Chapter 6

In which Johnny finds himself in a gunfight

"Hey, Johnny, what're ya doin'?" It was not yet five in the morning and Johnny had hoped to get a few things ready before everybody else got up. Trust Sean to smell the eggs and bacon he was cookin' up for breakfast.

"What's it look like?" was Johnny's reply.

"Andria's cookin' not good enough fer ya?"

"Heck, no, but this being her last day and all I figured I'd give her a break."

"There's somethin' else, Johnny," Sean said leaning up against the counter, his arms crossed over his chest.

"Well, I'll be going along with Andria and Jame up to town," Johnny answered, not turning around.

"What fer?"

"Well, we could use a few more supplies and…" He didn't finish the sentence and Sean had to prompt him. "Well, okay, I'll tell you, Sean, but it's got to be kept a secret." Sean nodded solemnly. "A man came here last night and met with Andria in the barn." At the questioning look in his brother's eye Johnny explained, "You know how I've been riding around in the evening lately." Sean nodded. "Well, last night I was putting Dusk away and overheard her and the guy talking. Something's going to happen today at the hotel and I'm riding up to town with them to make sure it doesn't happen."

"You say it was Andria meeting this guy?" Johnny nodded. "Well, gee, wonder what she could be doin' mixin' up in all of this. You think she had a hand in murderin' Uncle Brett?"

"Don't know, but it's sure possible."

"Hey, I'll go with you."

"No, Sean. You stay here with Van and Ian. I don't want whoever it was last night to be suspicious. Don't worry, I can handle myself."

"I know that. That won't keep me from worryin' though."

"Worrying about what?" The brothers looked up and right into the apprehensive stare of Andria herself. Johnny studied her carefully, but there seemed to be no trace of the fearful, guilt-stricken girl he'd been with last night. This morning she was fresher than the first buds of spring and even more beautiful.

"Oh, uh…" Sean stuttered trying to think of something to say.

"We're getting a little low on supplies," Johnny offered.

"Oh yes, I was going to tell you this morning," Andria affirmed moving further into the kitchen.

"I was thinking I'd accompany you and Jame up to town, if that's all right?" Johnny asked.

"Of course, we'd be glad to have you."

"That settles it," Johnny said turning back to the stove.

"Is it you making that heavenly smell?" Johnny didn't answer as she moved up behind him to smell over his shoulder.

"Well, and here I thought none of you boys could cook," she admonished, trying not the smile.

"This is just about the only thing I can cook," Johnny replied, almost grinning himself. "Except maybe trail coffee."

"Well, hurry up," an excited voice called from the doorway and the three turned to see Ian standing there pulling his suspenders up over his shoulders and wriggling into his shirt. "Pardon my appearances," he made his excuses to Andria. "But I'm starved."

"Go ahead and eat," Johnny said, at last letting the grin break out. "I gotta go get ready."

"Where're ya goin'?" Ian asked grabbing a plate and helping himself.

"Into town with Andria and Jame. We're a little short on supplies."

"Can I come?"

"Sorry, Ian, I think it'd be better if I just went."

After Van and Jame had come down and the six had finished breakfast, Johnny took Sean aside and said, "I think we better wait until I come back to tell Ian and Van what's happening."

"Okay. Say, Johnny, I didn't know if I should tell you this, but in light of recent events I think I better."

"What is it?"

"Well, last night after Varick left and you went out with Dusk, Ian and Van started playing checkers as usual." Johnny nodded. "Well, I'd gone to get a drink from the kitchen and as I passed by the dinning room I overheard Andria and Jame talking."

"What about?"

"The first thing I heard was that she thought it a good idea to leave for town today, and I thought nothing of it, but then I heard Jame say, 'I don't feel right leavin' the ranch here with them.' Andria of course asked why not and Jame said that everything had happened so sudden like and it was all too suspicious; Dad dying was no big surprise but then Brett getting murdered and us arriving the same day."

"Yes. You have to admit it is rather strange, but I don't think it was planned. Did you hear anything else?"

"Yeah, Jame added something about having to be real careful and all and then Andria surprised me when she accused him of talking to Varick Braden again."

"Really."

"Yeah, she said not to listen to him, that he was a bad man."

"Well, that's odd. She didn't seem so afraid of him in town or the last three times he's visited."

"Watch yourself, Johnny," Sean said very seriously. "This may be bigger than we think."

Not much was said on the journey up to town. After Sean's warning Johnny made sure to be extremely careful around Jame, who didn't say a word the whole time. Andria was slightly more talkative but not much. Johnny surmised it was because of the upcoming venture.

"What will you do now that you'll be living in town?" Johnny asked after awhile.

"Probably help my father with the hotel."

"I'd have thought Olivia would let Wes run the saloon and she'd take care of the hotel."

"Oh, well," Andria fidgeting frantically under Johnny's serious stare. Johnny watched her intently but did not miss the cold look Jame shot him. "Um, didn't I say mother?" Andria said at last. "That's what I meant. I'd probably help Olivia in the hotel."

"Who'd be helping your father then?"

"We'll keep Varick Braden on. He's actually better at stuff like this than my father."

The two again elapsed into silence and nothing more was said for the remainder of the journey. Now Johnny had some idea of just who Andria and the stranger were after. He'd have to keep a close eye on Olivia. Or at least be sure he stayed at the saloon to make sure nothing happened there.

As soon as they rolled into town Jame told Johnny they were going to the hotel to see their parents. At first Johnny wanted to accompany them but then decided it would make them even more suspicious and elected to stop by the store and get the supplies.

At the Fletcher Emporium across the street he soon found everything he wanted. It was Adam Fletcher himself who waited on him. "Sad business this is," he said handing Johnny down a couple of shirts to inspect. "Both the Jackson brothers dying so sudden like." Johnny shrugged but did not reply. "Were you close to your father, Mr. Jackson?"

"Johnny," Johnny said. "And not really. We left to go back to New York when I was only seven. Sean and I are the ones who remember him the best and Ian not at all."

"A shame, not knowing your own father. I understand you four are trying to find who killed your uncle."

"Some people think we did it, Mr. Fletcher," Johnny sighed. "We didn't and we aim to prove it and bring his real murderer to justice."

"How are you coming?"

Johnny started to speak but then had a thought. He didn't know this man, not really. He could be the murderer for all he knew. "We have our suspects," he finally said, not looking the man in the eye. "Well, thanks for your help." Without another word Johnny paid him and left. After making a quick stop to his wagon to drop off the stuff, he headed for the Black Deck Saloon.

Instead of standing at the bar, Johnny asked for a glass and bottle of whiskey and sat down at one of the back tables so he could survey the whole room. He'd hardly drunk two sips of the liquor before the batwing doors flew open and two very angry men burst in. Johnny looked up in some surprise into the furious faces of Jame and Rusty Lee. They stopped short not three steps into the room and looked around. It didn't take a doctor to know who they were looking for and Johnny was no doctor.

"Over hear, boys," he called to them. His voice was calm but it cut through the crowd of other voices and almost immediately the room went silent. When the Lee brothers saw him they took two more steps into the room then stopped again. They were still frowning angrily. "Sit down," Johnny said motioning to the two empty chairs at his table.

"Get a load o' him," Jame snarled at his brother. "Tryin' to cuddle up to us."

"I say we kill him now and be done with it," Rusty growled back. He started to go for his gun but two things happened that made him stop. One was Jame who grabbed his arm; the other and the thing that really stopped him was Johnny.

All he said was, "I wouldn't do that, Rusty." He said it as calm and cool as if he was ordering a steak.

"He's right, Rusty," Jame added. "That's not the way to handle it."

"Why not?" Rusty demanded, not dropping his hand but keeping it close to his gun. "He'd deserve it."

"Why Rusty?" Johnny asked. His calmness was starting to get on Rusty's nerves.

"Why you dirty, mangy dog!"

"Are you insulting me?" Johnny coolly interrupted. "'Cause if you were and I was to find out about it…"

"You think you and those sapheads you call brothers can just swagger on in here and expect to get everything? Well, you got another thing comin, you son-of-a-"

"Are you insulting my mother?" Johnny coolly interrupted. "I can take insults and my brothers are men enough to take care of themselves but I don't tolerate people slighting my mother."

"She's the one who up and run off leaving Buck alone. If you ask me you boys don't deserve anything of Buck's."

"You better stop, Rusty," Johnny said slowly rising to his feet. They were making him mad and he didn't always think clearly when he was mad. He didn't even notice when Varick Braden slipped inside and found himself a dark corner across the room.

"You know, it was the day you boys came that Uncle Brett was found murdered, and wasn't it you fellas that found him?"

Johnny knew Rusty was just trying to rile him and he answered slowly, "We've already talked with the sheriff about that. It's one of the reasons we're sticking around; to find our uncle's murderer."

"Yeah, you're sticking around so you can get all you can from yer father and uncle then skedaddle. Well, I tell ya I won't stand fer it. I won't let you get away with it." And before Johnny could say anything to stop him Rusty had grabbed for his gun. Johnny looked into his eyes and saw plain as day what he planned to do. Why'd he go and do it? he asked himself just before he reached for his own gun. He shot Rusty once before his cousin had even cleared leather. Rusty looked down at the hole in his chest then back up at Johnny. His gun went off into the floor and then he fell in a heap. "We didn't kill him," Johnny said softly, as if Rusty could still hear him.

"Johnny, look out!" Johnny was so stunned by the voice that by the time he'd turned around to see Andria Lee standing in the doorway, Jame had already got his gun out and was aiming it right at him. He wouldn't have enough time to bring his own gun up. He looked once at Andria then closed his eyes. There was a shot but he felt nothing, he was glad he was going this way, no pain.

But then he opened his eyes and saw Jame crumpled up on the floor next to his brother and Varick standing over them, his gun still smoking. Andria had moved farther into the room, her face very pale, and Johnny was only just able to jump over the bodies of his dead cousins to catch her before she fainted.

"Varick," he said tucking her tightly into his arms. Varick had stepped back away from the crowd of men that had gathered around the two Lees. "Thanks." Varick nodded and Johnny hurried away towards the hotel. Wes and Olivia met him in the lobby and led him to a back room.

"Oh, Johnny!" Olivia cried helping him lay the girl on the bed. "What happened?"

"Aunt Olivia, Uncle Wes," Johnny sighed. "I'm terribly sorry, but Rusty and Jame are dead." At the news Olivia herself almost fainted away.

"No!" Wes gasped. "How?"

"They were angry about something and picked a fight with me. Rusty drew on me. I had no choice."

"You-you mean, you killed them?" Olivia's gasps turned to chocked sobs.

"I killed Rusty; Varick shot Jame before he could kill me. Please believe me, Aunt Olive, if there had been any other way."

"It's all right son," Wes said in a haggard voice. "Those boys were always hot under the collars, thinking they were somethin' with those guns an' everything."

"I told them not to wear them!" Olivia wailed.

"Andria!" Wes said suddenly. "What happened to her?"

"Oh, don't worry, Wes," Johnny assured him. "She only fainted. She'll wake up soon. It was a nasty…shock." Even as he said it Johnny had the sinking feeling that it wasn't true. He remembered the conversation he'd overheard the night before. "You know who to bring?" the man had said.

"Aunt Olivia, Uncle Wes," he cried. "I'm really awfully sorry, but I've got to get back to the ranch right away. I've gotta get my brothers back up here."

"All right, son," Wes said absentmindedly, trying to comfort his wife.

As he hurried outside, Johnny mentally kicked himself. Now that it had actually happened it all made perfect sense. He'd thought that Andria was to bring the victim to town when in fact it was him she was supposed to bring. In trying to save a life he'd caused a death.

Hurrying past the crowd around the saloon he quickly made his way back to his wagon. Just before he hopped in he was stopped by a firm hand on his shoulder. He slowly turned around to find the hand attached to the arm of Swin Baker.

"May I help you?" he asked civilly and removed the sheriff's hand.

"Yeah, I understand you were part of the gunfight in the saloon."

"Yes, me, Varick Braden, and Rusty and Jame Lee."

"Would you mind telling me just where you are going?"

"Back to the ranch to get my brothers. Look, Sheriff, I'm in a hurry. Have you already talked to Braden?"

"Yes."

"Then you know the story. I shot Rusty in self defense and Varick shot Jame to save me. I don't think you have any grounds to hold me."

"You're right, I don't. All right, go back and get your brothers. But I want you back in town by sunset. This makes three deaths since your arrival."

Johnny stared hard at the sheriff before stepping up into the wagon. "Not deaths, Sheriff. I think all three were murders. And I mean to find out who's behind them all."

Before the sheriff could say a word, Johnny picked up the reins and started the horses off at a quick trot then quickly moved them up to a gallop. The sheriff watched him until he was out of sight.