Chapter 1

I lay reflecting on my life before I rolled out of my blankets at daylight. Old Joe was nestled in a little hollow he had carved out on the ground across the fire from me. We had been taking our time traveling for a few days and we were somewhere north of Medicine Bow and near Casper, Wyoming, that’s all I knew.

I was headed for a small ranch owned by a friend of mine, Ronald Pickwell. He and I had been in the War Between the States together. I was a captain and he had been a second lieutenant under me. He had raved about his ranch holdings and about his young wife. I was searching for directions to the ranch when I arrived in Laramie a few days ago. I found not only directions, but a guide as well. My guide was the older man sitting across the fire in camp this morning.

When Ron and I parted at the end of the war, he made me promise that if I found things in Texas not to my liking when I arrived home, I should join him in Wyoming. I hung around Texas for a couple years after getting home. Pa had died while I was in the war, leaving my younger brother and my ma alone to manage the home place. They were glad to see me at first, but my being there quickly soured when they learned I had fought for the south and not for the union. Typical Ma, she accepted it and soon, brother Sam did as well.

Texas had sided with the south and Jeff Davis, but Pa had been for the Union. He and Ma always supposed I fought with that side. When I headed east to sign on, I joined up with those of us who were Texan. I was raised to the rank of Captain almost immediately. I was glad Pa had died, believing I went north and what he assumed. He would have been disappointed if he had known otherwise.

While I was off fighting, my brother Sam married an attractive woman, Marcy Witherspoon. Her family from New Hampshire arrived before the first carpetbaggers. They were a bunch of pinched-lipped bean counters out to get rich. They had offered little to the bereaved widow woman who owned the ranch next to ours. Her man was killed in the war and there was little help to run a ranch. She didn’t have much choice except to take their offer. She and her husband had been friends of mine since I was a sprout. Needless to say when I got home and found out about it, the neighbor being treated badly by this new outfit, it didn’t sit well with me.

Sam had become enamored with the new woman who arrived in town. He was totally under her spell and she soon accepted his proposal of marriage. Her family was fast taking over our little town and became a power in the politics. Of course by marrying Sam, a native, this led credence to their advancing ambitions.

Returning home I worked along beside my brother. Riding and roping the same as I did before I went away. During the first year home, I twice got into fist fights with Sam’s two brothers-in-law when they called me a rebel. I have to admit I whipped their butts and had to put a gun on them to keep from being killed when they braced me later.

I stayed out of town as much as possible, but I would get a thirst every so often and would head for the closest saloon. This was a saloon my brother’s in-law seldom frequented, but they came in after me one evening. I guess you could say those Yankees grew a yellow stripe down their backs all of a sudden. That was when they volunteered to crawl out from under the saloon’s bat wings and across the street to their mounts. Let’s just say they volunteered when I gave them a choice of crawling or drawing against my .44 Navy pistol.

Blood hadn’t thinned between me and my brother. It was Sam who warned me that I was being set up at the local saloon. I was ready for it when it went down. It wasn’t long after this happened, that Ma asked me to leave town. She knew I would be either killed or kill one of her daughter-in-law’s family. Either way it would bring more trouble down on her and she had had enough with Pa dying and me being in the war.

One other little thing that was bothersome. Sam’s wife was twitching her butt around me when Sam wasn’t nearby. She was a well set up woman and if Sam hadn’t been my brother, I might have given her a tumble. Ma suspected, but didn’t bring it out where I could see it until one evening. She just cautioned me to be careful around Marcy.

Ma laid it on me, “Chance, us Baldwins never fought amongst ourselves. You and Sam could be the first. Don’t you be looking at Sam’s wife, she is pure trouble. I fear for your brother. Just to make sure you don’t get cross purpose with him over her, I want you should leave.

“Your name is on the ranch here, the same as mine and Sam’s. If anything ever happens to me, you get my share. Sam won’t get it and he is okay with that. It is just too bad you two brothers can’t work together, but I know it won’t happen while the Witherspoons are a power in the county.

“I haven’t got any money to give you Chance, but I could tell you where to get some. You got to be careful, though. Coming out of the war the way you have and what you were doing when in it, I’m sure you can figure how to come up trumps.”

“No robbing banks, Ma. Too many other people have money in it. If it was just the Witherspoons, I’d do it.”

“What I had in mind for you was to get your hands on some of theirs before it got to the bank. Them’ll be driving up to Kansas with a herd of cattle in another week. It’ll take them a month and some to get to Abilene. Course our ranch will have a few head with their herd, but that’ll be your cut of the cattle we own now. Ours will be a small herd, but it’ll give you a start in life somewhere else. Take all the herd money, theirs and ourn. It’ll be just payment for the trouble they’ve caused you.”

“Sam know about this?”

“No, not yet, but I’ll let him know sometime in the future. He loves that fool woman he married, but isn’t so taken with her father and brothers.”

“I’ll pack up and take off then. Ma, I don’t know when I’ll be seeing you, but you’ll always be in my heart.”

“You’ll be in mine too, son. I haven’t much cared what happens to me since your Pa died. I’m glad you made it home from the fighting and I thank the Lord for you getting back whole. You take care now. Be good and be honest. That is except for collecting what you are due. Find yourself a woman. They tell me a squaw makes a good wife if you get them young enough.”

“I’ll think on it, Ma. Say goodbye to Sam for me. I’ll be gone by daylight. You know, if I get settled in somewhere, I might just come and get you. Sam might be ready to pick up and get out of here by then.” Ma and I shed a few tears, never knowing if we would meet again. I went down to the bunkhouse and said my goodbye to the two hands that weren’t on roundup with Sam.

I ran into Marcy as I came out. “Walk out with me, Captain Chance. I’d like to see the moon come up. Sam isn’t here and he won’t be in tonight.”

“Can’t, ma’am. I’m packing my things and heading out for California in the morning.”

“You could take me with you. Sam has never been out of the county and you’ve traveled all over. My name is Baldwin now the same as yours. We could travel as husband and wife.”

“No, I won’t do that to my brother.”

“Too bad, we could make a pair.” I thought to myself that my brother had a lot of heartbreak coming up, that is if his wife wanted to run off with his own brother, no less.

I finished packing and lay down for a few hours. I went into my mother’s room and kissed her on the cheek, brushing the tears from her face as I did so. “Ma, just for your information, I’ll be heading for the Wyoming territory when I’m telling everyone I going to California. People are moving around. When I find someone coming this way, I’ll send you word. You do the same for me after I settle in somewhere.”

“Chance, I knew you wouldn’t go off and forget me. Go careful and be safe. I love you.”

I loaded my pack horse, saddled up, and headed west for California. I came to a little town late that night, going in and getting me a meal. I went into the saloon and was pretty loud talking about California. Three o’clock the next morning I saddled up. This time I went north, taking two days before I headed back east. I kept from sight as much as possible, avoiding people. When I reached the home of one of the privates who had been in my unit, I quartered myself there.

I spent time working around his place for my keep until I figured the Witherspoon-Baldwin trail herd must be close to Abilene. I borrowed a horse from my former trooper, leaving my own two with him. Reaching Abilene, I found I was a week early, but the herd was expected. I made camp outside of town close enough so I could walk into town in twenty-thirty minutes.

There were cowhands from several outfits blowing off steam and I was hoping I wouldn’t be noticed. I didn’t want my horse to be seen, for he was branded. If asked, people would remember the horse, if they didn’t remember me. Jake Witherspoon and Sam came into town to sell the cows a week after I arrived. I watched the outhouse behind the hotel and when Sam came out to use it before bunking in I let out the call of a night bird.

This was something I had taught my younger brother. I had learned it from an old Indian while I was growing up. Sam and I had used it when hunting to keep track of each other. It was just a game, but when I got home from the war, I had related to him how I had used it in the army. He paid no attention at first and went on into the stinking privy. When he came out of the jakes he returned my call to find out where I was located.

We walked out of town a ways and hunkered down to talk. I learned that Sam, Jake Witherspoon, and the two foremen, one ours and one theirs, would be leaving in two days. They would have the herd money with them. Sam described where they would be camping the first night out.

I had a plan and had made preparation. “Sam, here is a bottle of whisky. You’ll be having a few drinks when you camp the first night. Can you get this bottle into Jake’s saddlebags? It has some knockout drops in it. You had better drink some too. It won’t hurt you at all. The worst it can do is making you sick and give you a headache. That’ll keep the others from suspecting anything.”

“You’re after the money, aren’t you?”

“Yes. Didn’t Ma say anything before you left?”

“She did, but I thought you would be halfway to California by now. I can give you the money from the sale of our herd. Why do you want theirs too?”

“Sam, those Yankees are out to do you wrong. I’ll get me a place set up and you and Ma can come live with me when it happens.”

“What about Marcy? I’m married to her.”

“Sam, watch Marcy closely. She doesn’t love you as much as you think. She married you for the ranch. The whole bunch is out here to get rich as fast as possible. You had better watch your back as well. She may set you up to get the ranch the easy way if she thinks it will gain her.”

“I think you’re wrong about Marcy, but I’ll keep in mind what you say. I don’t trust her father and brothers that much, so I’ll will listen to you. How come you left anyway? I never knew you to be afraid of a couple of bastards such as this Witherspoon tribe I married into.”

“Ma asked me to. She was afraid I’d be bushwhacked or I’d kill one of your in-laws. You almost have to side with them against me. Ma is pretty smart and sees things. I told her something and that is when she thought it a good idea for me to bug out.”

“Was Marcy involved? You came on to her, didn’t you?”

“Back off, Sam, I would never do you wrong with either women or money. Blame Ma if you can’t blame Marcy.”

“Okay. I guess I’ll leave that for now. Where are you headed? Still for California?”

“No, but you don’t need to know where yet. I’ll get word to Ma where I am when I get settled. To be honest, I don’t know myself for sure. I’m going to get directions in Laramie, Wyoming as I’m looking for one of my former officers. If after awhile you don’t hear from me or you need me, check at the Comstock livery stable in Laramie. I’ll leave a letter for you?”

“Okay Chance, Ma has never steered us wrong and if she told me to leave instead of you, I would have done it for her. She is something. She sure does miss Pa, though. He’s been gone for going on five years now. Mom just took up where he left off. You be careful and I hope nobody suspects you and starts looking to track you down.”

“They won’t. I did a lot of undercover work for the confederacy as a spy. All it takes is well placed planning to succeed. You go along now and watch your back.” We clasped each other and I turned one way and my brother turned another. I would see him again, but if the plans played out right, Sam wouldn’t remember.

I returned to my camp and picked up. I headed for the tracks of a cattle drive coming north, mixing mine going south in with the tracks. This was a main trail for herds and it had many drovers heading back south on their way home so one lone track wouldn’t be noticed.

I had done some scouting to find where Witherspoon and Sam would be making camp two days from now. My officer’s glass came in mighty handy and made it easy to keep from being run up on by travelers. I kept out of the valley and in the brushy side of the trail where I wouldn’t be seen. Sam had described where the four were going to camp the first night as they drifted toward home. I found it. It was a place that was concealed in a small glen and I could creep up on Sam and the others easily.

Two days later at nearly dusk I could see the four horses coming from the northeast headed for the camping spot. I viewed the valley and could see a trail herd coming up from the south in the distance. They shouldn’t bother me if no shots were fired. I didn’t believe there was a soul near enough to cause me worry.

All four men were tired and sat smoking before getting up supper. Somehow, Sam had got the bottle I had given him into Witherspoon’s saddlebag. Witherspoon dragged it out, but Sam said they should eat first. They ate and then the bottle went around. Witherspoon got sleepy and ordered the Witherspoon foreman to clean up and stand first watch. He went and laid down. Soon all were sleepy and no one did do up the camp cookware.

I scouted around seeing if it was safe and when the fire got a little lower, I waltzed in and looked at Witherspoon laying there with his head on his saddlebags. I pulled them out from under him, smiling when his head thumped on the ground. The bags of rolled gold coins were in his saddle pockets. Sam had one bag in his saddlebag. I took them all. I knew Sam had kept enough walking around money in his pockets to get him home and I imagined Witherspoon did too.

I had dry camped and just saddled up and took off. Any one of a dozen outlaws could have known about this place and had made plans accordingly. Four armed men could hold off an army, so they hadn’t kept their plans a secret figuring they were safe. I went right down the center of the valley which was now a well known trail. I knew the cattle herds behind me would be moving at first light.

Before leaving, I cut their horses picket string. These horses would smell the cattle drive and head for there during the night. This would slow Sam and his bunch looking for me even more. Witherspoon and all would wake up with big heads and would be puzzled at first until they realized their herd money was missing.

Me, I would be miles away at the time. I headed for the ranch where my horses were stabled. I reached there on the second morning in time for breakfast. I rested for a few hours and then took off for Denver up in Colorado. I slowed down now, making easy camps. I wanted to take my time and show people that I wasn’t running from anything.

I got into Denver and put myself up in a nice hotel there. The meal in the dining room was way better than the camp food I had been making for myself. I stayed two days, giving the horses a rest and then lit out for Laramie up in Wyoming. Hopefully I would get directions there.

Laramie was smaller than I thought it would be and I booked into a boarding house. I hung out days at the livery stable, just talking and listening to the gossip that was being tossed around. There was an old Frenchman, Joe Arcand, hanging around there cadging drinks from travelers. He was telling them he had been in the territory before settlers started coming in.

He claimed he had traveled all over, even among the different Indian tribes. He had first come in with several trappers decades ago.

“So, boy why are you here?”

“Joe, I’m more than a boy. I’ve been to war and been home a few years.” I didn’t answer his question.

“Yankee or Rebel? Not that it makes and difference to me.”

“I fought for the south, not that it makes any difference to me either.”

“That don’t tell me much and you didn’t answer my question.”

“That’s ‘cause you’re prying.”

“Guess I am at that.”

I grinned as I had listened to this same exchange with another cowhand that had been before me. “Joe, I’m trying to find out where a former officer of mine is located. All I know is that it is north of Medicine Bow and not too far south of Casper. The one I’m looking for said he and his wife had a small ranch on the west slope of the Laramie Mountains.”

“Well let’s see if I can think of those who live in that section. I’ll rattle off a few names and you pick one. There’s the Pikes, the Coonans, Winfields, Browns...” He paused and said it couldn’t be the Browns as the last one had died off years ago. “How about Pickwell? He’s home from the war recently. The outfit that took over the Brown ranch was pushing Miz Pickwell, thinking probably her husband had been killed. Ron got back just in time to stop them taking the ranch from her.

“I ain’t heard how he is making out. He could probably use a hand if you’re any good with that shooting iron. I see you got one of them Winchester repeating rifles too. Me, I favor the Sharps .50. Don’t do much shooting anymore, but the one I got has killed me a few redskins. It’s slow getting its shots off, but makes up for it if you’re shooting far.”

“Ronnie Pickwell is the one I’m looking for. Can you give me directions how to get to his ranch?”

“Can try, but I don’t remember, exactly. Maybe a couple of shots of whiskey over to the saloon would sharpen my memory.”

“Well let’s see if it does. Lead the way.” Joe got his two drinks and a couple of more. He claimed he had been stopping at the Pickwell ranch a couple times a month while Ronald was in the Army. He said Mary Pickwell was a treasure in anyone’s book. Troubles were coming to the hills, though. “Look what is happening up in Johnson County. Several absentee owners have formed a Stockman’s association and they have put a bounty on the small ranchers if they hold a good piece of watered land.”

“Any danger of it happening where Ron Pickwell ranches?”

“It could. He holds a pretty nice piece of grassland. He’s just got him a new baby too. That’s his future and he will fight to the death to keep it to pass onto someday. I ain’t much anymore, but I’m feeling for the boy and his woman.”

“You can still shoot that Sharps can’t you?”

“You bet.”

“How about you trail up there with me?”

“I would, but I get the shakes terribly if I don’t get a bit of whisky now and then. It steadies my hand you know.”

“They have whisky up that way, don’t they?”

“I ‘spect so.”

“We’ll start tomorrow morning after we lay in what you think you will need to keep you steady. Maybe we better double the bottles in case they are out of whisky when we get there.”

“God, Boy, where have you been the last few years of my life?” I herded Joe back to the livery stable and saw him bunked down in an empty stall. My blankets went down beside him.

I felt myself lucky to have found this old trapper. He acted as if he wanted to get out of the town and up into the country again. He just needed a pard to do the heavy things around camp. We rolled out early. His eyes were as clear as mine and his hands were steady. I asked if he needed a drink.

“Nope, feeling frisky this morning. Can’t say what I will be feeling like at our nooning. Saddle Nellie, my jenny will you. She’s friendly and don’t bite ... much. Depends on if she likes you or not. You’ll find her out back. You can pick her out as she is the ugliest animal you ever seen.” Joe cackled as I went out into the corral to get her.

He followed me out and chirped to Nellie. He rubbed her nose and I saw him pass her something. “Here, feed her one of these cubes. She’s partial to sugar.” When he turned to go back into the stable, the mule turned and walked behind him and kept bumping him in the ass. Joe looked over his shoulder at me. “Get the saddle on her. Nellie’s ready to travel.”

Joe didn’t have much. He had a scabbard for his sharps and his blanket roll. His saddlebags looked mighty thin to me. We stopped at the general store and loaded up my pack horse with what we would need. I let him do the ordering. The only thing extra was the whisky for himself and the sugar cubes for his jenny. Other wise he chose the same as I would have.

We had 100 miles, more or less to go and we started out slow. There was no rush so we took it in easy stages. There were a few settlements, but mostly it was mountains and valleys with scattered ranches. The vistas were awesome. The days were hot and it was dry. Not like it was in the area of Texas where I was from, though.

We were on the western side of the Laramie Mountains and there were streams coming down off the peaks. Snow would be dumped on this side of them come winter. We could see there hadn’t been any rain for quite a spell this year. “We start getting rain in October and the springs will start running again at that time. Water is important and what is on any given piece of land governs what size herd a rancher can run. Fights and land grabbing is all over water rights.”

“That’s pretty much the same everywhere. You’ve thought about this a lot haven’t you, Joe.”

“Yep.”

We took a handful of days to traverse the distance. We could have gone faster, but this was going to be my home country and I was getting a map of it in my head. I rode beside Joe where I could and he talked all about what the country was like when he first came into it. There were different tribes of Indians that he lived with and some he fought with. He had had half dozen squaws over the years. He talked about one squaw, his first and it sounded as if he really loved her. When she died, he said he had to have two squaws to replace her.

Finally one day along about dust, he said, “The Pickwell ranch is on the other side of the ridge. You want to go in tonight or wait for daylight?”

“Morning is fine.” We made camp.

All reflections left my mind when I heard gunfire start up where we were headed. Joe and I had paused before heading down to the ranch last night. I stomped into my boots. Joe did the same, speaking as he did so, “We can see what is going on from the tree line. We’ll get the horses later.” We ran up to where we could see down onto the ranch.

There were six horses back on the far side of the valley. Five men were dismounted. These had come closer to the house and firing from the cover of a chicken coop and the bunkhouse. One attacker was still mounted at least 500 yards away. All were shooting. We could see there were gunshots coming from the house so the attack wasn’t successful yet. The day was young though, with the sun just coming up and it looked as if these men were serious about wiping out the Pickwells.

“Chance, you want me to kill ‘em?”

“Shouldn’t we make sure it is Ron and his wife in the house under attack first?” Just then a woman came out the back door and sidled around the house to shoot from there. She was immediately hit, falling to the ground. Joe saw her go down.