BIG RED 3
THERE WAS A LUMP IN BIG RED’S THROAT
AS HE RODE AWAY FROM UNCLE BEN’S RANCH . RED KNEW VERY WELL HE MIGHT NEVER SEE
THEM AGAIN AND THEY WERE FINE PEOPLE . AND BIG RED KNOW TO THAT HIS TIME WITH
THEM WAS SOMETHING HE WOULD NEVER FORGET .OH WELL I GUESS I NIGHT AS WELL HEAD
BACK TO IOWA AN SEE BROTHER JIM HE THOUGHT . THE CLOSEST WAY WAS THROU THAT
TOWN BUT RED DID NOT WANT TO RUN INTO THAT SHERIFF AGAIN BECAUSE HE KNOW IT
WOULD END UP IN A SHOOTING . A GUY LIKE THAT WOULD SHOOT YOU IN THE BACK IF HE
COULD SO BIG RED RODE WIDE AROUND THE TOWN AND HE HURRIED HIS HORSE ALONG TOO .
ONCE OR TWICE HE THOUGHT HE SAW SOME THING OUT OF THE CORNER OF HIS EYE BUT HE
WASN’T SURE AN RODE ON . THEN THE BACK OF RED’S NECK WAS SMARTING AN RED KNOW
THERE WAS SOME ONE BEHIND HIM SO HE PULLED UP BEHIND A BIG ROCK AND WAITED .
SURE ENOUGH COMEING SLOWLY WAS A LONE RIDER BUT HE WAS DEFINITELY FOLLOWING RED
‘S TRAIL . WHEN HE GOT CLOSE ENOUGH RED STEPED OUT WITH HIS 30-30 LEVELED AT THE RIDER . YOU WANT SOMETHING SAID BIG RED ?
THE MAN WAS SO STARTLED HE ALMOST FELL OFF
HIS HORSE . HE WAS ALMOST DOWN ANYWAY SO THE MAN JUMPED ALL THE WAY DOWN AND AS
HE DID HE CAME AROUND HIS HOURSE WITH HIS
SIX SHOOTER IN HIS HAND AND SHOOTING AWAY AT BIG RED , THE MAN’S HAND
WAS STILL SHAKEN AN HE HIT NOTHING BUT BIG RED DIDN’T MISS HE PUT TWO SHOOTS IN
TO THAT MAN BEFORE HE COULD MOVE AGAIN . WHEN BIG RED TURNED THE MAN OVER HE
RECOGNIZED THE SHERIFF . THAT COWEREDLY BASTERED HE WAS GONE TO SHOOT ME IN THE
BACK , THOUGHT RED . WELL I’LL BE BETTER TO HIM THAN HE WOULD HAVE BEEN TO ME ,
I’LL’
BURY HIM RIGHT HERE AND HE DID . WHILE HE WAS BURYING THE SHERIFF RED THOUGHT HE HEARD
A
HORSE RUNNING A WAY OFF BUT HE COULD NOT BE SURE. IT COULD HAVE BEEN A BUFFLOE OR ANY THING .
THAT DONE BIG RED THOUGHT TO HIM SELF I
HAD BETTER PUT A LOT OF MILES BETWEEN ME AN THIS PLACE SO OFF HE WENT RIDEING AS FAST AS HE DARED .
IT WAS LATE AT NIGHT WHEN RED FIGURED
IT WAS TIME TO REST HIS HORSE SO HE JUST STOPED TIED THE HORSE UP AN LEANED UP
AGAINEST A ROCK AN SLEP FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS . EARLY THE NEXT DAY RED WAS ON
HIS WAY AGAIN . IT WAS LATE IN SUMMER AND THE WEATHER WAS GETTING COLDER SO ON
RED RODE . THIS TIME IT TOOK HIM A WEEK TO GET TO IOWA AND ONCE THERE RED HAD
NO IDEA WHERE JIM WAS SO HE HAD TO RIDE A ROUND TO DIFFERENT TOWNS FINALLY IN ONE TOWN A FELLOW SAID BIG JIM
ENFIELD YES HE’S LIVING DOWN IN JEFFERSON .. IN JEFFERSON RED GOT THE DIRECTIONS
TO JIM;S FARM AN OUT HE WENT . JIM WAS SURE GLAD TO SEE RED AN INTRODUCED HIM
TO HIS NEW WIFE ALICE .
THEY ALREADY HAD ONE BOY AND THERE WAS AN OTHER ON THE WAY . RED AND JIM
COUGHT UP ON THEIR PAST YEAR OR SO .
JIM TOLD RED HE HAD GOTTEN ONE LETTER FROM AUNT SARRA TELLING HIM THAT BIG RED
WAS THERE . RED JUST SORT OF HUNGE AROUND THE FARM FOR A FEW DAYS AN RELAXED `.
THAT WIFE OF JIM’S WAS SURE NICE AND SHE MADE MARRIED LIFE SEEM VERY
ATTRACTIVE`, THAT WAS SURE A LOT BETTER THAN LIVING ON THE PRAIRIE . A FEW DAY’S LATER JIM CAME BACK
FROM TOWN WITH A NEWS PAPER AN SHOWED IT TO RED . THE HEAD LINE’S READ SHERIFF
OF PLUNTYWOOD SHOT DEAD . FOUND IN SHELLOW GRAVE , AUTHORITIES ARE LOOKING FOR
A BIG RED HEADED MAN ? JIM ASK DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS ? RED SAID YA I SHOT HIM , HE WAS GOING TO SHOT ME
IN THE BACK BUT I WAS TO FAST FOR HIM .
THAT
SHERIFF WAS AS CROCKED AS THEY COME . HE EVEN TRIED TO STEEL THE HORSE’S FROM
UNCLE BEN AND US . WELL WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO SAID JIM ? YOU KNOW WHEN YOU
SHOOT A LAW MAN THEY HUNT FOR YOU FOR EVER . YEA I KNOW SAID RED I DON’T KNOW
RIGHT NOW, I’M JUST GOING TO STAY AWAY FROM THAT AREA . O.K. SAID JIM I’LL
KEEP MY MOUTH SHOUT , ARE YOU LOOKING FOR WORK ? YES SAID RED BUT FARMING IS
NOT MY THING , I’LL LOOK AROUND FOR SOME RANCHEN PLACE . RANCHING IS NOT STEADY
WORK AROUND HERE BUT THERE IS A RANCH SOUTH OF HER E YOU MIGHT GET ON THERE .
ALL RIGHT SAID RED BUT I GOT A LOT OF MONEY ON ME AN I DON’T TRUST BANKS . HOW
MUCH YOU GOT SAID JIM ? RED LOOKED AT JIM AN SAID I GOT ABOUT $1,500.00 DOLLARS . JIM ‘S MOUTH FELL OPEN ,
WAS THAT HORSE DEALING YOU AN UNCLE BEN WERE IN TO ON THE UP AN UP ? BIG RED
SMILED AT JIM AN SAID WELL NOT COMPLETELY . JIM SAID DON’T TELL ME ANY MORE I
DON’T WANT TO KNOW . BUT YOU HAD BETTER DO SOME THING WITH THAT MONEY . YOU
COULD BUY THIS WHOLE FARM FOR THAT . RED LOOKED AT JIM AN SAID DON’T YOU OWN IT
? JIM SAID NO I JUST MAKE PAYMENTS TO THE BANK . O.K. SAID RED I’LL BUY IT FOR
YOU ,
THEN
YOU CAN MAKE PAYMENTS TO ME . HOW’S THAT ?..
JIM THOUGHT THIS OVER AN SAID WHY DON’T YOU BUY YOUR OWN FARM ? RED SAID NO FARMING’S NOT FOR ME YET . O.K. SAID
JIM IT WOULD BE NICE TO BE OUT FROM UNDER THAT BANKER’S EYE . EVERY TIME I’M A
LITTLE LATE WITH MY PAYMENT THEY SAY
THEY ARE GOING TO REPOSSES THIS FARM . ALL RIGHT THEN SAID RED HERE’S THE MONEY
YOU PAY OFF YOUR OWN FARM . WE WILL JUST WORRY ABOUT WHEN YOU PAY ME O.K.
ANY OTHER TIME AN JIM WOULD NOT HAVE DOWN IT BUT THAT BANKER HAD BEEN
GETTING REAL SARCASTIC LATELY . IN TRUTH JIM WAS NOT MAKING THAT MUCH MONEY OFF
THE FARM ,.TIMES WERE HARD AN PRICES
WERE DOWN .
BIG RED STAYED AROUND FOR A WEEK , THEN
HE GOT RESTLESS . HE HAD TO BE GOING .
HE THANKED JIM AND HIS WIFE FOR THEIR HOSPITALITY AND SAID HE WOULD LET THEM
KNOW WHERE HE WAS WHEN HE GOT THERE . RED TRAVELED TO THIS RANCH JIM HAD TOLD
HIM ABOUT , INTRUDECED HIMSELF AND ASK ABOUT A JOB . YA I HEARD ABOUT YOU
ENFIELD’S YOUR ALL GOOD WORKER’S AND YOU ARE A BIG ONE , SURE I GOT WORK BUT
YOU WILL HAVE TO DO EVERY THING AROUND HERE . THIS RANCH AIN’T BIG ENOUGH FOR
JUST HEARDEN CATTLE OR HORSES . O.K. SAID RED
I CAN DO ANY THING . I SEE YOU HAVE A –30-30 IN YOUR SADDLE SAID THE
RANCHER , CAN YOU USE IT ? BIG RED LOOKED LONG AN HARD AT THAT RANCHER FINALLY
SAYING “ONLY IF I HAVE TO “. THAT’S
GOOD SAID THE RANCHER BECAUCE WE STILL GET SOME INDIANS TRYING TO STEEL OUR
COWS AN SOME TIMES I DON’T THINK THEY ARE ALL INDIANS . I’VE HAD TO SHOT OFF A
FEW MY SELF BUT I’M A BAD SHOT SO I NEVER HIT ANY. THEN AGAIN I DON’T REALLY
WANT TO KILL A MAN EVEN AN INDIAN OVER A COW BUT IT STILL BURNS ME WHEN THEY
TRY . I’VE WORKED HARD BUILDING UP THIS RANCH
THEN
LOOKING AT RED HE SAID THE SIZE OF YOU
OUGHT TO DRIVE OFF MOST . RED WENT TO WORK
AND THIS JOB WAS GOOD FOR HIM, HE LEARNED THINGS ABOUT RANCHEN AND
FARMING THAT HE DID NOT KNOW.
THAT RANCHER WAS A SMART OLD MAN AN HE COULD TELL
RED A LOT OF THINGS HE NEVER KNOW . THERE WAS A SMALL TOWN NOT TO FAR AWAY SO
ONE SATERDAY NIGHT BIG RED WENT IN FOR THE DANCING . THE TOWN HAD A ROUGH BUILT
BUT A GOOD DANCE HALL . RED REALLY DID NOT KNOW HOW TO DANCE SO HE WATCH THE
OTHERS . THIS DANCING LOOKED LIKE FUN AN RED TRIED TO DANCE WITH A COUPLE OF
GIRLS BUT THEY WERE SO SHORT HE WAS LOOKING DOWN AT THE TOP OF THEIR HEADS .
FINALLY THIS YOUNG GIRL
WHO
COULD SEE RED WAS HAVING A ROUGH TIME AN SHE COULD TELL RED REALLY DID NOT KNOW WHAT HE WAS DOING .SO
SHE WALKED UP TO RED .AN SAID COULD YOU
USE SOME HELP . SHE WAS STANDING IN FRONT OF RED AN LOOKING HIM RIGHT IN THE
FACE . NOT AS TALL AS RED BUT ALMOST . AS RED LOOKED UP AT HER HE SAID I SURE
CAN AND IN HIS MIND THOUGHT NOW HERE’S A GIRL MY SIZE . RED STOOD THERE AN JUST
LOOKED AT HER . THEN SAID MY NAME IS
JOE BUT MOST CALL ME BIG RED . THE YOUNG LADY LOOKED AT RED AN THOUGHT HE IS
BIG AND HE IS HANSOME TOO. SOME HOW I LIKE HIM ALREADY . MY NAME IS JENNY SHE
SAID COME ON I’LL TEACH YOU TO DANCE . AFTER SOME AWKWARD STEPS AN SOME INSTRUCTIONS BY JENNY IT WASN’T LONG BEFORE
THEY WERE DANCING AROUND THE ROOM AS GOOD AS ANY ONE . THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME
RED HAD EVER HELD A WOMAN THAT CLOSES
TO HIM AND HE LOVED IT SHE WAS SO CONFORTABLE IN HIS ARMS , SHE JUST SEEMED TO
FIT BIG RED . AFTER THE DANCE RED TOOK
HER HOME RIGHT THERE IN TOWN . HE ASK DO YOU LIVE HERE AN SHE SAID YES , I WORK FOR THE GENERAL STORE .
IF
YOU WORK THERE YOU MUST BE ABLE TO READ AND WRITE AN DO MATHEMATICS . YES SAID
JENNY
I
HAVE GONE TO SCHOOL , GRADUATED FROM THE EIGHT GRADE TOO. WELL SAID RED I WENT
A FEW YEARS AN I CAN READ SOME AND DO SOME MATH BUT I WOULD LIKE TO LEARN MORE
. WHY DON’T YOU COME IN ON SUNDAY SAID JENNY AN I CAN TEACH YOU . RED SAID I BE
HERE RIGHT AFTER LUNCH HOW’S THAT . JENNY LOOKED AT RED AN SAID WHY DON’T YOU
COME AT 10:00 A.M. THEN YOU COULD TAKE
ME TO CHURCH ? NOT KNOWING WHAT HE WAS DOING RED SAID I’LL BE THERE . THAT WAS
ONE OF THE LONGEST WEEK’S RED HAD EVER KNOWN . THE RANCHER HAD HEARD ALL ABOUT
RED AT THE DANCE SO THOUGH HE GOT UP
SET WITH RED AND THE WAY HE WAS ACTING ALL WEEK HE KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON AN HE
WAS A KIND OF A ROMANITC HIM SELF . AND
HE KNOW THAT JENNY WAS A GOOD WOMAN . TO TALL FOR MOST MEN AROUND HERE BUT JUST
RIGHT FOR BIG RED .. THE SUNDAY GET TO GATHER BECAME A REGULAR THING AND RED
EVEN JOINED THE CHURCH . MOSTLY BECAUSE J ENNY WANTED HIM TO , RED WASN’T USED
TO CURCH GOING .
RED
DID BELIVE IN GOD , THAT WAS ONE OF ,
MAY BE THE ONLY THING , HE COULD REMEMBER ABOUT HIS MOTHER , SHE WOULD TALK
ABOUT GOD AN THE BIBLE AND LOVE . HE
DID NOT REMEMBER THE WORDS EXACTLY MORE JUST THE FEELING ESPECIALLY THE FEELING
OF LOVE . THIS SORT OF WELL YES COURTSHIP WENT ON FOR MOST OF A YEAR THEN ON
ONE FINE SUNDAY BIG RED SAID JENNY I HAVE NEVER FELT THIS WAY BEFORE AND YOU
ARE THE ONLY WOMAN I HAVE COURTED BUT I FEEL I WOULD LIKE TO SPEND MY LIFE WITH
YOU , WILL YOU MARRY ME JENNY’S EYE’S
FILLED WITH TEARS AS SHE LOOKED UP TO RED AN SAID
RED
I THINK I HAVE LOVED YOU SENCE I SAW YOU AT THAT DANCE. AND YES I WOULD LOVE TO
BE YOUR WIFE BUT FIRST THERE IS SOME
THING I MUST TELL YOU . RED LOOKED AT HER AN SAID I DON’T NEED TO KNOW ANY MORE
ABOUT YOU THAN I DO NOW , I JUST WANT YOU FOR MY WIFE . JENNY SAID NO FIRST I
HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT MY MOTHER WAS
BLACK FOOT INDIAN . MY FATHER WAS WHITE
AND HE RAISED ME AS A WHITE
SO I
WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I THINK OF MY SELF AS A WHITE BUT ?? RED THOUGHT ABOUT
THIS FOR A MINUTE THEN SAID I REALLY DON’T CARE BUT AS LONG AS WE ARE TELLING
ABOUT OUR SELVES I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I SHOT A SHERIFF UP IN MONTANA AND
THEY ARE PROBLY STILL LOOKING FOR ME . HE WAS A CROCKED SHERIFF AND HE WAS FOLLOWING ME AN I KNOW HE WAS
TRYING TO SNEEK UP ON ME TO SHOOT ME IN THE BACK BECAUSE THAT WHAT HE HAD DONE
IN THE PAST ,. BUT I WAS TO FAST FOR HIM AND GOT HIM FIRST . ONE OF HIS CROCKED
DEPUTIES MUST HAVE BEEN WITH HIM BUT I NEVER SAW HIM .AND ALL THEY KNOW IS,
IT WAS A BIG REDHEADED GUY. BUT I WAS SEEN AROUND THOSE PARTS SO IF THEY
EVER CATCH UP WITH ME I’M SURE TO GO TO JAIL REGARDLES OF HOW IT HAPPENED .
JENNY I HAVE DONE SOME THINGS THAT
AREN’T EXACTLY LEGAL , SHOOTING THAT SHARIFF WAS THE WORST THOUGH AN I GUESS IF
I STAY OUT OF THAT COUNTRY I’LL BE ALL RIGHT . JENNY WAS LOOKING AT THE GROUND
DURING ALL THIS ,WHEN RED STOPED JENNY LOOKED UP AN SAID RED I’M GLAD YOU TOLD
ME THAT AN I GUESS IT’S SOME THING WE WILL HAVE TO LIVE WITH BUT I STILL WANT
TO MARRY YOU . JENNY AN RED WERE MARRIED IN THAT SAME CHURCH A MONTH LATER .
THE OLD RANCHER FIXED UP THE RANCH HAND SHACK FOR JUST THEM AN FELT A SIGH OF
RELIFE , MAY BY NOW RED CAN GET HIS WORK DOWN . A YEAR LATER JENNY GAVE RED A
BIG STRAPPING BABY BOY AND TWO YEARS LATER A GIRL . LIFE WAS GOOD THEN . RED
ENJOYED THE LIFE OF A RANCH FOREMAN . THE WORK WAS NOT NEARLY AS HARD AS OUT ON
THE RANGE , AN NO SLEEPING ON THE PRAIRIE ALL ALONE . THEY WOULD GO UP TO VISIT
JIM SOME TIMES AND THE FAMILIES GOT TO KNOW EACH OTHER . THINGS WENT ALONG FINE
FOR A WHILE THEN ONE DAY A DEPITY MARSHAL ROAD IN TO THE RANCH AN UP TO RED .
HE SAID ARE YOU BIG RED ENFIELD ? RED SAID YES . WELL SAID THE MARSHAL I GOT AN
ARREST WARRANT FOR YOU FOR THE MURDER OF
SHERIFF BIGLOW UP IN MONTANA .. RED
STOOD THERE STUND . YA I SHOOT HIM SAID RED THAT SKUNK WAS GOING TO SHOOT ME IN
THE BACK BUT I SUPPRISED HIM .
WHEN
HE TRIED TO SNEEK UP ON ME I FACED HIM AN HE CAN AT ME SHOOTIN I JUST LET HIM HAVE IT IN THE BELLY . THAT
DON’T MEAN NOTHING TO ME SAID THE MARSHAL , I JUST GOT MY DUTY TO DO . .BY THIS TIME THE OLD RANCHER AN RED’S WIFE
WERE THERE AND WONDERING WHAT WAS GOING ON . THE RANCHER WAS CURIOUS BUT JENNY
WAS SCARED SHE ALONE KNOW WHY THE MARSHAL WAS THERE . THE OLD RANCHER SAID THIS
HERE IS MY FORMAN WHAT’S GOING ON ? THE
MARCHAL TOLD HIM AND HE LOOKED AT RED IS THIS TRUE ? RED SAID YES I DID IT .
THE RANCHER LOOKED AT RED FOR A LONG TIME FINALLY SAYING RED IF YOU SHOT A
SHERIFF HE MUST HAVE HAD IT COMEING . RED SAID HE DID HE WAS A CROOK TRYING TO
SHOOT ME .
JENNY
WENT TO RED AN HE TOOK HER IN HIS ARMS AN SAID JENNY I’M SORRY I BROUGHT THIS
ON YOU , I FIGURED BY NOW THEY WOULD HAVE FORGOTTEN IT . THE MARSHAL SAID THEY
MIGHT HAVE BUT SOME ONE SAW YOU AN REPORTED YOU WERE LIVING HERE . BY THE WAY
WHEN YOU SHOOT THAT SHERIFF THE TOWN
FOLK TURNED IN HIS GANG OF DEPITIES AND THEY ALL WENT TO PRISON . I HEARD IT
WAS ONE OF HIS DEPITIES THAT SAID YOU DID IT . THAT AN YOU COMEING BACK
VOLUNTARILY COULD GO A LONG WAY GETTING YOU A SHORT SENTENCE . THE MARSHAL WENT
ON I NOTICE YOU AIN’T WEARING NO GUNS . . RED SAID NO I NEVER DID JUST A 30-30 CARBINE IN MY SADDLE . THE OLD RANCHER SAID JENNY YOU CAN STAY HER
AS LONG AS YOU WANT , RED YOU HAD BETTER GET THIS TAKEN CARE OF AS FAST AS YOU
CAN . RED ASK THE MARSHAL CAN I SAY
GOOD BY TO MY WIFE IN SIDE .? SURE SAID THE MARSHAL I AIN’T WORRIED ABOUT YOU .
JENNY AND RED SAID THEIR GOOD BY’S ,RED HUGED HIS KID’S AND WAS GONE , THEY WOULD NOT SEE HIM FOR FIVE FULL YEARS .
AS THEY LEFT THE MARSHAL SAID AS HONEST AS YOU HAVE BEEN WITH ME I’M
NOT
GOING TO TIE YOU UP OR ANY THING ,TO BE HONEST WITH YOU IF YOU ESCAPED I WOULD
NOT CARE . FROM WHAT I HEARD ABOUT THAT SHERIFF HE WAS BAD . NO SAID BIG RED I
WANT TO GET MY NAME CLEARED , I WAS JUST DEFENDING MY SELF . I KNOW I SHOULD
NOT HAVE RUN BUT WITH THAT GANG THAT SHERIFF HAD I KNOW I WOULD NOT HAVE MADE
IT TO THE JAIL . THE WHOLE BUNCH WERE CROOKS , THEY TRIED TO STEAL HORSES FROM
US . SHOOTING A LAW MAN IS A FEDERAL OFFENCE
SO THERE WAS RED IN FRONT OF A FEDERAL JUDGE . TO RED’S BAD LUCK HE WAS
IN FRONT OF A JUDGE THAT WAS KNOWN AS A HANGEING JUDGE .AND WHEN HE LISSIONED
TO RED’S STORY HE SAID YOU KILLED A LAW MAN AN YOU ARE GOING TO PRISION FOR
TWENTY YEARS AN THAT’S THAT . WHEN THEY TOOK BIG RED TO THE PRISION THEY TALKED
TO HIM AN TOLD HIM THAT PRISONERS LIKE HIM THAT THEY TRUSTED THEY HAD A PROGRAM TO RENT THEN OUT TO RANCHERS INSTAD
OF JUST SETTING IN PRISION SO IF HE WANTED THEY HAD A RANCHER THAT HAD CALLED THEM AN NEEDED SOME HELP ,
BUT HE HAD TO SWEAR NOT TO TRY TO GET AWAY . RED JUMPED AT THIS HE DID NOT WANT
SPEND NO TIME IN PRISION HE”D RATHER BE WORKIN . THEY TOLD HIM IF YOU SURVE OUT YOUR TIME WITH NO TROUBLE
MAYBE THEY WOULD CUT OFF SOME TIME .
THE RANCHER PROVED TO BE A GOOD GUY AN RED SETTLED IN TO BEING A RANCH HAND
AGAIN .THIS WAS A BIG RANCH AN AT TIMES
RED WOULD NOT SEE THE BUNK HOUSE FOR
DAY’S . THAT COUNTRY WAS STILL WILD AN RUSLLERS WERE STILL ABOUT ,SO THE
HAD TO KEEP TRACK OF ALL THE COWS AND HORSES . AND WITH ALL THAT LAND TO COVER
IT WAS NOT EASY . RED WORKED HARD BECAUSE IN TRUETH THAT WAS WAS THE ONLY WAY
HE KNOW AND THE RANCHER NOTICED THIS
.AFTER A YEAR THE RANCHER SAID RED YOU BEEN WORKIN REAL HARD , THAT’S DIFFERENT
FROM OTHER CON’S I’VE HAD . I PAY THE PRISON FOR YOU BUT HERE’S SOME THING
FOR YOU SELF AN GAVE HIM FIFTY DOLLARS . RED WAS SUPPRISED AT THIS BECAUSE HE
KNOW ANY MONEY FOR HIS LABOR WAS SUPPOSED TO GO TO THE PRISION . ON TOP OF THAT SAID THE
RANCHER I’LL TELL YOU SOMETHING YOU
DON’T KNOW , IT’S POSSIBLE TO BUY YOUR WAY OUT OUT OF PRISION IF YOU GOT THE
MONEY . I SHOULDN’T TELL YOU THIS BECAUSE YOU ARE A GOOD MAN AN I HATE TO LOSE
YOU BUT BECAUSE YOU ARE A GOOD MAN I WILL . I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT OTHER’S HAVE PAID THERE WAY OUT OF PRISION WITH A
GOVERNER’S PARDON ,BUT IT COSTS A THOUSAND
DOLLARS AN I KNOW WHO TO GIVE IT TO , IS THERE ANY WAY YOU CAN GET THAT MUCH
MONEY TO GATHER . I DON’T KNOW SAID
RED I LOANED MY BROTHER MORE THAN THAT
BUT RIGHT NOW I DON’T KNOW IF HE CAN RAISE THAT MUCH . O.K. SAID THE RANCHER
SEE WHAT YOU CAN FIND OUT . RED WROTE A
LETTER TO JENNY TELLING HER ABOUT THIS
AND TOLD HER TO SEE IF JIM COULD RAISE THAT MUCH BUT IF IT MADE A HARD SHIP ON JIM NOT TO PUSH IT . IT WAS GETTING
CLOSE TO ROUNDUP TIME AN THE RANCHER SAID WE WILL BRING IN ALL THE YEARLINGS AN
YOUNG ONE’S BOTH HORSES AND CATTLE , I’M GOING TO RAISE SOME CASH I’VE GOT A
CHANCH TO BUY THAT RANCH NORTH OF ME . THE WHOLE CREW SADDLED UP AN OUT THEY
WENT .THE CATTLE WERENT TO BAD THEY HAD LITTLE TROUBLE WITH THEM . THE HORSES
WERE SOME THING ELSE , WHEN THEY ROAD OUT FOR
THEM RED WAS IN THE LEAD AND WHEN HE WENT OVER A HILL HE BACKED OFF BECAUSE HE COULD SEE SOME MEN BRANDING YOUNG
COLTS HE WAVED THE BOSS TO COME SEE . THE BOSS SAID THAT’S THE DAVIES BUNCH I
ALL WAYS THOUGHT THEY WERE GETTING SOME OF MY HORSES . THE RANCHER SAID I CAN’T
THINK OF ANY THING ELSE BUT TO JUST RIDE DOWN ON THEM . RED SAID YOU KNOW THEY
PROBLY WILL SHOOT IT OUT WITH US I CAN SEE THEY HAVE GUNS .YA YOUR RIGHT BUT IT
WILL TAKE TWO DAYS TO GET A SHERIFF OUT HERE AN BY THAT TIME THEY WILL BE GONE
, NO WE GOT TO DO SOME THING RIGHT NOW . THE RANCHER HAD LONG AGO GIVEN RED A
30-30 CARBINE EVEN THOU IT WAS AGAINST THE RULE BUT OUT HERE IT WAS DANGERS
WITHOUT A GUN . RED SAID I WILL CRAWL AROUND BEHIND THEM
AND
WHEN I WAVE MY RED BANDANA YOU COME DOWN ON THEN . THIS TOOK ABOUT AN HOUR AN
WHEN THE
RANCHER
SAW THE BANDANA HE AN THE REST OF THE
CREW RODE OVER THE HILL . THE RUSTLURS WERE SO BUSY BRANDAN THEY DID NOT SEE THE RANCHER AND HIS BUNCH COMEING UNTIL
HE WAS RIGHT ON TOP OF THEN . THEY THEN PANICED PULLED THEIR GUNS AN STARTED
SHOOTEN , THERE WERE FIVE OF THEM AND IN THEIR PANICK THEY SHOT ONE OF THEIR
OWN MEN . AT THIS RED STOOD UP AN DROPED THE OTHER FOUR . AT THIS THE RASNCHER
RODE UP AN SAID RED I HAVE NEVER SEEN SHOOTING LIKE THAT, … NO WONDER YOU GOT
THE DROP ON THAT SHERIFF . THEN HE FELL FROM HIS HORSE . RED RAN TO HIM AS HE
LAY ON THE GROUND AND RIGHT A WAY HE SAW THE BLOOD . YA SAID THE RANCHER THEY
GOT ME , IT DON’T FEEL BAD BUT YOU HAD BETTER GET ME TO A DOCTOR . O.K. SAID RED YOU OTHER GUYS PUT THEN BODY’S
ON THEIR HORSES AN TAKE THEM TO THE LOCAL SHERIFF , TELL HIM WHAT HAPPENED AN
I’LL TAKE MR. MARTIN TO THE DOCTOR . WE WILL MEET AT THE RANCH AFTER .. JUST A MINUTE SAID MR. MARTIN DON’T SAY NOTHING ABOUT RED SHOOTING THE
FOUR RUSTLERS TELL THE SHERIFF I DID IT
. IT WAS THE NEXT DAY WHEN RED GOT TO
THE RANCH AND TOLD EVERY ONE THAT THE RANCHER HAD TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL AN IT WOULD
BE A WEEK OR SO BEFORE HE WOULD BE BACK .
THE
MEN ASK BIG RED WELL WHAT DO WE DO NOW ? RED SAID WE ALL KNOW WHAT WE WERE
GOING TO DO SO LETS DO IT . OUT TOO PRAIRIE THEY WENT . GATHERING UP ALL THE
HORSES AN BRINGING THEM BACK TO THE CORAL . THIS TOOK A FEW DAYS SO WHEN THEY GOT THEM IN THE CORAL THERE WAS THE
RANCHER .
THAT
RANCHER HAD A SUPPRISED LOOK ON HIS FACE WHEN HE SAW WHAT THEY HAD DONE . GOSH
HE SAID I DIDN’T EXPECT THIS WELL ONE
OF THE HAMDS SAID YOU CAN THANK BIG RED FOR IT , HE JUST SEEMED TO TAKE CHARGE
. RED LOOKED UP AN SAID WELL WE ALL WORKED TOGATHER OR NOTHING WOULD HAVE GOT DONE . WELL I SURE APPRECIATE
IT SAID THE RANCHER . NOW WHY DON’T YOU FELLOWS TAKE THEN IN TO THE SALE’S YARD IN TOWN JUST TELL THEM THEY ARE
MINE AND TO GET THE BEST PRICE THEY CAN . BIG RED YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO LEAVE
THE RANCH SO YOU STAY WITH ME , WE MIGHT HAVE SOME CALLERS . FRIENDS OF THOSE
WE SHOT WHO MIGHT WANT TO GET EVEN . I FIGURE THEY WOULD WAIT TIL I GOT HOME AN
COME AFTER ME . THE REST OF THAT DAY WENT FINE IT WAS THE NEXT DAY WHEN RED
THOUGHT HE SAW SOME THING OUT SIDE BUT THAT WAS ALL . THAT WAS ENOUGH TO MAKE
BIG RED JUMPY AN HE DECIDED TO SET UP THAT NIGHT . IT WAS ONE OF THOSE MOON
LITE NIGHTS WHEN EVERY THING WAS CLEAR . RED SAT IN THE LIVING ROOM WHERE HE
COULD SEE ALL AROUND . AN SURE ENOUGH ABOUT MIDNIGHT HE SAW THIS SHADOW
SNEEKING AROUND THE CORAL COMEING CLOSER TO THE HOUSE RED LET HIM GET
RIGHT UP TO THE HOUSE . RED SLIDE OUT THE FRONT DOOR AN FOLLOWED HIM TO THE
BEDROOM WINDOW AS HE RAISED HIS GUN TO SHOOT AT THE BED RED, SHOT HIM IN THE LEGS THE GUY WENT DOWN BUT
HE ENPTIED HIS PISTOL AT RED . BUT BY THAT TIME RED WAS OUT OF SIGHT . WHEN RED
REALISED HIS GUN WAS EMPTIY HE STEPED AROUND TO FACE HIM AGAIN BUT THE GUY
PULLED OUT A DARRINGUER AND SHOT RED IN THE SIDE WITH OUT EVEN FLINCHING RED GOT HIM TWO MORE TIMES AN THIS TIME
HE MADE SURE HE WAS DEAD .. THE OLD RANCHER CAME OUT AFTER THIS AN SAID RED YOU
HURT ? RED SAT DOWN ON THE PORCH AN SAID YES HE GOT ME WITH THAT POCKET GUN , I
DON’T THINK I’M HURT MUCH BUT IT SURE STINGS . THE RANCHER WALKED AROUND AN
LOOKED AT THE BODY AN SAID YA I KNOW HIM
HE’S A SNAKE THAT LIVES NORTH OF ME . I ALWAYS FIGURED IT WAS THEN THAT
WAS STEALING MY ANIMALS . COME ON IN SIDE I’LL LIGHT A LAMP AN WE CAN SEE HOW
BAD YOU ARE HURT . YA YOU GOT IT ALRIGHT BUT IT WENT CLEAR THROU YOU SO ALL WE
CAN DO IS PUT SOME ALICOHOL ON IT AN IT’L STING MORE . YOU KNOW SAID RED I DID NOT WANT TO SHOOT
THAT GUY THAT’S WHY I JUST WOUNDED HIM
AT FIRST BUT WHEN HE PULLED THAT
DERRINGER
HE SUPPRISED ME AN I LET HIM HAVE IT . THE
RANCHER SAID RED AS FAR AS THIS GOES I SHOT THAT MAN , I HAD A TALK WITH THE
SHERIFF WHEN I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL AN I TOLD HIM IT WAS ME THAT SHOT THISE MEN
. I DIDN’T SAY ANY THING ABOUT YOU HAVING A GUN , BUT THIS MAKE’S TWICE YOU
SAVED MY LIFE
AND
I’M GOING TO PUT UP THAT THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR YOU , YOU SURE HAVE EARNED IT .
RED LOOKED
AT
THE RANCHER HIS EYE’S CLOUDED OVER AN HE SAID YOU WOULD DO THAT FOR ME ? THE
RANCHER WAS GOOD TO HIS WORD BUT IT
TOOK SOME TIME FOR ALL THE PROCESS TO WORK . IT WAS FIVE YEARS WHEN BIG RED
WALKED OUT OF THAT PRISION A FREE MAN . THE RANCHER WAS THERE TO MEET HIM AND
GAVE HIM A HORSE AND ALL . HE TOLD RED HE HATED TO LOSS HIM ,HE WAS THE BEST
MAN HE EVER HAD WORK FOR HIM
AND
HE WISHED HIM ALL THE LUCK IN THE WORLD . RED ACTUALLY RODE AWAY FEELING BAD
FOR THAT RANCHER BUT HE WAS FREE , FREE AND HE RODE THAT HORSE AS FAST AS HE
DARED BACK TO JENNY . IT TOOK A WEEK TO GET HOME AND WHEN HE DID JENNY WAS NOT
THERE . THE OLD RANCHER TOLD HIM THAT JENNY HAD MOVED INTO TOWN AND WAS DOING
SEWING AN ALTERATIONS . THE OLD RANCHER TOLD RED THAT WIFE OF YOU IS SOME WOMAN
, SHE WOULD NOT STAY HERE AN LET ME TAKE CARE OF HER NO SIR SHE
TOOK
CARE OF HER SELF . THOSE ARE SURE FINE CHILDREN YOU GOT TOO HE SAID I MISS THEM
MORE THAN ANY THING . YOU WANT YOUR JOB BACK ? RED THOUGHT THAT ONE OVER THEN
SAID I GUESS SO BUT I HAVE TO TALK TO
MY MISSES FIRST . AS RED RODE INTO TOWN HE NOTICED A LOT OF NEW HOMES WHERE
PEOPLE WERE MOVEING IN . THIS AREA IS FILLING UP FAST THOUGHT RED PRETTY SOON
IT WILL BE CROWDED .
THE
REUNION WITH JENNY WAS MOST JOYFUL . JENNY WAS SO HAPPY TO SEE HIM
AND THE CHILDREN JUST AS HAPPY TO HAVE
THEIR DADDY HOME . THE FIRST DAY WAS FULL OF TALK JUST GETTING TO KNOW EACH
OTHER AGAIN . JENNY TOLD HIM ABOUT HER TIME AND SAID THE OLD RANCHER WAS SO
GOOD TO HER BUT SHE HAD TO TAKE CARE OF HER SELF AN SHE WANTED TO BE IN TOWN SO
THE CHILDREN COULD GO TO SCHOOL . RED SAID I’M SO SORRY I FEEL LIKE I LET YOU
DOWN . JENNY LOOKED AT HIM AN SAID NOW DON’T TALK LIKE THAT , I KNEW IT BEFORE WE
MARRIED SO I KNEW AND THAT IS THAT .
WHAT DO YOU PLAN TO DO NOW ? I DON’T
RIGHTLY KNOW SAID RED , THIS AREA AROUND HERE IS SURE FILLING UP . WELL SAID
JENNY I GOT A LETTER FROM JIM A FEW MONTHS AGO AN HE’S TAKEN A JOB IN ARKANSAS .WORKING WITH
DYNAMITE IT’S DANGERS WORK BUT IT PAY’S GOOD AND THAT FARM WASN’T PAYING
SO HE’S IN ARKANAS BY NOW .
DIDN’T YOU SAY YOU PAID THAT FARM OFF FOR JIM ? YA I DID , DID HE SAY WHERE HE
WAS GOING ?
HE
DID AN I GOT IT HERE IN THE LETTER .
RED GOT THE TOWN AN SAID THAT’S NOT TO FAR FROM HERE I THINK I’LL RIDE
OVER THERE AN SEE IF JIM’S THERE . NOT
FOR A FEW DAY’S YOU WON’T SAID JENNY , BESIDES I STILL GOT WORK HERE THAT I
HAVEN’ T FINISHED, PEOPLE ARE
DEPENDING ON ME .. RED AN JENNY GOT TO KNOW EACH OTHER ALL OVER AGAIN AND IT
WAS TWO WEEKS BEFORE RED SAID I BEST BE
LOOKIN FOR JIM , I’LL LEAVE TOMORROW AND I DON’T KNOW HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE ME
BUT I PROMISE I WONT BE GONE OVER A
WEEK AT MOST . JENNY AND THE CHILDREN HATED TO SEE HIM GO AT ALL THEY LOVED
THAT BIG MAN . AS BIG RED RODE AWAY
HE HATED IT TOO BUT HE KNEW HE HAD TO GET STARTED ON SOME THING . THE RANCHER HE HAD WORKED FOR WHILE HE WAS
IN PRISION HAD GIVEIN HIM SOME MONEY BUT IT WOULD NOT LAST LONG . RED RODE INTO TOWN AN ASK ABOUT HIS
BROTHER , OH YOU MEAN THE BIG GUY
GOSH
YOU ARE ALMOST AS BIG AS HE IS . THEY TOLD RED WHERE HE LIVED AN RED WENT THERE
. JIM’S WIFE AN CHILDREN WERE AT HOME BUT HIS WIFE ALICE TOLD RED THAT JIM
WAS WORKING AN SAID TO THAT SHE WISHED HE HAD NEVER TAKEN THIS JOB , WORKING
WITH DYNAMITE IS DANGER’S WORK . SHE DID NOT KNOW UNTIL THEY MOVED INTO TOWN
AND THE PEOPLE TOLD THEM WHAT HAPPENED TO THE OTHER MAN THAT JIM REPLACED BUT
IT DOES PAY GOOD MONEY . THAT NIGHT WHEN JIM GOT HOME AN THEY WERE HAVING
SUPPER RED ASK JIM ABOUT THE FARM ? OH
SAID JIM I JUST WENT OFF AN LEFT IT . I WASN’T MAKING IT AND I COULD NOT
FIND A BUYER . IT’S ONLY BEEN A COUPLE OF YEARS SO I GUESS IF YOU PAY UP THE
TAX’S YOU COULD MOVE RIGHT IN . I’LL GIVE YOU A BILL OF SALE AND YOU CAN
REGISTER IT IN YOUR NAME . RED AN JIM TALKED INTO THE NIGHT CATCHING UP ON ALL
THAT HAD HAPPENED IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS . THE NEXT MORNING RED SAID GOOD BY TO
JIM AND THE FAMILY AN HEADED BACK TO JENNY.
WHEN RED GOT BACK TO JENNY IT WAS
JUST LIKE HE’D BEEN GONE A LONG TIME AGAIN . RED THOUGHT TO HIM SELF THIS IS A
WONDERFUL WOMAN I GOT AN I HAVE TO BE
VERY GOOD TO HER .
FOR THE TRIP TO JEFFERSON RED
BOUGHT A COVERED WAGON , WITH ALL
THE PEOPLE MOVEING IN THEY GOT ONE
CHEAP AND AN OTHER HORSE . RED’S HORSE WAS ONLY BROKE TO RIDE SO WHEN HE PUT A
HARNIAS
ON
HIM HE DID NOT LIKE IT BUT AFTER FIFTY
MILES HE GOT USED TO IT . THEY ROLLED INTO JEFFERSON LATE ONE MORNING AN RED
FIGURED HE JUST AS WELL GET THAT TITLE
ALL STRAIGHT SO HE WENT TO THE COURT HOUSE AN FILED HIS BILL OF SALE .
THE CLERK TOOK THE BIIL OF SALE AND LOOKED UP THE PRORERTY.
WHEN
SHE CAME BACK SHE SAID THIS BILL OF SALE IS NO GOOD . BIG RED GOT MORE THAN A
LITTLE INDIGENT AN SAID I BEG YOUR
PARDON THAT SALE IS AS GOOD AS
GOLD WHAT’S GOING ON HERE ? WELL THE CLERK SAID THAT PROPERTY IS IN AN OTHER
MANS NAME NOW . RED LOOKED AT THE CLERK
AN SAID WELL THEN WE GOT SOME THING CROOKED GOING ON HERE . MY BROTHER
HAS ONLY BEEN GONE LESS THAN TWO YEARS
AN LAST YEAR WAS THE ONLY YEAR THE TAX’S WAS MISSED AN I’M HERE TO PAY
THAT . RED WAS GETTING PRETTY LOUD AN A JUDGE WALKED BY AN SAID WHAT’S WRONG
? AFTER BOTH PARITIES TOLD HIM THEIR
SIDE . THE JUDGE SAID I WANT ALL THE RECORDS IN MY CHAMBERS RIGHT NOW . AN YOU
BIG FELLOW YOU COME WITH ME . RED FOLLOWED THE JUDGE INTO HIS CHAMBERS AN SAID
I’M JOSEPH ENFIELD AN MY BROTHER JIM
SOLD ME HIS OLD FARM . HE’S BEEN OFF IT SOME TWO YEARS AN LAST YEAR OR ACTUALLY
THIS YEAR HE HASN’T PAID THE TAX’S SO I’M HERE TO PAY THEM AN GET THE TITLE
CHANGED TO MY NAME . THAT’S THE SUM OF IT . THE JUDGE SAID I KNOW YOUR BROTHER
AN I KNOW WHO YOU ARE TOO . WHEN DID
YOU GET OUT OF PRISION . RED KIND OF FLUSSED AT THIS AN SAID A MONTH AGO . WELL
I KNOW YOUR BROTHER TO BE A GOOD MAN BUT YOU I DON’T KNOW ABOUT ? EVERY THING LOOKS O.K. HERE . THERE WAS
APPARENTLY A BILL OF SALE SIGNED BY JIM
BUT THIS IS NOT HIS SIGNETURE BECAUSE I KNOW JIM’S SIGNETURE . THE JUDGE
THEN YELLED FOR A COURT CLERK TO COME IN AN ASK HIM IF HE KNOW ANY THING ABOUT
THIS AN HE SAID YES .
THIS
GUY WHO’S SIGNETURE IS ON THE TITLE CAME IN HERE AN SAID HE HAD JUST BOUGHT
THAT FARM FROM JIM AND SHOWED ME A BILL OF SALE . IT’S COMON KNOWLADGE AROUND
HERE THAT JIM WAS NOT COMEING BACK SO I THOUGHT NOTHING OF IT , YOU SAY THAT IS
NOT JIM’S SIGNETURE ,I REALLY DID NOT KNOW .
THAT
GUY SEEMED SO HONEST TO , .IN FACT EVERY ONE IN TOWN WHO KNOWS HIM LIKES HIM .
RED PUT HIS HEAD IN HIS HANDS AN SAID THAT POOR SAP SOME ONE SWINDLED.HIM AN
HE PROBLY DON’T EVEN KNOW IT.
I’M
SURE YOU ARE RIGHT SAID THE JUDGE . WE CAN SEND SOME ONE OUT AN GET HIM IN HERE
. NOW WHY DON’T YOU COME BACK HERE AT SAY THREE P.M. MAYBE WE CAN GET THIS
STRAIGHTED OUT , GOD I HATE IT WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENS .
THREE
P.M. AND RED WAS THERE . HE MET WITH THE JUDGE WHO SAID WELL THE OTHER GUY ISN’T HERE YET SO LETS WAIT SOME . IT
WAS MAYBE HALF AN HOUR LATER IN WALKED
THIS GUY A TOTOL STRANGER TO RED BUT
THE JUDGE SAID NOW I KNOW YOU I’VE SEEN YOU AROUND TOWN . YES SAID THE MAN
WHAT’S THE TROUBLE . WELL SAID THE JUDGE WHERE DID YOU GET THIS BILL OF SALE FOR YOUR FARM . THE
MAN LOOKED AT IT AN SAID WHY FROM JIM ENFIELD , SEE HE SIGNED IT . WHAT DID HE LOOK LIKE SAID THE JUDGE
OH
HE WAS ABOUT MEDIAM HIGHTH , KIND OF
PALE LOOKING WITH DARK HAIR .THE JUDGE SAID , RED STAND UP THEN TURNED AN ASK WAS HE AS TALL AS THIS MAN ? THE
MAN SAID OH NO , BOY YOU’RE A BIG ONE .
WELL
SAID THE JUDGE I KNOW JIM ENFIELD AND THOUGH HE’S NOT AS TALL AS THIS FELLOW HE
IS HEAVER.
THE
POOR MAN SAT THERE SLOWLY ABSORBING WHAT HE HAD JUST HEARD AND HIS FACE STARTED
TO FALL .
WHAT
HAVE I GOT MY SELF INTO HE FINALLY SAID AN I GOING TO LOSE EVERY THING I PUT
INTO THAT PLACE IN THE LAST YEAR ? THE JUDGE SAID THAT’S JUST THE WAY IT LOOKS
. THE MAN AGAIN SAID IS THERE ANY WAY I CAN SAVE ANYTHING ., THIS IS REALLY
GOING TO HURT MY WIFE , SHE LOVES THAT FARM . RED SAT THERE FEELING MORE AN
MORE LIKE A BIG BAD S. O. B. THAT POOR
GUY HAD NOT DONE ANY THING WRONG IN HIS MIND HE HAD JUST BEEN TAKEN FOR A
SUCKER . WHAT DID YOU PAY FOR IT SAID BIG RED ? I GAVE THE MAN FIVE HUNDRED
DOLLARS THE MAN SAID . THE JUDGE SPOKE UP AND SAID THAT SHOULD HAVE TIPED YOU
OFF FIVE HUNDRED IS A REDICULOUSLY LOW
PRICE FOR THAT FARM . THE MAN JUST SAT THERE . FINALLY HE SAID I DON’T KNOW
WHAT TO DO MY GOD HOW CAN I BREAK THIS TO MY FAMILY ?? THE JUDGE SPOKE UP AN
SAID HAVE YOU SEEN THIS MAN AROUND TOWN , THE ONE WHO SOLD YOU THAT FARM ?
OH YES SAID THE MAN I SEE HIM EVERY ONCE IN A
WHILE . WELL SAID THE JUDGE IF YOU SPOT HIM WE WILL ARREST HIM . AFTER SETTING
THER E A WHILE THE MAN SAID CAN WE HAVE A FEW DAYS TO GET THINGS TOGATHER AN
THEN WE WILL BE OUT OF THERE . OH SURE SAID RED JUST LET ME KNOW WHEN , WE’LL
STAY AROUND TOWN FOR A FEW DAYS . THE JUDGE SAID YOU CAN STAY IN MY BACK YARD
AN PUT YOUR HORSES IN THE BARN I DON’T USE IT ANY WAY . THEY ALL LEFT THE
JUDGE’S OFFICE , THE MAN WALKING SLOWLY AN MUTTERING O HIM SELF , BIG RED WENT
TO HIS WAGON TO TELL JENNY WHAT WAS
GOING ON . AS JENNY AN RED TAKED RED TOLD HER ABOUT THE JUDGE’S OFFER AND JENNY
EXPRESSED HER SYMPATHY FOR THE POOR MAN . AS THEY SAT THERE TALKING THE MAN RAN
UP SAYING I JUST SAW HIM THE GUY THAT SOLD ME YOUR FARM . RED SAID WHERE ? IN
THE BAR OVER THERE HE SAID. RED GOT UP
AN SAID I’LL GO GET THE JUDGE , YOU
KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR HIM . RED WALKED IN TO THE JUDGE’S OFFICE AN TOLD HIM .
WELL SAID THE JUDGE I GOT NO DEPITY AROUND AND I’LL BET YOU CAN HANDLE JUST
ABOUT ANY THING SO I GOING TO DEPUTIES
YOU .
RED LOOKED AT THE JUDGE AN SAID IS THAT LEGAL
? ME BEING AN EX CON. THE JUDGE HANDED HIM A GUN AN SAID IN MY JUSRISDICTION IT IS , COME ON LET’S GET HIM . THERE
WAS THE POOR FARMER STANDING OUT SIDE
THE TAVERN . HE’S STILL IN SIDE HE SAID
. AND JUST THEN THE MAN CAME OUT . THE JUDGE RECONIZED HIM RIGHT AWAY AN SAID
ABNER DROP YOUR GUNS YOUR UNDER ARREST
. IT WAS THEN RED REALIZED HE WAS WEARING A GUN ON EACH HIP AND THIS MENT ONE
THING , HE WAS A GUN FIGHTER , THE AVERAGE PERSON ONLY WORE ONE GUN AT
MOST, BECAUSE THEY WERE HEAVY .AT THIS
REALIZATION RED LEVELED HIS GUN RIGHT
AT THE MAN . AND NOT A MINUTE TO SOON BECAUSE THE MAN WENT FOR BOTH GUNS . HIS
GUNS BARELY CLEARED THE HOLSTER WHEN
RED DROPED HIM WITH TWO SHOTS . THE JUDGE TOOK OFF HIS HAT , LOOKED AT RED AN
SAID I HAVE NEVER SEEN SHOOTING LIKE THAT , I’M SURE GLAD I HAD YOU WITH ME .
WOULD
YOU LIKE A JOB AS PERMINANIT DEPITY ? RED SAID NO I HATE TO HAVE TO SHOOT A MAN
LIKE THAT ,
I
WILL IF I HAVE TO BUT I NEVER WANT TO . THE JUDGE TURNED TO THE MAN THAT HAD
BEEN SWINDLED AN SAID I THINK WE HAVE SALVED YOUR PROBLIM .WHAT DO YOU MEAN
SAID THE MAN . WELL SAID THE JUDGE ABNER HAD A NICE SPRED OUT WEST OF TOWN HE
NEVER WORKED IT AN I ALWAYS WONDERED HOW HE MADE A LIVING . IF IT’S O.K. WITH
YOU THE COURT WILL TAKE OVER THAT LAND AND AWARED IT TO YOU AS SETTLEMENT FOR
THE SWINDLE HE DID TO YOU . THE MAN ALMOST CRYED HE WAS SO HAPPY AN SAID I HATE
TO SEE A MAN DIE FOR THIS BUT I GUESS HE ASKED FOR IT . RED I GUESS I HAVE TO
THANK YOU BECAUSE I KNOW I COULD NEVER HAVE DONE WHAT YOU JUST DID . O.K. SAID THE JUDGE TO RED I’LL TAKE THAT
GUN AND YOU ARE DE-DEPUTIZED. BY THIS TIME A CROWED HAD GATHERED AN THE JUDGE
SAID SOME ONE COVER HIM UP AN I’LL GET THE UNDERTAKER TO PICK HIM UP .. IT TOOK
A FEW DAYS , BUT AFTER A FEW THE POOR MAN DROVE THOUGH TOWN AN TOLD RED HE WAS
OUT AN HE COULD MOVE IN ANY TIME . RED AN JENNY AN THE KIDS MOVED IN AN SETTLED
DOWN . IT WAS LATE FALL THEN SO IT WAS
GOING TO BE A LONG WINTER FOR THEM BEFORE THEY COULD PUT IN A CROP .
RED AN JENNY WERE SETTLED IN FOR A
MONTH OR SO WHEN THIS RIDER RODE UP RED COULD TELL HE WAS A BIG MAN ALMOST AS
BIG AS RED AND WHEN HE GOT OFF HIS HORSE JENNY RAN UP TO HIM AND THROU HER ARMS
AROUND HIM . RED WALKED OVER TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON . WHEN HE GOT THERE JENNY
WAS ALL SMILES AN SAID THIS IS MY BROTHER
.ELMER MYERS .THERE WERE FEW
MEN THAT RED COULD STAND FACE TO FACE AN TALK TO BUT ELMER WAS ONE OF THEM .
RED STUCK OUT HIS HAND AN SHOOK HANDS WITH
ELMER
, THEY WENT IN SIDE, JENNY MADE COFFEE
AN THEY TALKED . FINALLY RED ASK ELMER WHAT KIND OF WORK DO YOU DO ? ELMER SAID
I’M A TOWN CONSTABLE ABOUT FIFTY MILES NORTH OF HERE . OH SAID RED THEY OFFERED
ME THAT JOB HERE BUT I HAVE KILLED ENOUGH MEN ALREADY , I DON’T WANT TO BE PUT
IN THE POSITION TO HALF TO DO IT AGAIN . YEA SAID ELMER I HEARD ALL ABOUT
YOU AN I KNEW WHEN YOU MARRIED JENNY AN
WAS LIVING ON THAT RANCH THAT YOU WERE WANTED , BUT I SURE AS HELL WAS NOT GOING TO BE THE ONE TO DO IT . AN I
KNEW FROM WHAT I FOUND OUT ABOUT YOUR
SITUATION THAT YOU WERE RAILROADED , THAT SHERIFF WAS CROAKED AN EVERY ONE KNOW
IT BUT YOU GOT THE WRONG JUDGE .RED TOLD ELMER ABOUT HIS TIME IN PRISON OR
RATHER ABOUT TIME ON THE RANCH AN WHAT ALL HAPPENED THERE . THEY TALKED OF MANY
THINGS , ABOUT UNCLE BEN AN AUNT SARRA AN HIS TIME WITH THEM , BEING CARIFUL TO
SKIP THE PART ABOUT RUNNING HORSES ACROSS THE BORDER .THAT WAS NO BODY ELSE’S BUSNESS . THEY TALKED IN TO THE NIGHT AN
RED GOT TO LIKE THIS BROTHER IN LAW , HE WAS
O.K.
. WHERE’S YOUR BROTHER ASK RED ? OH SAID ELMER HE LIVES OVER CLOSER TO DES
MOINES GARSH I DON’T SEE MUCH OF HIM ANY MORE , GOT HIM SELF A GOOD WIFE AN
DOING PRETTY GOOD . THEY SPENT THE BEST PART OF THE NEXT MORNING TALKING TOO
, UNTIL ELMER SAID IF I DON’T GET GOING
IT WILL BE DARK BEFORE I GET HOME . . THEY ALL SAID THEIR GOOD BY’S AND ELMER
WAS GONE .. AFTER ELMER LEFT RED SAID IT WAS SURE NICE TO MEET ELMER BOT HOW COME HIS NAME IS MYERS AN YOURS WAS ELLIOTT . OH SAID JENNY WE HAD DIFFERENT FATHERS . I
WAS RAISED BY MY FATHER AN ELMER AN HIS
BROTHER OTTO WERE RAISED BY THEIRS .
THOSE WERE TOUGH TIMES AN WE DID NOT SEE EACH OTHER VERY OFTEN .
THAT YEAR THE WINTER WAS HARD AN JENNY AN RED HAD TO STRECH THEIR
MONEY . JENNY AGAIN STARTED TO DO
SEWING AN SUCH , EVEN FILLED IN AT THE SCHOOL WHEN THE TEACHER WAS SICK . THAT SPRING RED PUT IN LOTS OF CORN BUT
APPARENTLY A LOT OF OTHER FARMERS DID TO BECAUSE THAT FALL CORN SOLD CHEAP .
RED DID NOT MAKE MUCH MONEY SO AFTER HARVEST RED TOLD JENNY I GOT TO DO SOME
THING ELSE WE CAN’T LIVE THIS WAY . WELL SAID JENNY I GOT A LETTER FRON THE OLD
RANCHER
YOU
WORKED FOR WHEN WE GOT MARRIED AND HE NEED’S SOME HELP . WITH ALL THE FARMERS
MOVEING IN HE CAN’T GET ANYONE TO WORK ON THE RANCH AN HE HAS GOT TO FENCE
IN HIS LAND BECAUSE THE NEW FARMERS ARE
COMPLAINING ABOUT HIS CATTLE RUNNING ALL OVER THEIR FARMS . SAID HE WOULD PAY
GOOD MONEY TOO . O.K. SAID RED LETS SEE IF WE CAN RENT THIS FARM YOU KNOW I
ALWAYS LIKED RANCHEN BEST . YES SAID JENNY AND THEN WE CAN GET TO SEE JIM
MORE OFTEN , IT WAS A WEEK LATER RED
SAID I GOT SOME ONE TO RENT THE FARM SO LETS GO . O.K. SAID JENNY I SENT A
LETTER SAYING WE WOULD BE COMEING . ARRIVEING AT THE OLD RANCH WAS ALMOST LIKE
GOING HOME AFTER ALL THEY HAD SPENT THEIR FIRST YEARS HERE . RED COULD SEE THAT
OLD RANCHER WAS GETTING OLDER , HE
COULD HARDLY RIDE A HORSE NOW AND WHEN RED AN JENNY SHOWED UP THERE WERE TEARS
IN HIS EYE’S WHEN HE GAVE THEM BOTH A BIG HUG . IF YOU HAD NOT COME I DON’T
KNOW WHAT I WOULD HAVE DONE HE SAID . YOU ARE ABOUT THE ONLY PEOPLE I TRUST
, I KNOW I’M LOSEING A LOT OF COW’S ,
BUT I CAN’T RIDE OUT TO LOOK FOR THEM AN SOME OF THESE SO CALLED GOOD FARMERS
AROUND ME CAN GET DOWN RIGHT NASTIE .
WELL
SAID RED WE WILL TAKE CARE OF THAT FAST . I SEE ROLLS OF BARBED WIRE OUT FRONT
,IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT TO USE FOR FINCEING . YES SAID THE OLD RANCHER AN THE
POSTS WILL BE HERE TO DAY . IF YOU HADN’T SHOWED UP I DON’T KNOW WHAT I’D A
DOWN .? RED SET ABOUT SETING POSTS THE
NEXT DAY AND THAT GROUND WASN’T THE EASYEST TO DIG IN EATHER SO RED DID BREAK A
FEW SHOVELS TO , THEY WEREN’T MADE FOR A GUY LIKE BIG RED . GOT IN TO A FEW ARGUMENTS
TO WITH FARMER WHO HAD BEEN PLOWING OVER ON THE OLD RANCHERS LAND . EVEN THEN
RED THOUGHT TO HIM SELF THIS LAND IS GOOD FARM LAND , IT’S ALMOST A WASTE TO
KEEP IT A RANCH . , BUT IT MADE A GOOD RANCH TOO THE GRASS GREW SO FAST . RED
SLOWLY GOT IT FENCED , BOY A FEW OF THOSE FARMERS GOT REAL NASTIE BUT THEY DID
NOT ARGUE WITH BIG RED , RED FELT MORE AT HOME HERE ON THE RANCH MAY BE I’M NOT
CUT OUT TO BE A FARMER HE THOUGHT . THEY DID GET OVER TO SEE BROTHER JIM TO AND
THE TWO FAMILIES GOT TO KNOW EACH OTHER
.BETTER . RED GOT THE RANCH CLEANED UP AN IN SHAPE TO , THE OLD RANCHER HAD LET IT GO A LOT .
.THINGS WENT ON THIS WAY FOR A FEW YEARS AN THESE WERE SOME OF THE GOOD YEARS
FOR JENNY AN RED , IT WAS ONE OF THOSE FINE DAY’S THAT RED GOT WORD THAT HIS
BROTHER JIM HAD BEEN KILLED IN A DYNAMITE ACCIDENT . RED AN JENNY RUSHED OVER .
JIM’S WIFE WAS ALL UPSET “I TOLD HIM
NOT TO WORK WITH THAT STUFF “ . JIM’S CHILDREN WERE ALMOST GROWN THEN SO THEY
COULD TAKE CARE OF THEN SELVES . JIM’S WIDOW
HAD THE HOUSE AND ENOUGH MONEY TO CARRY ON SO RED AND JENNY WENT BACK TO
THE RANCH . THINGS WENT ON THE SAME FOR A YEAR OR SO BUT RED COULD TELL THE OLD
RANCHER WAS GETTING OLD FASTER AN HE AN JENNY HAD TO HELP HIM A LOT MORE ONE DAY HE TOLD RED I KNOW YOU CAN SEE ME
GOING DOWN HILL AN I DON’T KNOW HOW MUCH MORE I’LL LAST . RED SAID I THINK YOU
GOT A LOT MORE YEARS IN YOU YET , DO YOU HAVE ANY RELATIVES AROUND . NO SAID THE OLD MAN I LOST ALL TRACK OF
THEM . BUT LIKE THEY SAY WHEN YOU DIE
RELATIVES COME OUT OF THE WOOD WORK SO I SUPPOSE SOME WILL SHOW UP WHEN
I’M GONE , THE OLD RANCHER WENT ON
, RED I MADE OUT A WILL A YEAR AGO ,
LEAVEING EVERY THING TO YOU AN JENNY . NO BODY HAS EVER TRETED ME AS FAIR AND
HONESTLY AS YOU HAVE . I’M TELLING YOU THIS BECAUSE SOME MORNINGS LATELY I FELT
AS THOUGH I COULD NOT GET OUT OF BED AN
I WANTED YOU TO BE PREPAIRED .. BIG RED
STOOD THERE A LONG TIME SOAKING THIS IN . I’LL BET YOU GOT A LOT OF TIME YET HE SAID . WELL I HOPE SO SAID THE
RANCHER BUT I FELT YOU SHOULD KNOW
. THE DAYS WENT ON AN RED AN JENNY
TRIED TO MAKE THEM AS PLEASANT AS THEY COULD FOR THAT OLD RANCHER ,BUT HE HAD
LIVED ALONE SO LONG THERE ISN’T MUCH YOU CAN DO . JENNY TOLD RED I THINK HE’S
HAVING THE BEST TIME IN HIS LIFE NOW THAT HE DOSEN’T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE
RANCH , DO YOU NOTICE HE GET’S OUT ALMOST EVERY DAY AN JUST RIDE’S AROUND KIND
OF SURVEYING HIS PROPERTY AN I CAN TELL
YOU HE’S HAPPY AN PROUD OF WHAT YOU HAVE DONE HERE . HE
HAS
LIVED HERE ALONE FOR SO MANY YEARS AN NOW WITH ALL THESE FARMERS MOVEING IN
AROUND HIM I KNOW HE DOESN’T LIKE TO HAVE ANY THING TO DO WITH THEM . BY THIS TIME THE BOY WAS FIFTTEEN AN ALMOST AS TALL AS RED AN BY ALL
APPEARANCE’S HE WAS A MAN AND HE WANTED
TO TAKE OFF ON HIS OWN . THER WASN’T MUCH RED AN JENNY COULD DO TO STOP HIM HE
WAS AS HEAD STRONG AS RED AN HIS MOTHER WERE . SO OFF HE WENT . IT WASN’T LONG
AFTER THAT THE OLD RANCHER DIED . RED
AN JENNY HAD LEARNED TO LOVE THIS OLD MAN . WITH RED’S FATHER DIEING WHEN HE WAS ELEVEN AN JENNY’S FATHER WHO WAS
HARDLY EVER AROUND THEY BOTH FELT HIM LIKE A FATHER SO IT WAS A BLOW WHEN HE DIED .
THE RANCH WAS THEIRS AND THEY FELT
THEM SELVES FAIRLY PROSPEROUS . THEN ONE DAY THIS MAN STOPS IN AN SAYES “ I
JUST LEARNED MY UNCLE DIED AND I KNOW I’M THE ONLY HAIR . RED AN JENNY HARDLY KNOW WHAT TO SAY . SO
THEY FINALLY TOLD HIM THAT THE OLD RANCHER HAD LEFT THEM THE RANCH IN HIS WILL
.OH HE SAYS I CAN BREAK THAT WLL IN NO TIME . WELL SAID RED THE OLD RANCHER
WARNED ME THAT HE KNOW OF NO RELITIVES BUT WHEN SOME ONE DIED THEY SEEM TO COME OUT OF THE WOOD WORK . AT THIS THE MAN GOT INSULTED AN SAID ARE YOU
TRYING TO MAKE A FOOL OUT OF ME .
RED JUST LEANED OVER THE MAN AN SAID YOU CAN
TAKE IT ANY WAY YOU WANT TO .BUT BEFORE YOU TAKE THIS RANCH WE WILL END UP IN
COURT . THE MAN JUST SNARLED AT RED, SO
BE IT I’LL HAVE A COURT ORDER TO GET YOU OFF THIS PLACE IN A FEW DAYS. GOT ON HIS HORSE AN RODE AWAY . RED LOOKED
AT JENNY AN SAID I GUESS WE BETTER FIND A LAWYER ? JENNY SAID THERE IS NO
LAWYER .IN THIS TOWN . RED THOUGHT THIS OVER AN SAID I GUESS I’LL HAVE TO GO TO
JEFFERSON AN SEE THE JUDGE . RED GOT INTO JEFFERSON THE NEXT DAY AN WENT
STRAIGHT TO THE JUDGE . AFTER READING THE WILL OVER THE JUDGE SAID “ AS FAR AS I’M COMSERENED YOUR IN THE RIGHT
, THIS WILL WAS MADE UP PROPERLY AN IT
EVEN MENTIONED THAT HE HAD NO KNOWLADGE OF ANY RELITIVES SO THERE WAS NO WAY HE
COULD MENTION THEM , THE JUDGE TOLD RED THIS IS A PROPER WILL AND IT SHOULD
STAND UP IN COURT . MEAN WHILE BACK AT THE RANCH JENNY WAS HAVING HER OWN TROUBLES
THE MAN HAD COME BACK WITH AN ORDER SIGNED BY A JUSTUS OF THE PEACE , ORDERING
THEM OFF THE RANCH . JENNY HAD GRABED THE
30-30
AN
TOLD THEM TO GET OFF THE RANCH AND HER HUSBAND WOULD DEAL WITH THEM LATER AN
THEY GOT .
WHEN RED GOT BACK AN FOUND OUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED HE WAS MAD .
HE THEN TOLD JENNY THAT HE HAD THE JUDGE TELL HIM THAT THE WILL WAS A GOOD ONE
AN HE SAID I DON’T THINK A JUSTICE OF THE PIECE HAS THE POWER `TO ISSUE AN
EVICTION NOTICE . IT WAS THE NEXT DAY THAT THE MAN AND THE JUSTICE .SHOWED UP
EARLY IN THE MORNING WITH GUNS AND A COUPLE OF MEN AN SAID THEY WERE GOING TO
DRIVE THEM OFF . BIG RED WALKED OUT THE DOOR OF THEIR HOUSE AN LEVELED HIS 30-30 AT THEM AN SAID WHO WANTS TO BE FIRST
TO TRY ? THE TWO HIRED MEN BACKED WAY OFF AN OTHER TWO JUST FROOZE IN THEIR
TRACKS . FINALLY THE JUSTICE SAID I HAVE A SIGNED ORDER TO REMOVE YOU FROM THIS
RANCH . RED JUST SAID YOU HAVEN’T GOT THE POWER TO DO THAT AND I HAVE A LEGAL
WILL SAYING THIS IS MY RANCH , SO I’LL SEE YOU IN COURT, RED LIED WHEN HE SAID , I HAVE ALREADY SET A
DATE WITH THE JUDGE IN JEFFERSON AND
YOU WILL BE NOTIFIED . THE JUSTICE THROU THE PAPER DOWN AN SAID THERE IS
MY NAME
SEND
IT THERE AND THEY ALL LEFT . AS THEY LEFT ONE OF THE HIRED MEN SAID IF I HAD
KNOWN WHO YOU WERE TRYING TO KICK OFF HIS RANCH I WOULD NEVER HAV COME OUT HERE
WITH YOU AN DON’T ASK ME AGAIN . I KNOW WHO THAT RED HEAD IS AND I DON’T WANT
NOTHING TO DO WITH HIM .AND MY ADVISE TO YOU IS STAY CLEAR OF HIM .
RED
TOLD JENNY I GUESS I HAD BETTER MAKE THAT LIE INTO A TRUTH SO TOMORROW I HAD BETTER HEAD BACK TO
JEFFERSON AN TALK TO THAT JUDGE . JENNY SAID OH NO IF YOU LEAVE HERE I’LL BET
THEY WILL TRY TO RUN ME OFF , YOUR SON ROSS IS IN TOWN SO WE WILL GET HIM
TO GO , YOU JUST WRITE A LETTER FOR HIM TO TAKE . RED HAD TO ADMIT THIS WAS
GOOD ADVICE AND HE TOOK IT . ROSS CAME OUT TO THE RANCH AN THEY TOLD HIM WHAT
THEY WANTED HIM TO DO AND HE AGREED . ROSS WAS ALMOST AS BIG AS RED AN RED TOLD
HIM YOU WEAR MY COAT AND RIDE MY HORSE AND KEEP YOUR HAT PULLED DOWN SO IF THE
ARE WATCHING US THEY WILL THINK I’M LEAVEING , BUT YOU BE DAM CARFUL THEY DON’T
SHOOT AT YOU . ROSS WAS OFF TO JEFFERSON WITH THE LETTER AN RED STEAD IN THE HOUSE ALL DAY . IT WAS A
CLEAR MOONLITE NIGHT THAT NIGHT SO RED COULD SEE FOR SOME DISTANCE . ABOUT AN HOUR AFTER DARK RED HAD THE FRONT
DOOR OPEN AN THE WOMAN.SLEEPING ON THE FLOOR
IN THE BACK . SHADED BY THE FRONT PORCH RED SLIPED OUT SIDE . HE COULD
HEAR SOME THING OFF TO HIS LEFT , OUT BY THE ROAD AND AS HE LISIONED HE COULD
TELL THEY WERE CRAWLING TOWARD THE HOUSE . AS HE LISIONED HE THOUGHT WHAT FOOLS
THEY ARE A BLIND MAN COULD TELL WERE THEY ARE .WELL THOUGHT RED I REALLY DON’T
WANT TO SHOOT ANY ONE THAT WOULD JUST MAKE THINGS WORSE HERE SO HE FIRED A COUPLE OF SHOTS JUST OVER THEM
. WELL ANYONE COULD HEAR THEM AFTER THAT RUNNING AWAY . RED COULD NOT HELP
HIMSELF HE HAD TO LAUGH .AN ON A QUIET NIGHT LIKE THAT YOU COULD HEAR IT FOR A
LONG WAYS . SUDDENLY RED SAW A MUSSEL BLAST AN BEFORE HE HEARD THE SOUND HE HAD
HIT THE GROUND . FROM THE GROUND RED SHOT A COUPLE OF TIMES IN THE DIRECTION HE
SAW THE MUSSEL BLAST . RED ALSO THOUGHT HE HEARD A YELL BUT HE WASN’T SURE .
THE REST OF THE NIGHT HE KEP A CLOSE WATCH .
ABOUT THREE DAYS LATER ROSS CAME BACK
WITH THE PAPERS FOR RED AN SAID HE WAS INSTRUCTED TO GIVE THESE TWO TO THE MAN
WHO WAS TRYING TO TAKE THE RANCH . O.K. SAID RED YOU STAY WITH YOUR MOTHER AN
I’M GOING INTO TOWN AN SERVE THESE PAPERS MY SELF . IN TOWN RED FOUND THE
JUSTICE OF THE PEACE OFFICE AND THERE
WAS THE MAN SO HE SAID LETS GO IN AN SEE THE JUSTICE IN SIDE HE GAVE THE MAN
THE PAPERS , THE MAN THEN HE HANDED
THEM TO THE JUSTICE WHO READ THEM . THEN SAID THIS IS AN ORDER TO STOP
BOTHERING JOE ENFIELD ON HIS RANCH AN THROU THEM BACK AT THE MAN . BUT YOU’RE A
JUDGE TO SAID THE MAN . AND HE’S A
HIGHER JUDGE SAID THE JUSTICE , LEGALLY I CAN GO NO FARTHER . AT THIS RED
NOTICED THE MAN FAVERING ONE ARM . RED SAID WHAT’S THE MATTER WITH YOUR ARM ,
GOT A BUILLET IN IT . NOTHING SAID THE MAN AN TURNED ARUOND AN WALKED OUT . RED
COULD SEE HIM GET ON HIS HOURSE AN RIDE AWAY HE THEN TURNED TO THE JUSTICE AN
JUST LOOKED AT HIM FOR A LONG TIME .
FINALY
THE JUSTICE SAID SORRY TO HAVE BROUGHT THIS ON YOU BUT I BELIVED THAT MAN , I
DON’T THINK YOU WILL HAVE ANY MORE TROUBLE FROM HIM , THEN ADDED THAT ARM
TOUGHT HIM A LISION . RED JUST SMILED AN WALKED OUT . BACK AT THE RANCH RED
TOLD JENNY WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND THAT NOW THEY WERE FREE OF THAT TROUBLE .
RED AN JENNY WENT TO WORK ON THE
RANCH BUT THEY WERE HAVING MORE AN MORE TROUBLE WITH THE FARMERS . SOME CATTLE OR A HORSE WOULD BREAK DOWN A
SECTION OF FENCE AN GET INTO A
FARMERS
FIELD OR SOME THING LIKE THAT AND IT
WAS GETTING TO BE TO MUCH FOR RED AN
JENNY .
ONE DAY RED GOT A LETTER FROM THE RANCHER HE WORKED FOR IN MONTANA
SAYING HE WAS RETIRING AND WONDERED IF RED WOULD LIKE TO BUY HIS RANCH .? RED
AN JENNY TALKED THIS OVER . IT WAS
GETTING TO CROWED HERE SAID RED AN THAT WAS A GOOD RANCH , IT HAD WATER AN
GRASS LAND AND A NICE HOUSE . RED SAID LETS SELL OUT HERE AN GO ? JENNY THOUGHT
IT OVER AN SAID WOULD YOU FEEL ALL RIGHT GOING BACK TO THAT COUNTRY AFTER WHAT
HAPPENED THERE . OH SURE SAID RED THAT’S IN THE PAST NOW AN FARMING IS JUST NOT
MY GAME . IT TOOK NO TIME AT ALL TO FIND BUYERS FOR THE RANCH AN SELLING THE
HORSES AND CATTLE WAS JUST AS EASY . LOADING UP A COVERED WAGON WITH ALL THEY WANTED TO TAKE , BIG RED ,JENNY AND
THEIR DAUGHTER WERE PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVE WAY WHEN RED STOPED AN LOOKED BACK
FOR A LONG TIME . JENNY SAID WE WILL NEVER FORGET THIS PLACE WE HAVE SPENT MANY
HAPPY TIMES HERE , I HATE SO TO LEAVE BUT I KNOW YOU HAVE TO MOVE ON
AND
I AM WITH YOU ALL THE TIME , LETS GO AND OFF THEY WENT .
AFTER STOPING A T JIM’S WIDOW ‘S
PLACE FOR A FEW DAY’S RED AND JENNY WERE
OFF TO MONTANA . THE TRIP TO MONTANA
WAS UNEVENTFUL . THEY STOPED AT JEFFERSON AND RENEWED FRIENDSHIP’S . THE FARM
WAS DOING FINE BUT NO ONE WAS LIVING IN THE HOUSE SO IT LOOKED RUN DOWN . OH
WELL SAID RED IF WE EVER MOVE BACK HERE WE WILL HAVE TO FIX THE HOUSE UP . THEN
ON THEY WENT . RED COULD NOT GET OVER HOW THE PRAIRE WAS FILLING UP WITH
FARMERS , WHERE DO ALL THESE PEOPLE COME FROM HE THOUGHT . WHEN THEY GOT TO MONTANA THE LAND WAS MORE
BARREN , FEWER PEOPLE , AND WHEN THEY
GOT TO THE RANCH IT LOOKED JUST THE SAME TO RED . THE RANCHER HAD FIXED UP THE
HOUSE AN BARN . THE RANCHER TOLD RED THE BARN BURNED DOWN A FEW YEARS AGO SO
WHEN HE REBUILT THE BARN HE HAD THE HOUSE REMODELED TOO . GEE WHAT HAPPENED TO
THE BARN SAID RED . OH I DON’T KNOW SAID THE RANCHER , I THOUGHT AT FIRST SOME
ONE SET IT ON FIRE BUT THERE WAS NO WAY TO REALLY KNOW
BUT
YOU KNOW RED SOME TIMES A BARN WILL BURN FOR NO APPARENT REASON , COULD HAVE
BEEN DAMP HAY OR ANY THING . WELL SAID RED YOU REPLACED IT WITH A FINE BUILDING
. O.K. SAID THE RANCHER I HAVE ALREADY MOVED INTO TOWN SO YOU CAN MOVE RIGHT IN
. RED COULD TELL THE RANCHER WAS GETTING OLD , HE LOOKED IT AND HE NO LONGER
RODE A HORSE HE USED A BUGGY NOW . AS THE RANCHER GOT INTO HIS BUGGY HE SAID
YOU GET SETTLED IN AN WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE IT COME IN TO TOWN AND WE GET THE
PAPER WORK DONE . AS HE RODE AWAY HE STOPED AT THE END OF THE DRIVEWAY AN
LOOKED BACK WATCHING RED AN JENNY MOVEING THINGS IN TO THE HOUSE . ONE TIME
WHEN JENNY LOOKED OUT AT HIM SHE COULD
SEE HE HAD HIS HEAD BURYED IN HIS HANDS , HER HEART SANK AN SHE WANTED TO GO
TO HIM BUT SHE KNOW TOO THAT A MAN LIKE HIM WANTED HIS PRIVACY AND IT TUGED AT
HER HEART TOO BECAUSE SHE KNOW
THAT WOULD BE THEM SOME DAY .
LIFE ON THE NEW RANCH WAS LIKE A
WHOLE NEW START . THERE WAS SO MUCH TO DO . THE OLD RANCHER HAD LET THINGS GO
BECAUSE HE JUST COULD NOT DO MUCH AN RED WAS EAGGER TO GET THE PLACE IN SHAPE .
AFTER A COUPLE OF WEEKS RED TURNED TO JENNY ONE MORNING AN SAID EVERY THING GOING TOGATHER JUST FINE AN I
FEEL LIKE A KID AGAIN STARTING ALL OVER , I JUST LOVE THIS LIFE .JENNY KEP THIS
IN HER HEART KNOWING THAT WITH ALL THE SUNSHINE THERE HAS TO BE SOME RAIN .
THE FIRST RAIN CAME WHEN THE OLD RANCHER DIED WITH IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS OF SELLING THE
RANCH . HE HAD COME OUT ABOUT ONCE A WEEK
AN MARVELED AT WHAT RED HAD DONE . THE SECONDIT WAS THE RAILROAD . ONE
MORNING RED LOOKED OUT THE FRONT DOOR AN SAW SOME MEN SETTING UP ON HIS
PROPERTY . WHEN HE WENT OUT TO SEE WHAT THEY WANTED THEY TOLD HIM THEY
WERE SERVEYORS WITH THE RAILROAD AND THEY WERE SURVAYING FOR THE FOR A
NEW TRACK LINE THAT WOULD GO RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE OF HIS
RANCH . NOW JUST A MINUTE SAID RED THIS IS MY RANCH AN NOBODY TOLD ME ABOUT
THIS ? SOME ONE WILL THEY SAID, AS
SOON AS WE FIGURE OUT WHERE IT’S GOING . DON’T I HAVE ANY THING TO SAY ABOUT THIS SAID RED . NO SAID THE SERVEYORS WE HAVE ENNINT
DOMAIN , WE CAN CONDEMN
WHAT
EVER LAND WE FEEL WE NEED FOR THE RAILROAD . WHO GAVE YOU THAT POWER SAID RED ?
THE GOVERMENT WAS THEIR ANSWER . RED WENT BACK TO THE HOUSE BOILING MAD WHEN HE
TOLD JENNY WHAT THEY WERE DOING SHE TOO COULD NOT UNDERSTAND IT AN SAID THERE
MUST BE SOMETHING WE CAN DO . RED THOUGHT IT OVER AN SAID I’M GOING INTO TOWN
AN TALK TO A LAWYER . WHEN RED GOT BACK
FROM THE LAWYER HE WAS MORE UPSET THAN BEFORE AN TOLD JENNY THE LAWYER SAID
THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO . THE RAILROAD WAS SUPPOSED TO PAY THEM A FAIR
PRICE FOR THE LAND THEY TOOK BUT THERE HAD BEEN SOME STORIES ABOUT SWINDLES SO
BE CARFUL . OVER THE NEXT DAYS RED WATCHED THE CREW PUT WHITE STAKES RIGHT DOWN
THE MIDDLE OF HIS RANCH . RED TOLD JENNY THIS IS TERRIBLE THEIR CUTING OUR
RANCH IN HALF AN I DON’T LIKE IT . A FEW DAYS AFTER THE SERVEYORS LEFT
TWO
MEN IN FANCY CLOTHES SHOWED UP AT RED’S RANCH AND SAID THEY WERE FROM THE
RAILROAD AN THEY WERE HERE TO SETTLE UP WITH THEM FOR THE LAND THEY WOULD TAKE
. RED WAS NOT IN A GOOD MODE AT THIS SO WHEN THEY SAID THEY FIGURED $500.00 WAS A GOOD PAYMENT FOR HIS WORTHLESS
LAND.
RED
JUMPED UP AT THIS AN STANDING OVER THEM LETTING HIS FULL HIGTH HANGE OVER THEM
, AN SAID NO THAT IS NOT A FAIR PRICE .
THE MEN NOTICEABLY COWERING FROM THIS SAID WELL MAYBE WE COULD MAKE IT A
$1,000.00 HOWS THAT ? RED SAID YOU HAVE
CUT MY RANCH IN HALF AN THE STORIES I
HEAR IS CATTLE WONT WALK OVER THOSE
TRACKS . OH NO THEY REPLIED ONCE THEY GET USED TO THE TRACKS THEY WILL. WELL
SAID RED I’M GOING TO TALK TO A LAWYER BEFORE I SIGN ANY THING . O.K. SAID THE
MEN WE WANT TO GET THIS DONE WITH SO IF YOU WILL ACCEPT $ 1,500.00 RIGHT NOW ,
AN THAT’S OUR LAST OFFER , WE WILL PAY IT AN BE GONE . RED THOUGHT A MINUTE AN
SAID NO I GOT TO THINK THIS OVER FIRST , YOU COME BACK IN A COUPLE OF DAYS AN
I’LL TELL YOU .. AFTER THEY LEFT RED TOLD JENNY I DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU BUT
THOSE TWO STRUCK ME AS A COUPLE OF SNAKES , I COULD JUST FEEL IT . YES SAID
JENNY I GOT THE SAME FEELING , WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT PROPERTY IS WORTH ? IT’S
HARD TO SAY SAID RED BUT I THINK IT’S WORTH MORE LIKE TWICE WHAT THEY OFFERED .
THAT EVENING AT DINNER RED SAID I GOT A FUNNY FEELING ABOUT TONIGHT AN I DON’T
KNOW WHY . JENNY SAID I HAVE THE SAME FEELING I THINK WE HAD BETTER STAY UP I
WOULD NOT BE SUPPRISED IF THE RAILROAD MEN MIGHT TRY TO GIVE US A PUSH OFF THIS
RANCH AN THAT IS JUST A FEELING TOO BUT JUST LIKE YOU SAID WHEN THAT SHERIFF
WAS ON YOUR TRAIL YOU GOT A FEELING ON THE BACK OF YOUR NECK AN THAT’S THE WAY I FEEL NOW . O.K. SAID RED
I’M GOING TO SET UP ALL NIGHT AN KEEP AN EYE OUT . RED SAT UP IN THE KITCHEN
WHERE HE HAD A GOOD VIEW OF THE RANCH ,
ALONG ABOUT MIDNIGHT RED HEARD SOME THING AN LOOKING OUT SIDE SAW A LIGHT
COMEING TOWARD THE HOUSE , MY GOD THEY ARE GOING TO BURN THE HOUSE HE THOUGHT
STEPING OUT ON THE FRONT PORCH HE AIMED JUST BELOW THE TORCH AN FIRED , THERE
WAS A YELL AN THE TORCH HIT THE GROUND . RED WAITED A MINUTE AN THEN IT LOOKED LIKE THE TORCH WAS BEING PICKED UP SO
RED FIRED AGAIN , AN OTHER YELL AN THE TORCH WENT FLYING SIDEWAYS , THEN
NOTHING . RED WAITED FOR A LONG
TIME THEN HE COULD HEAR TWO HORSES
RUNNING OFF . WELL I GUESS I JUST WINGED THEN BUT I BET THEY WONT BE BACK
THOUGHT RED BUT I STILL GOING TO STAY UP ALL NIGHT . NO MORE TROUBLE THAT NIGHT
BUT RED STAYED UP THE NEXT NIGHT TOO., AND HE HAD NO TROUBLE THAT NIGHT EATHER
. WHAT RED NEVER KNOW WAS WHEN THE TWO
HIRED BY THE MEN FOR THE RAILROAD , REPORTED BACK TO THEM THEY TOLD THEM THAT
ANY ONE WHO COULD SHOOT THAT WELL IN THE DARK
WAS NO ONE TO GO UP AGAINEST AN THEY WERE NOT GOING BACK . THE TWO
RAILROAD MEN SHOWED UP AT RED’S RANCH A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER AN TOLD RED THEY WANTED
TO GET THIS SETTLED AND $3,000.00 WAS
THEIR LAST OFFER . OK SAID RED I’LL SIGN . RED GOT HIS MONEY AN THE MEN WERE IN
THEIR WAGON WHEN WITH A SMILE ON HIS FACE , RED SAID I HOPE THOSE TWO DID NOT GET HURT TO BAD . THEY JUST GAVE RED A SOWER LOOK AN LEFT .
WHEN THEY LEFT JENNY SAID I HOPE THEY DON’T GIVE US ANY MORER TROUBLE TO WHICH RED REPLIED NO I DON’T EXPECT NONE . THEY THOUGHT THEY
COULD SCARE US IN TO ACCEPTING THE LOW OFFER
.
LIFE WENT ON , ON THE RANCH JENNY AN RED WERE
LIVING THE GOOD LIFE , AS THEY KNEW IT
., .THIS WENT ON FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS WHEN ONE DAY A MAN RODE IN AN SAID HE
WANTED TO TALK TO THEM ABOUT THEIR RANCH . IT SEEMS HE HAD BOUGHT THE RANCHES
AROUND THEM AND HE HAD A CONTRACT TO SUPPLY MEAT TO A SLATTER HOUSE IN CHICAGO
AND HE WAS TRYING TO BUILD UP A REALLY BIG RANCH AND DID
THEY
HAVE ANY IDEA HOW MUCH THEY WANTED FOR THEIR PLACE ? I’LL BE HONEST WITH YOU HE SAID THE RAILROAD
GOING THROU YOUR PROPERTY IS A PLUS TO ME . I COULD SHIP RIGHT FROM THE
RANCH SO I’M PREPAIRED TO OFFER YOU A
GOOD PRICE . RED AN JENNY THOUGHT THIS OVER
I THINK HE’S BEENING HONEST WITH US AND I’M SURE HE NEEDS THE RAILROAD
SAID RED . O.K. SAID JENNY I’M WITH YOU WHAT EVER YOU WANT TO DO .
THERE THEY WERE AGAIN ON THE ROAD .
LETS GO BACK TO JEFFERSON SAID RED FARM
PRICES’S ARE UP NOW MAYBE WE CAN MAKE A LIVING OFF THAT PLACE ..BACK IN
JEFFERSON THEY HAD A LOT OF WORK FIXING UP THE OLD HOUSE AN EVEN THE BARN WAS
IN BAD SHAPE . THEY HAD GOTTEN TO THE FARM IN TIME TO GET A CROP IN , FIXING UP
THE HOUSE AN BARN TOOK SOME TIME , JEFFERSON HAD GROWN SOME AND SOME OF THE REALLY BIG FARMS HAD BEEN
CUT I HALF SO THERE WERE MORE PEOPLE LIVING THERE NOW .
THEY
RENEWED OLD FRIEND SHIPS AND GOT TO KNOW A LOT OF NEW PEOPLE . THINGS WENT
ALONG JUST FINE FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS THEN ONE DAY JENNY SAID I’VE GOT NEWS FOR
YOU TO RED AND SAT ON HIS LAP . WELL
SAID RED WHAT HAVE YOU GOT TO SAY TO ME
? JENNY PUT HER ARM AROUND RED’S NECK AN LOOKED HIM IN THE EYE AND SAID WE ARE
GOING TO HAVE AN OTHER BABY . RED’S EYE’S LIT UP ,HE WAS OVER JOYED , I KIND OF
THOUGHT WE WERE DONE HAVING BABY’S HE SAID . NO SHE SAID I GUESS IT’S BECAUSE I
FEEL COMFORTABLE HERE DON’T YOU ? RED
THOUGHT ABOUT THAT FOR A WHILE THEN SAID YES I GUESS YOUR RIGHT , LOTS OF
FRIENDS AN RELITIVES AROUND . I USED TO
THINK I DID NOT LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE
AROUND BUT THIS IS NICE AN I AM ENJOYING MY RELITIVES , SOME THING I NEVER DID
BEFORE .
WHAT
ARE WE GOING TO HAVE A BOY OR A GIRL . I GUESS YOU WILL HAVE TO WAIT AN
SEE SHE ANSWERED
THE LIVES OF BIG RED AN JENNY AN ALL
WENT ON BUT FOR NOW I THINK WE WILL STOP .