The territory around Sacketts land was a thing to see, and Tom Chantry hoped one day to make his ranch look that nice . . . if he lived to do so.
Tom had already sent a note to Sackett informing him of the problem, but mail confusion caused it to be lost. So when Tom walked up the porch and knocked on the door, he hoped the moment would not be awkward. Much to his surprise, a lovely Mexican Woman opened the door, and he guessed it was Sacketts wife.
"Ma'am", he started, "I need t . . ."
"Ah yes" She answered, "You are Tom Chantry, please do come in, we have heard a lot about you."
When Tom walked in he walked right into Tyrel Sackett.
Sackett studied him for a minute then said, "Tom Chantry, man, it's a pleasure to see you. You sure got the look of your father."
Sackett invited him to coffee and had him sit in a wonderful room filled with books and decorations. Despite this, Tom found himself studying Sackett. The man was no longer young, but he was not old, and that Sackett look had not left him. After they were seated, Tom began to spin the problem up for Sackett.
"You see Mr. Sackett", Tom said, "I was starting my own ranch with my wife, and life looked good. I had had trouble before that, what with the cattle drive, the gold, and the return of Frank Ruff and Harvey."
"They're the ones who shot your pa and killed him right?" Tyrel asked.
"Yes," Tom answered.
"I'm real sorry about that son, he one was one heck of a man. One of the best I ever knew. That there was a man, and I could never thank him enough for helping solve the murder, and then of course with the Ben Curry gang." Sackett Replied.
"Yeah," Chantry replied, "It was a different life for me after he died."
"You moved east?" Sackett asked.
"Yes and a lot it did for me." Ending on that note, Chantry got back to the problem.
"So I was ranching and all, and I did not have any more enemies, but that changed mighty fast. I began hiring hands, a right now I got about five. I had seven, but we lost two when the trouble began.
"Trouble started when we found a hand, Joe Steiner, shot in the back with a short range. At first we thought it was Indians, but when we saw the tracks leaving from the scene, and they were the tracks of a fine horse, I'm guessing a mare, and it wasn't a shod pony, which is what all the Indians near us ride. Then we knew it was murdered. Why . . . we still don't know. After that we were on sharp watch. After a long time nothing happened, then I sent another hand out, Pete Riser. Well he went out, and after a day he didn't come back. He too got shot in the back, and we found the same tracks leaving the scene. Now I am sure that it was a fine mare, and we knew that someone was after us. It was then I realized that both Steiner and Riser were wearing buckskin jackets that I had let them use. Both Steiner and Riser had no known enemies, but the fact that they were shot while wearing my cloths was no accident.
"So the next time I rode then range, I kept an eye out , and sure enough, I found an unknown fire on our range I approached it and heard them talking.
"'I thought we got him', One had said.
"'No', another said, 'He is still around, and you shot the wrong man Price! I know Chantry, and he is surely smart and he will catch on sooner than later. I want him dead before he can find out! You hear me?!'
"'Alright Ruff, just calm down. The boss wants a clean job with him, and if we don't do it, there's is always Mike Monson or Queen. We'll get 'im, one way or another!'
"Know I knew the name of Ruff Mr. Sackett, for Frank Ruff I had killed back in that cattle drive away back. So when I looked at one of them again, I saw it was Charley Ruff. Now I had whupped him some time back, and I had killed his pa, so I am guessing he was after revenge. So I just stepped out then and surprised them, for there were three in the group, Ruff and two other I did not know.
"'Howdy boys!' I said, 'You seem to be on the wrong range, for this is Lazy G range, and I am Tom Chantry, owner of the Lazy G.'
"They just stared, and I could see Charley Ruff getting mad clear through. The others I did not now, but they were tough men, and one of them was looking me over with a deadly hatred in his eyes.
"'Charley Ruff, my I have not seen you in a while,' I said.
"Charley glared at me and said, 'Look Chantry, you're outnumbered and we got an edge, three to one. We got one big reward for killing you, but this I would have done just for the heck of it. You whupped me Chantry, and you killed my pa. So I'm going to kill you, but I'll enjoy getting some of my own back first! Drop that gun!'
"Well, I just dropped my gun, and he came at me. We had us a good long fight, and we were not disturbed. In the end though I beat him down, and the other two raised their guns. I was defenseless, but at that time my riders came over the ledge and down to the fire. We had five rifles on their two, and they became cornered.
"'Alright,' I said, 'you boys just fess up. I know you killed my boys Steiner and Riser, so you come with me and you just might beat such a case in court, but you'll probably just get a hangin!
"One of them went for his gun, and we had to shoot both men dead. In all of the confusion, Ruff escaped, but I walked over to one of the outlaws, one who was dying.
"'Who wants me dead?!' I asked.
"'Don't know . . . I was just paid to kill you, so was Mack over there . . . You better run while you can Chantry, for your . . . you're in some real trouble . . . Denny Dinsmore want's you dead, so does Mike Monson, Charley Ruff, Darrel Queen, and the boss . . .'
"He died like that, and I was fresh out of clues," Chantry finished.
"You say Mike Monson?" Sackett asked.
"Uh-huh, I was getting to that Mr. Sackett. I know you helped my father with the Ben Curry case, when they raided our home town right?" Chantry asked
"Yup, that was when some of his boy's came to his town, and I lend him a hand. We had us a fight there, and we dusted off them boy's. You say Mike Monson? One of the outlaws from the Ben Curry gang was named Monson." Sackett answered.
"That's what I mean Mr. Sackett. I don't know if it has a direct conflict to it, but I think the old Ben curry outlaws have something to do with it. After that fight with Charley Ruff I went to town, asking around about the group, and sure enough, a man approached me saying to leave them alone. I asked him if he was with them and he did not answer, he just said, 'You watch yourself kid, for Borden Chantry had enemies, and I reckon some are still around, you just watch yourself for Denny Dismore and Darrel Queen.''
"Denny Dinsmore . . . the name rings a bell, I believe we arrested him after he and the gang attacked the town . . . he was supposed to go to jail for 20 years, but he must have eventually broke jail."
"Mr. Sackett, I still am very confused on what is happening here. This is no ordinary ranch trouble that I am facing, and right now I am trying to put it all together. I came here to find out more on the Ben Curry case, because I believe that it has something to do with my trouble. Did you do anything on the Ben Curry case after the shootout in the town?"
"If I 'member correctly, I had a drink with your Pa and some others. We had two prisoners to take in, one I am sure was Denny Dismore, and he was scared of jail. He started blabbering his mouth loose on how the Ben Curry gang was fallin apart, and then he talked about Kerb Perrin or Rigger Molina would take over, and then he talked about Mike Bastian, and said he was Ben Curry's son. Well, I thought of looking for Curry but to be honest, I heard that the gang was done and I didn't want to go coon hunting any longer for him, so I dropped it. Now Molina and Perrin are dead, so the only link I think we have left is Mike Bastian or Ben Curry himself." Sackett answered.
Tom got up then, and said "Thank you Mr. Sackett, I will not trouble you anymore." It was then that he realized how late it was, and he had no place to spend the night.
"Stay here," Sackett said, "There is plenty of room, and you are always welcome."
So when morning came to Mora Chantry was up early, and he knew where he was headed, and that was wherever Bastian or Curry was. He was surprised however, to see that his horse was already saddled, and so was a horse next to it.
Tyrel Sackett came out then, dusting off his cloths. He was dressed to ride.
"What's the getup for?" Chantry asked, "you commin along?"
"You didn't think I let you go alone did you? No sir your father helped me when I needed it and I shall return the favor by helping you. Besides, Borden was a good friend of mine, and I help my friends"
Chantry smiled. Now this man was a friend worth having!
