Lulu Self Publishing
Category:
Western
Type: Fiction
Price: $4.20 (eBook)
An album of 5 short stories- Western fiction
A collection of Five fictional early west adventures around common events of the 1870 era in Arizona and New Mexico . All written to bring an enjoyable unusual, sometimes violent but factual story from that period of our southwest history. Follow the rescue adventure of Patty Gringo prostitute as she is grabbed by a Rancher needing a wife. A young boy of fifteen joins an Apache family and joins in a perilous adventure to find a home. Follow the unbelievable journey of a young girl escapee from a house of prostitution to deliver aid to a dying soldier’s mother hundreds of miles away.”She cocked the gun and handed it to the dying soldier. She turned her back as he shot himself.” A wounded soldier just released from prison must have a horse to get home . A ten dollar hog feed mustang starts him on an adventure of peril in Del Rio Texas, original site of the beginning of the Chisholm cattle drives. The way west to the gold fields of Calif offer an adventure for an eastern blacksmith as he joins a dying horse in the valley of death to effect a rescue which ultimately leads to a Gold mine. Unusual moving adventures and incidents make for an enjoyable read. Thank you for reading this description. Tom Leftwich
Excerpt
CHAPTER 1
Two Paso’s
“ I gotta have a woman!” sharply said the man. “ Whatta I look like Mister? Didn’t you just pay two Paso’s to find out!” asked the Cantina girl Patty. The man was Johnny Crawford, a rough looking thirty year old ranch hand. Johnny replied, “ Yeah, ain’t no doubt about that but I need a real woman. You know a lady like one, I can take home with me. I’ve got two little girls that need tending and they need a Mother type. Gotta Mex woman staying with’em now, while I’m in town, but I need somebody there all the time. Reckon I’ll have to marry some woman. Kinda hate to do that, but Florence ran out on me. Hooked up with a slick talkin gambler. Left the country. Couldn’t stand me any longer, I reckon. I cain’t stay at home all the time. Gotta get a woman.”Patty said, “Mister . you’re a real case, you are. Do you think some woman is just gonna jump at the chance to marry you. You’re ugly, don’t look like you’ve got two dollars to your name and stuck with a couple of kids. You sure ain’t no prize. What else is there? You gotta home somewhere?”
Johnny said, “ Yeah gotta small ranch just outside of Sierra Vista across the Border. What’s a white girl like you doin here in Nogales. I expected a Mexican girl. Big surprise when I saw you here.” Patty replied, “ Like you I’ve got problems, but they’re a hell of a lot worse than yours. I’d love to go back to the states. Love to have a descent job too , but ain’t gonna happen. A single girl’s gotta make a living and if I wanted to eat , I had to sell myself. Everyone looks down on girls like me, but every one of us is often a tragic story and once you’re in my class, there’s just no gittin out. Nobody wants a Saloon girl. You say , you’ve got a Ranch in Sierra Vista. Man that’s just across the Border. I wish things were different , I’d take a look in your direction. By the way , names Patty, my working name.”
Johnny said , “ Patty , I’m Johnny Crawford. Some folks have called me Crawfish, but only once. You say you cain’t cross the Border. Why not? Seems to me you’re a good looker. Outta be a job for you in any town around.” Patty said , “ Forget it Mister , I talk too much. I better git back to the Cantina. One of the other girls might need the cabin.” Craw said, “ Ok Patty, I’ll walk back with you. I could use another drink anyway. Maybe I ought to git a bottle. You’re quite a surprise to me and it’s a long time since I talked with a white girl. Don’t have nothing against Mexican girls. They’re some of the most beautiful around here, but I have a hard time with Mex lingo. Do you reckon the owner would mind if I just sat and talked to you this evening.” Patty replied, “ Mister Craw, for a couple more Paso’s you can talk all night. You’re the first customer I’ve had this week.” Craw said, “ Patty you’re pretty plain spoken ain’t you. Sorta tell it the way it is. I like that. Tell me about this problem you’ve got in Arizona. I ain’t nothing special but you’ve got me interested in you. Guess I’m a patsy, but maybe I can help.”
Pat said, “ Ok, lets have a drink first and I’ll put my story on you. Probably would help if I was drunk. I think I drink too much anyway.” After two drinks, Patty was getting a little more vocal and said, “ Craw , I’ll call you a liar if you ever say anything about what I’m gonna tell you. Did you ever hear of Raymond Byrd, the railroad guy outta Santa Fe and Harold Sawyer the railroad president?’ Craw said , “ Yeah, some fancy big men with the railroad. His wife murdered them . Lotta Federal Marshals came out for that one. Some folks still talk about it. His wife Elizabeth, disappeared. Never been seen again. I think there’s a five hundred dollar reward out for her.”
Pat said , “ Guess I’m crazy for tellin you this Craw. You’ll think I’m lying. I was living with my Dad just west of Santa Fe. Grew up there on our Ranch. I was seventeen when I first met Ray. He was so handsome and always wore store bought suits. He had made himself known to my Dad because he wanted to buy a right of way across our Ranch. Dad refused every offer. It was crazy but I found that the Tracks would go through our Ranch graveyard where Momma and my uncle were buried. Dad refused to have the remains dug up and moved”
“. Ray began courting me at that time and I was stricken with adoration for the man. I married him at eighteen, a dumb country girl that was too pretty for her own good. We had a wonderful wedding and I was so happy. We had only been married a few months when Ray began drinking heavy. There was some problem with his job. Something wasn’t going right. About that time my Dad was shot and killed. The marshal determined it was a stray bullet that hit him in the head.”
“ Ray had encouraged me to drink a little wine and many evenings we dined with his boss Harold Sawyer. The ranch now belonged to me and Ray. He encouraged me to sign a paper which would ok the right of way, but go north of where Mom and now Dad were buried. The ownership registration was still in Daddy’s name. I didn’t know about legal stuff. My girl friend Helen in Santa Fe was gonna help me change the title but everything happened so fast, I didn’t have the time. Later when I saw this move north wasn’t so, he swore that I had okayed moving the remains.”
“ I was upset and appealed to Sawyer at his office to not bother the graves . He tried to assault me there in his office. I tried to tell Ray but he blew me off saying I was imagining things. Les than a week later Ray and Sawyer spiked my drink and I wound up in Sawyer’s bed the next morning. Horrified, I couldn’t believe it. Ray swore that I did it on my own and he wanted a divorce and would take the ranch. I pleaded with him but knew that Sawyers wanted me and they had set it all up. I was so depressed, I wanted to kill myself. I grew tired of fighting with Ray and decided to keep my mouth shut. I tried to figure a way to keep my Ranch.”
“ Not being too much up on legal things, I went looking for help. The Marshal thought I was crazy. He didn’t believe me at all . I didn’t know what to do. Many nights I cried myself to sleep. My whole world was lost. On one occasion Ray and Sawyer were drinking heavily and they had no idea that I overheard them talking and learned the most terrible thing in my life. Daddy had been killed deliberately, murdered; and Ray had planned this all along . Marry the girl , kill her dad , take over the ranch and get rid of the girl. The Railroad would then go through as planned.”
Craw said, “ Oh My God! How could anyone do such a thing. They both deserved to be hung .” Patty said, “ Hanging would have been too good for them. I was now afraid for my life. Getting rid of me was all they needed. I began to hide things because I had to get away with what I could. All of my Dad’s papers are still in my bags in my room. Once again Sawyer assaulted me at our home and I screamed for Ray but he was outside and ignored me. Sawyer had his way. I didn’t have the strength to get away from him and he hit me with his fists until I didn’t resist. Bruised and battered, I planned on getting away that night. They both passed out drinking and as I filled a bag with clothes and food.”
“ I thought about killing them , but I didn’t have the nerve. I had my horse saddled and the bags packed as I rode into Santa Fe. I went to see Helen , told her of my fight with Sawyer while Ray ignored it . The next day , I found shocking news. My house had burned to the ground killing Ray and Harold. Since there was no sign of my body , I was charged with their murders. That day I said goodbye to Helen, and rode to the Border. The Marshal said that he believed that I had deliberately set fire to the house before leaving. I knew no one would believe me and later I remembered moving the kitchen lamp as I took food off the food cabinet shelves. Probably set it close to the kitchen window curtains. Maybe I did kill them . I don’t regret it, but everything I had is gone now.”
“ I had no money and finally sold my horse for food. I had no way to earn money in Mexico. I was a Gringo and alone. A target for every man in town. I couldn’t speak Spanish and gave men the wrong impression. Too many times I was a rape victim. That was over a year ago when I met Rosa and was offered this job as a Saloon Cantina girl. A puta a Mexican prostitute. So here I am Craw winding down my life with nothing ahead for me.” Craw said, “ You are Elizabeth Collins then, the wife of Ray Byrd and the murderer they’re all looking for?’ Patty said, “ Yeah that’s me . You wouldn’t recognize me now, I’ve change a lot in these last two years.” Craw asked, ‘What name are you using now?” she replied, “Just Patty, Cantina girl Patty Gringo.” Craw said, “ Patty ,how would you like to change that name to Patty Crawford? I think you’re just what I need to help raise my girls.”
Patty exclaimed , “ Damn you Mister! I don’t need joking. I’m leaving!’” As she stood up Craw said forcefully, “Sit down girl! I wasn’t joking. I’ll do anything for my little girls and as my wife no one will hook you to, Raymond’s wife. I think the way you were raised is just what I need for them. Where can we get married?” Patty sat in shock! Surely he would burst out laughing at any minute. When he sat there waiting for an answer, she finally realized that he was serious. He really wanted to marry her. She burst out laughing saying, “ I don’t believe this! You want me for your wife after what I’ve been doing . Mister you’re crazy.”Craw said , “Maybe so, but I know a lot of Squaw men that took Indian girls for wives that had been sold many times for whiskey. They made good honest wives. No, let’s find a Padre and get to it. I’ve gotta get back to the Ranch.”
Patty was in a daze. It had to be a dream or maybe too much Mascal cactus whiskey. The chapel was closed but the Padre performed a quick service for them and the next morning , they went looking for a horse or mule she could ride. Craw said, ‘ You’re just skin and bones Patty, but my horse won’t carry double.” Patty said , “Thanks for the compliment. I’ll try to fatten up for you.” Craw laughed; it was his first since they met, she liked the sound. Riding horses were expensive, but they found a young Mustang in a group of burros. The Mexican owner wanted to get rid of him. The horse had never been ridden. Craw said , “ Still pretty young, but for two Paso’s he’ll do just fine. I’ll get you a saddle.” Patty said, “I can’t ride him. He ain’t been broke to ride. And all I’ve got is a dress to wear.”Craw said, “We’ll get you some pants and a shirt. Probably need a hat too. Craw was a whirlwind getting things together, but all packed to go . He had put everything of hers in saddle bags, but how was she going to ride a bucking horse? These were her thoughts, but Craw had a plan. She should have known. He ponyed the Mustang’s head right up to his leg and after a few jumps and pull backs , he said, “Ok Patty get on him.” Craw held him very close as she mounted and once again he jumped and thrashed around , but finally moved out with his horse. Patty sat half scared and clung to the saddle horn. Craw’s big horse easily took all the steam out of the mustang.
Three miles down the trail ol’ Mustang led along pretty calm with only an occasional fit of fighting. Patty was a good rider, having been raised on a ranch, but she’d never seen a horse mastered this way . She had no fear of being bucked off, ponyed; as her horse was. She didn’t know what she had married, but he treated her descent. He said, “ Don’t go to sleep on that little horse or you’ll be on the ground. He ain’t no where near broke, but this way you’ve got a ride and I think he’ll make you a good horse. Ain’t much for looks, but looks don’t make the horse. Kinda like people.” Patty had to agree with that, “ Craw was mud fence ugly but made a good man, so far anyway.”
Half way back to his Ranch, they camped overnight. Both had bedrolls. Patty wondered if it was going to be a real marriage and asked , “ Do we share your bed roll Craw or do I use my own.” Claw said , “Use your own ,you’ll sleep better. We’ve got a good ride ahead of us.” Patty was glad. This gave her time to lay awake thinking of her rescue from the Saloon work. She hoped and prayed that Craw wasn’t just bringing her back to collect the reward. Finally drifting off as she resigned herself to what ever lay ahead. She would face whatever it was.
The following morning Craw quickly got things in order and with a chew of jerky for breakfast, he said , “ Get aboard Patty, how’s your butt doing? I know you ain’t rode lately. You gonna be Ok?” Patty replied, “Craw you’re mighty plain spoken yourself ain’t ya. A little sore, but I can take a lot more if it gets me outta a saloon. What’s your girls names anyway. You said they were little.” Craw replied, “Beve and Betsy, They’re twins, four years old. Devils to watch, they’re into every damn thing and talk like a mule skinner. I don’t know where they picked up their way of takin. I Damn sure didn’t learn the little Bastards that stuff.” Patty said, “I’ll just bet they must have learned it from your horse maybe. You sure don’t hold off around me, and I can imagine what you might say if you were angry.” Craw said, “ They need a woman to see to’em. They’re girls and I don’t know how to handle’em. Now that’ll be your job. I’m sure glad you married me Patty, now maybe I can get some work done.” Patty said , “ It’s not exactly what a girl expects from marriage, but with you Craw, I’ll take it . Thank you for getting me a new start.” She wasn’t sure he heard her. Didn’t act like it.
That evening Patty met the two girls and fell in love with them. She was thinking, “ It’s gonna be a real pleasure taking care of them. Yes they were very plain spoken and sounded just like Craw. Maybe she could clean up their language a little.” Patty was really shocked when little Beve asked Craw, “ What’s her name Pa? Do we just call her Bitch like the other one?” Craw replied a little concerned with her words, “ Beve hon her name is Patty. Patty Crawford and that’s what you’ll call her or else.” Betsy said, “ I like her name Pa and she’s pretty. I’m glad Bitch is gone. Never did like her.” Craw looked at Patty saying, “ We’ll talk later, Ok?”
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