Monday, April 25, 2011

Chapter Twenty-Six Scott's Plan

“When you sent me to town to find out what happened to the sheriff, I talked to the blacksmith the second day I was there. Before I left after questioning him, I asked him if he had ever seen a mark like that, saying that I had seen it a long time ago. He told me that some blacksmiths use a template to hold a shoe in place as they work it. This creates a v in the shoe. He also said he hadn’t seen it in years. That’s all I can tell you right now.”

Scott looks at Joan. “I haven’t told anyone this. White Cloud showed me the tracks of the rider who turned when he and Little Dove came upon Tyler. They couldn’t identify the rider but his horse has a definite v shape in a hind hoof.”

“Dad, are you saying Johnny, shot Tyler?”

“Based on what Tyler just said, I would say Johnny could be a prime suspect in all of this. Can we prove it, is another thing? If we start talking about the v on the shoe, he can easily replace it.”

“His father being the biggest rancher around here is going to pack a lot of weight if we try and build a case,” remarks Tyler. “I haven’t said anything because who is going to believe some ranch hand who has only been around a couple of months. I’m also thinking that maybe he’s not in this alone.”

Monday, April 18, 2011

Chapter Twenty-Five A Week Later

He knows that he cannot go on without getting some assistance from the Scotts. No one knows that he is the heir to the property yet, someone; probably Johnny Peters has tried to kill him. If it becomes public knowledge he will be in greater jeopardy. He decides he must talk with the Scotts and level with them.

He hears a knock on the door and says, “Come in.”

Joan is standing there with a smile on her face. “It seems that you are starting to get around on your own. That’s wonderful. You need to take it slow so your wound heals and any internal bruising has time to heal.”

“Joan, everyone has been wonderful to me. I’m not used to this kind of treatment. I feel a little awkward, not just because I’m injured.”

“Look Tyler, you have friends here, we care what happens to you. I was surprised Jessica and Maggie rode out here to see you. I’m glad they did but that was the first time they ever took the trip. It shows that a number of people like what they see in you.

“I want you to heal completely before you attempt to do any riding. No one is forcing you to get back to work. We’ve made it before you came with just dad, me and Mike.”

Monday, April 11, 2011

Chapter Twenty-Four Telling Their Father

Near sundown the third day of riding, White Cloud and Little Dove enter their tribe’s camp. Their father is stepping out from their teepee. He waves to them. Returning the wave, they move further along the camp to the rear of the teepee where they will bind the horses. Dismounting they look at each other and realize they have to relive this whole wild episode again.

Coming to the front where their father is waiting for them, White Cloud says, “The ride you sent us on was not a quiet ride.”

His father seeing that his son is serious and not joking says, “What do you mean, what happened?”

“We need to eat first, we are tired.” says White Cloud, “Then we will talk.”

Little Dove moves into the teepee, she knows her mother will be preparing dinner as they speak. She will help her mother while her brother and her father talk.

Running Bear looks at his son, “You don’t seem the worse for wear; the ride couldn’t have been too difficult?”

“No, my father, it was not too difficult, although you did not notice the blood on Little Dove’s buckskins.”

“Come let us sit, we can share some cold drink while we wait for the women to prepare the meal.”

Inside the teepee, Shining Star, Little Dove’s mother asks her, “Where did the blood come from on your buckskins?”

Monday, April 4, 2011

Chapter Twenty-Three After the Attack

Meanwhile, Sam goes over to the saloon and starts spreading the word that Tyler the Reynolds’ ranch hand was shot and nearly killed.

Inside of the saloon are a couple of Circle J hands, people passing through waiting for the next stage and some locals finishing up their day with a drink before heading home to the misses.

“Isn’t he the one that found the Evans family killed?” says one of the locals.

The man drinking at the bar to his left says, “Yeah, he did, now ain’t that all the damn luck.”

The Circle J boys finish their drinks and head out to their mounts.

Hank is one of them, he goes on, “I wonder if it was Johnny, that done that?”