Bonanza
“The Rustlers”
By:
Jane Linnegar
c.
2012
Bonanza
“The Rustlers”
“The Rustlers”
Little Joe ran one hand through his brown, wavy hair with exasperation. “NO, NO, Sarah”, he said, with as much patience as he could muster, “You have to use your wrist more, like this.” Joe took his rope from his saddle horn, and, forming a nice, big loop, easily threw it over the hitching post about twenty feet away. “See? You have to use your wrist: nice easy twirl, take aim, and toss.” Sarah frowned from the back of her mare, Rebel, where she sat forlornly. “Look, Joe, it’s really hot. Can we take a break, please? I think I’ll be able to do it after I have a drink.” Adam and Hoss emerged from the door of the ranch house, and Adam looked to Joe. “Something the matter, Joe?”
“Oh, it’s Sarah, Adam. I just don’t think I can teach her anything….” He looked down from Cochise’s back, and Cochise stomped one hoof impatiently, as if to emphasize the point. Hoss glanced to Sarah, and saw the young girl slumping sadly on her horse.
“Come on, Joe. I seem to remember you having a problem learning how to rope, too, being left handed and all, and your teachers being right handed - me and Adam. At least you and Sarah are BOTH left handed - that should help a bit. Why don’t you both go into the house, get yourselves some nice, cold, lemon aid, and try again later?” Adam nodded in agreement. “That sounds like a good idea, Hoss. Besides, I think that Sarah is right. It is hot, and all she needs is some more practice. She WAS the one that saved that calf from a mud hole with her lasso, a week or two back.” Adam winked at Sarah, who smiled back - once more, her cousins had ‘rescued’ her from Little Joe’s short temper! She slid down off of Rebel, and after tying her to the hitching post, headed for the ranch house door, with Joe following behind. As she entered the house, her Uncle Ben stood up behind his desk. He had overheard the conversation in the barnyard through the open window behind him. “How did your lesson go, Sarah?” She frowned slightly. “I’m just not getting it today, Uncle Ben. I’m really trying…” Her voice trailed off, and her Uncle smiled at her. “At least you’re trying, Sarah. That’s the important thing - perfecting something new always takes time. Now, go get some lemon aid - Hop Sing just made some up fresh.” She nodded silently, and headed for the kitchen.
Joe had just come through the door, and was about to head for the kitchen, too, when his Father called him up short. “Joseph, I’d like to have a word with you.” Joe knew from his Pa’s tone that he was in trouble. Again. Joe stood before his father’s desk as his Pa sat down, and reached for his pipe. He grabbed a match and, striking it on the sole of his boot, lit the tobacco. He gazed at his youngest son, as he took a few thoughtful puffs before he spoke. “You know, Joe, Sarah’s had a pretty tough time of it this past year or so. Losing her father, moving in with us. A totally different lifestyle, for her. It’s been a real adjustment for all of us - I understand that. But, you have to take it a little easier on her, Joe. You have to remember that she is still, basically, a young girl. This whole ranch life is new to her. She’s doing her best, and HAS learned a lot, and IS helping out a lot around here, too. But, give her a chance, Joe. Give her the time to learn.” Joe nodded slowly in agreement. “All right, Pa. I guess I am a little too tough on her sometimes. I’ll try to remember to ease off a bit.” Ben smiled at his youngest son. “Alright, Joe. Now, why don’t you go get a cold drink, too?” Joe turned on his heel, and headed for the kitchen.
Hop Sing slammed down a glass of lemon aid in front of Joe, as Joe sat on one of the stools by the counter, and he frowned. “You give Missy Sarah trouble, Mr. Joe. Hop Sing not like.” Joe looked incredulous, and replied angrily. “What is it with today? Seems like I’m in trouble with everyone around here!” He threw back his drink quickly, then hustled out the kitchen door, before Sarah could say anything. Sarah finished hers, and went to talk to her Uncle, who still sat behind his big desk, going over the ranch books.
“Uncle Ben, I’m sorry - seems like I got Joe in trouble with just about everyone around here.” Her Uncle smiled, and shook his head. “You’ve got nothing to apologise for, Sarah. Joe needs NO help on that score. He’s still young, and lets his temper get the best of him sometimes. I’ve already talked to him - he’ll cool off. Now, why don’t you take a ride into town with Adam and Hoss? They’re out in the barn, tacking up.” She smiled, and nodded. “Thanks, Uncle Ben.” She turned, and headed for the door. When she stepped out into the sunlit barnyard, she realized that Cochise wasn’t there. She grabbed Rebel’s reins, and reached the barn, just as Adam and Hoss were leading their horses outside. “Where did Joe go?” she asked. “If I know my younger brother, he’s gone to cool off somewhere”, Adam replied, half-smiling, as he stepped into Sport’s stirrup, and swung up into his saddle. Hoss nodded in agreement. “We’re going into town, Sarah. Want to go for the ride?” He knew, as Adam did, that a nice long ride with her cousins would go a long way to cheer up their ‘little gal’. “I’d like that, thanks!”, she replied. She vaulted up into her saddle, as Hoss mounted Chubb, and they rode out of the barnyard together.
It was a pleasant ride into Virginia City. The sky was the bluest of blues, with just a puffy white cloud here and there. The trees still had that fresh greenery look of a late May day in Spring. They paused at the pond, about a mile from the ranch house, so the horses could drink, and were soon on their way, loping down the dusty road that lead to town.
When they reached the main street, some two hours later, there was a real hubbub going on at the Sheriff’s office, so they all rode over to see what was happening.
Mr. Anderson stood talking to Sheriff Coffee, and there was a large group of the local ranchers standing around, putting in their ‘two cents’ when it seemed appropriate.
“You’ve got to do something about these rustlers, Roy. I’ve lost several head the last couple of weeks myself. Jed, here, has lost a few, too, as have Pete and Charlie.” All the men nodded in agreement, as the murmur of the crowd grew louder. Adam, Hoss and Sarah dismounted, and joined the large group. Roy noticed, and looked towards them.
“Have you lost any cattle to these rustler fellas, Adam?” Adam just shrugged. “Not as far as we know yet, Roy. Haven’t heard anything from the hands, anyhow. Guess if it’s as bad a problem as these men say, though, we’d better check the herd a little more closely, and perhaps do a headcount.” Roy nodded in agreement. “I want you men to be on the lookout for any strangers in the area, acting out of the usual. Especially if they’re hanging around your ranches, or herds, where they shouldn’t be. You catch any rustlers, though, I want them brought in alive. I’ll send out a few of my deputies on patrol, to see what they can see, too.” The men nodded generally in agreement, and the crowd dispersed. Adam, Hoss and Sarah watched them go, as they stepped up onto the wood plank sidewalk in front of the Sheriff’s office. Adam was the first to speak. “I remember the last round of rustlers did a lot of damage to the local herds, Roy. Do you think it may be the same gang?” Roy nodded slowly. “I’m afraid it might just be, Adam. We never did catch them, did we?” He let out a deep sigh, and walked into his office, closing the door behind him. Hoss shrugged. “You know, Adam, there are times when I don’t envy Roy his job at all. “Adam half smiled. ”Yeah, I know what you mean. But, come on, let’s grab a bite to eat, at that new restaurant, then get that stuff we need in the tack shop.“ The three mounted up again, and made their way to the eatery.
They sat in silence eating their meals a short time later. Adam looked thoughtful, and sighed. The sigh hadn’t gone unnoticed by Hoss. “What’s up, Adam?” Adam swallowed another mouthful of beer, from his beer mug. “I’m thinking that we should perhaps camp out tonight, out by the main herd on the Tahoe rim. If any cattle are going to go missing, they’ll probably pick on the part of the herd that is the farthest from the ranch house. What do you think, Hoss?” Hoss considered that for a moment. “I agree, Adam. Well, we’ve all got our bedrolls with us, all we need are some supplies. Long as Sarah don’t mind a camp out? “Sarah grinned from ear to ear. “NO, I don’t mind!“ Adam smiled at her enthusiasm. “Well, it’s settled, then.” He pushed his plate away, and signalled for the waitress to get the bill.
After picking up the spare lassoes and girths at the tack shop, they picked up some overnight supplies from the general store, too. They were just about to ride out of town, when they recognised Cochise, tied up in front of the ‘Bucket of Blood’ saloon. Adam held up one hand, and Hoss and Sarah stopped. “Look - there’s Joe’s horse - I’ll just go in and get him!” Little Joe was WAY ahead of him, as he suddenly came flying out -backwards- through the bat wing doors, and landed, unceremoniously, on his backside, in the dust of the street. Joe jumped up, and was just about to run back in, when Adam, leaping down off of Sport, grabbed him by the scruff of his neck, with a brotherly hand. “Not so fast, Joe. We need your help out on the Ponderosa.” Joe grinned. “Hey, brother! You’ve got it - I fancy my chances with you, more than that guy inside, anyhow.” He vaulted up onto Cochise, and Adam mounted Sport again, and the four of them loped off down the street together.
It was a long ride to get to their destination, and the sun was dipping low over the hills when they arrived. They were glad to see a few of the ranch hands watching over the herd, as they all dismounted, and made camp. Hoss and Joe laid out the bedrolls, then tied the horses securely to a tether line between two stout Ponderosa pines, as Sarah collected some firewood. Adam walked over to the ranch hands. “I heard in town today that there’s been some rustling going on in the area. Have you men seen anything out of the ordinary?” The men shrugged. “No, sir, Mr. Cartwright. Not so much as a jack rabbit. Been real quiet for a few days.” Adam nodded. “Okay, that’s good. Look, we’re going to take the watch tonight. Perhaps you’d let my Pa know? How about you get back to the bunkhouse, and have a real night’s rest for a change? You’ve earned it.” The men all smiled. “Thanks, Mr. Cartwright.” They mounted their horses, and rode off.
Adam climbed up a large, sloping rock that looked out over the large herd below, as Joe and Hoss started up the fire, and put the beans and pork on to heat. Adam gazed down on the cattle - must have been about two hundred fifty head, at least, by his estimate, grazing quietly on the lush grasses. A few of the cattle were drinking from a small river that ran through the shallow valley. The ranch hands were right - it sure was a quiet, peaceful place. A short time later, he was suddenly interrupted by Hoss’s voice “Adam, chow’s ready.” He clambered down off the rock, and joined the other three. He hadn’t realized how hungry he was - as did the others - till they each took their first mouthful. They each had their fill, and drank the coffee pot dry. Adam watched the sun disappear behind the hill, and stood to stretch. “Well, I’ll take first watch.” Hoss and Joe made no comment, just smiled. “What, no arguments?” Adam asked, with a touch of sarcasm in his voice.
“No, I guess not. Joe, you can spell me in three hours.” Joe stretched out by the fire, pulled his bedroll up to his chin, and placed his hat over his face. “Okay, Adam. See you then.” It seemed only minutes later that he was asleep.
Hoss stoked the fire with some more wood, as Adam glanced over to Sarah. “Sarah, why don’t you come down the hill with me - let the horses graze for a bit, and get a drink?” They each mounted their own horses, and led Chubb and Cochise carefully down the hill, and skirted the herd of cattle, then let all four horses graze. Adam had always told her that the safest place you can be, in a herd of cattle, was on a good horse’s back, so the two of them sat on their horses, moving the horses around as the grass was eaten down. The only sounds that were heard were those of the crickets, and the lowing of the cattle in the valley. “Adam, do you suppose we’ll see the rustlers?” Adam shrugged. “I don’t know, Sarah. I guess we might. Seems since we’re the only ranch that hasn’t been hit yet, it may just about be our turn.” After about an hour or so, Adam looked over to Sarah, and caught her yawning. “Are you tired?” She smiled a little. “No, I’m okay”, then promptly yawned again. Adam laughed. “Yeah, you’ll be okay as long as you don’t fall asleep on that poor mare’s back. Come on, I think the horses have had enough grass and water. We’ll take them back up to the camp.” The full moon lit the whole valley, and they easily made their way up the hillside trail to the top again. Adam grabbed all four horses at the top, and tied them all up to the tether line, as Sarah laid down in the space between the sleeping Hoss and Joe, and pulled her bedroll up over herself. “Is it okay if I sleep here? Hoss always said to stay close, so I don’t get grabbed by a mountain lion.” Adam grinned. “I think Hoss may have been exaggerating a bit on that point. But, I guess sleeping in the middle IS safer….” Sarah smiled over the edge of her blanket. “Adam, when is my watch?” He stooped over her, and ruffled her hair. “You’re the lucky one, Sarah. You don’t have a watch. Pleasant dreams.” “Thanks, Adam. Goodnight.” Sarah rolled onto her side, and was soon asleep. Adam removed his rifle from his scabbard, and grabbed his bedroll, as the night air was getting chilly. He clambered up onto the large flat rock at the edge of the camp and, wrapping his blanket around his shoulders, laid his rifle across his lap, and gazed out over the herd below. The wind rose a bit, and he pulled up the collar of his tan jacket, and pulled his blanket more tightly around himself. The herd was quiet. Off in the distance, he heard a family of coyotes howling in chorus. It seemed just minutes later he heard them yelping excitedly, as they had obviously just made a kill. That was a good thing in his mind - it meant that the herd was safe from that particular coyote pack that night. His watch was pretty uneventful. At one point, he nearly dozed off in the quiet, then shook himself awake, and reached a pocket watch out of his pocket. It read just about one o’clock. He slid down off the rock, and crept over to the sleeping Joe, and shook his shoulder gently. “Joe, wake up. Time for your watch.” Joe blinked awake, and gave a little groan, then stood up. “Okay, Adam. I got the grass down there nicely warmed up for you.” Adam chuckled. “Thanks, little brother. I appreciate that.” Joe clambered up onto the lookout rock, with his rifle, the pocket watch, and his blanket. He wrapped it around himself, to start his watch, as Adam laid down beside the sleeping Sarah, as Hoss snored softly on her other side. He pulled his blanket over himself and, placing his hat over his face, soon fell asleep.
Sometime later, he was suddenly awakened by Joe’s hoarse whisper. “Adam! Adam! Wake up! There are some men down by the herd.” Adam was suddenly fully awake, and, staggering to his feet, grabbed his rifle. He reached down, and shook Hoss awake, too. Hoss groaned. “What’s going on? Is it time for my watch?” Adam shook his head.
“No. Better than that - Joe saw some men down by the herd. This may be it.” Sarah was awakened by all the commotion. “What’s going on? Are the rustlers here?” Adam replied, “Maybe. We’re going down to check. Sarah, you stay here.” She frowned a little. “Can’t I go too?” Adam shook his head. “NO. Someone has to watch the camp, and your horse. That someone is YOU.” She sighed. “Oh, okay. But I never seem to get in on the fun parts…”
Adam knew that the rustlers would assume that there were just the three Cartwright brothers, and that Sarah would be safe at the campsite, away from any of the action. The three brothers started the slow stealth ride down the hillside, into the valley, to catch the men by surprise. They rode along carefully, and had nearly gotten to the moon washed valley floor, sticking to the darkness under the trees. Adam pulled Sport to a stop, some distance above, and back, from the rustler’s campsite, and held up one hand.
“There seems to be only three men.” Hoss and Joe grunted softly in agreement. “Yeah, Adam, three was the number I saw from the ridge”, commented Joe. Adam nodded.
“Good. We have to surround them. Wait for my whistle signal to go in. And be quiet! Last thing we need is a stampede…” He signalled his brothers in two directions, to flank the rustlers, while he went in ‘head on’…
High up on the hill, Sarah was watching the goings on from the lookout rock at the edge of their campsite. Then she saw something that made her heart practically stop. At the far end of the herd was a fourth man – a man her cousins obviously knew nothing about. She hesitated for just a moment - what to do, what to do! - she certainly couldn’t yell out a warning, so made the decision. She grabbed Joe’s six shooter, and, shoving it down her waist, ran over to Rebel, and vaulted into the mare’s saddle. She pointed the horse’s head down another trail, that lead to the back of the herd, where she’d seen the fourth man……
She rode her way carefully down the darkened hillside, trying to keep the man in sight as much as she could, and she soon got to the bottom. She saw the man on foot, just a bit off in the distance in the moonlight, and rode quietly up behind him, keeping to the shadows. When she was about sixty feet back, she pulled the gun from her belt, and, with her hand shaking with half fear, half excitement, rode out into the moonlight, then said in her gruffest, bravest voice “That’s far enough. Put your hands up!” The man swung around, and as his face became visible in the bright moonlight, she suddenly recognised him as the new restaurant owner in Virginia City. The man was so startled by the young girl, on the colourful Appaloosa horse, that he threw up his hands. “Don’t shoot!”, he pleaded. He was, luckily, unarmed. He plodded on in front of her, as Sarah headed to the last place she’d seen her three cousins.
Adam whistled his signal softly, and the three brothers rushed into the camp, each from a different direction, with their rifles drawn and ready. They’d caught the rustlers totally by surprise, and when they saw the three Cartwright brothers, with a ‘bead’ on each of them, they dropped their weapons. Adam swung down from Sport’s back, and started tying the rustlers up, as Hoss and Joe stood guard. They’d just finished tying up the last one, when Sarah appeared, with the fourth rustler, still walking in front of her, with his hands on his head. Hoss and Joe looked totally surprised, and Adam just did a double take. “Where did YOU come from, Sarah, And where did you find HIM?!” She suddenly felt sheepish, as Adam sounded mad. “I spotted him from our camp, way at the back of the herd. I figured you guys hadn’t seen him - and there was no way to let you know, so ….” Her voice trailed off. “Am I in trouble?”, she asked quietly. “TROUBLE?!” Adam looked to the sky, and rolled his eyes. He paused, then sighed deeply. “No. I guess you did what ANY of us would have done, given the same circumstances. It might take a bit to explain it to Pa, though….” Hoss and Joe started to laugh, and Adam joined in, in spite of himself. Sarah suddenly remembered Joe’s gun, and held it out to him. “Here, Joe. It works for me. Good thing we’re both left handed, though, so it does..” She grinned, as Joe reached for his gun, and stuck it down his belt. “Very funny, Sarah! “ he commented, but smiled back at his young cousin. The fourth rustler was tied up, and the four Cartwrights herded them, and their horses, up the hill, to their camp, for the night. When they got to the top, Sarah was the first one to lay down, ready for sleep. Hoss and Joe busied themselves settling the horses, and their captives, for the night.
Adam leaned one elbow on his knee, as he knelt down beside Sarah. “Thanks for your help tonight, Sarah. It was very brave of you.” Sarah considered this. “Gee, Adam, I didn’t feel brave - I was kind of scared. I just knew that you guys needed my help. My Pa always said I should - what was it? - oh, yeah - ‘Go with your gut’. Didn’t really know what that meant, until tonight…” She smiled shyly, and Adam smiled back at her. “Your Pa was a good man, Sarah. Kind of like my Pa. They are brothers, after all.” He leaned over, and ruffled her hair, as was his habit. “Good night, Sarah. See you in the morning.” Sarah curled up under her blanket, and was soon asleep. With his watch being long over, Adam, too, stretched out under his bedroll, put his hat over his face, and soon drifted off.
When the four Cartwrights rode down the main street of Virginia City about mid-morning , they really drew a crowd - the four of them, and the four rustlers, being lead on horseback, to the Sheriff ’s office. When they got there, Sheriff Coffee stepped out through his door, with Ben Cartwright at his heels. The Sheriff smiled. “Well, nice to see you’ve caught them, boys. Your Pa, here, was just offering me some of your ranch hands to help in the tracking and capture.” Adam interrupted him. “It wasn’t just my two brothers and I, Roy. Sarah caught one of them herself. Let’s give credit where credit is due.” Ben looked incredulous. “SARAH caught one?! But how -” Adam held up one hand. “We’ll explain later, Pa. It’s been a long night, and an even longer ride into town. How about we eat first, and explain later?” Ben relaxed a bit, as he trusted his eldest son’s judgment. “Alright, Adam. Fair enough. Roy - your prisoners !” The Sheriff soon had the four behind bars, awaiting the arrival of the circuit judge. A short while later, the Sheriff joined the Cartwrights at one of the older restaurants in town.
Roy passed the bread basket to Ben, then commented. “You know, I got full confessions from ALL of them. I guess they knew it was over. But, I just don’t know how anyone could open a restaurant, then rely on rustling to keep them supplied with beef!“ Ben let a sly smile cross his lips. “Oh, I don’t know, Roy. Seems like a good way to keep the costs down….” They all started to laugh. Ben dabbed his mouth with a napkin, then continued. “Listen - I’d like to thank you boys, and Sarah, for bringing them in, though. You’ve been a real help to ALL the ranchers around here. The end of a gang that has cost the ranches around here dearly, in lost cattle.” Sarah smiled to her cousins, then said to her Uncle “Well, Uncle Ben, guess it just takes a gang of Cartwrights, to catch a gang of rustlers!” All five men around the table started to laugh. Adam stood up, and raised his beer mug. “I’d like to propose a toast - to the ‘Cartwright Gang’ “They all stood, as one, as four more beer mugs, and one glass of milk, was raised, and ‘clinked’ together, high over the table. “To the Cartwright Gang!”
The End