Cowboy from Hell

Chapter 1-1

Chapter 1

Storm Benedict was a threatening sight. Although he had shaved, his hair was still long and his body as big as a mountain. His face had a rugged look that warred with his handsome features. He stood over six foot six and was as strong as a mountain lion. Living in a half-cave and foraging for his food had given Storm a few wounds; but to him they weren’t scars, but trophies. Living on the prairie, his gun had become his closest companion, and he’d even learned how to make other weapons as well as implements to cook with. As a result, his life in the half-cave wasn’t that bad. When it was cold, he put up animal skins at the mouth of the cave, but when it was hot, strangely enough the cave stayed cool in the shadows.

Later that day, Storm was cleaning some fish for supper when he heard the sound of a horse outside. He got up and went to the wide opening of the cave and looked out.

“You don’t know how glad I am to see you.”

“I came out here to give you somethin’,” the sheriff said as he dismounted.

“Yeah? What’s that?”

He began digging in his wallet and pulled out a legal-looking document and gave it to Storm.

Storm took it hesitantly. “What’s this?”

“Can you read?”

“Well enough, I guess, but knowin’ what the words mean is somethin’ else,” he said as he opened the papers.

“It’s the will the Benedicts drew up leaving you the ranch. Charley says it gives you the right to move into the ranch anytime you want, but just so you know, the town fathers still ain’t givin’ up. They’re holdin’ on to the fact that you weren’t the Benedicts’ natural son, but, more or less, a drifter. It’s a slim thread, and weak, but it’s all they’ve got now, and they ain’t gonna let it go.”

“Do they still think I’m an i***t?”

“No, but with no roots and no place to live…” He looked around at the cave. “You’ve got to admit, Storm, this ain’t the best accommodations you could have.”

“I know, but I didn’t have no place else to go.”

“Well, you have now, and with the Benedicts’ money you can probably hire you some ranch hands to help you.”

“I need that money to stock my ranch with cattle. I can’t afford both.”

“All right, but don’t let that land stand there and go to seed. You gotta figure out some way to work it and make it pay for itself. This ain’t the end of it, you know. They’re gonna be watchin’ every move you make, so don’t do nothin’ to make ‘em suspicious.”

“Hellfire! This is a fine way to live!”

“Well, if it’s too much, maybe you should just forget it.”

“Hell no, Sheriff, I gotta fight this. The Benedicts wouldn’t want that ranch to go to strangers. If they left it to me, it’s because they wanted me to have it.”

“I agree,” the sheriff said as he rubbed his chin. He finally looked over at Storm. “The only other thing I can think of is marriage. They don’t like the fact that you ain’t married yet, and you’re gettin’…” The sheriff frowned. “By the way, how old are you?”

“I’m near thirty now, but—”

“No buts here, Storm. If you want that ranch, that’s the only way them vultures will leave you alone. A woman goes a long way in settlin’ a man down.”

“But married.” Storm looked at the sheriff. “You mean to a girl?”

The sheriff snorted. “I ain’t talkin’ about a horse.”

“It might as well be a horse. I don’t know any damned females.”

“Ever heard of a mail-order bride? A lot of men are doin’ it these days. Not many women out here except…well, you know the kind I mean. Saloon hussies, or dried up school marms. If you want a real proper lady, you need to go back east.”

“Mail-order?” Storm said and looked at the sheriff as if he’d popped his cork. “How the hell do you fit a wife in a little bitty envelope?”

“She don’t get in the envelope, she…” He hesitated a moment, and then continued. “Hell, Storm, the next time you’re in town, just take a walk down to the newspaper office. Clancy’s usually got a paper or two that’s got some pictures in it. Just look at ‘em and take your pick.”

“But how does she get in the envelope?”

“Storm,” the sheriff said. “Forget the fuckin’ envelope, for God’s sake. The instructions will be there. Do what they say, and before you know it, you’ll have a wife.”

“Damn, I do sound like an i***t, don’t I? No woman’s gonna want to marry me.”

“You’re not an i***t, Storm. Hell, you got more sense than a lot of men I know. Just because you ain’t had a lot of book learnin’ don’t mean…Hey, I got an idea. The Widow Spencer’s got a lot of books her boys used in school. I’ll get ‘em and you can read up on a few things.”

“That sounds good,” Storm said, getting excited. “Sure.”

“All right. I’ll go back and tell the town fathers that you’re plannin’ to get married. Don’t forget to keep me informed, Storm. I think it might be the answer we’re lookin’ for. In the meantime, get your ass back over at South Wind so you’ll have a place to bring a woman to.” He looked around. “You sure as hell can’t expect her to live in a cave.”