Trouble Rides a Fast Horse--A Frontier G-Man Novel Page 4

  "We've got nothing to say to you, Hank Beldon," the elderly lady said.

  "And I've got nothing to say to you, either, Kate."

  He turned his attention to Jack.

  “This the man, Sheriff?" Beldon asked sternly.

  “That's right Mister Beldon," the sheriff answered meekly

  “Now you listen to me, young man,” Beldon addressed Clayton. ”I’m not saying my men didn’t deserve what they got, but I take care of my own. From now on, mind your own business”.

  Ryker shifted in the saddle as if ready for action.

  Jack saw no reason to retaliate. He just stood there, staring the man in the face. To make a play now would be playing right into Beldon's and Ryker's hands.

  Beldon, expecting trouble and getting none, seemed a bit flustered, then turned to his son, "Come on, Steve. We'd better get you registered for the race." He started to swing his horse around.

  "Good luck, Marci," the boy said, a hint of longing in his eyes, as he turned the appaloosa away. Marci stared after him.

  "He's racing that big appaloosa against you, is he?" Andy Fane broke the silence.

  "Yes," Marci answered softly.

  "That's Buckshot," Kate Matson interjected. "Beldon thinks he can give Sunrise," she indicated the sorrel, "a run. Normally, he wouldn't do anything to support the irrigation fund raising, but he's got to be top dog at everything around here."

  "Then we've got a good three way race going here," Andy said enthusiastically.

  "Three way?" Marci said with a start.

  "Sure, Beldon's horse, yours and Jack's"

  Marci and Kate simultaneously turned their attention to Regret. They both knew horses and could see immediately that here was a real contender. Jack could see a look of worry and apprehension on both of their faces.

  "Now, wait a minute, Andy," Jack retorted. "I never agreed to entering the race." J

  "Aw, but Jack," Fane pleaded. "You can beat both of those horses. You gotta. You just gotta."

  Before Jack could protest further, Marci warned, trying to hide her worry. "Forget it Mister. That nag of yours could never come close to Sunrise. Take my advice and save your twenty dollar entrance fee. Stay out of it." She tossed her head haughtily, spun on her heel, pulling the sorrel behind her. "Come on, Ma," She said as she strode away.

  "So long, sonny," Kate said as she followed after her daughter.

  Jack watched them walk away. He smiled wryly and said to Andy Fane. "I guess that young lady needs to be taught a lesson. We'd better get registered for the race."

  ****

  CHAPTER SIX

  Race of Treachery

  The heat of the day had peaked somewhat by two o'clock. The sky was crystal clear blue, not a cloud appearing. Only the blazing sun and the silhouette of Doctor Deke's hot air balloon graced the magnificent New Mexico sky.

  Riders and their horses had gathered at the starting line for the afternoon race. A broad white ribbon had been tied to a pole at the inside portion of the makeshift track. This ribbon would be held horse chest high by an attendant on the far outside of the track. Once the starter fired off the beginning shot, the ribbon would be dropped for the horses' exit. Flags on poles four feet high had been planted along the track on both sides at varying intervals. The horses would have to stay between these rows of flags. The course was laid out to extend a quarter mile southward and wind around a large grove of cottonwood trees, where the race would not be visible until the horses emerged on the other side and returned toward the finish line back where they started.

  Ten riders and horses had already claimed their places along the starting line when Marci Matson atop Sunrise, guided the big sorrel to the starting line. She glanced to her left at the line of horses and gritted her teeth with anger. She had been delayed by Clayton and was too late for a favorable position. She was in number eleventh place while Steve Beldon on Buckshot had landed a number six spot in the middle. Oh well, she told herself. She could pull Sunrise out ahead of the pack and eventually move to the inside. She could still beat that hay burner of Beldon's, she told herself somewhat unconvincingly.

  The last entry arrived and pulled into the number twelve position on the far outside. "Looks like we were both a little late," Jack Clayton mused as he settled Regret at the line. A frown of concern creased Clayton's face as he noticed the riders in the one and two slots as Beldon's men, Carver and Tanner. Why weren't these men in jail where they belonged. Obviously, Sheriff Hackett had given in to Hank Beldon and let them go. Jack decided, he would pay a visit to the sheriff as soon as this race was over.

  "Yeah, we'll see who's late," Marci shouted as the starting pistol went off. The ribbon dropped and the line of horses shot forward, Regret and Sunrise lurching forward in a simultaneous stride.

  The crowd roared with excitement. Spectator hats and hand held flags waved the contestants forward as the flying hooves tore the grassy turf, flinging clods of sod and dirt in all directions.

  At first the line of horses seemed to be running together, but it only took seconds for a pattern to emerge and the line became almost wedge shaped, except for the one and two horses, with Steve Beldon's, Buckshot. in the lead at center. Carver and Tanner had jumped the gun and put their mounts out a hair before the starting gun actually fired.

  Marci Manson gave Sunrise his head and urged him onward, distorting the wedge like formation even more at the far end of the line. She glanced to her right to see Clayton leaning low over Regret's neck, standing in the stirrups and beginning to edge past her. She whipped her reins rapidly against the sorrel's flanks and urged him on.

  As the racers neared the first turn before the cottonwoods, Buckshot was clearly in the lead moving toward the inside. Sunrise and Regret were almost neck and neck, with Sunrise pulling forward as Marci maneuvered him closer to the center with Regret close behind.

  One by one the horses disappeared behind the grove of trees. Buckshot was first, now on the inside. The number two horse was now in second place having moved a little away from the inside, just behind and to the outside of Buckshot. The one horse still trailed along the inside. Marci sent Sunrise forward with a new burst of speed after the two horse and Buckshot. The great horse reached his powerful legs out in tremendous strides, his chest muscles flexing with golden grace and his flowing white tail streaming in the breeze, passing the two horse on the outside and moving in closer behind Buckshot. The two horses moved a little more to the outside.

  Clayton urged Regret forward, letting him have his head and taking a liberty run. Stride after stride, the gallant black pushed forward, increasing the distance between him and the rest of the horses behind as he too passed the two horse on the outside. Marci had moved closer to Steve Beldon, whose appaloosa seemed to be tiring.

  Regret shot forward, gaining on Buckshot and pulling slightly ahead of Marci and Sunrise. They were now nearing the far turn of the race, about to emerge from behind the stand of trees. Beldon whipped Buckshot into a new burst of speed, pushing the steed to the limit of his stamina and emerged from the trees still in the lead on the inside. Clayton was half a length behind on the outside and Sunrise was desperately trying to make a move to pass Buckshot on the outside, but the two horse had moved in close to her right and the one horse had moved in close behind her. They had her trapped in a pocket. She couldn't get out.

  Meanwhile, Clayton had edged Regret into the lead, half a neck ahead of Beldon's appaloosa, unaware that Marci had been sabotaged.

  Marci pushed Sunrise into Tanner's number two horse and shouted. "Let me through! Move over! I'm coming through!"

  Tanner pulled his horse closer and rammed the big sorrel. Sunrise half stumbled. Marci's right hand reached out and slapped Tanner's beard stubbled face. "Move away!" she shouted again.

  They were halfway back toward the finish line and Regret was now a half-length ahead of Buckshot, when he heard the girl's screams behind him. Glancing back for a brief second he saw the Matson girl's plight. Without
a thought for the race, Jack pulled back on the reins and Regret began to slow. The big black stallion appeared to be standing still as the appaloosa pulled forward and the following horses caught up to him Then he was beside Tanner on the outside. "I've had enough of you boys today!" he shouted as he banged the big black into the two horse, reaching out with his left and grabbing Tanner by the back of his collar and pulling him backward out of the saddle.

  Tanner landed with a thud in the churned sod and rolled to a half sitting position, his arms up and covering his fear stricken face as the trailing horses thundered around and past him without hitting him.

  Clayton fell back a little farther and rammed into Carver's number one horse and pushed the rider off the saddle, rolling to the side of the track.

  Meanwhile, seeing the pocket broken, Marci urged Sunrise forward with a tremendous burst of speed. Buckshot, flecked with lather was slowing, having been played out. As the riders crossed the finish line, it was Sunrise by a length. Buckshot, heaving and blowing struggled home in second place with Regret and Clayton a close third.

  ****

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Gun for Hire

  Marci let the big sorrel slow and brought him to a halt several yards beyond the finish line. She leaned over and patted the Sunrise's sweaty neck. "Good fella," she whispered in his ear. "I knew you wouldn't let me down." Then she swung from the saddle and loosened the girth, letting him relax for a few minutes. Sunrise whinnied and blew as his heaving body expanded and constricted with each massive breath.

  As Sunrise began to cool down, Marci pulled on the reins, turning the sorrel around to look back toward the finish line. Steve Beldon was still astride Buckshot and the lathered animal was heaving for breath.

  A darkness crossed Marci's face as she strode up to him. "I always knew you'd do whatever your Daddy told you to do, but I never thought you'd stoop this low," she said angrily, a hint of sob in her voice."

  "But Marci," Steve tried to explain. "I had nothing to do wi…”

  "Save it!" She almost growled between clenched teeth. “Just forget there was ever anything…” she cut off, flashed her eyes angrily and added, ”Get off and give that horse a break. You don’t even know how to treat an animal. She tugged on Sunrise’s reins and stepped past him.

  “B…But, Marci,” he tried to plead, then, watched her go. away.

  Jack Clayton had already found some shade for Regret and had stripped the saddle and martingale from the stallion's back and chest. He was rubbing him down with tufts of grass as Marci approached. He busied himself, keeping his back toward her and pretended he didn't know she was there.

  She came to a halt behind him, watched him work for a moment; then, tried to speak. There was a lump in her throat. Apologies did not come easy for Marci Matson.

  "Mister Clayton," she said meekly. Jack stopped the rubbing a moment. Then saying nothing he continued his work. "I..I want to thank you." Her voice trembled weakly.

  Jack turned to face her. A slight smile began. "No thanks needed ma'am," he said quietly.

  She flushed. "I'm sorry you lost the race."

  Jack shrugged. "I really didn't want to race any way. I am sorry for Andy Fane though."

  "Andy Fane?'

  "Yes, he was betting on Regret, probably lost a bunch of money. But I guess he'll get over it."

  "He's a good friend of yours?" She asked. Jack had noticed her interest in the young man earlier.

  "Just met him today," Jack answered. "He did save my hide from one of Beldon's men."

  "The Beldon's are ruthless, mean men," Marci said.

  “Even the young one?" Jack queried.

  "Especially, the young one," she flashed with anger. "Never had the nerve to stand up to his old man. No matter what Steve really wanted, he would walk away from it rather than go against his Daddy."

  "What did he want?" Jack asked coolly, then supplying the answer, "You?"

  Marci started at that. My god was it that obvious that a stranger could see it? She thought a moment, then supplied, "No, I don't think so, not really. If he did, nothing should stop him." She blushed.

  "I suppose you're right ma'am," Jack agreed. "I'm sorry."

  "You needn't be," she said with a touch of melancholia. Then she changed the topic. "Any ways, Mister Clayton," she said. "I'm sorry for the way I treated you today. But, Beldon's been bringing in hired guns and naturally.

  "You thought I was a gunman," He finished for her.

  "Well, you do wear that gun like you know what to do with it."

  "Maybe, just a little too well," Jack said. "Maybe you should follow Beldon's lead and hire your own guns."

  "You looking for that kind of job, are you?" She queried with slight suspicion.

  Clayton shrugged, "Maybe so, maybe no. I'm just passing through, but if I do stay around awhile, I just might be interested. Just what does this Beldon have against you."

  "It's not just us. It's everyone in the valley. Hank Beldon is just a mean, bitter and lonely old man and he's taking it out on everyone else. Lord knows he's got enough land and money. Why should he want everyone else s unless it's just for spite? He used to be a decent man. Our families were always close. Hank Beldon and my father were best of friends in their younger days. They settled in this valley together and worked side by side building up each other’s spread. Steve and I practically grew up together and we thought we sort of had an understanding.”

  "What happened to change things?"

  "I'm not really sure. But after they both started their own families, I guess they started to grow away from each other. My mother seems to know more about it than I do, but she's never really talked about it much.

  "Then four years ago Hank's wife died. He took it awfully hard and the relationship with my father seemed to grow worse. Both of them became bitter toward each other and they started to do things to each other, like cutting fences, running off stock and cutting off water supply. Since Beldon had the headwaters to the river, he built the dam and started charging high fees to my father. After a while he was charging everyone in the valley. He became hated by all of his neighbors and as he lost his remaining friends, he seemed to become meaner and more ruthless. Like he was trying to get even with the world."

  "Did anyone try to retaliate?"

  "Yes, my father led the rest of the rancher's against him, but unfortunately the stress was too much for him. One time he confronted Beldon at the dam and tried to open the gates. There was shooting and my father was killed by Ryker. The judge ruled it justifiable homicide and Hank Beldon was allowed to go free. My mother has never forgiven him and they hate each other like poison."

  Clayton began to wonder if there was more to it. Perhaps there was something stronger between Hank Beldon and Kate Matson. One thing was sure, big trouble was brewing in this country. More trouble than he was here for. But, the fact was that Marci Matson’s sorrel had been involved in the bank robbery at Sand Flats. Somehow she was involved, if not in all actuality, with the blond rider he had been pursuing. Working for the Matson's could provide a good excuse to get close to her.

  "Sounds like, you have big troubles here, ma'am. On second thought, maybe I would like to hire my gun out to you."

  She flashed back sharply, "Wait a minute here. I didn't say I wanted any hired guns. That was your idea. I'm not so sure that's the kind of thing I want." Then she settled down and changed the subject. "I've got to go now," she said quietly. "The mayor's probably waiting for me to award my prize."

  With that she turned on her heel and led the big sorrel away toward the gazebo where the crowd and dignitaries has reassembled after the foray of Beldon's men.

  An interesting girl, Jack thought as he watched her walk away. It would be hard to believe she was the rider he had been following. But, she was tough and determined. He couldn't rule out the possibility.

  As he watched her go, he noticed Sheriff Hackett at the rear of the crowd. He was standing there casually, watching; thumbs hooke
d in his belt, chewing on a cud of tobacco. Clayton remembered he had some unfinished business with Sheriff Hackett.

  Patting Regret's sleek neck, Jack said, "Just stand here awhile, old son. I'll be right back. Don't wander off."

  The big black shook his head and whinnied as if he understood.

  Leaving Regret standing in the shade, Clayton swaggered toward the sheriff. He was almost upon him, when Hackett noticed his approach out of the corner of his eye. He half spun around with a start. A look of apprehension was on his face.

  “Sheriff Hackett,” Clayton greeted with an edged in his tone. “I need to talk to you.”

  Hackett stood his ground. Waited for Jack to halt close to him, standing face to face. "Yeah? What about?" He tried to cover a fluster in his voice with gruffness.

  "Beldon's men. You didn't lock them up. You in tight with Beldon, are you?"

  "No, I'm not in tight with Beldon, if that's any of your business, which it ain't. You walk up to me with an attitude like that could get you in a lot of trouble, boy. Look, you're just passing through, so why don't you just saddle up and ride out," Hackett bellowed.

  "Just give me some answers, Sheriff and maybe I will."

  "I'm not giving you anything."

  "Look, Sheriff," Jack said with a little more tact. "I just want to know why you didn't lock those men up."

  "If it's any of your business, just look around. We've got a lot of people from all over here. And there is a lot a riff raff among them. I'll have you know, my jail is all full up. I don't have room for any more. I told Beldon to keep his men in line. That's all I can do. If you think I'm giving Beldon's men special treatment, I'm not. I didn't lock up Ted Matson either. He's been a terror at the Blue Ox. Made a mess of Casey's place. Lord knows he deserves a lock up too. I've told Kate to hold her boy down,"

  Ted Matson. Kate's boy. Must be Marci's brother. Jack hadn't known about him. Marci hadn't mentioned him. Jack let this new information seep into his brain. If he bore any resemblance to his sister, maybe he should get a look at this Ted Matson.

  "I'm sorry I was so abrupt with you, Sheriff. Please accept my apologies if I seemed accusing….." Jack said in a low, pleasant drawl, but Hackett interrupted him sharply.