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.

Bon Tinsley.



He looked out of place even in a place like Hells Bottom, he was tall sort of lean and dirty, with brown teeth and a smell that wreaked of urine, he knew, as do most men the carry the stench of guilt with them know.. Jack was coming across the dusty street for him. He slowly moved behind his animal to conceal his actions from the approaching Jack, he eased the rifle out of the saddle scabbard, and almost had it in clear view when Longshadow Jack’s first shot from the navy colt tore through his abdomen, knocking him backwards about fifteen feet.. The rifle fell onto the wooden sidewalk and as Jack walked up beside him he kicked it to the side and trained the colt on his fore head, “You got a name vermin?” He blinked twice looking up at the barrel of the colt and then Jack. “B.. Bon.. Tinsley..” Jack only stared. The steel eyed kind of stare of a man intolerant of animals of the two legged variety.. “Mister.. Men of this world.. Men like you, got no business breathing in the same air as decent folks, that’s why you end up the way men like you always end up.. Lying on the ground with holes in their bellies.. You rode through a mining settlement a while back and burnt it down.. Then you took to raping a young girl..” he raised his head only slightly to look up at Jack and then away.. “ You give me a name.. and I’ll end it quick.. You don’t?..” he lowered then barrel of the weapon towards his crotch.. He looked back up at Jack whimpering.. “W..W.. Willie Cooper.. Evansville.. T...Texas..” Jack didn’t blink.. “M.. Mister.. A little M.. mercy?” Jack stared down at him.. “Mercy??” Longshadow Jack knelt down beside him, and looked him in the eyes.. “Her name is Rain.. And you can tell the devil that her uncle Jack sent you.” he stood and raised the barrel to his forehead and fired. He returned the weapon to its holster. The barkeep from the saloon came through the door.. Hells Bottom had no sheriff.. No law.. But for what the people made for them selves, Edward carpenter looked up at Jack.. “Do you want us to drag him out back for the buzzards Jack?” he stopped and turned to the barkeep, “hell no, we ain’t animals, dig a hole and bury him, he’ll have company soon enough.” he returned to the cart and readied it. He needed to take Rain home.

Closer to home



Esmeralda lay three blankets in the back of the two wheeled cart,next to Jack’s supplies for Rain to lye down on during the trip home. And as it slowly pulled away from Keatchum’s general store, she silently watched as the bar keep and two other men drug the body of Bon Tinsley out into the pasture to bury him. She slowly gave Jack a somewhat puzzled look and then returned her attention to the scene in the pasture, the way his body lay still there gave her an odd feeling that she could not place. She returned her gaze to Longshadow Jack, and without even turning his head to meet her stare, he said, “yes Kitten.. I killed that man.. My reason for some might not apply itself to the good in people.. But sweetheart let uncle Jack tell you something...” he pulled rein on the animal and turned to face her.. “Kitten.. Let no one tell you any different.. It isn’t right what them fellers done to you Rain.. And maybe it ain’t right what I done to him.. But I did what I had to sweetheart, not because I wanted to.. But because I needed to.. Is that okay with you Rain?” she took his thick rough fingers in her tiny hand and looked up as his face, and she could have sworn she seen his eyes watering.. “I…” silence.. He leaned forward intently.. “yes Honey what is it?”.. she smiled.. “I want you to be okay too Jack.” the two hugged warmly and Jack decided that his little girl was big enough to ride in the seat right next to him the rest of the trip home.. And finally as young Rain spoke to her beloved uncle Jack one word became one sentence, and one sentence became two, and soon entire conversations developed, and although Jack allowed her to do most of the talking, his thoughts soon drifted from present conversation to a far off place called Evansville Texas.. And to a man named Willie Cooper.

Scratch..© 2006.

Trust.



She had seen their twisted smiling faces there before, each night in her dreams, Rain had been slowly conditioning herself to qualm her fears of sleep, and as a result, it became less and less of a burden for her. Instead of allowing the fear of her dreams to control and frighten her, Longshadow Jack had been there every time the images came back to haunt her and she knew that all she had to do was open her eyes and the ghosts there that tormented her, would never dare enter into a place where a man such as her dear friend Jack was. For his wrath would surely be something to fear for all men in life and in death, and such peril would never be tempted by even the ugliest ghost’s such as these. She opened her eyes and the first rays of light of the new morning had begun to creep into the small log cabin where she lived now with Jack, he was outside fussing about with the cart that he used for his treks into the nearest small township of two hundred people called Hell’s Bottom. She stood in the doorway watching him arguing with the horse that he was trying to hook to the cart. He didn’t have to see her to know that she was there, he slowly raised to his feet and without so much as turning his head, “Well, good morning Kitten, what you doing up so early?” she rarely spoke to anyone even Jack, so when the rare occasion did arise, he took immediate notice of it, “Jack?” he turned to face her full on, “Yes kitten?” she paused for a moment. “M.. may I go to town with you?… Please?” he smiled warmly and carefully moved towards her.. She knew Jack wasn’t like the ones that hurt her so she didn’t move away.. he was now in front of her looking her in the eye, “You sure your ready for that Kitten?” she slowly nodded her head to the affirmative.. And Longshadow Jack’s crusty old trappers heart almost melted.. For, for the first time since her brought her here Rain smiled.

Hell's Bottom.



The deep vacant look in her eyes took Jackson Macleod completely by surprise. They had taken the Bankhead trail into Hell’s Bottom early in the morning so they could cover the twenty some odd mile trip before noon and the two wheeled cart wagon that they had in tow wouldn’t allow them much in the way of speed to cover ground fast. He left her with the cart while he went into keatchum’s General store for their much needed supplies.. When he returned she was just standing there motionless and afraid, her breathing was shallow and her face almost a ghostly pale, as the blank stare spread across her face. but the wet spot where she had soiled the front of her clothes told Jackson Macleod that young Rain had just seen a face from her not so distant past. She slowly began to shake as her eyes swelling up with tears drifted up to meet his. Longshadow Jack was not smiling, he slowly put his arm around her shoulders, “its okay honey,” he told her, “lets go inside and see if Esmeralda can fix you up, Okay?” he lead her through the door and the lady of the establishment almost knowingly ushered her to the side room where they could have some privacy. Since he had come into the company of young Rain, Jack had been to Hell’s Bottom at the Keatchum’s store a half of a dozen times and Esmeralda Keatchum knew full well what Rains story was. Even Martin Keatchum knew and would often ask Jack what he would do if he had ever ran into one of Rains rapist’s, he was about to find out. He came into the room slowly after Esmeralda had calmed her, and knelt down in front of Rain and gently took her hand, “Kitten, I need for you to do me a big favor… okay?” her eyes welt up with tears, and she slowly shook her head. “that man that went into the saloon? Is he one of them faces from your nightmares? She slowly shook her head to the affirmative.. she sniffed and slowly ran her fore finger down along the length of Jacks right cheek. He stared blankly down at her, Puzzled.. “Its okay honey.. You don’t have to be afraid.. You stay here with Esmeralda while uncle Jack goes to have himself a look at that feller across the street.. Okay?..” the tears had slowly faded.. He rose and turned to the door and swung it open and as he stepped outside there by his animal the man in question saw Jack as he slowly approached, and when jack saw the scar that trailed down along the mans right cheek.. he knew..

Scratch.. © 2006.

ANIMALS..



At first she didn’t recognize the thundering sounds that startled her from her sleep, she had seen the dark looming storm clouds that loomed above the trees throughout most of the day and thought that perhaps the storm was the cause. But soon all of her questions had been replaced by the sudden fear of the real culprit, the thunder outside of the door of her fathers shack that she heard from her bed was the sounds of angry hooves beating against the earth. Hooves of horses that carried angry men bearing torches who would only come out on dark and storming nights such as this one with malice in their hearts and acts of unthinkable evil on their minds. And so on they all came, waves of riders carrying the torches whose bright flames raged against the rain itself, torches that found their way into every open window and jarred doorway of the mining settlement that her father and her called home.. And with the fire that now ravaged through the entire settlement, then came the gunfire, men who shot every man or boy from the back or front that dared cross their path, and left them to die in the rain soaked mud as if they were little more than dogs. And now she too found herself running from the fire in fear for her life, she hadn’t even dared herself to think of where her father was or even what his fate in this surprise attack may have been. Or even if his life had been ultimately spared, she could only fear what these men would do to a thirteen year old girl if she were to be caught. However brief the thought, she was soon surrounded, and found herself in the middle of five.

They came at her like a pack of hungry wolves ripping and tearing at her clothes as though they hadn’t looked upon a female at anytime in their lives. The first came to her and savagely threw her to the muddy earth and began pawing at her naked flesh, and there in the rain her mounted her and stole away her innocence, and when he’d finished there came another, and then another, until she could no longer feel nor bear such ungodly pain, and as she tried to look to each new face for some form of mercy, each new face became twisted and merged with the next, no mercy came for her that night, only the childhood memories ripped from her mind and stolen from her body the innocence that she could never recover, all that remained for her was the rain that came relentlessly crashing down onto her body, there in that cold barren place where they took her and then left her for dead. Soon all that remained was the rain, no more thunder, no more angry riders bearing flaming torches that lit up the sky with fire.. So she lay there until it was almost light outside, until she could feel nothing, not even the cold, she had almost given up when against the light she could see two arms reaching down towards her, at first thought it may have been the men come to finish the deed, but they picked up her small frail battered body from the muddy earth and carried her away from that horrible place and she thought for a moment that it was perhaps God himself come to take her home, her eyes closed for a time, and sleep finally took her from the pain, but even the smallest of her dreams could not be summoned.

Her eyes squinted against the light of a crackling fire, where a large piece of charred meat was cooking above it, the smell of food made her stomach rumble, she didn’t know where she was only that she was dry, warm, alive and very hungry. When he came walking through the doorway she closed her eyes fast in fear that the nightmare that she had lived through would return, but he didn’t seem at all interested in doing her any immediate harm, he seemed more concerned with the keeping of the fire. He was a rather tall older man with long white hair that just seemed to her to shine and his jaw was squared and bearded and his eyes were as blue as the mountain sky and he spoke in a thick accent that she did not recognize. “Well, little one, are you gonna hide under them covers all day or are you gonna come out here and get something to eat?” and so it went for three days, he would cook and leave a small portion of meat and root vegetables that he’d cultivated there in the area, and she would wait until he’d leave to tend to the business of fur trapping before she would come out and eat it, and when he would return in the evenings he would talk to her even though she never talked back, and he would regale her with great tales of the life of a fur trapper and she would politely listen without talking back, until one evening he happened upon a tale that was all too familiar to her, “You know what Kitten? There are just some bad men in the world that only live to bring sorrow, pain and despair into the lives of other people, whatever them fellers did to you, well its comin back to them in spades! There’s a thing in this here life called fate, and well what you do to folks sooner or later comes back to you. By the way young un.” he smiled at her. “My name is Jackson Macleod, the Indians round here say when I’m riding that horse out yonder, that I cast me a right long shadow, so they took to calling me Longshadow Jack, so if you ever need to talk to me I reckon that’s what you can call me too.” he looked at her and paused, but got no response, so he turned to leave.. “Rain.” she said softly.. He turned seriously to face her again and walked over and knelt down next to the bed “what’s that now?” “Rain.” she repeated. “My name is Rain.”

Scratch.. © 2006.