They Rode Together (8 page)

Chapter twenty-four

There were nine ranch hands with the herd, plus the cook. They had the herd bedded down, their camp made, and a poker game just getting started.

They had drawn straws earlier, and the two losers were with the herd. They would switch with two more losers at midnight. 

The cook had just finished cleaning up after supper, and he was now stirring the coals. There was a pot of coffee off to the side, just close enough to keep the brew warm.

From the poker game, a cow-puncher asked, “Pour me a cup of that, will you?”

The cook grunted his displeasure.

Before he could reply, they heard the sound of several horses approaching.

“Hello the camp!”

The poker game came to an abrupt halt.

Everybody was on their feet, reaching for their Colts and rifles when six riders rode up to camp. They were hard looking men, especially the leader.

They didn’t wait for an invitation. They rode in close, dismounted, and formed a line in front of them.

The cow-punchers glanced uncertainly at each other. It was silent for only a few seconds, but it felt longer.

“Haven’t seen you boys around these parts,” one of the cow-punchers finally said. “Strangers, just passing through?”

The meanest looking one of the bunch smiled wolfishly.

“No. We’re hunting some cows.”

“Oh?”

He walked forward a little, spread his hands over the warmth of the coals, and grinned at the cook.

“Coffee smells good.”

“Help yourself,” the cook offered.

“Later,” he said as he glanced over at the cow-punchers. “That’s a big gathering of beef out there.”

“Sure is,” one of the cow-punchers agreed.

“Whose brand is on them?”

“J.T. Tussle’s.”

He smiled, looked back at his companions, and nodded.

“Who are you?” The cow-puncher asked suspiciously.

“That’s not important.”

“Perhaps you fellas should ride on,” the cow-puncher suggested.

“Naw. Don’t think so.”

“You won’t leave?”

He didn’t reply, and a few tense seconds passed.

He straightened back up slowly. His eyes were dark as he stared at the cow-puncher.

The cow-puncher was about to speak when suddenly, in the far distance, a shot sounded out. It came from the direction of headquarters.

“What was that?” The cow-puncher asked.

With an easy movement, Rock Bullen palmed his Colt, jumped forward, and fired.

The cow-puncher was taken by surprise, and the slug slammed into his chest and propelled him backwards.

Rock kept walking forward.

The cook stumbled backwards, but he recovered and made a grab for his rifle. However, Rock put two slugs into him before he could bring the rifle up. The cook slammed into the chuck wagon and slid to the ground.

Gunshots exploded all around as Rock’s men blasted away, and most of the cow-punchers managed to fire back.

The cow-punchers were decent shots, but they weren’t professional gunmen. Two of the outlaws went down, but all but one of the cow-punchers fell.

The last cow-puncher stumbled backwards in panic. He started to turn and run, but Rock and the men filled him with lead before he could. He jerked under the impact and fell over.

There was a momentarily lull, and then they heard the sound of a running horse. It was one of the night-riders, and he was charging the camp with his Colt in hand.

Rock was unmoved. He raised his Colt, took in a deep breath, aimed, and fired.

The slug hit the charging cow-puncher in the chest. He flipped backwards over his horse and hit the ground hard.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the herd, the second night-rider was concerned and anxious.

The sleepy herd was stirring, and several steers were struggling to their feet and bawling at the disturbance.

The confused night-rider didn’t know whether to stay or run. He spoke softly to the cattle, trying to calm them.

Suddenly, he became aware of several riders coming up behind him. The brush was thick, and he couldn’t see much.

“Who’s out there?” He raised his voice.

Nobody answered.

“Speak up!”

Still no answer.

Too late, he finally spotted them. They all held rifles, and one was taking careful aim.

The man fired before he could react, and the slug hit him in the torso. He uttered a small cry as he fell from his saddle, and his horse jumped sideways as he hit the ground.

The closest yearlings were spooked, and they started to trot off. However, the riders spread out quickly and calmed the herd.  

Back at camp, the men were checking on the downed cow-punchers. They were all dead, and Rock’s eyes were cold and unmoving as he stared at them.

He knelt by the fire, grabbed a burning branch, and tossed it into the back of the chuck wagon. Seconds later, smoke started to appear.

“All right,” he said. “Let’s get out to the herd.”

“What about these two?” One of the outlaws gestured at their two downed companions.

“They’re dead, ain’t they?”

“Yes.”

“Then we can’t do anything for them,” Rock replied. “Let’s go.”

He moved to his horse.

The outlaws glanced at each other, shrugged, and followed after him.

Chapter twenty-five

Cooper stood in the corner by the window, smiling as he watched the excitement in Wyatt’s face. Tussle was discussing the upcoming cattle drive, and Wyatt was listening intently to every word.

The rifle shot was loud, unexpected, and deafening. Everyone in the room jumped in surprise.

Cooper sprang from the corner and ran towards Josie and Wyatt. The glass behind him exploded as bullets came flying through the window.

“Get down!” Cooper shouted.

Wyatt, Josie, and Tussle fell from their chairs as broken glass sprinkled them. Meanwhile, Yancy and Jessica ran in from the kitchen, bent down low.

Yancy and Cooper held their Colts, and Tussle grabbed his new Winchester.

“Where’s James?” Tussle gasped.

“Dead,” Yancy said as he squatted next to the window beside Cooper.

More bullets came through the windows as Wyatt crawled over to Josie, and together they crawled to the farthest corner.

Jessica grabbed two rifles from the rifle cabinet and joined them. She offered one to Josie, and she grabbed it and worked the lever.

There was gunfire and screams coming from the corrals. Cooper took a peak out the window, but he ducked down as a volley of bullets splintered the window trim all around him.

“Keep down,” Yancy growled.

“We’ve got to help the fellers at the corrals,” Tussle said.

“Too late for that,” Cooper said, his voice grave.

The shooting outside stopped. They heard some movement, and a voice called out.   

“You inside! We want Tussle. Send him out and nobody else will get hurt.”

Yancy glanced at Tussle, but nobody said anything.

“This is what you’ll get if you stay in there!” The same voice said.

A sudden burst of shooting sent bullets thudding into the outside wall. Some of the bullets went through the windows and ricocheted dangerously.

The shooting eased up, and same voice said, “What’s it going to be?”

“Seems serious, don’t he,” Cooper said softly.

“Does,” Yancy agreed.

“I think he wants an answer.”

“Let’s give him one,” Yancy said. He looked at Cooper and Tussle and asked, “Ready?”

They nodded. Then, together they rose up and fired a furious volley of shots out the window.

Chapter twenty-six  

It was getting dark as Rock and his men rode to the herd.

There was still gunfire coming from headquarters, but that wasn’t their concern. They had done their job; now they needed to move the herd.

It took some persuasion, but they finally managed to get the yearlings on their feet and moving. Even then they had to push them along, and the herd began to spread out.

Suddenly, they heard running horses coming from behind. Rock shouted a warning, and he turned in the saddle with his Colt in hand.

He spotted three men a-horseback. They were running hard, and were bent over their saddles.

Flashes of flame came from their Colts, and Rock heard solid thuds as the bullets hit flesh. From the corner of his eye, Rock saw three men fall.

Rock returned the gunfire, but they were moving too fast.

The irritated yearlings broke into a stumbling run, and in a mere matter of seconds complete confusion broke out as the herd split in several directions.

Bawling yearlings ran all around Rock’s horse as he tried to find a target. But his nervous horse wouldn’t stand still, and he had to fight to keep him under control.

Bullets were still whining all around him.

Rock saw another man fall, and then the man beside him screamed, threw his hands up, and disappeared underneath his horse.

Rock cursed as his horse stumbled.

He was thrown forward as his horse fought for footing. He thought he was going down, but the terrified animal somehow managed to regain his footing.

Rock pulled himself back into the saddle and looked around. Two more men had gone down, and Rock decided he’d had enough. 

“Let’s clear out!” He yelled.

His men needed no further encouragement.

Raking their horses with their spurs, they headed north. Spooked yearlings were still running all around, and they had to maneuver through the herd. But they finally got clear of the yearlings, and they ran their horses wide open.

Rondo, Lee, and Brian did not pursue them. Instead, they pulled up and reloaded.

“Everybody all right?” Rondo asked.

Lee and Brian nodded.

Gunfire was still coming from headquarters, and Rondo looked concerned.

“Sounds like more trouble,” he said.

“Let’s go have a look,” Lee suggested.

Rondo took off in a lope, and Lee and Brian followed. 

Chapter twenty-seven

They rode in unseen from behind the corrals.

There were lifeless bodies scattered around the corrals; all shot down unarmed. It was a sobering sight, and Rondo felt a rage building in him.

All of the gunfire was coming from the main house.

They could see several outlaws, hunkered down, firing furiously at the windows and doors. There was also steady gunfire being returned from the house.

“Tussle’s putting up a fight,” Lee said softly.

“Sounds like he has help,” Rondo added.

“What are we gonna do?” Brian spoke up.

Rondo looked around and gestured at the herd of horses that were milling in the dry lot.

Lee and Brian understood, and they nodded curtly.

The outlaws were so intent on the house, they failed to notice as Rondo rode over to the gate and swung it open.

The terrified horses needed no encouragement. As soon as they saw the opening, they ran wildly out the gate.

With their Colts drawn, Rondo, Lee, and Brian flanked them and turned them towards the main house.

The outlaws heard the pounding of hooves. They stopped shooting, and most of them stood and spun around.

But the shooting from the house never stopped, and most of outlaws that stood were riddled with lead and flung violently to the ground.

Those that were left panicked as their horses broke free and joined in with the running horses.

They ran after their mounts, and everybody from the house fired steadily at them, as did Rondo, Lee, and Brian.

One outlaw after another went down, and the horses trampled another one.

Butch was the only one who reached his horse. The animal was terrified, but he managed to swing on.

Soon as he hit the saddle, the horse broke into a dead run. Bullets flew by his head, and this made the horse run even faster. Butch ducked and hung on as they made their escape.

By now the rest of the horses had cleared out, and all shooting stopped.

It was over.

Lee, Rondo, and Brian trotted their horses back to the main house, and they were surprised when Yancy and Cooper walked out, followed by Tussle, Josie, Jessica, and Wyatt.

Yancy narrowed his eyes at Lee, but nobody said anything. Instead, it was silent as everybody looked around.

It was a sobering scene. There were dead bodies scattered everywhere, both good and bad.

“Where’d you fellows come from?” Tussle finally broke the silence.

“We were trying to save your herd,” Rondo explained. “We came soon as we could.”

“They hit the herd too?” Tussle asked.

Rondo nodded somberly.

“How bad?”

“Bad,” Rondo’s voice was subdued. “We couldn’t get there in time. They killed them all.”

Tussle was obviously shaken, and he shook his head in disbelief as he tried to grasp the situation.

“The herd?” He asked, his voice hoarse.

“Scattered all over.”

Tussle turned and walked over to the porch railing.

There was no reason to say anything; the look on Tussle’s face said it all.