Range War Along the Pecos, by John Theron Crow

Range War Along the Pecos

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

 
It seemed the Mexican government had finally run Fogg and his men out of Mexico. The Fogg outfit had been accused of stealing cattle from the neighboring ranches and had gotten in a range war with one of the major ranchers down there. It finally came to a head when Fogg and his men, in typical guerilla fashion, attacked the rancher. Fogg's men shot down most of the rancher's, then, hung the rancher himself. Afterwards, they burned his hacienda to the ground along with the rest of the buildings on the ranch, then appropriated his cattle. The Mexican authorities got wind of it and sent a detachment of soldiers out after Fogg. Fogg's men attacked the small company of Mexican soldiers the same way as they had the Yankees in Missouri, killing them to a man, and then had to flee the country.
On the way, they gathered up as many cattle as they could, and crossed the border with a fairly large herd. The rest of Mexican army gave up pursuit at the border.
As it turned out, Captain Fogg's father had fought in the Texas revolution under Sam Houston. He had bravely lead the charge at San Jacinto in fact, that routed Santa Anna's army. As a result, he was entitled to his choice of a 5,000 acre tract of land anywhere in Texas. He chose an area that was bordered on the west by the Del Norte Mountains (located in between the present day towns of Alpine and Marathon), the south by the Santiago Mountains, and the southeast by the Woods Hollow mountains. The northern border extended just to the north of the Glass mountains which were visible through the window that Ransom, or whoever, had shot Jesse through the night before. The present day town of Marathon is located on this land. All of this land however, was merely a small portion of the land now claimed by Morgan Tanner. Nevertheless, some of it contained the best portion by far, and at the time, could support more cattle per acre than anywhere else on Tanner's holdings.
Both Murdoch and Tanner claimed portions of the Del Norte Mountains which was an area that separated the two spreads. Murdoch, the western portion, and Tanner, the eastern slopes.
Murdoch's spread, arguably the largest in Texas, extended from the Del Norte mountains in the south (about thirty miles or so below present day Alpine for the southern boundary) to present day Valentine in the west, to the border between the Apache and Delaware Mountains of Texas to the north, to the intersection of the Pecos river and Toyah Creek down midway through the Barilla Mountains and then directly south to the Del Norte Mountains. Olsen's Falls was located about thirty some odd miles due east of present day Fort Davis. The actual Fort, at that time, was surrounded by Murdoch land.
Tanner's land, extended to the north up to the outskirts of the Barilla Mountains on the northwest, to Fort Stockton at the northeast. extending down below the Woods Hollow Mountains encompassing both them as well as the Glass Mountains. It was bordered on the west by the BAR-O which encompassed the eastern half of the Barilla range and swung down to just north of Olsen's Falls. The town of Olsen's Falls was surrounded by the MT and BAR-O holdings on the north, the MT to the south and east. To the west, the land belonged to Murdoch.
Fogg then produced some papers and handed them to Logan. It turned out that the land both Tanner and Fogg were claiming did in fact, belong to Fogg legally. Logan laughed out loud. He only wished that he could see the look on Tanner's face when he found out.
Apparently, Gordon Fogg, Captain Fogg's father, had indeed left the land to his son. Not only that, but the deed specified boundries which now encompassed an area even larger than the original five thousand acres. However, he hadn't worked it for long before he'd passed away, and Captain Fogg had shown no desire to lay claim to it until just recently. Tanner had probably not even bothered to check if anyone owned it before laying claim to it himself and moving cattle on to it. It certainly contained areas of good grazing land, Logan had to admit.
"Well, you boys sure bit off quite a hunk this time." Logan said.
"Meanin' what?" asked Dain.
"Meanin' that Tanner has some of the best gunmen in the west to back him up. Two or three of them may be as good as you, Dain, then again, maybe not, but mighty close at least." Logan said.
"Close huh, like you?" Dain asked grinning.
Logan ignored the barb and continued. "I killed one of them today, but he was one of the least of them."
Logan decided to relate the events of the past few days and the feud that was shaping up.
"I've heard of Bart Jason, Peaceful Jones and Chico Portalis. Dain said. Portalis is the worst of those three, but he ain't much in my book. Wilson, I'd never heard of." Dain said.
"Well, what about Swede Larson, Duke Collins, Jack Duane, Jake Barlow, or Colt Ballard?" Logan asked.
For the first time, Tyler Dain's expression became serious. The list read like a who's who of some of the west's fastest gunmen. Dain had seen Barlow in action two years before in Comanche where he'd gunned down three fast gunhands at the same time. He had been so fast one could hardly follow his movements.
The men had mistaken his quiet unassuming polite air for timidity. After he'd cleaned them out in a poker game, they'd accused him of cheating. Barlow had exclaimed politely that he was sure that the men were mistaken and that he would forgive their remarks if they would apologize, adding that their accusation hurt his feelings. They had laughed at the suggestion and ordered him to place the money back on the table. He had ignored them and began raking the money into a sack when they stood up. Barlow had then stood up as well and stared at them naively, as though he couldn't understand what was going on.
"Please, gentlemen, there's no call for violence. If you will leave your weapons on the table, I'll let you go home and forget about the whole thing." Barlow politely pleaded. The gunmen had been infuriated at the presumptuousness of the polite little gunman and had gone for their guns. Barlow had effortlessly killed all three before any of them could level their pistols.
Dain knew he could have done the same, but Barlow was at least close to being in his own league, and even he knew it. If anything, from what he'd heard, Duane and Ballard were as good if not better. Larson, was widely regarded as being touched in the head. He'd fight anyone at the drop of a hat, somewhat like their own Mad-dog Morely. He had an explosive temper. But his ability with a pistol was as great as his temper. And Duke Collins, well, anyone who hadn't heard of him, had never been to Texas. Around the border, he was considered by many to be the fastest man alive. Duke Collins, was an Englishman and mercenary, who had nevertheless developed quite a reputation in the west as a fast gunman and expert with any type of weapon.
Dain smiled to himself. This was getting more interesting all the time. He loved the challenge of a shootout with another ace. Unfortunately, there were all too few that stood any kind of a chance. He'd never cared to brag upon how many he'd won. His reputation meant nothing to him. Yet, there was little to him, that could compare with the thrill of facing a gunman who might be as good as he himself was. He virtually thrived on such moments. Although not present at the moment, there were three gunmen who rode with the Foggs who could easily be on that list as well. Blackjack Slade, Tuck Lomax, and Slinger Hawk. Nevertheless, Tyler Dain was considered top gun of the Fogg riders, and with good reason.
"That's just to name a few of the better one's. There are many more working for Tanner though. He doesn't even hire unless the man can shoot as well as work stock." Logan added.
"Well, there's more of us too, and no one can beat us from horseback, and that's a fact." Captain Fogg said.
Jesse noticed that over in the corner Conchita was sitting in Billy Fogg's lap laughing at something he'd said. He figured he couldn't blame her. Billy was quite a handsome young man, and she was, after all, a young woman, even if a prostitute. Nevertheless, he felt just a slight twinge of jealousy. He was glad it wasn't Charley. Had it been, he doubted that he could have contained his temper. His thoughts were distracted by the voice of Lance Nighthawk.
"You got any idea who it might have been that shot at you Logan?"
Logan grinned and asked, "You carry a Sharps fifty, Nighthawk?"
"Matter of fact, I do. But had it been me, you'd be missin' yer head right now, and we wouldn't be having this conversation." Nighthawk replied.
"No, I figured it wasn't one of you boys because whoever it was, was workin' with Tanner's men. I've an idea that it might have been an old mountain man by the name of Jared Ransom. I killed his son a few years back, and almost killed him. He's been swearin' revenge ever since."
Nighthawk laughed and said, "Ransom, that old coot? Shoot, I've known him for years. Were he younger, he wouldn't have missed either."
"Well, he didn't, actually." Logan said, taking off his hat and displaying the wound on his head.
"Better watch your topknot boy, my guess is that he won't miss again. If your lucky though, I might just catch him and carve him up for you. If he works for Tanner, then he's my enemy too." Nighthawk said.
"Thanks, but I settle my own scores, and I've got a big one to settle with that old son of a bitch." Logan said.
"Where's a good eatin' place around here?" Fogg asked, changing the subject.
Logan started to recommend Ma Cunningham's, but after glancing over at Billy Fogg, and thinking of Charley, he changed his mind. "You might try Betsy's just down the street. They've got pretty good grub, and they even have oysters." Their eyes lit up at that. Oysters were considered an exceptional delicacy out west, and it was rare that a cowboy would pass up a chance to eat some when they were available and money permitted.
"Much obliged, Logan. Preciate ya givin' us the lay of the land round here." Fogg said in parting.
"Be seein' you around Logan." Dain said in a manner that sounded almost like a warning.
"You might at that." Replied Logan, in the same tone.
As they were getting up from the table, Nighthawk said, "Since you've been so helpful Logan, I'll give you a piece of information. Have you ever heard of the Esperanza gang?"
"Shit, who hasn't? Last I heard they were operating down in the Big Bend area where they could keep away from the rangers." Logan answered.
"Well, not at the moment they ain't. They were just outside of town earlier. Emillio rode in the Mexican section and spent about a half hour there before riding out and meeting with his men." said Nighthawk.
"He's probably got em a puta somewhere over there." Jesse said hopefully.
"Not likely. He had all of his men, including Muerte, hiding just outside of town." He wouldn't bring them all just to sneek into town to meet a whore. He's up to something or after someone, you can bet on that." warned Nighthawk.
"How come you to be following them, Nighthawk?" Logan asked.
Captain Fogg interjected "We had a little skirmish with them a few days ago. They tried to rustle some cattle, but ended up with only lead and about four dead men for their troubles. They didn't have the stomach fer a fight, and run off. I sent Nighthawk after them to keep an eye on them in case they got any notions about tryin' again. We let 'em know that we ain't gonna take no crap from that buch of greasers."
Dain said almost to himself, "I'd like to face that Muerte hombre, one on one. They say he's fast."
"Fast ain't hardly the word Tyler, he's like lightning. Logan said. Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it. Besides, he might not fight you that way. Not that he'd be afraid to, but he enjoys playin' injun' and sneakin up on his enemies sometimes." Logan said.
Dain laughed and slapped his thigh. "Hell Jesse, that's where ole Nighthawk comes in. Ain't a man alive can sneak up on him! Think you could catch him and hold him fer me Chief?"
Nighthawk looked at Dain as though he were just a bit crazy and said, "Maybe, but Muerte is no joke Tyler. You would not find in him an easy opponent."
"I know that Chief. That's what makes it interesting." Dain said seriously.
Logan just looked at Dain and shook his head. The man obviously enjoyed walking the ragged edge between life and death. Jesse too, loved a challenge, but a gunfight involved life and death. He'd never truly enjoyed killing, and hoped he never reached the point where he did. Even if Dain was the fastest of them all, which was a possibility, someday, he would slip, be just a bit slow, or get caught off guard, and that would be it. He knew that the same possibility existed for himself, so why ask for it when it wasn't necessary?
Logan briefly imagined himself facing Dain. The thought brought him no fear for himself, but it did bring fear. He feared that should he lose, he'd never get the chance to marry Charley, and raise a couple of kids. That thought did scare him somewhat, and he wasn't sure if he was as fast as Dain. Dain was one of the very few men that made him feel as if he could be beaten in a gunfight. Some gunmen just in the way they moved, could give off the feeling that they were really good. Dain was one of these. He was like a coiled spring. All good gunmen could intuitively sense this in another. But Logan had not only sensed it, but he'd seen Dain in action at the same time he had been. And at that time, Dain had been better. And although Logan was faster now than then, and was constantly honing his skills to even sharper perfection, he had no doubt that the same was likewise true of Dain. It was a sobering thought.
"Put that puta down and let's go get somethin' to eat, Billy." Captain Fogg commanded.
"Hell paw, I'm hungry, but not fer food." Billy whined.
"Boy, you can sap yer log later. Right now we got some talkin' to do, and I AM hungry, so do like I said!"
Billy reluctantly pushed Conchita away then whispered that he'd see her later. "Promises, promises. Jood better, or Conchita come an geet joo, Beelly Fogg." Conchita said playfully. With that, the nine ex-Confederate guerillas left the Boar's head.
Unbeknownst to Logan or even his own men, Captain Fogg did indeed have a beef with Moose Murdoch, or at least, he planned to eventually. He intended to finish Tanner first, hopefully while fighting over the land his father had left him. From there, he aimed to take over the rest of Tanner's spread and then, begin moving in on Murdoch. If he played his cards right, this time, he'd be here to stay. Once he owned all of the land, he'd turn respectable, and he did not intend to make the same mistakes he had in the past, robbing banks and stages, the latter which, were largely young Billy's doing anyhow. There was far more money in legitimate ranching. He would not be run out this time, but both Murdoch and Tanner had to be eliminated, one way or another. Tanner first though.
Logan had been given a lot to think about in the last hour or so. He decided that he'd best go wake up Moose and talk to him. As he was leaving he heard Conchita ask, "Where joo goeeng Jesse? Les go to Conchita's room for a leetle while. Conchita needs cohmpany."
"Sorry Connie. Got things to do. But you'd better watch yerself with that Fogg boy. He's trouble."
"Joo jus jealous Jesse." Conchita said.
"Maybe I am a little, Connie. But remember what I told you. That boy's trouble, and I ain't kidding. Be careful."
"Conchita know how to handle men. He ees only a loud leetle boy. Ees no prohblem for Conchita. Dohn worry, Jesse." she reassured him.
Jesse rolled his eyes and gazed at the ceiling saying, "I don't know what I'm goin' ta do with you gal. You'll likely be the death of us all one of these days."
Conchita gave him an alluring smile and said, "Conchita know what joo can do weeth her eef joo got the mohnees."
Logan laughed and said as he was walking out the door, "Don't tempt me Connie, don't tempt me."
When he was out on the boardwalk he heard her yell after him, "Why not, eet ees my job?"
Jesse laughed to himself and admitted, "Yes Connie, I guess it is at that." as he approached the Olsen's Falls hotel.
As he was walking toward the hotel, a group of about fifteen soldiers rode into view. At first glance, he thought they were from nearby Fort Davis. But he recognized the leader as being Lieutenant Scott McCormick, which meant that they were from Fort Stockton to the northeast. That was the post that had lately been buying beef from Tanner. Fort Davis had its beef supplied by Murdoch. He wondered what was up.

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