At the Ranchhouse, both Moose and Jack Duane had already been up and slowly moving about. Both, were doing far better. When Ballard's little posse rode up, Moose was sleeping, but they found Duane and Maggie Baldridge out sitting on the porch swing, stargazing, and obviously, deeply in love. It was nearly three in the morning.

Duane, in his bedclothes, nevertheless had his gun in hand as the three rode into the yard. "Hell's bells Jack! What are you doin' up at this hour. Why, no man in his right mind would be up now when he could be sleepin'. Especially one whose supposed ta be sick. Less a course, he's sick in love or somethin'!" Ballard tormented.

Maggie's blush could be seen even in the moonlight and she said, "Jack couldn't sleep. I heard 'em come out on the porch. I just came out so I could be with 'em in case he had one of those spells where he cain't move."

"Ah, I see. I reckon that's why you was sittin' so close. Just ta keep poor decrepit Mr. Duane from a'fallin' off that there porch swing." Lancer teased.

"You know, at first, I was thinking I was glad to see you two. Now I'm of a mind to whip the both of you, just as soon as I'm up and around again." Duane growled.

"I don't know Johnny, looked ta me like he was up, and from the way they was a'sittin' together, looked ta me like he was sure enough gettin' around alright." Ballard said.

Nighthawk interrupted, "I know you folks are glad to see each other but I think we'd best get down to business."

"Yeah, he's right. How's Moose?" Lancer asked.

"He's been up and down. He's gettin' pretty restless, and I'm having a hard time keeping him still." Cora Murdoch said in the doorway, surprising them all.

"Mornin', Aunt Cora. Sorry to wake ya up, but we need to talk to Moose, or at least, Shane or Brazos." Lancer said.

"Shane and Brazos are out at the old ranchhouse. You'll have to go out there. Angus is asleep and I don't wish him awakened."

"HOGWASH! Send 'em in!. IF THERE'S RANCH BUSINESS OR TROUBLE, I'M THE ONE TO TALK TO!" boomed a powerful voice from inside.

As the group walked indoors, they saw Moose making his way down the stairs, dressed in a nightgown, and being helped somewhat by Charlene Lancer, also in a nightgown and bare feet. Lancer had to suppress a laugh at the sight of the huge Moose Murdoch, dressed in a nightgown, and the contrast he made beside the small beautiful vision that was his sister. Ballard had to refrain from whistling aloud at the breathtaking sight of the beautiful blonde in a diaphanous nightgown, barely extending below her knees, exposing shapely calves and ankles.

As soon as Moose got seated, Ballard explained the reason for their visit and all that had transpired earlier that Moose would not yet have become aware of.

"Hell! So you've got the chance to get 'em all in one fell swoop! Alright, go to the ranchhouse and get my sons. Deputize everyone there. There ought to be about twenty-five men including Logan. Sure wish I could ride along. I'd like to plug that son-of-a,..." "UHHMMM Uhhm!" (Cora cleared her throat), "excuse me, son-of-a-GUN, myself. I owe 'em one."

"Wish ya could too, Moose, but if he don't get plugged, I aim to take 'em back to stand trial and hang proper. I'm the sheriff now, and I do my job, whatever it is." Ballard said seriously.

"Too bad, I was hopin' you'd hang 'em."

"He..." Ballard started to curse, then glancing at Cora, modified his sentence somewhat. "Well, we will, more'n likely, and you'll probably get to see it too, but it'll be legal.. Anyhow, if we don't get started, we may never catch 'em." Ballard explained.

"Any idea what he might be after of yours?" Lancer asked.

"What direction was he headin', Nighthawk?" Moose asked.

"Toward the Barillas, it looked like."

"SHIT! 'Scuse me Cora, but that's where I got a couple hundred herd of my best horses grazing, near Apache Springs. They ain't even guarded very well neither. I didn't expect any trouble with Tanner on my spread this soon, and I was fixing to move the herd down to the old ranch pasture day after tomorrow."

"We stole his prime breeders the other night. I reckon he's out to replace 'em then." Nighthawk said.

"We'd best be on our way then." Ballard said.

"I'm goin' with ya." Duane exclaimed.

"No you ain't. For one thing, your jurisdiction's in town, and I refuse to deputize ya. You get well, Jack, I mean it!" Ballard said sternly.

"Dang, Colt, I never knew you to be serious about anything, but you sure seem to be taking your new job seriously." Duane remarked.

"Well, I never been a sheriff, but I been a marshal several times. Anyhow, like I said, whatever I'm paid to do, I do well, or die tryin'." Ballard tipped his hat to Duane and smiled, "See ya Jack."

At that, the men rode off to the old ranchhouse to gather up a posse. * * *

Nighthawk had not been too far from the truth. Morgan Tanner was after Murdoch's prize herd of horses. He was blissfully unaware that the whole town of Olsen's Falls had turned against him. But even if it had, he had several holdings in nearby Fort Stockton and would simply move his office over there. He had been furious at the site of his rancheria, which had been reduced to ashes, at least, the part which would burn. The adobe walls now encompassed a mere burnt out shell. Fogg had taken his best horses, but he now would take Murdoch's and sell them He already had a buyer waiting. It wasn't that Tanner needed the money, but he had been frustrated at every turn and strongly felt the need to strike back. Thus, he would hit Murdoch's horses tonight, regroup, and finish Fogg later, he decided. If anyone accused him of the crime, He'd simply blame the Foggs, being as he was, unaware of the demise of their leader in Olsen's Falls.

His men had already disarmed the five guards Murdoch had placed on the horses near Apache Springs. He was now preparing to hang them, after the fashion of the Fogg's, leaving them stark naked. His crew was reduced to nineteen men, including himself, but they were gunmen. Some of them were former Concho River riders of the old Rocking B. He intended to swell their numbers once again soon however. After all, he had the money.

Tanner's men had the Murdoch guards under a suitable tree limb big enough to hold five men. They were all stark naked astride their horses. After his men had secured their ropes, Tanner sarcastically asked them if they had any last requests--- when they heard the sound of hoofbeats approaching. At first, they thought that Murdoch's herd had stampeded, and did nothing. But soon the Murdoch riders were nearly on top of them. They forgot about the men on horseback with the nooses around their necks. Unfortunately, two of those men were accidentally hanged when their horses spooked.

Soon, the night air was filled with rifle and pistol shots. The moon was nearly full and shone brightly that August night, offering good targets for marksmen on both sides. Nevertheless, Tanner's bunch were no match for the marksmanship of men like the Murdoch brothers, Logan, Ballard, and Nighthawk. Not to mention the fact that, the momentum was on their side, being the attackers and having the element of surprise. In minutes, the remaining Tanner men surrendered, yet Tanner himself, could not be found. One of the men pointed behind himself and said that Tanner had made a run for it toward the rocks holding the spring. Lancer and Logan looked at each other and Logan said, "Me and Johnny'll go get 'em. We know them springs purty well."

Ballard said, "Alright, but the rest of us are going to surround the place in case he slips by ya'll. Shane, I'll follow your's and Brazos' orders here, ya'll know the area, I don't. But remember, I want 'em alive if possible." As the men spread out, even Johnny Lancer was amazed at the seeming change in Colt Ballard. Lancer wasn't sure if he liked the change or not. Although Ballard was older than he, in many ways, he was somewhat younger and wilder. Johnny had liked this and had felt that the two of them, were almost like twins. They looked similar, but more importantly, they also felt and acted the same way. Now, it seemed as though Ballard had crossed over the line. From boy, to man even though he had not been a boy for years. Apparently, Colt, despite his nonchalant attitude toward life, had really taken the job he was doing seriously. It was as if, Ballard was becoming more like Jesse Logan. Well, he had no time to reason these things out, but figured, youth cannot last forever. Duane seemed to have gotten younger, but Ballard, older. Johnny shook his head as he joined Logan in search of Tanner.

Tanner had left his horse and gone into the dense undergrowth surrounding the rocks which impounded the springs. Logan and Lancer did likewise. Sneaking through the brush, they soon heard movement in front of them. "I reckon he heard us and is movin' further away, toward the rocks, as quiet as he can." Johnny whispered to Jesse.

"Yeah, sounds like. I'll sneak around and climb up on top. I know a shortcut just to the east. Keep driving him that way. One of us'll get 'em. He moves through the brush like an elephant." Jesse whispered as he veered off to the right.

He soon came upon the tree that he had earlier spied upon Johnny and Charley from, which reached to the top of the rock. He quietly removed his boots and socks, then began to climb.

Tanner, sensing someone behind him, was frantically climbing the rocks in another section, trying futilely to make no noise. His leather soles kept slipping and making loud scraping noises against the rock. Nevertheless, he quickly attained the summit however and as he stood up, a voice to the side of him said, "Howdy, Mr. Tanner. Out enjoyin' the moonlight?" It was Logan, hands hanging casually by his guns.

"Give it up Tanner, you're surrounded. There's no way out. Lancer's right behind you and'll be up any moment-- and the Murdoch brothers have the place surrounded. Give it up. You'll get a fair trail-- and, a fair hangin, I promise." Logan continued smiling at that last sentence.

"You filthy son-of-a-bitch of a cowboy. I'm gonna kill you first, that's for certain!" Tanner snarled as he grabbed for his gun. Logan shot him through the right shoulder, sending Tanner's gun spinning down the escarpment behind him, almost clouting Lancer on the head as he was cresting the top.

"Hey, watch where ya toss yer guns. That almost smacked me good." they heard Lancer holler from below.

Logan laughed, glad to see the confidence Lancer had for Logan's skill. Lancer would have said nothing, had he been uncertain of who had won the gunfight.

"He drew on me, but I didn't kill 'em, just winged 'em." Logan hollered, glad that he had made up for accidentally killing Esperanza before the outlaw could talk."

Lancer stood up at the top casually drawled, "Okay, Tanner, you're goin' down slowly, and in front of me. You try anything and I swear, I'll shoot ya in the balls just like Billy did to yer two gunmen, Jones and Jason. Believe me, I won't miss, and I can climb a lot better'n you. Get yer ass movin!" Tanner did.

Soon, the posse was on its way to Olsen's Falls with their catch. The range war was over!

Top of This Page | Front Page | Next Chapter

Copyright © 1999 by John T. Crow
All rights reserved.