Chapter 17: Somewhere in Southern Texas

~Not all those who wander are lost.~ —J.R.R. Tolkien

It was a red dawn. The crimson sun rose over the dusty plains that were scattered with cacti and other dull, green shrubbery. It hadn’t rained in this part of Southern Texas for several weeks, and the parched ground begged the sky for even just one drop of water.

Along this parched ground a horse trotted wearily, its hooves leaving a trail of dust. The horse’s rider was a woman. She was as tired as her animal, but her almond-colored eyes glowed with triumph.

In the distance, a cluster of buildings could be seen, and she encouraged her beast of burden to keep going. “Just a bit more, Ebby, and we’ll be there. I’ll make sure yer given a nice bran mash to make up for all the distance you’ve had to cover so quick.”

The horse gathered his last bit of energy and brought his mistress to the desired destination.

Nothing much could be said about the place. It was a ghost town with old, broken buildings that hadn’t seen inhabitants for quite a while now. The wind banged the doors and windows, and howled through the empty rooms.

One building was still in decent condition. The old saloon. On the porch of the saloon, a lone man sat on a chair, smoking a cigar. He noticed the approaching woman, but didn’t rise to greet her. He sat in the same laid-back fashion, waiting for her to come to him.

“About time, Bessie,” he said when she had dismounted. “I was beginning to think this drought caused you to evaporate into thin air.”

“Calhoon, I’ve got the news you’ve been wantin’ to hear.”

A slight grin came to the man’s face at these words. He stretched out his neck a bit, looking to see if something was behind her. “From the looks of it, you didn’t bring him with you. Are you keepin’ him some place, then? Or have you already buried him and come to show me his grave?”

The questions had Bessie tensing just a little. She gripped the reins of her horse. “No.”

“Is he alive?”

“Yes.”

“Is he in your custody?”

“No.”

“Do you know exactly where to find him?”

“Not exactly.”

Calhoon tossed what was left of his cigar and pulled a fresh one from his faded jacket pocket. He struck a match across his boot and lit it. He took several puffs before focusing his attention back on Bessie. “So far, none of this is what I want to hear.”

His cold gaze and tone of voice caused Bessie to take a step back. Her grip on the reins tightened but she kept a calm face. “We’ve got an idea of where to find him.”

“An idea? Give me something specific, woman. You know my patience ain’t something that lasts long.”

“I got news that he was spotted in Arizona Territory.”

“Where?”

“I’m not exactly sure. The source came from a railroad town called Clearbrook. He was spotted there, but then he disappeared again.”

Calhoon narrowed his dark eyes and glared at Bessie. “Why are you even here, then? Get yer sorry behind to Arizona and search him out. If you really wanted to give me the ‘good news’—which ain’t all that good, by the way—you could have sent a message. Instead, you waste time coming out here. Listen, I don’t want to see you again unless you have his head in yer saddle bag.”

“With all due respect, Arizona Territory is huge,” said Bessie. “If you want me to try and search him out alone it will take…well…a long time.

“My source doesn’t know if he went back into the Territory or if he boarded the train for New Mexico. So that’s even more distance to cover. Besides, getting word to you ain’t exactly easy. The bounty on yer head has gone up to seven hundred dollars, and I was afraid to take the risk.

“Last time Aesop tried to send you a message, it led to you nearly getting caught. Besides, with the amount of ground we need to cover, we’ll need at least one more person…and…well…” She took a deep breath. “I need resources.”

Her logic had Calhoon leaning back in his chair.

“You have a point,” he agreed. “But the boys are out raiding a cattle drive. I don’t expect them back for another week or two. Jem was here with me, but I sent him off to get supplies since we’re running low.”

Calhoon puffed on his cigar as he mused over what the next plan of action should be.

“Here’s what we’ll do. Stick around until Jem gets back. The two of you can head out to the Territory. Once the rest of the crew returns, I’ll send someone to New Mexico. Now, go and rub that horse down. You’ve ridden him too long and too hard. If you run him down, don’t expect me to get you a new one.”

Bessie nodded and led her horse to the back of the saloon where the stables were. Calhoon put the cigar back to his mouth and took a long draw.

“I’ll find you, Jake. You can’t hide forever. I don’t care if it takes me five, ten, or even twenty years.” He reached over and put his hand over the spot where the bullet had pierced his shoulder. “We’ll settle the score, even if it’s the last thing we do.