Short Stories & Tall Tales
The Double Eagle
T. T. Thurman
The boys were lined up in Dodge City Kansas. Drawing their pay and making their mark in the old man’s ledger. It had been a long, hard drive. Some were staying on with the company while others were riding off to seek their fortunes elsewhere.
Will Green Stepped up to the table and spoke his name. The boss looked up at him and grinned.
“You’re a top hand Will; I sure wish you was stayin’ on with us.”
Will nodded at the comment and reached for the pencil to sign his name.
“Well sir, I gotta find my own way. I figure with three month’s pay and thirty cows of my own in the sale I oughta start thinkin’ about settlin’ down.”
The old man counted out the money and stood up. He withdrew a twenty dollar double eagle from his pocket and sat it on top of the paper bills.
“There ya go. That oughta round ya out good and even.” He smiled.
Will looked at the coin and raised an eyebrow.
“Maybe it’ll bring ya good luck.” He said.
Will picked it up and placed it in his wallet along with the bills.
“I don’t set much store on luck, good, bad, or otherwise, but I’ll keep it in mind.”
He offered his hand and the two men shook firmly.
“Will, if ya ever decide to go back to trailin’ cows you come see me.”
“You’ll be my first stop after the poor house.” He replied with a grin.
He rode south and east, headed back to Texas with a pocket full of hard earned money and a plan to start a ranch of his own. It would be small at first but it would grow. Maybe he’d find a pretty wife and start a family to grow along with it.
These thoughts played through his mind and he was eager to get back and start in on making them happen. But he was trail weary and wanted to stop in a town along the way for a few days to clean up and rest. Get a hot bath and a new change of clothes. He wanted to eat a few good meals where he could sit at a cloth covered table with a floor under his feet and a roof over his head, have a few drinks in a saloon and sleep in a comfortable bed.
Will Green leaned against the bar sipping a tall beer. His new clothes were stiff and scratched a bit here and there but it felt good to have a full belly and be clean and shaven for the first time in months. His eyes were focused on a pretty red head who was pouring drinks for some men playing cards. She walked by and he smiled at her, she smiled back and after setting her tray on the bar she returned to stand next to him.
“I’m Donna” She said sweetly.
Will almost choked on his beer. Her hair was the color of a new penny and shone brightly in the lamplight, her brown eyes were dark and inviting and when she smiled nothing else seemed to matter. She was small in stature, delicate and fair. Will felt something grab his heart and he stammered out a greeting.
“I… I’m Will Green, I just came into town.”
She offered her hand. “I’m glad to meet you Mr. Will Green. How long will you be staying in our town?”
“Oh… I don’t know, I…”
Just then two rowdy men swaggered into the saloon. Boisterous and loud they carried on waving half empty bottles, spilling drinks and taunting the customers. The bartender frowned as he picked up the glasses and bottles from the top of the bar.
“Hey any of you clod hoppers man enough to tie up with Charlie Pitts?!” shouted the one in front. “Hell no Charlie, they’s all a bunch whooped pups. Aint no real men here ‘cept me and you!” The other taunted and laughed.
The customers tried to ignore them. Some picked up and left. The second man swatted the hat off of one of the men who walked by on his way out the door.
Will scowled at the interruption and shook his head. He turned back to Donna. She was also frowning and stood closer to him.
The two men finally found a table and began whooping and hollering, demanding drinks and grabbing at the saloon girls.
“Anyway, I was saying I don’t know for sure, I was thinking on staying a few days to rest up before heading back to Texas.”
“Well, it’s not a bad little town I guess, but it has its rough edges.” She replied.
The bartender placed a glass in front of her. Will nodded and he poured the glass full of amber liquid. She sipped it gingerly. “Thank you Sir. Here’s to Texas.” She raised her glass and Will did the same with a smile.
He saw a man arm in arm with one of the other girls walking up the stairs to the rooms above the saloon. He looked at Donna and she returned his look with a knowing smile.
“Now Mr. Green, you should know that not every girl who works in a saloon is for hire.”
Will blushed. “Yes ma’am, I uh… I’m sorry I didn’t mean to…”
She placed a delicate finger upon his lips and shook her head. “It’s okay. I’ve come to expect it working in a place like this. You are a gentleman and I appreciate that.”
He was about to speak when she was suddenly pulled away.
“Let go! You are hurting me!”
Charlie Pitts had Donnas arm in a painful grip. He grabbed her and tried to force her to kiss him.
“C’mere you little tart! I’m gonna show you what a real man is like!”
“Let her go!” Will demanded and reached to pry Charlie’s arms away from her.
Charlie Pitts flung her away and stared at Will. “Who the hell are you to tell me what to do?” He sneered.
Will looked at him through glaring eyes. “I’m telling you to settle down and leave her alone!”
Charlie shoved Will hard. “Nobody tells me to do nothin’!”
Will’s fist swung high and hard catching Charlie at the corner of the mouth sending the tough man reeling. His comrade stood and yelled to his friend.
“Kill him Charlie! Shoot the cow nursin’ bastard!”
Charlie spit a stream of blood as his hand hovered above the butt of his gun.
Will glared into Charlie’s hate filled eyes. “Mister, you’d better leave that gun alone!”
But Charlie’s hand was already in motion. Will’s Colt flashed from its holster spitting flaming lead and death as it met his hand. The bullet slammed into Charlie’s chest knocking him backwards onto the floor. He lay still for a moment as the shot resounded like thunder in the saloon. His eyes blinked once and his arm rose, still trying to complete his last living thought. The gun toppled from his fingers as his life left him. His arm fell to the floor with a thud.
A tendril of smoke drifted from the barrel of Will’s gun. He held the weapon steady and swept the room cautiously with his eyes. He knew that many a man had been killed after they thought the shooting was over.
The man who had been backing Charlie in his taunting knelt by the dead man’s side, “You… You killed him!” His eyes were wide in amazement and his voice trembled in disbelief. He slipped his arm under his friends back and tried to lift him, but quickly withdrew it finding his hand dripping with blood.
Will saw the man’s face swell with rage as his hand moved slowly to his side, “I’m gonna kill you myself.” He hissed. He stopped only when he saw the sight of Will’s colt nodding toward his forehead. “You’re gonna die just like your friend there if you move that hand another inch.” Will’s voice was cold and calm.
The man’s eyes flashed with hatred and fury but his mind replayed the mere seconds it took for Charlie to die and he moved no further.
The doors of the saloon swung open. “Alright, what’s going on here?” He was a big man with a handlebar mustache and a large Montana style hat pulled down tight on his head. He wore a sheriff’s badge and held a rifle across his chest. A somber faced deputy stepped in behind the sheriff wielding a coach gun and scanning the crowd in the saloon.
The man kneeling next to the body of Charlie Pitts stood up and rushed to the Sheriff. “This man just came in here and murdered Charlie!” He yelled. The Sheriff saw the body and eyed Will suspiciously bringing his rifle to bear as he did so. “I’ll take that gun.”
Will turned over his colt, placing it in the sheriff’s hand.
“That aint true Sheriff!” The bartender tossed his towel on the bar and brushed through the crowd. “Charlie and this other no account came in here starting trouble. Charlie tried to pick a fight with this young fella here and when he went for his gun this man beat him to it fair and square. This fella even told him not to, gave old Charlie fair warning.”
The Sheriff looked at Will. “That true?”
“Yes Sir, that’s true, I never wanted no trouble. He just wouldn’t leave it alone.”
The other trouble maker spoke up. “That’s all a lie! This here man is some sort of gunfighter or somethin’ trying to make a name for himself that’s why he came in here gunning for Charlie!” He lunged at Will. The sheriff brought the barrel of his rifle down hard on the man’s head dropping him cold to the floor.
He motioned to the deputy, “Get some men and drag these two out of here. Get Charlie over to the mortician and this other one to the jail.
He handed will’s gun back to him. “You’d have to shoot awful fast to beat Charlie, even when he’s drunk. What’s your name?”
Will placed the Colt back in his holster and fixed the thong over the hammer. He told the sheriff his name and said, “I aint all that fast Sheriff, I just figure if somebody’s gonna get shot I’d rather it be someone else.”
The sheriff nodded in agreement. “I aint gonna arrest you or put any charges on you. I believe it was a fair fight and knowin’ Charlie he probably got what he’s been asking for. You’re name aint familiar and you don’t look like a gunfighter.” Will relaxed at that news.
“However,” The Sheriff continued. “Things like this always bring more trouble and I don’t want it in my town. So I’m gonna have to ask you to leave, you need to be gone by morning.”
Will looked over at Donna then back at the Sheriff. That’s too bad sheriff; I sure was hoping to spend a little more time here.”
The Sheriff followed his gaze then turned to go. “By morning Mr. Green, be gone by morning.”
Donna moved to stand next to him and taking his hand, looked up at him with an expression of concern. “Are you alright?” She asked.
Will looked longingly into her eyes. “Yes, ma’am, but I guess I’d better get back to the hotel and pack my gear.” He tipped his hat and strode out of the saloon stepping past the bartender as he was spreading sawdust over a pool of Charlie Pitts’ blood.
He was gathering his things placing them in his saddle bags. His new shirt was un-buttoned and he was about to pull off his boots as he was changing to his trail clothes. A light knock came from the door. “What now.” He thought.
Will withdrew his gun and stepped lightly to the door. He turned the knob and jerked the door opened.
Donna was startled at the sudden movement and eyed the gun in Will’s hand. “You’re not going to shoot me are you?”
Will blushed. “No ma’am, that’s the last thing I’d ever want to do.” He lowered the gun and thrust it back into its holster.
“May I come in?”
Will stepped to the side and motioned her in.
“To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit Miss Donna?”
She smiled and leaned against the dresser.
“Well, Mr. Green, I’m afraid we didn’t get to know each other and I… uh… thought maybe we should.”
“That’s all fine with me, but you heard the Sheriff, I gotta go.”
She stepped up to him, her dark brown eyes looking deeply into his. “The Sheriff said you had to be gone by morning and Will… it is still night time.”
Will met her gaze and smiled. “I guess my old horse could use a little more rest.”
She moved into his arms and pressed her lips against his.
Daylight found Will on the trail with a couple of hours behind him. He patted his horse on the neck and spoke gently to him. “Well, old boy I’m sorry for draggin’ you out so soon. I was sure lookin forward to a few days off the trail for both of us.” His mind was still full of thoughts of Donna but they were shadowed by the fight and the reality of having had to kill a man. He shook his head and rode on.
When he came to a small stream with a cluster of trees he decided to stop and have a bite to eat. He swung down from the saddle and picketed his horse in the tall grass.
Leaning back against a tree he thought more of his plans in Texas. He smiled and patted his coat where he kept his wallet. But his hand touched only empty space.
He jumped to his feet looking all around and patting his pockets as if trying to put out a fire. He grabbed his saddle bags and emptied the contents onto the ground. Scattering his belongings he searched frantically for something that just wasn’t there.
Finally he stood up and flung the empty bags to the ground. A sudden realization came over him then and he was shocked, dismayed and angry.
“That dirty little…! She took it! I’ll be damned!” He paced back and forth. He was angry and cursed himself for being a fool. He plucked his things up from the ground and stuffed them back in his saddle bags. When he picked up his new shirt he thought again of her smile which made him pause and doubt the obvious. But his wallet was gone; there was no doubt about that. She had played him like a fiddle.
Will placed the bags back on the rump of his horse and tied them to his saddle. His movements were abrupt and made the animal nervous causing him to step sideways. “Well old boy, trouble or not, Sheriff or not, were going back to that town!”
He swung into the saddle and spurred his horse back down the trail they had come.
His jaw was set in determination as he rode. He was angry but his heart was aching at the thought of being betrayed by that beautiful girl and the way she made him feel.
He came over a small rise on the prairie about half way back to the town when he saw a rider coming toward him. He eased his pace and slipped the thong from the hammer of his side arm.
The deputy rode up to him and pulled his horse to a halt. “The sheriff sent me to find you. I’m glad you made it easy.”
Will sat up straight eyeing the deputy cautiously. “He said he wasn’t gonna press no charges.” Will said defensively.
“No, no, that’s not why I’m here. I got somethin’ for ya.” The deputy reached inside his coat and withdrew Will’s wallet and handed it over to him. “Seems that gal you was getting’ friendly with dropped it off at the office this mornin’, said you’d left it in the hotel. The sheriff sent me to find you before you came terrin’ back into town lookin’ for trouble.”
Will opened the wallet and thumbed through the bills. All was there except for the twenty dollar double eagle. In its place was a note.
He unfolded the paper and looked it over. The writing was graceful and feminine and the paper had the scent of Donna’s perfume.
“Dear Will;
I thought you would need this. I borrowed twenty dollars. I hope you don’t mind. I promise I’ll pay you back. I’m not cut out for saloon work. You can find me in Wichita.
Love, Donna.”
“Well I’ll be damned.” He exclaimed.
The deputy looked at him with a sideways glance. “She dropped it off said she was movin’ on to Wichita gonna work for the newspaper there. I guess our little town was getting’ to rough for her.”
Will folded the wallet and placed it in his coat pocket. He held on to the note and lifted it briefly to his nose.
“Wichita huh?
“Wichita.” The deputy answered.
“How far is Wichita from here?”
The deputy held his arm out to the north east. “’Bout two days good ridin’ that direction.”
“Ya reckon a man could make a go of it there?”
“I imagine, it’s a growin’ place and I hear it’s turnin’ out to be a right nice town.”
Will lifted the paper to his nose once again.
“Wichita?”
The deputy held his arm straight out again. “’Bout two days, that direction.” He repeated with a grin. “Could be a good place for a young fella who might be thinkin’ on settlin’ down.”
Will folded the note and placed it carefully in his shirt pocket. He took up the reigns and offered his hand to the deputy. “Well Sir, if you’re ever in Wichita, look me up.”
“I’ll do it and good luck to you Mr. Green.”
Will rode on to the north east. The deputy’s words rang again in his ears. “Good luck huh?” He said aloud, he reached over and patted the horse’s neck. “I don’t guess there’s anything we can do in Texas that can’t be done in Wichita Kansas.” He thought about that twenty dollar double eagle, “Maybe it’ll bring ya good luck.” The old man had said. Maybe the old man was right after all.
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