Ranger Winds: Ride on - Softcover

Womack, E Richard

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1450236324 ISBN 13: 9781450236324

Publisher: iUniverse, 2010

Synopsis

In this sequel to Ride the Ranger Winds, the Rangers face death as they try to keep order in an increasingly lawless Texas. Three of the Rangers-Boots, Jerry Jack and JoJo-arrive in Laredo to settle a range war. A rancher with precious water is fencing off his land, fueling a war that is about to get bloody. But there are also other problems to face - some more welcome than others. Three Fingers and his Indian followers are burning barns, killing babies, and stealing horses; there are settlers with grudges seeking revenge; and Boots is falling in love with Jane Wyatt, a newspaper writer. The Rangers also face constant temptations to give up their way of life. It will be up to Captain Laughlin, a legendary gunslinger, to figure out whether one of his men may be contributing to the violent disorder. Step into nineteenth-century Texas and join the Rangers as they contend with marauding Indians, traitorous men, and beautiful women in Ranger Winds: Ride On.

About this title

About the Author

E. Richard Womack, a native of Bowie, Texas, grew up listening to his great-grandfather tell tales about cowboys. He is also the author of "Ride the Ranger Winds" and is working on the third book in the "Ranger Winds" series. He lives on a small South Texas ranch in Fowlerton.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Ranger Winds

Ride OnBy E. RICHARD WOMACK

iUniverse, Inc.

Copyright © 2010 E. Richard Womack
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4502-3632-4

Chapter One

Five years had passed since the death of J.J. Fox. Boots and Jerry Jack were both twenty-three while JoJo had turned twenty-six. They had become inseparable since Glen Ray and Jim retired. The threesome was headed for Laredo; the horses were in a boxcar while they rode in one of the passenger cars.

Boots was thinking about how the times were changing. Five years ago this trip from Uvalde would have been on horseback and taken several days. He could see changes coming for the Rangers also; with the railroads ending many of the cattle drives, drovers were out of work. Then, coupled with the ending of the Civil War and the advent of railroads, many men, who were left either homeless or un-employed, turned to a life of crime.

At one time the Rangers were viewed much like the army. Their job was to protect settlers from the Indians. Now, they were required to be lawmen protecting towns and ranches; primarily dealing with outlaws and ruffians.

The three Rangers, at the request of Herman Fox, brother of Sheriff Oral Fox of Uvalde, had been sent to Laredo to put down a range war. Herman's ranch had water and his fencing it off is what was fueling the war.

The train came to a halt; they unloaded and went directly to the boxcar holding the horses. The horses, saddled with a loose cinch, were led out of the car and down the street to the jail. There they tied the horses to the hitching rail and entered.

"Hello Rangers, how you boys doing?" asked the sheriff, Luke Starrett, "How's your Captain Laughlin these days, still in Uvalde raising horses?" The Rangers nodded as Luke continued, "Have a seat, set down; Boots, I remember when I located you and your brother over in Atlanta."

"Yes sir," said Boots, "that really changed our lives. I'm a Ranger now and my brother, Sterling, is a lawyer over in Austin."

With an approving nod, Luke queried, "How's your Pa'..... still a Ranger carrying that sawed-off double?"

"Yes sir," replied Boots, "he's helping Oral over in Uvalde and goes out on Ranger Patrols when needed."

"Here, let me pour you boys some coffee," spouted Luke as he set cups down and started pouring. Then, with a stern look on his face, he snorted, "Boys, we got some problems brewing out at Herman's ranch." He paused, took a sip of coffee, then continued, "He's fencing and Ben Kingston, owner of the Circle K, isn't taking kindly to it. He's tearing them down as fast as Herman puts them up." Luke's face hardened as he growled, "Hell, there's already been a couple of men killed; both off Fox's ranch, the Lonesome Chaparral. Kingston wants to buy the place but Herman won't sell; so Ben's tearing down the fences and driving off cattle."

Luke took off his hat, scratched his head, replaced his hat, looked at the Rangers and said, "You see, Fox's grandson, Ronald, who Kingston hates, married his granddaughter. When she died during child birth, Kingston blamed the Fox family. Now he's hired about thirty outlaws and professional gunslingers like, Curlee Johnson, Cherokee Jack and Lefty McCauliff, among others that you can find on wanted posters; all working for him."

With a somewhat defeated look on his face, Luke added, "Herman's no match for `em, and I ain't either. I got no deputies; they've all been scared off by those hired guns of Kingston's. Matter of fact, Curlee and some of his boys are over in the saloon right now."

Boots thought about going to the saloon and confronting Curlee and his men, then decided against it and said, "We're gonna take our horses to the livery stable then get some supper and a room. Tomorrow we'll ride out to Herman's place and see what needs to be done."

The Rangers took their horses to the livery stable, removed their saddle-bags and rifles before heading toward the hotel. As they passed the saloon, six men came out and mounted up. They rode up behind the Rangers who were still walking down the street. As they stopped their horses, the rangers turned to face them when the fellow on the lead horse said, "Hold up boys, we need to talk a while."

He was medium in build and height; had curly hair with his hat cocked back and the brim turned up in front. He was fairly nice looking with half grinning but daring eyes. There was a 44 pistol on his right side with pearl handles. It was in a cutaway quick draw holster with tie downs.

Boots said, while looking straight into the man's eyes, "What can we do for you?"

"Well boys," said the stranger, "Laredo's not too friendly of a town; don't take to strangers real good."

Boots, who hadn't taken his eyes off the man, growled, "You must be Curlee!"

Curlee, with a cocky smile, shot back, "Yea, that's right.... Who are you?"

Boots answered, "I'm a Ranger; we're all Rangers, and we'll be staying a while."

Curlee leaned over and spat on the ground, looked up and barked, "You know Rangers, me and my men don't cotton to no lawmen, especially Rangers. I'll tell you again, Laredo ain't friendly. If I were you boys, I would go play lawman somewhere else." Curlee paused, looked defiantly at Boots and warned, "Don't get in our way or in our business; bad things could happen to ya." He paused, then with a final stare said, "Let's go boys, we got work to do."

As they rode off at a gallop, Jerry Jack looked at Boots and said, "Friendly fella ain't he."

Boots looked serious when he said, "Maybe he'll be friendlier after he gets to know us." Then he laughed and uttered, "Let's go eat, my stomach thinks my throat's been cut."

The next day Starrett and the Rangers rode out to the Chaparral. The ranch was located in an area once referred to as Apache Flats. Herman and his two brothers came to Texas when they were young men. While his oldest and middle brother became Rangers, Herman stayed and built his cattle ranch. In his younger days he had fought Indians and Mexicans as well as serving his time in the Civil War before returning to his ranch.

He was a rough and rugged individual living in an area where only the strong survived. Although he was a decent and fair man, it was said he would kill anyone who harmed a kid. Now in his sixties, he was still a slender man with a full head of hair that at one time was dark brown, but now was mixed with gray. His face was weather beaten from spending most of his life in the saddle.

The Chaparral was a cattle ranch and was reported to be about sixty thousand acres. A close observation of the ranch house revealed the original one room structure and then the many additions built around it through the years. From this, one could tell the history of the ranch.

When Starrett and the Rangers arrived there, Herman was at his blacksmith shop shoeing a horse. He finished what he was doing, waved his hand and said, "Hello Luke, this must be the Rangers you told me were coming." He put down his tools, took off his apron, turned the horse out and continued, "Get down and come to the bunkhouse; I'll get us some coffee."

They entered the bunkhouse, sat down and introduced themselves; Herman got cups and poured coffee all around. As Herman sat down he said to Boots, "Boots, I knew your Pa while he was Luke's deputy here in Laredo. Heard lots of good things about him, heard they call him `shotgun'."

Boots laughed and said, "Yea, him and his shotgun; I suppose he's a good Ranger, matter of fact, you know he works over in Uvalde with your brother, Oral. They probably play a lot of dominoes in that jail."

They all had a good laugh, then, got serious as Herman said, "Here's what's going on." He sipped his coffee, settled back in his chair and began, "Ben Kingston, owner of the Circle K ranch, is trying to build an empire. He wants my ranch but it's not for sale. He needs my water and resents my fence building. Hell, he tears `em down quicker than I can build `em and, if that's not bad enough, he shoots my ranch hands."

Herman shook his head, sipped coffee and continued, "But the main problem is, he don't like me or my family. When my grandson, Ronald, married his granddaughter, April, Ben wanted them on his ranch but she came to live with us. He always said we were the reason she lived here with us instead of with him. It wasn't true, she loved us and we loved her. Besides I built this house large enough for several families; then, after my wife died about ten years ago, I had plenty of room."

He paused for a moment, took a deep breath, and continued, "In fact, my boy, Billy and his wife JoAnn also live with me here on the ranch, so Ronald and April decided to stay here. Now Ben never liked Ronald, didn't want April to marry him; then, when she and the baby, her and Ronald's first, died during birth, Ben went crazy. Hell, he tried to kill Ronald."

Once again Herman paused. He was a little teary eyed as he went on, "Ronald couldn't bear to stay in the `big house' once April passed on, so he took to sleeping in the bunkhouse with the hands."

Herman sipped his warm coffee, lowered his voice and said, "You know, Ben and I were real friends..... we helped settle Apache Flats, fought side by side. Then after all this happened, Ben turned mean. That's when I had to start fencing between my place and Bens'. Hells bells, he wouldn't allow us to come on his place at roundup time to get our strays. Curlee, his henchman, has killed two of my men at the saloon. He threatens `em, forces `em to draw.... same as murder. My men aren't gunslingers, just ranch hands. Curlee says he'll kill any of my men he catches in town."

With a resigned look on his face, Herman finished his cold coffee and looked up at the Rangers. He was a rugged old man but Ben was an old friend. Herman was truly at a loss and needed the Ranger's help.

Jerry Jack and JoJo looked over at Boots. The trio had been riding together for five years and they always let Boots take the lead; they back him up. This time was no different; whatever Boots decided they would honor, they respected Boots.

Boots looked at Herman then at Jerry Jack and JoJo, knowing whatever he said was okay by them. Then he pushed his hat back on his head and said, "Boy's, tomorrow we'll ride out and pay Ben Kingston a visit. Herman, you stay here. I'd like to meet Billy and Ronald when we get back."

Early the next day, Sheriff Starrett and the three Rangers headed for the Circle K. It would take them half a day to reach the main gate to the ranch. When they arrived, they proceeded to the main ranch house. They were met at the hitching post by Mr. Kingston and three men; Curlee, Cherokee Jack the half-breed and one other rider wearing his gun on the left side, Lefty McCauliff.

Boots looked at Ben; a robust man with gray hair sticking out from under his hat. He had a large white mustache and bushy white eyebrows on a face that reflected anger and hate.

In a gruff voice, reflecting excessive use of booze, Ben said, "Don't bother to get down, y'all won't be staying. Say what you got to say and then be gone."

Boots looked at Kingston and responded, "We're Texas Rangers; we've been sent here by the Governor to investigate what's been going on." He paused to let his statement sink in, then continued, "We have orders to restore law and order and that is exactly what we are gonna do."

"Don't know why you're over here talking to us," said Kingston, "We ain't done nothing." Hell, any drover that gets hung up in that wire will tear it down, it's not us."

Curlee chimed in, "I told you boys in town that you won't like it around here; be best if you moved on while you can." Feeling confident the Rangers were out-gunned, he went on, "People around here don't care much for Rangers, especially me and the boys."

Boots, whose eyes were no longer carefree and relaxed but rather like penetrating daggers, ignored Curlee and looked hard at Kingston, and barked, "Sir, its spring roundup time and Mr. Fox will be gathering his herd. When he comes over to get his strays, I strongly suggest you let `em ride in and cut `em out."

Boots paused for effect before continuing, "Any more fences torn up, or gunplay, and we'll be back. Don't make us come back; if we do, we'll be angry and it won't be pretty, comprende?"

Kingston, showing his whiskey courage, shouted back, "Y'all don't scare me; I'm gonna make Fox pay for killing my granddaughter." Encouraged, and mistaken, by the Rangers calmness, he continued, "when I get my sights on that varmint, he's dead and my boy's here will bury you Rangers out there on Apache Flats." Then, sarcastically, he pulled his shoulders back and grumbled, "comprende?"

Without taking their eyes off Kingston and his three gunmen, the Rangers backed their horses, wheeled around and rode off at a walk.

They hadn't gone far when Jerry Jack said, "Did you see all those men outside the bunkhouse?" They weren't ranch hands, they were hired guns."

JoJo responded, "I counted sixteen; plus Kingston and his three prime guns, that makes twenty.

Boots chuckled and chirped, "Three of us, twenty of them..... that makes it just right for a good fight." His smile got bigger as he added, "Cut off the snake's head and the body dies with it." He spurred War Paint and they galloped back towards the Lonesome Chaparral.

When they were about a quarter mile from the ranch, the horses slowed to a walk as Boots said to Luke, "Sheriff, tell me about Billy and Ronald."

Without hesitating, Luke said, "Bill is in his mid-forties; he's a strong man with dark hair and piercing eyes. He's stubborn at times and can be a hand full if riled. He's well known as the best rifle shot in the county, hell, maybe the entire state. He can be real forceful with his fists and quite effective with a rifle if need be." Luke paused for a moment, then continued, "On the other hand, Ronald is a young, good-looking boy who's afraid of nothing. He's a damn good horseman and probably Ranger material." Then, as though an after-thought, Luke said, "Since all the trouble started, so far Herman's been able to keep both of `em under control; how much longer, I don't know."

When they arrived back at the Fox ranch, they entered the house, met Billy, Ronald, and Herman's daughter, Donnie Rae. She came to live at the Chaparral when she lost her husband five years ago in an Indian raid on their spread. She had two true loves in her life; her husband, Harold, and her daddy, Herman.

Donnie Rae had prepared supper; as they ate and talked; Boots relayed his instructions to Ben Kingston about roundup time and added, "When you go, we'll go with you. Carry on as usual; should there be any trouble, we'll handle it. Starrett needed to get back to Laredo, so they all rode out that night.

The next day, Saturday, Boots wondered how long before something would happen. At nine o'clock that night, it was time for Luke to make his rounds.

The four of them had been playing dominoes when JoJo offered to accompany him on his nightly walk around.

Luke had a sawed off double in his hands; he handed it to JoJo and got another one from the gun rack. They walked out of the jail and Luke said, "See y'all in about thirty minutes."

About ten minutes had passed when Boots and Jerry Jack heard two pistol shots coming from the direction of the saloon. They looked at each other, jumped up and ran out the door toward the sound. As they rushed out the door, they met JoJo and Luke running towards the shots.

Boots said, "Y'all have the scatter guns, go in the back way. Jerry Jack and I will go thru the front door."

Boots went to the side of the swinging doors and looked in. He saw two cowboys lying in a pool of blood. Curlee was standing over them with a smoking pistol in his hand and a big grin on his face. Behind him was `Cherokee' Jack and `Lefty'. Boots and Jerry Jack entered the saloon and said, simultaneously, "Put your gun away, you're under arrest."

Curlee laughed and mocked, "Hear that boys, the Ranger says I'm under arrest. My gun's in my hand but he thinks I'm under arrest. Well come on Ranger, arrest me."

Suddenly, the distinct sound of hammers being cocked on scatterguns filled the room. JoJo had is shotgun on Curlee and Luke had his on the other two.

Then, with cold determination, JoJo said, "Curlee, the Ranger says you're under arrest, now drop your gun or this scattergun's gonna drop you.

Curlee stared at the Rangers and shouted angrily, "It was self defense, ask anyone in here; it was self defense; they drew first"

(Continues...)

Excerpted from Ranger Windsby E. RICHARD WOMACK Copyright © 2010 by E. Richard Womack. Excerpted by permission.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

Edition details

• Publisher: iUniverse
• Publication date: 2010
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1450236324
• ISBN 13: 9781450236324
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 352