Desperado's: Two Desperate Hearts Searching

Chapter 1: Richard

He had watched as the ship sailed out of the harbor. Once it was gone, he turned away and went down the hill intending to walk back to San Francisco. But someone came by, and he hitched a ride to the city. Once there, he went to a local bar and asked for a job as a bartender. He told them he needed money to get a horse and some provisions. He wanted to head home, he had something important to do.

After about four weeks he had enough money for a horse and provisions with a little left over to purchase a gun and some ammunition. He left San Francisco quietly, no one knew what he had done in the little shanty town that was rebuilt and again profiting off of other people's money. He had saved a couple of friends. One he had saved once before. The other was a beautiful woman. , she was one that he wanted to see again. He wasn't sure if he was going to see her, but he was going to try. Her name was Aurora. He left that morning on his horse headed for his old home in Kansas.

Richard had made it to the old homestead, it had been sold and someone else had started a new farm and ranch. He decide that he would go to the local sheriff's office. He had wanted to talk to Mr. Pattern about paying back what he had stolen or at least redeeming himself if that was possible. He rode his horse, a black quarter horse named Ora. She was a blue roan and had blue eyes as well.

He stopped in front of the sheriff's office and tied his horse to the hitching post and went inside. The sheriff was an older man with a beard and a cigar sticking out of his mouth. He looked up and saw Richard. For a moment he could not place him, then he remembered who he was.

"Well, Rafe, what are you doing here? I thought you would never come back! They sold your parents house many years ago!" The sheriff stood up and offered his hand, Rafe took his hand and shook it and said:

" I am not really back to take the old place, but I am back to see if I can't clear my name and maybe change it as well!" the old sheriff looked at him and said:
"Why?" he was suspicious but was genuinely curious as well! Rafe/Richard started to say something then changed his mind and said as honestly as possible:

"There is a lady that I want to marry and settle down with. But in order to do that I want to clear my name so that we can live peacefully without having problems coming up such as gunfights and going to jail." He said, holding his hat in his hands. He had placed his gun on the sheriff's desk and did not go for it. The sheriff, whose name was Chauncey B. Whitney said:

"Rafe, I can send word to the governor and ask to have the court clear your name, but it may not stop others from trying to bring you in!" he took out his set of flyers and looked through them. Some were so old that he knew that the perpetrators were probably dead or had been caught. He finally found what he was looking for. He took it out and looked at the poster.

"You know, Richard, you were still too young to be really involved, in fact the time your brothers raided that bank in Texas, they were using you as a lookout, and believe it or not, that is the only picture they have of you!" Chauncey showed Richard the picture, and then he said:

"I have a job for you, this might get you pardoned faster than if you were to put down roots and stay here in Ellsworth. There have been a gang of cattle rustlers running around here in these parts and well, you know what Ellsworth is known for!" Rafe looked at Sheriff Whitney and said:

"I don't know, you asked me to stay out of trouble then you want me to get into trouble?"

"It is not like that Rafe, you would just infiltrate, find out who the leader is and then get word to me or Matt Dillon in Dodge City and we can set up a trap for them!" Rafe looked suspicious and said:

"What if I get caught in the trap?" Matt or I will be able to get you out, possibly not right away but eventually, the governor will also know of this little adventure, and you will have earned your pardon and can pursue you other interests!" Sheriff Chauncy said and then he said:

"What other way can you get out from the hands of the law? If you go make yourself a new life, the long arm of the law will catch up to you!" Rafe, contemplated that idea. If he wanted to settle down with Aurora and live with her, he had to do something. It may not guarantee that someone might not come gunning for him, but at least he would have the law on his side. He could set up a ranch there in Washington somewhere as well!

"Well, Chauncy, I suppose you have a deal. But I would like to know if I can have an alias. I really don't want to go spreading it around that I am a Halliday?" Rafe asked. Chauncey looked at him. While he was thinking Matt Dillon walked in. There was some things that had to be taken care of before he headed back to Dodge and so Chauncey told him the idea and asked about another name.

"Well, if you ask me, there are already a couple of guys running around using Smith or Jones but maybe we could find a new name for you. Do you have any ideas?"

"Yes, sir, I do. I would like to use the name Bolt, Richard Bolt, if you don't mine?" Matt thought about it and said:

"Do you know anyone who has that last name?" Matt asked Chauncey and Richard.

"Yes, I do, there is a family with the last name of Bolt in the Pacific Northwest, Seattle, who own a logging camp up there."

"How do you know them?" Richard thought about it a minute and said:

"We kind of met a while back, they can give me a good reference, if you wat to telegraph them!" Matt looked at Richard and then at Chauncey and said:

"Before I telegraph the governor I am going to telegraph what did you say their names were?"

"Bolt, Jason, Joshua and Jeremy Bolt!" Matt wrote the names down and asked a few more questions and then took care of the other business and said to Richard:

"Okay, stay in town for a few more days until we have this settled. I don't want you to go anywhere and especially not the card games or saloons. Maybe Chauncey can have you help here in the jail until we get some answers!" Matt said and then he said to Chauncey:

"Chauncey, I will wire you when I have the information for you. Keep this guy busy, I want him to be able to clear his name as well!" with that Matt walked out of the office and got on his horse to head towards Dodge City.

Chapter 2 Aurora

Journal Entry #75

The trip back to Seattle was uneventful. Jeremy was never left alone with me, Candy, Jason, Joshua, Clancy and even Toy were always around Jeremy. I could not talk to him alone. Not that I was planning anything, I realize now that I wanted Richard. He was so much more exciting than Jeremy ever could be, to me that is. I am glad Candy has him and he has her. they were meant for each other. But Richard, oh, he is a smart one. He is cunning and in some ways brilliant. He did anything that I asked, he even questioned my motives. But then Bruno took over and Richard comforted me. Along with Candy who helped me as well, I dare say, without his encouragement and Candy's help, I would never have survived. Being tied to that wheel and then being mistaken for Candy, well, that was pure dumb luck. Now that I see how much Richard helped me, I realize that maybe, just maybe he is in love with me? Now I will never know. He has disappeared. Candy said he was still alive when she was rescued, but he stayed back and went back into the woods. He did not come back with the rest of them. Oh, if only I could find out where he is or how to get in touch with him.

She closed her journal and lay down on the bed in the dormitory room. Lottie had decided that the dormitory would become the hotel and some of the new ladies would be managing it under her direction. Aaron had tried to get controlling interest but since Jason said they were the new brides; he was unable to get the dormitory. But he did get to charge rent for the land the dormitory was on. Lottie just shook her head, and she went and had plans drawn up for a Chinese restaurant, laundry and hotel and saloon.

"Lottie, I am worried that those new ladies may not be marriageable, after all they were found in that shanty town saloon?" Aaron said trying to suggest something that may not be all the way true.

"Aaron, you don't need to worry about marriageable ladies. They have all been spoken for and will be married soon. Their husbands will be arriving soon and since you are in charge of the land deeds, I suggest you get Toy or Lin to help with translations!" Lottie said as she went over to the bar in her old saloon which soon would become another building with a new purpose in Seattle. Aurora walked by and said hello, Lottie smiled at her, but Aaron remained aloof. Jeremy was in town picking up supplies for the logging camp and when he saw Aurora, he went back inside Ben's general store and hoped that she was not coming in, but in case she did, Ben was there to be a go between.

She did come inside the store. Jeremy nodded to her and started to go out the door.

"Jeremy, please wait, I want to ask a question. Ben is here so there is nothing you should be afraid of." Ben stood looking at her with suspicion but said nothing.

"Wh-Wh-what is it?" Jeremy said standing as far away from Aurora as possible.

"I want to know if you know where Richard is?"
"R-ri-Richard?" Jeremy questioned

"You might remember him as Rafe?"

"Why would he know what that man is?" Ben said just then Jason walked in he had gone to the cabin for somethings while Jeremy picked up the supplies.

"Yes, why would you want to know about him?" Jason repeated. Aurora, pursed her lips and almost said nothing but then she took a breath and said:

"I have something that belonged to him wanted to find out where I might reach him!" she said letting the air out of her lungs.

"Well, Miss Von Sydow, if you contacted him once, you should know where to find him now!" She stood her ground and said:

I was not the one to contact him! He contacted me! Since you apparently do not know where he is, then I will leave. Good Day!" she said and turned and walked out of Ben's store. Meanwhile a telegraph came, and Ben started to write it down. Jeremy and Jason were about ready to leave when Ben said;

"Just a moment, Jason, this is for you. He finished the transcription and gave Jason the telegraph.

"Okay, thanks Ben!" Jason said as he opened it up. He had a frown on his face.

"What is it Jason?"

"Jeremy, we need a family discussion, after work and we will meet at your home with Candy, she will need to know this as well.

"do you want me to let Josh know?" Jason shook his head no.
"I will tell him when I see him at the camp." They both walked over to the wagon that was loaded with supplies and went up to the logging camp.

Meanwhile Aurora had received a letter from a school in Yelm, they were hiring teachers, and they were interested in her. She was very happy, Miss Essie said she should go. She had a good friend that was a teacher there in Yelm and she would have a place to stay. It seemed that there were several teachers staying in the house that was near the school. One of the teachers, Miss Essie's friend was Fay Fuller, who was a teacher and part time mountaineer. She had a dream of being the first woman to climb Mt Rainier and she was hoping to do that in the next couple of years.

Candy was staying at home more and more. She was expecting her first child, and she did not want anything to happen to this baby. She and Jeremy were so excited about this. One of the things they both agreed upon was to spend as much time with each other and not to allow people who were not good for them to be around too much. Candy did feel for her sister, staying in Seattle had been rough since they had returned from San Francisco, but when she heard the news from Biddie who had married Barnabas Smith, that Aurora had been accepted as a teacher in a town called Yelm, located outside of Olympia, she was overjoyed. She made plans to visit Aurora although it would not be with Jeremy, but she would have Biddie with her. She wanted to be kind to Aurora but also she felt she had to keep her guard up so that she and Jeremy would be safe.

Chapter 3 Supper and Discussions

That night Supper was extra special. Candy had cooked a wonderful roast, with potatoes, and vegetables from her garden. Jeremy was pleased, she had even made an apple pie just for the occasion. When the meal was finished. Jeremy told her to wait, he would help with the dishes, there was some family business that they needed to discuss and she would be included in the discussion.

"Well, will I get to vote!" Jeremy looked at her and said:

"We will both vote!" She smiled. She understood that to mean that she would get to vote as well.

She brought in the tea and the men had a little whiskey as well.
"So, Jason, what is this telegram all about?" Joshua asked standing by the fire place. Jeremy was sitting on the sofa with Candy and Jason was sitting in the easy chair holding the telegram. He opened it up and read what it said:

"To The Bolt Family. This is a request for a certain

Richard Halliday to use the Bolt family name as an alias.

Marshall Dillon and Sheriff Chauncey Whitney and the governor of Kansas will be looking to pardon Mr. Halliday of any crimes he has committed; however, we will also be needing him for services to the US government which will require an alias. We would like your permission to use your last name for him. Are you willing to do this. Please say yay or nay. Thank you MD and CW Governor Thomas Osborn"

Telegraph # 2 delivered later in the day:

"Seeking recommendation for pardon, is there any reason why he should not be pardoned? He said you would be best suited to recommend him. Thank you Governor of Kansas Thomas Osborn."

"Well, there it is! What are your thoughts?" Jason asked his family

Joshua was the first to speak and said:

"I don't really like it. He has caused us a lot of harm and I don't trust his motives whatever they may be!"

"Well, I for one, do not want our name associated with someone who has been on the wrong side of the law, what do you think Jeremy, Candy, both of you have more reasons to not trust him than we do?" Jason said turning to them and looking at them waiting for the answer, he assumed would be disagreement with giving him a pardon. Candy spoke first and said:

"He could have killed both me and Jeremy before he left, but he didn't, instead, he seemed to have another purpose all together, when he left, he said:

'There is no point in trying to kill something that can't be killed!' He recognizes real love!" She turned to look at Jeremy and he took his time as usual and then he said:

"This second time around, when we met in the basement, he seemed genuinely worried about Candy and me and about her sister Aurora. He seemed to be changed."

"That is all well and good, but if he uses our name, that may ruin our reputation for our business!" Said Joshua.

"And with that we may not have a business anymore!" Jason said. They sat for some time thinking about this.

"You know, Jason, when Aurora was in Ben's store and was asking if there was a way to contact him. I wonder if he himself might want to contact Aurora? Candy said. She also added:
"Aurora will be going to Yelm to teach school. I think she is wanting to settle down as well. Maybe he is trying to clear his name so he can marry her?" Candy finished. No one said anything until Jeremy said:

"I wondered about that myself. When we were in that basement, he asked me to introduce him to her and I looked at him like he was crazy, but then as I think on it more, well, there might just be something to this pardon idea?"

"But a lot can go wrong, Over there another two bandits are trying that as well. It seems as thought they try to stay out of trouble, but trouble finds them more often than not!" Jason said.

I agree with him getting pardon, but I am not sure our name is really what he needs to use?" Joshua said

"I wonder if we suggest another name maybe like our name but a bit different?" Jeremy said. They thought for a little while and then Candy said:

"How about a whole different name: Hardung?"

"That might be good!" Jason said

"One more thing, recommendations?" Jason looked around and Jeremy, Candy and Joshua agreed. They put their fists together and Candy's was on top this time.

"So, it is done, we will recommend him for pardon and suggest another name!" They all agreed. Jason and Joshua left and went home. Candy and Jeremy were alone. They went upstairs and Candy asked Jeremy:

"Was she okay, today?"

"Was who okay?"

"Aurora!" Jeremy looked at her and said:

"She seemed a little sad today, said she had something of his and wanted to get in contact with him. I don't know why she thought we would know where he went but she asked anyway. Jason and Ben were there to help out. I felt sorry for her, but Candy you don't have to worry about her and me!" Jeremy said as he came over and held her in his arms.

" I know, but I do. And with the baby coming, it makes me a little anxious. I am glad she is going to Yelm. She needs a change of scenery and Essie says she has a friend who will help her when she gets there." Jeremy, looked at her with all his love, picked her chin up and was about to kiss her when he said;
"I will race you upstairs!" he left in a hurry and Candy smiled and said, you can run but you can't hide!" and she walked up the stairs carefully and quickly.