THE HOUND
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Several hours later the sounds of a wagon pulling up in front caught everyone's attention. "Mrs. Tuell's here," Buck announced. Angel Tuell walked into the jail.
Chris rose immediately "Mrs. Tuell."
Buck nodded politely.
"What happened?" she asked sadly.
"They were caught stealing," Chris said gently. The tired face tightened. Walking over to her husband's cell she glared.
"Hope they got you good. Don't never come back. I've listened to too many of your lies," she said. "What's going to happen to my boys?" Angel demanded. Chris told her the story of how the hound was released so they could steal from the Potters.
"Is Mr. Potter pressing charges?" she sighed.
"No, Mrs. Tuell, I figured you didn't know. You have enough to take care of right now. Them boys are big enough to help out," Mr. Potter spoke from the doorway.
"Thank you, Mr. Potter," Angel spoke sincerely. "You boys best apologize" Angel scowled at her sons peering through the bars.
"We're sorry, Mr. Potter," the boys chorused.
"Look your momma in the eye and tell me what you did," Angel commanded. Simon and Ben told their story. "Not only did you steal. You could have got that poor critter killed. You throw rocks at it. I'm ashamed of such meanness," Angel spoke in a low angry voice.
"It's just a hound, Ma," Simon responded.
"It hurts just the same as you," Angel's voice raised slightly. Without a word she turned and walked out. Leaving two very worried little boys behind.
Angel returned "I talked to Mr. Potter. You two are going to clean his chicken coop for all the trouble you caused him."
Buck ducked his head to hide his wide grin as the punishment was assigned. Cleaning hen houses was a nasty job at any time but plumb sickening in August heat.
"Mr. Wilmington, would you open this door?" Mrs. Tuell asked politely.
"Certainly, ma'am," Buck opened the door. Angel pushed the two boys back as they tried to exit.
"Would you lock it back please?" she asked. Buck exchanged a look with Chris and shrugged locking the door. "I figure if you think rockin' that poor critter was fair then a good spanking won't bother you two none," Angel fumed.
"Ma, don't whip us!" the boys begged and cried.
The hound's head rose, a silent growl rumbled in his chest.
"You knew it was wrong to steal didn't you? Knew it was wrong to unchain the hound didn't you? Most certainly knew it was wrong to hurt him didn't you?" she demanded.
"Yes, ma'am," the two boys admitted.
Angel sat down on one of the cots and pulled Ben over her knee and raised her hand. A roar and the hound came off the mattress charging the bars. Powerful slender hands passed through the bars reaching for the woman.
"Down," Chris roared as he leapt to defend Mrs. Tuell. Angel rolled off the cot and onto the floor holding Ben in a protective hug. The hound paced along the bars growling at the woman.
Buck drew his gun as Chris stepped to the cell bars. "Bed, now," he ordered. The hound stared for a moment then snarled softly. "Bed," Chris repeated. A questioning whine. "Go lay down now," Chris snarled. The hound stalked to the mattress and lay down.
Angel stared in shock at the scruffy figure lying tensely in the other cell. Looking down at Ben she hoisted him back onto the cot and finished his whipping. Simon took his place and received his swats. Both boys were crying the hound had growled continuously throughout the spankings.
"Mr. Larabee," Angel asked, "could you let me out now?"
"Certainly, Mrs. Tuell," Chris answered opening the cell door.
She walked over to the cell where the hound watched from the mattress. "Come here," she called. The hound lay perfectly still.
"It might not be a good idea," Chris warned.
"He was trying to protect my boys. Even after they hurt him, he tried to defend them," she smiled softly. Chris nodded and called to the hound. He rose and stalked to the bars. "Do you smell any blood?" Angel stretched out her right hand. The hound tilted his head. "Feel there aren't any bruises on my hand. If I really hurt those boys you could tell," Angel soothed. A gentle hand brushed under the hood and lifted the hound's chin. "Oh, Lord, just a baby your own self," Angel whispered as she looked into the worried blue eyes. Her hand gently stroked through soft curls hidden under the heavy hood. "Can I take my boys now?" Angel asked.
Chris frowned in at the tear-streaked faces. "Hmm.. You'll be responsible for them. If they cause trouble I'll have to put you in jail," Chris warned hiding his smile from the boys. Buck winked at the startled woman.
"I love my boys, Sheriff. I'll have to take the chance," she said in a subdued voice. Chris opened the door and let the two small boys run to their mother. They walked out promising not to ever steal again.
"That woman would die for them boys," Buck stated. The hound stood looking at the door where she had disappeared. Slowly he raised a hand and reached out after the departing woman. A soft sigh and he went back to the mattress and lay down facing the wall.
Hinkley arrived towards supper and paid his fine. The hound followed silently as he heeled.
"He got to rest out of the sun anyway," Buck growled as he put the mattress back on the cot. "I thought he'd kill Mrs. Tuell for a minute there. Mighty fine woman Mrs. Tuell. She figured what that hound was up to right off. Calmed right down when he was sure them kids weren't in danger," Buck mused.
"Did I ever tell you 'bout Red-haired Sally down in Tulsa, Chris?" Buck started the story as Chris shook his head. ...
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The hound's leash was securely locked to his collar and the post in front of the saloon. Hinkley was once again inside. Leaning against the post the hound waited. Billy Travis slipped a little closer trying to see the creature. Finally he had stopped just out of reach.
"Are you really a hound?" Billy asked in wonder. The hound carefully ignored the child hoping he'd go away. "I'm gonna be a Hunter when I grow up," the boy said importantly. "Just like the mysterious Ranger," the boy held up a brightly colored book. "Ma says hounds are crazy and evil. You don't seem crazy. You helped Mr. Potter," the boy continued talking to the silent figure. "Your kinda small for a hound aren't you? My book says hounds are more like Mr. Isaiah's size," the boy questioned moving closer. The hound was looking around looking for someone to fetch the youngster.
Hinkley sprang through the door and grabbed the child. "Stay away, brat," he ordered as he shook the small body. Billy screamed as he was crushed in the huge hands. The hound waited for his chance. Mary Travis left Potter's store at a dead run as she charged in to protect her boy. Tossing Billy against the saloon wall, Eli grabbed the newspaper woman. "Rather have you then the pup anyway," he grinned as the fondled the struggling woman. Billy started to sit up when brilliant blue eyes locked with the child's then shifted towards the batwing doors. Billy crept to where he could roll under the door then he ran for Ezra.
Mr. Potter ran towards the struggling pair with a shotgun. "Leave her be," he yelled.
Laughing Eli Joe turned, drew his pistol and shot the storekeeper in the head. Reholstering the gun he asked "Where were we, darlin'". Eli forced Mary up against a post tearing at her clothing. Now in range of the chain, the hound sprang onto the hunter's back. Locking his legs around Eli's waist he trapped the gun butts. A choke hold completed the maneuver. Eli slammed himself back into another post trying to unseat the attacking hound, releasing Mary who fled to the jail. Seeing that the woman and boy were now safe and nothing could be done for Potter the hound released his hold and dropped to the ground.
Pulling a pistol, Eli aimed it directly at his unrepentant hound. Head up, body tensed, the crouched figure glared back. "Be too easy," Eli snarled haltering the weapon. Moving to his truck Eli returned swinging shackles with an evil smile. "Need to remember your place," he laughed and whispered something. The hound slid to his knees with his head down.
Deputies came running from all over town. Ezra escorted Billy to his mother carefully preventing the youngster from seeing Mr. Potter. Eli's smile faded at the cold promise in Ezra's emerald green eyes.
"I'm certain Judge Travis will be interested in the treatment of his daughter-in-law and grandson," Ezra stated coldly when he approached once more.
A cold chill ran down Hinkley's spine as he considered Travis' reputation.
"Take Amos to the undertaker's," Chris ordered gently as he lifted the grieving Anne to her feet.
"Need help arresting him?" JW asked.
"I can't, he's immune as long as he's on an official hunt," Chris snarled.
"Damn fool threatened me with a shotgun," Hinkley declared. Eli then turned to his hound arrogantly knowing he was untouchable.
Dropping the shackles in front of the hound he ordered "ankles." The hound locked a set of shackles around his ankles and knelt in the dust. "Wrist," came a command. A cuff was locked around the hound's right wrist. "Belly," came the order. The gray cloaked figure lay on its belly. The wrists crossed at the small of his back. Roughly Eli jerked the other cuff into position and tightened the chain. Pulling the hound to his feet he forced him into the travel kennel in the back of his truck. Climbing in Eli Joe drove off.
"Good riddance," Isaiah exclaimed.
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Almost three weeks later the UNPK truck once more appeared. The filthy hunter jerked his hound from the cage and chained him to one of the posts in front of the saloon. A horrible stench issued from the vehicle as JW passed.
I guess they found Jonas. Jeez, the smell how can they stand it. He must have been dead for a couple of days now.
Chris paused as he exited the saloon. The slight figure seemed to disappear in the heavy hooded cloak. If he didn't move you'd never see him. What in hell? Chris' eyes met the sapphire blue of the hound staring back over the concealing veil. The strangest feeling settled as he exchanged stares with the hound. Like I just found something I need real bad.
Eli Joe pushed through the doors striking the hound and slamming him into the post. Chris grimaced shifting angrily unable to prevent the beating that ensued. The hound belonged to the handler. Eli stalked towards Chris "You got a problem, Larabee?" he demanded. "Hell, it's just a hound. Not like its human," Hinkley laughed. "Forgot its place. Knows better then looking real people in the eye, stupid animal," he growled. The hunter wandered off.
It won't do any good to report him. Chris sighed heavily and went to the livery so he could begin rounds. Passing the saloon he noted the slumped figure chained to a post. Hell! Chris rode out in a temper.
Coming in eight hours later the hound was still tied at the post. Stopping in front of the jail Chris tied his black gelding and stormed inside. Filling a coffee cup Chris ended up slamming it down on the stove.
"Pup's been there all day. Hasn't been feed or watered. Nothing we can do," Buck reminded.
"I know," Chris growled.
"Ah shit! We got trouble," Buck yelled from the door. Workers from the Simmon's ranch piled off horses in front of the saloon. Notorious for being hell raisers the town braced whenever they rode in. Chris had numerous run-ins with Milt over his cruelty to animals and abusing the whores at the local brothel.
"Lookie here," Milt Simmon made a grab for the chained hound. A warning snarl came from the now crouching figure causing Milt to jump back. Laughter greeted the reaction. The lawmen hit the street at a run. Milt swung a fist only to miss the rapidly moving hound. The hound lunged causing Milt to strike the post knocking himself silly. The ranch crew sprang to retaliate for the injury to the boss' son. Gallantly the hound put up a fight only to be taken down by the mass of bodies.
JW, Isaish, Nathaniel and Ezra congregated and began to break up the scuffle. "Damn, fools!" Isaiah lectured "This isn't local. Were talking UN charges. Didn't you notice the cloak?" he thundered.
"He's a hunting hound. Protected by UN mandate," Chris hissed. Eli Joe stood on the porch watching coldly.
Clearing the pile of men away. Nathaniel frowned down at the still gray figure. Kneeling he gently brushed a hand over the faintly moving chest. "Best get him down to the clinic," Nathaniel ordered.
"Get up," Eli shouted kicking the downed hound. The still figure didn't move. "You cost me money," Eli raged. Before anyone could react Eli had put a bullet into the unconscious Simmon's head. Reaching over he jerked on the hound. The robe shifted revealing the obviously broken leg. "Worthless piece of shit," he raised the pistol aiming at the hound.
"No reason he won't heal," Nathaniel urged. Eli turned aiming the revolver between Nathaniel's eyes.
"Don't tell me my business," Eli giggled crazily.
Chris pulled his own weapon.
"You shoot my deputy and I'll kill you," came the soft growl.
"They'll hang you," Eli laughed. The hound taking advantage of Hinkley's inattention attacked his handler. Two shots were fired in the scuffle then there was silence.
"Take Milt home," Chris directed in a furious tone to the Simmon's crew. Nathaniel and Isaiah grasped the hound pulling him from Hinkley.
"He saved my life," Nathaniel seemed to be in shock.
Ezra exclaimed as he looked down at the crumpled form, "He's still breathing."
They looked over at the still hunter. Belly down in the street, his face turned to the sky proved that the hound had broken his neck. Ezra searched the body removing the key to the hound's leash, then freeing him.
"I need to see how bad he is," Nathaniel reached for the bleeding hound.
"I'll carry him," Buck offered. Gently the big man gathered the hound into his arms and followed the healer.
"JW and I will take care of the trash," Isaiah growled.
"I'll take rounds, Mr. Larabee," Ezra said and strode towards the livery.