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Guns and Dreamers
Chapter Eight: The Shepard Ranch
Scott A. Gese
Chapter 8
The Shepard Ranch
It had been over a month since Mac had sent the telegraph to Jason. Miles Hanley was unaware of the contact and as far as anyone other than Jason, Sarah and Ben was concerned, Mac had dropped off the face of the earth. As the days and weeks passed, Miles was beginning to grow nervous. He didn't think Dan Danner was capable of foul play, but with no sign of Mac, he was beginning to wonder if Danner hadn't done him in and buried the body somewhere. He had already gone to trial and been found guilty of impersonating a U.S. Marshal, on more than one occasion in fact. He was sentenced to the new prison in Petersburg. There was some short lived talk of retrying him for murder. But without a body, the evidence needed to prosecute just didn't exist. The talk died down pretty quickly which was a big relief to Miles as he could have been tried as an accomplice if they had decided to proceed.
Since the day Danner was arrested, Miles was trying to stay on the good side of Sarah and Jason. It had come out that he had hired Danner to smoke out Mac by getting him to admit to rustling cattle. Even though there was no crime committed on Miles’ part, it did put a huge wedge between the XO and the Shepard ranch. Even so, Miles still held out the misguided hope of acquiring the ranch at some point.
Jason was not overly excited about helping Sarah run the Shepard ranch. He still wanted to be on the move. He had recently turned seventeen and his restlessness at times was difficult to subdue, but the hard work, long hours and responsibility kept his wanderlust in check. As the weeks went by, he was beginning to believe that this was his punishment for the part he played in Mac's cattle rustling venture.
Whenever possible, Jason would head into town to get a few supplies, and as was his habit, he poked his head into the telegraph office to see if there was anything for him. As usual, the answer was no telegram, but this time there was a postal letter waiting for him. Jason anxiously took the letter. The upper left corner had one word, Tex. The stamp and cancellation showed the country of Hawaii. As he was looking at the envelope, the clerk asked. “Who do you know in Hawaii?”
Jason looked up. “Oh, someone I knew in school,” he replied. “I haven't heard from him in quite awhile.” He anxiously took the letter outside and opened it.
It read...Jason, Hope you are well. Just a note to let you know I'm out of the country and I'm starting over, working cattle for a large outfit here. All is well. Tell Sarah to fill you in on the letter I had you give her when I left, and also tell her I'm sorry I missed the wedding. I wish her and Ben all the best. Maybe some day we'll meet up again, Tex.
There was no return address, so Jason had no way to contact Mac and let him know about the events that had taken place with Dan Danner. Mac had left everything he loved, his ranch, his family and his country, as he ran to save his very life. His dishonesty had caught up with him and taken away all the things he had worked so hard to build. Funny how things work out, thought Jason. He put the letter in his pocket and headed over to Ben's office to see Sarah.
Sarah caught a glimpse of Jason as he entered Ben's office. She flashed him a smile as she finished talking with one of Ben's patients. Jason waited for her to finish. As soon as the patient left the office, she got up and gave Jason a big hug. “What a surprise to see you here today,” she said. Her smile quickly turned serious as her motherly concern kicked in. “You're not sick are you?” she questioned.
“No, I'm feeling pretty good today,” he replied with a smile on his face. “I have a surprise for you.”
“For me? Well, what is it?” she anxiously replied.
Jason handed her the note. “It's from Mac,” he quietly stated.
Sarah was slightly stunned to hear the news as she hadn't heard a thing since he left for Mound City several months earlier. “Mac! Oh, my goodness, are you sure? Where is he?” She called for Ben, who stepped out of his office to find Sarah in a fluster. She and Jason were just stepping outside as Sarah felt the need for some fresh air. The two sat down on a bench in the shade as Ben walked out the door behind them.
“What's going on?” he questioned.
Sarah was smiling as she held up the envelope and waved it in the air. “Jason has heard from Mac!”
Jason prompted her. “Well open it up and read it.”
Sarah pulled the note from its envelope and read it out loud. Tears began to roll down her cheeks even though she was a bit confused. “I'm not understanding? This is signed Tex, not Mac. Are you sure this is from Mac?”
Jason explained to Sarah how he and Mac had decided to use the name Tex as a type of code so others wouldn't know who it was from. Once she understood, the tears resumed. “I'm so glad he's alive, but this doesn't say where he is except out of the country?”
Jason took the envelope from Sarah and pointed to the stamp. “All we have to go by is this cancellation stamp that says Hawaii.”
“Hawaii, where's Hawaii?” questioned Sarah.
“I'm not too sure,” replied Jason.
Ben chimed in. “I know where it is. It's a chain of islands off the coast of California in the middle of the Pacific ocean. It's a damn long ways from here, that's for sure.”
“But I still don't understand why he's walking away from his ranch. Isn't there some way we can get in touch with him to let him know it was all a big mistake and nobody is after him?” questioned Sarah.
Jason tried to explain. “Sarah, Mac did a desperate thing when he was about to lose his ranch. He needed money to keep things going. Dan Danner was a fraud, but the charge was true. There's no way to prove it, but I know it to be fact and I'll take that to my grave.”
Sarah was shocked to hear this. It was something that she had always held in the back of her mind, not wanting to consider it as truth, but with this revelation, she had no choice but to believe it. “If Mac is a thief, then I'm ashamed of him,” she bluntly stated.
Jason tried to get Sarah to change her mind. “He regretted it, he really did, but there was no way to change it. He's paying for his mistake by losing everything he has short of his life.”
“And so he should,” remarked Sarah. “He took what didn't belong to him.” She looked back down at the note.
Jason tried to change the subject. “What's he talking about here?” he questioned as he reached over and pointed at the note. “Where he says for you to fill me in on the letter he gave you?”
Sarah took a deep breath and composed herself. “I guess he's not planning to come back, and under the circumstances, I suppose it's for the best. Not too long before he left he signed over the deed to his ranch to me, just in case something happened to him. He wanted to make sure it stayed in the family. I questioned him about it, but all he would tell me was that it was a precaution, against what he wouldn't say. There was one stipulation, and I agreed to it. The stipulation was that when you turned eighteen, I would sign it over to you. The ranch would be yours.”
Jason's voice betrayed a hint of disbelief. “You're saying that I'm going to be the owner of Mac's ranch in less than a year?”
“That's what he wanted,” replied Sarah. “It seems as if he's resigned himself to the fact that he's not coming back. If he was holding out any hope, he wouldn't have told me to fill you in.”
Jason didn't react. He didn't quite know how. He was sad at the realization that Mac wouldn't be coming home and he wasn't all that happy to hear the news that he would soon be the owner of the Shepard ranch. It would tie him down for good.
Sarah stood up and handed the note back to Jason. “This has all been too much for me. I'm going back to work.”
Ben, who had been standing by quietly, asked Sarah if she would rather go home. “I can handle things around here for the rest of the day,” he added.
“Thank you, Ben, but I need to think about something else right now and work is my distraction. Jason, thank you for bringing me the note and thank you for telling me the truth about Mac.”
“You didn't hear it from me,” he replied as he got up from the bench and headed off to finish his errands.
Ben and Sarah went back inside.
“I can't believe what I just heard. I feel like I just lost my brother,” lamented Sarah.
Ben did his best to console her. “Don't be so hard on him, Sarah. What he did was wrong and that's a fact, but he's paying for it. He's lost everything he worked for and everyone he loves.”
“That may be true, Ben, but I'll never think of him in the same light.”
“Well under the circumstances, I wouldn't really expect you to,” replied Ben.
****
Several weeks had passed and talk of Mac and the ranch had been put aside. Miles was in town to pick up a few supplies when he happened to cross paths with Ben.
“Well hey there, Ben, how have you been? I don't see much of you these days,” commented Miles as he greeted Ben with a hearty handshake.
“You need to get sick more often,” joked Ben. “How are things at the XO?”
“Couldn't be better,” replied Miles. “We're getting ready to sell off a couple hundred head. How's that young Jason doing at the Shepard ranch?”
“He's doing well,” replied Ben. “He has his hands full that's for sure.”
Miles took this as an opportunity to put in a word to express his interest in buying the ranch, but he played coy. “Have you had any word from Mac?” he asked.
Ben didn't let on that he had. He felt it was best to keep that quiet. “Nope, I haven't heard a word.
“Well, you know, Ben. With Mac being gone so long, I would think there would be some concern about being able to keep up on the mortgage. I assume Sarah has her hands full with running the operation and handling the books?”
“Well, you should know, Miles. You've been doing it for years.” Ben could sense something coming from Miles. “What are you getting at?” he asked.
Miles was not one to beat around the bush, so he came right out and said what was on his mind. “If Sarah should find the task more than she can handle, I'd be more than happy to relieve her of the responsibility and take over the mortgage for her. I'm sure it can be arranged without a signature from Mac.”
Ben knew Miles well enough to know he had no concern for Sarah. He wanted the ranch and he wanted it for pennies on the dollar. “To be perfectly honest with you, Miles, a signature from Mac wouldn't be necessary. It so happens that Sarah owns the ranch, not Mac.”
Miles took a step back at this news. It took him completely by surprise. “Sarah owns the Shepard ranch? When did this happen? Mac has owned the ranch for years. Why would he sell it to Sarah?”
“It happened before Mac disappeared. I don't know his reasons, Miles. But I know for a fact that Sarah is the owner of the Shepard ranch. If you've an interest in purchasing it, I suggest you take that up with her.”
“I might just do that,” replied Miles. “Thanks for the information.” Miles gave Ben a good natured pat on the shoulder as he continued on his way. The wheels were already turning as Miles began to devise a plan before he even finished talking to Ben.
Ben knew Miles was on a fool’s errand. Sarah would never sell the ranch. It had already been promised to Jason.
When Ben returned to his office, he told Sarah about his encounter with Miles and warned her that he might be wanting to talk with her about buying the ranch. He suggested that she be ready. “Miles can be pretty underhanded when he's after something he wants. I wouldn't be surprised if he does some research before he approaches you. I suggest we do some of our own. I know a few things about Miles that we can look into, just to be prepared.”
Sarah agreed and she and Ben began to prepare for the day Miles would approach her with his offer.
Miles, on the other hand, not knowing the full situation, thought he might have a chance at getting his hands on the Shepard ranch. He made a few discrete inquiries, to be sure Ben wasn't mistaken in his belief that Sarah owned the ranch. He wasn't. It seems Mac had signed over the deed to Sarah close to a year ago, but the papers were only filed several months ago. “Why did she wait so long,” he wondered. “Was she waiting for some word from Mac?” If that were the case, it could prove that Mac was still alive. Miles filed this information in his back pocket just in case he needed it later, after all, there still was the concern of foul play floating around out there. If Miles ever had to prove that Mac was indeed alive, this just might be it.
If she was reluctant, he might just bring this bit of information into the conversation. He thought he could take advantage of his misguided perception that she was a woman and incapable of handling the affairs of running the operation. He was hoping she was becoming emotionally overwhelmed with the hard decisions a ranch owner needed to make on a daily basis. It wasn't long before Miles decided to approach Sarah with an offer to buy the ranch.
If her answer was no, he would inform her that he knew Mac was still alive. If for her own private reasons she wanted to continue keeping it a secret, she would need to consider that, if he had to, he would expose the fact that not only did she know that Mac was alive, she most likely knew where he was hiding. Miles hoped that this might be the very thing that would cause her to decide in his favor. He obviously didn't know Sarah very well.
While Miles was devising his plan, Sarah and Ben were developing their own. Through his contacts in town, Ben was given access to written information concerning Miles and his most resent purchase of nearly five hundred acres of prime grazing land. It seems there was some discrepancy as to the actual ownership of the property he had purchased. Enough so, that it was heading for the courts to decide. But for some reason, it never made it that far. Seems the dispute was resolved out of court in favor of Miles soon after the judge in charge of the case received a rather large anonymous donation toward his upcoming reelection campaign. The speculation by those who claimed title to the land in question was that Miles had made the 'donation', but they had no way to prove it. The accusation was almost scandalous, but Miles was able to somehow get past it. Ben filled Sarah in on the details. “Put this under your bonnet, and if Miles tries to pull some underhanded stunt on you, pull it out. It should be enough to shut him up,” stated Ben.
Sarah had little concern in her ability to handle Miles. Her confidence had grown tremendously over the past couple of years. She was almost looking forward to talking with him as she had grown to despise the man and would like nothing better than to put him in his place. Her opportunity came sooner than she expected.
It was several days later, about mid-morning when Miles entered the doctors office to find Sarah sitting at the reception desk. “Just the woman I was looking for,” he stated. “May I have a moment of your time?”
“Why, yes you may,” Sarah replied sweetly. She knew exactly what was on the man’s mind, but she decided to play with him. “Do you need to make an appointment?”
“Oh no,” replied Miles. “I'd like to talk with you about a private matter.”
Sarah smiled. “Shall we step outside?”
“That would be perfect,” replied Miles.
The two stepped outside and sat on the bench out front.
“What can I do for you, Miles?”
As usual, Miles got right to the point. “Sarah, I have it on good authority that you, and not Mac, are the owner of the Shepard ranch, is that correct?”
“Yes, that would be true,” replied Sarah coldly.
Miles continued. “As I'm sure you must know by now, with Mac being gone for as long as he has, that running an operation like the Shepard ranch is a very stressful proposition, don't you agree?”
“That would be true as well,” replied Sarah calmly.
Miles continued stating his case. “Sarah, running a ranch as large as the Shepard is not the position a woman should find herself in, especially one who is already working a job. The stress will be too much for you. With Ben being as busy as he is, he won't be much help. I know Jason is doing his best, but lets face it, he's still young. He won't be able to handle things on his own for long.”
“Miles, just what are you getting at here?” questioned Sarah. She knew what was coming next.
“I'm here to ask you, Sarah, if you would consider selling me the Shepard ranch?”
There it was. Plain, simple and to the point.
“Now let me get this straight,” replied Sarah. “You think that because I'm a woman I should be frail and weak. That I should be over my head and full of undue stress. That running a ranch is no place for a woman. And that Jason is too young to take on the responsibility of day to day operations. Is that what you're saying?”
“Well,” Miles swallowed hard and tried to backpedal some. “I'm not saying that it's impossible, just that, as a woman, you shouldn't have to. Sell the ranch to me and I'll make sure the Mac Shepard ranch is always productive and growing.”
“Miles, I appreciate your offer, but I think Jason and I will be able to handle the stress of running the ranch just fine.” Sarah stood to leave.
Miles was about to lose his only chance at owning the Shepard ranch, so he played his ace in the hole. “Sarah, please sit back down and listen to what I have to say.”
Sarah obliged him and sat back down.
“Listen, I happen to know that Mac is still alive. I also know that you're aware of this as well. In fact, I'll venture to guess that you know exactly where he's hiding out. If that were to come out you could be charged with hiding a criminal and be required to tell the authorities where he is. I know you don't want that and your secret will remain safe with me, but only as long as you're willing to sell me the ranch. I tried to go about this nicely, but you give me no choice, so now I'm telling you how it is. Either you sell or I go to the sheriff with this information, and if I have to, I'll go above his head and get a real U.S. Marshal involved. Is that what you want?”
Miles thought for sure Sarah would panic at the thought of being an accomplice and agree to the sale, but what he got in return was totally unexpected.
Sarah was surprised at what Miles had just told her, but she knew he hadn't a leg to stand on with his threat, and she didn't let it taint her reply. She stood up and leaned over Miles. She pointed an accusing finger at him as she began her caustic reply. “Miles Hanley, you are an underhanded son-of-a-bitch.”
Miles was shocked to hear such language coming out of the mouth of a woman. He sat quietly as Sarah continued.
“If you think for one minute that I'm going to let you bully and blackmail me into selling my ranch to you, you're sadly mistaken. In fact, let me tell you a thing or two. I happen to know for a fact that the last land purchase you made was due to go to court to resolve a discrepancy concerning the title. Seems someone other than the seller was claiming ownership. It also sounds like they had good grounds, but for some, shall we say “unknown” reasons, the case was dismissed. Rumor has it, and with good cause I might add, that the judge was bought off with a handsome donation to his re-election campaign. Now this whole case can easily be brought back into the light of day, which includes the evidence I have on you. Is that what you want? If you're enjoying that five hundred acres, I suggest you crawl back under the rock you came out from and forget we ever had this conversation. That's the only deal you're going to get from me.”
Miles was dumbfounded. Sarah played her cards well. She had no real evidence. Miles only assumed she did.
He almost choked on his words as he forced them from his mouth. “You are a formidable woman, Sarah. I never would have expected this from you. Never. I must admit, you've trumped me. You can consider this conversation done and forgotten.” Miles stood up and tipped his hat. “You have a good day, Ma'am.” He stepped off the boardwalk and walked down the street like an old dog that had just been scolded.
Sarah stepped back inside. The smile on her face said it all. She couldn't wait for Ben to return so she could recount the whole conversation to him. He would certainly be proud.
Miles had learned a thing or two about Sarah that day and he never brought the subject up again.
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