Chapter Five
Before Frank and his men broke camp the next morning, Frank informed them of his change of plans. “Finish your coffee and let’s saddle up. We’re going to Purgatory Canyon and then back to Whispering Pines.”
“Why are we going to do a fool thing like that?” Deke asked.
Frank glared at him. Deke was already on his short list for releasing two of the horses the day before. Deke swore it was an accident, but Frank wasn’t buying his explanation. “Why are you questioning my decision?”
Deke looked away from Frank’s piercing eyes. “I just thought we were headed to Mexico.”
Dutch stood and tossed the remainder of his coffee in the dying fire. “Deke is right. Why would we want to go back to Whispering Pines?”
Frank wasn’t going to be able to intimidate Dutch with a silencing glare that worked on Deke. “We’ll never find those cattle now and we need money.” He jabbed a finger in Deke’s direction. “Now that stupid here let those horses go, we need something to sell. In case you boys have forgotten, we don’t have money.”
“I told you it was an accident. We still have three horses we can sell,” Deke said.
Frank narrowed his eyes at Deke. “I wonder why you released LeMasters’s horse. Are you afraid of him?”
Deke didn’t comment. Frank was right, he had intentionally released the horses. He didn’t feel right about leaving LeMasters with no way to get help for Frank’s sister. He didn’t have a beef with LeMasters, and he didn’t think Frank should have left his sister like he did.
“It’s done, so let’s forget about it,” Dutch said, tiring of the conversation. “Can’t we find some cattle to rustle on our way to Mexico? LeMasters doesn’t own all the cattle in the West.”
“I figure the rest of the boys will make their way back to Purgatory Canyon if they got away from the law. I don’t want to leave them hanging, not knowing what happened to us. We’ll meet up with them and go to Whispering Pines to get Stevie.” Frank didn’t really care about the rest of the gang. He wanted to go back to Whispering Pines to take as many cows as possible from Morgan’s ranch once again. He needed the rest of the boys to accomplish his goal.
“We’ll rustle some more cattle and be gone before LeMasters gets back, if they get back at all. He had four of his men riding with him. I reckon that means he’s shorthanded on his ranch, and his cattle will be ripe for the picking. We know all the shortcuts to get out of there in a hurry.”
“We could meet you in Mexico,” Corbin suggested.
“Is that right?” Frank felt like shooting Corbin on the spot. He was tired of the men second-guessing him. “You could, I guess. But what if the men didn’t get away from Sheriff Roper? Stevie and I can’t rustle those cattle alone. And if I’m the one taking all the risks, I can guarantee you won’t be sharing in the profits. You can go ahead and ride on out of here if you want.” He looked at Deke and Dutch. “You boys want to ride out with Corbin?”
“I didn’t say I was ridin’ out, Frank,” Corbin said. Part of him wanted to ride away, but he had a feeling that Frank would shoot him in the back if he tried.
Dutch figured Frank was right about LeMasters’s ranch being the perfect place to strike. If the rest of the gang had evaded Sheriff Roper, they might be able to pull it off without a hitch. It would be a quick getaway since they knew the territory. They needed money in Mexico, and it was better to rustle where you knew the territory. “I’m in.”
Deke remained silent as he kicked dirt into the fire. He didn’t want to go back to Whispering Pines. The thought of returning made him nervous, and it wasn’t something he could explain to the men. Trying to ignore the feeling of doom, he told himself if Dutch was willing to go, he might as well ride with them.
Before they saddled their horses, Frank had another surprise for them. “While we are at Whispering Pines, I figure we have one more piece of business to take care of.”
“What’s that?” Dutch asked.
“LeMasters said that old man Joseph Longbow identified us that night. That means he’s the only witness that can testify against us. I say while we’re there we kill him this time. Problem solved.”
Corbin shook his head. “I don’t know about that. My pa told me that Joseph Longbow has special powers.”
Frankie laughed. “What are you afraid of, Corbin? You think Joseph will cast a spell on you?”
“I’ve heard stories about him,” Deke said. “You know he was a medicine man with his tribe before he came to work for LeMasters. Folks say he refused to live on a reservation, and left his tribe. Soldiers came to Whispering Pines to take him, but LeMasters wouldn’t let them. They searched his ranch, saying they had every right by law to take him to a reservation. Joseph hid in the pines, and the way I heard it, some soldiers went missing when they went in there to get him. They never found them, and the other soldiers left without Joseph. Either the soldiers were afraid, or they didn’t want to tangle with LeMasters. They never came back to the ranch again.”
“I heard a soldier was shot in there,” Corbin added.
“Joseph Longbow is nothing but an old man. I can’t believe you’d be afraid of him. You’re acting like a bunch of old women.” Frank had been around Joseph on several occasions over the years, and he had to concede the old man had a way about him that was spooky. He always felt Joseph knew what he was thinking. He’d also heard the stories about Joseph’s powers, but he wasn’t going to let tales stop him from doing what needed to be done to keep a noose from his neck.
Corbin didn’t care if Frank called him an old woman, he was still reticent to kill Joseph. “Frank, you’ve heard the stories about him. Besides, it’s not just Joseph Longbow. You remember what happened in those pines last time we were there. Maybe instead of going through the pines, we could come in another way.”
Frank snorted. He wasn’t about to admit he’d been as scared as the men the last time they were rustling on Whispering Pines ranch. “Those pines run the entire border between our farm and LeMasters’s ranch, and thousands of acres beyond. I don’t intend to ride weeks out of the way to get some of his cattle. Besides, we won’t know for sure where they’re grazing until we get Stevie. I’ve lived there for years and nothing has happened to me yet in those trees.”
“Maybe nothing happened to you, but what about Smiley Benton?” Corbin asked.
They all looked at each other. Finally Frank said, “Smiley was never right in the head. He got lost in those trees. That’s all there was to it.”
Corbin gave a nervous laugh. “You heard the screams when we were in there. Whatever it was that happened to Smiley, he’s never been seen since. He just disappeared. His pa has looked everywhere for him. All I’m saying is we need to go in another way. We shouldn’t push our luck taking the shortcut through those pines.”
“Those are just stories about the pines, probably made up to keep people off LeMasters’s ranch. Nothing is going to happen to us except we’ll make money off the cattle we rustle so we can have a good time in Mexico.” Frank shot a glance at Dutch to see if he had the same sentiment about going through the pines. “What do you think, Dutch? You afraid?” Frank threw the last question out as a challenge.
Dutch gnawed on the match he held between his teeth before he spoke. “I’ve heard the stories like everyone else. Maybe they’re all true, maybe not. I heard the noises that night, but I figure it was just the wind, or some animal. None of us know for sure what happened to Smiley. He could have just taken off, or maybe a bear got to him. I’m not going to let stories scare me. Like Frank said, Whispering Pines is the easiest target to get cattle right now, with them being shorthanded. If we need to go through those pines, then I say we go through them, get our business done, and get out.”
“It wasn’t the wind that day,” Corbin said. “I heard voices and screams.”
“I did too,” Deke said.
“All I’m asking is that we steer clear of the pines and Joseph Longbow,” Corbin said.
Frank’s eyes bounced from Deke to Corbin. “Not only are you scared of a bunch of old trees, you’re afraid of an old man.”
They didn’t respond, so Frank said, “If it will make you two girls feel better, I’ll be the one to pull the trigger on Joseph Longbow.”
No one said another word. They saddled their horses and changed course.
* * *
“Webb, I think you need to go find Joseph Longbow,” Granny said. She’d sat with the sheriff for hours, and his condition was worsening. She couldn’t get his fever down.
“Yes, ma’am.” Webb didn’t argue. If Granny said she needed Joseph, then he’d find him.
She walked to the door with Webb. “Please hurry.”
Webb glanced back at the sheriff lying motionless on the table. He felt a lump form in his throat. He’d never met a man he liked more than the sheriff, and he’d never seen him ill one day in the four years he’d worked for him. “I’ll ride as fast as I can.”
Less than two hours later, Webb walked in the doctor’s office with Joseph Longbow in tow.
Granny jumped up and placed her Bible on the chair. For the last hour she’d been reading some of her favorite passages to Jack. She didn’t know if he could hear her, but it made her feel better. “I didn’t expect you back this soon.”
Webb raised his eyebrow at her and inclined his head toward Joseph. “He was waiting for me.”
Granny couldn’t help but smile at Webb’s stunned expression. “Joseph, I’m glad you came.”
Joseph approached the table, leaned over and looked at the sheriff. He pulled off the small leather pouch that was hanging around his neck and placed it on the sheriff’s chest. He raised his weathered hand and held it a few inches above the sheriff ’s head, and muttered a few words Granny and Webb didn’t understand. When he finished, he turned to Granny and said, “He will live.”
Joseph was about to walk out the door but was halted by Webb when he moved in front of him. “Now wait a minute. Is that all you’re going to do?”
Joseph tilted his head back to stare at the tall deputy and narrowed his dark eyes. “What would you have me do?”
Tired and frustrated, Webb ran a hand through his blond hair, ripping out a few strands. “I don’t know. Maybe something more than putting a pouch on him and saying some gibberish.”
Joseph turned his eyes on Granny. “What is this gibberish?”
“Nothing to worry about,” Granny said. “Webb is just concerned.”
Joseph shrugged. “There is nothing more for me to do. He will live.”
“How do you know?” Webb asked.
“Granny’s good doctoring skill, and her prayers to her God. I’ve invited the presence of the Great Spirit for healing.”
“But . . .” Webb looked at Granny, silently pleading for her to intervene.
Granny walked to Webb and placed her hand on his shoulder. “It will be okay.” She smiled at Joseph. “Thank you. If you come by the house tomorrow, I will have a cake for you.”
“What kind?”
“Your favorite.”
Joseph nodded and walked out the door.
Webb stared at the closed door, clearly baffled by what just took place. “Should I take him back to the ranch?”
“He’s probably waiting in the buckboard,” Granny said.
Webb shoved his hat on his head. “When I got to LeMasters’s ranch, he was just sitting on the porch. Before I told him why I’d come, he said, I’ve been waiting for you. I asked him if he needed to bring some medicine with him, he just said, I have what I need right here. He pointed to that little pouch around his neck. He didn’t say one word all the way to town.”
“Joseph knew what was needed. Now go on and take him back to the ranch. I’ll sit with the sheriff.” She hadn’t been surprised by Joseph’s methods since they’d tended other sick people together before.
“I don’t know why he didn’t just give me the dang pouch and be done with it. I could have put the dang thing on the sheriff and mumbled some strange words. All I’m doing is riding back and forth. He better hope the sheriff lives, or he’ll have me to deal with.” Webb wouldn’t hurt the older man, but he’d sure give him a good tongue-lashing if the sheriff died.
* * *
“How are you feeling?” Granny asked the sheriff when he opened his eyes less than an hour later. She appreciated Joseph’s optimistic prognosis, but it did little to lessen her worry.
“Can’t complain, unless I’m dreaming.”
“You mean you don’t want my face to be the first one you see in heaven?”
Jack grinned at her. “I’d want to see your beautiful face anywhere. But what makes you so sure I’ll be in heaven?” He tried to pull himself into a sitting position, but dropped back to the table when Granny shook her head at him.
She gave him a stern look. “Don’t flash that handsome grin at me, Jack Roper, it won’t work. I’m too old for your shenanigans. You just stay put for a while. It took quite a bit of prodding in that shoulder to find that sliver, and I don’t want you to start bleeding all over the place again. I put a couple of stitches in there and I want them to hold. You’ve been out for a while and had quite a fever.”
Jack’s smile turned into a frown. “Just how long am I supposed to stay in this position?” He wasn’t a man to stay abed, especially when he had criminals on the loose.
“Stay put for another hour, and we will go from there.” She placed her hand on his forehead and relief swept over her when she realized he no longer had a fever. She poured some water in a cup and held his head while he took a sip.
Jack saw the leather pouch on his chest. “What’s this?”
“I had Webb fetch Joseph when your fever got too high. I thought his skills might be needed.”
“What’d he do?”
“He put those herbs on you and said his prayers.”
Jack picked up the pouch and twirled it between his fingers. “Hmm. What’s in here?”
“My guess would be sweetgrass, cedar, and white sage. Joseph says it cleanses the wearer.”
“It must have worked. But my guess is, you were probably doing your share of praying.” He saw her Bible on the chair, and he knew Granny well enough to know she was bending the Good Lord’s ear on his behalf.
“We always need His help,” Granny replied.
Granny held the cup to his lips again, and Jack said, “I think whiskey would be better.” His shoulder hurt, but he wasn’t going to admit that to her.
“I reckon you’re due. When Webb returns I’ll have him fetch some.” Granny wasn’t opposed to spirits when the occasion warranted. After what she’d put him through, the least she could do was allow him a little whiskey.
“I knew I loved you, Granny. Would you marry me?”
“Hmmm. You need to get married, and if I were fifty years younger I might be of a mind. As it is, I think you might want to court my granddaughter when she arrives. She’s more your age.”
Jack had forgotten one of her granddaughters was coming home. “Which granddaughter is coming home?”
“Rose, she’s the baby. Do you remember her?”
“Yes, ma’am. Prettiest girl I ever saw.” Jack had only seen her granddaughters a couple of times. He’d just become the sheriff of Whispering Pines a few months before the three girls moved East.
“She’s all grown-up now. But I don’t think Rose is the one for you. She will make a good match for Morgan. Addie is the one to suit you, and she’ll be home in a few months.”
Jack chuckled. “You sure Morgan is ready to get hitched?”
Arching her eyebrow at him, she questioned, “Are you?”
“I’m probably a mite more inclined than Morgan. All he thinks about is that ranch, but he did tell me he would like to have some sons.”
“I’ve yet to see the man who thought he was ready to wed, but mark my words, when Morgan takes one look at Rose, he’ll change his mind quick enough. Men will be lining up to court her.”
“I didn’t think you’d seen your granddaughters in a long time. How do you know she’ll be such a looker?”
“Rose looked just like my mother when she was a girl. My mother was known for her beauty, and Rose is her spitting image.”
Jack smiled at her. “You must have taken after your ma. You’re a beauty, Granny. I bet you had more men than Preacher chasing after you.” He wasn’t teasing. For her age, she was still a handsome woman.
Granny found herself blushing from his compliment. “Hush now. You need to save your energy.”
“Tell me about Addie.”
“She’s a school teacher, and now she’s teaching orphans. She has a heart for children, so if it’s children you want, Addie is of the same mind. I’m sure you understand how important it is to those orphans to have people who care about them.” Granny knew Jack had lived in an orphanage when he was a boy. She didn’t wait for an answer; she continued to tell Jack stories about her granddaughters when they were young girls, until he drifted off to sleep. Seeing he was sleeping comfortably, Granny closed her eyes, gave a word of thanks to God for answering her prayers, and fell asleep.
Hearing the creak of the door as it opened, Jack’s eyes snapped open, and he automatically reached for the nonexistent pistol at his side.
Not realizing it was the deputy returning, Granny jumped out of her chair and grabbed Jack’s pistol, which she’d placed on the table, and pointed it at the door. Thankfully, she came to her senses and didn’t fire the weapon. “Deputy, you scared the daylights out of us.”
Webb was stunned to see Granny holding a pistol. “Sorry.” He looked at Jack. “How are you feeling, Sheriff?”
It took Jack a minute to get over the shock of seeing Granny grab his pistol and point it at the door. “Not bad.”
“I saw the clerk from the telegraph office outside and he gave me this telegram for you.” He handed the piece of paper to Jack.
“Thanks, Webb.” Jack scanned the contents. He looked at Granny, his expression somber. “I’m afraid I have bad news.”
“Is it Morgan?” Granny had tried to talk Morgan out of going after Frank. She was as worried about Frank shooting Morgan as she was about the reason Morgan was adamant about hunting him down.
“It’s from Hank Murphy. There was a stagecoach accident and your granddaughter was hurt.”
Granny felt her knees go weak, but Webb grabbed her before she hit the floor.
“Put her in that chair, Webb.” Jack felt like a fool for blurting out the contents of the telegram like he did.
“She’s hurt, Granny, she’s not dead,” Jack emphasized. “And Morgan is with her.”
Granny gripped the back of the ladder-back chair for support as Webb poured her a cup of water. After she composed herself, her first thought was it had to be a mistake. “Hank must be mistaken. What would Morgan be doing with Rose? He went after Frank.”
Jack glanced down at the piece of paper. “Here’s what it says: ‘Stagecoach accident, Rose Langtry injured. Morgan with her. Frank and gang escaped. Will be back at Barnett’s station in a few days. Will telegraph then. Hank Murphy.’”
Jack tried to read between the lines. From the way the telegram sounded, Morgan and his men had caught up with Frank and his gang. But how Rose Langtry came to be with them didn’t make sense. He glanced back at Granny’s pale, frightened face. “Webb, would you go get us a bottle of whiskey? There’s one in the bottom drawer of my desk in the office.”
When Webb left to walk next door to the jail, Jack said, “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Maybe Morgan happened on the stagecoach accident. The important thing is, he is with your granddaughter. He will see to it that she receives proper care. She couldn’t be in better hands.”
“I just don’t understand why Rose is with him,” Granny said, her lips trembling.
Jack couldn’t make sense of the message either. He was in no condition to get on a horse and ride for days, or he’d already be in the saddle.
They were silent, each trying to figure out what could have put Rose and Morgan in the same place at the same time. They didn’t say another word until Webb came in carrying the bottle of whiskey.
“Grab three glasses and pour a generous amount in each,” Jack said.
Webb did as instructed, and when he handed a glass to Granny, he half expected her to refuse. Instead she took the glass and emptied the contents in one gulp.
Granny wasn’t unfamiliar with spirits. She’d sipped a bit of whiskey in her toddies whenever she was feeling poorly with a cold or sore throat. Preacher never approved, but Granny’s mother always said it was the best remedy for several illnesses. Preacher was a teetotaler, but he didn’t generally interfere with Granny’s prescribed medicinal spirits. She could only remember one time he’d said she shouldn’t imbibe when she was ailing, and she reminded him that Jesus turned water into wine at a wedding. After that, he’d never made another comment on her remedies.
Jack couldn’t help but chuckle at Webb’s shocked expression. “It’s good for what ails you.” Webb held Jack’s head so he could drink, and Jack quickly finished the contents. Webb filled Jack’s glass again, and once he gulped it down, he said, “Webb, this telegram was sent from Barnett’s home station. Go send them a telegraph and ask for clarification. Why is Morgan with Rose?” He knew none of them would rest until they had some answers.
Granny focused on Jack. She knew the kind of man he was, and he wouldn’t think twice about putting his own life at risk to save a friend. “Don’t you even think you are going to go riding off after them.”
“I’m not thinking about that as long as I know Morgan is handling everything. I just want more information than we have now.”
After Jack rested for a few hours in the doctor’s office, Webb and Granny helped him to his small, one room house next door to the jail. Once he was settled in bed, Webb left to go to the hotel to get dinner for the three of them. He stopped by the telegraph office to see if they’d received a response from the way station in Kansas.
Entering Jack’s home, Webb quickly passed the basket of food to Granny, and handed Jack the telegram. “We received a reply from Kansas.”
Jack opened the telegram and read it aloud. “‘Morgan saw stagecoach accident. Miss Langtry has broken ribs. Sent buckboard. They will be back in two days. Will send message upon arrival.’” He finished reading and his eyes met Granny’s. “She’ll be okay. Morgan’s with her.”
Granny gave him a tentative smile. While it was certainly good news Rose wasn’t injured more severely, broken ribs could be quite dangerous. “I pray she comes home safe and sound.”
Jack was pleased to know more about the events in Kansas, but he had a difficult time believing Frank and his gang had escaped from Morgan. There was nothing he could do; he’d have to wait for their return to Whispering Pines to hear the details. “Let’s enjoy our dinner now that we have received good news.”
Granny stacked some pillows behind Jack’s head. “I don’t expect you think Frank escaping is such good news.”
“No, it isn’t. Let’s just hope he doesn’t . . . do anything foolish.” He almost said kill someone, but he caught himself in time. Sometimes it was hard to remember a man like Frank Langtry had such a sweet grandmother.
“I’ve prayed for the same thing for many years, but the Devil has a grip on Frank and he won’t let go. I shouldn’t have been so easy on those two boys. I’m afraid Stevie is going to follow in his brother’s footsteps. They needed a firmer hand when they were younger. Preacher and I were too easy on them.”
Jack knew she blamed herself for Frank taking the wrong road, and he also knew it was nonsense. “You did everything you could for him. It’s not your fault Frank made the choices he made. He’s a grown man, and he had more than one chance to turn things around.”
“Has Morgan ever told you what started this rift between him and Frank?” Granny thought if Morgan ever confided in anyone, it would be Jack.
“No, he’s never said a word.” Jack always figured that something serious had happened between Morgan and Frank years ago. Morgan wasn’t a man to divulge private matters, and Jack wasn’t a man to pry. He respected Morgan enough to know that he had to have a valid reason to harbor animosity toward Frank.
“I know Joseph Longbow knows what happened between them, but he won’t tell me.” She’d asked Joseph several times what happened between Morgan and Frank, but Joseph always told her she should ask Frank.
“Did you ever ask Frank?” Jack asked.
“He would never tell me.”
“Granny, if Frank knows what’s good for him, he’ll go to Mexico and stay. That’s the only chance he’ll have not to be found. If his bullet had killed Joseph Longbow, even Mexico wouldn’t have been a safe place to hide from Morgan.”
“I’m afraid Frank never did want to do what was good for him. I think he’s always been jealous of Morgan and what he’s accomplished in his life.”
After they finished their dinner, Granny washed the dishes and checked Jack’s wound one more time before she collected her things to leave. “Deputy, I’m ready to go whenever you are.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Jack, I’m not happy about leaving you alone, but I need to take care of the animals.”
“Webb will be back soon. I’ll be fine.”
While she didn’t want him riding all the way to the farm, she worried about him staying alone with no one to care for him if his fever spiked again. “I’ll come back after I do my chores.”
“Why isn’t Stevie helping you out?” He spoke before he thought how his question might hurt Granny’s feelings. He agreed with Granny that Stevie needed a firm hand, and when he’d caught him stealing in the local mercantile, he’d tried to talk some sense into him. His words had fallen on deaf ears. What he had to say wasn’t as important as the promises of infamy Frank put in his head. Jack made an effort with Stevie because he’d been as hardheaded when he was a young man. He had been an orphan with no family, and no place to go when he was young. It was by the grace of God that he hadn’t ended up in the territorial prison. At least Stevie had people who cared about him, a nice home and food on the table. Stevie should thank his lucky stars that Granny and Preacher cared enough to take him and his siblings in when their parents died. Granny didn’t need to be doing chores at her age. She deserved someone to take care of her. He’d like to give Stevie a good butt-chewing or -kicking, depending on his willingness to listen.
“I haven’t seen Stevie for a few days. He took off and didn’t tell me where he was going.” She had her own suspicions that he’d left to see if he could find Frankie. Sometimes he would be gone for days and never give her an explanation for his absence. She could never count on Stevie to take care of any chores around the farm.
“You go on home, and stop worrying about me. You’ve done a fine job, and I’m well on my way to recovery.” Jack knew he was speaking the truth. He felt better and he knew he was on the mend.
“Webb can’t take care of you and see to his job. Neither one of you can cook, so you keep the hotel in business. And I couldn’t help but notice you don’t keep much in the way of provisions in here.” Granny had snooped around while Jack was sleeping last night, and noticed he had next to nothing to eat in his place. It was her nature to care for people, and she couldn’t stop herself from worrying about the sheriff. She wanted to make sure he had the proper nourishment to aid his healing. “I’ll bring back some soup for you.”
“I’ll have Webb pick it up tomorrow if that will make you rest easier. Stay home and take care of your place. You can come back in a few days to bedevil me if I’m not up to par. And feel free to use Webb if you need some help.” Granny wasn’t one to inconvenience anyone and ask for assistance. Jack knew Morgan and his men usually helped her out, but his ranch was operating with few men right now.
“Morgan’s men come over to help me out,” Granny said.
“There aren’t many men left at his ranch right now, and you need to get everything ready for Rose’s arrival.” He planned to tell Webb to have a look around for Stevie if he wasn’t at the farm. He didn’t like the idea of Granny being alone on the farm with Frank on the run. Granny seemed to accept the fact that Frank was dangerous, but Jack didn’t think she thought he could be a danger to her.