Yesterday’s Vengeance by Olley

Word Count 22,984

Chapters 1 and 2 were written for the Lancer Writer ‘55^th Anniversary Episode Tag Celebration’

“You had no right trying to shoot it out with Johnny Madrid.”
How did Mrs Haney know Johnny Lancer was also Johnny Madrid?

**

Chapter One – Madrid

Murdoch opened his eyes. The bed he lay in was too short for his length and his feet hung over the edge a bit. He turned towards me “Where’s Johnny?”

I kept a firm hold of my father’s hand. “I sent him back home, to give him time, hopefully, to cool down. He’s so damn angry with how this town has lied and treated us that I was afraid he would use his gun in our attempt to find you. He will collect the note you left for Jelly. I told him it would help find you.”

Murdoch tried to sit up. “Scott, you have to find him. He’ll read that note and think Haney has killed me. He’ll call him out.”

I sat back, Murdoch’s anxiety was catching “What does your note say?”

My father looked past me towards Mrs Haney. “That twenty-five years ago I blamed Judd Haney for the raids in the valley that led to your mother’s death; I swore to kill him. I said I was coming to Mesa Roja asking Haney to forget the threats and to move on from the past. But if I didn’t return you would know my attempt to end the feud hadn’t worked and I was dead.”

He had to take a deep breath. “Don’t you see Scott he will think I am dead and turn to Madrid thinking he will have to exact revenge. You have to find him; tell him I am alive.”

I shook my head. Murdoch was right. Just as I had been afraid of; Johnny would become the hired gun on behalf of Murdoch and my late mother.

Behind me, I heard Mrs Haney gasp, “The gunfighter? Johnny Madrid – will he be coming for Judd?”

I stood up and snapped at her. “Before he came home to Lancer, my brother Johnny went by the name Madrid. Where is your husband?”

She was on the verge of tears. “He’s on duty.”

Haney was in his office when I burst in. At least he didn’t shoot me on sight. “Haney, I’ve come from your house. I know Murdoch is alive.”  I held my hand up to stop his garbled version of who had actually shot my father. “There’s no time for this, I’ve come to intercept my brother. If I don’t tell him Murdoch is fine, you’ll end up dead.”

Gunshots in the distance made us both start. He went to the rifle rack, one was missing. “Your brother might be the one who is dead. That itchy-fingered deputy must have taken a rifle and will be laying in wait to pick off any riders.”

My temper was only just under control. “You and your deputy have no idea who you are dealing with. My brother used to trade as Johnny Madrid. You stay here. I’m the only one Johnny will listen to.”

It was early sunrise as I rode hard on the trail out of town towards the gunshots.  There was a body on the hillside in the shadows.  I leapt off my horse, the relief it wasn’t Johnny was overwhelming. The deputy wasn’t dead just wounded and bruised by a fall from where he had hidden in ambush. There was no sign of Johnny he must have cut across country to get to town.

“Damn it Johnny, don’t do it.” I shouted out my frustration into the countryside.

As I raced into town, dragging Billy-Joe along; I could see Johnny and Haney facing each other down. In the distance, there was a dust cloud from a buggy. The rifle shot caused Johnny to spin around his gun drawn. It seemed the Lancer stubborn had got my father out of bed just in time to prevent Johnny from gunning down Haney. I don’t know which of the three of them looked the most relieved.

Hanney took a beat-up and battered Billy-Joe off to the jail. Mrs Hanney was all smiles inviting us to breakfast.

The last thing I wanted was to eat with the Haney’s, but my father does have a great capacity for forgiveness and moving on from the past.

He held out his hand to me. “Putting aside all those years of bitterness to break bread with the Haney’s is the right thing to do son.” I nodded at him as he and Mrs Haney set off back to the house.

Johnny shrugged, his Madrid persona fading as he smiled at me. “Guess I didn’t kill ol’e Billy-Joe.”

“No, you just winged him. He has more bruises from his fall.”

Johnny grunted. “Reckon I’ll have to put more time into practising my gun trade instead of digging post holes.”

I put my hand on the back of his neck and squeezed. “Welcome back, Johnny Lancer.”

Johnny hopped up in the buggy to drive home. I didn’t need to be told he wanted close contact with the father who he had thought was dead. When we stopped for a break I faced both of them. “Gentlemen, I hope this has taught us a lesson.”

Murdoch frowned. “Lesson?”

“Yes. No matter which of us finds himself in trouble either new or from the past coming to nudge us we deal with it together. Lancer looks after its own. No more lone wolf missions.”

Johnny raised an eyebrow. “Oh boy, Murdoch it looks like Scott has taken on being the tune caller. You prepared to follow his orders?”

Murdoch almost smiled and put his hand on my shoulder and squeezed gently. “Yes, I am. This has been a lesson a long time in learning for your old man.”

.

Chapter Two – The past is a dead weight

The boys knew without my saying a word I needed a break from travelling.  A gunshot wound, even though it hadn’t been too serious had aggravated my existing back trouble.

Scott waited until after we had made camp and eaten before delivering his speech, about lone wolf missions.  He had obviously been stewing on the words since my leaving Lancer in the dead of night.

I was grateful that Johnny halted what could have been a lecture with his cheeky humour.  Grinning as he asked if I was happy for Scott to call the tune on Lancer looking after its own.

I cleared my throat. “I owe you boys an apology and a proper explanation. Johnny, there is a bottle of scotch in my saddlebag I think it will make my telling of the past easier.”

I sipped and sighed; returning to a past I had tried to bury was difficult. “More than 25 years ago your mother, Scott, and I arrived in Alta California. We had to take out Mexican citizenship in order to legally buy Rancho El Potrero de San Carlos. We renamed it, Lancer. The place had been rundown since Don Alvarez had died with no immediate heir. We worked hard and were making a success of it when the raids started.”

I paused and sipped more scotch Scott had not taken his eyes off me, his drink untouched. Johnny, though switched between looking at me and watching Scott. “It was a time of great political upheaval with Americans arriving in what was still Mexican territory. There were clashes with high riders and land-grabbers. Men led by Judd Haney were making raids against landowners.  He declared himself the law in the San Joaquin and offered protection to the ranchers. I held out against him and told him I wouldn’t pay for his protection. I .. we, Catherine and I, fought back. We had the support of a loyal workforce, but the raids increased in violence.”

I took a deep breath. “Then Catherine became pregnant. We discussed her safety. She wanted to stay by my side but as time went by the safety of our unborn child became paramount.”

I looked down at my hands they were trembling as memories from the past flooded back. “As the raids became more frequent and violent, we decided Catherine should leave. She was supposed to go to Monterey and wait for me, but if worse came to worse and Haney killed me, she would sail back east to Boston. She only got as far as Carterville when she went into labour.  Paul O’Brien and the men I had sent to guard her returned with the news that Harlan Garrett had met them there and sent them back.”

I reached over to hold onto Scott’s arm. “I left Lancer immediately I didn’t know until I reached Carterville she had died and our son -you, Scott – had been taken by your grandfather.  I chased after you but was too late. The ship you were on had sailed. I am sorry, son, I should have been there with her and you. Instead, I chose to stay at Lancer and fight off Haney. I have carried that guilt for the best part of 25 years.”

Scott blinked away tears and nodded. “You and my mother did what you thought was the right thing to do at the time. I am now old enough to know childbirth is dangerous regardless of the circumstances.”

“Thank you, son. It took me years to realise that, but at the time I was convinced Haney was to blame. I became consumed with a desire to exact vengeance and put word out I would kill Haney.”

Johnny allowed the silence to last before he spoke. “You didn’t go to the law; you took up a gun and went after him yourself?”

“Yes, I did. It was a lawless time as California passed from Mexico to America. Haney and his gang heard of the death of my wife and my threat; they went on the run. There was a bounty out on them, so I wasn’t the only one on his trail.”

“You put up a private bounty?” Johnny sounded shocked.

“Not me, I wasn’t sure who did, but Haney had caused others losses so I wasn’t surprised. If I had word of his whereabouts I would take off with vengeance on my mind, but he always managed to avoid me. A few years later when there was more law an official reward poster was issued.  When I heard news he had been operating on the border, I went after him. That’s when I first met Joe Barker. He bought me a drink and told me if I was determined to find Haney it would be better for my soul to do it as a legally appointed deputy rather than a bounty hunter.”

I could see Johnny had a slight frown as though he had questions, so I quickly carried on. “Joe and I lost his trail and we ended up in Matamoros.”

Johnny blinked “That’s where you met her, my Mama?”

“Yes Johnny, I met your mother.” I looked at Scott. “She helped heal my broken heart. I never thought of her as Catherine’s replacement; she was never that. She was so different and full of life she gave me a reason to let go of some of my anger.  After we became,” I paused to find the words, “a couple, I left it to Joe to keep me informed of any news of Haney.”

“For close on six years Haney managed to evade capture. Then I heard from Joe, that he had tracked down Haney’s woman in the Vasquez caves. He convinced her to turn him in by telling her he would only get two to three years.”

Scott raised an eyebrow. “Instead, he got eighteen years. The trial must have gone badly for him.”

A forgotten memory of Maria worrying about me reliving the death of my first wife each time Joe got in touch and then having to give evidence at his trial suddenly came to mind. “I didn’t attend the trial, I provided a signed report detailing the raids on Lancer stating I blamed Haney for the death of my first wife.”

“You okay Murdoch? Your back paining you?” Johnny had read something in the frown on my face. “No son, just the past coming back like the dead weight I had told Haney it was.”

My youngest son shrugged. “The past is what makes us what we are now Murdoch. You can’t hide from it. You just need to learn to live with it, not let it sneak up and nudge you too hard.”

There it was the lesson he had learned during his young dangerous life, the lesson that had kept him alive. A lesson I needed to learn, to not just let go of vengeance but to learn from it.

Scott reached over and put his hand on his brother’s shoulder. “Well said brother something all of us need to keep in mind. Let’s drink to a future where we face our pasts together.”

I smiled as they both raised their mugs filled with my best scotch to me. “Lancer looks after its own.”

Chapter 3

I’m going to finish what my father should have done 25 years ago.

Johnny’s POV

It was good to be home, and good to see Murdoch getting back to normal. Head in his books, dishing out orders, worrying about his precious beeves and the grass they were eating. Heck, something had relaxed in him; that permanent frown had eased, especially with Scott. Every now and again he’d mention something about what his first wife had done to the hacienda and a smile would appear; then he’d catch my eye and it would be gone.  One day we may get to a place where we can talk about my Mama.

They both seemed content the Judd Haney trouble was past. A dead weight was how Murdoch had described it.  Me, I had come away unsettled; not by almost killing two men–I hadn’t, so their ghosts ain’t going to haunt me– but by what Murdoch had told us on the way home.

Seems to me once trouble is over Murdoch moves on, but me, I know trouble can come back and nudge you real hard.  In my experience, Judd Haney was no different than Day Pardee– a hired gun, paid by someone to drive ranchers off.  Never have found out who ol’ Day’s paymaster was. I hadn’t been that interested if anyone was behind Haney, being more focused on believing he’d killed Murdoch. Now though I’ve had time to think on it and it’s a worry.

Another thing that I’ve thought about is: was it lucky coincidence or sheer luck that Harlan Garrett showed up in Carterville? While I was laid up after being backshot by Day, I’d distract Scott from asking me too many questions by getting him to tell me about Boston and his journey across the country.  Told me then how long it took by train and then said Murdoch and his mother had sailed all the way down and around, even showed me a map and read some long-winded story about some fella and his mast. So, Harlan must have known what was going on weeks before he got to Carterville and met his daughter. I got to wondering if he was the one who hired Haney. Of course, he could have set off soon as he had word a baby was expected, but I can’t help being a suspicious kind of a fella.

And the bounty on Haney, who put that up? I’ll bet good old Joe Barker got a share of it.

I know Scott is determined we Lancers will look after each other when troubles come a calling.  I’m more than willing to protect my family; just think I should be sure of some facts before picking up this dead weight of Murdoch’s.  Lessons learned the hard way taught me to get as much information as possible before coming up with a plan, or in this case talking to my father and brother about these questions.

I could go back to Mesa Roja and talk to Mr. Haney himself and stir up some old dust. Not sure Murdoch or Scott would approve. But heck, as my Mama always said I’m a curious boy who ain’t afraid to get himself into all kinds of trouble.

Chapter 4

Well, it’s amazing how quick time goes by running a ranch, what with pulling dumb beeves out of mud, digging post holes, and clearing water creeks. Since Murdoch is always keeping me busy, or me and Scott getting in and out of all kinds of scrapes, I haven’t found time to get back to Mesa Roja.  I’m beginning to understand why it took Murdoch so long to track me down when I was a stray kid.

Now here I am on the porch living the honest rancher life, keeping Scott company. We’re supposed to be playing chequers, but he’s got a faraway someplace else look.  He’s had it for a few days ever since a letter from Boston arrived. Got me a mite worried about what the news in it was and whether he was thinking of going back east.

“Hey, Scott, I’m going to whup you good if you don’t concentrate.” I reached over to nudge his shoulder.

“Sorry.”

He said the word but he said it without meaning it. I tried smiling, “Okay, no more chequers tell me what’s got you in a pucker?” I pushed the game pieces to one side and looked at my lemonade, wishing it was tequila.

My brother can take me by surprise at times, ‘cos he turned the tables on me by asking me a question, all snarly-like.

“I could ask you what’s got you chewing your bottom lip and staring into the distance?”

“Whoa, Scott, no need to bite my head off, just doing that brotherly thing you been teaching me. I can see you have something worrying you, and I as just asking if I can help.”

He took that Murdoch frown off his face and relaxed some, so I shrugged and answered his question. “Guess I can’t help but keep wondering who was the paymaster behind Pardee and before him Judd Haney. It’s in my nature to keep looking over my shoulder.”

Well, that caused him to swallow his lemonade in one gulp and cough. “You’ve been thinking it’s the same person, after all those years?”

I squinted across the yard towards the corral. “Yeah, well, Murdoch is the big dog hereabouts, the one to go after.”

“Really Johnny.” He held out one finger. “The rules of the gunfighter, go after the big dog, take out the head of the snake?” He held out a second finger. “Do it to them, before they do it to you?”

“Yeah,” I sighed. “I know everything about desperados and vengeance-seeking cobardes looking to take your reputation. In Murdoch’s case, his land.”

He sat forward and tapped my hand. “Okay, I think it likely there was someone who wanted to take Lancer without having put in the hard work our father has. However, I do think it is improbable that twenty-five years after Haney’s raids it would be the same person who would hire Day Pardee.”

I nodded and agreed to please him even though my Madrid voice whispered ‘Yeah, improbable but not impossible.’

“So, what was in that letter from Boston that’s got you worrying.”

It was his turn to sigh.

“Grandfather is planning to visit.”

Oh boy, did he look like a man with a bellyful of worry. “You haven’t told Murdoch?”.  I couldn’t say I didn’t blame him ‘cos there isn’t much love lost between the two of them.

“Not yet, Grandfather knows we will be away with the autumn cattle drive and he doesn’t want to trust travelling across the country in the winter, so it will be next spring.  I wasn’t sure whether to mention it now or wait until nearer the time.” He looked down at his empty glass. “I need a strong drink.”

I grinned and pulled him to his feet. “Good idea, Scott.  I reckon you should tell Murdoch over a large scotch, leastways it gives him time to get used to the idea. Saves you from keeping it to yourself, and anyway, anything could happen between now and then.”  I didn’t tell him I was just happy it wasn’t him planning on travelling across the country.

As expected, Murdoch wasn’t thrilled at the news, but like I told him better we knew what had been on Scott’s mind and at least we weren’t going to be taken by surprise at the visit.  Me, I planned to be on my best behaviour and ask the gent some questions, all polite-like, just to put my mind at rest.

Chapter 5 continued in missing scenes from Legacy.

Johnny POV

Even though we knew Harlan Garrett was going to visit it didn’t stop Murdoch’s temper from getting shorter and shorter nearer his arrival.  For a man who says he puts the past in the past, my father carries a lot of dead weight over this piece of past.

Meanwhile, Scott was like a kid expecting Christmas, guess he is hoping his grandfather will see how happy he is and accept him staying at Lancer.

Me, well, I make my own mind up about a man. Don’t think old Harlan can be all bad if he raised my brother to be the man he is.

That comment of Garrett’s about my mother being a foreigner made me rethink.  I’ve come across bigots of all shapes and sizes and good old Harlan smells of one, and now I have another question how did he know my mother was beautiful? Still, I kept a smile on my face and used my most polite manners.  While Scott drove the buggy with that pretty lady and Harlan back to Lancer, I took Barranca for a good long gallop to clear my head.

The first evening meal was interesting watching Murdoch and Harlan pretend to get along for Scott’s sake, but I could feel the tension between them. It was a good job that Teresa was caught up with asking Julie all about Boston fashion and being impressed by the stories she and Scott told. If it wasn’t my family around the table and I was just an onlooker I would have found it funny.

Scott sure had scrubbed up well for escorting Julie on a tour of the ranch, and I told him he was pretty, we joked like brothers should.  It was obvious he liked her and I wouldn’t want to spoil his happiness, I knew I had to tread carefully with Mr Garrett.

I ran my finger across the desk as Harlan studied the sailboat model Murdoch is so fond of.  I let the silence between the two of us stretch, sure enough, he spoke first.

“Are you not expected to be out there, being a cowboy?”

I grinned. “Well yes, got my orders for the day, just thought I’d take this chance for you and me to become more acquainted, seeing as we are family.”  I pointed to the tray of coffee Maria had left out on the dining table. “Over a cup of coffee with maybe a little something in it?” I turned and went to the cabinet and held out a bottle of brandy.

He blinked I knew I had taken him by surprise. “It’s a little early in the day, even for out here in the west, isn’t it?” 

I shrugged. “Yeah, but think of it as medicinal after all that cross-country travelling. Scott has told me about his journey from Boston.”  He had sat himself down in the blue chair Teresa favours, so I poured him a coffee and added a generous splash of brandy.

I sat myself on the couch and leaned back as he sipped the coffee. “Mind, I expect travelling by train would have been quicker and more comfortable than when you first came out here by boat?”

As he just looked at me kind of like a bad-tempered cow who didn’t want to be moved, I smiled my innocent one and got up to get the coffee pot.  “Do you want cream with that Mr Garrett or another drop of Murdoch’s best brandy?”

I knew he was trying to get the measure of me, I know Scott has written to him telling of finding he had this brother, and of my Madrid reputation.

“Another drop of the brandy, thank you, and yes it was easier to travel by train even though it is not yet perfect.  You know of my previous journey out here?”

I topped up his cup. “Well, it was the only way to get from Boston to California back then, and Scott has told me those journeys could take months.  I reckon you must have set off almost as soon as you heard you were going to be a grandpa. Can’t say I blame you for wanting to be close by especially if you had heard Judd Haney was causing trouble.”   I learned during my days of hiring out that sometimes giving out some information leads to gathering more information.  He just sat there his coffee cup halfway to his mouth. I smiled at him, “I suppose you had the Pinkertons reporting to you?”

He coughed and then drank some more coffee. “I had letters Catherine sent me and young Vincent sent me detailed reports. You may be aware I wasn’t pleased with my daughter marrying Murdoch and leaving Boston society to come out to a wild land which at that time was still Mexican.”

As much as I have grown to admire my father and his first wife for coming out west, I could understand how any father would have been worried about the safety of his only daughter.  I nodded at him. “Yep, I can see you would have had worries.”  I paused.  “So, who was young Vincent?”

It took him a minute to come back from wherever his memories were. “Vincent, one of Catherine’s suitors, a clever boy, he was bitterly disappointed, as was I, when Catherine chose Murdoch over him. Yes, young Vincent would have been a great asset to Garrett Enterprises he had a remarkable ability with figures.  He sent word to me that he was following her out to California promising me he would keep her safe, it was he who sent reports back. They informed me of Hanney and his outlaws raiding the countryside, of the political turmoil.” He drank the last of his coffee.  “I became extremely concerned for Catherine’s safety and immediately booked passage.”

 Murdoch and Scott have never mentioned anyone called Vincent bit curious about him so…. “This Vincent did he go back to Boston with you and Scott?”

“Oh no, he said he had to stay, he had plans. It proved to be a difficult conversation with his father when I did return to Boston.  Young Vincent was their only son and should have returned to inherit the family business. Who knew one day I would understand how Vincent felt?”

I frowned how many Vincent’s were there? “Vincent?”

“Yes, Vincent G. Harper, young Vincent’s father and I were members of the same club and business associates.  The Grant-Harper’s had an exclusive private banking business, like I said young Vincent Grant-Harper the Third was a clever young man with great prospects.”

Harlan put his coffee cup and saucer down with a clatter and tried to stifle a yawn.  “I think I need to catch up with my sleep.”

Yeah, I thought riding out last night when you thought no one would notice would catch up with an old guy like you, ‘course a little extra in the coffee would as well.  I went and took the cup and saucer. “One last thing Mr Garrett did Vincent G Harper the Third report on who hired Haney or carry on sending you reports about Murdoch?” I didn’t want to spook him by asking outright about me and Mama. I think I’ll wait for another opportunity for that.

He blinked like an owl and frowned.  “His reports suggested there were displaced Mexicans who were unhappy with the sale of land to foreigners such as Murdoch and Haney offered protection. Some while later he contacted me offering me the chance to invest in a bank he was setting up to lend money to miners and loggers. He said California presented many opportunities for those who were willing to take risks. I must admit I turned that chance down, California had caused my daughter’s death it wasn’t until years later when California was booming, that I invested in the railways that were moving westward.”

I sniffed didn’t seem likely old Harlan would hire anyone to hurt this daughter, but maybe he wouldn’t mind her and Murdoch being driven off the land. He’s a willey old bird and my instincts told me there was more, and that more was Vincent Grant Harper; a man who took the risk of following a woman he loved thousands of miles and stayed even after she died. A man who may have wanted vengeance for a lost love.

Chapter 6  Legacy missing last scene

Damn Harlan Garrett, damn him to hell. 

I let the men take the Degan brothers into Green River. I needed to get back to Scott; the blood from his head wound was still wet on my shirt. My blood was boiling— that old man hiring those cowardly ambushing polecats almost got my brother killed.

Murdoch must have read my anger, ‘cos when I got back he stood in my way. “Take a breath, John, now is not the time.”

I took that breath. It didn’t dampen my temper though. “Hell, Murdoch, when will be the time?  I— we— need answers. Why after all those years he produces them two from your past.?” I kicked the dirt at my feet in frustration. 

Murdoch held my arms. “He was desperate to get Scott back. A desperate man makes foolish mistakes. Now stay calm, and let us check up on Scott.”

I took another deep breath. “Scott took a bullet to his head, he was this close, Murdoch.” I held my trigger finger and thumb an inch apart.

Murdoch gripped my arms even tighter. “I know son, I know. After you have looked in on your brother you’ll see it’s not too bad. Then I want you to ride back to the ranch and let everyone know what has happened. You can send Jelly back with a wagon to get Scott home.”

I thought of saying no to his order. I wanted to stay and have it out with Garrett. But just like Scott sent me away from Mesa Roja, I knew I was being given time to let Madrid take a back seat. “Okay, Murdoch, but you keep a close eye on Garrett. Don’t let him twist this fracas into his favour.”

I watched Jelly drive the wagon out to collect Scott; he’d be muttering and complaining all the way.  I know Murdoch would expect me to stay home but I had questions that needed answers. Garrett wasn’t available but the Degans were.

Green River stopped and watched me ride in. News of the shooting would have spread like a wildfire when the posse brought them bushwhackers to the jail.  I pulled my hat low and dismounted.  I’ll never live down my Madrid reputation, no matter how much Murdoch wants it. Still, it’s going to come in handy talking to the Degans.

Chapter 7 

Val Crawford POV

“Hey, Val.”

The door swung wide open, I wasn’t surprised to see he was leaning there all apparently relaxed, that shit-eating grin on his face.  “Johnny, I expected you hours ago.” I held up the cell keys. “Now I know you’ll be good and mad at them boys back there, but I can’t let you in with them.”

His spurs sang as he stepped up to my desk. “Just want to get some answers, that’s all.”

I stayed sat and scratched my chin. “Like why they are bushwacking robbers? Thought old Garrett flashing money would have been reason enough.”

“No, Val, like did someone hire the Degan’s old man to ambush Murdoch on his way to Carterville and how did Harlan Garrett know all about it?  And why wait until now to get in touch with them boys to spring this load of a malarky about Murdoch?” 

He pointed to the door to the cells. “Like, do them boys know Vincent Grant Harper?”

He leaned over me hands now flat on my desk. I scrambled through my memories. “And who is Vincent Grant Harper?”

“Someone from Boston. Someone who has a long-standing grudge against Murdoch.”

I looked at him and my sheriffing instincts kicked in. Too many times to count we had trusted each other, and I knew the boy has some kind of sixth sense where trouble is concerned. “Okay, you can talk to them. Play nice Johnny. They have some lumps and bumps from being taken into custody. Don’t need them accusing us of needlessly roughing them up before the judge arrives.”

When I opened the door to the cells the Degans both stood and went to the bars. They were about to start in on complaining about the accommodations when they saw Johnny follow me in. Never seen two shuffle back so quick.

Johnny had pushed his hat back and said howdy all friendly like. Lord knows how he does it; they were like mice frozen still by a prowling cat.

“Okay, I’m going to make us all some coffee and then we’ll talk, all nice and civilised like.”  I pointed at the bench set against the wall opposite the cell for Johnny to sit and glared at him to do as he was told.  He grinned at me as he sat down.

I was balancing four mugs of my coffee and about to go to the cells when all hell broke loose.  It was an explosion of noise, the whole building shook, then a blow to the back of my head and I was out for the count.

Chapter 8

First thing I heard when I came to was Doc Jenkins giving that bumbling fool of a mayor a good ear bashing.  Something about how Johnny couldn’t have been responsible.

“Johnny?”  I tried to sit up and coughed, I was in a cloud of dust and my ears were ringing.

Doc Jenkins was there in front of me with a wet cloth wiping my face and the back of my head. “Take a minute Val, you have got an impressive lump at the back of your head.”

I blinked a couple of times and looked around. “What the hell happened?”  My jail was an utter mess, the back wall of the cell where the Degans had been locked had collapsed, the adobe bricks covering two bodies. “Was it an earthquake?”

“No, there was an explosion taking down the back wall. It’s an escape attempt by them two. Probably Madrid had something to do with it.”  Mayor Higgs’s voice was hurting my ears.

“Don’t be so damn stupid. Johnny was sat there keeping an eye on them for me and the cell door is still locked, ain’t it.”  I got to my feet and weaved through the rubble to shake the door.  “Where is he?”

Doc Jenkins walked with me to the cell door and shook it himself.  “We need the key so I can check those two.” He turned to look at where the bench had been, now overturned.  “There’s blood here.” 

On the wall there was a blood stain.  In that moment I could picture what must have happened. The wall got blown in, burying the Degan brothers. The blast sent adobe and dust forward towards where Johnny had been sitting.  The cell bars had stopped large pieces of stone from reaching him, but the force of the blast must have flung him back.

Someone had found the keys in the back door and I unlocked the cell.  I moved the adobe bricks;  I didn’t need Jenkins to tell me them poor dumb boys were dead.  “Right. The blast came from outside, blew the wall inwards, and has anyone seen Johnny?”

I didn’t wait for a reply and stomped out, with Jenkins chasing after me telling me he wanted to check me over for concussion.  Told him that would have to wait. I had a crime to solve.

Johnny’s horse was still tied to the hitching rail, and any tracks or clues at the back wall had been lost by townsfolk gawking at the hole.  Damn it. 

I knew I had to get to Lancer and tell old man Lancer what had happened and ask the questions I knew Johnny had been chewing over. First, though, I went and asked at the hotel about guests that had checked in over the last week besides Garrett and that girl and them Degans. Then the livery, to collect my horse and ask if any strangers had hired out any stock, but mostly to check if Johnny had taken himself there. He must have been confused and even injured after that blast and in the past, a stable would be one of the places he’d hide out in.

He wasn’t there. Where in tarnation could he have got to, and what kind of trouble was he in?

Chapter 9

Val POV

I rode into Lancer leading Barranca.  That caused old Jelly hollering for Murdoch to come quick.

Murdoch looked like he hadn’t had a good night’s sleep in a month; his usual grim face had collected some more deep lines.  I wasn’t fetching good news and he knew it as soon as he saw Barranca.

I raised my hat.  “Mr. Lancer, I need to talk to you and Mr. Garrett.  I know you’ll have just got back with Scott so maybe we do it in his room?” 

Lord, he aged ten years in an instant, and was rubbing his hand through his hair.  “Tell me now Val, is Johnny dead?”

“Don’t know. Just know he’s missing. Let’s get inside and I’ll tell you what I know and get some answers that might just help track him down.”

First time I’d met Harlan Garrett and I gotta say I didn’t take to him.  That back-east “better than you” attitude don’t bring the best out of me, but I was here to get information and I wasn’t going to take no guff.  Scott was in bed with the biggest whitest bandage wrapped around his head, with Garrett sitting on one side of him and Murdoch going to sit on the other.

I talked them through the fracas at my jail and Garrett sniffed.  “Are you quite sure that John wasn’t part of this attempted breakout?”

I don’t know who was more furious me, Murdoch, or Scott. Scott got in there first. “Johnny would not break out the Degans.”

Before they could get to arguing I leaned forward right into Garrett’s face.  “Johnny wanted answers to questions and so do I. I have a lot of questions for you, Mr Garrett. First: who is Vincent Grant Harper?”

Garrett opened and closed his mouth a couple of times, and I could see him thinking twice about getting smart with me.

“I mentioned him to Johnny.”  He looked around at Murdoch and Scott. “Johnny and I had a conversation, on that morning you took Julie for a ride. He asked me if it was the Pinkertons who had told me about the trouble that Haney outlaw was causing that prompted me to travel to California to be with Catherine. I told him Vincent had followed Catherine to California and had sent disturbing reports.”e

Murdoch interrupted. “Vincent Harper, I remember him. He was James Harper’s cousin. When I first landed in Boston James befriended me. He was instrumental in helping me raise funds for my move to California. Through James, I met Vincant Harper who was well-connected and moved in the same social circles as Catherine. He was one of several young men who had tried and failed to gain her affection.”

Garrett nodded. “I told John I was disappointed Catherine had chosen Murdoch over Vincent; he would have been a great asset to Garrett Enterprises.”

Murdoch was on his feet. “Vincent was out here in California spying on us and reporting back to you?”

Old Harlan was on his feet, not a bit intimidated. Oh boy, all that old anger was about to boil over.  “Calm down.” I turned to Garrett.  “Is Harper out here with you? Did you hire anyone besides the two Degan brothers?”

The old guy sat himself back down.  “No. I travelled here with the Dennison girl. The Pinkertons arranged for the Degans to meet me in Green River.”

Scott had that look Johnny calls his Lieutenant Lancer look. “Grandfather, don’t you dare avoid telling us the full truth.  Have you been in contact with this Harper person at all?  I don’t know if it is connected, but ever since we got back from Mesa Roja Johnny has been worrying that whoever hired Day Pardee was also behind the Haney raids.”

I guess the old guy had been shook up by the ambush he and Scott had been in, because he sort of deflated. “Scotty, I would never condone anything that endangered your life and I made that quite clear to Harper. He has sent reports over the years, not that I asked him to. He boasted how he had made a fortune out of various enterprises, how easy it was out west to find men who could be hired to undertake all manner of work.”

Murdoch was red in the face with rage. “I know you dislike me, Harlan, and blame me for Catherine’s death. Have you encouraged Harper to seek vengeance?  Did he report my efforts to track down Haney? Did he report my marriage to Maria and her leaving taking Johnny with her? Did he report how I tried to find them?  Was it him who hired Haney and Pardee?”

Garrett rocked back in his chair. “Yes, he did send reports. He was angry you had found happiness after Catherine’s death. He said you had betrayed her. I believe his hatred of you, Murdoch, was the driving force behind his decision to remain in California. He said he wanted to see you pay for that betrayal.  To be honest, I suspected he was behind Haney trying to drive you off the land and Catherine back to Boston, which led to her being in Carterville.”  

The old guy licked his lips and looked at Murdoch.  “He wrote saying he had heard of you trying to reclaim Scotty and that he had information about the death of a man called Degan for which you could be charged with murder. At that time it wasn’t necessary.  For the next few years, I only occasionally heard from him. He offered me a partnership in his banking and investment business, but I turned it down. I told him I was content in Boston and I had my grandson.”

I scratched my chin, not sure Garrett was being completely honest.  “Okay, here’s what I think.  Whoever blew a hole in my jail set the fuse, then came in the front way, hit me over the head, and went through to the cells to release the Degans. He couldn’t have expected to find Johnny there.  Now I don’t know if that person was going to break out them boys or had intended to kill them, but I’m guessing he or they took Johnny out through the back door with them.”  I walked up and down a few paces, I had their full attention. “I had a quick scout about before I got here. There have been a couple of strangers in town—a travelling salesman and a gambler. The salesman was in town waiting for the stage to Modesto.  The gambler had been drinking and playing cards at the Red Dog. He went by the name Vince Grant; man about your age Murdoch, didn’t wear a gun, wore glasses at the end of his nose, talked like a schoolmaster according to the men in there.  Didn’t give much away, except he asked Zeek who was the land agent in these parts. He said Green River seemed like a growing town a man could settle down in.”

Scott sat up a bit straighter. “Johnny doesn’t believe in coincidences does he, Val? Vince Grant is Vincent Grant Harper.”

Garrett meanwhile was licking his lips. “Harper was a gambler. He said he found the company of gamblers very profitable, not just for monetary gain but for information gained and having men in his debt.”

Murdoch was grey and on his feet. “Maria ran away with a gambler named Grant. is he in town?”

 I put a hand out to hold Murdoch still. “Hold on, Murdoch, I need to ask. Did you and the gambler ever meet?”

“No. Maria met him while I was away on a cattle trip. When I returned, she left. I was told of the gambler when I went looking for her in Green River.”

It was Scott who was thinking along the same lines as me. “That gambler could have been Harper going by the name Grant to cover his tracks.  It could be him who has taken Johnny. We need to find him.”  He was attempting to get out of his bed and Garrett was not very successfully trying to hold him down.

“Now hold on, Scott, you ain’t up to riding about. I know Grant, or Harper, or whatever name he goes by, hired a buggy when he first arrived in town, and it wasn’t in town when I had a look around before I came out here.”  I sniffed and rubbed the back of my sore head. “From what I’ve just heard I’m thinking Harper is some kind of crazy who has been looking to get his revenge against Murdoch for more than twenty-five years. He’s also smart, plans ahead, stays in the shadows, hires men to do the dirty work. But this time the Degans’ own stupid plan to rob and probably kill Mr Garrett here and Scott has brought him out of those shadows.”

I could see even Garrett was giving me some credit.

Murdoch was nodding. “Johnny being at the jail wasn’t in his plan, but he has taken advantage of it.  Where do you suggest we look, Val?”

“Empty properties bordering Lancer. The sooner you can get your men together the sooner we’ll find him.

Chapter 10

Johnny POV

I hurt. There was a ringing in my head, and all was blackness. A glass was at my lips; the laudanum dulled everything and I slept.  The next time I came to I played possum. The ringing sound wasn’t as bad but all was still blackness.  Blind—the fear I had experienced before flooded back. I tried to put a hand to my eyes but I was tied down.  I tried to blink and realised there was a blindfold covering my eyes.

Okay, Johnny what happened?  Last thing I remember is…come on Johnny, think. Yeah, the Degans.  I was going to have a word with them.  A vague memory of an explosion and the jail seeming to collapse; was it an earthquake? What the hell happened? My head ached, and not just from the laudanum someone had fed me. I needed to cough. My chest felt tight like it did when I went down with a fever.

I coughed and my body shook, and then I sneezed. Was I covered in dust?

I couldn’t hear the sounds of anyone breathing. Heck, I couldn’t hear anything except a dull ringing rattling around my skull. I could smell a musty, unlived-in smell. The bed felt like a regular bed, not a bunk, so not a line shack. Not damp and cold like a cave, so guessing a house, but whose?  I tugged at the rope holding my wrists above my head; been tied tighter. At least I wasn’t in chains.

I was working at loosening the ropes when I heard footsteps. They were coming up wooden stairs, so I was up one floor of wherever it was I was.

A hand lifted my head. “So, young Buster, you are awake this time. I think the wound on the back of your head has stopped bleeding.”

A memory of that voice calling me that, telling me I was a worthless pup who needed to be taught my place, took my breath. “Who are you and what am I doing here?”

“Well, you have been in an accident. I dynamited the jail wall. The blast has left some shrapnel marks on your face, but you were lucky the bars of the cell saved any large pieces from reaching you. I expect your eyesight is blurred, hopefully not permanently.”

“You’ve broke out the Degan boys? Who are you and what do you want with me?” I might be at a disadvantage but it isn’t in my nature to cooperate with anyone who ties me down.

He laughed. “Like you Johnny, I’ve gone by different names, you can call me Vince Harper, after all that’s what your late mother called me.  As for the Degans, I’m afraid I used too much gunpowder. Still, they are no great loss. As for what I want, it’s what I have wanted for years. To see Murdoch Lancer pay for the death of Catherine Garrett. I loved her and she should have been mine.  Your being in that jail wasn’t in my immediate plan. It must have been fate that delivered you to me, don’t you think?”

A chill ripped me up inside. This was the man Harlan had told me about. “You knew my mother?”

“Yes, a very beautiful woman.”  My skin crawled as I felt him undo the blindfold and run his hand through my hair. “She would do anything for you.”

I blinked and tried to focus but my eyesight was blurred. A wet cloth was wiped over my face. His face was above me; he didn’t look crazy. Heck, he looked downright ordinary.  I worked my wrists, loosening the ropes.  I needed time. I knew he was either going to use me as bait to get to Murdoch or kill me. “Should I know you?”

He got up from the bedside and I turned my head. It was dark in the room; heavy curtains were drawn but I could see him walk to them and draw them aside. I had to close my eyes against the brightness. 

He had his back to me and I rubbed my bound wrists against the bedpost.

“You were very young.  Murdoch Lancer, your father, went away for a month on a cattle drive and his lovely wife was very welcoming to an old friend of his from Boston who arrived unexpectedly. She was a gracious hostess and I was the perfect gentleman. However, I made sure we were seen together and it was so very easy to start gossip, especially among the prim and proper Anglo ladies who, I must tell you, were very jealous of a Mexican marrying the most eligible man in the area.”  He stopped and turned towards me. “She laughed when I told her of the gossip and told me she gave no credit to such small-minded people.  I decided then that the only way to drive her away was to use her only weakness—you.”

I had to swallow what seemed like a lump of rock lodged in my throat.

This guy was as crazy as a fox drunk on tequila. “You threatened to hurt me if Mama didn’t leave Lancer?” I had to keep him talking.  I wanted answers before he set out to kill Murdoch or me.

.

 “You and your mother were returning from town in her buggy when as I had planned, our paths crossed.  You were a trusting child and more than happy for me to lift you onto my horse.” He licked his lips. “Two men who owed me favours came by. They made it clear they thought she was very attractive and a pretty half-breed child would fetch a good price in certain establishments in the border towns. She expected me to rescue her.”

I didn’t want to hear anymore. I know the tactics the likes of Harper and the men he hired use to hurt and intimidate.  “You really are a low-down cowardly piece of work, threatening women and children, paying people to do your dirty work. You took me to force her to leave without saying anything.” It was hard to keep the emotion out of my voice but Madrid helped.

“Of course, you will have witnessed such events when you were hiring out your gun.  It amuses me to think my money may have hired Johnny Madrid when I had financial interests in land disputes.” 

He stood over me and sneered. “It is not cowardly to make the decisions I have made over the years. It is sensible and effective. I have learned to be patient, to wait for the right opportunity to enjoy seeing Murdoch Lancer suffer disappointment and heartache. It was so much more satisfying than having him killed immediately after Catherine’s death. His vain searches for a wife he didn’t know was dead and a lost son distracted him from claiming Scott. Now it seems is the time, just when he has what he most desired— his two sons back with him— his beloved ranch thriving… I can destroy his perfect life.”

“You going to kill Scott as well?”  I frowned and pursed my lips. “Let me get this straight. You were, and still are, in love with Catherine Garrett, and you plan on having her son killed? You know, the first thing I remember Murdoch saying to him was he has his mother’s eyes.” I could see that thought flash through his mind but I carried on. “You might not have to, ‘cos them Degan brothers you hired may have already done it.  A headshot can be fatal.”

Harper paced about. “I wanted Scott to return to Boston where I could introduce myself to him. The Degans weren’t hired to kill Garrett and Scott; I hadn’t realised what greedy idiots they were. I wanted them out of jail before they could talk about me. After what they did, I’m glad they were buried under the rubble.”

“You thought they would be happy with what you and Harlan were paying them.” I let out a grunt. “Hired guns—you can’t trust them, can you?  Maybe it’s time you got your hands dirty and did the deed yourself. Go face to face with Murdoch and tell him of all those smart plans of yours before you kill him.”

Boy, was I taking a risk provoking him; even a coward can pull a trigger. But taking risks is what I’m known for.

I saw him pick up my gun from the dresser and test its weight. It wasn’t my gunfighter gun so no hair trigger; even so, I was nervous, heck downright scared. But I’ve been scared before.  “I keep one chamber empty and it pulls to the left.”

He weighed my gun some more.  I could see his hand wasn’t used to a colt; he put it down. “Your suggestion is typical for a gunfighter, but you are correct. It is time I faced Murdoch. I usually hire men and sometimes women to do as you call it the dirty work, but there may be a better way.”

All the while I had been working the ropes around my wrists loose. As he walked towards me, he pulled a small gun from his jacket pocket. ‘It’s now or never, Johnny boy’ I told myself.

My rolling off the bed as he aimed put his shot off. I was hit but not dead. I lay still, face down, blood from my shoulder pooling. I said a prayer and for once it was answered. He wasn’t a gun hawk who would have put a kill shot in me.

I stayed still until I was sure he had left. I used my good arm to lever myself to a sitting position. Everything was spinning and I took a deep breath, telling my guts to stay put.

Just like a few of the paymasters I’ve come across in the past, he was too clever for his own good, ‘cos he sure was an amateur where the gunfighting trade was concerned. I staggered to my feet and collected my gun.

I sneaked a look out of the window to see Harper driving away, too far away for me to take a shot at him. 

I made my way outside. The place was deserted.  I realised it was the abandoned Semple homestead. I looked up at the sun to estimate the time of day, the trouble being I wasn’t sure what day it was. It didn’t feel like it had been too long but I had been drugged.  Of course, there were no horses in the barn, that would have been too easy. So I sat on a hay bale and while I plugged the hole in my shoulder with my bandana gave my situation some thought.  With luck, Val would have a posse out looking for me and I smiled.

When I was a kid starting out in range wars, I’m ashamed to say, I enjoyed burning barns, just so long as there was no livestock in them.   I struck a match on the heel of my boot. It didn’t take long for the flames to catch hold and I watched from a safe distance. The smoke would be seen for miles. 

I set off in the direction Harper had taken.

I didn’t get far before the bleeding and concussion brought me to my knees. I rolled to a sitting position. Lord I was thirsty, and the sun was setting.

Chapter 11

Val POV

“Hold up, Murdoch. It’s too dark to push the horses. We need to make camp.”  I knew it was not what he wanted to do; heck, it ain’t what I wanted to do either.

I looked over at Murdoch. Even in the dark I could see the frown. He had sent men off in different directions to check on line shacks and bordering ranches. It was just him, me and Frank. He had well and truly and very loudly ordered Scott to stay behind.  Old Harlan wasn’t going to be much use on the trail so he was back at the Hacienda under instructions to keep a close eye on Scott.

My horse nickered and that old tracking instinct kicked in. I sat and let my senses talk to me.  “Smoke.”

Murdoch lifted his head.  “Where?”

There was too much cloud cover for moonlight, but there was a breeze and the smell of smoke was coming from the east.  “Eastwards.”

“The Semple’s old place.” Murdoch had no sooner got the words out than he turned his horse and headed that way. “Come on, Val. There’s a trail over the next rise. It follows the creek that runs from the Semples to Lancer.”

I tell you, I can see where Johnny gets his stubborn refusal to give up from. 

“Take it easy, Murdoch, we don’t know for certain what we will find.”

As we got nearer the flames from a burning barn lit up the night sky.  I had a sneaky suspicion who had set a barn alight. Didn’t stop me from worrying about who else might be about.  

As much as we wanted to gallop we took it slow. Without being told Murdoch and Frank had their guns drawn.  We damn near missed the boy. He was hunkered down in the shadows just off the track, his gun in his hand.  Murdoch was like a man half his years the speed he was off his horse at his son’s side.

“Johnny, are you with us, son?”  He was gently checking him over. Even in the dark as I stood watching I could see his shirt was soaked in blood. I shook my head at the distance the boy had dragged himself from the house and barn to this spot.

Murdoch looked up at me. “Val, he’s alive but unconscious. I think the bullet is still in there.”

I dismounted and hitched my pants up. “Reckon we’re here without any company, but I’ll go ahead up to the house and check it out.  If the coast is clear I’ll fire one shot and you and Frank can fetch him in.”

The house was deserted. After I fired that one shot I watched as Murdoch rode up holding onto the slumped body of Johnny.  Frank had galloped up knowing we needed to get some hot water and light ready for what we needed to do. Between us we carried Johnny up to a bedroom, I didn’t like to point out the blood stain on the bed and floor, and I reckon Murdoch was too concerned with his son to notice but Frank sure had; we exchanged a look.

We were lucky Johnny stayed unconscious. There have been times in the past when he fought to stay awake even when having a bullet dug out of him.  Murdoch had taken a deep breath and his hand stayed steady as he cut into his son’s shoulder and took out a small bullet.

I sniffed. “It’s from a derringer. I reckon under normal circumstances he would have stayed upright, but from the looks of the wound it was close range. That and being shook up from being caught in an explosion has knocked him off his feet.”

It was a long night. Like always a fever took hold and I gotta say Murdoch was real good at taking care of Johnny, cooling him with damp cloths, coxing him to sip water, talking quietly, reassuring himself as much as his son that he would be fine.  Sure enough, daybreak had hardly poked itself over the horizon when the fever broke.

“Hey, Murdoch.” Johnny’s voice was no more than a whisper, but I stood to one side and could see him blinking to clear his eyes.

“Hey, my son. Here take some water, slowly.” Murdoch held a cup to his lips.

Johnny took no more than a small sip before he reached up to grab at Murdoch’s shirt. “Harper, Vince Harper— he’s the one seeking vengeance against you.”

“We know. Now take it easy.  I’ll send Frank back to the ranch to let everyone know you are okay and send a wagon back for you.  Val here can ride into Green River and get Sam Jenkins to come out to check you over.”

I saw Johnny nod but his eyes came to me and I nodded back at him. “Murdoch, before I set off, why don’t I sit a spell with Johnny while you take a break? Stretch your back, maybe make a pot of coffee?”

As soon as he was out of the room Johnny had hold of my hand. “Did I talk, Val, when I was out of it?”

See, that’s why he always tried to take himself off to mend. The fever loosens his tongue, and he talks, reliving some bad times. “Yes, some garbled stuff from when you were a kid.”

“Oh dios, did Murdoch understand any of it?” 

He was getting all agitated and I held him down. “Not that I noticed. What is it, Johnny?”

He closed his eyes and chewed his bottom lip. “I remembered him, Val. He was the one Mama left Lancer with, but only ‘cos he had me. He treated me worse than a dog, kept me tied to a post and hungry…he used to hurt me to get Mama to do what he wanted. I was only a little kid. I didn’t understand what was going on…learned that crying did no good.   Then one day when he was pawing at her, she used a knife against his throat. Not enough to kill him…there was a struggle and she hit him with a lamp. It gave us time to get away. We kept moving. I don’t know what he’ll tell Murdoch if he gets the chance.”

I’ve heard some of his nightmares and I know there is more to it than what he said. Hell, if I get the chance I’ll put a bullet in Vince Harper myself.

“Take it easy, Johnny. I’ve got your back.” I patted him and stood away as Murdoch came back into the room. 

I didn’t go to Green River. I found a good spot to watch for anyone approaching the house.  Murdoch was the target. Johnny was in no state to protect him, and I didn’t know where Harper was.

It was a couple of hours before Jelly showed up driving a wagon, three vaqueros riding shotgun.  I rode down to meet up with them. “Everything alright back at the ranch, Jelly?”

The old mule skinner kept the wagon moving. “Been real quiet ‘cept for Scott and that stuffed shirt from Boston going at it. Soon as Frank showed up telling us Johnny was shot bad, Scott was all set to ride out here. Cip had to hold him back, reminding him to remember and trust what the Patron wanted. Frank told us your plan so we’ve sent a man to Green River for the doctor.”  Jelly paused and snapped the reins to keep the wagon moving at a good pace. “How is he really, Val?”

The worry was there in his question. “I’ve seen him worse, Jelly.”

I kept my worry about where Vince Harper was and his history with Johnny and his ma to myself.

We took it slow on the way back to the Hacienda, Murdoch sat in the back with Johnny who naturally had refused any laudanum. At my suggestion, he had gulped down some tequila. Not sure if he slept but he closed his eyes and clamped his mouth shut.

Scott was waiting. He’d gotten rid of the white bandage from around his head and looked a bit pale, but at least one of Murdoch’s sons was back on his feet.  Before the wagon was fully stopped, he was there looking at his brother and Murdoch was reassuring him Johnny would be fine so long as he allowed time to heal.

I found Cipriano.  “We need to track this Harper down.  Since he managed to kill the Degan boys I’m sure he is operating by himself. He must be out there waiting for his chance to get to Murdoch.”

The Segundo is a quiet man. He stroked his moustache and nodded. “I have set guards on the roofs. All our men have returned without reporting any sightings of this gringo.”

I sniffed and studied my boots. “He thinks he has killed Johnny, so keep the men here. I don’t want Harper to hear anything different.”

Cipriano watched as Murdoch carried a now unconscious Johnny into the house. “Perhaps this man will disappear into the shadows as he has in the past?”

“Maybe, but he’s out of the shadows now, I have a name and I’ll damn well find him.”

Chapter 12

Johnny POV

I let Doc Jenkins poke and prod and lecture me, and I nodded. “Yes, I’ll take it easy, no my eyesight is clear, the headache is a whole lot better and my shoulder hurts where the bullet got dug out.”

He gave me that look, the one he uses when he doesn’t believe me. “John, you were injured in an explosion, then contracted a fever after getting a bullet wound infected which isn’t surprising considering you started a barn fire and walked half a mile. Don’t make light of my advice.”

I smiled. That old guy surely does take his doctoring seriously. “Okay, I hear you.”

He sniffed. “Well, I’m pleased your hearing hasn’t been too badly affected.  Maria is waiting to fetch you some broth. I will be back tomorrow to check up on you.”

It wasn’t Maria who arrived with broth but Murdoch, Scott and Val.  I took a good long look at Scott. The last time I saw him he was laid up with a head wound following the Degan’s ambushing him and ole Harlan.  “How are you doing, Scott?”

He handed me broth in a cup and sat on the bed. “Better than you brother. Only a small scar that doesn’t affect my natural handsome features.” He touched a mark above his left eyebrow and grinned.

Murdoch came to the bed’s other side and sat on a chair. “Sam says you’ll be fine if you give yourself time to recover.  I know you will only settle if you are aware of what is happening out there.”  He waved his hand towards the window.

My old man understands how I can’t settle if I’m kept in the dark. “Has Harper been found?”

“No son, our priority had been to find you. As soon as Val and the men have taken a break, they are going to set out to search Lancer.”

I looked over to Val for reassurance and took a deep breath. “He said stuff, Murdoch, when he had me tied down to that bed. He’s carried a grudge against you for the best part of twenty-five years. He probably thinks he has killed me so you are his target. You should stay here. Heck, I wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t try to get to you through Scott, so you should both stay here and keep me company. Leave it to Val to track him down.”  I hoped I’d said enough without going into any details about what he had said about Mama.

Val took my cue and had his say to save me from any questions. “Johnny’s right. Harper is out to get you, Murdoch. Maybe since his paid guns are dead, he has turned tail and gone back into the shadows to hire more, or maybe this fracas has pushed him into a corner and he’ll be close by and waiting for his chance. If he is in the San Joaquin, I’ll find him.”

Scott went all Lieutenant Lancer.  “We could send word to the Pinkertons. Now we have a name, and from what he told Grandfather about investing and making a fortune he must be known in the banking and business world.”

I could see Murdoch was nodding his agreement and it made sense. All the same, I wasn’t sure if the Pinkertons wouldn’t dig up some of the past that was best left there. That led me to thinking I’d rather see Harper dead than him alive and shooting his mouth off to Murdoch. Didn’t say that out loud but I saw the look Val gave me.

I finished the broth and handed the cup back to Scott. “Guess I’ll get some shut-eye.” As much as I’m getting used to having family fuss over me, I need time to myself to bury away memories of that time. I was afraid Murdoch and Scott would read my pain.

Murdoch patted my leg. “Sleep, son, we’ll talk tomorrow.”

Except I didn’t sleep, ‘cos right that moment the alarm bell rang.  Scott and Val got to the window at the same time. 

I was halfway out of the bed before Murdoch pressed me back down. “Who is it?”  My heart was racing. I mentally prayed it wasn’t Harper. I realised at that moment I would have to find the courage to tell Murdoch what I remembered before he heard it from that bastard.

Scott turned away from the window.  “It’s the sheriff from Spanish Wells.”

Val turned away. “I’ll go and talk to him. Could be anything, but if it’s anything to do with Harper I’ll fetch him up here.”

Scott left the room with Val and I took a deep breath, my chest hurt some but I’d hurt worse. “Get me my pants, Murdoch. I’m going down, I might not be fine but …”

Of course, he looked put out, but I guess he knew it wasn’t worth aggravating me. “…But you’ve had worse.”

I didn’t bother with boots and my shirt was unfastened, but with Murdoch hovering at my side I made it downstairs.

Sam Jayson, the sheriff from Spanish Wells stood there twisting his hat between his fingers looking embarrassed.  

Chapter 13

Val sniffed and glared at me and Scott simply shook his head.

I leaned against the back of the sofa, trying not to look exhausted. “So, Sam. What brings you here?”

He shuffled some and cleared his throat.  “Like I was about to say to Val.  I’m pleased to find him here. I’ve sent a message to Green River for him.”

We were all looking at him waiting for the boot to drop.

He coughed some more. “I’ve had a man present himself to my jail saying he is confessing to trying to break out the Degan brothers from the Green River jail.  He says he had hired them as protection ‘cos he is afraid Murdoch here will have him killed.”

Before anyone else could get a say in Val went to stand by Sam and looked over at me. “What else is he confessing to?”

“This ‘fella says he is here to claim Scott as his son. That back in Boston, he had Mr Garrett’s permission to court Catherine Lancer. That Murdoch Lancer kidnapped her, bringing her to California. Says he followed them out here and he hired Judd Haney to drive Murdoch Lancer out of California so that Catherine would return to Boston.  I had to write out my report as he was ranting on about hiring a Lafe Degan to rescue Catherine but she died. “Since Murdoch Lancer killed Lafe Degan, he felt obliged to support the Degan family and Lafe’s young boys eventually went to work for him. His story is that he is afraid Murdoch Lancer will kill him, so he kept out of Scott’s life knowing he was safe in Boston with his Grandfather. But after hearing Scott had been lured back to California to live with Murdoch Lancer, he decided he had to reclaim him to keep him safe.”

Well, Murdoch was bellowing like a bull. Scott started to stomp over to Sam and Val had to hold him back. Even ol’ Harlan was on his feet, demanding to see Sam’s report.

Sam let the anger wash over him. He ain’t half the lawman Val is, but he’s a good man with a quiet way about him.  “Okay! I know, I know, it took me back, but the law has a duty to investigate.”

I raised an eyebrow.  “Guessing this man is called Harper and wants his day in court?”

Sam looked kind of relieved I was talking softly and my Madrid face wasn’t the one asking the questions.  “Yes, Johnny, says his name is Vincent G Harper. He has had a wire sent off to some lawyer in San Francisco. I’ve got him locked up, and sent word to the circuit judge he’s due in two weeks.”

Harlan had to have his say. “This is all absolute nonsense. I shall go and speak to him.”

Val shook his head. “That ain’t a good idea, Mr Garrett, seeing as you are likely to be called as a witness. Fact is as much you folk want to see him face to face about this here confession of his, it’ll go better for you if you leave it to me and Sam.”

Scott was even more Lieutenant Lancer. “Damn it, Val, this is me he is talking about.”

I took a breath. “Thing is, Scott, we all know this is all a load of baloney. Harper ain’t your pa, but it’s going to be his word against Murdoch.  And there is going to be enough truth scattered about his lies to cause doubt and gossip. ‘Cos there are more ways to get vengeance on an enemy than guns and fists. Destroying a man’s reputation can be a long, painful thing. That’s what he wants to do to Murdoch.”

Murdoch was all puffed up with anger. “Damn it, I want that man charged with the attempted murder of Johnny.”

I held my hand up. “Whoa, if he thinks I’m dead, maybe we should keep me not being dead quiet for the time being. Kind of treat me like an ace up your sleeve.”

Val nodded and looked over at Sam. “I’ll explain that later, I don’t suppose Harper had a derringer on him or any papers?”

Sam was looking confused. I grinned at him. “He put a bullet in me.”

“Yes, handed it over, together with his money clip, some well-used playing cards but no papers.”

I could feel the need to sit down, but didn’t need the fussing. “I don’t know about anyone else but I could do with a drink while I think on all this.” Scott took the hint and went to get drinks sorted and I scooted around and tried not to collapse into the cushions. I could see Murdoch giving me one of those looks of his. I hadn’t fooled him, but there were more important things for him to worry about.

Val came and stood behind me and I felt his hand on my shoulder. “Sam, did Harper mention Johnny?”

I held my breath. I needed to talk to Murdoch in private about what Harper had said to me and the memories it had stirred up.

Sam was shaking his head.  “No, I’ve tried questioning him but all he has said is he’ll get justice in court.”

Val sniffed. “Reckon I’ll have a word with Mr Harper, officially like. After all it was my jail he blew up, and he conked me on the head. I want you Lancers to stay put. If anything should happen to him it’ll go badly in court. That applies to you too, Mr Garrett. He’s admitted to being guilty of causing the death of the Degans, so no threats that will distract the judge and jury. Do you all understand?”

No sooner had Val and Sam Jayson left than Scott was demanding answers from Harlan and Murdoch. “I want to know exactly who this Harper person is and what his relationship with my mother was.”

“Son, he is James Harpers’ cousin. You remember him, Melissa Harper’s father? I had a letter of introduction to James from his relatives in Inverness. We became friends and like I have said, through him I met Vincent.  I can assure you, Scott, she had no romantic attachment to him, and we never saw or heard from Vincent after we left Boston for California.”

Scott turned to his Grandfather, “You and Mother corresponded. Did you tell her Harper had followed her out to California?”

We all looked at Garrett. I was tempted to dare him not to tell the truth; he licked his lips and his eyes avoided Scott. He might be a ruthless business man, but at that moment he would have been a poor gunfighter.

“You must remember the post between Boston and California was slow and unreliable. I did write to tell Catherine, but her letters to me never mentioned Vincent. I realised after some months not all my letters had reached her. As far as I know, he didn’t make himself known to her, and she died so soon after I reached her, I didn’t have that conversation with her.” 

Murdoch had swallowed his drink and had helped himself to another. “Catherine would read letters from Boston aloud, not just from you, Harlan, but from her aunt and cousins.  Not one mentioned Harper; he had just been one of her young suitors and his name wasn’t amongst those that were circulating in society.  I kept in touch with James Harper. I considered him a friend. He did say his cousin was away travelling on family business, but not that he had followed us out here. There was never a reason for me to ask after Vince.”

Murdoch walked over to Scott and put his arm on his shoulder, “Have no doubt, Scott, you are mine and Catherine’s son.”

Harlan coughed. “I agree, this nonsense Harper has come up with is just that—nonsense. The man is mad if he thinks he can get away with spreading these lies.”

I sighed. “Like I said, he wants vengeance on Murdoch. He thinks he has killed me. Now he’s set on ruining Murdoch’s reputation and his relationship with Scott.  It doesn’t matter it’s lies, ‘cos he’ll get his lawyer to ask you, Murdoch and you, Harlan up there in court if you know Vincent G Harper, and neither of you are the sort to lie under oath.” 

I sniffed and looked over my shoulder at Harlan. I wouldn’t put it past him to lie and keep a straight face, but my old man, it ain’t him to be anything but honest. And they will both have to say they know Harper, and Harlan there will have to confirm he knew Harper was out here in California.

Scott was pacing up and down. “Grandfather is right. The man is mad. Perhaps we could get him declared insane before it gets to court.”

Harlan jumped at that idea. “Excellent suggestion! Perhaps your local Doctor Jenkins can recommend someone out here to examine him.  The sheriffs cannot object to a medical examination.”

I wasn’t sure I could keep my eyes open much longer and I still needed to talk to Murdoch. I tried to lever myself out of the comfort of the cushions. Scott was all set to come and help but I waved him away. “No, you and Harlan can talk this over some more. Murdoch can give me a hand.”

I let Murdoch fuss at getting a fire going and helping me into a nightshirt. All the while I was worrying at the words, I needed to find to tell my father of some of the past that would be best kept there.

He started in about getting Maria to bring me up some more broth, I took hold of his hand. “Murdoch, stop your fussing and sit yourself down. I need to tell you something.”

I licked my lips and let out a breath I hadn’t realised I had been holding.  “This fella Harper, —he’s the one that Mama left Lancer with.” I could see he was all set to say something. “Let me finish ‘cos this will be hard to say. He told me something when he had me tied down at the Semple’s place. Said he had come here when you were away on a drive and introduced himself as a friend from Boston.  She trusted him until he threatened me if she didn’t agree to leave.  I was only a baby…I don’t have any real memories, just over the years I’ve sometimes had nightmares.”

“Johnny?”  There was a catch in his voice and he held both my hands so tight I flinched.

“I dream of being tied like a dog to a post, of being cold and hungry. I dream of Mama, of him not letting her hold me.”  I have to stop, I have had my eyes focused so hard on his hands, big, strong, gentle; so, unlike the hands in my childhood dreams. I look up at him.  “But I remember clearly, one day when he was pawing at her she reached up into her hair and pulled out a stiletto and stabbed it into his neck.” I got one of my hands free from his and acted out a stabbing motion into my neck. “He wasn’t dead but he went down and she hit him real hard over the head with a lamp. She got us away and we went on the run.”

I sighed; I knew none of what I had told him of Harper was in any of the Pinkerton reports locked away in his desk.  None of my life before I traded as Madrid was there, just reports of stray boys going missing in dusty border towns.  The pain was clear in his eyes.  “It got better, Murdoch. She met my stepfather, a good man.” I wasn’t about to tell him he would have liked him, but I bet he would have. An honest man, with a kind but firm way; he made her happy.

He cleared his throat. “When Val came and reported you missing after the jail was blown up, we all talked and guessed that the gambler going by the name Grant was Vincent Grant Harper.”

I nodded. “The thing is Murdoch, when he gets into court, he won’t only be trying to bring all that past out. He made some comment about finding it amusing he had hired Madrid.”

At least my old man didn’t start yelling He kept his voice really quiet. “Did you hire out to him?”

I shook my head. “Not as far as I know.  You got to know Murdoch, when I was just starting out like all the other young guns, I didn’t know or even care who was providing the money. It’s like only Pardee knowing who the paymaster behind the raids in the valley was; the guns in range wars just want some upfront money and a share of the spoils at the end.”

Murdoch put his free hand against my face. “Son, he thinks he has killed you. Perhaps there will be no mention of Madrid or your childhood.”

“Phfftt! He’ll do it and enjoy watching what it does to you. Mama would never talk about you or the reason we left. I knew it pained her, but now I wish she had told me. If I get the chance I’ll kill him.”

“I think I feel the same, John, but let us see if the law does it for us before we go down the vengeance route.” He had got up and stomped to the fire and kicked a burning log.

I raised an eyebrow. After Mesa Roja I thought Murdoch had put all that yesterday’s dead weight behind him.  Just goes to show sometimes when the past comes back it ain’t just with a nudge. It’s with a vengeance.

Chapter 14

I could see Murdoch narrow his eyes and swallow a big mouthful of his scotch.  Harlan was laying the law down about engaging a high-profile lawyer from San Francisco.

“No, Harlan. We will ask Walter Randolf. He has been my lawyer since he set up his practice back in 1846.  He is trustworthy and well-liked, particularly by those who are likely to be called onto the jury.  Mostly though, he knows me and the Lancer family history.” He looked at me. “He knew both Catherine and Maria and has read all the Pinkerton reports. I do not need or want another lawyer, no matter how well-connected, becoming privy to our past.”

I stayed quiet but silently agreed with Murdoch. I hadn’t socialised much with Mr Randolf but he hadn’t given me any reason to think he disapproved of me even though he knew of my Madrid reputation.  Not long after signing the partnership agreement, I’d visited him to put him right about some of the more far-fetched Pinkerton reports. I don’t hide who or what I was and sometimes still am, but I didn’t want or need some fancy city lawyer trawling through my past.

Harlan wasn’t too happy but Scott took Murdoch’s side. “Grandfather, I can vouch for Mr Randolf. He may not be a city lawyer, but I have been impressed with his knowledge of contract law. And I have had some very interesting discussions with him about rulings from the capitol.”

Old Harlan just grumped and swigged his brandy. 

The next day Walter Randolf arrived and interviewed us all together and separately, taking notes and asking questions.  I found it tiresome, but the looks I got from Murdoch and Scott made me keep my peace.

Then Val rode in to let us know the judge had arrived. The trial would be held in Spanish Wells, on account of the jailhouse in Green River hadn’t been rebuilt. Mr Randolf had insisted it was left as a ruin, seeing as it was the scene of the crime and should be available for the judge to inspect.

I shrugged and went back to schooling a pretty pinto, ‘cos no matter how much the others discussed the upcoming trial I knew it wouldn’t make a cat’s whisker of a difference to the outcome. Harper didn’t care about the verdict. He just wanted to stand up in the court and spout his crazy nonsense.

I knew Val was leaning on the fence watching me.  The pinto nudged me all gentle like as I finished the lesson and she followed me over to the fence.

“Howdy Val. What do you think of this pretty thing?”

He sniffed and scowled. “I think another female has fallen for your charms.”

I grinned. He always knew how to put me at ease. I looked him up and down.  “I hope you’ll be getting a shave and wearing a clean shirt tomorrow.”

“Yeah, and I expect your Daddy will be giving you a haircut.”

I patted the pinto one last time and climbed out of the corral. Val followed me to the bench in the shade of the barn.

I chewed my bottom lip.  “Is Harper looking forward to his day in court?”

“He ain’t talking to Sam or me, but him and his lawyer sure spend enough time jawing. Mind, don’t worry none. Judge Fletcher, he won’t stand for no guff or showboating.”

I nodded. “Not worried for myself, but there isn’t a man more honest and straightforward than Murdoch and it’ll just be his word against Harper’s. He’ll have to say it’s true he and Scott’s mama knew Harper back in Boston. And he did shoot the Degan’s pa when he was ambushed. But the lies Harper has put into that confession are what will be talked about. Some will believe there is some truth in it. Murdoch and Scott don’t deserve having their lives gossiped about like that.”

Val didn’t argue; he rubbed his chin. “There will always be some who want to believe the worst, but most know your family well enough. I’ve gotta say my worry is Harlan Garrett being called.  That back east upperty manner of his will rub any jury the wrong way.”

I snorted. “I reckon in business he’s about as trustworthy as a rattlesnake and liable to stretch the truth to boot. Plus, it’s common knowledge he didn’t approve of Murdoch as a husband for his daughter.  He’s keen Harper is declared insane and not able to give any evidence…it makes me wonder what ol’ Harlan is worried will come out.”

We both sat quietly, like in our old range war days thinking of the options and outcomes.  I sighed. “I dunno, Val, all I’m going to say is I was just a little kid when our paths crossed, and I ain’t sure what is a real memory or just remembering bad dreams. I’m not about to give him, or the crowd, the satisfaction of hearing of my childhood.”

“Might be a good idea to tell Murdoch and Scott. Save any misunderstandings on the day.” Val gave me one of his long hard looks, just like when I was a kid and he was trying to set me straight.

This man knew more about me than my own father. And I know Murdoch has questions that so far have only been in his eyes.

I didn’t have much of an appetite at the evening meal. Talk of the trial washed over me as I pushed the potatoes around with my fork. Murdoch found me later on the porch leaning on a post staring into the darkness, trying to decide what more I could and couldn’t tell him.

He handed me a glass of tequila and waited; he’s getting better at that. 

I rubbed the glass around between my hands and blew out a breath. “I don’t remember being a baby here. Maybe sometimes the smell of your tobacco, or from the flower bed… but nothing real. I’ve told you what I have dreams about, and what Harper told me when he had me at the Semple place. I’m certain of my memory of Mama getting us away from him, but she was afraid to come back to Lancer because he would find us here. That fear was passed on to me and got mixed up with what Harper used to tell me. Then it turned into anger.  We moved around a lot until she met Emilio Sanchez. He was good for her and me.  He had this nice spread and raised and traded horses.”  I glanced at him, I could see that would have been enough, at least for the time being. Val’s voice whispered in my ear to tell my father about my childhood. I took a breath.

“One day highriders rode in and killed Papi— just shot him dead while he was standing talking to me.  I couldn’t save Mama.” I licked my lips and looked away; visions of her being attacked and dying are buried deep and haunt me.  “They thought they had killed me. I was covered in Papi’s blood.  I lay still under his body. When they were ransacking our home I crawled away.  Ended up living rough like a damn stray alley cat until some priest hauled me off to an orphanage.  Didn’t stay long, ran away and after a while tagged onto Val.”

My old man didn’t say a word; he put his hand on my shoulder and pulled me into his chest. I listened to his heart beating and could almost taste the smell of scotch and pipe tobacco then…there it was—that moment when I know I was here as a baby.  I gulped to swallow and find my voice.

“Murdoch.” I pushed away. “I went back years later to kill the man who had taken Papi’s farm. The house and outbuildings were abandoned and ruined. The land was in the ownership of the largest landowners in those parts.”

“Did you go after them, son?” His voice soft with no hint of disappointment.

“Turned out it was owned by some city bank and land company and just rented out. Didn’t think much of it back then but now….”

“You think Harper was behind it?”

“Dunno, Murdoch, He knew Mama was dead and you were still looking for her and me. Hell, he’s like some poisonous spider with his web, catching everyone from your past.” I shrugged and turned away. “Take no notice, does no good me thinking too much on the past.  I reckon it’s better dealing with the here and now.”  I shrugged off the dark thoughts. “It’s no good worrying about what Harper might or might not say in court.  He’s just messing with us telling lies. Lies about Scott and when I was a helpless little kid calling me Buster and telling me lies about you.”

Murdoch stomped up and down, I know anger when I see it in a man and Murdoch was very angry. His frown was deep and his fist clenched. He does have a temper and it was about to be let loose. Val was right, best he heard now from me of my childhood and not Harper’s version in the courtroom.

“Come on, Murdoch, calm down. There ain’t anything we can do except ride out this storm.  You said yourself the past is a dead weight.”

He let out a breath. “Yes, and you said we need to learn to live with it, and not let it nudge us too hard.  We can’t let Harper’s current lies tear us apart.”

Chapter 15

I waited until I could get Scott by himself. He was all tight with fury. My brother is, after all, a Lancer and does have a temper, but there is something of the Garrett in him as well; it can be the cold calculating kind.  “Have you and your abuelo hatched a plan?”

He deliberately sorted out some stuff on his dresser, playing for time. “Grandfather is determined Harper will be found insane. He has suggested to Mr Randolf that Garrett Enterprises would pay for him to be committed to a decent asylum. He thinks the Judge would view this as the family showing compassion.”

I snorted. “Harlan Garrett compassionate. Phooee.  I agree Harper is crazy and maybe will get committed instead of hung for killing them Degan boys.  Are you going to be okay listening to him confessing to it and why in court?”

“I can keep a straight face and hold my temper.”  He took a breath. “And you, have you and Murdoch hatched a plan when you were out there earlier?”

“No, Scott, sit down and I’ll tell you what I told Murdoch…about how Harper was the one who drove me and Mama away from Lancer, how he mistreated both of us, how it was him who put the lie about Murdoch throwing us out into a child’s head. When I was trading as Madrid I would use words to intimidate and provoke, so I knew what he was doing, mixing in some lies with his version of the truth when he had me at the Semple’s.  I got Murdoch to understand we must ride this out, not let the past destroy what we have now.”

I stared out of the bedroom window at the darkness and decided to tell Scott about my stepfather and how he and Mama were killed and his land was lost.  “Thought it best Murdoch heard it from me and not in the courtroom.”

Scott was at my shoulder. “Harper knows about that, and you think he’ll try to fetch it up?”

My brother has a quick mind and would know if I was keeping anything from him. “He said he knew about Murdoch searching for us even after Mama was dead, said it distracted him from claiming you.”

“Good grief, how did he know that when Murdoch didn’t?”  Scott was frowning, I could see his mind working through the possibilities.

“The thing is, Scott, the man twists the truth into his lies. I don’t know if he knew at the time or was just playing with my mind with what he has learned since. It’s all the past and no matter what, he can’t be allowed to ruin what we have here and now.”

Scott nodded and sighed. “When did you become so wise? No hair-brained lone wolf plan to permanently put an end to this nightmare?”

“No. Scott, I learned the hard way it’s best to pick my battles and gunfights on my own terms.” 

I left his room pretty certain tomorrow we would be a united family. 

We rode into Spanish Wells, me, Scott and Murdoch.  Harlan rode in the buggy with Mr Randolf.  I ignored the whispers—here I was, alive and well, not dead at the hands of the madman about to stand trial.  They’ll talk about it for years.

Chapter 16

I ignored the whispers and mutterings. Val had warned us all kinds of rumours had been passed around after his jail was blown up and I had disappeared.  It seemed like most of Green River had come along to Spanish Wells for this trial and was packed around the saloon where it was to take place.

Murdoch sure can command a crowd just by standing tall and looking around which is what he did. The gawkers went quiet and kinda stepped back as he led us all in. He would have made one heck of a gunfighter.

We all sat and waited. Judge Fletcher gave the crowded saloon the once over and shouted to Val to fetch the prisoner. 

Well, we waited and waited some more, and then Sheriff Jayson burst in.  “Judge, we need Doctor Jenkins at the jail.”

“What the devil for?” 

Jayson stood there, looking worried. “It looks like Harper is dead, or at least dying. Val and me went to get him from his cell and, well, he was just sat there and then keeled over.  Val checked him over and said to tell you  Judge and get Doc Jenkins to come quick.”

Sam Jenkins was sat behind us Lancers and I turned to watch him stand up.  “Judge, with your permission, perhaps the lawyers should join me in the examination, just so they both know the facts.”

Judge Fletcher stood up and pointed to Randolf and the defence lawyer. “I will accompany you two and the Doctor, everyone else stay in your seats. Sherriff Jayson, those are my orders and you will arrest anyone who moves until I return.”

There was silence as the Judge led the way out. Then all hell broke loose with everyone talking and making like they were going to leave to see what was going on in the jail.  Now, Sam Jayson is an easy-going man; his voice telling us all to settle down wasn’t making much of an impact.  Murdoch sure has a loud voice though, when he’s dishing out orders.

“Everyone settle down. We will find out soon enough what has happened.” 

Boy, did that have the desired effect; although it didn’t stop complaints from some who now wished they had stayed outside.  I was sat at the end of the bench next to Murdoch with Scott his other side and then ol’ Harlan.  I could hear Harlan asking Scott quietly if this sort of event was normal out here in the west, and me and Murdoch both looked at each other and raised our eyebrows. I actually grinned. 

“Hey Murdoch, can this fracas get any crazier?” I slouched down and looked up at him and he shook his head.

“I have no idea, son. At least whatever has happened can’t be laid at our door.”

“Dunno about that. I’ll bet a week’s wage Harper’s lawyer will try.”

We didn’t have to wait too long before Judge Fletcher stomped in followed by two grim-faced lawyers and Val, who had a look that could have equalled any of Murdoch’s tune-calling ones.

“Guess Harper’s dead,” I muttered more to myself than anyone else.

Scott heard. “Will the Judge dismiss this…” he waved his hand behind him to the excited room. “…circus?”

No such luck.  Judge Fletcher hammered on the table he was using.  “Quiet in my court. Now let me make this plain; the defendant is dead, of what or why, I don’t know. Doctor Jenkins is examining the body.  In order to clear this matter up to everyone’s satisfaction, including mine, I want to hear from Sherriff Crawford the facts that have led to this.”

Val hitched his pants up and sniffed. “This started when Harper blew up my jail in Green River and killed the Degan brothers.”

Harper’s lawyer, a fella named Parson, stood up. “It started long before that. The details are in Vince Harper’s confession as he dictated to me.”  He waved papers at the Judge.

Judge Fletcher frowned. “Let me see that.” 

I could feel Scott’s tension without looking at him.  I kept my eyes on the Judge, trying to read how he was going to play this out.

After Judge Fletcher had read it, he put the confession down and looked at us Lancers, then at the two lawyers.  “Before you lawyers get to fighting over the details, I’m making a ruling.  Harper isn’t alive to be cross-examined about the details in this confession. Therefore, it is null and void, done and gone.  I want to clear up what has happened here today.  Crawford, carry on.”

Val gave Parson a hard look. “Okay, the Degans were brought into the Green River jail after attempting to bushwack Scott Lancer and Mr Harlan Garrett.  They were killed when the jail was dynamited.  Few days later Harper presented himself to Sherriff Jayson confessing to the deed.  Since then he has refused to speak to me or Sheriff Jayson, only allowed Doctor Jenkins to visit him once, and refused to see some head doctor from San Franciso. The only person he talks to is Mr Parson there.”

The Judge was taking notes and Val paused and I saw him roll his shoulders.  Got to admit he was sticking to facts, and keeping my name out of it. I heard Scott release a breath. I didn’t. There had been too many situations where Madrid was blamed for a death when I wasn’t anywhere near.

Val cleared his throat. “This morning Mr Parson fetched a package of clean clothes and shoes for Harper. I had a look and didn’t find anything to be concerned about.  Me, Sherriff Jayson, and Harper all had the same breakfast that came from the hotel kitchen.  Mr Parson wanted the prisoner to look presentable for you, Judge, and was going to leave him a shaving kit. I didn’t let him have it. I shaved him myself.” 

I tried not to laugh out loud, picturing that and couldn’t stop a snort.  Murdoch nudged me to be quiet.

Val didn’t turn round but his back straightened. “Sherriff Jayson took Harper to the outhouse, fetched him back and we gave him some privacy to get changed into those clean clothes.  When we went to get him, he was sat up on the bunk, I opened the cell door and he lurched forward and fell to the floor.  I went to check on him. He was grey and didn’t seem to be breathing.  Sherriff Jayson reported to you.”

“Some questions, Sherriff Crawford.” Judge Fletcher looked up from his notes. “Did you notice if Harper was unwell at all during his stay in the jail?”

“No, sir, like I said he wouldn’t talk to me or Sherriff Jayson, ate the same meals as us, didn’t complain like some do.”

The judge turned to Mr Parson. “Mr Parson, did your client say anything to you about feeling unwell?”

“No sir, he was mostly concerned about his safety and reading aloud his full confession.” When Judge Fletcher pointed his hammer at him, Parson realised he had spoken out of line.  “Sorry, Judge just telling you what my client told me.”

“I’ll let that pass.  Sherriff Jayson, please ask Doctor Jenkins if he can leave the body for the time being and give the court the benefit of his opinion.”

The crowd were all discussing what they had heard and coming up with their own wild suggestions as to how they had been cheated of a full trial.  Val turned and scowled which shut some of them up. I mouthed at him, “Outhouse?”

He rubbed his hand over his mouth and nodded. We both know of well-meaning sheriffs who turned their backs and lost their prisoners.

Doc Jenkins came in to stand in front of the judge.  “Early indications are Mr Harper suffered a heart attack.  There are no recent bruises or injuries I have detected. However, Judge, in order to be certain of a diagnosis I need more time to examine the body.”

“I understand your reluctance, Doctor. Court shall adjourn until after lunch.  I expect by then to wind these proceedings up.”

There was a lot of shuffling around as the temporary courtroom went back to being a saloon and the bar reopened.

I stood and stretched. “Don’t know about you, Murdoch, but I don’t want to stand around in here listening to all the gossiping and being questioned about my being in the Green River jail.  I’ll leave that for the Judge to ask.”

Walter Randolf nodded. “Johnny’s right, we should have lunch in the privacy of a room in the hotel.”

“Reckon I’ll find Val and risk his coffee.”  I didn’t give anyone a chance to argue with me as I scooted out and ignored the calls of “howdy” and “how you doing” from the curious Green River folk who had not seen me since the jail was destroyed.

I’ve seen a lot of jails but the Spanish Wells jail is the only one I have helped build. I feel kinda proud of helping old Charlie Wingate with that.  I smiled at the memory as I stepped in to find Val and Sam Jayson drinking coffee. 

Val tugged at his collar and a tie he doesn’t usually wear.  “Don’t you be coming in here with any smart remarks. Me and Sam have had a god-awful day so far.  Damn Harper, dropping dead like that. Next thing you know we’ll be being accused of murdering the no-good troublemaker.”

“You didn’t, did you?”  I grinned at them.  Sam doesn’t know me well enough to understand the joshing me and Val do and he looked real perturbed.   “I’m only joking, Sam. I just want to borrow Val.”

I walked through to the cells with Val tagging along.  “Which one was Harper in, Val?”

There are only three and it was the one nearest the office. Val pushed the door open.  “It was the darndest thing, he was sat there on the bunk made to get up and went down like a felled tree.”

I bent down to look under the bunk and in the dark corners. “One of the first lessons I learned as a kid was to check for snakes and scorpions.”

Val whistled. “You’re thinking he was bit, but Doc Jenkins would have found a snake bite easy on a body.”’

“Could still explain it.”  I looked up and around all I saw was dust. “I think we should take a look in the outhouse.”

Val followed me in and I waited until my eyesight had adjusted to the gloom.  Now outhouses ain’t high on the list of places to be kept spick and span and this one was no different.  But if there had been a snake in there someone would have reported it.

“Cobwebs, Val.” I pointed to the lacy patterns.  We both stepped away and studied the area. “Spiders are evil little bastards lurking just out of sight waiting for their victim to get trapped in their web.” I shuddered.  “An old curandera once warned me about the poisonous ones and how they like places like this. They are just as dangerous as snakes and scorpions. A person could die of the bite if they don’t get the right medicine in time.”

Val rubbed his chin. He might not even have noticed getting bitten. And the bite marks are small and don’t always show up right away… would be easy for the Doctor to miss first off.”

“Notice there are two webs, one up there,” I pointed upwards. “I can imagine him swatting at a fly, catching the web and the spider doing what spiders do. That one, though!” I pointed at the second web at waist height. Me and Val looked at each other and tried not to laugh.

Val caught his breath. “Oh boy, he sure would have noticed being bit taking a piss.”

 “Shall we take the suspect in dead or alive, sheriff?”  I didn’t look at Val. Shooting a spider wasn’t in any plan—stomping on it was. I took my hat off and approached the web.

“Hold on, Johnny, we need to take it in alive to show the judge and lawyers.  And you need to wear gloves. Keep watch. I’ll go and get a container.”

I kept watch until Val came back. “Once Sam had stopped laughing, he donated a kilner jar that his missus had peaches in for him. We’ll use that to imprison the suspect.”

I very carefully caught the black widow spider and Val went off with it to Sam Jenkins.  I would have taken a broom and swept the cobwebs and any other spiders out but Val told me to leave it in case the Judge and lawyers wanted to check it out.  I raised an eyebrow and nodded. Val might look like a drifter, but he sure is a good lawman and knows how to present evidence.

I found my family and helped myself to some of Scott’s lunch, and told them of the goings on in the outhouse. 

Murdoch shook his head. “A fitting end to a man you yourself described as a spider who had caught all of us in his web.”

“Let’s hope the judge sees it that way. I still expect lawyer Parson will want to ask me questions about the Green River jail.  The fact is, I think I should stand up and tell what happened in Green River ‘cos otherwise folks will think the worse.”

Mr Randolf shook his head. “If you do, Parsons will get to cross-examine.”

“I ain’t bothered by telling the truth.  I’ll just stick to the facts.”

Murdoch reached over to take my arm. “Are you sure, son?”

“It’s what the crowd wants, Murdoch, and if they don’t get it they’ll only make up their own versions.”

Scott pulled a face. “If you get asked about that confession?”

Randolf held his hand up. “The Judge has already ruled against that document. Johnny only knows what Sam Jayson has told us so I’ll challenge any questions about it.”

It was still a scrum getting into the saloon for the afternoon session. Judge Fletcher hammered on his desk for order.  “Doctor Jenkins, tell the court of your findings.”

Sam Jenkins is well respected in all of the San Joaquin Valley and everyone shut up. 

“Judge, in the absence of any evidence of foul play, that is, the deceased shows no signs of any ill-treatment I can only conclude death was caused by a black widow spider bite.”  He passed the jar with the spider in it to the Judge.  “I have found marks of the bite on the back of Mr Harper’s hand. I suspect he waved his hand to clear a cobweb; there is a typical rash that has appeared spreading up his arm. Some people have severe reactions to spider bites I suspect Harper may have had either an allergic reaction or had an underlying health issue, but that would entail a fuller examination of the body.”

Judge Fletcher held the jar up so everyone could see it.  “And where was this little fellow found?”

“In the outhouse. Sheriff Crawford fetched him to me as a possible cause of death, and sure enough on close examination I found the bite mark.”

The Judge grunted and looked at the two lawyers. “Have either of you gentlemen any questions for the Doctor?”

Both of them shook their heads.

I saw the Judge nodding and sorting his papers, he was ready to close the trial down and have a drink.  Mr Randolf stood up.  “Judge Fletcher, before you wind up these proceedings can you allow Mr John Lancer to make a statement?”

Judge Fletcher raised an eyebrow. “Only if it throws more light on these events.

I took the oath and Mr Randolf asked me why I was prepared to give evidence.

“Well, there are lots of Green River folk who saw me go into the Green River jail that morning, so I want to make it clear what happened. I rode in to say hello to Val, Sheriff Crawford, and check that the Degan brothers had been taken in after they attempted to bushwack my brother, Scott, and his grandfather.”  I looked out over the people crammed in the saloon. I had their full attention.  “I had only been in the building a few minutes when there was a god-almighty explosion.  Sorry, Judge.  To be honest I don’t remember much after that. I woke up in the Semple place. Doc Jenkins told me I had suffered a concussion and I know Harper made me drink some laudanum. He managed to put a bullet in me, but only from a derringer so it wasn’t going to put me down.  Came to back home, under orders to take it easy, which I have done ‘til today.” I nodded at the Judge and then waited for Parson the defence lawyer to face me.

Parson stood up and cleared his throat. “Judge Fletcher, the late Mr Harper gave me instructions to follow in the case of his death.”

Murdoch and Scott had matching frowns, and Harlan looked grim. I caught sight of Val at the back of the room; he straightened up and gave me that look, the one that said ‘Hold your horses and wait.’

Judge Fletcher sighed. “And what were those, Mr Parson?”

“To immediately transfer all his assets to his beneficiary, together with directions on how to manage his estate.”

“As you have no questions for Mr Lancer, I declare the case closed. Let the record show Mr Vincent Grant Harper confessed to the action that resulted in the death of Carl and Billy Degan.  His own death was accidental and has saved the town of Spanish Wells the cost of a hanging.  I further order whoever is the beneficiary of his estate to pay for the cost of rebuilding the jail in Green River.”

The Judge got up and shouted that he wanted a beer. I blinked and looked at our lawyer. “Is that it? Is it over?”

Randolf nodded and smiled. Parson went over and shook his hand.  I walked over to Murdoch and Scott. “What do you make of that?” I had that itch that told me there should be more.

Harlan came up with the more. “Who is the beneficiary, and should we be worried about the directions they have been given?”

“There it is, even though the crazy bastard is dead he’s still weaving a damn web.”  I stomped out and took a deep breath to calm my temper.

Chapter 17

Three days after the court case.

Me and Murdoch were out on the porch drinking scotch, listening in to Scott patiently explaining to Garrett he wasn’t going to return with him to Boston.

“That old geezer don’t give in easy, does he?”

Murdoch looked over his shoulder into the room.  “No, son, but Scott has his mother and Lancer stubborn running through his bones. I think he has won the argument. Let’s rejoin them.”

I poured another drink and offered the bottle to Scott. He nodded with a slight smile.

I traced my finger up and down Murdoch’s desk as I paced up and down. I had some thoughts in my head I needed to share.  I knew I was being watched.

“What is it, Johnny?”  Scott stood at the side of the desk to stop me pacing.  “You needn’t worry. I’m staying and Grandfather understands that.”

“No, it ain’t that, Scott. It seems to me Harper’s lawyer could have taken the opportunity to make a name for himself by sneaking in some of that confession, but he didn’t.”

Scott put his head to one side. “You’re suspicious of his motive?”

“Dunno, but what I do know is when I was hiring out my gun, there were more than a few who hired me I didn’t like or go along with their methods. I wonder if Mr Parson, having spent time with Harper, saw him for what he was—a vindictive cruel man consumed by getting vengeance against Murdoch. Since Harper had died like he did, Lawyer Parson kinda stepped back and did the bare minimum, telling the Judge what Harper’s last instructions were and shook Mr Randolf’s hand.”

Murdoch nodded along with what I was saying.  “You are saying Mr Parson was good at his trade. He represented his client but had doubts.”

“Yes, just that.  But we still don’t know who will get Harpers’ inheritance and if that means trouble.”

“I must say I agree with Johnny.”  Harlan looked around at us, we all looked stunned. “I do agree and therefore plan to visit Mr Parson when I reach San Francisco.”

“Whoa, Grandfather, I don’t think that is such a good idea.  I think I should go with you to San Francisco and visit the Pinkerton agency.  Vincent Grant Harper must have left a paper trail in the banking and investment community.”

I shrugged. “Couldn’t do any harm, but I’ll stay here. Who knows who will show up? I think it best to fight on home ground.”

Murdoch frowned. “You’re not expecting high-riders are you, Johnny?”

“Not heard any whispers of men being recruited for that kind of a fracas. Could be more like bank loans being called in, or rail companies wanting our land…hell, even water rights being disputed. Perhaps you can ask your friend the Governor if anything is brewing that affects Lancer?”

Murdoch smiled full out at me and gripped my arm.  “Johnny, you are truly a Lancer and cattleman. I’m proud of you son.”

Well, that took my breath ‘cos I was only using the skills I’d learned when I was trading as Johnny Madrid—gathering as much information as possible before going on the attack. Hell, as I have said before it wasn’t all barn burning and pulling down fences. Still an’ all, I felt good at the praise.

Day Five

“No, Scott, that ain’t happening.  I’m going to ride shotgun for you and Harlan ‘till you catch the train to San Francisco.  You do remember the last time you went by yourselves you were bushwacked, so no arguing.”

As soon as I heard my brother and Harlan were all set to drive to Cross Creek without protection, I had put my foot down, real hard.

He was about to argue back when Cip opened the door to announce we had visitors.

My heart thumped; it was a buggy being driven by Melissa Harper with an older lady. I had to look twice to be sure.

I let my hand drop away from my gun. Hell, that girl was trouble and she enjoyed it, but damn it, she was pretty.

 “Hello, Melissa. What you doing here?” I held onto her waist a little longer than was properly polite as I helped her down.  Scott went to help the other lady.

“Oh, Johnny, it’s so good to see you.”  She turned to the other lady. “This is my Aunt Kate Harper.  Aunt Kate, this is Johnny Lancer who I have told you about.  Johnny, we have come because, well, it’s complicated, but a lawyer contacted us about an uncle of mine called Vincent Harper.”

“I know Vincent Harper.”  I turned on my Madrid charm and turned to Aunt Kate. “Ma’am, you related to the late Mr Harper?”

The lady, an older version of Melissa, shook my hand. “For my sins, yes, he is, or rather, was, my cousin. I am most concerned about the news of his death.  I hadn’t seen or heard from him for years and now, apparently, I am the beneficiary of his estate. He has accused the Lancers of his death.  However, Melissa has assured me you and your family saved her life and are to be trusted.”

“Yes, Ma’am.  I guess Melissa has suggested you come to see us for yourself.”  I pointed to Scott who was standing there holding a large carpet bag. “This here is Scott and over there,” I pointed to Murdoch, “is my Pa, and that is Mr Harlan Garrett.”

 I grinned at Murdoch, who had that twinkle in his eye he gets when a handsome woman crosses his path. He took Miss Harper’s hand. “Kathlyn Harper, it’s been a long time. Welcome to Lancer. Let’s get you settled in and then we can talk.”

While he escorted Aunt Kate in, I took Melissa’s arm and did the same, leaving Scott to juggle with bags, hat boxes, and the like.

Melissa settled on the couch with her aunt. Murdoch sat himself down in his fireside chair.  “I think the last time I saw you, Kathlyn, you would have been about fourteen and due to enter society.  I remember your brother James being rather frustrated that you were not taking it seriously.”

Kate Harper nodded. “Oh dear, even at that young age I was unconventional. I had no intention of being a society butterfly only looking for a well-connected husband. My father and brother James were annoyed with me. My mother, however, had every sympathy.  We were not as well connected in business or society as the Grant Harper family, so I would always have been overlooked as a prospective wife. Mother was aware my talent and passion were for the arts and encouraged me to follow my own path.”

Me and Scott were stood behind Murdoch and looked at each other. Melissa took after this lady and I guessed Scott understood what she was saying about Boston society.

My instinct was telling me this lady was honest, so why did Vincent Harper choose her to inherit? “Ma’am, did you know Vincent G Harper back then?”

“Only through family gatherings. He was a snobbish young man, and would tease me about being a rebel.” She paused and looked at Murdoch and then to Harlan. “But, soon after Catherine Garrett married, he left Boston.  I remember sitting having tea with his mother and mine; they were talking about how he had convinced himself he would marry her even though she had never indicated she was interested in him.  It was kept in the family but, there were concerns about his obsession with her.”

Murdoch leaned forward. “I understood from Jim you have led your unconventional life. Did Vincent ever contact you?”

She shook her head. “No, that is what has made this so astonishing.  However, he dictated a letter to Mathew Parson for me.  Apparently, the sheriff would not let him have a pencil to write it himself.”

I bit my bottom lip to stop a laugh, Val and I both know a sharp pencil can do some damage.

She opened up her handbag and took out some documents. “He said he had kept track of my career as an artist.” She looked across at us. “He knew I rebelled against authority and expected I would understand why he felt so threatened by you, Murdoch, who he described as a powerful landowning bully, responsible for stealing Catherine Garrett away from him. He was leaving his estate to me to ensure I continued his work, which it transpires is keeping watch on the Lancers.”

Melissa took her hand. “Aunt Kate knew of my foolishness in Juniper Camp and the bravery and kindness that you had all shown me, so we didn’t believe what he had Mr Parson write.” She looked over to Harlan and she took a deep breath. “There was more. He had the nerve to say he wanted me to marry Scott. That way our families would, at last, be united as they always should have been.  He sounded completely mad.”

Scott ran a hand through his hair. “Yes, we realised that when we were told what was in his confession.  I think we can agree, Melissa, you and I are not going to marry. Johnny described Vincent Harper as a spider who has caught everyone in his web, and that includes you and your Aunt.”

“Yeah, but now he’s dead and we have to wait and see what your Aunt Kate here is going to do with all the knowledge and money she has inherited.”  I recognised in Miss Kathlyn Harper a strong independent woman. I’d seen her type holding their own in rough border towns. If she was minded she could carry on with Harper’s vendetta, but I looked at her and trusted my judgement.  “You are going to what’s right, ain’t you, Mz Harper.”  I grinned at her and she smiled back. I know I flirt but sometimes it’s the right thing to do.

“I most certainly hope to.” She held a sheaf of papers, tore them in half and handed them to Murdoch. “This is the confession. It belongs on the fire. This is his ledger. He was most precise in recording all his investments, outgoings and income. I would be grateful, Murdoch, if you could look through it and let me know of any land or assets you think may have been acquired under dubious circumstances, because, if possible, I will make restitution.” She held her hand up. “I know his dealings go back to your past but I hope it is not too late to, as Johnny has described it, sweep away the cobwebs he spun.”

Murdoch reached over and took the bound ledger book and I caught a glimpse of Harlan looking worried.

Harlan cleared his throat.  “Has his lawyer agreed to you being here offering to disclose his financial affairs?”

Mz Harper smiled. “Matthew Parson only met Vincent in person when he was in the jail cell. All previous contact and instructions had been by post or wire.  I believe his eyes were opened to the reality of the nature of the man. In Parson’s own words, he believes he was given the Harper account by the partners in the law firm because being honest made him a gullible fool.  He has willingly left the firm to become my personal lawyer. He has assured me my plans to manage my inheritance are perfectly legal and cannot be challenged.”

Harlan sat forward. “I would be more than happy to have a look. After all, investments are my business, and I know I have a reputation for being ruthless in business. What is that saying, set a thief to catch a thief?”

I very nearly said something, ‘cos no matter how much the whole Degan and Harper fracas has shaken Harlan up I still have my doubts, ‘I know and understand about carrying the old weight of hatred and vengeance against Murdoch. It’s hard to let go of it.

Scott can read me and when I let Madrid drift into the shadows he nodded at me. “Grandfather has a point. He will recognise any investments that connect to my mother and the Garrett family and his business.”

It was agreed we would all look over Harper’s ledgers.  I was concerned there would be payments to Madrid, or at least range wars I signed up to. I was also more than a little worried about any ledger entries that mentioned my Mama.

While the three of them huddled around Murdoch’s desk, with Scott making a list, I took myself off to put the buggies away and see to the horses. No one was going anywhere in a hurry now.  Melissa found me grooming Barranca. I watched her over his back as she stood silhouetted in the entrance. She didn’t look much different; I hoped she had grown up some.

“Melissa, have you enjoyed being free to live your life with your Aunt Kate?”  I grinned at her.

“As a matter of fact, I have, very much.  Aunt Kate is a wonderful person. She knows so many interesting people and has shown me districts in San Francisco you wouldn’t know were there.”

I laughed. “I bet I’ve been in areas of San Francisco your Aunt hasn’t even heard of.”

She came to stand on the other side of Barranca and ran her fingers through his mane. I waited, and she frowned.

“Matthew has told me he used to receive notes and messages to pass on to Uncle Vincent from some very unusual places.  Some of them he said were barely legible and one of those was about me being at Juniper’s Camp. What you said about everyone being caught in his web is true. I intend to ask Papa if it was Uncle Vincent who told him of my whereabouts.”

To be honest it wouldn’t surprise me if that hadn’t been what had happened.  “Reckon you might be on to something there, Melissa. Are you intending to go back to Boston and ask your Pa?”

“Yes, it is far too complicated to put into a letter. We will be returning to Boston with Matthew. Papa may not trust Aunt Kate and me, being mere females, but hearing it from a lawyer will convince him.”

I remembered her father James Harper as a snooty old Easterner and had to agree he wasn’t the sort to take an independent woman’s word about this whole mess. It hadn’t got past me though how Melissa had spoken about the lawyer. “Matthew, uuh?  I hope you ain’t playing fast and loose with his heart?”

That pretty blush of hers spread across her cheeks. “No, I am not.”

“I bet he is completely under your spell.” I grinned.

“You, Johnny Lancer, are incorrigible.”  She flounced out, her hips and ponytail swinging, which made me smile some more.

Scott stepped to one side to let her pass him by and raised his eyebrow. “Incorrigible?”

I patted Barranca and left the stall.  “I know what it means, Scott—I looked it up after you called me that one time.” I threw the brush into a bucket.  “You finished going through Harper’s accounts?”

“Yes. It’s disconcerting. That man was keeping track of our lives ever since our mothers married Murdoch. You were right by the way, it’s all there in the ledgers.”

I bit my lip and glanced sideways at him. “What was I right about?”

“You were right to be worried if it was the same paymaster behind Haney and Pardee. I had thought it improbable. Well, it’s all there, itemised entry by entry in his ledgers. Hell, he even put up the bounty on Haney and Joe Barker collected it.”

I shrugged. “Yeah, well, that don’t surprise me.”

“Grandfather says it’s most fortuitous Harper dying so conveniently.”

I couldn’t stop myself huffing. “Four two it is? Hell, I’d say it was fate, he lived like a spider and died by one.”

Scott studied his boots. “It’s not like you Johnny to dismiss coincidences.”

“Scott, it’s crazy to think anyone would know he would die if he got bitten by a spider, and if they did, they would have had to put spiders in that outhouse just for him. Brother, I know I’m a suspicious kind of a fella but I do know folk die unexpectedly. Don’t stop me from having some unanswered questions about this fracas though.”

Scott ran his hand through his hair just like Murdoch does. “Of course, you are right the grim reaper can choose his victims at random.” 

He must have seen me roll my eyes cos he kinda shook himself. “Anyway, Murdoch has asked that you join him to take a look at some of the entries, there may be some answers for you there.”

 “Aww, Scott, I thought we talked about leaving the past behind. So, what if there is a payment to Madrid or a range war I was involved in? It won’t change a damn thing.”

“And you said we need to learn to live with the past, not let it sneak up and nudge us too hard.”

“Yep, I said that and meant it.”  I looked at my brother; he’s smart and can read me.

“You don’t think this is truly over?”

I licked my lips “Nope, Scott, here’s what I think. Harper was a sneaky bastard.  I wouldn’t be surprised if he knew Miss Kathlyn Harper would take the high road and we Lancers would all take a deep breath, thinking it was over.  The first chance I get I’ll be visiting the lawyer offices in San Francisco and have a look at the ledgers honest lawyer Matthew Parson didn’t know about.” I gave Scott my Madrid look. “Does no harm being a suspicious kinda fella.”

He put a hand on my shoulder. “And I agree it does no harm to check there are no other ledgers recording his more dubious dealings. Were you planning to break in and blow a safe open?”

I grinned. “Well, I was a kid when I learned how to pick a lock…used that skill on Murdoch’s safe when I first got here.”

Scott shook his head. “It’s easier if we find the combination numbers written down.”

I raised an eyebrow.

Scott grinned, “I learnt that lesson when I was a kid to get into Grandfather’s safe. As we know lawyers and accountants write everything down, all we need do is break in, find the combination, wait a few days then break in again, find what we need, and leave the place as tidy as we found it.”

I laughed out loud. “Scott, you are one sneaky son of a gun, and we have a plan we both agree on.”

Scott put his arm across my shoulder and steered me out of the barn. “A plan perhaps we should keep to ourselves for the time being. In the meantime, Murdoch is waiting for you to look at the ledgers we have.”

“Yeah.” I put my shoulders back and stiffened my spine. “Proceed.”

Murdoch let me look over Harper’s ledger by myself, and there it was. Harper paid some long-gone agent to hire some third-rate guns to kill Mama and my stepfather, then sold the rancho to a bank. I ran my finger over the entry. Harper was already dead.  It was so many yesterdays ago the time for seeking vengeance was long gone. Lancer was now home, but letting go of dead weights didn’t mean not watching out for the past coming back to nudge us.

End April 2024 edited June 2024  Maureen Olley

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