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Guns and Dreamers
Chapter Four: Rabbit Run
Scott A. Gese
Chapter 4
Rabbit Run
With each passing day, Jason was growing fonder of Pat. She was a tease, but Jason -- who had never been exposed to a meaningful relationship before -- didn't get it. He thought she was just the playful type and that her feelings for him were as genuine as his were for her. They did indeed enjoy each other’s company, and conversations between the two were genuine and sometimes deep. Pat was quite the talker and for someone so young, she seemed to know a lot about the world and the ways of it. Jason thought he was genuinely beginning to fall in love.
Pat on the other hand knew exactly what she was up to, and love had nothing to do with it. She wasn't the type to fall in love. She was all about having a good time. Her birth name was Patricia, but her father had no use for a girl. He needed a man to help around the ranch and he put her to the task. He took to calling her Pat and it caught on with the rest of the hands around the ranch. They all took a liking to her, not only because she could hold her own with the daily chores or in playful banter. And not because she could easily put a man to shame in a full-blown argument, no, the real reason was because...well let's just say that among most of the men, she had acquired the nickname of “rabbit” for obvious reasons. And that was the very reason she took to Jason, and no other.
Pat tried not to get too far behind Owen and the others. She knew she would have to ride in with them. There was no way around it. To this, Jason had no clue.
They traveled through Oklahoma and crossed the border into Texas less than a day’s ride to the small town of Wichita Falls. Pat had been there in the past and wanted to pass it by. It came up in conversation one evening as they sat near the fire. Pat tried to play it down as a dirty little hole in the road and not worth taking the slight detour needed to get there, but Jason had other ideas.
“I think we need to head over to Wichita Falls, Pat,” suggested Jason. “It may just be a hole in the road, but it's some place where we can pick up a few supplies.”
“We don't need any supplies. It's only another four days ride. I'm sure we can make it to Dallas without stopping,” suggested Pat.
She was really against stopping. She knew Owen and the others would be showing up at the ranch soon and she needed to be with them. The detour would make it that much more difficult to catch up.
Jason wouldn't take no for an answer. “If it's four more days, we need some supplies. We're heading to Wichita Falls. Besides, it's been a month of Sunday's since I've slept in a real bed or had a beer, and if you can hold your own like you say you can, we'll make a night of it.”
With that settled, they made camp for the night, and the following morning they rode into town just as the sun was beginning to peek over the horizon.
They stabled their horses and found a room with a clean bed. There was also a room where one could take a bath. After stowing their gear they walked down to a local cafe for a real breakfast of coffee, biscuits and gravy, eggs over easy and a juicy chunk of steak. It had been a couple of weeks since they had eaten that good. They both enjoyed the meal and lingered longer than they had anticipated. They talked about riding onto the ranch and up to the house together where she would introduce him to her father. Jason wasn't too keen on that idea, but knew it would have to be done.
“I think your father will probably shoot me to be honest with you,” he told Pat.
“My father is very understanding, Jason,” replied Pat. “He'll welcome you with open arms. I guarantee it.”
Jason wasn't too sure, but Pat knew her father and he was learning to trust her. “Well, if you're sure about it, then that's what we'll do.”
Pat suggested they go pick up the supplies they needed. Jason thanked the waitress and Pat complimented the cook on the biscuits and gravy as they headed out the door to get their supplies.
The store was small, but it carried all the essentials they would need to get them to the Square D. They walked the supplies back to the room and Jason laid down on the bed.
“I haven't had a meal like that in quite some time. I think I overdid it. My stomach feels like shit.”
Pat sounded genuinely sympathetic when she insisted that he lay back and sleep it off while she went downstairs and took a bath. Jason agreed and closed his eyes. Within ten minutes he was sound asleep. Pat was deliberately slow and silent as she picked up the supplies they had just purchased and slipped out of the room. Jason shifted on the bed, but never woke.
Pat knew she needed to hurry. A bath would take about an hour and by the time Jason figured out that she had run off she hoped to have a two-hour lead on him. She said hello to the man at the front desk as she headed out the door and straight to the livery. She settled up her bill and gave the man another six dollars to re-shod Jason’s horse with the stipulation that he needed to hold off on it for one hour. The owner of the livery was quick to catch on. He had a good idea as to what was taking place.
“So your running from the man you rode in with and you want me to slow him up some, is that how it is?”
Pat looked at the man with a hesitant smile. “Why yes, that's exactly how it is,” she replied.
“For another five dollars I'll hold him off for as long as I possibly can.”
Pat liked the idea and paid the man without so much as a grimace. “Thank you,” she said as she headed out. She put the horse into an easy canter and as soon as she felt it was ready, she took him to a full gallop and made a beeline for the Square D, hoping to catch up with Owen and the others before they reached the ranch.
Jason slept for close to two hours. When he woke, Pat wasn't in the room. He didn't know for sure what time it was, so he thought he'd wander down to the front desk and see if he could find her. He wasn't fully awake yet and didn't notice that the supplies were gone.
The clerk behind the desk had his reading glasses pulled down along his nose as he was looking over the town paper. It was a weekly edition and the clerk was chuckling about a story that had been posted. He looked up at Jason. “Says here in the paper that President Grant may pay our fair city a visit in the near future. Where does this information come from anyhow. President Grant will never set foot in Texas, let alone Wichita Falls, I can almost guarantee that.” He chuckled one more time before asking Jason what he could do for him.
“I'm wondering if the gal I came in here with is done with her bath yet?”
“Bath, she didn't take no bath. She came down the stairs and headed straight out the door,” replied the clerk as he laid the paper down on the desk in front of him
Jason was a bit confused. “No bath?”
“No bath,” echoed the clerk as he gestured toward the street. “She went straight out the door.”
Jason walked out the door and stood on the boardwalk not sure where to look next. Maybe I should just wait for her to show up, he thought. Not knowing where she might have gone, he decided against waiting and walked over to the livery in hopes that she may have gone to check on the horses.
As he entered the stable, he noticed that Pats horse was missing. “Have you seen the gal I rode in with?” He asked the stableman.
“I saw her a couple of hours ago. She picked up her horse and left,” he replied as he continued raking out one of the stalls.
“Left? Did she say where she was going?”
His answer was short. “Nope.”
Jason was becoming more confused by the minute. It was beginning to look like he had been left behind. But for the life of him, he couldn't figure out why. Maybe she had second thoughts about introducing him to her father. Maybe it was all a big mistake, he thought. Maybe she...He stopped himself. Maybe I just need to find her and ask her. It's the only way I'll know for sure just what the hell is going on here.
Jason hurried back to his room to get his supplies. She had a good jump on him but he felt he could catch her before she made it back to the Square D. He was already in a foul mood and when he realized she had taken all the supplies, he became furious. He began to yell and curse, he threw things across the room. Jason was making such a ruckus that the clerk became concerned enough to pound on the door.
“What!” Screamed Jason in a fit of rage.
The clerk shouted through the door. “Sir, I don't know what's going on in there, but you have got to keep it down. I have other guests here and if you insist on continuing in this manner, I'll be forced to call the sheriff....and if you've broken anything, you can expect to pay for it when you settle up your bill.”
Jason pulled the door open so quickly it startled the clerk. He pushed past him and headed for the door. “I'm going for some supplies, I'll be back,” he stated as he quickly headed for the door.
The clerk didn't trust him. “I think you need to pay your bill now,” he shouted.
Jason kept going without acknowledging the clerk. He headed straight for the mercantile and began to gather the supplies he needed for the trail. It was only a few minutes before the sheriff darkened the door. He wasn't a particularly impressive looking man. Not big and burly, no fancy guns or clothes. He was just an average looking man, but he carried his badge well, meaning that when he walked up to you on official business, you instinctively knew he wasn't about to tolerate any tomfoolery. He was a person who commanded respect, and most would instinctively give it to him. But not Jason.
Without hesitation, he headed straight for Jason with an introduction. “How do you do, young man. I'm Sheriff Bodie. I understand you were creating quite a ruckus at the boarding house a few minutes ago. What seems to be your trouble and how may I be of assistance to you?”
“I'm fine and I don't need your assistance,” replied Jason. “I'm getting a few supplies and then I'll be on my way.”
“On your way to where?” asked the sheriff.
“On my way out of town. Where I go from there is my own damn business.” Jason's tone was less that cordial which the sheriff took note of.
“I do hope you're planning on stopping back by the boarding house to pay your bill, and any other encumbrances you may have incurred during your recent bout of unwelcome behavior,” Bodie ventured, his tone bordering on the sarcastic.
Jason wasn't following and was a bit perplexed at the sheriff's official sounding language. “Encumbrances?” he questioned.
“Yes, your bill and any damages you may have caused to your room. The clerk will have the bill waiting for you when you get there,” replied the sheriff. “In fact, I think I'll just tag along to make sure you get there safely.”
“I don't need your escort, and I'm not planning on going back there just yet.” remarked Jason angrily as he finished gathering his supplies.
The sheriff wasn't going to tolerate Jason's attitude any longer. “You may not need the escort, but you're getting it just the same, and as far as your plans go, they just changed. You can either accompany me back to the boarding house or my jailhouse. The choice is yours.”
Jason’s eyes widened at the man’s tone. “I've done nothing that would give you cause to see me as a dishonest person, so just keep your distance from me. I'll get there when I get there. You can watch me from a distance if you so choose, but I don't need an escort,” Jason walked up to the counter to pay for his supplies. “See here, I'm paying my bill. When I finish here, I'll go pay the clerk, then I'll go pay the stableman and then I'll be on my way.”
He pushed past the sheriff and stomped out of the store in a huff. The sheriff followed close behind without saying a word. He wasn't interested in arresting Jason, he just wanted the kid with the bad attitude out of his town.
Jason did as he said. He stopped by the boarding house to settle the bill. The clerk was waiting at the desk and the sheriff gave Jason his space and waited outside on the boardwalk.
“What do I owe you?” stated Jason sharply.
The clerk handed Jason a slip of paper with the bill and the cost of the damages Jason had caused to the room. “Ten dollars? That seems a little steep considering I didn't even use the bed.”
“You still rented the room for the night, and this also includes a charge for the broken bowl and water pitcher, and the torn curtains you pulled off the window,” stated the clerk.
Jason angrily threw fifteen dollars down onto the counter. “Here's your money and here's an extra five dollars.”
“What's this for?” Asked the clerk.
“For this lamp I accidentally knocked onto the floor,” replied Jason.
The clerk was perplexed. “What lamp?”
“This one,” replied Jason as he took a wide swipe at the gas lamp sitting on the counter. It crashed to the floor and shattered into pieces. The guest book and other papers followed close behind.
“Get the hell out of this building, you little bastard!” demanded the clerk.
Jason purposefully stepped out onto the boardwalk and headed directly toward the livery.
The sheriff, hearing the commotion, stuck his head in the door. “Is there a problem with the kid paying his bill?” Asked the sheriff.
The clerk was just stepping around the counter. “No problem with the bill, but...”
“Good,” replied the sheriff as he quickly turned away in order to catch up with Jason. The clerk’s final words hung heavy in the air never reaching the sheriff's ear.
Jason walked swiftly to the livery stable and settled the bill. He wasted little time saddling his horse. He mounted up, and as he left the stable the sheriff greeted him, touching the brim of his hat in a mock salute. “Sorry for your trouble. Try to enjoy the rest of your day.”
Jason flashed an angry look at the sheriff. “Go to hell!” he growled as he spurred his horse and headed out of town.
The sheriff shrugged it off and went back to his other duties, and the stableman went back to spreading straw. He chuckled to himself. Never did re-shoe that horse. It didn't need it.
When Jason rode out he was mad and angry at the world. He rode hard for what seemed like an hour, thinking he was going to catch up to Pat. She on the other hand had no intention of being caught by Jason. Her intention was to catch up to Owen and the others before they got back to the ranch.
Jason's horse was getting winded so he reluctantly decided it would be best to slow down. His horse needed to rest and his anger was beginning to cool to the point where he could finally begin to reason with himself. He was beginning to finally see it. Pat had used him until she grew tired of him. It was the suddenness of her leaving that really took him by surprise. Why in the world would I want her back, he thought. He liked Pat, she was fun and playful, but he knew now it was all for her own amusement. As Jason made more sense of it, he reined in his horse and sat there facing south. He gave his situation some hard thought.
“Well I've been to Texas and I can't hardly say I like it.” He finally turned around and started riding back to Kansas.
****
Pat knew she needed to catch up with Owen and the others before they reached the Square D. They were almost a full day's ride ahead of her, so she kept a fast pace hoping to catch them within two days. She wasn't comfortable spending her nights under the stars alone and decided not to kindle a fire for fear that someone would see it. A stranger trying to enter her camp would not be to her liking.
The next couple of days had her wondering if she was even on the same trail as the others. She kept on, knowing that she could at least make it back to the ranch. Riding in alone would not be ideal for her or the men she was suppose to be with, so she kept a sharp eye out as she rode. It was evening on the second night. Pat had found a nice spot among some cottonwood trees to camp for the evening. In the distance she could see the faint flicker of a fire. She wondered if it might be Owen and the others. Early in the morning she would head that direction, but stay far enough back to not bring attention to herself. Hopefully she'd be able to see from a distance who it might be.
Pat broke camp before sunup. As she closed in on the camp she had seen the night before, the fire had already been rekindled. She got as close as she dared with her horse and decided to tie him off and move in closer on foot. Before she was close enough to make out faces, she could hear voices. It was Bret and Owen, she was sure of it. She went back and retrieved her horse and rode up to the camp, Owen caught site of someone coming close. He pulled his gun and called out. “Who goes there?”
Pat called back, “It's me, Owen, Pat.”
Owen called back. “Pat? Pat who? I don't know anyone named Pat.”
“Stop joking with me, Owen and let me come in.” Pat protested. “I could use some hot coffee.”
Owen holstered his gun. “Well, come on in then. You're the last person in the world I expected to see this morning.”
As Pat rode into camp Bret grabbed her horse by the bridle. “You sure know how to scare the hell out of a person. Do you realize I've shot your pa about a hundred times in my mind?”
“Where's your lover?” asked Teddy sarcastically.
Before Pat could answer, Owen spoke up, and he was not in a good mood. “Pat, none of us men are happy with what you did. If you think you can just ride in here and things are going to be as if nothing happened, you've got another guess coming. If we're all to keep the wrath of your pa off us, then you need us and we need you. It ain't gonna' be a pleasant ride from here on out. Just keep in line and we'll all make it back without gettin' an ass whippin'. Is that clear?”
Pat agreed, and the four of them rode on home together. Even though the three men were all curious, no one asked about Jason, but they all kept a close watch, just in case he decided to show up.
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