Chapter Five
Bonnie startled awake. Where was she? What was happening? Why was her bed so hard?
Darkness, so thick it seemed alive, was before her like a cruel hand preparing to attack. The darkness felt hot and mean, yet lifeless—like a hideous void waiting to drag her into a grave filled with mocking laughter.
Where… am I? What’s going on?
Hearing voices, Bonnie sat straight up.
“Ain’t no way, Roger,” drawled a southern-accented walking past a closed door beyond where she was laying down. “That gal up there in Wichita ain’t gonna marry no man. She’s out for money. You can best your last bullet on that.”
“You rebels don’t know nothing, Dan!” That voice sounded like a Yankee. “I’m going to marry that girl. Wait and see.”
“I’ll see you lose your last dollar.”
The voices passed on.
“Sun will be up in an hour or so. Go back to sleep.” Another voice came through the dark like a sharp knife. It sounded familiar.
That’s… Ace—Ace Carter. I’m… on a cattle drive with him. That’s it. We’re at… Fort Arrow. Yeah, that’s it.
Bonnie turned her head to the right. Ace was on the ground a few feet from her, resting on some hay.
Her mind began to latch onto any slippery fact it could grasp hold of.
“I… best get up. Can’t sleep no more,” she said.
“Yeah, me neither. Up to riding out early?”
Riding out early? What did Ace mean?
The herd. Ace left Dallas, Finn, and Clyde with the herd. That’s it.
Bonnie’s mind continued to clear as the smell of hay and sweat filled her nose. The room she was in stank, really. The hay smelled sour at best—and the room was real small, too. No window. Just a lousy space for someone to bed down for the night.
“Yeah. We can ride out.”
Ace stood up. “Let’s go, then.”
Bonnie was on her feet in no time. As soon as Ace opened the door to the room, she nearly ran outside and began bathing her nose in fresh morning air. A cookfire was lit in the middle of the fort. Four soldiers were huddled around the fire, drinking coffee. One of the soldiers was a lanky man.
When he saw Bonnie and Ace, he waved them over. “Name’s Captain O’Neil. Got word about two hours ago. Gang of outlaws is moving north out of Texas.”
Outlaws? Roscoe! It has to be Roscoe!
Ace’s eyes narrowed. “Chisholm Trail?” he asked.
“Can’t be sure yet. The scout is way down in Caldwell. He sent word that Roscoe Carver is looking to ride north.”
“Roscoe Carver?” Ace asked.
“Rancher down that way. Known for riding down into Mexico and stealing cattle,” Captain O’Neil explained, drinking some coffee. “He also forces other ranches to pay him ‘protection’ money, but we don’t have proof of that. Ranchers in that area are too afraid to speak up.”
Bonnie’s heart thudded in her chest.
“Carver is bad news—and slippery. There’s never enough evidence to arrest him. The law down in Caldwell is bought off.” Captain O’Neil finished off his coffee. “Usually, Carver stays south. Not sure why he’s looking to ride north. Be on the guard, okay?”
“Will do. Thanks for the heads up.” Ace nodded at Bonnie. “Let’s go, Brandon.”
The army knows about Roscoe? Well, I guess I shouldn’t be all that surprised. Roscoe’s dealings are real bloody. It’s likely one of the guns he hired talked to the army or something. Still… he’s riding north. He’s after me—and he’ll find me, sure as I’m standing here.
Fear and panic gripped Bonnie. She wanted to get on her horse and ride as fast as she could. But where? She barely had any money. She didn’t know the Oklahoma Territory that well. Jack would track her down—he always did. It was best to stay with Ace.
Or is it? Will Ace protect me if Roscoe shows up? They ain’t soft touches. Their guns are bloody.
Finn and Clyde didn’t come across as gunslingers to Bonnie, and neither did Dallas. Ace was the only one that seemed like he’d done his share of killing.
Bonnie reluctantly saddled her horse and got ready to ride out with Ace. As she did, a soldier called out.
“Rider coming in!”
She tensed up. Who’d be riding in with the sun still dark?
A few minutes later, Henry Ashford walked his horse into the fort. He went straight to Ace. “I was told you were here.”
Instead of acting surprised to see Henry, Ace just continued to tighten his saddle. “Herd is safe. Just rode up to check in with the army.”
“Smart,” Henry told him. “I got word Roscoe Carver is riding out. Came to warn you and have a talk with the army. Usually, that snake stays south.”
Captain O’Neil approached. “Mr. Ashford, you’re a good stone’s throw away from home.”
“Wanted to talk to the army in person.”
The poor man sounds so tired he can barely sit on his saddle. He also sounds worried.
“My scout sent me word about Roscoe Carver, Mr. Ashford.”
“Good. I’m running a small herd of cattle up to Wichita. Need my herd to get there in one piece. Can’t keep paying the railroad a fortune to haul my cattle.”
“I’ll send out random patrols, Mr. Ashford. That’s about all I can do. This fort isn’t set up like Fort Reno. We’re a small outfit here, designed to be the first line of fire until soldiers at Fort Reno can get into the fight.”
“Surprised the army still lets the fort stand,” Henry grumbled.
“It won’t be long until the fort is closed and dismantled, Mr. Ashford. The railroad is putting a dent in the cattle trails. I’m glad for that. Cattle drives are dangerous.”
“Yeah, always have been.” Henry dismounted from his horse. “Ace, I told Finn and Clyde to start moving the herd up this way. I want you to stay with the herd from now on.”
“Understood.”
“Keep a sharp eye out,” Henry went on. “Don’t run the herd too hard, but move faster than you’ve been doing.
Carver ain’t riding north just to see the land.
That varmint carries a bloody reputation.
He’s never messed with my spread, but he’s done his share of killing—you better believe me when I tell you that. ”
Bonnie listened as her nose took in the awful stink of sweat and trail dirt. Henry didn’t exactly smell like a bucket of roses. No man did.
I guess I smell awful myself. Baths are rare out here.
“How did you get word about Roscoe Carver, Mr. Ashford?” Captain O’Neil asked.
“I got friends everywhere. A friend of mine in Caldwell sent me word. Told me he heard one of Roscoe’s men say they’re riding north,” Henry explained. “Took out on my own as soon as I got word. Been riding almost non-stop. Thought for sure I’d run into trouble.”
“Well, you better rest. Corporal Andrews, get Mr. Ashford some water and food and then bed his horse down. Sergeant Hills, make sure there’s some fresh hay in the bunk room for him to sleep on.”
The man was worried about Henry and wanted to take care of him. It was clear Captain O’Neil was tougher than nails and would live until he looked like dried-up prune, but still… He showed respect and care.
I reckon not all soldiers are bad. Ace told me Captain O’Neil is married. His wife is blessed. I never was.
“You two ride out,” Henry told Ace, nodding toward Bonnie. “I reckon you’re the fella Finn called Brandon?”
“Yes, sir.” Bonnie tried her best to keep her voice low.
“Yeah, you look strange, like he said.”
“Wears that bandanna to cover his mouth—got hurt real bad,” Ace cut in. “Uses the bandanna to hide the scars.”
“Ain’t none of my mind. Just get the herd to Wichita,” Henry told Ace. “I’m going to ride up to Fort Reno after I rest here a day or so. I’ll be following behind the best I can. Might as well, since I’m up this far. Won’t rest if I turn back.”
“Got it.” Ace nodded at Bonnie. “Let’s ride.”
Bonnie mounted up and walked her horse out of the front gate.
A soldier returned her saddle rifle. Ace took his guns and rifle back and then started south in the dark.
Dawn was starting to break over the eastern horizon like a lantern slowly coming to life.
The sight of the dim light ignited a bit of hope in her heart.
If we can stay ahead of Roscoe… get to Wichita… maybe I can escape for good. Henry is gonna pay me when we finish the drive. I’ll have enough money to go east… well, maybe.
“You woke up in a bad way,” Ace said after a few minutes of riding south.
The land was quiet and still—dry and hard. But there was a peace covering the land for the time being. Birds were singing in some trees nearby. Night insects were settling down and getting ready to go to bed. A new day was waking up.
God never intended for us to live like this…
hurting and killing each other. Been like this before the water destroyed the earth way back when.
Ain’t ever gonna change, I don’t reckon.
Wish it would. This would be a good morning to come out, feed the chickens, and take a walk down a pretty trail.
Flowers smell real pretty this time of year.
Bonnie’s mind went back to the dark room she’d woken up in. “Just had a bad sleep,” she told Ace.
“Yeah, bad dreams spur you hard,” Ace responded. “I’ve had my share.”
Bonnie didn’t say anything back.
“Mind me asking what you ’tend to do after we get the herd to Wichita?”
“Find something to do, I reckon,” Bonnie answered. She had no idea what trail to take after the drive ended.
Will I even make it to Wichita alive?
“Know anything about Roscoe Carver?”
Ace’s question caused Bonnie to shift on her saddle. “No.”
“He seems like a bloody rider. If we run into trouble, you best be prepared to fight.”
“Okay.”
Bonnie felt, rather than saw, Ace turn his head and look at her. “You ain’t afraid to fight, are you?”
“No,” Bonnie spoke the truth.
She’d been raised by a good man, but a man who’d wanted a son instead of a daughter.
Many a time, she’d slugged a boy in the nose for running his mouth at her.
And many a time, she’d been taken behind the wood pile for a good spanking, too.
Raising his daughter to be a ‘lady’ hadn’t been her pa’s top priority.
Chores had to be done. Wood had to be cut.
Grub had to be cooked. Clothes had to be washed.
“Ever kill a man before?”
“Can’t say I have… never want to,” Bonnie snapped off an answer before she could catch her mouth.
Bonnie was grateful when Ace went silent. She kept her horse moving south, allowing the animal to drop behind Ace just enough to show she wasn’t interested in talking any further.
Some time later, around nine or so, she spotted the herd. Finn was riding point. Clyde was handling the swing position. Dallas was riding drag.
Well, there they are. The herd looks in good shape. Don’t seem to be no trouble. But… that won’t last long. Soon or later, Roscoe is gonna catch up to us.
Bonnie stopped her horse and stared at the herd as Ace rode off to meet Finn, leaving a trail of dirt behind him.
For a minute—one rare minute—the scene was real nice.
She liked the sounds coming from the herd.
The way the land felt all peaceful-like.
The way the sky was low and blue and gentle.
A few puffy white clouds stood off to the right, making her think of a bunny rabbit.
This is the way God intended it… if only it could stay this way. Only it won’t.