Chapter 3

In which the brothers meet their cousin and their father's will is read

By high noon almost the whole town it seemed was crammed into the saloon. It was Swin Baker and a small, thin man with a white mustache who stood up to read the wills. The Jackson brothers soon learned that the other man was Elias Howard, the mayor.

Everyone was still mingling about waiting for the mayor and sheriff to get everything assembled when the brothers were suddenly approached by a very small, but very attractive young woman. "I understand you are the four sons of the late Mr. Buck Jackson," she said. None of the brothers answered for a full five seconds. They were all captivated by her silky brown hair that she'd swept up on top of her head, her mysterious green eyes that seemed to swallow them up, and especially her very red mouth.

At last Johnny found his voice. "That's right, miss. I'm afraid, however, that we have no idea who you are."

The girl, who couldn't have been much older than twenty, Johnny mused, smiled at him. It was a nice smile but it did not quite reach her eyes which were very dark and mysterious. "My name is Andria Lee."

"I see," Van replied for them, not really thinking of anything else to say.

"I'm representing my father and stepmother today," Andria went on. "Wes and Olivia Lee."

"For the reading?" Sean asked. Andria nodded.

"Wait a sec," Ian suddenly cried staring hard at the girl. "Did you say Olivia Lee?" Again Andria nodded. "Fellas, that's our aunt."

"Oh, didn't you know?" Andria looked around at the other three and couldn't help smiling. "Sorry about that. Yes, we're cousins, in a way."

"Andria." The four brothers turned to see a dark-haired, sharp-eyed man walking towards them. There was nothing really unusual about the man, but the tension seemed to rocket through the roof and each brother felt as if they were somehow strangely threatened. They allowed none of their emotions to show on their faces however. "Andria," the man said again upon reaching them. He was obviously frustrated and had no wish to even introduce himself.

"Oh hello, Varick," Andria said. The man now known as Varick opened his mouth to say something but before he could she continued. "You haven't met my cousins have you?"

Of all the things Varick had been expecting, it was clear that this had not been one of them. By the look of almost horror on his face, the brothers believed it was probably the worst news he could have received. "Your-your cousins?" he stuttered, taking his first good look at the brothers.

"Of course," Andria said just as surprised as the Jacksons. "They are the sons of Buck Jackson." As suddenly as the smile had broken across her face it vanished and was replaced by a look that almost matched that of Varick's. "Oh, Varick," she whispered frantically. "I didn't know! I mean I didn't make the connection-"

"Andria!" he cried, grabbing her arm and giving her a tight squeeze. "Excuse me," he said to the brothers. "She can get very excited sometimes."

"Who are you?" Ian asked rudely, not liking the taller, sinister man one bit.

"My name is Varick Braden. I ran the saloon part of the Black Deck under Brett."

"I thought Dad owned it all," Van said to Johnny.

"Oh he did," Varick said quickly. "He liked to roam about a lot though. He was never around much so he left the Black Deck in Brett's charge and the ranch in Olivia's."

"Well, the ownership is really gonna change now," Ian said with a smile.

Before Varick could further inquire, the mayor climbed up onto the platform and raised his hands for quiet. "Good citizens!" he cried out. "Your attention please." At last everyone quieted down and he continued. "Everyone here knows what has occurred over the past few weeks – it's probably why you're here – so I won't go into a lot of detail. The main point is that Buck Jackson and his brother, Brett, are now dead. Of course they would not think of leaving nothing behind for their relatives and here," he held up the two pieces of paper, "are their wills."

If there had been any talking during his little speech, it stopped instantly. The mayor paused for effect then slowly opened one of the wills. "Since Buck died before Brett I think it's only fitting that we read his first."

"Oh man," Ian nudged Sean in the ribs. "Everybody's really gonna get a surprise, huh?"

"Probably," Sean replied.

"Sh, he's started," Van hissed.

"'I Barnard Andrew Jackson,'" the mayor read, "'being of sound mind, do bequeath the following to the following: to my sister, Olivia, and my brother, Brett, I leave the Black Deck Hotel/Saloon. May it prosper in their hands as it did mine.

'To the town I leave the gallows which I helped build with my own two hands, may there only be just hangings on it. Last I wish to remember my four sons, Jonathan, Sean, Giovanni, and Ian Jackson.'" The mayor paused for a second and there was a sudden gasp from the crowd at this unexpected turn of events.

At last Elias continued. "Uh, 'to Jonathan I leave my guns; I've killed many a bad man with them and those maybe not so bad. Use them with good judgment.

'To Sean I leave my own personal saddle and bridal; they've lasted me these twenty years and more; may they last you just as long.

'To Giovanni I leave my collection of Shakespeare works, and any other books you may take an interest in.

'And to Ian I leave my hat and lucky stallion, Dynamite; enjoy them as much as I did.

'To the four of you, I also leave my ranch. I had originally built it for your mother. I hope you like it better than she did. I'm sorry I never got to really know you boys but maybe you will know me a little better now. Signed, Buck Jackson.'" The crowd erupted with exclamations. The mayor about dropped the paper in shock. He was just as surprised as everyone else. Only the brothers themselves and Swin Baker seemed unaffected.

"His sons!", "Where in the world did they come from?", and "Why would he leave all of his stuff to boys he's never known?" were only a few of the questions asked by the crowd.

Just before it developed into a full fledged riot, the sheriff jumped onto the platform and soon had the crowd quieted down. "Everyone just calm down," he cried. "You all know as well as I do that the only reason you're here is because you hope you'll get some little piece of Buck and Brett Jackson's wealth. Did you work to get it? No. Were you good friends with the two Jacksons? Some of you. But you all know perfectly well that nobody has more right to their possessions than their own kith and kin."

Reluctantly, one by one, the people nodded their heads. "Well, what about Brett's will?" someone cried out.

"Ah, yes," the mayor started unfolding the other piece of paper. "Ahem." The crowd once more grew deathly silent. "'I, Brett Jackson, being of sound mind, do bequeath my share of the Black Deck Hotel/Saloon to my sister, Olivia, and all the other things I possess to my baby brother, Barkley. Olivia, I know Buck never liked Barkley so I leave it to you to try to find Barkley or any of his descendants and tell them of my passing. You're brother, Brett.'"

No one spoke a word for a full ten seconds. No one could think of a thing to say. "I didn't know he had another brother," Ian whispered. Johnny nodded. "I remember Dad telling me and Sean about him once. He ran away when he was about your age and squandered all his money on women and whiskey. It was even rumored he'd married a girl then left her."

"Woah," Ian whistled. "And Brett's leaving his stuff to him?"

"Apparently Brett was the closest to Barkley and the only one who tried to keep in touch with him after he left. Buck almost cut him out of his will for it though."

"Well." Johnny and Ian turned around to find the Mayor standing right beside them. "Miss Lee," he spoke to Andria. "Would you let your step-mother know about her inheritance?" Andria nodded mutely.

There was really nothing else to be done so the people slowly began to disperse. In no time the place had been deserted but for the sheriff, the four brothers, and Andria Lee and Varick Braden.

"Well, boys," Swin sighed coming down from the platform. "I guess that's that. Oh, here." He reached into his pocket and pulled out another sheet of paper. "The deed to the ranch. It's yours now."

"Thanks," said Johnny, taking it and transferring it to his own pocket.

"I guess this means you'll be settling here?"

"At least for a while," Van replied.

"There's still the case of Uncle Brett's murder we have to clear up," Ian added.

"Yes," Swin sighed again. Such an old sigh it seemed. One could almost see the lines on his face deepen and the hair on his head grow grayer.

"Be assured," Van said most importantly. "We're doing everything we can to figure it out."

"I appreciate that." No one said anything until Swin spotted Andria and hurried the boys over to her. "Miss Lee," he said upon reaching her. "Have you met the young Jackson brothers?"

"Why, yes I have had the pleasure of making their acquaintance," she replied with a tight smile. Johnny noticed that Varick was looking particularly anxious and angry.

"Oh, I see," said the deflated sheriff.

"Congratulations," Andria held her hand out to Johnny.

"What for?" Johnny asked slowly taking her hand.

"Why for inheriting the ranch."

"You're treating it like it was a contest," said Ian.

"We didn't win anything," Van added.

"Thanks all the same," Sean said with a smile.

"When were you planning on going back to the ranch?" Johnny asked, dropping her hand.

"Right away."

"Would you mind if we accompanied you?" Sean inquired.

"That's a good idea," said Swin. "I believe all the things Buck left you are still at the ranch. And I would feel better knowing you weren't out there alone, Miss Lee."

"Sheriff, how many times have I traveled back and forth from the ranch?"

"Uh, well…"

"Enough. Why do I all of a sudden need protection?"

"Because we have a murderer in our mists," the sheriff replied in a hushed voice. "And Brett was obviously on his way to the ranch when he was shot."

"How do you know?" Johnny asked suddenly.

"You said he'd been on his way up into the mountains away from the town. There's nothing down that trail between here and the next town but the ranch."

"And Salty Cannon's at least forty miles away," Varick added.

Johnny turned his head in his direction. He'd completely forgotten the man was still there. "Miss Lee," he said turning back to her. "We were going to the ranch anyway."

"All right," she said at last. "It will be nice to have the company."