"Return to Paradise Trail" PART ONE
This story takes place right after story eight and before the episode "Special Witness."
One of the legacies of Walker Texas Ranger was the many episode in which we went back in time and experienced an adventure set in the Wild West of Walker's hero and fellow Texas Ranger Hayes Cooper. As was every story of Walker Texas Ranger that went back into time to the western days of the legendary Hayes Cooper, our favorite cast always had alter egos of themselves in the 1800s. That is no different here. So here is your guide to the alter egos of this western 1800s story:
Hayes Cooper – Cordell Walker
Charlotte Wilson – OC Katheryn
Sam Brazos – Carlos Sandoval
Sheriff Andrews – Wade Harper
Kate Burns/Sullivan - Alex Cahill
Molly Mason - modern OC Molly Mason
Bro. John Mason - Trent Malloy
Katheryn had snagged the latest edition of her favorite western magazine and sank into the plush sofa after a long day of teaching basic defense skills to about four women at the H.O.P.E. center that afternoon. A grin twisted at the corner of her mouth as she flipped through the first few pages, surveying the contents for that month and anything else interesting the caught her eye. Reaching the middle of the publication several moments later, Kath growled a bit as she worked to detach two pages that seemed to be inseparable. She almost had given up when the two pages came apart with a slight rip, leaving a small hole on one side and rather thick patch on the other page where the other one had torn away.
Katheryn relaxed the book in her lap with an upward sigh before looking the page over again. As she did so, her eyes seem to drift to the title of the victimized article. For some reason the name seemed familiar as she repeated it in her mind. After a couple second of simultaneously working on the sticky patch on the page and whispering the name in the article title, Katheryn released the page, snapping her fingers in the air with a grin as the name suddenly made sense.
"Got it!"
Molly was in the midst of entering the apartment when she heard Katheryn's outburst nearby and hurried to follow the sound. "What? What is it?"
"Nothing." Katheryn settled down and leaned back in her seat as if nothing had happened.
"Are you sure?" Molly cocked a smile and stretched to read the magazine. "What are you reading?"
"The latest edition of my favorite western magazine came today."
"Oh great." Molly grinned and plopped down beside Kath to have a look also. "May I?"
Eagerly, Katheryn sat up straight and spread the now mutilated publication before them between their two laps. "I was trying to detach this sticky mess when I noticed the title." Kath planted her finger on the bold, black letters.
"Ah, I see." Molly smiled and began reading the first few sentence of the article. "Did you read much of it yet?"
"No. I was just about to when you came in."
Molly gently pulled the magazine to herself and began reading aloud. "'In the second half of the 19th century, many Mormon settlers made their way across the country to establish a new settlement in the western lands of Utah where no one had yet laid claim to the land. They followed a specific trail established by others before them called the Paradise Trail. Yet just because there was a trail set aside for just such a journey, large convoys of Mormon believers still would employ guidance outside of their body of believers to aid them in successfully reaching their promised land. During this time in history, it was difficult to fully trust one man to guide settlers across such a treacherous path. But among the faithful few was a man named Sam Brazos of whom was employed by Mormon leader John Mason to guide his family and many other Mormon families across the Paradise Trail to Utah.
Molly paused with a smile at the recognition of the names before she continued. "'It is a well-known fact among western history enthusiasts that wagon train master Sam Brazos died bravely just one day from the end of his journey as Mason's scout master when he defended a group of girls from the gunfire that was initiated by the Tarpin gang. Thanks to the legendary Texas Ranger Hayes Cooper who was only a bounty hunter at that time, many lives were spared. Yet despite Brazos' tragic end, many wonder what his life was like before he led Mason's convoy across the country. The details of Brazos' life before his death are quite sketchy and unsure. But recently a journal has been discovered from the wreckage of a house fire that may reveal another entire side to this mysterious man that has never been known about until now. Below are a few excerpts. Meanwhile, history enthusiasts can view this journal in its entirety from Friday to Sunday, March 26-28 at the Texas Ranger museum.'"
Both women cast a quick glance at the calendar setting on the kitchen counter behind them.
"That's this weekend. Starting today!" Katheryn's eyes returned to their normal size after the brief surprise had passed. "You think we could make it?"
Molly grinned. "I don't think so. I know so. Come on."
"What do you mean?"
"Let's get a move on. If we hurry we can be there in time to get a look at it today."
The two young ladies had piled into Katheryn's Stingray and accelerated onto the highway in no time at all, finding themselves at the Texas Ranger museum in a record two hours…maybe less. And they did find the display there guarded carefully by a woman who was a historic advisor to the state and currently held ownership of the treasured book for the government. She went on to explain that after this weekend's display, it would be put under glass for good in the Ranger museum since it has such a close connection to and contains a bit of history about Ranger Hayes Cooper.
Katheryn and Molly tried not to appear too obvious as they absorbed the kind ladies facts and information about the small book that although worn by time and tried by fire, it had survived and made it too today. But they were clearly beside themselves.
"Would you like to hold it and look through it for a moment?"
Katheryn's eyes grew large as she processed what the woman had asked her. "W—Me?"
The woman nodded, suppressing a smile.
"Oh course. I'd love to."
Katheryn accepted the book and began turning the pages. But she soon figured out that she couldn't skip over anything. With that in mind, she turned back to the very first page and began reading the very first line of the journal of Charlotte Wilson.
##
"Let go of me!" Charlotte Wilson's calico dress wrinkled against the firm grasp of the man who hot breath beat against her cheek as the lady fought away from his provocative forwardness.
"She a spit fire, ain't she?" The diabolical menace let out a howling cackle that pierced Charlotte's eardrum.
"She sure is!" Another goon stepped over the body of the storekeeper on the wooden floors, drowning his own face in day-old whiskey. Most of it made onto the bib of his filthy shirt instead of his mouth.
Charlotte cringed as the man's grip grew more intense by the second. She could hardly feel her fingers as she fought to keep the man from having his way with her. Just as she was being pressed against the wall of the dry goods store, the ill-mannered buffoon in front of her licking his lips as he prepared to press his lips against hers, she suddenly caught a glimpse of a shadow cast through the open, sun-bathed doorway.
The goon whirled around, his arms still holding Charlotte to the wooden walls as he found himself met with the unfriendly end of Colt revolver.
"Let her go." The stranger's voice was even and confident as he held his revolver forward, cocked and ready to fire at any second.
The second runt almost uttered a curse word at the man before him but fainted dead away at his feet instead. It seems he couldn't handle his liquor very well for an outlaw.
Sensing his imminent defeat, the man slowly removed his hands from the young woman and reached for his rifle only to have this stranger release a quick shot just above his hand. Not enough to wound but more than enough to warn.
The criminal then raised his hands in the air just as another man entered the store. A badge on his chest slightly glimmered in the sunshine as he looked over the dead body, the nearly dead body, and the frightened young woman nearby. He shot a glance to the stranger. "What's going on here?"
The stranger kept his gun steadily on the bad man as he answered the sheriff. "This man here tried to have his way with the young lady there. The, um, the body was already here when I arrived."
It was unlike the sheriff to take the word of strangers as gospel. But knowing Charlotte Wilson since she was a child as one who never put on a show of fear as she appeared to be doing, he decided to believe the stranger. He snapped his silver handcuffs around the goon's wrists with a firm click, receiving little disagreement from the goon as the stranger held his gun steady.
The stranger returned his weapon to his holster and proceeded to jerk the inebriated fellow up off of the floor by the collar and follow the sheriff outside. He paused though, turning back to see a peace returning to the frightened young woman's eyes. "Are you alright?"
The young woman nodded eagerly and brushed away a wayward lock of her hair, finding it somewhat difficult to look the stranger in the eyes. He was gone before she had a chance to realize she had been a bit rude not to do so. A crowd had since gathered at the entrance of the store. Several women were affected by the sight of a dead Mr. Wooster and struggled to keep their tears at bay as three men the sheriff had sent eased by the mourners to take care of the body. One of the men issued a notice to Charlotte that she was needed at the sheriff's office as soon as she was up to it.
Knowing now was as best a time as any, Charlotte kicked up her heels and darted for the back of the general store. She had sneaked in through the passage way many times as a child and had often been convinced by Mr. Wooster that they both were the only ones who knew about the secret entrance. Charlotte had since grown out of the fantasy but still enjoyed the use of the back door to escape. But never had she had to use to actually escape from anything dangerous before now.
Charlotte followed that familiar path through the alley next to the general store and hurried onto the board walk as she lifted her skirt and petticoat with one swift motion. She moved with a speed not quite to a run as she came to the sheriff's office and slowly eased open the door and stepped inside.
Sheriff Andrews had already locked up the criminals. One was in a drunken stupor, strewn across the cot in the corner while the other had his arms hanging out of the iron bars that held him inside. A displeased mien completed the goon's already despicable demeanor.
The sheriff caught a glimpse of Charlotte and halted his conversation with the same stranger that had saved her life, turning with a smile that soon faded. "Thank you for coming over, Charlotte. I'm sorry I couldn't attend to you back there. Are you alright?"
Charlotte nodded, feeling the stranger's eyes on her from nearby as she spoke. "I'm quite alright, sheriff. Truly." She glanced over Sheriff Andrews' shoulder. "And I have you to thank for that."
It was the first time she had seen even the slightest of smiles from the stranger as he stepped forward next to the sheriff. "Was the least I could do."
Charlotte was finally able to look the man in the eyes and smile. "I'm sorry for not thanking you properly back there."
"No problem. No problem at all. You had every right to be wary of me." He extended his hand. "The name's Sam Brazos."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Brazos." Charlotte accepted his hand, still looking him in the eyes.
"Likewise." He drew away from the handshake softly a few seconds later and quelled his smile with a clearing of his throat, turning to Sheriff Andrews. "Well, if you'll both excuse me, I'd like to get a room and rest up some."
"Been traveling very far?" Sheriff Andrews turned to Brazos with his arms crossed tightly at his chest.
"Not very far. I came here to meet a man named John Mason. He is hiring me to lead his wagon train across the Paradise Trail."
"So you're a wagon master?"
"Former scout for the army actually. Decided to become a wagon master and help others when the army wanted me to lead an attack on an Indian camp."
"I see. That's very honorable of you."
"No, not really. Just the right thing to do. No honor in it…especially when they still carried through with the attack."
Charlotte bowed her head, saddened to think of such an injustice. She raised her head shortly later as she turned and watched the man named Sam Brazos take his leave quietly, humbly, and without making a fuss of any kind.