Sharon Poppen (14 page)

He smiled. “I was going to look away before you got much further.” He turned his back and reached for his socks and boots.

Without stopping to eat, the pair hurried to the livery. A young man was sitting at a table just inside the door. He wiped away the last of his breakfast on his sleeve and grabbed a mug of coffee as he came to his feet. “Name’s Zach, can I help ya with somethin’?’

“I hope so.” Liam smiled. “We’re looking for someone.”

“Can’t help ya with someone. Only got critters here.”

“So I see, but critters are owned or rented by someone.”

“Reckon ya got me there. Who’s it yer lookin’ for?”

“A young woman.” Hannah stepped into the conversation. “A blond by the name of Martha.”

A flash of concern crossed Zach’s face before he managed a shrug. “Rent or board too many horses to ‘member each and everybody.”

Liam stepped back and latched the door. “That right? Maybe you need some help remembering.”

“Hey, whatcha doin’ there?” Zach set his coffee down and took a couple of steps back.

Hannah touched Liam’s arm. “Please. We mean you no harm. It’s just very important that we find Martha. When we said her name, your face gave you away. We think you do know her.”

Zach’s brows knitted, but he stayed his ground. “What’s yer interest in Martha?”

“We think she may be in trouble.” Hannah and Liam waited and watched Zach ponder their remarks. Hannah sighed in relief at his answer.

“I think so, too.” He nodded and continued. “She come in here night before last, matter of fact, ‘twas the middle of the night. Had a baby with her. Now those girls are right plump, but I’m pretty sure she didn’t born this baby.”

“You’re sure?” Hannah asked.

“Whole town woulda known if one of them girls was knocked ..., ah ..., with child.” He kicked at the dirt and straw at his feet. “Fact, it’s a wonder old Ketchum ...”

Liam and Hannah exchanged glances. It was obvious Zach cared about the girls. They could only hope it was deep enough for him to open up and trust them.

Liam began, “Listen. We talked with Janey last night. And you’re right, there are some things going on at the hotel that need fixing, but first we need to find Martha and that baby. Janey’s worried about her. She trusted us with some information and we offered to help find her.”

“Bastard Ketchum. I knew it.” He paused and picked up his coffee. After a swig, he asked, “How can I help?”

“Did she rent a horse, a carriage?” Hannah asked.

“A horse. She had me help her fashion a sling outta an old sheet so’s she could hold the baby against her chest while she rode.”

“Did she take any supplies? Did the baby seem all right?”

“Baby slept through the whole thing. Never made a peep. Martha had a pillow case full of stuff, but I couldn’t see what was in it.”

“Did she say who the baby belonged to?”

He shook his head. “Nope. Wanted to ask in the worst way, but there’s some thing’s ya don’t ask. Ya think she’s in trouble?”

“We hope not.” The tone of Hannah’s voice was not convincing. “Did she say where she was going?”

“Not exactly.”

“Exactly what did she say?” Liam asked.

“She asked if the horse she rented would be able to swim across the San Antonio just south of town and where would be the best place to cross?”

“Could the horse manage?” Liam asked.

“Sure. She rented herself our best mare, Rosy. Rosy’ll take her anywhere she wants to go. Told her about a mile outta town the road turns east. Told her ‘twas a shallow crossin’ area ‘cause the river’s wide there. Say, if she wanted to cross the river, she’d be heading west. That help any?”

“It does. How long did she say she’d have the horse?” Hannah asked

“Paid for a week, thirty-five dollars. Wouldna rented it to most folks for that long, but I trust Martha.”

“Thirty-five dollars? That’s a lot of money. Martha usually have that kind of money.”

“Ya know, ma’am. Surely did surprise me that she had that and more, ‘cause I saw some more bills when she opened her purse to pay me. Was curious that’s for sure, but didn’t seem right just comin’ out and askin’ ‘bout it.”

Hannah agreed. “No, it would have been awkward. But, you’ve helped us a lot. Now, will you get our horses? We need to move fast if we have any hope of finding her.”

“Whoa there!” Liam butted in. “I need some food before we go riding out to God knows where.” He put up a hand to stop her response. “And, you do too.” He turned to Zach. “Get our horses ready, saddled and all. We’ll be back in about an hour.”

“I’ll have ‘em ready.”

“Liam, really we need –

“Hannah, we need to eat.” Liam took her arm and guided her toward the door. They almost ran into someone as they exited. After making excuses to the new arrival, the couple headed for the hotel.

“Hey, boy,” the new arrival greeted Zach who had already started back toward the stalls that housed Liam and Hannah’s horses.

Zach turned, expecting to see a cowpoke, and was surprised to find a dandy all dressed up in a suit, tie and fancy shoes. A gambler, Zach decided.

“Need a horse.”

“For how long?”

“Don’t know.”

“Sorry, sir. Can’t rent one for that long. Got a couple you can buy.”

“That’ll be fine. Let’s see them.”

After Zach turned and motioned for him to follow, the dandy latched the livery door. He reached into his pocket where he carried a small Derringer. He slipped his finger behind the trigger, but kept the gun in his pocket as he followed Zach toward the back of the stable.

Zach stopped, leaned against a center post and pointed to a couple of mares nosing each other thru the bars of their stalls. He’d heard the dandy latch the door and was prepared for trouble. When he’d first taken the livery job a few years ago, he’d been roughed up by unruly or drunken cowpokes a couple of times, before hiding several guns amidst the oats and tack.

“Here ya go. What’da ya think? They’s good stock.” Zach jammed his hand into a burlap sack of oats hanging on the post, clutched his Colt revolver and slid his finger into place. He turned to face the dandy. The hand in the pocket didn’t surprise him. In fact, he was relieved because he knew he could shoot right thru the sack whereas the dandy would have to draw his gun.

The dandy walked over to get a closer look and Zach saw his arm move.

“Wouldn’t do that if’n I was ya,” Zach advised.

“And why not?” The dandy’s smirk quickly faded as he turned to see the unmistakable barrel of a gun protruding from the grain sack.

“Ya’d be dead or in bad shape before ya even got that baby gun otta yer pocket. That’s why? Now turn yer back to me and pull yer hand otta yer pocket real slow, and then raise botha them over yer head.” Zach had played enough poker to recognize an opponent’s moment of decision and hoped this fella would fold his cards.

The dandy scowled, but did as he was told. Zach pulled his gun from the sack, but kept it leveled at the dandy.

“Now turn back around here and tell me what’s so all fired important that ya’d shoot a man to get a horse.”

“Well, pardner,” the dandy shuffled his feet a bit and hesitated a moment. “See, it’s sort of an embarrassing situation I’ve gotten myself into.”

“I’m listenin’.”

The gambler shrugged and offered Zach a you-got-me look. “I’m broke.”

“And?”

“I need to leave town.”

“And”

“I’m embarrassed to say, my luck at cards ran out last night and I’ve no money to rent or buy a horse.”

Zach held his tongue. He’d found that when dealing with folks, if you kept your own mouth shut and let them do all the talking, the listener had a better chance of finding out the truth. 

“Hell,” the gambler said, “I wouldn’t have shot you.”

“Do I look like a fool?” Zach spit some tobacco juice and kept his gun at the ready.

“No, you look like a good judge of character.” He extended his hand, which Zach ignored. “My name’s Ben. Honestly, do I look like a killer? All I was going to do was tie you up, take a horse and ride off. I was planning on sending you a fair price for the animal when my luck improved.”

“Sure you was,” Zach snarled.

“I was.”

Zach detected a great deal of menace in the dandy’s demeanor and his gut told him to take the varmint over to the sheriff. But then, he’d have to close down the livery. Lord knows when he’d get back and that nice young couple wanted their horses. He went against his better judgment and decided to settle for running the dandy off.

Zach motioned toward the door with the barrel of his gun. “Well, Mr. Ben Honest. Keep your hands up and start walkin’ toward that door. I’m gonna let ya walk. I’m not gonna call the sheriff. Just get yer hind end outta here.”

The dandy hurried to the door and unlatched it. He glanced back at Zach who’d followed him to just inside the livery door. “Look, can’t you see your way to –

“Git, I said.”

The dandy turned and almost ran into Hannah. Without a word of apology, he hurried away.

Coming in out of the bright sunlight, Hannah and Liam found themselves targets.

“What’s this all about?” Liam asked as he moved in front of Hannah.

Zach lowered his gun. “Damn …, uh excuse me ma’am. That feller that nearly run over ya just tried to steal a horse from me.”

“Steal a horse?” Hannah asked.

“Yep. Mean hombre. Tried to pull a baby gun on me.”

“Baby gun?” Liam asked.

“Yeah. One a those little ones with a fancy handle.”

“A Derringer?”

“Yeah, that’s it.”

“Did he say why?”

“Nope. Just said he’d done lost all his money and needed to get away. Swore he intended to pay me back, but I could see that was a lie.”

A commotion rose out on the street and people could be heard yelling. Zach, Liam and Hannah hurried outside to see a man in front of the general store yelling for the sheriff as a crowd of cowboys began to gather around him. One of the cowboys turned and rushed down the street.

Liam called out, “What’s happened?”

A young cowboy under a large new Stetson kept moving, but called out. “Some dude done stole our horses.”

“Sheeit, the bastard done it.” Zach blushed and nodded to Hannah. “Sorry, ma’am. I knew I shouda walked ole Ben Honest right over to the sheriff.”

“Did you say Ben?” Hannah asked.

“Yeah, he said his name was Ben, and then asked if I ‘honestly’ thought he’d a killed me.”

“Liam, Sarah said the baby’s father’s name was Ben.”

“You’re right.” Liam watched the sheriff emerge from his office and head toward the crowd. “Hannah, can you help get our horses ready while I wander over and listen to what’s going on?”

She took a few steps in the direction of the crowd, but Liam touched her arm.

“Please? Get the horses. You’d be the only woman over there. You’d distract the conversation. I think I’d hear more without you being there.”

She sighed, gave Liam an I’m-not-liking-this scowl, and went back into the livery.

“Help her,” Liam told Zach.

As Liam walked toward the crowd, Zach called to him. “Watch yerself. He’s one evil hombre. Ya can see it in his eyes. Ya hear?”

“Yes, I hear you. I’ll watch my step. Go help Hannah. I have a feeling we’re going to need those horses as soon as I get back.”

Liam moved to the edge of a mob numbering about a dozen and the sheriff who was trying to get everyone to stop talking so he could ask some questions.

As a last resort, the lawman pulled his pistol from his holster and held it above his head. “Don’t want to fire this thing, but I will. Unless, ya’ll shut up so I can get a grip on the situation.

The men quieted down.

“Now, whose horse got taken?”

“Ours.” Three young cowboys, barely out of their teens, stepped out of the crowd.

“Three horses?”

A red shirted youngster became the spokesmen. “Yeah, sheriff. We was coming out of the general store and I saw a fella sitting atop my horse. All duded up. Looked like a gambler or something. No hat. I yelled for him to git off, but he turned and rode off. Had the reins of my pardners’ horses so he towed them along with him. Never said a word. Just rode off. Right fast, too.”

“You didn’t take a shot at him?” the sheriff asked.

“Naw,” said red shirt. “Our foreman said it wasn’t a good idea to go into town wearing pistols just to pick up supplies. All we had was our rifles, and they was on our horses.”

“Who’s your foreman?”

“Dick Granger. From the Stanfield spread over near Carrizo Springs. We was to pick up some stallions on tomorrow’s train from Kansas City. Buck here,” he pointed to the cowboy wearing a new Stetson, “ain’t never been to San Antonio and he done lost his hat two days ago in that dust storm. Old Dick sent us so’s he could get a new one and to get some supplies and some …, well …”