The Stormrider.



Integrity and character were not just mere words to him, they were the way that Jack Macleod had always tried to live his life, people that knew him, always knew that they could forever take him at his word, and he was a man cut from the very highest moral fiber. But even morally sound men have their limits, and those very same people also knew that you simply didn’t test Longshadow Jacks Patience. Even now he seemed totally indifferent to everything around him at least that was the way it seemed to Martin Keatchum as they solemnly rode into Hell’s Bottom on that dark November morning. He had already had the two Navy colts swinging at his side loaded and holstered, and seemed in no way intimidated by the prospect of taking on four armed men alone. Martin Keatchum looked in Jacks direction, “Jack.. I ain’t no fighting man.. But I do know how to point and shoot that scatter gun I got in the store. If you need me..” Jack raised his hand. “No Marty, this ain’t gonna take long, you just go in that saloon and tell them four fellers and Willie Cooper that Longshadow Jack is here for them..” They both dismounted, and as Martin Keatchum started towards the saloon Jack stopped him.. “And Marty?” he turned towards Jack.. “You had best head out the back door.. Its gonna get busy out here.” he gave Jack a nervous nod and walked into the saloon. And moments later Jack wasn’t at all surprised to see only three men exit the Saloon, young men dream of wealth and fame… the first one stepped into the street.. The company of a good woman and good liquor. Before his boot touches the dirt street the first bullet from one of Jack’s colt’s tears threw his skull.. Not waiting.. Not here to play. The other two try to scatter.. But Jack is already on the wooden sidewalk, Approaching the saloon.

The Trail.



Jack knows all too well the smell of a cowards fear and he knows that these two are already dead, the second tries to pull his pistol, but jack has drawn both of the colts and cuts him down mercilessly. Inside of the saloon a nervous Willie Cooper can hear his two young underlings being slaughtered by the angry Jack. He draw the glass of whiskey to his lips with shaking hands. Three more shots ring out and the third man comes flying backwards through the saloons swinging doors. He lye’s dead on the floor and Willie Cooper obviously shaken tries to shoot at the wall at where he thinks Jack is standing. His pistol fall silent and there is no sound right away.. That is until he can hear Jacks footsteps on the wooden side walk out side of the saloon, Willie does not hesitate he runs out of the back of the saloon where his animal waits. He now knows that this is no ordinary man, this man will fight to the death if necessary. And Willie Cooper does what all cowards do. He runs for his life. Jack enters the saloon to find it empty except for Ed Carpenter. Who nervously eyes Jack. “Are you gonna shoot me too Jack? ..I.. I mean fer telling those fellers that you done shot they’re friend?” now slightly agitated he eyes the shaken barkeep. “No Ed, I ain’t gonna shoot you. I suspect that they didn’t give you a whole lot of choice in the matter.” Martin Keatchum entered the saloon after Jack to see if his friend needed medical attention. He looked down at the dead gunman, and then back up at Jack. “Willie Cooper?” Jack shook his head. “Nah. He ran like the coward that he is, but that’s okay. He’ll get more men to help him and he’ll be back.” Martin Keatchum looked confused. Why do you think he’ll be back Jack?” Jack Macleod walked to the window and stared out at the clouds as they separated and allowed the sun to shine through. “Because Marty.. Just like me. He needs to know how it ends.”

Scratch © 2006

Woodcutter's Ball..



He stayed out of sight at first, but not so far as to be out of reach if she needed him, he first heard her rustling around before the sun had even come up and knew that she was trying to keep quiet so as not to disturb his rest. He knew that she was up to something but wasn’t sure until he’d managed to sneak out around her to check on her. He stayed there in hiding in the cold morning air uncertain of what she was trying to do, that is until he saw Young Rain dragging the piece of firewood behind her to where the chopping block was. He almost choked on the wide eared smile that was spreading across his face, she was going to do what?? chop the firewood for the fire so they could cook breakfast? “don’t you laugh at her Jack!” he muttered to himself “don’t you make her feel bad for tryin to help with the chores.” But of course he would never even think of doing such a thing to his little Rain, he decided it best that he stay close but watch only, unless he saw that she was going to hurt herself, that of course, Longshadow Jack would never allow. She drug the ax over to the chopping block where the first piece of wood was waiting to be cut.

He was trying harder now not to chuckle, as the frail little girl tried to drag the ax that was almost as big as she was behind her, but the laughter stopped in his throat as he watched her with parent like anticipation as she tried to lift it to take her first attempt at a swing. She got it halfway up her shoulder and slowly tried to raised it over her head but the ax won out almost immediately and it’s weight pulled her over backwards landing her in the dirt butt first, with the ax falling harmlessly to the ground ten feet away. He almost stopped it there, but when she jumped to her feet right away and began cursing the ax he knew that the ax was in for a fight. She again grabbed at the handle and drug it back to the chopping block this time with more determination and much less effort, she paused slightly to set herself and this time when she raised it she brought it back down immediately and cut a small branch from the side of the log and severed it loose. She almost jumped for joy at the small triumph, but was secretly relieved to find that when she turned around Jack was standing behind her smiling proudly.. “You want me to show you the easier way honey?” She smiled back at him and nodded, and looked over at the ax.. “How do you do that every morning Jack? that darned ol thing is really heavy!” they both laughed and Jack sat her down and explained to her the fine art of wood chopping..

Return To Hell's Bottom.



It ended up with Rain using the smaller Hatchet to cut the smaller pieces while Jack swung the big ax to cut the bigger ones, he convinced her that teamwork would always win the day over doing something by yourself. So they cut the wood together and he showed her how to build a proper fire, and even let her help to prepare the morning meal. and after Breakfast he took her down to the Talapeake river and showed her how to catch a fish, which being the young lady that she was, she found the act of catching a fish secretly disgusting, but didn’t want to hurt dear old jack’s feelings so she just sort of played along like she really enjoyed it. But with the first fish she caught and landed, all by herself, she decided that it wasn’t so bad after all. They caught five fish that first morning and she talked Longshadow Jack’s ear off the whole ways back to the cabin, and talked even more while he was cleaning them. On the third fish while he busied himself with the cleaning she began to notice the small dust billows pluming on the horizon, she couldn’t make out who it was but there was two riders on horse back quickly approaching them. She nudged Jack in the ribs and he turned to face the riders, it was Martin and Esmeralda Keatchum from Hell’s Bottom, and as they slowly brought their horse’s to a stop, Jack knew almost immediately that the news would not be good. They all exchanged warm greetings and Esmeralda and Rain gave each other hugs and went inside of the cabin so the men could talk amongst themselves.

Martin Keatchum seemed almost nervous to speak.. “Jack.. My friend.. I’ll get right to the meat of the matter.. There’s some fellers that rode into Hell’s bottom two days ago lookin fer that Bon Tinsley feller that you shot, the one said that they was all saddle buddies and they were gonna meet up with him there.” Jack stuck the knife with a thump into the wooden block where he was cleaning the fish.
“How many fellers Marty?”
“Four.”
“ I get the feeling that there’s more Marty.”
‘Yes sir Jack, there is, do you remember Ed Carpenter?”
“Yeah.. The Barkeep.. From the saloon.”
“Yes sir.. Well Ed done told them fellers That you shot that man.”
“And let me guess. Now they’re looking fer me?”
“Yes sir.”
“Well.. If you will allow Esmeralda to stay here with Rain for protection, I reckon I should go introduced myself to these men.” Martin Keatchum nodded. And the two went inside to tell Esmeralda and Rain, and Martin and Jack went back outside to saddle up Jack’s horse, when they reached the top of the first hill Martin Keatchum stopped him one last time..
“Jack?”
“Yeah?”
“Just so you know, the man leading them calls himself Willie Cooper.”

Scratch. © 2006.