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“You mean like a tattoo?” asked John.

  “Yeah, that’s what it was. It was a tattoo all in black. It was a spider on his hand.”

  “What hand was he holdin’ the gun in?”

  “I’m pretty sure it was his left hand.”

  “Concentrate, Richie. This is really important. Are you sure it was his left hand?”

  Richie paused and then said, “Yes, I’m sure. It was his left hand.”

  “And the spider was on that hand?”

  “Yes. I know it was.”

  “Good, Richie. Just a few more questions. Do you remember the gun belt he was wearing?”

  “Yes, I’ll never forget that. He had a star on his holster that was made out of silver. It was reflecting the light when I found him hurting Ma.”

  “Was the holster on his left side or his right side?”

  “Well, it was on his left side. Isn’t that where holsters are when someone shoots left handed?” Richie seems a little peeved at John’s question. It was like John was testing him or something.

  “I’m not doubting you, Richie. I just wanted to make sure he was not right handed and just swapped the gun to his left hand.”

  Richie settled down as he realized John was indeed on his side. Richie continued to scour his memory. “There was something funny about his hat. It had a bunch of notches that were cut into the brim on the right side. At first, I thought it was just an old hat and it was just worn out. But as I think about it, the notches were put there intentionally. He cut them in there. Why do you suppose he did that?”

  “I don’t know Richie. I know some gunfighters put notches in the grip of their gun for every man they kill. Maybe Holloway was doing the same but only on his hat. Perhaps he wanted everyone to see what a desperado he was.”

  “He was a bad man, John. Why are you asking me so many questions about him?”

  “Richie, someone has to bring him to justice. I used to be a marshal and I seem to have some pretty good skills at tracking down outlaws. I plan to go to Laredo and find Holloway and see that he pays for what he did to you and to your mother.”

  “Good,” said Richie. “And I’m going with you.”

  “No you’re not. I work alone. The only way to catch someone who is on the run is to outsmart them and to sneak up on them.”

  “But I can help you,” pleaded Richie. “I know what he looks like. I’ll be able to spot him easily.”

  “And thanks to the very detailed description you have given, I’ll be able to find him as well.”

  Chapter 7

  Charlotte and Slim came out of the bedroom. Both had smiles on their faces so it was obvious a plan had come together. Charlotte had a pencil and was making notes about their decisions. As they sat down, they could tell something serious had transpired between John and Richie.

  Charlotte turned to John and said, “Out with it. You have that look on your eye like you are getting ready to take a trip. I’ve seen it many times before. Where’re you going, John.”

  “I think I’ll just mosey down to Laredo and nose around a bit. I’d like to find out where Holloway went.”

  “That’s a good idea,” said Slim. “And I’m goin’ with you. Just give me time to pack us some food for the trip.”

  “Now, Slim, you can’t go and if you’ll think about it, you know why.”

  “Why?” said Slim with a raised voice and red face. He was visibly angry.

  “Just think about it, Slim. You’re too close to this. Your anger at someone killing Marie will impact your judgment. Anger doesn’t mix with guns and rational decision makin’.”

  Slim slowly cooled down, knowing John was right. He got up and paced a bit which seemed to settle him down.

  “When are you leaving, John?” asked Charlotte.

  “Right now seems as good of a time as any. I need to get there before Holloway’s trail is completely cold.”

  Charlotte moved over to John and he stood and enveloped her in his arms. Not ever wanted to be left out of a hug, Claire and Cora each hugged John’s legs. John knew he was the luckiest man in the world to have the family he did.

  He left Slim’s house and went out to the corral to saddle Midnight. Meanwhile, Charlotte left the twins with Slim and Richie and went down the path to the home John had built for them on the Medina River. She went out to the smokehouse and got a side of bacon and some beef jerky. When John had his horse saddled, he walked Midnight over to the hitching rail in front of his house, swung down and grabbed his saddlebags.

  Inside the house, Charlotte was busily gathering the rest of his supplies. She was sure to pack flour, salt, coffee, and a frying pan. Charlotte also folded several cotton cloths, a small bottle of ointment, and a bottle of whisky. She knew John might need these things if he was injured.

  John walked into the kitchen and slipped his arms around her from behind as she continued the preparations for his trip. Finally, she turned around and fell into his embrace.

  “Oh, John. I don’t know what I would do if anything happened to you. You will be careful, won’t you?”

  “Of course I will, Charlotte. I will not take any unnecessary risks. You know I’ll make wise decisions. I have you and the girls waitin’ for me and I’ll not let anything keep me from returning to you.”

  “I just get so afraid,” said Charlotte. “Any time you go out of town, I find myself wondering if you’ll return.”

  “Now, now, Charlotte. Don’t fret over me. I’ll be careful. But if you’re that concerned, would you rather that I didn’t go?”

  Charlotte paused and considered what he asked. She was tempted to ask him to stay and let someone else find the murderer of Richie’s mother. “No, John. I know you have to go. And that’s one of the things I love about you. I knew as soon as we heard that Marie was murdered, you would be going to catch the killer. There was no doubt in my mind. It’s just that I get worried when I think of the danger I know you will face. Remember, I know something about that danger. I lived in the middle of it for several weeks.”

  John recalled how Charlotte had been kidnapped in hopes of forcing Slim to sell the H&F. All three of them had gotten injured and a lot of people got killed as John took on the entire Bandera Town Council—murderers all—in order to bring Charlotte home again. Charlotte had even pulled the trigger herself to kill the last of the kidnappers.

  “I remember, Charlotte. How could I ever forget how close I came to losing you? At the same time, we both know if I don’t go, Marie’s murderer may never be found. It seems I have gotten pretty good at finding outlaws. And I’ve learned how to protect myself. Rest assured, I’ll not take more risks than are necessary.”

  “Somehow that doesn’t comfort me much. I don’t know if you even know the limit of the risks you will take to balance the Scales of Justice.”

  John placed a hand on each of Charlotte’s cheeks and kissed her tenderly. He continued holding her cheeks and moved back a bit so he could look at her. There were tears flowing down her cheeks onto his hands. He pulled her close and kissed her again and then put his arms around her and hugged her tightly.

  When he finally broke the embrace, Charlotte turned and filled his saddlebags with the supplies she had gathered. She walked past John and out the front of the house and placed the saddlebags on Midnight. John followed Charlotte, took the reins and walked with her back to Slim’s house.

  “Slim,” said John. “I’ve got a general idea where Laredo is but I’ve never been to Laredo before.”

  Richie spoke up. “I can help with that, John. The road is called the El Camino Real. It goes all the way down into Mexico. Remember I just came from there. First you go due south until you get to Hondo. Then you continue….”

  Richie gave very detailed directions to John even telling him the location of rivers, streams, and lakes. There was a bit of pride in Richie’s voice as he contributed the needed information. “Richie,” said Slim. “I’m glad you are here. I could have gotten John to Laredo but I didn’t remember all o
f the watering holes.”

  John turned to Richie and held out his hand. Richie took it as John looked at him eye to eye. “I’m dependin’ on you to watch out for my family while I’m gone. Slim does a good job of seein’ after Charlotte and the girls. You help him with that—and you watch out for Slim.”

  Richie grinned, “Yes sir. I’ll take good care of them.”

  John hugged the twins and then swung up into the saddle. Midnight immediately went into a gentle lope. This was the first long ride John had taken since coming back from his meeting with the President a few weeks earlier. Midnight was ready to run. Once they got about a mile from John’s house, he gave Midnight his head and let him run flat out for about thirty minutes. While John enjoyed the ride, he was also somber. He didn’t know what was waiting for him when he got to Laredo

  .

  Chapter 8

  Slim took Cora and headed back into his house. Richie picked up Claire and followed. Charlotte remained on the porch and watched as John rode away. For some reason, she had a foreboding of great danger to John. She knew he could handle himself well in the face of danger. But there was something about this time that seemed different. She couldn’t put her finger on what she was feeling—only that she felt he was facing greater danger than he had ever encountered.

  “Charlotte,” shouted Slim from inside the house. “The girls are calling for their mother. There’s only so much two men can do for ’em.”

  Charlotte snapped out of her gloomy thoughts and went inside. “All right. Which of you girls is giving Grandpa problems?”

  “Me,” said Cora as she held up her hand.

  “Me too,” said Claire. She copied her sister and raised her hand.

  Charlotte laughed and bent down to gather both girls into her arms. “Then we’ll just have to do something about that. I think maybe I’ll make cookies. Who wants to help me?”

  Again the twins erupted in unison. “Me, me. Let me help!”

  “I want to help too,” said Richie. “I used to help Ma make cookies. I’m pretty good at it.”

  “I guess I want to help too,” said Slim. “I’d hate to be left out.”

  “Well come on in, all of you. We’ll make some cookies.”

  “Yeah,” came the shouts of the twins.

  “First, everyone put on an apron.” Charlotte opened a drawer containing the aprons. The handed the girls the miniature aprons she had made for them. Richie put his apron on without comment. But Slim groaned as he put his on.

  “Now line up at the wash basin. I want everyone to wash your hands. You know what they say. ‘Cleanliness is next to godliness.’”

  “I don’t know who said that but that can’t be right,” said Slim. Richie smiled as he got to see some of his father’s personality coming out. “You’d think it was enough that I put on an apron.”

  The twins laughed for they were well acquainted with the playful gruffness of Slim. “Who’s that laughin’ at me?” asked Slim in his biggest pseudo-grumpy voice. “I think I’ll just have to tickle anyone who laughs.”

  He started toward the twins who laughed all the more and then started screaming and running from him as he chased them around the kitchen. When he caught them, he picked up one girl in each arm and growled as he pretended to bite them on their stomachs.

  Richie laughed, as did Charlotte. After a few minutes, Slim put the girls down and said, “My hands are now clean and I have on an apron. When are we gonna make cookies?”

  “Let me help,” shouted the twins in unison.

  “Everyone can help,” said Charlotte. “Richie, I need you to get one cup of butter and mix it with one and a half cups of sugar. There are measuring cups on that cabinet and you can use a wooden spoon to mix it. It will take a little while to get the two ingredients creamed together.”

  “I remember. This is exactly the way Ma made cookies.”

  “Daddy, I need you to get one egg and beat it. The eggbeater is in the cabinet with the measuring cups. And girls, you have the most important job. Come help me measure out a little less than three cups of flour.”

  Charlotte had previously gotten Slim to make little platforms for each girl so they could help in the kitchen. There was a railing around each platform and three small steps. When she put the platforms in place, the girls stood beside their mother at the counter and began the very messy task of measuring flour and placing it in a bowl. Charlotte would pour the flour and the twins would make sure the measuring cup was full. One of them would level off the top of the cup with a knife and the other would pour it into the bowl. They repeated this process three times, counting off each cup as they progressed.

  “Now I need you girls to help me add a spoon of baking powder and a pinch of salt.”

  Claire plunged her hand into the saltbox and grabbed a handful before Charlotte could stop her and put it into the bowl with the flour. “I think that may be a little too much, sweetheart.” Charlotte carefully removed the salt crystals from the flour. She got out all she could see and knew there would still probably be so much salt it might ruin the cookies.

  “Cora,” Charlotte directed. “I need you to put Grandpa’s egg in the bowl with Richie’s butter and sugar. Claire, ask Grandpa to get the vanilla extract out of the cupboard and you can add just a few drops to the same bowl.” Claire grabbed the bottle and headed to the cookie bowl. Charlotte caught her just in time and guided her hand so she didn’t overdo it.

  “Now, Richie, I need you to add the dry ingredients to your bowl and mix it all well. It will take a few minutes. Daddy, while he’s doing that, please add some more wood to the stove. I want the oven to get a bit hotter. Now the fun part. I’m going to put a bit of grease on the cookie sheet and then I want everyone to come get a small spoon of cookie dough and roll it into a ball and place it on the pan.”

  All five gathered around the counter and rolled the dough and placed the balls as Charlotte instructed. When the pan was filled, she placed it in the oven. “Daddy, I need you to keep time. I need you to tell us when ten minutes have passed.”

  Slim pulled his new watch from his pocket and checked the time. As he did, he reflected on how proud he was to receive it from his son-in-law just a few weeks earlier. At the time, he recalled thinking of John as the son he never had. Now just a few days later he had two sons.

  The twins went back to playing chase around the kitchen table. Richie and Slim took a seat at the table while Charlotte went to the milk bucket and poured five glasses. She set them on the table and sat down with her father and her brother.

  When the cookies were done she served them up to the delight of her daughters. Slim and Richie nodded their approval, stuffed their mouths and went back for seconds. Having eaten their fill, Charlotte directed them to make two more pans of cookies to use up the remaining dough. By the time they finished, it seemed as if Richie had always been part of her life. As she listened to Slim and Richie talk, she thought life just couldn’t get any better.

  Chapter 9

  EL CAMINO REAL

  John let Midnight continue at a fast pace as he headed south. The first leg of his journey was very familiar to him. He had been to Hondo several times since the H&F stretched south to just outside of the town. Crudder marveled at the size of the ranch. It was nearly twenty-five miles from north to south.

  Just before dusk, John arrived at the bunkhouse that served as the southern headquarters of the ranch. In reality, it was little more than a large line shack that would sleep up to ten hands at a time. John unsaddled Midnight and gave him a good brushing. He let him roam knowing his stallion would not stray far.

  After building a fire, John cooked some bacon and made a pot of coffee. He was grateful Charlotte had included some biscuits that were left-over from breakfast. With supper finished, John sat by the dying fire and watched the sky become increasingly filled with stars and was struck at how full the sky seemed. He still marveled at how many stars he could see in Texas. As a child in New York, he knew he saw some
stars but there seemed to be a long distance between them. But in Texas, it seemed like the stars were on top of each other. On especially dark nights, it looked like the stars were painted as great white swatches across a black velvet background.

  At age twenty-nine, John had experienced more than many people would in an entire lifetime. He didn’t know what to expect over the next several days. John had little doubt he would encounter danger—it seemed was part and parcel of every adventure. Perhaps that was a strange way to think about his travels, calling them adventures but that is the way he saw them. Each time he set out to right a wrong, he considered the episodes as adventures. On each one, he would stand up against evil and, as a result, would be called on to put himself in harm’s way.

  When John finally left the fire to go inside, there were only embers left. He went into the bunkhouse and lit a lamp. Selecting a bunk, he removed his boots and gun belt and settled into the mattress feeling sure it was his last night in a bed until he found the murderer of Marie. He tossed and turned for hours. It seemed he would sleep for a few minutes and then wake up. Several hours later, as he finally drifted into sound sleep, he dreamed.

  ‘Hold it right there,’ I said. ‘I’ll shoot if you don’t drop your gun.’ Instead, the masked man shot at me over and over and ran out the door. I gave chase and tried to catch him. When I got outside, he was waiting for me. He raised his gun and shot me in the chest. As I fell to the ground, he walked over to Midnight and shot him in the head. Midnight fell to the ground and the masked man stood over him and shot him again. The gunman laughed and continued to shoot.

  ‘No! No! No! Don’t shoot him again. He didn’t do anything to you!’ I tried to get up but blood was running from the wound in my chest. I knew I would be dead in a few minutes. ‘I’m sorry Midnight. I couldn’t stop him. Please forgive me.’

  John woke up, grabbed his gun from his holster and sat up in bed as he looked for the masked man. It took a few seconds for his head to clear and to realize he had been having a nightmare. He opened the door and saw Midnight standing just a few feet away. The huge horse let out a gentle whinny as though he was assuring John he was safe.