Chapter two
Sergeant Jason Wagons stood awkwardly just inside the doorway of the state police headquarters at Midway, Texas.
He was a chubby fellow with fair skin and red cheeks. Nineteen and green, he was eager to impress his superior officer, who at the moment was eating a late breakfast with his brother.
Captain Yancy Landon looked at Sergeant Wagons in disbelief.
“The men are sick?” Yancy asked. “What’s wrong with ’em?”
“The doc thinks it’s a mild case of food poisoning, sir,” Sergeant Wagons replied.
Yancy frowned as he thought on that.
“And you’re the only feller besides me and Coop that ain’t sick?”
“Yes, sir,” Sergeant Wagons replied wistfully. “Everybody else has the squirts so bad all they have to do is cough, and -.”
“You don’t have to explain it in detail,” Yancy interrupted, and with a distasteful frown he pushed his food away.
“Sorry, sir,” Sergeant Wagons apologized.
Yancy got up and refilled his cup of coffee. He sat back down, poured some sugar in, and stirred it slowly.
Sergeant Wagons stood uncomfortably while he waited for Yancy to say something. His crisp uniform did not fit his bulky frame, and he wanted badly to unbutton his collar buttons. But, he didn’t have the nerve while in the presence of Yancy.
Yancy noticed Sergeant Wagon’s discomfort, but he didn’t acknowledge it. Instead, he sat there quietly, and after a while he looked up at Sergeant Wagons.
“You’d better tell the men to stay in their quarters,” Yancy said. “I doubt they’re contagious, but it won’t hurt to be safe. In the meantime you can move in here with us.”
“Thank you, sir!” Sergeant Wagons saluted sharply, and he wheeled around and left hastily.
Yancy’s face was dark.
“I had planned on going out on a patrol tomorrow,” he complained to his older brother.
Cooper Landon smiled wryly as he got up and grabbed the pot of coffee.
“Well, you and ol’ Wagons enjoy yourselves,” Cooper said as he filled his cup and sat back down. “In case you forgot; let me remind you. As of this morning I’m on a four week furlough.”
“I remember,” Yancy said tartly.
Cooper’s smile widened as he leaned back in his chair.
“First furlough I’ve had since -,” Cooper paused while he thought back. “Well, since way before the war. Five, six years probably.”
“I know that,” Yancy frowned. “We’ve been together that whole time.”
“Soon as the stage gets here with payroll, I’m going to buy me a mule and some traps,” Cooper continued. “Then, I’m going to head to them New Mexico Mountains and lose myself for a couple weeks.”
“More’n likely you’ll lose your hair instead,” Yancy grumbled.
“Could be a prosperous trip,” Cooper said as he ignored Yancy’s comment. “Beaver pelts are worth a small fortune back east these days, and they say them mountains are crawling with beaver.”
“Probably crawling with Injuns too,” Yancy replied sourly. “Besides, you’ve never trapped a beaver in your life.”
“Always a first time,” Cooper replied. “And, that ain’t my only reason for going. Mostly, I’m just tired of rules and regulations.”
“How’s that?” Yancy looked up sharply.
“Ever since I’ve been in a uniform, there’s always been some –,” Cooper paused for effect, “-‘superior officer’ telling me what I can and can’t do.”
Yancy thought on that and frowned.
“Mostly I’ve been your superior officer.”
“I know,” Cooper grinned.
Yancy grunted in response, and they said no more as Cooper finished breakfast. But Cooper knew what his little brother was thinking, and he couldn’t help but smile.
Yancy Landon was a very somber man. He never talked unless he had too, and when he did it was always clear, certain, and to the point. Yancy was also painfully honest, no matter what the cost.
Cooper was the more relaxed type. He liked life to go at slower pace, and he also liked to think things out before he acted.
The Landons were a well-known family. Except for their cousin Rondo, they were widely known for their honesty and integrity.
They were also known for their mean temper during times of trouble.
But Yancy and Cooper knew better. It wasn’t a temper. Instead, it was a feeling that they got down deep inside.
It was a feeling of confidence, calmness, loneliness, sharp keenness, and pure meanness all rolled up into one. It also dulled the senses, and many times they had been hurt and didn’t even know it until afterwards.
This feeling ran in the Landon blood. Their Pa and uncles had felt it, as had several other cousins.
Yancy and Cooper had been riding together for a long time. Before the war Yancy had been a lawman back east, and Cooper had been his deputy. Then the war broke out, and they joined on the same day. It didn’t take Yancy long to be promoted to a Colonel, and Cooper was made a Major.
Yancy’s name was well-known by the time the war was over. They both received honorable discharges, and they came out west on a cattle drive.
It wasn’t long until they were pulled back into service. Because of his reputation Yancy was made a Lieutenant in the new Texas police force, and they were both assigned to Midway.
At the time there was an epic range war going on.
J.T. Tussle, a salty old cowman, had control of most the range, but there were a lot of greedy cattlemen that wanted it. It was a tough fight, and by the time it was over Yancy and Cooper had made quite a name for themselves.
Because of their success Yancy was promoted to Captain, and Cooper was promoted to Lieutenant. Course, Yancy got most of the attention, mostly because he was real good with that Colt six-shooter of his. That, and the fact that he was real handsome looking sure didn’t hurt.
But Cooper was just as dangerous.
Tall and wide shouldered, Cooper wasn’t near as good with a six-shooter. Instead, his specialty was with his Henry rifle. He was real accurate with it, and mighty quick too. He had a special way of swinging it up, and it was almost as fast as Yancy’s draw.
Cooper was also a very good tracker.
The sound of scuffling feet interrupted their thoughts, and they looked up and saw J.T. Tussle in the doorway.
Tussle was an ex rebel, and proud of it. He respected the Landons, but he also never forgot that they had fought on different sides.
Tussle was a tall man with a wide frame. He had a weathered face that was trenched with deep lines, and those lines changed shape when he smiled or frowned.
“Thought I smelled coffee,” Tussle hinted as he looked at the coffee pot.
“Help yourself,” Cooper offered.
Tussle nodded and made his way over to the coffee pot.
“Eating a late breakfast,” Tussle remarked disapprovingly.
Yancy was silent, so Cooper smiled pleasantly.
“We are,” Cooper said.
Tussle waited for an explanation. He didn’t get one, so he poured a cup of coffee and sat down at the table.
“Where’s the rest of your outfit?” Tussle asked.
“There’s a stomach bug going around,” Cooper explained. “They’re probably in the nearest outhouse.”
“Hmm,” Tussle grunted. “Good to see our hard earned tax dollars being put to good use.”
Yancy turned his head slightly and stared intently at Tussle. Cooper, meanwhile, ignored Tussle’s remark as he changed the subject.
“You usually don’t come to town during the middle of the week,” Cooper commented. “This a special occasion?”
“Here to meet the stage,” Tussle explained. “My niece Jessica is coming out.”
“Didn’t know you had any kin,” Cooper remarked.
“I had an older brother, but we ain’t had nothing to do with each other since before the war,” Tussle explained. “He turned to the North and I turned to the South.”
“That sort-a thing happened to a lot of families,” Cooper nodded.
Tussle nodded in agreement.
“Anyway, his daughter Jessica wrote me and said he died, and now she’s looking for a place to live,” Tussle continued. “I told her she was welcome here as long as we didn’t talk politics, so she sold her father’s plantation and is coming out.”
Cooper raised an eyebrow.
“Plantation? That was bound to be worth something.”
“I’m sure it was,” Tussle agreed. “But, I’ve already made it clear that I don’t want her money. I’m getting on in years, and it’ll be pleasant to just have a woman around the house again.”
“Well that’s real nice, Tussle,” Cooper said pleasantly. “How old is she?”
“Oh, early twenties, I’d say.”
Yancy was still staring intently at Tussle. He cleared his throat and spoke for the first time.
“And she ain’t married?”
“You know how it is back east. Girls don’t get married as quick as they do out here,” Tussle explained.
Cooper and Yancy nodded.
After that they didn’t say much. They just sat there, drinking coffee and enjoying the cool breeze as it came through the door.
But suddenly they heard the sound of rushing feet, and Sergeant Wagons appeared in the doorway.
“Jed Hawkins just rode into town, Captain, and he’s mighty excited. He wants to see you right away,” Sergeant Wagons said breathlessly.
“What about?” Yancy asked.
“Says he heard some shooting,” Sergeant Wagons explained.
With an irritated frown Yancy got to his feet, as did Cooper and Tussle.
“It’s probably nothing. Jed is always trying to think up some disaster,” Yancy said. “Where is he?”
“Down the street, sir,” Sergeant Wagons replied.
Yancy nodded and walked out the door, and everybody else followed.
Jed Hawkins was an old, cantankerous trapper who claimed to be an ex Indian fighter. He had a slender build with a scratchy looking beard.
Jed had an opinion for everything, and he also liked to hear the sound of his own voice. A large crowd had gathered around him, and everybody was excited.
“I was just coming to see you, Yancy,” Jed said as they walked up. “I heard some shooting when I was out checking my traps, and I thought you should know about it right away.”
“Glad you came to me first then,” Yancy said dryly.
Jed frowned.
“I was on my way to see you, Yancy, when these folks stopped me and asked me what was wrong,” Jed explained.
“So you heard some shooting,” Yancy said.
“Sure did. One shot after another.”
“Hearing gunshots ain’t much to get excited about, Jed,” Yancy said. “It was probably just some hunters.”
“That ain’t all,” Jed spoke quickly. “’Bout five minutes later I saw some riders, and these fellers were in a mighty big hurry.”
Yancy frowned. Meanwhile, Cooper reached inside his shirt pocket, pulled out his watch, and glanced at it.
“Stage is running late,” Cooper remarked.
“How late?” Yancy asked.
“Almost an hour,” Cooper replied.
“Ain’t like Steve to be late,” Yancy remarked thoughtfully.
Cooper nodded in agreement.
Yancy was worried, but he was careful not to show it.
Yancy knew Steve well, for Steve had served with them during the war. Then, like so many that had served under Yancy, Steve had come west with them on a cattle drive.
“Wagons, can any of the men ride?” Yancy asked.
“I wouldn’t suggest it, sir,” Sergeant Wagons replied.
“All right; it’ll be just the three of us,” Yancy declared. “We’ll go take a look.”
Yancy started to walk off, but the crowd stopped him and offered to help.
Yancy listened patiently, and then he shook his head.
“I appreciate you folks wanting to help, but it would be better if you all stayed here,” Yancy replied.
“I think I should come with you,” Jed argued.
“Jed, what I’m trying to say all nice like is that you folks would just be in the way, and would slow us down,” Yancy said.
Jed’s face stiffened, but he said no more as Yancy, Cooper, and Sergeant Wagons turned and walked away.
Yancy glanced at Cooper when they were out of earshot.
“’Bout your furlough, Coop -,” Yancy started to say.
“I know; don’t say it,” Cooper interrupted.
“Sorry,” Yancy said sincerely.
Cooper smiled faintly and shrugged.
Within minutes they were saddled. They mounted up, and they were just about to leave when J.T. Tussle came trotting up a-horseback.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Yancy asked gruffly.
“With you,” Tussle replied.
“Didn’t you hear what I said?”
“I did,” Tussle replied with a straight face.
“Look here,” Yancy said sternly. “Everybody’s getting all bent outta shape. I’m sure there’s a simple explanation for all of this.”