Confessions of a Gunfighter (29 page)

Chapter seventy-seven

Because I was wounded we had to ride slow, and it took us two weeks to get back to Midway.

I was bedridden for a week, but after that I was able to move around some. I was still real sore and stiff, but I discovered that the more I moved the more limber I got.

I stayed with Yancy and Cooper.

They had a small house on the edge of town, and my daily routine was to sit out on the front porch and drink coffee while I watched the activity on the street. It quickly became boring, but there was just nothing else to do.

However, I was healing fast, and soon I would be able to head home.

I was rocking in a rocking chair on the porch one day while drinking coffee and watching things as usual. There was a cool breeze, so I covered my legs with a blanket.

It was mid-afternoon, and Yancy and Cooper were off tending to their business.

I watched a freight wagon roll by, and then I noticed a rider that was coming into town.

There was something familiar about the rider, and I squinted as I looked at him.

I suddenly recognized him. It was Lee Mattingly!

Lee was walking his horse down the street, and when he spotted me he smiled and rode over. He pulled up his horse in front of the porch.

It was silent as Lee looked me over.

“Rondo,” he finally said.

“Lee,” I replied with a curt nod.

Lee chuckled.

“You, uh, look comfortable,” he said.

“I am,” I replied, and asked, “What are you doing here?”

“We got the herd to Abilene, so I thought I’d ride over and see if you got hung or not,” Lee explained.

“That was thoughtful,” I said. “Where’s Ross?”

“He’s probably back at the Tomlins by now. He seemed to be in a real big hurry to get back down there,” Lee replied.

I couldn’t hide the worried look on my face, and Lee chuckled.

I frowned, but didn’t say anything.

“Coffee looks good,” Lee hinted.

“Climb on down and help yourself,” I offered.

“Thanks,” Lee replied.

Lee dismounted, tied his horse to the hitching rail, and walked up and sat down beside me. I had an extra cup, so he poured himself some coffee.

“Here, pour some of this in it,” I handed him a cup with some sugar in it. “Yancy says it’s the new way to drink coffee these days. Makes it taste sweet.”

“Oh?” Lee said, and then he poured some in.

He stirred it with his finger and tasted it.

“Not bad,” he commented.

After that we just sat there without talking, but there was nothing uncomfortable in the silence.

That’s just the way it was with me and Lee now. We both had things to say, but we were in no hurry to say them.

We both drank two cups of coffee, and then Lee glanced sideways at me.

“I see you got shot again,” he nodded at my side.

“I did,” I confirmed.

“Dangerous habit,” Lee said, and asked, “Who shot you this time?”

“Kinrich,” I replied.

“Kinrich!” Lee said, surprised. “Again?”

I nodded, and then I told Lee all that had happened. I also told him about the pardon.

Lee was impressed.

“So you killed Ben Kinrich,” Lee drawled.

“I did,” I admitted.

“Wish I could of seen that,” Lee said, almost wistfully.

It was silent, and then Lee smiled.

“So, this means you ain’t the most wanted feller in Texas no more.”

“That’s right,” I agreed.

Lee’s smile widened.

“And that means you can now go back to Empty-lake.”

“If I want to,” I nodded.

“What do you mean; ‘if I want to’?” Lee asked. “Don’t you want to go back?”

I didn’t want to look too eager, so I just shrugged.

“I’ve been thinking on it,” I replied. “I ain’t made up my mind just yet.”

Lee smiled and shook his head.

“You ain’t fooling me none,” Lee said. “I know what you’re going to do.”

“You do?” I asked innocently.

“Yep,” Lee nodded. “You’re going to go back to the Tomlins and wait for Palmer. He said he’d be coming for you, remember?”

“I remember,” I replied wryly.

“Well then, that’s what you’re going to do,” Lee declared.

“How did you figure that?” I smiled.

“’Cause that’s the way me and you are,” Lee replied. “You might have all of these silly rules that you go by now. But, I know you won’t run from a fight. You know it, and I know it.”

“Mebbe I’m going back for other reasons,” I said.

“You are. You’re going back for two reasons,” Lee said matter-of-factly. “Palmer’s one reason, and the other’s Rachel.”

I couldn’t argue with that. So instead, I just smiled.

“Mebbe you’re right,” I said.

It fell silent again, and then I looked over at Lee.

“So, now that the cattle drive is over, what are you going to do now?” I asked.

“Reckon I’ll just go with you,” Lee replied. “Keep you company.”

“You just want to see what happens with Palmer,” I retorted.

Lee grinned.

“Well, it
could
turn out to be interesting,” he said.

“You think everything I do is interesting,” I frowned.

Lee chuckled.

“Well, you are a mighty interesting feller,” Lee agreed.

Chapter seventy-eight

It worried me to think that Ross was back at Empty-lake with Rachel. So, two days later me and Lee decided to leave.

Yancy, however, thought that I should stay a while longer.

“You ain’t healed up yet,” he insisted.

“I’ll be fine,” I replied, and added, “I’m not bleeding anymore.”

Yancy knew there was no use trying to talk me out of it, so he didn’t say anything else.

We saddled up as Yancy and Cooper stood by.

“Well, so long,” I said as I shook their hands.

“So long,” Yancy said. “Come see us sometime.”

“I’ll do that,” I replied.

“Is that invite for me too?” Lee smiled.

Yancy turned and studied Lee with a stern look.

“One of these days you’re going to rob the wrong feller in the wrong place,” Yancy finally said. “When that happens, I’m going to have to kill you Lee, unless you change your ways.”

Lee laughed as we climbed into the saddle.

“I reckon we’ll have to wait and see, won’t we?” Lee said.

“You’re either on one side or the other, Lee,” Yancy said. “Can’t be on both sides of the river at once.”

“Yeah, but it’s real easy to cross back and forth,” Lee replied.

Yancy smiled faintly and shook his head.

“Mebbe so, but don’t be crossing any rivers around here.”

“Don’t plan to,” Lee said.

“Good,” Yancy said.

Lee nodded, and then we said good-bye and rode out.

***

We had to ride slow, and it took us almost three weeks to get back to Empty-lake. We circled town and headed south towards headquarters.

We pulled up when we topped out on the hill that overlooked headquarters. Things looked to be normal, and I was glad.

Lee looked at me curiously.

“Thought about what you’re going to say to Rachel?” He asked.

“No,” I replied.

Lee frowned.

“Well, you’d better think of something, don’t you think?”   

“You just leave Rachel to me,” I replied.

“Sure,” Lee chuckled.

We kicked up our horses and rode on down the hill.

I spotted Mr. Tomlin, Ross, and Buster down at the barn, so we rode over there.

Ross spotted us, and he said something to Mr. Tomlin. Mr. Tomlin spun around and grinned real big.

“Well! You came back!” He exclaimed as me and Lee pulled up in front of them.

“I’m back,” I replied.

Mr. Tomlin and Buster looked pleased, but Ross just frowned thoughtfully.

“I guess you’d be wanting your job back,” Mr. Tomlin said.

“Yes, sir,” I replied. “I sure would.”

“You’ve got it,” Mr. Tomlin said.

I grinned.

“Thank you, sir,” I replied, and asked, “So, how are things around here?”

“We haven’t had any trouble since, ah, Lieutenant Porter was retired,” Mr. Tomlin said. “The government sent out a new bunch of soldiers boys, but so far they’ve been honest.”

“Good, I’m glad,” I replied earnestly.

Mr. Tomlin looked over at Lee.

“How ’bout you? Want a job?”

Lee frowned thoughtfully.

“Well, sir, tell you the truth, I ain’t looking for work right now. I just rode down with Rondo to keep him company and drink some coffee. But, I’d like to stay around for a few days, if’n you don’t mind.”

“You’re welcome to stay as long as you’d like,” Mr. Tomlin replied.

“Thank you, sir,” Lee grinned.

We dismounted and tended to our horses, and then Ross helped us stow our gear in the bunkhouse.

Ross looked at me.

“I reckon you’re wanting to see Rachel,” he said solemnly.

“I would,” I replied.

“She’s up at the house,” Ross said. “I’m sure she’ll be real happy to see you.”

“Thanks, Ross,” I said.

Ross just shrugged.

“It’s always been you, Rondo. These past few weeks I had hoped, but…,” Ross’s voice trailed off.

It was silent, and then Ross looked back up.

“By the way; he’s here,” Ross said.

“Who is?” I asked.

“Palmer,” Ross replied.

I was startled.

“Where is he?” I demanded to know.

“I saw him in town a couple of weeks ago,” Ross told me. “He wanted to know where you were, but I didn’t tell him anything. So, he said that he was just going to wait right there in town until you showed up. Folks told me that he’s been staying at the hotel. He plays poker in the saloons, and every once in a while he rides out of town and practices some with his six-shooter.”

I glanced at Lee, and he just grinned.

“Well now,” I said. “That’s interesting, ain’t it Lee?”

“’Tis,” Lee agreed.

I stood there and thought it over, and it didn’t take me long to decide on a plan of action.

“Lee, you’re good at delivering messages. Think you could deliver another one?” I asked.

“Now?” Lee asked.

“Now,” I replied. “I want you to ride into town and tell Palmer that I’ll be there in the morning.”

“Don’t you want to wait a few days first?” Lee asked. “We just got here!”

“Nope,” I replied. “We both know there’s no way of avoiding this. So, it’s better to get it done with.”

“I just unsaddled my horse,” Lee protested.

“Well, re-saddle him,” I replied.

Lee grumbled about it, but he still saddled up and rode out.

I watched him leave, and then I walked up to the main house.

Rachel was on the other side of the house, working in the garden. I watched her for a moment, and then she turned around and saw me.

Her mouth fell open in surprise, and she just stood there and looked at me.

“You’re back,” she said.

Her voice was strained, and her face was tense.

“I am,” I replied.

It was silent as Rachel thought on that.

“Did you get things figured out?” She finally asked.

“I think so,” I nodded.

“Good, I’m glad,” Rachel said, and she smiled anxiously.

I smiled back, and then it fell silent again as we both searched for words.

“So, what happens next?” Rachel asked after a bit.

“I don’t know,” I replied, and then I said suddenly, “Listen, I like you plenty, Rachel, but I still don’t have anything to offer. A man in my position just can’t be thinking of marriage… at least not yet.”

She nodded like she understood.

“So, where does that leave us?” She asked.

I frowned as I thought on that.

“I don’t know, Rachel,” I finally said. “But, I do know one thing.”

“What’s that?” Rachel asked.

“I ain’t leaving again. I’m planning on staying around here for good,” I declared.

Rachel smiled, and I got that week feeling in the knees again.

“Good,” she said.