Posted by AlOmega on June 12, 1999 at 20:11:18:
CHISHOLM TRAIL
by
AlOmega
Chapter 5
Abilene and Home
Now that we were in Kansas, the land changed a bit. There were flat areas and some
with hills. Wichita was a nice town as towns went but there were too many farmers here
about. Its not that I minded a potato or radish once in a while; but, I was a cattleman
first, last, and always. While in Wichita, talked a bit with Scott and the sheriff Echostab
about those ladies who saved me at the Red River. Found out I’d been mistaken in
thinkin’ Australia was some country in Europe. Now can’t say I’d had much schoolin’
but did rather feel the fool for doin’ that. Also found out that one of the locals had been
there - Tim or Tom or something. Anyway he told me the land was sorta like Texas.
There were lush forests and deserts, snows and rains. Only thing was it had lotsa sheep
and cattlemen and sheep don’t mix. I remembered Lady Petra and Barbara. Now if I
hadn’t been married to Martha, I coulda gone back and tried to find her. But I knew that
Martha was waiting; and, I loved her dearly - so dearly I would have killed anyone who
came between me and her. I wanted to go back so much ... But the cattle had to get to
Abilene first ‘cause we needed the money. I kept repeating that to myself for the next
few days. Soon I would be returning to her.
As I said, the cattle kept going and we kept on droving. And every day was gettin’ to
be like every other day. I only looked toward the day when we’d get to Trail’s End and
sold the cattle. For them it was a one way trip. They’d be facing death soon enough.
Still all I thought about was the money.
The weather turned bad a couple of days. Dirt turned to mud and piled up on the soles
of your boots so that if you was walkin’, you seemed to grow taller and taller with each
step. Probably why the cattle slowed up. A few streams, a few brooks - none of them too
much when you crossed the Red River or the Brazos. Again luck was with us ‘cause we
saw no rustlers though we knew they were around the area. That was why Cap’n Tatum
sent a couple of us ahead as scouts. Located a group of them but the rain kept ‘em away.
Like a thunder bolt, one day we were in Abilene. That’s the problem with Kansas.
Ain’t much there but you know when you get there. We waited outside that evening
maintaining a double watch figuring to drive them into Abilene the next day. Cap’n
Tatum, Scott, and I rode into town to check in with a buyer by the name of McCoy.
Wasn’t much of Abilene that I could see. If McCoy hadn’t set up that shipping yard,
nobody woulda come. Scott called it a “Shithole in the middle of nowhere”. I wouldn’t
have gone that far. The state was older then Texas. But Texas was a whole ‘nuther
country. I’da called it a mostly dead place with about a dozen log huts - low, small,
crude things, most of which were covered with dirt for roofin’. Think I only saw one
shingled roof in the whole dang blab place. Still it was growin’ pretty good ‘cause of the
cattle. It had a giant three-story hotel, a bank for the cattlemen, two saloons, and a livery
stable. Talked to McCoy - well, Cap’n Tatum did the talkin’. Said for us to bring the
cattle in the next day. He and his representatives would count ‘em and we’d get paid on
the spot. Thought we’d get $9.00 a head. But he said we were the first this year and the
goin’ price was a bit more. Scott and I went back to camp until the next day while Cap’n
Tatum stayed behind and negoci’ated. Wasn’t sure what that meantt but I trusted Cap’n
Tatum.
Next day started drivin’ the cattle into town. Not much to it really. Was sort of a let
down after the drive. But I was glad it was through. Soon I’d have the money and be
headin’ back home to Martha and the baby.
Took most of the day for the count. We’d started with 2,300 head and arrived with
most of it intact. I had almost as much as Cap’n Tatum and Scott or about 545 head.
Just figured I’d get about $4,000 if prices was good but not much more than that. Also
figured in a couple of years could do the same if the trail ended here. Only said that
because the railroad was extending the line to a place called Dodge City. Actually after
the count and meeting with Cap’n Tatum found out I was gettin’ a little over $5,800.
McCoy was payin’ top dollar since we were the first herd here in a while. That made the
price almost $11.00 a head. After payin’ the drovers who didn’t own cattle, we had a lot
of money between us. We all had what we wanted.
Most of us remained together from that time on. Figured since we had watched each
other’s back, would do the same until we got back to Texas. The drovers figured to get a
bath, get a poke, and get drunk probably in that order. ‘Course that’s why they had two
saloons in the town and no church. I did about the same - that is takin a bath, and havin’
a drink or two. I wasn’t goin’ to get a poke figurin’ on heading back to Martha. Funny
thing ‘bout what you figure. Sometimes it don’t happen.
Like I said, us ranchers stayed together. That included Greg, Rod, Jesse, Scott,
Maguel, Cap’n Tatum and myself. We each had reasons to stay together since we were
neighbors. Rod had even more of a reason since he was using his money to buy Scott’s
place and expanding the ranch house for Mary Nell. Of all of us, Scott wouldn’t be goin’
back. The girls tried to get us to go upstairs. Greg and Jesse went and Scott went later.
After about three drinks, I started taperin’ off. Figured since we’d be leavin’ early in the
morning, I’d want my wits about me. But either the whisky was better then I knew or I’d
drunk to much. Don’t really remember what happened but found myself wakin’ up in a
room. Damn thing was, it wasn’t my hotel room.
And I wasn’t alone, I realized lookin’ beside me.
I’ve been in bed with a few women before Martha and know what it feels and smells
like. But I’d never been in bed with a dead woman before. I looked at her long and hard
primarily because my head pounded like a herd of buffalo and my eyes wouldn’t focus
right. Looking at her again, I sobered up right quick. What killed her wasn’t hard to see.
Was my belt so tight around her neck that most of the flesh pour out over the edge. The
blue tongue and bulging eyes told me of the agony of her death as did the terror still
etched in her features. I didn’t even know when I jumped outa bed but I was standing
there in my long johns none the less.
My head probably scraped the roof when the door crashed open. Twin black pistols
aimed at my nose told me more than the marshal badge. I was in trouble and bad trouble
at that. What was I to do? My gun was back in my room and a Bowie blade ain’t no
good against Colts nohow. Besides I knew this Marshall. Hickcock was his name though
some as had no sense called him Wild Bill. He was the only one who I ever saw that
mighta been a match for Hardin. He was a mite shorter then me but that wouldn’t matter.
To him, I was guilty as sin. I saw it in his eyes. If I tried anything, I’d die right where I
stood.
Didn’t take too long to find myself in a cell. I’ve always loved the open prairie. This
cell wasn’t much room. Figured the trial wouldn’t be long either. Cap’n Tatum visited
as did Jesse, Maguel, and Rod. Scott no sooner saw me then he was gone. Greg was still
in town but didn’t stop in. I just figured he didn’t want to be associated with a whore
killer. And when I died on the gallows, he’d go home in my place and take care of
Martha. I woulda asked him, if I could. Just figured that though we had been rival
lovers, we was still friends. Told Scott that before he left. Figured Scott was a good
enough friend that he’d tell Greg for me. Told Rod, too. Guess they all knew. My share
was goin’ to Martha even if I wasn’t.
Trial wasn’t much of an affair. Don’t remember it much. Of course don’t remember
the murder none at all. Suppose to have killed some whore called Rose Marie. Was a
friend of Lissa’s so they say. I didn’t know Lisa but I heard she was short with black
wavy hair and pretty as a sunflower. That didn’t help much - not havin’ seen a
‘sunflower’. Just figured it was some kinda flower and left it alone. Like I said, wasn’t
much of a trial. I mean when you get caught in the same room as the body and the
body’s got your belt wrapped around its neck, you’re sorta guilty. That’s how the jury
figured it. That’s how it was.
So now I’m sitting in a cell lookin’ at some square bars I want to rip out of concrete
and thinkin’ of Martha. She’d been right. Nothin’ good came outa Kansas and nothin’
did. Wish I’d listened to her.
Was two days later that I was given my last meal. Funny that. Had been havin’ steak
on the Trail and just had to have steak again. Maguel was nice enough to cook it. Knew
he was a good compadre. Rod and Jesse came by and later Cap’n Tatum did, too. Was
almost a wake the way they did it. Then about eight, the Marshall opened up the cell
door. Had seen the gallows set up just for me. Lots of towns folk ready to see me hang.
Rose Marie was a right popular whore. One of the deputy marshals tied my hands. At
least my pants wouldn’t fall down around my ankles cause Cap’n Tatum had gotten me a
new belt. And my new boots were tight enough that I knew they wouldn’t kick off when
I dropped. As we left the cell, saw Hickcock with my rifle in his arms. I’d had no
problem with givin’ it to him and I wasn’t goin’ anywhere. He followed me out into the
street. The gallows was just in front of me. I didn’t hesitate but walked up the steps and
waited for the hangman. Just hoped the guy was good. Knew enough about rope parties
to know that too little weight would leave me chokin’ for several minutes. ‘Course too
much would cause my head to be ripped from my body. I wouldn’t care but sorta didn’t
want to spray everyone with my blood. As I stepped up to the bottom of the gallows,
Greg stepped up and whispered in my ear.
“Ain’t no stoppin’ this, ya fuckin’ bastard!”, he said with a sneer. I’d never felt so
much hate in my life. Then it dawned on me. He was the one! Damn his
eyes!!! I wanted to break away then but the deputies got my arms real good figuring I’d
chicken out. That wasn’t what it was but they didn’t know. Got to the top of the gallows
and the noose was placed around my neck. Sorta wish there had been a preacher to say
some words as a hood was placed over my head. Weird what will go through someone’s
mind when he’s fixin’ to die - especially when it was for nothing he had done. I gritted
my teeth ready to drop. The hangman threw the lever and....
Three shots rang out about the same time. I didn’t know much about it because I was
falling through a trap door about then. But didn’t feel the rope cut off my life either.
What was going on?! Heard two more shots fired but still was in the dark. Felt someone
using a knife and figured Cap’n Tatum and the rest were rescuing me. Right quickly the
noose, then the hood was roughly pulled from me. Damn glad to still be seein’ daylight.
But didn’t have no idea what was goin’ on ‘til later. Scott pulled me from under the
gallows and out the back. Scott?!?! What was he doin’ here? Was pulled to my feet
right quick enough and saw Hickcock’s deputies holdin’ onto Greg. A small dark haired
girl was screaming at him.
Later, after all the commotion, I found out that Lisa had been kept prisoner by Greg.
Apparently she had seen him kill Rose Marie. She’d also seen him put something in my
drinks. Surpises on surprises came when I saw Lady Barbara. Seems she had seen
something, too. Hadn’t mentioned it at the time but heard Greg talkin to someone about
killin’ me the night we left for Ft. Worth. She’d stayed long enough to get Ric and Lisa
back to Waco before heading back north. She knew we was headin’ for Abilene. Wasn’t
a secret after all. Scott had done a little detective work. He’d known something was
wrong when the cattle bolted that night and had left Abilene but returned in a hour.
While makin’ like he was leaving, he’d met Barbara and she had told him what she’d
heard. Together the two watched Greg. Finally caught him goin’ to a shed well out of
town and off the trail. Lissa was kept tied and gagged there. After he left and about the
time I was to be hung, they freed Lissa and with her information left for Abilene drivin’
their horses as hard as they could arrivin’ just before I dropped. Hardly had time to tell
Hickcock before I dropped so all three shot at the rope. Don’t know which one hit it but
didn’t care just so long as they had.
When Greg saw Lissa, he drew his gun but Barbara and Scott both shot again breaking
his shoulder. Covering Marshall Hickcock and his deputies, they explained what had
happened. On the spot, Hickcock dropped the charges and got ahold of Greg. The rest
happened easily enough. There probably was a trial but I couldn’t wait. None of us
could. Thanked Barbara for her help and support. She looked at me pretty strange for a
time. There was a tear in her eye. Then she said something about leaving for home and
left later that day. She said if I was ever in Australia - an island in the Pacific, she’d said
with a smile, I should look her up. Still she knew I wanted to get back to Martha. I’d
talked about it enough.
A couple of days later, we all left. Course Greg wasn’t with us but that was for the
best I figured. Rod wanted to stay for the hangin’ but I couldn’t go through that again.
Its one thing to watch one when you’ve never been in the noose yourself. I just couldn’t.
The trip back took us less time then the trip up. We still had a few head of cattle and
the horses. But it went smooth enough. When we got back, didn’t wait to greet Ma
Tatum and the youngsters but headed to my ranch and Martha.
Remember I said Martha knew nothin’ good ever come from Kansas? Well she was
part right. If I’d stopped by the Tatum’s, I woulda known what to expect. What do you
do when every thing you’ve loved is taken from you? Wasn’t the Comanch or the land
either. The Tatums found me sittin’ in Martha’s rocker. I’d made it for her special like.
When I returned, I called for her. But nothin’. Again and again, I called. Then I rode
around to the back and saw on a hill the fresh grave. Wasn’t hardly a month old. I just
sat in Martha’s rocker thinkin’ of the times we’d had together. Rough and smooth, they
was good. ‘Bout a month later, Lisa and Ric came by and Lady Petra, also. Each and
every one tried to console me. But nothin’ could bring back Martha and the baby. I
coulda had all the money in the world but I couldn’t have Martha. Ma Tatum said there
was nothin’ she could do. Martha passed just after havin’ the baby and the baby did soon
after, too. Weren’t nothin’ they coulda done. But still I stare at the grasses and cattle and
wonder if I coulda saved her?
Epilogue
It was Petra that got me thinkin’ of livin’ again - her and Lisa and Sheriff Ric. The pain
and tears go away with time they said. But it was Petra that got me thinkin of dark hair
and dancing eyes and a winning smile in a sad face. I had a bit of money now and after
selling the Ranch to Cap’n Tatum, I just thought I’d take a trip somewheres. I’ve got a
new rifle and gotten pretty good. Not quite as fast as Hickcock but pretty near. Can’t
stand it in Texas no more. Too many bad memories. But I hear the country is still wild
for the takin’ in Australia.
Just that I wish they didn’t have so many God Damn sheep!!