Chapter 5

So, history lesson of the day… I know with the episodes this story is based around and this time line of reality don't actually line up… but I don't give a flyin' hoot 😊 Just go with it and try to live in the moment.

Henry Borne (also spelled Bourne), more often called Dutch Henry was an outlaw and one of the most prevalent horse thieves and cattle rustlers of the Old West.

Henry was born to German immigrant parents on July 2, 1849, in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. In the 1860s he moved with his family to Montague, Michigan, where he worked as a lumberjack. Somewhere along the line he joined the Seventh Cavalry but quit in the late 1860s. Shortly afterward, Borne was arrested at Smith, Arkansas, for stealing twenty government mules. He was sentenced to prison but escaped just three months later.

By 1869 he had moved to Kansas where for the next six years he hunted buffalo and worked as a freighter in Kansas and eastern Colorado. By the spring of 1874, he had moved on to the Texas Panhandle and participated in the Second Battle of Adobe Walls At the time of the Indian attack, Borne was in the Myers and Leonard store, along with Fred Leonard, Charley Armitage, Bat Masterson, and several others. One account of the battle credits him with killing the black bugler who was fighting with the Indians. Afterward Borne served briefly as a civilian scout for the army. He was reportedly assigned to General George Armstrong Custer but soon quit, declaring that Custer was the "meanest man" he ever knew.

Soon after the close of Texas' Red River Indian War in 1875, Dutch Henry emerged as the leader of a horse-stealing ring operating in a vast area from Kansas to eastern Colorado to New Mexico and the Texas Panhandle.

Although the actual number of Bourne's followers is disputed, it has been estimated to be as many as 300. Henry specialized in Indian ponies and government mules, for which he found a lucrative market. At one time Borne declared that he had never taken "a white man's horse."

Matt walked Kitty to The Long Branch. He held her close as they made their way across the street. As they entered the door, Sam rushed over.

"Miss Kitty." Sam grabbed the doors as Matt helped Kitty in.

"I'm fine, Sam." She forced a smile, "Just ate some bad bacon or something."

"Will you get some fresh water and bring it upstairs, Sam?" Matt motioned, "I'm going to help her to her room."

"Sure thing, Marshal." Sam hurried over to the bar.

Kitty turned to Matt, "Stop fussing over me. I'm fine, Matt."

Matt grunted in response. The bar was empty except for a few barflies in the back corner. Matt looked at Kitty, "Let's just get you to bed."

"You know, if I was feeling better, I could have a lot of fun with that." She chuckled.

Matt laughed, "Who says you…" Kitty bolted from his embrace as he opened the door. She ran to the washroom and vomited in her porcelain water basin. Matt ran to her side and helped pull back her hair, "Kitty, I think this is more than some bad eggs." He handed her a towel to wipe her mouth.

"I haven't done anything else." She coughed.

Matt shook his head as they walked back into her room. He helped her sit on her chaise. Sam knocked on the door, "Come in, Sam." Matt called.

"Here you are, Miss Kitty." Sam handed her the glass. "You okay?" He asked as he placed the pitcher on the table near her.

Kitty laid back and placed the cool rag over her face, "I think I'm going to rest my head for a few hours, Sam."

"Yes, ma'am." Sam smiled, "I'll just be downstairs if you need me." She nodded.

Matt pushed his hat back, "I'm going to go figure out about these horses." He paused for a moment.

Kitty never took the towel off her face, but she could feel his hesitation, "I'm not cancelling the party for those cowboys, Matt." She repositioned herself, "So, go ahead and get that out of your mind."

"Fine." He pouted, "But if I found out…"

She pulled the rag over far enough for one eye to peep out, "If you find anything, I'll shut it down." He grunted and rolled his eyes. She smiled, "Now, go on. Get out of here." She covered her eye once more.

He smiled and kissed her lightly on the forehead, "I'll see ya later." She waved her hand. He closed the door softly as she drifted off to sleep.

Matt made his way down the stairs into the barroom. Mitch was standing at the end of the bar near the batwing doors. He swallowed the last of his beer, "Just the man I wanted to see." Mitch grinned.

Matt walked over to the bar, "Mr. Malone." He greeted dryly.

Mitch eyed him, "You don't take well to strangers, do you, Marshal?"

"Not if they're here to cause trouble." Matt answered.

"Have I given you any reasons to think I'm trouble?" Mitch asked.

"Day's not over, yet." Matt countered.

Mitch sucked his teeth and shook his head, "That's true." He looked him in the eye, "But I'm not that man, Marshal."

"We'll see." Matt never dropped his gaze, "What did you want to see me for, Mr. Malone?"

Mitch motion for Sam, "Another beer, barkeep." He turned to Matt, "You want one, Marshal?" Matt shook his head. Mitch shrugged his shoulders, "Your loss."

"Mr. Malone… I…" Matt started.

Mitch took a sip of beer, "I'm sorry." He smiled, "I get so side tracked sometimes." He leaned against the bar, elbows bracing him. He pushed his hat back, "I rode in to tell you about some horse thieves I saw on my way out of town this morning."

Matt burrowed his brow, "Go on."

"I was almost back to my camp, when a young horse ran past me." He sipped his beer, "I figured it had gotten loose or was a wild mustang or something. So… I pulled my horse to a halt. I was watching the horse run out on the prairie… when two cowboys came flying by me on their horses. They never stopped. Just kept trying to rope the runaway."

Matt pushed his hat back, "Why are you telling me this?"

"Figured you want to know about a horse thief, Marshal." Mitch shrugged his shoulders again.

"What makes you think they stole the horse?" Matt questioned.

Mitch took another sip of beer, "Well, I decided to turn my horse around and go help 'em. I know how difficult it can be to catch 'em sometimes." He took another sip, "I grew up on ranches, Marshal. My daddy and I ran cattle and horses year-round." Matt nodded as Mitch continued, "I caught up to 'em quick and roped my lead around the horse's neck. One of the cowboys jumped off their horse and held a gun up to me. I backed down of course. The other cowboy pushed the gun down and threw a rope around the horse's neck and told me thank you."

"Still doesn't make them horse thieves." Matt reminded.

"Maybe." Mitch sipped his beer, "But I know one a mile away." He looked at Matt, "My granddaddy probably taught Dutch Henry Bourne everything he knows."

"Your granddaddy was a horse thief?" Matt asked.

"Yessir!" Mitch stood up proud.

"This isn't helping your case, Mr. Malone." Matt sighed.

Mitch finished his beer. He turned to Matt, "Look, Marshal, I know you don't like me. Honestly, I don't really care… but I do care about the wellbeing of horses. My daddy and I have worked very hard to better our last name." He dropped a coin on the bar, "Believe what you will about me. I have nothing to hide. I just thought I'd give you a heads up."

"About what?" Matt questioned.

"I followed those men back to their camp, Marshal." Mitch admitted, "They have a whole pack of yearlings tied along some trees, the brands are different from their personal horses, and a group is coming to Dodge tonight." He paused, "And I can tell ya," He pointed up the stairs, "Your woman up there…" He pushed his hat back down, "It wasn't just the food that made her sick."

Matt stood in silence. Mitch yelled over to Sam, "Thanks for the beers, barkeep." He smiled, "See ya tonight." Sam waved. Mitch tipped his hat, "Marshal." And he walked out and climbed up on his horses.

Sam walked over to were Matt still stood thinking, "What was that, Marshal?"

Matt turned to Sam. He didn't answer. He studied him for a moment, "You mind checking on Kitty in a while?"

"No problem, Marshal." Sam answered.

"I'll be back later." Matt told Sam as he stepped up to the batwing doors and watch Mitch Malone ride out of town again. He stepped out onto the boardwalk. He hooked his thumbs in his vest pockets, "Matt… I'm an awful good judge of men…" He smiled at the thought of Kitty reminding him of this on more than a few occasions. He was starting to like this Malone character, and he didn't like it. He watched Mitch tip his hat to the ladies and nod to the men. Matt sighed and thought how much he hated when Kitty was right.

TBC