Are you a published author looking to expand your reach? Find out how Living With Retirement can help you. <Find Out More Here>
Hap & Cal
On the Trail of Stewart Clayton
Chapter Three: A Kind Gesture
Scott A. Gese
Chapter Three
A Kind Gesture
Hap and Cal rode for most of the day in silence. Hap was lost in his thoughts, while Cal was simply lost; he had no idea where they were. The only thing he knew for certain was that they were heading south.
Late in the afternoon, they encountered a couple of young boys riding bareback on a single horse in what seemed like the middle of nowhere. They couldn't have been older than ten for sure. Most likely brothers and twins to boot, judging by their identical haircuts and ragged clothes.
“Howdy, boys,” Cal greeted them. “Are you from around these parts?”
“Yep, we sure are,” one boy replied. “We live over that hill.” He pointed toward a small rise not far away. “We're searching for lost cattle,” added the other.
“Yours?” questioned Hap.
“Um, yes sir,” the first boy replied sheepishly. “Ours.”
“And how did you lose them?” Cal asked.
“They got past our fence. They've been lost since yesterday.” The boys seemed disinterested in answering any more questions. “We'll be going now,” they said in perfect unison.
“Wait, before you run off,” Cal interjected. “I have one more question for you. Where the hell are we?”
The boys exchanged glances and began to snicker. One of them asked, “Are you lost?” They found this amusing for some reason.
“Well, you could say that,” Cal admitted sheepishly. “But if you tell us where we are, we won't be lost anymore, will we?”
“No, I guess not,” one of the boys replied.
“Well then, where are we?” asked Hap, his patience wearing thin.
“You're in Oklahoma,” one of the boys said with a laugh.
Cal was not amused. “Where's the nearest town?” he asked.
“That would be Gopher City, ten miles that way,” the boy replied, pointing west.
Hap and Cal quickly rode off without another word.
“Do you think they were telling the truth?” Cal asked.
“Hell no,” Hap replied immediately. “At least not about the cattle. Hopefully, they were about the town.”
Hap and Cal headed west toward Gopher City. If nothing else, maybe they could find a drink and a bed before the sun went down. As they approached town, they spotted a young man walking slowly down the trail, clearly in pain as he limped along.
“Where's your horse?” asked Hap as they rode up alongside him.
“I don’t have one,” he replied with a disgusted tone.
“Don’t have one? Why not?”
The young man stopped and sat on a boulder, pulling off one of his boots to rub his foot. “My feet are blistered. I think I’ve walked twenty miles or more. I had a horse, but some son of a bitch shot it... and then robbed me. If I ever see that bastard again, I swear I’ll kill him.”
At this news, both Hap and Cal perked up. Thinking it might be their man, Stewart Clayton, Hap asked, “Did the man who robbed you have a name?”
“Well, he didn’t exactly introduce himself. He had a gun and shot my horse without a second thought. He wanted my money, leaving me with no way to chase him. All I know is he had a red bandana around his neck and wore a checkered shirt, and he’s got four hundred dollars of my money in his pocket.”
Hap and Cal remained silent about their own encounter with a bandit named Hap, but they both recognized who the cowboy was talking about.
“Why don’t you climb up behind me? I’ll give you a ride into town,” offered Hap.
“Much obliged. I don’t know how much further I can walk.”
“What’s your name, son?” questioned Hap as the kid climbed up behind him.
“My name’s Walter. I’m from the Dallas, Texas area. I was heading home from Abilene after two months on the Chisholm. I realize now that heading out alone was a foolish thing to do, but I was anxious to get back to my family. The money was meant to help us get a few things we needed. Now I don’t know what we’ll do.”
Walter was quite the talker, and Hap was relieved when they finally reached town. Walter climbed down from the horse and sat on the edge of the boardwalk, pulling off his boots.
While the kid busied himself with his boots, Hap pulled four hundred dollars from his saddlebags. He placed the money in a small sack and walked over to the water trough, where Walter was soaking his feet. Hap handed him the sack.
“You know the kid who robbed you? Well, you won't need to kill him. I already did.”
The kid wore a puzzled expression as he reached for the sack. When he looked inside, he was so surprised that he almost fell into the trough. Hap turned and began to walk away without saying another word. A smile spread across the young man's face, and a gleam appeared in his eye that hadn’t been there for days.
“Are you sure about this?” Walter asked.
“Positive,” Hap replied without turning around. He continued walking back to his horse, where Cal was waiting.
Cal was somewhat bewildered by Hap's noble gesture. “Are you crazy? You didn't have to do that.”
“Yes, I did,” Hap quickly retorted.
“My God, Hap. Are you going to spend the rest of your life repaying the debts of some fool kid you didn't even know just because you share the same name?”
Hap's smile quickly disappeared as he leaned toward Cal and thumped his chest with his finger. “You and I both know that the kid stole Walter’s money.” He gestured toward Walter with a flick of his head. “I'm just giving it back. Do you have a problem with that?”
“Suit yourself,” replied Cal, brushing away Hap's finger. He distanced himself from Hap and stepped onto the boardwalk, where a couple of empty chairs stood. He lowered himself into one with a weary sigh.
Hap walked over and sat next to him. “No,” he said, continuing the conversation. “He may never know, but I would, and that's all that matters to me.”
They sat in silence as they watched Walter put on his socks and boots. He walked over to the hitch rail, still beaming. “I don't know how I can ever repay you for this,” Walter said.
“You can't,” replied Hap. “Just do a good thing for someone else down the road. That'll be enough for me.”
“You got it, Hap.” Walter shoved the money deep into his front pocket, beamed a final smile at the two men, and walked away. He was off to buy a new horse, a new gun, and some supplies for the trail ahead. He still had a long way to go before he reached home.
His first stop would be the local mercantile. A gun was at the top of his list; he wouldn't be robbed again. The Good Lord above is watching over me today, he thought. Tomorrow might be a different story.
Walter took his time selecting the supplies he needed. Once he finished, he set them on the counter and looked at the display case next to the register. Several guns caught his eye, and after a thorough review, he settled on one that came with a holster and a box of cartridges.
He paid for his items, strapped on the holster, and loaded the rest into an old flour sack. Just as he was about to leave, a piece of jewelry in the display case caught his eye. “Well now, that's a pretty piece,” he commented.
The storekeeper, thinking Walter was referring to another gun, walked over to the case and asked, “Are you having second thoughts about the gun you just purchased?”
“Oh no, it's not that. It's that piece of jewelry there,” Walter pointed it out. “I didn't see that earlier.”
“Oh, you're talking about the brooch. Yes, it is a lovely piece, isn't it? A fella traded me that brooch for a few supplies just yesterday. He hated to part with it. Said it was a family keepsake, but he was desperate for a gun and supplies, just like you. Those are real precious gems, and the quality of the piece is excellent. Here, have a closer look.”
The storekeeper pulled the brooch out of the case and handed it to Walter. “Are you married?” he asked. “This would make a nice gift for the little woman.”
Walter examined it closely. “I'm not married, but my ma would love it.”
“I can let you have it for... say... thirty-five dollars, and that's a fair price considering the quality.”
Walter thought it over but then handed it back. “I'm sure it's worth every penny, but I just can't afford anything that expensive.”
The storekeeper placed the brooch back in the case. “That's alright, young man. I don't expect it to stay here for long.”
Walter gathered his supplies and thanked the storekeeper once more. “Could you direct me to the nearest livery stable?”
The storekeeper chuckled. “This is a small town, son. We only have one, and you can find it by turning left when you walk out the door. It's at the end of the street.”
Walter headed toward the livery to buy a horse.
Hap and Cal were still sitting in the same chairs as Walter walked by.
“Looks like you got your supplies and a gun to boot,” Cal remarked, noticing the new revolver strapped to Walter's hip.
“Yes sir, I'm on my way to the livery to see about buying a horse.”
Cal's ears perked up. “Have you ever bought a horse before?”
“No, I can't say I have, but it can't be that difficult...can it?” Walter asked.
“Not if you know what to look for.”
“I know to check the teeth, but I'm not sure why,” Walter replied timidly.
“Tell you what,” interrupted Hap. “Why don't Cal and I walk down there with you and lend a hand? We'll make sure you get a good one.”
Cal wasted no time getting out of his chair. “Now you're talking. There's nothing I enjoy more than haggling over a horse.”
Walter was grateful for the help, and the three of them headed toward the livery.
At the livery, the only person around was an older man wearing a leather apron. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he hammered a piece of metal. He pumped the bellows and shoved the metal deep into the coals before looking up at the three men. “Howdy, what can I do for you?”
“We're looking to buy a horse,” Cal replied, craning his neck toward the corral next to the stable.
“I have a couple of nice young paints. One gentle and one ornery cuss. My name’s Seth. Are you new to the area?”
“Just passing through,” Cal said. “The boy's horse died a couple of days out. We're looking for a replacement.”
“Well, I'm sorry to hear that. Where are you headed?”
“Texas, the Dallas area.”
“Well, either one of these paints will get you there. Go on, take a closer look.”
The four men approached the fence. Cal, experienced in buying horses, thrived on driving a hard bargain. He was in his element, carefully observing the two horses as they moved around in the corral. The colt pawed at the ground—a concerning sign of behavioral problems. Cal stepped through the fence and slowly walked up to the gentle one. He examined its eyes, smelled its breath for signs of infection, and looked in its mouth for teeth or injuries from a bit. He attempted the same with the colt, checking its eyes and smelling its breath, but he couldn't look in its mouth. There was a slight discharge from its nostrils.
“I just recently shod them both,” Seth offered.
“What are you asking for them?” Cal inquired as he stepped back through the fence.
“One hundred and fifty each,” replied Seth. “These are darn good horses.”
“The colt has an infection,” Cal remarked. “His breath is sour, and he has a discharge from his nose. Plus, he paws at the ground, and I can't look in his mouth. The other seems strong, but he isn’t as young as you say. Tell you what, I'll give you seventy-five for the gentle one, not a dollar more.”
“Well, then you might as well keep walking, 'cause I ain't selling him for less than one twenty-five, and that's a fact,” replied Seth, spitting on the ground for emphasis.
“I might go one hundred if you throw in a saddle and bit.” Cal extended his hand to seal the deal.
Seth didn't respond. “Not on my mama's grave,” he replied. “I'll throw in a saddle and a bit, but not for a penny less than one hundred and twenty-five.”
Cal turned to the other two. “Let's go, boys. Apparently, Seth doesn't want to sell us a horse today.” As they started to walk away, Seth called out, “OK, one hundred and fifteen, and you've got yourself a deal.”
Cal turned back toward Seth, and the two shook hands to seal the deal. Cal counted out the money and handed it to Seth, then saddled up the horse and walked it over to Walter. “Here you go, boy. It's a good, sound horse that's sure to get you home.”
Walter pulled out his money to pay Cal back.
“Put that away, son. Get yourself up on that thing and head for home.”
Walter didn't know what to say. “Thank you. I owe you,” was all that came out.
“You owe someone, that's for sure. Just not me. Now head home before your mama starts to worry about you. If you get the chance to hook up with some others, do so.”
Walter rode off, waving as he went.
Hap stood looking at Cal with his mouth open and a big grin on his face.
“What?” Cal asked, raising an eyebrow.
Hap closed his mouth and began to speak. “I can hardly believe my eyes, Cal. Just when I think you're an ornery son of a bitch, you go and do something like that. You never cease to amaze me, you know that? I will never have you figured out.”
“Good,” replied Cal. “Now let me buy you a drink before we get our supplies. We have a little time.”
Hap wasn't too sure about the time, but the drink sounded like a good idea.
|
Click the Buy Me a Coffee button below to find out how you can help support this site. Thank you. |
Please Share this Website
Add this site to your social media pages by using the social media buttons below. Your friends will thank you for it.
Deep in the Oregon wilderness, a hidden staircase rises from the forest floor—steps leading to a previously unknown portal. On the other side can be found a society eerily similar to our own—Where darkness has been disguised as light, and true freedom has been hidden from the masses. <Read it Here For FREE>
A full length novel by Scott A. Gese
The day Sarah McKinney finally escaped the clutches of her abusive husband, she and her adopted son, Jason, began a perilous journey and a new life on the run. The future hangs in the balance as their unhappy past and the man they left behind threatens to catch up with them.
Our Top Five Most Read Articles/Short Stories for the Month of April
(and Five From the File)
<HERE>
Newest Article
Struggling With Balance Issues Could Become a Downfall for Older Adults
RDNE Stock Project/PexelsAs we age, maintaining balance becomes increasingly vital to our overall well-being. While mental and emotional balance is essential for a fulfilling retirement lifestyle, physical balance plays a crucial role in staying active, independent, and injury-free.<Read The Full Article Here>
Newest Short Story
An Unexpected Shark
By Scott A. Gese
Image Source: PiqselsThe “regulars” thought it was great fun inviting a new player to the table in what they called a suckers game. Tonight the odds would not be in their favor.<Read The Full Story Here>
Newest Classic Film
Kansas City Confidential
(1952) John Payne and Coleen Gray.
Four robbers hold up an armored truck getting away with over a million dollars in cash.