Drifter – Part 21

By D

Chapter XLI

Washburn pulled his horse to a stop in front of the tiny hotel with a sigh of relief. They had spent too damn many days on the trail and his body was aching from facing the rigors it was no longer accustomed to dealing with. He would be thrilled to see a bed with a real mattress - two and a half weeks of sleeping on the hard, muddy ground had made them all tired and miserable.

He crossed the threshold, the spurs on his boots making an obnoxious jingling sound. It brought the proprietor from the back, wiping his hands on a towel. But before he could speak, Washburn spoke up gruffly.

“How many rooms ya got?”

“Six.”

“I’ll take ‘em all for me and my men. And I need a place to stable our horses,” nodding when the innkeeper motioned to the stable area out back. “What time’s supper?”

“Six.”

Washburn rolled his eyes, idly wondering if that was the only word the rotund little man in front of him had the ability to speak. Then he decided it didn’t matter - the man was of no consequence to him and if he was able to provide shelter and a decent meal at a reasonable price, so much the better. He motioned to Riggins.

“Pay the man and see that the men settle in and get some rest. I’m gonna go talk to the Army and see if I can find out what the hell happened to my sons.”

“And after that?”

“After that? Well, now that all depends on what I find out from the Army. You scout around the town and see what you can discover. I wanna know what we’re up against in regards to Stone,” not seeing the proprietor’s eyes widen at the mention of Koko’s white man’s name. “If we can, I’d prefer not to have to chase her down - gives her too much of an advantage. But I’m not sure how the townsfolk feel about her; they might feel the need to get involved and that could get messy. I’d like it to be neat - less loose ends to tie up.”

“Meet back here for supper?”

“Yeah. If I get back from the fort earlier, I’ll come find you.” Then Mordecai headed back out, giving orders to one of his cowboys to look after his horse before turning his steps in the direction of the fort to find some answers.

************

The proprietor of the hotel, one Matthew Carver by name, took the money from Riggins and passed him keys to the six rooms he had available. He answered the questions Riggins put to him, telling the truth as much as possible without actually giving him much useful information. The town was already divided over their feelings about Reb Stone having some sort of Injun wife. No way was Carver going to add fuel to the fire against her if he could help it. God knew she’d done far more good for the people of the town and surrounding area than most of the holy rollers that wanted to condemn her.

If Riggins knew he was getting far less information than he’d expected, he didn’t let it show in his expression. Instead, he accepted the facts he was given with a polite nod of his head, then went back outside to give the boys their instructions. He knew if he asked around long enough, he’d be able to find someone more than willing to give him the answers he needed.

The cowboys took his words at face value, too tired to care much about the restrictions they had been placed under. They expected things to be over with and settled in another day or two - waiting that long for their pleasure would not kill them... and would probably be that much more pleasant when they were finally allowed to indulge.

Riggins watched them gather up their things, half leading the horses into the stables; the other half moving to put the saddle bags in their rooms. Satisfied that they were content to mind their orders for now, he left to make his trek through the town. Surely somewhere here he’d be able to find the answers he sought.

************

Kitty watched the Washburn contingent arrive in the late afternoon sunlight. Business was slow - not an unforeseen obstacle in the middle of the week - and she had plenty of time to watch the goings on in the town. She watched as Washburn went in, followed by a tall, gangly man she assumed was his trail boss by his gait and manner. The cowboys sat quietly mounted, bedraggled and obviously tired by their very demeanor, until the second man came back out and started issuing orders.

Her eyes moved back to the first man - Washburn, she’d concluded, given his age and direction. She waited until he disappeared around the street corner that would take him directly to the fort before allowing her gaze to return to the large group of cowboys now splitting up.

She let her eyes follow the trail boss as he headed up the street, wondering what he was looking for. When he went into the dry goods store, she called for Ginger.

“Put on your going out duds and go talk to Matthew... see if he knows who those boys are and what they want. I have a feelin’ Washburn and his bunch just arrived in town. If I’m right, they should be lookin’ for Reb.”

“What ‘bout you?”

“I’m gonna go talk to Stephen. Maybe he can go find Reb... give her a heads up that Washburn is here with a posse of men. Which in my opinion means he’s come lookin’ for trouble. He don’t need that many fellas just to pick up a body or two. And besides, he didn’t bring no wagons to transport anything or anyone home with him.”

“All right, Kitty. I’ll go talk to Matthew,” Ginger replied as they headed up the stairs together. “I have to say that I’ll be glad when this is all over.”

“Why?” Kitty asked, genuinely curious. She knew why she’d be glad to see the end of this little saga - Reb had always looked after them and though Kitty knew Reb was staying away to keep trouble in the town to a minimum, she missed her presence. “It hasn’t hurt business. Hell, if we got those cowboys in here, it’d be a nice little mid-week bonus.”

“And who’d service them, Kit? They’re Washburn’s men and they’re takin’ up sides against Reb - who’d take their blood money?”

Kitty smiled and wrapped an arm round Ginger’s waist. “I knew I could count on you, Ging. But why will you be glad when it’s over?”

“Cause it’ll be nice to have things settled. I’m tired of living in the center of a hornet’s nest that is really no one’s business to start with.”

“You think Reb defeating Washburn will stop that?”

“I can hope,” Ginger replied as she slipped into her ‘going out’ clothing. “No one much cared until the Washburn boys started stirring up shit about her.”

“We’ll hope, then. Although I don’t see them close-minded old biddies changing their minds about anything much anytime soon. It puts them in the wrong, ya know.”

Ginger snorted. “I wonder how they survived back East,” pinning her hair up under her hat and then opening the door and motioning Kitty out ahead of her. Kitty chuckled.

“Why do you think they came West?”

“Not to find the likes of us... or Reb Stone, I’m betting. Now go see Stephen. We’ll meet back here and pool our information.” Then they stepped from the saloon, each heading their own way.

************

Riggins was becoming more than a little frustrated - everywhere he had been in this town so far had been most unyielding with any information about Reb Stone. If he had been a suspicious man, he would have suspected a conspiracy against him personally. As it was, he was fairly confident he was being stonewalled for lack of a better term, but he couldn’t figure out why.

Finally, after unsuccessful ventures into the hotel, the dry goods store, the blacksmith’s shop, the tailor’s, the post office and the marshal’s office, Riggins was at something of a loss to know where else to try. Then the ringing of the bell signaling the time for prayer meeting got his attention and he turned and headed back the way he had come, only this time, he was going to church.

Reverend Hawkins stood outside the door greeting the few parishioners who deigned to attend mid-week services. There weren’t that many and not for the first time did the reverend wonder if it was all just a waste of time. Surely if the Lord were blessing his efforts here, there would be more of an outpouring… more people attending... more *something* at any rate. Then he saw a stranger approaching and his countenance changed.

“Welcome, friend,” he greeted. “Have you come to join us in worship?”

Riggins swallowed the guffaw he wanted to emit. Instead he cleared his throat, “No, Reverend. I’m pretty sure God wouldn’t welcome the likes a me.” Before the pastor could argue his words, Riggins continued. “I was looking for some information... about a bounty hunter by the name of Reb Stone.”

Hawkins’ eyes widened comically. “I see. Um... well, as you can see, I am preparing to conduct a prayer meeting service, but if we could talk in the morning....”

“Reverend, if I stay for your prayer meeting, would you be willing to talk to me tonight? I really do need that information as soon as possible.”

Daniel scrubbed a hand over his face, making a rasping buzzing noise. “It’s that important?”

“I b’lieve so.”

The reverend shook his head. “Let me get the service underway and when we break into prayer groups, you and me’ll have us a little talk.”

“Thank ya, Parson… ‘preciate it.”

************

Honaw’s face scrunched into a frown but he refused to open his eyes, brushing at whatever was tickling him. It stopped and he sighed, settling back down to sleep. A moment later the sensation returned and he swatted again, managing to wake himself when his hand came into contact with his face. He sat up, glaring at the ground around him to determine what had been annoying the hell out of him. Unable to find anything more than the waving grasses surrounding him, Honaw huffed and lay back down, hoping to get a little more sleep before the sun made its appearance over the horizon.

Donoma chuckled and looked at Koko wide-eyed. “How did you do that?” her voice a bare whisper. “He did not even see you, and you were sitting right next to him.”

“Years of practice, ka’eskone. Do you not recall the number of times we defeated the rest in hiding and seeking games because they could not find us? It is simply a matter of becoming part of your surroundings and it is one reason I am as successful as I am as a bounty hunter.”

“I was never able to master that skill the way you did, warrior. It was always you who blended us into what was around us. I had just never seen it work like that before - from the outside, so to speak.”

Koko nodded and then kissed Donoma, motioning for silence as they separated once more. Donoma watched in awe as Koko went around the camp, tickling and aggravating the warriors… even going so far as to awaken many of them without ever once revealing herself to them.

Then, as the sun began to edge towards the horizon, just as the sky lightened from black to gray, the men began to stir and Koko sat quietly on Black’s back… and waited.

Honaw was the first to open his eyes again, blinking furiously to clear his vision… only to shake his head in disbelief when they landed on Koko’s casually sprawled form.

One by one the warriors woke up, then fell into silence upon recognition that Koko Kanti and Donoma Chepi were in their midst. Only Hassun found the voice to speak.

“Greetings from the People, warrior champion and seer of the Great Spirit. We bid you welcome into our camp,” formally inviting both Koko and Donoma to join them. Koko and Donoma exchanged glances, then Koko slid negligently from her saddle before assisting Donoma from Dapples’ back.

“We accept your welcome and the warmth of your fire.” She motioned to the fire that Honaw and Keez were currently stoking back to flame.

“Join us,” Hassun invited, “and hear news we bring from the People.”

Honaw snorted, having finally had enough of the formality. He turned to Donoma and opened his arms and she walked into his embrace. Koko shook her head with a smile, extending an arm to Hassun in warrior greeting. Then the rest gathered around them, anxious to welcome them and offer their congratulations on the recent joining.

For a few minutes this went on and Koko allowed it to do so, knowing each of the men present wanted to express their happiness at the newest union among the People. She watched, seeing no jealousy or mistrust among her brothers in arms and sighed to herself in relief. Takoda and Odahingum had chosen well those they had sent to her aid. These would watch her back to the best of their ability, and in the event that something happened to her, they would see to it that Donoma was taken care of.

After a few minutes, however, she shook those thoughts from her head and motioned the warriors to settle. They did so quickly, taking their places around the fire and waiting for her to speak. She looked around at them, meeting each of their eyes briefly before moving on to the next. Only when she finished did she look at Donoma, holding out her hand and pulling Donoma to her when she grasped it.

“Hestatanemos, you honor us both by coming to us in what could be our time of need.”

“Could be, Koko Kanti? Have you had no vision of what is to come, Donoma?” Honaw asked his sister, not unkindly. Donoma shook her head.

“I have seen nothing, Honaw. The Great Spirit has shown me nothing beyond the finding of my mate. Has Neho’e seen?” gazing at him expectantly for an answer. Honaw shook his head.

“Not that he shared with us,” he said, glancing around the camp and finding confirmation in the eyes that met his. “Only that he felt it best to send the warriors of the People to stand with you if you had need of such.”

“And the rest?”

“The rest have gone to the summer camp.” Koko nodded with approval. “So Koko,” Keez continued speaking, “What can we do? What did Takoda and Odahingum send us here to do for you?”

“That depends on what Washburn does. If he comes to town simply to retrieve the remains of his sons, then nothing will need to be done. You will have taken a journey that will serve no purpose other than to allow us a chance to visit with each other.”

“But you do not believe this to be the truth,” Honaw stated without question.

“No. I believe he blames me for the death of his sons and that he will come seeking retribution from me.”

“Why has he not already done so?” Keez asked straightforwardly, then blinked and swallowed when all eyes turned in his direction. “Um… it just seems to me that since it has been more than half a moon since this started, he should have done something by now if he was going to.”

“Perhaps,” Koko conceded. “But you must keep in mind that he has to travel as well. And we have no way of knowing when he started or what the weather is like or how many miles he is willing to go in a single day. There are many things we are unaware of; therefore we must work under the best assumption we can make.”

“And you believe he will search for you.”

“I do. If he had already been to the fort and claimed his sons, the Marshal would have gotten word to me. Nevertheless, since I am responsible, however inadvertently, for the deaths of two of his sons and the crippling of the third, I do not think he will be able to let it go without some sort of revenge. I further believe that their deaths have interrupted the efforts of the horse thieves that I was accused of being party to - one I am convinced belongs to Mordecai Washburn.”

“Why?”

“Huh? What do you mean why? Why what?”

“Why do you believe Washburn to be a horse thief? From what Hassun explained, he is a rancher with enough food and shelter to provide for his clan. He has no need to steal.”

Koko snorted. “Since when does need matter in the grand scheme of things, Keez? He can, so he does. It makes him richer and more powerful in the white man’s world. And given what little we have learned, it makes the most sense.”

“Except for one thing,” Donoma commented gently. Koko arched an eyebrow and Donoma returned the favor, causing grins to break out among the warriors. “Why were they never caught? They had to have been doing something extremely well to have remained hidden. So who was helping them? And why bring attention to themselves by involving you?”

“Those are excellent questions, ka’eskone,” Koko stated without qualm. “I believe the answer to the second part of your theory is revenge. I was a thorn in their side and they hoped that by slandering my name, I would be forced to work with them. That definitely could have been to their advantage.”

“And the first?”

“I think Donoma is on the right track,” Koko said. “However, we need to get moving. If Washburn is going to come looking for me, I am going to force him to meet me on my turf… on my terms.”

With those words, the warriors moved as one to eliminate any trace of the camp. Then they mounted up and waited for Koko and Donoma to do the same - for where they led, the warriors would always follow.

Chapter XLII

“So then Mister...?” Daniel Hawkins hesitated and looked his question at the man currently seated across from him. He had clear eyes and a strong chin and the good reverend had his suspicions as to why this stranger was asking after Reb Stone. But he decided to let the man speak for himself before jumping to any more conclusions. His track record in that regard was pretty bad lately.

“Riggins,” the foreman answered without hesitation. “Everyone just calls me Riggins.”

“Well then, Mr. Riggins... what is it you think I can help you with?”

“As I said, Reverend... I’m lookin’ for some information about the bounty hunter Reb Stone.”

“May I ask why you are looking for her?” A beat. “I have to tell you, Mr. Riggins - Reb Stone has been a powerful force for good in this town. Even those that don’t like her respect the things she has done for this place.”

“Is that why people are unwilling to even talk about her?”

The minister nodded. “Pretty much. It doesn’t help that you’re a stranger to them.”

“I see,” Riggins said, truly understanding Hawkins’ point. “Perhaps you’d be willing to share a little about her then,” he asked. “All I know is she is a bounty hunter that has crossed one line too many as far as my boss is concerned. I’m beginnin’ to wonder if she had a legitimate reason to.”

“Your boss... Mordecai Washburn?”

“You know him?”

“I know *of* him. He had two sons in the Army stationed at the fort here - both dead now. I have to be honest with you, Mr. Riggins… I have heard some things about them since their deaths that don’t paint an honorable picture of them. They seemed to have personal issues with Stone that have brought some of their own activities into a questionable light.”

“How so?”

The minister folded his hands together on his desk and met Riggins eyes unflinchingly. “Do you know how serious a charge of horse thievin’ is in these here parts, Mr. Riggins? Do you know the penalty if a man is proven to be a horse thief?” Riggins nodded, his eyes wide at the implication of Hawkins’ words.

“Leroy and Reuben were making some rumblings against Stone... accusing her of being a horse thief.”

“Perhaps she was,” Riggins replied bluntly.

“No, Mr. Riggins. She wasn’t. It’s not even vaguely possible.”

“Why?” he asked in a reasonable tone. “She’s done so much good that she’s not capable of such a terrible crime? Did anyone ever stop to think that maybe the reason she’s done so much good is to keep people from seeing her true motive? To gain the trust of the people here so she could rob them blind?”

“Except that she hasn’t had the time... until recently, every spare moment was spent here in town. And she has been far too busy catching the outlaws and criminals in this territory to have had time to round up horses - to say nothing of having the time or the means to dispose of them.”

“And you think two Army officers would have?”

”All I know for certain, Mr. Riggins, is that Reb Stone is no horse thief.”

“There’s no smoke without some fire, Parson.”

“Then I suggest you go lookin’ where that smoke started.”

“Are you speakin’ ill of the dead, Reverend?”

“The Army ain’t dead, Mr. Riggins.”

Riggins stood and Daniel rose with him. “Do you know where Stone is?” he asked bluntly as Hawkins opened the door to let him leave.

“No. She and her mate haven’t been in town for over two weeks.”

“Would you tell me if you knew?”

“I dunno,” Hawkins replied. “I’d like to think so if only to give Stone a chance to clear her name. But I don’t think that’s what you want her for, is it?”

“Good evening, Reverend,” Riggins said as he walked out the door without answering the parson’s question. Hawkins watched him head back to the inn, and after only a moment’s hesitation, stepped out of the room and closed the door behind him. Maybe he could catch the Marshal before things got ugly.

************

“Are you sure, Kitty?” Murphy asked, even as he girded himself with extra guns and ammunition. He had a feeling he was going to have to go looking for Stone and he wanted to be prepared for any eventuality.

“As sure as I can be, Stephen. There were a whole passel of cowboys with him and the old man took off for the fort first thing. I’d say it has to be Washburn, but Ginger went to talk to Matthew about it to make sure.” She glanced at her timepiece. “She should be back at the saloon by now. You wanna go ask her?”

“I s’pose I should. Could you...?”

“I’ll saddle your horse, but you be quick, ya hear me?”

He chuckled and slapped his hat down on the top of his head. “Fast as I can, Kitty. The way this thing seems to be coming to a head, I can’t afford to go slow. Be right back.”

She waved him out then looked down at her good clothes and grimaced before heading out back to the stable. I must be nuts, she grumbled to herself silently. I only hope it’s all worth it. Then she got down to the business of getting Murphy’s horse saddled, feeling like time was quickly slipping away from them.

************

A knock on his open door made John Spencer look up in annoyance. Usually when the door was open, his sergeant just walked to the desk and waited to be acknowledged. It made for a more relaxed atmosphere and Spencer appreciated that in light of all the stringent regulations he was forced to work under. So now he pinned Clemmons with a baleful stare.

“I’m sorry for interrupting, sir,” letting him know that the interruption was official and yet out of his normal jurisdiction. “But there is a Mr. Mordecai Washburn here to see you.”

Spencer swallowed hard and nodded his head. He cleared his desk, then nodded to Clemmons. “Please show him in, Sergeant, and close the door behind you.”

“Yessir,” stepping back and motioning Washburn in. The door closed with the barest snick and the two men stood looking at one another. Finally....

“Mr. Washburn,” motioning the older man to a seat. “I’m so sorry....”

“Save it, Colonel,” Washburn snapped, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “What the hell were you thinking?? How could you screw this up so badly?”

“Sit down and lower your voice or I’ll have you removed.”

“Careful, little man... I know enough to have you locked up in your own stockade for the rest of your life,” though he did lower his voice and take the seat Spencer offered him. Mordecai nodded his head in the affirmative when the colonel offered him a shot of whiskey.

“Just remember anything you think you know implicates you and no one here will take the word of a grieving father over a respected Army colonel.”

“So you think you’ve got it all figured out, do you?”

“I think I know enough to keep me in the clear. If you had just stayed out of it....”

“Don’t even go there, boy! Who do you think set you up here in the first place?? You didn’t earn that commission - any more than either of my other two sons did. *I* paid for it... lock, stock and barrel. So don’t sit there and act like you don’t owe me!”

“I *don’t* owe you, DAD. This was payment for your sins remember? To assuage your conscious for what you did to my mother... and your other wife.”

Washburn’s face grew apoplectic with rage. “Don’t you speak to me in that tone, boy. You may be my son, but....”

“NO! I am not your son - you made that perfectly clear when you gave me this commission. I was a debt to be paid... guilt to be bought off. And still it came with strings attached. How did you manage to get them assigned to my unit?”

Washburn shrugged. “It was easy. Anything is easy with money and the right connections.”

“So now what?”

“Now I want you to explain to me how things got so fucked up. You were supposed to look out for your brothers.”

“That’s rich. *Now* you want them to be my brothers?? Maybe you should have explained that to them a little more clearly. Maybe you should have taught them how to follow orders better.”

“What are you saying?”

“I’m saying it is their own damn fault that they’re dead. And it’s their damn fault that your little horse operation has gone awry. I told them to leave things alone. And I told them to leave Stone out of it. They couldn’t quite seem to manage it... especially the part about Stone. Now the entire town is up in arms over the accusations they made. They believe the Washburn boys were dirty... trying to cover their own guilt by laying the blame on Stone. If they’d just kept her out of it....”

“So what are you doing about it?”

“Not a damn thing,” Spencer growled. “When the fervor dies down, you *might* be able to resume operations again, but I wouldn’t count on it. All eyes are looking at us right now, and I’m not risking myself or anyone else for you. As far as I am concerned, the horse business died when Leroy got greedy and Reuben got stupid.”

”How dare you...?”

“How dare *I*?? Very easily. After all... you sit back on the ranch and wait for the profits to flow in. You’re not out here doing all the work and taking all the risks.”

“I have clients....”

“Then I suggest you find a legitimate way to fulfill their contract, sir, because the US Army is no longer at your beck and call.”

“I’ll crush you.”

“You can try. But I assure you, Mr. Washburn, I have learned a good many things in recent days. I doubt very seriously you would land on the winning side of a confrontation between us. And kindly do not forget that I have an entire garrison at my disposal. How many cowboys did you bring along on this vendetta of yours? A dozen, maybe? Do you really want to chance it?”

“You wouldn’t....”

“Try me,” Spencer confirmed flatly. “Take the bodies of your two sons and go home, old man. Leave Stone alone. Going after her will only bring you more heartache.”

“I’m entitled to retribution. I’m entitled to justice.”

Now Spencer laughed, a cruel, bitter sound. “Justice has already been dealt, and even Stone’s enemies would agree with that. Cut your losses and go home.”