Kindred Spirits
Part 1
It was late afternoon. Chris and Vin were headed to the saloon when they saw three gorgeous horses tied up outside the general store. The tallest was a stallion, almost completely black. The mare looked similar but with white patches on the backs of both ears. The smallest was a colt that was a uniform dark gray. They were laden with a few supplies and saddlebags. The two men walked across the street to get a better look. These kinds of animals were unusual in a small town like Four Corners. Few people could afford such horses.
Vin began to pat the stallion.
"These animals musta cost a fortune, Chris. You seen them around before?"
"No. Must be someone new in town. Pretty well off by the look of it," the older man replied as he admired the workmanship of the saddle.
Both men looked up as Mary Travis and a young woman walked out of the store. Neither of the men recognized the young lady. She was rather tall with thick auburn hair and she was wearing a split skirt meant for riding.
"Well, thank you for your help Mrs. Travis"
"Please, call me Mary." The young lady just smiled and nodded. Both women noticed Vin and Chris and walked over.
Vin and Chris stepped aside as the young lady came to let the beautiful black stallion eat something out of her hand while whispering in its ear. She looked up and Mrs. Travis said, "Mr. Larabee, Mr. Tanner let me introduce you to Anne Spencer. Anne, Chris Larabee and Vin Tanner."
"You have some beautiful horses, Miss Spencer," said Vin as the stallion finished whatever Anne had been feeding him and began to nose around his coat.
"You must've mentioned that to Gawain here. You've certainly gotten on his good side and the best way to do that is to stroke his vanity. Don't worry, he’s just looking for some more ginger snaps." said Anne as Gawain began to nudge the former bounty hunter more vigorously.
"Stop bothering Mr. Tanner, love. I've got some more right here." Anne began to pull some more cookies out of a bag and Gawain immediately lost interest in Vin's coat."How old is the colt, Miss Spencer?", asked Chris. "Smoke is about seven months. He was my father's favorite. And the lady of the group is Alexandra. She's Gawain's sister." Anne began to stroke the mare. "I'm gonna run and get cleaned up. You guys be good." She turned to Mrs. Travis.
"Thanks again Mary. Mr. Tanner. Mr. Larabee." Miss Spencer nodded to them all and walked off in the direction of the hotel.
"Where would a young woman on her own get horses like these?", wondered Vin.
"Anne tells me her father was head trainer at a very large horse ranch in Southern Minnesota. When he died she was left the horses that he owned. Apparently he was quite well known for his skill with breeding," explained Mrs. Travis.
"Spencer.... Spencer... I recognize the name. He used to show and sell horses all over. I saw him once at a county fair in Indiana. People said that he talked to his animals and they understood. So that's his daughter." said Chris. He sounded somewhat impressed although it was hard to tell from his usual stoic expression. "Is she planning to stay in town?"
"I'm not sure," answered Mary. "She did ask where the livery was. I hope she decides to stay awhile. She seems a very nice young woman. Well, gentleman, I have some work to do." She inclined her head and went off toward her office.
Chris began to continue on to the saloon. When he noticed that Vin wasn't following he turned and said, "You plannin on joining me, cowboy?" Vin turned suddenly as if Chris had interrupted his thoughts.
"Yeah," he replied and both men walked into the saloon.
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Chris and Vin were still in the saloon about an hour later. Buck and J.D. had joined them for a hand of poker.
"When are Nathan and Josiah getting back from the reservation?", asked Buck.
"Nathan said that since the injuries to that girl were serious they shouldn't get back until tomorrow," answered Chris as a young boy came running into the saloon.
The men recognized him as one of the stable boys from the livery. "Some fool lady bet Mr Langley that she could mount that new horse he bought. He took her up on it and now she's gonna get herself killed." The boy ran back outside, obviously not wanting to miss seeing someone get thrown around.
Some men in the saloon just laughed. Nobody was fool enough to mess with that devil of a horse, certainly not a woman. Chris and Vin just looked at each other and got up to follow the boy.
"I hate it when they do that," said Buck. J.D. just laughed and went after Buck as he followed the other men to the corral behind the livery.
By the time they all arrived a large crowd had gathered around to see the spectacle. Anne Spencer had climbed over the fence and was slowly approaching an enormous chestnut horse. That horse had become infamous in town because it was such a stupid buy on the part of the livery. Few people could get near him and those who had actually gotten on had been immediately thrown to the ground.
J.D. caught sight of Ezra and pointed him out to the others. It was no surprise to see him placing some wagers. Chris just shrugged his shoulders and all the men returned their attention to the young lady as she drew closer to the horse.
"It's certainly not helping to have this large crowd around", said Vin as he watched the scene with concern.
Anne was only about a foot away from the animal when she raised her arms. The horse looked at her with curiosity. She got close enough to touch the horse and everyone held their breath. She began to stroke the horse and speak in a low voice. The livery owner's smile dropped away when he saw that the animal didn't seem to mind the young woman. In fact, the horse began to nuzzle her shoulder. She continued to speak into its ear and then she slowly grabbed ahold of the horse's mane and swung herself onto his back.
The animal looked somewhat stunned that someone was on him but he didn't look angry. Anne kept rubbing the animal's neck until she slowly slid herself down. She walked to the horse's head and kissed him on the nose before approaching the livery owner and putting out her hand. He looked somewhat chagrined as he handed over five dollars.
Some of the people in the crowd cheered while others looked disappointed that nothing had happened. Anne climbed over the fence and gave Ezra a smile before she went inside the stables with the owner of the livery. Chris and Vin looked at each other and at the other two men. Buck was laughing and J.D. just looked stunned. All the men turned as Ezra walked over thumbing through a small pile of bills.
"Well, gentlemen, that was an extremely profitable little encounter."
"Why in the world did you bet on that girl?", exclaimed J.D. knowing that Ezra rarely risked his money unless he was sure of the return.
"I was on my way to partake in some liquid refreshment when I heard some raised voices coming from inside the livery. I entered only to find that the livery owner was making a bet with a lovely young woman. It seemed that five dollars had been wagered over her ability to mount that questionable horse. As she walked by I asked why in heaven's name she wished to approach such an animal and she said it was the only way that she could gain employment with the livery. As our discussion continued I grew increasingly aware that she was extremely confidant in her abilities. I surmised from her behavior that her confidence was not unfounded. Betting the money was not such a great risk." Ezra ended his little speech with a smile and continued to count the money as Anne Spencer came out of the stable with a smile on her face.
"I'm glad to see that you are happy with your bet, Mr. Standish. I expect you won against some great odds."
"You performed impeccably Miss Spencer. I shall have to buy you a drink. May I also introduce you to J.D. Dunne and Buck Wilmington?", answered the gambler.
Buck tipped his hat and J.D. asked, "That was amazing, Miss! How did you do that?"
"I just told him that I thought he was a wonderful horse and that I would appreciate it if he'd let me on his back for a bit. I was somewhat nervous about all the people gathering around but nothing could be done about that. Now Mr. Langley has hired me to train his horse and that kind of publicity should bring me other work," Anne said.
"That was very impressive, Miss Spencer. Your father must've taught you well." said Chris.
"You know of him? My Da was the best horseman in five states," replied Anne as she beamed with pride.
"Where will you stay, Miss Spencer?", asked Vin.
"Mr. Langley is providing me with a room above his tack room. If I continue to work for him it might bring in some business to his stables since I have been trained to care for many common horse illnesses."
"Yes, if he has someone of your skill, more people will bring their business here. Very shrewd of you, Miss Spencer. May I escort you to your rooms? It is becoming quite late." Ezra offered his arm and Anne Spencer took it with a laugh.
"Thank you Mr. Standish. I would like that. Good Evening, gentlemen." Anne bestowed a smile on all of them before she walked away with Ezra. Buck turned to watch them go and began to chuckle again.
"I can't wait to see Mr Langley's face when it gets around that he lost five dollars to a woman in a bet."
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Early the next morning Vin planned to take a short ride to clear his head. As he approached the stables he heard a soft alto voice coming from one of the stalls. Anne Spencer was brushing Gawain and singing to him softly while she worked. When she caught sight of him she smiled as he tipped his hat.
"Good Morning Mr. Tanner. I was just planning on taking him for a ride to look around. Would you like to join me?"
Vin agreed and got his horse ready. As they passed the limits of the town, it seemed as though a large weight had lifted from his shoulders. Anne got a glint in her eye and said to her mount, "You sure are fidgety today, love. Let's have a run." Without warning Anne spurred the horse on and the animal sprinted for the horizon. Vin smiled and urged his horse to follow.
They raced like this for a few miles until the horses began to gleam with sweat.
Both riders got down to walk the horses. They walked in companionable silence until Vin asked, "I hear you're from Minnesota."
"Yes. I worked with my father until he passed away. I stayed on for awhile but eventually I just had to get away."
"You sound a little homesick."
"There only one thing I really miss, other than my Da. Every once in awhile I’d ride up to my grandparent’s house. There was this spot just past their property that was an old growth forest. The trees were huge and the leaves were so thick that it was always cool and shadowy. I used to go and sit for hours, just listening to the sound of quiet. It was like a cathedral. It was so peaceful to have no one around to intrude…… I’m sorry. I do start to ramble."
"That’s alright. I know exactly what you mean.
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The next morning Josiah and Nathan were busy putting supplies away in the makeshift hospital while J.D. described last night's events with great enthusiasm.
"And then she just slipped off and the horse barely twitched. It was amazing."
"That horse did seem possessed at times. It's too bad we missed it all," said Josiah.
"Well, if she’s experienced with horse medicine I’d really like to speak with her," said the young healer. Just then Anne and Vin entered the room.
"Nathan, Josiah, I’d like you to meet Anne Spencer. Anne, this is the famous doctor I told you about," said Vin indicating Nathan with a smile.
"I’m no such thing, ma’am. It’s very nice to meet you though. J.D. was just telling us of your demonstration last night."
"Well, I’m sure he’s embellished it quite a bit. I’m pleased to meet both of you. Vin tells me that you have quite good equipment here. I’d love to see all of it."
Nathan began to give Anne a tour of his facilities and the other men left them to pour over the various pieces. "She seems very charming, Vin," said Josiah.
"She is."
The ex-preacher just smiled.
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The next morning found Anne at Mary’s home helping with the week’s ironing and chatting away.
"So how do you like our little town so far, Anne?", asked Mary.
"It’s been interesting. The people are a little wary of me but polite. But I was wondering about Mr. Larabee and the other men. They don’t exactly strike me as a likely bunch to stay in one place for long."
Mary told the story of how this varied group of individuals came to stay in Four Corners and Anne nodded. "I see. That explains a lot."
"What do you think of them now that you know a little bit more?", asked the older woman.
Anne thought a bit before she answered. "Both Josiah and Nathan have been very nice. Nathan was kind enough to let me fiddle with some of his equipment. Mr. Dunne and Mr. Wilmington haven’t been around much but Mr. Dunne reminds me of my brother with all of his enthusiasm. Mr. Larabee is somewhat intimidating but everyone seems to respect him a lot. Ezra has been fun to talk to. It’s very entertaining just to listen to him."
"And Mr. Tanner?"
"Vin reminds me of a horse that used to hang around our ranch. It was the most beautiful wild mustang. One morning we woke up to find this strange animal in the field. He was in pretty bad shape. Da figured that he’d been caught in a storm. We fixed him up and expected that he’d leave but he hung around for awhile and fathered a few colts. Then he’d disappear for weeks and then come back. It was like he was pulled in two directions."
"I expect that’s a very accurate description of Mr. Tanner," Mary said. Both the women began their work again, each absorbed in her own thoughts.
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That night Nathan and Anne were walking toward the livery, talking about some new surgical procedure, when the young stable boy came out. "Miss Spencer, Mr. Kyle was just here. He asked me to tell you that his mare has gone into labor and she’s not doing real good. He wants you to head out to his place."
"I’d be happy to assist, Miss Spencer," offered Nathan.
"I’d be glad of it. Let’s get on out there," said Anne as she hurried into the stables.
As they were heading out to the Kyle place they came across Vin who had been gone for a couple of days for no particular reason.
"Where are you headed in such a hurry?", he asked.
"Mr. Kyle needs some help with a horse in labor. You wanna join us?", offered Nathan.
Vin nodded his assent and they resumed their quick pace.
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When the three of them entered the Kyle’s stable the mare was already sweating with effort as she lay in some hay. Anne rushed to the horse’s side and placed her hands on the mare’s belly. As she moved her palms across the mare a worried look stole over her face.
"The colt is faced the wrong way. I’m gonna have to help it turn around."
She moved over to a bucket of water to wash her hands while Nathan asked the worried rancher to run and get some rags. Anne rolled up her sleeves and directed the men to their tasks.
"Nathan, I’ll need your help to keep the blood flow down. Vin, please hold her head and try to keep her as calm as possible."
The young woman reached her arms in to grab a hold of the young colt. As she slowly maneuvered the slippery mess, the rancher came back with some rags and Nathan began to apply pressure to some torn tissues. Anne was quite worried that the mother would lose too much blood or that the colt would become tangled and strangle itself. Then she heard Vin’s soft, low voice as he spoke to the mare and she began to calm down and concentrate on her work. Their eyes met and Vin smiled before returning his attention back to the mare.
About fifteen minutes later a slick little bundle of legs slipped out and tried to stand up. The humans backed away, exhausted, to let the colt and his mother be. All of them were tired and a complete mess but they had large smiles as the mare began to lick her child.
Part 2
Harm's Way
The sun was just coming up over the horizon and beginning to melt away the slight mist left from the night before. Anne Spencer was in the corral behind the livery attaching a long line to the bridle of a huge chestnut horse. She was wearing her usual split skirt and her dark auburn hair was braided in a long rope.
As she worked Vin Tanner passed by on his way to the livery to stable his horse. He had spent the previous few days sleeping on the ground and wandering around the countryside. He stopped as he reached the corral and got down from his horse to watch the young woman work, mesmerized.
As soon as she finished with the bridle, she spoke to the horse for a moment and then backed away with one end of the line in her hands. She made a sharp noise and the horse began a brisk trot around her in a circle. She crouched down to watch the movement of the animal’s legs. As she turned in time with the horse she caught sight of Vin and smiled.
"Whoa there, love." Anne said as she pulled steadily on the line. She tied the horse to the fence and walked over to where Vin was standing.
"Isn’t it a little early to be working?" he asked.
"Usually. But Diablo listens to me more before everyone gets up. All the people are distracting. For now we work very early. Maybe as he gets used to people a little more he’ll be calmer."
"Diablo? That’s a very fitting name." Said Vin as he watched the horse look at him with suspicion. "I’d better leave you two alone. He doesn’t seem to like me."
"Nah. He’s just wary of everyone. It’s gonna take a lot of work ‘til he’s fit for sale."
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Later that morning, Vin was in a chair leaning back against a wall cleaning his gun when Chris and Josiah approached. They looked concerned and immediately Vin sat up straighter to await whatever bad news was coming.
"What’s up, boys? You look worried." the young sharpshooter inquired.
"We got a telegram from Landon. It seems that some horses have been stolen and one young man was killed at a small farm a few days ago." replied Josiah.
"We’d better keep a lookout. I’d like to take a ride around the canyons and see if we can find any signs of a camp." said Chris.
Vin stood up and nodded. All three men went to get their horses and the others.
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It was near noon and Anne Spencer was talking with Mr. Langley about some horses that needed to be taken to a rancher up north.
"Which horses are we taking up?" asked Anne.
"Those five that are tied up in the back. McCabe lives a couple days north of here and he wants them delivered right away. I’ve also asked Jim and Will to ride up with you," replied her employer.
"We should be able to handle it. See ya in four days." said Anne before she went to the stables to saddle Gawain and get some supplies together.
There she saw Jim and Will and nodded to them. They replied with a grunt. They still aren’t sure if they trust me to do a man’s job she thought. It irked her to be stared at like some insect but all she could do was give it time.
After all the preparations had been made, Anne and the two men untied the horses they were delivering and set out to the north.
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That night Anne and her companions tied up the horses and set about making camp. After the fire was started, Anne unrolled her blanket near the log where Gawain was tied. She didn’t figure that the men would be comfortable with her too close. It was a little colder here away from the fire but she didn’t mind. Anne lay down, pulled up the covers and promptly fell asleep.
She awoke to find that her horse had begun nudging her shoulder. It was very dark and from the position of the moon she guessed it was very early in the morning.
"What’s the problem, love? I’m trying to sleep here." She stood up to pat the horse. Then she heard some voices. She heard Jim say something. She could barely make out the two men in the low light of the fire. Then a loud whinny broke the calm. A few shots were fired and she saw Jim fall to the ground.
"Get the animals, idiot." said a rough voice. Anne saw a large man come out of the woods. Will ran at him but was struck down with the butt of the man’s gun. She began to untie Gawain when a hand reached out to grab her from behind. She struggled but he was too strong.
"Well, lookie what we got here. Hey, John! I look what I found." shouted her captor.
The fire was stirred and grew brighter. A large man with a scraggly beard looked her up and down and said, "Bring her on over Billie. "
Anne reacted instinctually. She elbowed Billie in the gut and ran for her horse. She heard his grunt of pain and then she used the log to boost herself onto Gawain’s bare back. She held tight to his mane and kicked hard. Gawain began to run. Anne saw a large log in their path and braced herself while her horse sailed over it and continued to bolt toward home. She heard two loud blasts and felt a sharp pain in her side.
The horse thieves watched her slight form fall from the horse. Gawain continued to run, spooked by the blast of the guns.
"We got her. By the time anyone comes looking we’ll be long gone." said John.
"Damn. I was hoping we could keep her." whined Billie.
"Shut up and gather the horses. It’s too bad we didn’t get hers but it can’t be helped."
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Chris and the others returned from their expedition the next morning and went into the saloon to get a well-deserved drink.
"No sign of a camp between here and Landon. Maybe they left the area." suggested Nathan.
"I don’t think so. They only took a few horses from that small farm, not enough to make a big profit. They’ll be back." said Chris.
"I’m gonna head over to the livery to let them know about the thieves." said Vin before downing his drink and heading out the door.
"Yeah right. He just wants an excuse to go talk to Miss Spencer." said J.D.
"You’re not as dumb as you look, kid." replied Buck.
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As Vin passed the corral he saw Gawain picking at some grass outside the fence. Puzzled, he walked over to the animal and said, "What are you doin’ out here, boy? Anne wouldn’t just let you wander."
When he entered the stable he found one of the young boys who worked there mucking out a stall.
"Have you seen Miss Spencer, son?"
"No sir. She and Jim and Will Conner left yesterday to bring some horses up to the McCabe ranch. Why?"
Vin ran from the livery. When he reached the saloon he caught the other men as they were leaving. Chris stopped immediately and asked, "What’s wrong?"
"Anne left yesterday with the Conner boys to bring some horses to a ranch up north but her horse is grazing out behind the corral. It doesn’t take much figure what happened."
The men all went to their horses and headed north in a cloud of dust.
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As they came upon a stand of trees Vin stopped.
"They stayed here for the night." He got down from his horse to approach the remains of the fire. He saw the bodies of the Conner boys laying on the ground and began to search frantically for signs of Anne.
Nathan bent down to check the bodies of the young men. He just shook his head. Jim had been shot in the chest. Will had a severe head wound and no pulse. "If we’d only gotten here sooner……"
Nathan was pulling some blankets over the bodies when Vin called out, "Nathan! Hurry!"
All the men rushed toward the call and came upon Vin kneeling near the body of Anne Spencer with a haunted look on his face. "Nathan?"
The young healer checked out the young lady. He felt her forehead and frowned. "The gunshot wound’s not real bad but it’s gotten infected. She’s running a very high fever. We’ve got to get her back to town."
"Vin, you and Nathan look after Miss Spencer. We’ll follow the men who did this." Chris said.
Nathan picked up the Anne’s limp body while Vin mounted his horse. Nathan handed the young woman up to him. Vin started back to town as fast as he dared. Nathan mounted and followed not far behind. Vin could feel the waves of heat coming from Anne. His face looked grim as he spurred his horse to go a little faster.
When they reached town they left the horses in the street. Nathan led the way into the hospital and cleared the bed. Vin laid Anne down and backed away to let his friend work. "What can I do?" he asked.
Nathan sent him for various supplies. "And get Mrs. Travis while you’re at it."
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Chris and the others continued on the trail of the horse thieves.
"Why did you send Mr. Tanner back to town? He could be of great assistance." said Ezra.
"I don’t want him doin’ something stupid when we find these men." replied Chris with grim determination. "And we will find them."
They followed the tracks of a large group of horses until they reached a gully where the river came through. The bluffs rose high on either side of the water. The tracks led down to the riverbed and the men began to follow them down river. A few hours later the sun was high and the heat had grown oppressive. All of the men sagged a little in their saddles.
Chris had many thoughts running through his mind as he scanned the ground for signs of the herd. He began to worry that they had missed the spot where the thieves had left the water. Buck called out from the other side of the river.
"Chris, there isn’t much sign left but I think they headed off here." Buck pointed to a few faint prints in the sand.
Without a word the men urged their animals up the bank and started off to the east.
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Anne awoke to see Mary Travis sitting beside her on the bed. She blinked a few times until everything came into focus. There was a dull throbbing in her side and wisps of her hair were matted to her forehead with sweat. Mrs. Travis noticed the patient had awakened.
"How are you feeling, dear?"
"Sticky and sore. Where am I?" asked Anne.
Mary looked up as Nathan returned with some cold water from the rain barrel outside.
"You’re back in town. Vin found your horse wandering around the livery. We brought you back here as fast as we could," said Nathan.
"Did you find the Conners? How are they?"
"They were dead when we arrived. Another two lives to add to the list of charges." Nathan explained about the thieves while Mrs. Travis helped Anne to sit up.
"Where is Vin?" asked Anne.
"He was just pacing and it began to drive me nuts. He rode to find the others and help them track down the thieves."
+ + + + + + +
Chris and the other men were laying on their stomachs in the dirt. They had finally come upon the thieves’ camp. A large herd of horses was milling around inside a makeshift fence. About ten men could be seen gathered around a fire and drinking. Josiah heard a sound and turned with his gun ready. Vin crept out of the shadows. Josiah sighed and asked, "How’s the young lady doin’?"
"Nathan says she’ll be fine."
Chris turned and the men gathered together.
"We didn’t figure on so large a group but that shouldn’t be a problem."
"Ten to six. Them odds are just fine with me." said Buck with a grin.
The men whispered for a few moments and then split up quietly to surround the murderers’ camp. Vin took position just west of the fire near the horses. He saw the faint forms of his friends move through the night. J.D. moved close to the fence that was holding the horses. He quietly lifted the latch and swung the door opened. He let out a loud yell and fired his gun once.
The horses panicked and began to run. They jostled one another and ran in all directions. The men around the fire grabbed their guns and stood. The confusion increased after some of the horses ran through the camp and trampled some of the thieves. After many of the animals had run into the woods, Chris and the others came out with guns drawn. Only a few of the bandits were stupid enough to start firing. The six friends returned fire and some of the thieves fell to the ground. Those left standing raised their hands in surrender and Buck and Ezra collected their guns.
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The next morning Anne was well enough to sit up on her own and she listened as Vin and Ezra explained what had happened.
"A few of the scoundrels have blood on their hands while others are only being charged with horse theft. They have been taken to the jail in Landon to await sentencing." said Ezra as he ended the tale.
"All the horses were found?"
The men smiled at her immediate concern over the animals.
"Yeah. All returned to their rightful owners." replied Vin.
Anne smiled and tried to stifle a yawn.
"We should let you get some rest." said Vin. The men started to head to the door when Anne interrupted them.
"Getting shot isn’t nearly as romantic as they make it sound in stories. Remind me never to do it again."
Part 3
Blood Ties
It was late afternoon when Chris, Vin, and Ezra were riding back from delivering a prisoner to a nearby jail. They were a few miles from town when they came across an amusing spectacle. Anne Spencer and J.D. had arranged some logs to create a little jumping course in a field just east of town. The men slowed their horses to watch.
Anne had changed her customary split skirts for some denim pants. Her hair was in a knot at the nape of her neck. She held tight to the back of Alexandra and wheeled the horse around. She rode up to J.D. and they spoke for a moment. J.D. nodded and Anne rode toward the beginning of the course. She increased her speed and sailed over the first pile of logs. Anne and her horse moved together with practiced ease and Alexandra never hesitated. Without breaking pace, she and the horse continued to clear every obstacle before coming to a stop. The men were close enough now to hear the conversation between Anne and their young friend.
"That was great Ma'am."
"Just takes lots of practice. Give it a try again and remember what I told you about keeping your weight balanced." replied the young lady.
J.D. began to approach the course when he saw the three men riding up.
"Hey! Miss Spencer has been showing me how to jump."
"She must truly be a charitable and patient soul." joked Ezra. J.D.'s eyes narrowed a bit at the teasing but he was used to it by now.
"He's a quick study. Besides, it was nice to get out of town for the afternoon." said Anne.
"How did the transfer go?" inquired J.D.
"Not a hitch. Although I could really use a drink," said Chris.
"It is getting late and my backside hasn't been this sore since I first learned how to ride." replied J.D.
"Would you care to join us, Anne?" asked Vin hopefully.
"No thank you. Alexandra and I could use the exercise. We haven't practiced in quite a while. I think I'll take advantage of J.D.'s efforts and use the course while it's still light. Good Evening, gentlemen."
Vin tipped his hat slightly before Anne waved and rode back to the logs to begin again. The men watched for a few moments before heading back to town.
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The next day Anne was sitting with Ezra in front of the saloon. He had agreed to teach her how to play poker.
"I cannot believe you've never played this divine game. It's just sinful."
Anne shrugged and put on her best poker face.
"My dear, you look like you are about to fall asleep. Save the finer aspects of the strategy for after you master the basics."
Anne's body doubled over with laughter.
"I'm overjoyed that I entertain you," said Ezra wryly. Anne struggled to compose herself and concentrate on what she was doing.
Both of them turned their heads as a group of men rode into town. There were about five of them and they didn’t look friendly. Chris, Vin and Buck came out of the saloon to see the new arrivals. As the last rider passed by Anne’s mouth dropped open.
"Matthew? Matt!" she said as she stood and ran into the street. The man in question reigned in his horse and dismounted.
"My God! Cricket? I’ll catch up with ya later boys." One of the men grunted and they continued on to the stables. By this time Anne had reached him and thrown her arms around his neck. Matt swung her around once before setting her down on the street.
"I guess they know each other," said Buck as Vin’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. He didn’t like the look of these men.
Anne led the young man over to the saloon and said, "Gentlemen, I’d like to introduce you to my brother, Matthew. Matt, these are a few friends. Mr. Larabee, Mr. Wilmington, Mr. Standish, and Mr. Tanner."
"It’s nice to meet you." Matt tipped his hat and returned his attention back to his sister. "What in heaven’s name are you doin’ here? I thought you were still in Minnesota with Da."
Anne smile melted away and she replied, "You didn’t get my letter? We should talk. If you will excuse us, gentlemen."
The men watched as Anne led her brother towards the livery and her quarters.
+ + + + + + +
Anne walked into her small room and her brother followed her in. There was a little cot against one wall with a colorful quilt spread across it. A saddle sat next to the bed. All of Anne’s clothing was kept in a small chest under the only window. It looked out onto the corral behind the livery. A bowl and pitcher for washing were sitting on a table. Lying on top of the chest was a sheaf of paper and some sticks of charcoal. The papers were covered with various drawings. Most were of horses in many positions. There was one on top that was only partly finished. A man was sitting in a chair leaning against a wall. Matt recognized him as Mr. Tanner that his sister had just introduced him to. Matt bent over to get a closer look.
"I see you’ve kept up with your drawing, Cricket. They’re very good. Now what is it that we need to talk about?" he asked as he picked up the sketch of Vin.
"I sent you a letter a few weeks ago but I guess you never got it." said Anne.
Matt put the drawing down and sat down in the only chair in the room. Anne sat on her bed and faced him.
"Sorry about that. I left Utah awhile ago."
"Well, I’m afraid I’ve got some bad news. Da died about three months ago. I couldn’t just go on like everything was normal so I decided to see if I could find you."
"What?! What happened?"
Anne brushed some stray hairs out of her faced and sighed before beginning the story.
"Do you remember old Mr. Hatcher?" Anne saw her brother’s nod and continued. "Well, a few months ago he came to the ranch to hire Da for a job. One of his horses was biting him and wouldn’t let anyone ride."
"I’m not surprised. That old man treated his animals and his family like dirt. I would’ve bit him too."
Anne smiled and nodded her agreement.
"The poor horse was just terrified. I think Da took the job partly to get that animal away from Mr. Hatcher. Anyway, Da began to work with the horse everyday. Mr. Hatcher, however, was not satisfied with our progress. The animal would let people touch him again but he still wouldn’t stand a saddle. Hatcher went on and on about how the horse needed to be killed. It was just a drain on his resources and obviously no one would ever buy it from him. Da insisted that the animal could be trained. Hatcher was always a stupid brute and he told Da that if he was so confident he wanted to see him ride the horse. Against his better judgement Da agreed. Everything would’ve been fine if Hatcher hadn’t been there. Da was on the animal’s back when the old man got too close. The poor horse panicked and reared. Da was thrown and he landed wrong. His neck was broken."
By this time Anne’s voice had become shaky and tears began to roll down her face. Matt joined her on the bed and put his arms around her.
+ + + + + + +
The men that Matt had ridden into town with were in the saloon, bellied up to the bar. Vin, Buck, Chris and Ezra were playing a game of cards and watching the group with distaste. After a few drinks the men had begun to get rowdy and loud.
"What is Miss Spencer’s brother doing with such a low and graceless group of men?" asked Ezra.
"Let’s keep an eye on them just in case." said Chris.
J.D. entered the saloon and walked up to the bartender. As he started to ask for some milk he accidentally knocked over the glass of one of the men sitting at the counter.
"Boy, what do ya thin’ you’re doin’? " The large man grabbed J.D. by the collar and shoved him against the wall.
"I’m sorry, sir. It was an accident."
The man refused to be placated and continued to bully J.D. Buck stood up and pushed his chair away. He approached the two with a smile on his face that was completely overshadowed by the cold look in his eyes.
"The boy apologized. Why don’t you just give it a rest?" said Buck.
"Who the hell are you? His mother?" The man threw J.D. to the ground and turned on Buck.
Buck saw the worried look on the bartender’s face.
"Let’s take this outside," said Buck when the other three ruffians stood up and began to surround him. Chris’s voice was very quiet but full of menace, "I think that’s a very good idea, Buck." Chris, Vin and Ezra rose from their seats and rested their hands on their guns.
"Alright. I can kill you just as well in the street."
The rough looking man and his companions walked out of the saloon with Chris and the rest following close behind. As the men reached the street the man who appeared to be the leader turned and rammed Buck in the gut. The fight spread until all the men were involved and punches were being thrown left and right. Buck and the others seemed to be holding their own when one of the men drew a knife and slashed at Chris. Chris brought his fist down on the man’s wrist with great force and the knife dropped to the ground. Chris pulled the man to his feet and yanked his arm behind him.
By this time many people had gathered along the street to watch the brawl including Anne and her brother. After all of the troublemakers had been subdued Chris released his hold on the man.
"Why don’t you boys be smart and get the hell outta this town?" said Chris.
Matt walked into the street and put his hand on the man’s arm.
"Andy, let’s go. We got more important business." Andy nodded his head and called the others. They gathered their horses together and prepared to leave. One of the men lead Matt’s horse over and before Anne’s brother mounted, he shot Vin and Chris a look full of venom.
Anne watched in silence as her brother rode away with the others. Matt had changed so much. For a moment, when they met, it had seemed like old times. She missed him so much. Then she’d see strange expressions cross his face and anger burn in his eyes. He’d always had a bad temper but she’d never imagined he’d end up with a group like that. Vin and the others interrupted her thoughts.
"Are you alright?" asked Vin when he saw that her eyes were red and puffy.
"Fine."
"Do you know why your brother would be riding with a group like that?" asked Chris.
"No and I intend to find out. He’s coming back tomorrow afternoon."
+ + + + + + +
Vin and Josiah were walking past the stables the next afternoon when they heard shouting coming from inside. Matt’s horse was tied up outside the livery. The two men looked at each other and then began to walk slowly into the building.
"It’s not up to you to determine where I go and what I do!"
"Matt, I’m worried about you. I’ve heard some rumors about the men you ride with. You leave towns suddenly without writing to tell me where…"
By this time Vin and Josiah could see Anne and her brother as they argued. Anne’s eyes were full of pain and Matt's posture was very tense.
"It’s none of your business what I do! You sound just like Da." Matt yelled.
"Of course I do! I lived with him my whole life. I’m not the one who ran out on his family as soon as things got a little complicated." Anne retorted.
Matt's hand came up and he slapped his sister across the face. Vin jumped forward to grab his arm. Anne’s eyes filled with tears and anger. She ran out to the corral. Matt shook his arm free from Vin’s grasp and turned on the two men.
"That’s no way to treat family, boy." said Vin in a voice that was both calm and threatening at the same time.
"Look stranger, this is between me and Anne. You just stay outta the way," said Matt before pushing his way past them. He stalked out the livery and mounted his horse. Josiah and Vin heard him ride off.
"That boy is gonna get himself in heaps of trouble." remarked Josiah.
Vin nodded his agreement and the two men left the livery to find Anne. She was sitting on a bale of grass with a haunted look on her face. Her cheek was red where Matt’s hand had struck her. She barely acknowledged the men’s presence before talking.
"Matthew and Da never got along real well. My mother died shortly after I was born. Matt and Da were my whole world. As Matt got older he and Da began to fight all the time. They both had a temper and were stubborn as mules. I tried not to get involved but I always ended up in the middle. I tried again and again to smooth things over but it just got worse. Eventually Matt decided he couldn’t take it anymore and left without a word to anyone. Da was never quite the same after that. He got quieter and his eyes didn’t sparkle anymore. Occasionally I’d get letters from Matt. Da knew about them but refused to even talk about Matt."
Anne voice faded away and her whole body wilted a little.
"Matt has always had a temper but he never hit me or anyone else before." she whispered. Her posture changed suddenly. Her back straightened and Josiah and Vin could see into her eyes. Her expression had become very cold. She rose quickly and headed for her rooms.
"If you’ll excuse me gentlemen. I have some things to attend to."
Vin and Josiah looked at each other with sorrowful expressions. It was difficult them to see her so shut off. The men left the corral and headed back the way they had come. This was something Anne would have to work through with her brother.
+ + + + + + +
"Families are a difficult thing. So much pain and so much joy involved." Josiah shook his head. "Our families can hurt us and heal us more than anyone else."
Nathan and Vin were sitting across from the ex-preacher in the saloon. They had been silent for some time; each man caught up in his own memories.
It’s never safe to be so connected with someone. Too many possibilities for disappointment and failure. thought Vin.
Anne hadn’t been seen for a few hours. She had ridden off in a rush like something was chasing her. Each of the men could easily identify with that feeling and no one had attempted to stop her. They knew she needed time alone but the sun had set a while ago and Vin was beginning to be worried. He knew very well how the past could come back to consume you. He often went off by himself to think things through. At the same time, such isolation can become a way of life and a way of shutting yourself away from the world so the pain isn’t so immediate. All her friends could do was wait and hope.
These reveries were broken when Chris walked into the saloon. He immediately came to the table where his friends were sitting and each of them gave him their attention.
"Shots are being fired a few miles away. One of the homesteaders just rode in to complain about a group of men making trouble."
Little else needed to be said. They left the saloon together and joined the others who were waiting for them in the street.
+ + + + + + +
"Git outta here…" shouted the farmer from his window as he fired his rifle into the air. Matt and his group of friends were quite drunk and paid him little heed. They continued to ride around the farm and periodically fire their guns into the air. One of the men had dismounted and was banging on the front door of the family’s house. A baby could be heard crying within the house. The rancher was beginning to be worried. He wasn’t exactly sure how to handle this situation but he’d be damned if he’d let these men frighten his family further. The front door wouldn’t hold for long under the beating it was receiving.
When the seven reached the homestead they slowed down so as not to startle the men. Drunken people with guns were an unpredictable lot. One’s of Matt’s companions noticed their arrival and called out to them.
"Boys, we’ve got some company. Nobody invited ya. Clear outta here."
"We don’t want no trouble. How ‘bout you leave these people alone," said Chris.
"This ain’t none of your affair. You keep your self-righteous noses out of it." snarled Matt. "You think you’re so high and mighty. Nobody asked for your help or your approval."
"You boys are drunk. You’re not thinkin’ straight." said Vin.
"You stay away from me and you stay away from my sister. You’ve all been fillin’ her head with lies about me." replied Matt as he waved his gun wildly through the air.
Vin began to approach him slowly. If i could just get that gun away from him . . .
All of the sudden hell broke lose. One of the drunken men had begun to get the door down. Chris and the others heard a baby cry out.
"You stay away from us!" yelled the farmer. In his panic he fired his rifle in an effort to hit the burly man coming through his door. One of the other men fired back and hit the farmer in the shoulder. He cried out in pain and fired again. The shot went wild and hit Matt in the back. He fell forward into Vin’s arms. Vin lowered him to the ground as fast as he could and called Nathan over.
At the sound of the shots all the men had hit the ground and scooted for cover. Luckily for Chris and the others, their opponents were so drunk that most of their shots were nowhere near to hitting anything. On the other hand, the front door of the ranch house was broken and the family would be easy targets for hostages or some other stupid and desperate move. They needed to get these men disarmed fast. It was no time to be kind. Buck looked over at Chris and his friend nodded and both of them began to fire at the troublemakers. Chris winged one of the men in his right arm. The gun fell out of his hands as he dropped to his knees. Nathan and Vin were busy pulling Matt out of the fray while their friends had the situation well under control. Three of the men had been wounded. The ringleader, Andy, had blood dripping from his thigh and he also dropped his gun before fainting to the ground. The men who were left standing held their hands in the air. Chris and the others surveyed the damage. No one had been severely hurt. Except...
Matt was wheezing on the ground. Nathan pulled open his shirt and looked him over. Their was a nasty looking bruise swelling all over his stomach as the blood began to fill the abdominal cavity. The bullet had gone through his lung and Matt began to cough up blood. Nathan looked at Vin and shook his head. There was nothing he could do. The farmer came over with blood dripping down his arm.
"I’m so sorry… I just…" Buck led the man away before he became hysterical.
Matt reached out to grab Vin’s arm. As their eyes met he made an effort to speak.
"Tell Anne…Tell her that… Apologize…"
"I’ll tell her." Vin answered. He held onto Matt’s hand as he watched his eyes close. Anne's brother sighed his last breath.
+ + + + + + +
A few days later Anne was standing next to her brother’s grave. Chris and the other men as well as Mary Travis stood and watched the young woman as she began to sing.
Abide with me, fast falls the eventide.
The darkness deepens, Lord with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, Oh abide with me.Swift to it’s close ebbs out life's little day.
Earth’s joys grow dim; its glories pass away.
Change and decay in all around I see.
Oh, thou who changest not, abide with me.Anne ended her song and Mary took her arm. The two women stood together for a moment before Anne bent down to lay some wild irises on the grave.
+ + + + + + +
Vin walked over to the livery later that day. He needed to speak with Anne for a moment and make sure she was handling this. She had spoken very little about her brother and hadn’t even asked about the circumstances of his death.
He entered the stables and found her brushing Smoke. She turned at the sound of his approach and smiled a little. Her eyes were tired and swollen but they had lost the chill that he had seen a few days ago.
"You look worried." was all that she said.
"Well, I am. I just wanted to check and see how you were doin’."
"I’ll be alright. You don’t have to look so guilty. I’m sure there was nothing you could’ve done. After awhile we have to stop holding ourselves responsible for the past, especially when it comes to things we had no control over."
Vin sensed that the she said that as much for herself as to comfort him.
"He asked me to tell you he was sorry." Anne stopped her work for a moment and blinked back some tears.
"You want some help?" he asked.
"I’d love it." Anne replied and she tossed a brush in his direction.
The End