found white child she was mothering. That’s the Kid’s woman. Atea and he are marrying as soon as we get back home. Anyway, four rustlers were cutting our herd and going to run them off.

“That’s the background. Mable had never been to the ranch. Atea has been living with Mable for a couple of years. Just a sort few weeks ago, Mable was teaching Atea more of our language, and such as how to live as a white woman. I sent Kid to town to escort the two to the ranch. Atea was fifteen at the time.

“While he was gone, I spotted rustlers out with the cattle. The leader saw me and thundered into the yard. I braced and killed him as soon as he dismounted. I killed him, but he tagged me in the leg. I managed to crawl into some bushes, hiding up until Kid and the two women arrived in Mable’s buggy.

“The kid carried me out of the way to the far side of our cabin. Another one of the rustlers saw people in the yard, including the women entering the cabin. The closest one headed for the yard, and Kid awaited him. The Kid was just a bit faster. The other two, still mounted on horses, made a run for the cabin after seeing there were women there, and they busted inside.

“The kid and I expected the worst, but then we heard a shotgun go off, and soon after, a small gun went off. The Kid entered, and right before him was one of the outlaws blown in half. That was Atea with the shotgun, just as Kid had trained her.

“When this dead man knocked the other man down when falling, this other one tried to get up. Mable had a two-shot pocket gun and killed him. We sent for the marshal, who came the next day and told us to bury all four. That’s what our women are like.”

“Burt, don’t think it was like this all the time. Mable has taught school and married a relatively well-to-do man. They traveled the continent with friends in Spain, Italy, and France for years. They spent summers in Nova Scotia with someone she went to school with when she was young. She was welcomed down South before any hint of the war here in the States.

“Atea has been living with her for more than two years now. I believe both will soon have friends here in this town.”

Burt stood there amazed. “I guess I will keep silent about how handy they are with a weapon.” I laughed at him.

We had an extra tasty breakfast. Rocky and I turned our horses and saddles in at the Livery Stable. As we came out, Rocky pulled out his wallet. “Burt, I want you to have this.” He handed Burt a draft for two hundred fifty dollars.

“What the hell is it? I have never seen anything like this. How do I get any money out of it?”

“It’s the modern way of carrying money around instead of coins. You take that into the bank across the street, and they will cash it and give you the amount as written. Come on, I’ll go with you while they explain it better than I can. You had better leave some of it in your account if you have one.”

“Oh, I have one, and I could use a little more walking around money. Have you got time before the stage leaves?”

“We still have almost an hour.” We went into the bank, and Weatherly put two hundred dollars into his account.

We were just coming down the bank steps when we met Rocky’s former puncher and robber, Mike. Mike was startled and shocked to see Rocky. Another man was close behind him, and he and Mike were together. I glanced around and saw no horses for them to ride.

Rocky grabbed an arm and halted Mike, the former puncher. “Hello Mike, let’s talk. Your business can wait while we do.”

I took Weatherly by his arm. “They are old friends of Rocky’s. We’ll let them talk for a minute. Rocky will be along soon.” We continued up the street until we were before Sam’s business. Weatherly went inside, and I turned to watch Mike and Rocky talk. I could see that the conversation was very heated.

They were ten minutes into talk talking when the sheriff came up the street and said, “Hi, Rocky,” and went into the bank. It took a few more minutes before Rocky left Mike and came across the street to where Weatherly and I were waiting.

Rocky explained, “I’m glad I had a chance to talk to Mike. We used to punch cows together when a young sprout. Mike said he was drifting through town and wanted to know what the bank was like. After we talked, Mike said he was never coming through here again. I told him I was sorry to hear that.

“It doesn’t look like his life has been very happy since I saw him last. I told him he was a good puncher and there were cattle outfits all over the west, and I told him to pick one somewhere else because I didn’t know of any in the area.”

“Rocky, I never heard you speak of him.”

“Just as well for all of us. Here comes the stage. Burt, I don’t know how long it will be before I see you again, but you will see me some time with or without Mable.”

“Don’t say that. I want to meet your wife-to-be and Kid, I want to meet your bride, too. She used a shotgun. How old was she again?”

“Old enough.” Our suitcases were tied to the top of the stage. Soon, we were jammed inside. I hope that the stage wouldn’t have as many passengers after the next stop.

Two nights of layover took us to Mable and Atea’s. Daylight was longer, so we traveled many more miles in a day than we had coming down. We reached there at eight in the morning after starting early and had been on the road for three hours when we stepped off the stage. The town was up and bustling on a beautiful, sunshiny morning, and we met Marshal Brooks coming from his office.

“Hey, you two, I figured you would return this week. Nothing will keep you away from the women for very long. How was the trip?”

“Long and boring, the same as every ride on a stage. Anything new we should know about?”

“There is. Come back to the office, I sent out telegrams on those reward posters I had of the outlaws. I got back a hefty amount of bounty money. Not only on the two outlaws, you shot, and a goodly amount on the two your women wiped out. I have the amounts in my ledger, and I’ll distribute them.

“This gang has been around for years and racked up severe crimes and wanted posters, hence a lot of bounty money. The outfit’s boss didn’t have the highest money listed on his wanted poster as the outlaw the Kid downed. Kid, you draw the most money. Anyway, these two robbed a mine where they killed the owner.

“Another big ranch was rustled, with a herd of seven hundred head of cattle being driven off. There, those two were responsible for killing two of the kids, one fourteen and the other fifteen, riding with the older family members trying to save their herd. The Cattle Association put up most of that money. Would it be okay with Mable if I came up at about noon, got all of this settled and entered into my ledger?”

“Yeah, see us at Mable’s. That would give us time to tell them about our trip. Say, I posted a few notices on some of the boards around town about selling my ranch. Have you heard anything?”

“Yeah, some interest. Three different people are interested in it. One is here from England. He is a remittance man with a family. The ranch that has also been buying your heifers, he’s interested. One person into my office and was asking about it, and I don’t know. He checks in daily, trying to determine when you will be here. Maybe you should auction it off?”

“That’s a thought.”

We headed for Mable’s house, and Rocky felt confident enough to open the door and walk in with me behind him. She was in the kitchen making a cake. Rocky planned to come up behind her, but she must have felt his presence, so she looked over her shoulder.

I left them there, searching for Atea, and found her. She was changing sheets on her bed. “Does my little Indian Maiden have a kiss, for her Brave?”

“Yes, I do, and more––much more!” Atea pulled me onto the bed and got right on top of me, kissing me many times.

“Hey, let me up. Rocky and I have a lot to tell you what I found out about who killed my Pa. There are six hundred and forty acres I own or did. I’m giving some of it away. I think you will understand why when I explain. We have a massive parcel of open range with just a few cattle on it. Rocky wants to move down there and be with us. I told him I would give a house lot for him and Mable to build a new home.

“I plan on building a shop to make wheels and repair wagons. If you want to make moccasins, I will build you an extra room. We’ll build a home to bring up a bunch of papooses if that is what you decide. The town there is twice the size of this town and has a lot more going on. They even have a concert hall for theater plays, singers, and entertainers of all kinds that book shows. It will be better than being on a ranch far from town like we are here.”

“I know, but I loved the ranch and growing into a woman for you. I was thrilled with you until you and Mable decided for me to leave and come down off the ranch where I couldn’t see or be with you as often.”

“Yes, but we wanted you to be the same as other white women. Someday, we can even travel across the country to either coast. Did you know there is an ocean if you travel east and a different one if you travel west? The train station is not two miles from where I will build you the most beautiful home you have ever seen.”

“I know you will, but I would be happy if you only put up a tepee for us to live in.”

“Atea Love, do you think Karen and Jack would go with us? I’m going to miss them both. She was your mother for many years, and Jack is very proud of his big sister. I helped bring him into the world, so we must have some rights to keep him with me.”

“Oh, I hope they will. Is it too far to take the tepee poles with us to build it again?”

“There will be poles ready to put up a tepee when we arrive. I arranged to have them cut to the length that we need, and I’m hoping that with them ready to put up, if she will decide to come with us.”

“Kid, I’ll make you coffee. Are you going home to the ranch today?”

“Yes, Rocky is selling his ranch, and we just found out he has three parties interested in buying it. You can see why we are so excited to move when I tell you about what I have been up to.”

“You are going to your old home?”

“I am, but I’m not positive Rocky will be with me. He wants to move, but won’t go if Mable doesn’t go with him. Love does that to a person.”

“If I said I wouldn’t go, would you stay here?”

“Atea, I’m counting on you in love enough with me to consider not going is an option. I own a tremendous amount of land, and it’s a great place to be in business where I can become a wheelwright. Many farms are not far away with all kinds of wheeled wagons and equipment. There is a railroad where I can get everything we need to build these wheels.

“There will be a Blacksmith Shop next to my business that I can use. The Blacksmith has three daughters right around your age for you to have friends.”

“Kid, I’m going with you. I was sure you loved me as much as I did you. Are the girls as pretty as me?”

“I didn’t notice, Atea.”

Rocky came wandering into the kitchen, looking for the coffee he smelled. “Mable is getting dressed and will be right out.”

Atea laughed. “Mable was dressed this morning.”

“Yeah, I know.” He was grinning. “Atea, has Kid told you about his property and what he will do with it?”

“Some, but not much, and he said there were some girls my age next to where we will be living. I’ll love that. Are you and Mable going with us?”

“She is considering it. I told her we could have a nice plot of land to build a home. I want to go.”

“Good, we will all be together.”

Mable poured herself coffee when she came into the kitchen. “Kid, tell me about the town we will live in?”

“I don’t know everything. I left when I was fifteen, and we were there for such a short time. I saw a hall where they put on shows and entertainers, booking shows for the people. The town is twice the size of the one you live in now.

“I’ve met the Sheriff and engaged a lawyer to handle my legal needs. I didn’t think to ask if there was a court, but I did see a doctor’s shingle. Much of the land is settled and has now become a farmer’s town. Several farmers have land and grow produce just outside the village limits. There is a railroad less than two miles from the center of town. My property is close to the station. The property is on a road named Jenkins Road.

“I think you will have to book a room in the hotel or one of the boarding houses until Rocky and I build homes for you to live in. I will urge Karen and Jack to live with us on the nearby property. Atea grew up in a tepee, and she and I can live with Karen and Jack until our homes are built. I have already arranged to have the poles cut.