MacCallister Kingdom Come (13 page)

Sheriff Jason Bowles was at the train depot when Cal Hanson arrived with the three hundred head of cattle he had brought with him.

“So, you've arrived safely, I see,” Jason said. “I got Duff's wire, and I've made arrangements for you to keep them in the holding pens until Duff arrives with the rest of your cattle. I've also hired some cowboys to drive your cattle out to your ranch when you're ready.”

“That is very decent of you, Sheriff. Do you know if any of the men would be willing to stay on with me? I shall require a number of men to help me operate the ranch.”

“I'm sure you'll be able to find enough good men from this group. In the meantime, you are to be our guest tonight. Melissa insisted on it.”

“That is most gracious of you,” Hanson said.

As sheriff of Maverick County, Jason and his family lived in a house supplied by the county. It wasn't very large, but it was a nice house, and it was immaculately kept by Melissa.

Hanson was greeted by Megan when he arrived at the house.

“Miss Parker, how nice to see you again.”

“I take it you had no trouble driving the cattle to Cheyenne,” Megan said as Hanson stepped inside.

“None at all, and I must say, it was all very exciting. I hope I learned something from Duff and the others.”

“They are good teachers and you are an intelligent man, so I'm sure you did.”

“My, something smells very good,” Hanson said.

“You have my sister to thank for that.”

Melissa shared a trait with her sister, in that she was very talented. But while Megan's talent was in designing and sewing dresses, Melissa's talent was in cooking. She was much more than just a “good” cook. She was a gourmet cook.

Dinner that evening started with a soup of chicken giblet consommé with egg. That was followed by leg of lamb with mushrooms and black olives, roasted potatoes, asparagus, and dinner rolls. Desert was a peach pie.

“Oh, my,” Hanson said, touching a napkin to his lips after the meal was concluded. “I haven't dined this elegantly since the officers' mess of the Royal Horse in Calcutta. I much appreciate the invitation.”

“Ha, believe me, Mr. Hanson, Melissa appreciates you coming as much as you appreciate being here,” Jason said. “She is always ready to show off her skills.”

“As indeed she should be. And, if we are to be neighbors, shouldn't you call me by my Christian name? It is Cal.”

“Very well. Cal it shall be,” Jason replied. “Who is coming with Duff?”

“Elmer and the Chinaman will be traveling with Duff.”

“Wang is coming with him?” Jason asked.

“Apparently Wang requested to go along so that he might see Texas.”

Jason smiled. “I can understand that. Texas is a wonderful place, and I feel sorry for anyone who doesn't live here.”

“For heaven's sake, Jason, don't take on so about Texas. It isn't fitting,” Melissa said.

“Say, I have a marvelous idea,” Hanson said. “As soon as all the cattle have been moved out to my ranch, I should like to host all of you for a gala.”

“For a what?” Timmy asked.

“A festive event.”

“A party,” Melissa said when she saw that Timmy still didn't understand.

Timmy smiled. “Oh, good! I like parties.”

As news of what Jaco was doing spread through the town and out into the surrounding area, the people who wanted no part of it began leaving the community. Some tried to sell their houses, but finding no buyers, simply loaded their belongings into a wagon and left, leaving the houses standing bleak and empty. Some burned the houses behind them, rather than let someone else move in and take over.

Jaco moved in quickly, establishing ownership of the abandoned properties by way of quitclaim deeds. Within a short time the only people left in Shumla were those who were complicit with Jaco or those who were unable to leave for one reason or another and had become victims of the new order Jaco had established.

But while many of the residents of the town were leaving, new ones were coming in. The news wasn't universally disseminated, but spread through the outlaw circuit by word of mouth. Word was, the town of Shumla had become an outlaw town, and anyone who was on the run was welcome there. Also, there was a moneymaking opportunity for anyone who would be willing to join a group being put together by a man named Jaco.

The Israel brothers, Lenny and Larry, having heard word of such an opportunity, decided to explore it. They thought they were on the right road, but they hadn't seen any signs indicating that Shumla was ahead.

“You think this is the right way?” Larry asked.

“I think so,” Lenny answered.

A few minutes later, they encountered a wagon loaded with furniture coming toward them. A stern-faced man was driving the wagon, a sad-faced woman sitting beside him. Back in the wagon, sitting on some of the furniture, were a young boy and a young girl.

Lenny held up a hand to stop the wagon. “Tell me, mister, we're lookin' for the town of Shumla. Is this the way?”

“Yes, it ain't no more 'n a couple miles on down this road,” the man replied, pointing back.

“Movin' are you?”

“We aren't movin'. We're bein' run away from our own home,” the woman spat out.

“What do you mean, you're bein' run off?”

“It has turned into an outlaw town,” the woman said.

“Martha, you've said enough now.” The man slapped the reins against the back of the team and the wagon started moving again.

“D'ya hear that, Larry? It must be true, what we heard,” Lenny said as they continued toward the town.

“All she said was that this here was a outlaw town. She didn't say nothin' a-tall about some feller puttin' together a gang.”

“Well, I reckon that won't be too hard to find out,” Lenny said.

Fifteen minutes later, the two men dismounted in front of the saloon. They brushed some of the dust off their clothes.

“My mouth is as dry as this sand,” Larry said. “I can damn near taste me that beer now.”

“Yeah, well, let's quit talkin' about it, and get us a beer.” Going inside, they each put a nickel on the bar and ordered a beer.

“That ain't enough,” Morris said. “It'll cost you each a quarter.”

“A quarter? Why, there ain't nowhere in the whole state of Texas where a feller has to pay a quarter for a beer.”

“There is now,” Morris said. “If you want a beer in this saloon, you'll have to pay a quarter.”

“Is there another saloon in town?”

“This is the only one.”

“This ain't right,” Lenny complained.

“If you don't like it, you can take it up with our mayor. That's him, sittin' back there with that real pale-lookin' feller. Mayor Jaco.”

“Jaco?”

“Lenny, that's the feller we're lookin' for.”

“Looks like we've found him. Give the man a quarter.”

“A quarter?” Larry scrunched up his face.

“You want a beer, don't you?”

“Well, yeah but—”

“But nothin'. Give him a quarter.” As Lenny spoke he put his own quarter on the bar. Then, with beer mugs in hand, the two approached the table where Jaco was sitting with the whitest looking man either Lenny are Larry had ever seen. They stared at him in curiosity for a moment.

“You two boys got business with me or did you just come over here to gawk at the albino?” Jaco asked.

“Oh. Uh, we got business with you. We hear you are putting together a gang.”

“And you want to join the gang?” Jaco asked.

“Yeah.”

“You ever used them guns?”

Lenny answered. “Yeah. Does it matter?”

“It matters. See that feller over there in the corner, sittin' all by hisself? I want you to walk over there and kill 'im.”

“What? Why?”

“He's plannin' to start his own gang, and I don't need the competition. If you're goin' to be in my gang, you're goin' to do what I tell you to do. I want you go over and kill 'im.”

“Want me to do it, Lenny?”

“Nah, I'm the oldest. I'll do it.”

Lenny walked over to the table, raised his pistol, and shot the unsuspecting man in the forehead. Returning his pistol to its holster, he walked back to Jaco's table.

“You boys are hired,” Jaco said.