Shiloh... First Draft...Chapter Four "Attack"

1st Draft

Attack

Smitty and Jake saw the fire light bouncing on the side of the mountain.
It was coming from around the next bend.
Smitty held up his hand,
"What is it" Jake asked
"It looks that farmer made camp" Smitty replied
'Leave the horses here, we'll go on foot.'
It was as dark as molassses which made it twice as hard not to make noise but they move slowly
Smitty told Jake to hang back, "Jake your as nosey As a bear in brush"
The night was too quiet and Smitty didn't want any nose echooing through the canyon.
"Give me 5 minutes and then come on in" Smitty said
"You going to take him all your lonesome Smitty" Jake asked
"Hell no, your the bait, I'm going to get set up down wind of him with my Winchester"
Jake looked as if he was going to argue but had a second thought.
"So you want me to sneak up on him?" Jake asked
"Yep and when it's time I'll blow his head off" Smitty replied
"Why kill him?, we could just rough him up and convince him to hand over the Deed if he wants to live"
"Because I owe him one, He made me look silly in front of that whore of his, I won't let any man do that to me"
"What about Big John?" Jake said with a smirk
Smitty stared hard at him and said "You want to die tonight also?.
Jake bit his lower lip and said "Smitty I was only funin"
 I can tell Big John the farmer got you before I killed him?"
'Ahh come on Smitty" Jake was worried now, Smitty was known to bebe haot head adnd he  heard stories about people he had killed.
"OK Jake don't worry, I need you now" and he laughed
"Goddamit Smitty I'm sorry"
"Jake your fine but let me tell you something that Big Johns time will come sooner then later"
"Ok Smitty I'll hang back for 5 minute and then I'll move in"
"Good, OK I'll climb up that ridge over there to get a better view of the camp site" Smitty said
Jake shook his head ok and Smitty took off for the ridge.
Jake sighed with releif after he left.
"Shit he thought how in the hell I'm I going to know when 5 minutes are up, I don't have no watch and I couldn't read it if I did"
So Jake started counting the only numbers he knew since he had no formal schooling.
1-2-3-4-5, 1-2-3-4-5-7, and he figured he'd do that until he was tired of it.
Smitty found a nice little spot that he could as a shooting bench, It was a perfect sized rock with a flat top.
Smitty laid the Winchester across the top of it as he warmed up his hands from the night chill
Pulling a piece of jerked meat from his pocket he scanned the camp site as he chewed on the jerky.
Laying next to the fire was a bed roll, laying on the bed roll was nothing.
"Holy shit" he thought as he scanned the rest of the camp site for the Farmer Michael.
"He must of taking a Pee or something he thought"
1-2-3-4-5, 1-3-5-4-7, Shit I'm tired of this crap Jake thought.
It has to been 5 minute he thought.
Better a little longer he thought.
Jake heard a boot scape dirt behind him..
He frozen for a just moment before his instinct kicked in, pulling his Colt as he whipped around.
The next thing he knew he was eating dirt mixed with a coppery taste of blood in his mouth.
Trying to push his self up into a on all fours position he heard movement behind him.
"Where is your partner" Michael asked
"I don't know what your talking about"
"Boy, there are two horses here"
Jake shook his head again trying the clear the cob webs
"I don't know he mumbled"
"You best do some talking before I hit with this here Springfield again"
Jake spit out a glob of blood on the ground and said, "He went to scout your camp site"
"Why did you stay behind?" Michael asked
"I was too nosiey" Jake replied
"Yea you both were" Michael said
"And now what Farmer?"
"Now we go back to my camp site and wait for your partner to show his face"
"He won;'t Farmer"
"THe name is Michael D'Angelo"
D'Angelo... The name sounded familiar to Jak
"Did you say "D'Angelio"
"Yes"
"It can't be, Michael D'Angelio died in a gun battle in Tucon is what I heard"
"Your mistaken"
Jake wanted to be gone, he wanted no part of this killer, this man call D'Angelio is Satan's right hand man is what the rumor said... Nobody that has faced him has lived to tell about it..
"Look mister D'Angelio just let me go, You will never see me again, I promise"
"Not yet but if you play your cards right you might live"
"OK, OK anything you want"
"Michael had no intentions of killing the kid, he was just in the wrong place the wrong time"
"So where is your friend?"
I'm not sure, he said he was going to take a look at the camp to see if it was you" Jake said, as he looked everywhere but into Michaels eyes.
"OK Jake have it your way, we'll just go back into my camp and wait him out"
"Come on Mr. D'Angelio whay not let me go, I promise you won't see me again"
"Because I need you to convince your partner to show hid face and you can explain to me why your following me"
Back at camp Michael asked him again,
"Why are you following me?"
"Because of the Deed"
"Jake it's only land and I'm sure Ben's wife would be open to shared water rights and whatever your employer Big John wants"
Jake laughed, "Boy your lost on so many levels, I don't even know where to start"
"How about the first" Michael said
"OK, First off Big John isn't the Big Boss, he is the son of General Whitaker, He is the big boss"
Michael sat there for a minute..General Whitaker he remembered him from the war.
"Jake went on "Second Who is Ben"
"Ben is the kid you killed at my farm and I guess he was a brother of Big Johns"
Jake swollowed hard "That was Smitty not me"
"You were there" Michael said
"I didn't know he was family, that is plain wrong no matter what"
Michael moved the conversation on... "Next"
Jake just shok his head
"Jake" Michael insticed
Smitty could see the two talking and it looked like Jake was spilling all the beans "Goddam Jake shut the hell up" he whispered to hinself
As the minute slowly drifted by Smitty got madder and madder, he was sure the kid would tell where he was hiding.
"Mr. D'Angelio I'm only a hired hand, I got no say in any matters"
"Jake whats number three?"
"I'm not talking anymore" Jake said as he shook his head no
"Jake if you want to live this night out"
"Ben's wife will be killed at anytime"
"What?"
"They have a man in HorseShoe Bend watching her, waiting for the word"
Michael noticed Jake kept glancing at the ridge above them
"What word Jake"
"Whether we got the Deed or not, If we don't get back to town by noon tomorrow Big John will telegraph his man"
"And if you do?" 
"Means we killed you and have the Deed"
Michael thought for a minute, turning he looked up to the ridge and yelled
"I've got your partner here come on down"
"That sonofabitch Smitty muttered as he pulled the trigger"
Jake jerked, and started to stand up as he looked down the front of his shirt.
Blood seeped through the shirt the red spot grew and grew.
Jake looked up at Michael and toppled over the log he had been setting on.
Michael ran for Sheol.
He felt something slam into him tossing him over an embankment on the edge of the camp site where Sheol had been eating grass.
Michael rolled and rolled until he hit water.

Smitty hightailed it down to the camp site.
Passing Jake as if he was just a bag of potatoes, he made his way down the embankment until he came to the small clearing on the side of the raging river..
Nothing, he found nothing but then it was pretty dark down here out of reach of the camp fire.

  

Shiloh...1st Draft Chapter 4 "HorseShoe Bend"

1st Draft

Horseshoe Bend

Michael wasn't happy about it but he needed to get to Ben's wife before they do.
Michael touched Hedi's hand, she turned and looked up to him, Michael winked and took off out the back of the restaurant.

Sheol was already loaded and ready.
Michael had planned to leave town in the dead of night, so no prying eyes would be the wiser.
He had planned to eat with Hedi before riding out but with that idea down gone he just needed to ride and Sheol sensed the urgent mood when Michael rounded the corner of the Restaurant at a full run.
"Sheol like the wind" is all Michael needed to save to send Sheol into a flat out run.
The more distance he put between him and the Sheriff the better, he would come back in a day or two and by then the Sheriff would of talked to Tom and his wife.
Michael felt something was wrong, but to put a finger on it wasn't going to be easy with what he had laying ahead.
So he let Sheol stretch out and run, until he was ready to slow down.
By then a good couple of miles lay behind them and Placerville and the Sheriff.
With the late start Michael figure he would camp at a spot he knew about, it was a nice spot with a little stream running through it.
He would ride into Horse Shoe Bend by mid-morning, find Gabriel, Give her the Deed and be on his way.
As he rode his thoughts went to a little soul searching..a little what else is bothering him moment.
Michael dug deep to try and find the answer, to why he is risking everything to help.
It was question that was a deep as it could go, He wasn't sure it was all because of Ben, Hedi or Gabriel.
Maybe it was, maybe it wasn't but something else was involved also and thats what Michael was worried about the most.... His Past.
Letting the cold air flow through his hair, he closed his eyes, Tears wetted his face As he listened To his inner voice, Finally he said.
It's time, and I'll be Ready.

Rounding a bend on the trail, Michael pulled up next to ta a pine tree.
The river was to his back further into the tree's along the trail
Pulling the saddle off sheol Michael rubbed him down with grass and gave Sheol some oats he had in his saddle bags.
Good boy he told Sheol as he rubbed him behind his ears.
Michael never tied Sheol up, he let him wander so that he always had a choice and that seemed to work for the both of them.
Michael set to work on the camp, getting a fire going so that he could have some coffee.
He enjoyed being out in the open, listening to the night slip in, pushing the sun out of the way and how the noises changed as the darkness fell.
The once noisey birds, quieted down as the darkness fell, since they didn't fly at night only if a predator was close and even then the chances off death was always the highest, So they sat queitly.
After a dinner of jerked beef and coffee Michael laid awake for a long time thinking of Ben's wife Gabriel.
What kind of girl she was, how she would take the words he had to say about Ben.
Michael hadn't know Ben for all that long, but the boy had staying power, that beaten he had taken from Big John and his boys would of killed a lot of men.
And the thought of Ben's own brothers finally killing him for a Deed.
Killing family brought back old memories that Michael just as soon forget.
Ben proved that he was more then just a boy.. He was a doer and Michael was going to help no matter what.
"I guess that would attest to when a man makes a promise almost nothing would stop him from keeping that promise this side of death" Michael thought
The stars overhead where bright and he could see each one clearly.
 He found himself counting them until he had no numbers left in his head to count with.
Michael had come to a decision, He would ride this trail to the end, He would Help Gabriel secure the land and whatever else he could do for her.
 Yep he wanted that boy to fulfeel his promise no matter what so if the his widow needed help to get to Idaho City he would take her.
When he was done he would go back and make Hedi his wife... Michael smiled,
It's time he quit hiding from his past and just embrace it, he didn't have a choice anyway in the matter,
Michael felt a weight lift off his chest as he fading into a deep sleep.

Shiloh....1st Draft....Chapter 4 "Frank"

1st Draft


Frank

Frank walked down the board walk in the general direction of the little restaurant he had noticed on the way into town.
The air was crisp and the sky was clear, away from the lights of town Frank always marveled at how many stars you could see on a clear night like tonight.
Touching his Colt 45 that hung from his hip, it was a habit Frank did quite often.
The touch of the pearl white grips gave him comfort, he had them custom made for his special Colt.
Frank like to edge the bets in his favor, it wasn't because he wasn't fast with the gun, it was more of an ego booster to know his Colt was one of a kind, "The Quicken" the gun smith like to call it.
A fanning hammer was installed, the trigger was adjusted for a pull of less then 6 ounces, the frame had been lightened where it could without sacrificing the integrity of the structure.
The barrel had been cut down to 3.5 inches, so that it could clear leather faster and his holster had the front cut away in the shape of a horseshoe... faster yet...
"The Quicken"  Frank was smiling to himself as he reach for door of the restaurant.
Stopping mid way, Frank listened to the voices.
"Shit" he thought
Finally he turned the handle and went in...

After running off the cowboy, Michael didn't want to leave Hedi unattended at the Cabin.
So they rode into town for a hot meal and he would leave in the Morning For Horeshoe Bend.
Before they left, Michael told Hedi to wait as he dismounted and went into the cabin for a few minutes..
He came back out with a oil skin bundle.
Hedi looked at him "Whats that?"
"Old Memories" Michael replied
Hedi could tell Michael didn't want to talk about it, so she left it alone.
Michael was sort of a mystry to her, He could be hard one minute and the most loving man the next.
She always felt that inside him was a torment that he fought dialy, Michael was a man who was running from his past and she wanted to help him, to love him, if he would ever let her.
Old habits are hard to break, and this one Michael was glad to have, with his back against the back wall, he saw the Cowboy enter the room.
Hedi whispered, "Isn't that one of the men?".
Not taking his eyes off him, Michael replied "Yes, it's one of the brothers"
"Brothers?" Hedi said as she looked my way.
"This one is Frank and the big one is Big John"
Michael watched as Frank talked to the waitress and how he slipped something to her.
Frank looked over at them and smiled.
The waitress went into the back and Michael heard a door slam somewhere in the back of the building.
"Hey dirt farmer, how is your whore?"  Frank said
The room went quite.
Hedi put her hand on my arm "Please Michael, don't"
He felt that old feelings start to well up inside of him...boiling over as Michael kept telling himself, He was not like that anymore...He had changed..
The idiot started walking towards us, saying things that wasn't registering anymore....
Michaels hands gripped the edges of the table as they shook with rage...
Frank was still taunting him as he stood over Michael..
Com'on boy, you lose your nerve maybe your whore there needs a real man.
A calm came over Michael, it felt like an old friend that he hadn't seen in years..
Kicking the table into Frank, Michael grabbed his gun hand before he could grab his Colt.
The bones in his hand ground together as he let out a screamed that sounded like a wild animal caught in a trap.
Michael slapped him hard, lifting him up and over the table that had been behind him.
People scattered, trying get out of the room before gun fire erupted.
At that moment Big John with those two other cowboys, Jake and Smitty came running into the restaurant, Big John's Colt was in his hand and he was pulling back the hammer when Michael heard a voice behind Big John say "That will be enough"
Sheriff Allen had a double barreled shot aimed right at his back..
"Sheriff look what he did to my brother"
"Well what I heard was he was trying to start a fight with an unharmed man"
The Sheriff looked around the room, there were some nods from what people couldnt get out of the room.
Big John noticed he was out classed so he slowly put his Colt away.
About that time Frank, the idiot Michael slapped over the table was pulling himself up from the floor as his gun hand hung limp at his side.
Rubbing his jaw, He gave me the best I'll kill you Look I've had for a long time.
"Well Sheriff I'm glad your here, I'd like to make a complaint about that Farmer over there" Big John said
"My name is Michael" he said
"Whats your complaint" the Sheriff asked
"That farmer stole a deed from our brother"
"What that hell I thought "Brother?"
"Michael can you explain?"
Michaels jaw dropped and his eyes widened as he let that sink in
He stood there for a minute before he could muster a shocked reply
"Sheriff those men killed their so called brother..Ben"
The Sheriff looked hard at Big John and Frank "Is that true?"
"Hell no Sheriff that dirt Farmer killed him for the Deed and set fire to his own place to make it look like someone else did it"
"Michael is that true your farm is burnt down"
"Yes sir, early this morning but if you remember right, we had a conversation before I left town"
"I do remember Michael but that doesn't mean you couldn't of started it after getting home"
"Tom Stevens was fighting it when I got there, he is my witness"
Big John whispered something to Smitty and Jake.
"Sheriff my boys are dead on their feet, can they get out of here to get some shut eye before we hit the trail?"
"Yea get out of here and stay out of trouble" the Sheriff yelled after them
"Sheriff you shouldn't of let them out of here" Michael said
"Son you have more to worry about then, them"
Big John smiled at Michael.
"Michael I know your a good man but if I didn't lock you up until I can verfiy your story with Tom Stevens, Well I wouldn't be a good Sheriff"
Big John started laughing "Serves you right going and sticking your nose where it doesn't belong"
The Sheriff nudge Big John again the shotgun bringing a flinch from the jolt to his spine.
"Shut the hell up Big John before I lock you and your brother up just for fun"
"You wouldn't"  Big John was getting tired of this
"Like hell I wouldn't" and the Sheriff shoved him with the shotgun.
"Well you old fart" Big John said as he turned on the Sheriff.
The confusion from the hard slap and the tumble over table had Frank in a daze.
Finally the dazed cleared and he started to reach for his Colt.
One of the Sheriff's Deputies hit him in the face with the butt of his Winchester, knocking a couple of teeth loose and smashing his lip.
Blood poured from the gash as he stumbled backward, trying to find some kind of purchase to regain balance.
Stunned by his brother's blow, Big John hesitated and The Sheriff shoved his shotgun hard into his gut, bending him over.
Ok Boys, thats enough, The Sheriff said..
Smirking he said.. Deputies take their guns and put them in the cell.

Both men were facing the Sheriff, "Dammit you two I don't want to put a load of buckshot into you but I will"
"Sheriff you just take care that murdering farmer" Hold his stomach Big John said through gulps of air as he pointed in the general direction of where Michael had been standing.
The Sheriff glanced between Frank and Big John and said "Who"
Both men swung around "God dammit his gone"
Hedi stood there with her arms crossed and said "Yes and with good reason"
"Dammit Hedi I was just trying to protect him" The Sheriff said
"He's a murder Sheriff" Frank said from a bloodly mouth
"Michael is no more of a murder then the Pope" the Sheriff said..

Shiloh...1st Draft, Chapter 3 "Gabriel"

1st Draft......

Gabriel

Gabriel was worried  about Ben it had been weeks since she heard from him last.
It was a short telegraph that the bell boy brought to her room, Ben had said that he should be back soon to get her.
Horseshoe Bend, was a nice little town, Gabriel wasn’t sure why or how she had got there, I mean she stepped on a stage one day in King Hill, with just a bag and let the stage take her as far as the few dollars she stole from Charlie’s stash  take her.
Anything was better then being in the same house as Charlie, she was tired of his beatings.
At first she didn’t know better, barely a woman of 14 years when her parents unloaded her on Charlie and then they left to find their fouturne in gold.
At first Charlie was ok, he didn’t try anything with her, just treated her as a maid but when Charlie did little odd jobs around town and got paid he would drink, get mean and stare at her with this evil smile.
It made her skin crawl.
So she made a point early on to find a safe place to hide on those nights…
It was a little hidden spot at the base of a tall pine, two tree had fallen years ago and made a little boxed in place between them.
It was comfortable and hidden from the house, she could sleep safely under the stars.
She loved it there, but she only went even close to it when Charlie drank and no other times especially in the daylight, she never wanted him to find it, it was her spot.
One night Charlie was late.
Gabriel knew he was at the saloon drinking.
So she started packing up her bedding to go hide for the night.
Gabriel hadn’t even finished yet when Charlie came stubbling through the door.
She grabbed her bedding and tired to get past him.
“Where in the hell do you think your going”
“Out to check the hogs” Gabriel said
“With a bed roll?” Charlie replied
“Let me go” Gabriel managed to say as she try to twist away from him.
“Girl it’s time you started to be a woman”  and he hit her..

Gabriel shivered in the darkened hotel room even after all this time it was like it happened yesterday.
She wiped away the tears that had formed and now ran down her cheeks.
In frustration she picked up the over turned rocking chair and sat down.
“That bastard took away something that I will never get back, something I wanted to save for marriage”….
Shoving those thoughts from her head she thought of Ben
She is with Ben now thats all that matters.
She had been working at the restaurant in town and making enough to keep her alive, and she enjoyed it.
Anything away from Charlie was like heaven.
Ben walked in one day with his hat in his hand asking for a table.
She gladly lead the handsome man to a nice table by the window and she was about to turn to pickup an order that was ready he asked.
“Do you have a boyfriend ?”
Gabriel felt herself blush from head to her toes
“No sir I don’t” she finaly got between a nervous laugh
“Husband?”
Gabriel felt a flicker of a flame
“Now sir, if I ain’t got a boyfriend, what makes you think I’d have a husband?”
It was Ben’s turn to go red in the face
“Well I …I”
“You just stop right there Sir, I’m not sure what kind of girl you think I am but I think I’ll find you another waitress” Gabriel replied
“Please Miss, I didn’t mean no harm” Ben blurted
Gabriel noticed the room had got quiet and she took a moment to glance around
Jimmy the owner had a shit eating grin on his face and besides that he was shaking his head, like he was enjoying it.
Gabriel glared at him and Lily, which was the other waitress.
Lily turned to face the other way but you could see her shoulder go up and down in laughter.
Gabriel turned back to Ben “See what you’ve done? Everyone is laughing at me”
Ben faked a cough/laugh into the napkin
“What you laughing now Gabriel asked”
“Miss I just wanted to ask you out for coffee”

Gabriel remembered this so well now, how at that moment he said that, she melted.
That all happened months ago, they had courted for few months as Ben worked for a local rancher and finally married..
She had been worried about the honeymoon night, she worried she wouldn’t be able to fulfill her duties as a wife..
But Ben was so gentle and caring that all the past thoughts of Charlie melted and they made passionate love all night.
She was happy.
Gabriel rocked back in forth as she went through her memories, finally settling on Ben’s Mom..
Ben’s mom couldn’t make it to the wedding as she was ill at home in Crouch, it was a little mining town up north where Ben was raised.
One day Ben recieved a telegraph that his Mom needed him, by the look on his face, I knew he needed to go and fast.
We only had a one horse so I stayed home, not knowing, I would never meet her.
Gabriel mopped the tears from her eyes and she rocked in the dark hotel room.
She liked to remember things as it was her way of keeping Ben close to her heart.

When Ben got back he was a mess, he had buried his Mom and we both weeped.
Ben was finally able to tell her about a Deed his mom had given them as a wedding present…It was a mining stake by Idaho City.
You could see the glow in his eyes.. And within weeks he said he needed to go to Idaho City to get their new life started and he would send for her as soon as he could.
Gabriel knew this meant the world to him so she agreed.

But that was weeks ago and her money was running out, soon she would need to move from the hotel to a boarding house and and get her old job back at the resturant.
 Looking out the window she thought of the first days with Ben, his eyes in the sky attitude was contagious and she started dreaming of the mining stake that his Mother had given him on her death bed.
Ben didn’t like talking about that part of his life and she had passed before Gabriel had met her but she sounded like a fine woman.
The tree’s moaned outside from the wind that was picking up as the skies grew dark and heavy with rain.
It was nights like these that Gabriel missed Ben the most.
Lightening flashed in the distance and from instinct Gabriel started counting, one thousand one, one thousand two, boom .
Shaking her head from the trance she let herself fall in.
The rain starting pelting the window in a rhythmic fashion that almost lured her into another daydream.
A flash of Lightening again, only this was closer, Something caught her eye and Gabriel strained to make it out through the rain soaked window.
“A Man”
He sat on his horse at the edge of darkness between the bank and the land surveyors Office.
The glow of his cigarette lite the lower part of his hard driven face.
His face was covered with days growth of beard, it looked like he just rode in from the trail.
Gabriel thought “Why doesn’t he get inside?”  he is going to catch the death out there.
 Darkness fell again as the light from the lightening fizzled out and she lost sight of the lone cowboy.
Something was different about him, something menacing, something dangerous, but she couldn’t look away.
She strained to find the cowboy in the darkness, when the lightning struck again in the distance.
 The cowboy was still there but this time he was looking up at her in the window.
 Startled, Gabriel tripped over a rocking chair as she tried to get back from the window and fell to the hardwood floor.
“Shit she cried out”
 She covered her mouth with her hand, trying to muffle anymore noise for what good it will do.
Bruised from the fall Gabriel slowly raised from the floor.
It felt like she had twisted her ankle “Dam luck” She mumbled
 Gabriel slowly limped to the window.
Cautionally she moved the curtain back.
 Lightning struck again in the distance and the cowboy was gone, franically see searched the street below, up the street, down the street…nothing
He had vanished, was he just her imagination?, maybe the rain played tricks on her?
But she clearly saw the red glow from his cigarette, how it glowed brightly when he inhaled, how it almost went out when he didn’t.
 

Shiloh 1st Draft...Chapter Three "Big John"

Big John

“Well Sam, what good are you if you can’t even watch a woman?”
“Big John, let me explain, that fellow Michael get the drop on me”
“And how did he do that if you were just watching the cabin?”
“Well” Sam kicked the dirt around that laid at his feet
“I’ll tell you how, you stupid shit you went down there didn’t you?”
“Well, I needed coffee and she was cooking and”
“And you thought you’d be able to bed her down” Big John replied
“Well” Sam stuttered
Big John back handed Sam across the mouth, he staggered backwards finally tripping over his own feet and landed on his back.
Big John glared at him “You say well one more time I’ll kill you”
Struggling to his feet Sam said, “I’m sorry Big John, Let me go back up there and I’ll do it right this time”
“She knows your face idiot, I have better plans for you”
“Anything Big John”
Sam would of said anything to get away from Big John at the moment.
“Sam go to Horse Shoe Bend and find that boy’s wife..”
“I don’t know her name Big John” Sam said
“Ask around idiot, the boy’s name was Ben”
“Ok Big John and then what?”
“Kill her”
“Now hit the trail before I change my mind and put a bullet in you”
Sam dusted off his pants with his hat as turned and headed for his horse.
“That dumb shit just about blew our plans” Frank said
“Thats why I sent him to Horse Shoe Bend, that should keep him busy and eliminate that problem” Big John said
“But we know that the boy had the Deed, so worry about the widow” Frank smiled
“Just in case, the boy found a way or person to take it to her”
Frank sat there for a minute, looking or at Big John “you don’t think that farmer might have it?”
Big John lifted his whiskey glass and downed the last of it…
“Bartender bring a bottle of your best Whiskey”
The bartender nodded at him and went into the back room.
Big John let the question Frank asked, hang in the air like dust from a dust storm.
A cute waitress brought a bottle of whiskey to their table, Big John smiled at her and patted her on the backside, turning she winked at him as she strolled back to the bar.
“Big John?”
“Well the boy was found at the farmers place, so who else could he of passed it too?” Big John replied
Frank thought for a moment “Dammit your right Big John, so what is the plan?”
“We watch him and if he makes a move we kill him”
Frank looked a little uneasy “Big John what do you think pa’s going to say to everything thats been done so far”
“Look Frank, he told us to do what needed being done to get that Deed back”
“But burning out that Farmer, killing that boy and maybe killing his wife and the farmer?”
“Just as long as we tie up loose ends Frank”
Frank smiled, “Tie up loose ends, I like that”
“I’ve got Smitty and Jake keeping an eye on the Cabin where the Farmer and his whore are at, with instructions to kill the farmer if he rides for Horse Shoe Bend and take back the Deed because I’m sure he has it”
“It is starting to sound like it Big John” Frank said.
“Now what are we going to do?” Frank asked
“Well I figured we’d have a little fun tonight”  Big john said as he motioned the waitress over…
Big John coached her onto his lap and started kissing her as Frank looked on.
“Well you just going to sit there and watch me or you going to find yourself some company too?”  Big John said
The piano man was getting into the full swing as the night wore on and Frank was getting into the mood for fun…
To much sitting and waiting was getting to him, he wanted to get back to Idaho city.
“Yea I’ll find something to do” he said as he got up.
“Frank get to bed early, I want to head up to that Cabin in the morning to have a little talk with the farmer”
“Yea, yea no problem” Frank said
“Frank,”
“Yea”
Big John gave him a hard look, “I mean it, we don’t need anybody looking into our business because you drew more attention to us”
“No problem, Brother”
Big John watched him push through the swinging doors, “Yea I bet your listening little brother”
The waitress pulled Big Johns face around “Hey mister you going to give a girl a good time?  Or maybe your brother would?”
Big John laughed at that, “I;m sure you wouldn’t like my little brothers idea of a good time”

Shiloh....1st Draft Chapter 3 The Cabin

Chapter Three  1st Draft

The Cabin

With the Deed and hand scrawled  note in his hand Michael thought
“This time will be different”
He and Sheol will head out after he finishes up here.
“Michael, I didn’t mean to eavesdrop but if you need to head out, we can take care of Ben and make sure the fire is out”  Tom said
Michael looked off into the distance as his mind raced through all the scenarios in his head, finally turning he said
“I can’t thank you enough for all you’ve done Tom”
“No Michael it’s us who owe you, now don’t you worry about anything here, you just get to Ben’s wife”
Michael nodded, and whistled for Sheol
The White Stallion walked up to them as if it knew what had happened, it’s head hung low..
“Well if that ain’t the darnest thing” Tom said
“Yea Sheol, seems to understand things” Michael said
Setting in the saddle Michael turned to Tom
“I’ll be back in a week or so”
“Don’t worry we’ll take care of everything”
Turning Sheol he rode away.
Michael knew he didn’t need to worry, but there was a storm coming and he felt the darkness edging closer.

Michael’s first instinct was to ride into town, find the men that were accountable for this and kill them.
But he couldn’t, he wasn’t that man anymore, he had left that life long ago, this was his new life.
So he would go to Ben’s wife, give her the Deed and that would be that, he would get back and rebuild.
Michael knew this would be best, Ben’s wife could get the local Sheriff to help with the Deed and land, and he wouldn’t be needed.
Ride in and Ride out…Simple.
But first he needed, to get to the Cabin for some supplies for the ten mile track to Horse Shoe Bend and he wanted to see Hedi before he left, Then he would get an early start.

Sam Smith was a hired hand, he did what he was told without a second thought, Thats the way he liked it.
He was told to keep an eye on the Saloon Whore and thats what he did, following her out of town and into the woods.
He kept back out of sight, giving her room so that she didn’t see him..
He saw her head for a Cabin that was up the draw between two large Blue Spruces.
“Nice little spot “ he said
He was tired of watching her hips sway as the horse took each step and it was getting to him.
Sam was a likable guy but wasn’t a looker, so he had to pay for a womans attention.
And it had been awhile since he had enough coin to do that, since he was saving up to buy his own stock in horses.
So Sam watched her with a growing interest, that was unwaivering even as he watch from afar.
Smoke started to lift out of the chimney as the morning sun came up over the mountain peaks.
Sam shivered from the morning dew that lay across his camp that he had made in haste.
His coffee started to boil  as he watched from a distance, he had found a place up above the cabin, nestled among some pines and huckleberry bushes.
His papa had always told him…”High ground Sam, Always get to High ground, it gives you the advantage”
Sam ate some huckleberries with coffee for breakfast as he watched for any sign of that saloon girl.
Finally  the front door opened and there she stood with a shawl around her shoulder, looking pretty as can be.
Sam licked his lips as he savoried the moment…Yea she was pretty he thought.
Sam had enough, she was itching​ to be had, he knew women and how they teased and this woman was just like the rest.
Standing up he had already make his decision
Sam made his way down the mountain picking his route carefully so as not to cause to much noise, he wanted the element of surprise on his side.
Hedi felt the crispness of the morning air as she let the sun warm her
She was worried about Michael, She didn’t like the way he left last night.
Something was wrong she felt it in her bones, she leaned up against the door, someone was watching her, she felt it.
She went to fireplace and pulled the shotgun down from where is hung on the wall.
As he drew close, he noticed she had gone back inside, perfect he thought.
Sam felt more than heard the movement to his right, he swung his horse around and pulled is 45 colt in one fluid motion .
That will be far enough Mister.
Sam was looking down the barrel of a 12ga shotgun.
She sure was more pretty up close he thought .
Spitting out his tobacco and wiping his mouth with the back of his sleeve.
He stared at her.
Finally smiling he said l am just​ a drifter looking for a warm cup of coffee.
No, your not you've been following me since yesterday.
Well, ain't we the smart one, Sam slightly​ adjusted​ his gun hand.
Move another inch and I'll blow that hand clean off.
Sam, felt his upper hand he thought he had with this female start to unravel.
In fact Mister drop that colt into the dirt.
Now Missy, I haven't done anything wrong, following someone isn't against any law I've heard of.
Maybe, but I know your low life type and there is no good to come of it.
Sam, had avoided dropping the colt by sidelining her with talk but that same talk was pissing him off.
I'm no low life you saloon Whore
 Noticed she hadn't cocked the shotgun, that would give him a few precious seconds that he could use to his advantage.
Sam was judging his chances when heard a horse behind him.
Turning he saw a beautiful Pale horse with a rider that chilled him to bone with his stare.
Hedi do we  problem​? Michael asked
Nope, this drifter just was just passing through she said
Why the shotgun Michael asked
Just letting him know​ I mean business she replied
Michael turned back to Sam
“Drifter, I'm not sure why you have your Colt out but I'd slid it back into your hoslter and ride out”.
Sam saw the Winchester laying across Michael's saddle horn, pointing right at his stomach.
Sam hadn't noticed it before but the morning was a crisp with a cold that cuts through your clothes like knife through butter.
Pulling his coat closed with his free hand.
“Sounds like like a good idea” Sam muttered.
Slowly dropping his Colt back into his holster.
Sam tipped his hat at Hedi and said "Another Time Miss"
He reined his brown mare around and high tailed it back down the mountain.
“Shit, Big John isn't going to be happy”, Sam thought.

Micahael looked at Hedi "You ok?"
"Yes, Michael thankyou I didn't want to have to shoot that man"
"Well he is gone and I'll stick around for a bit just in case he wants to think about coming back"
Hedi looked at the black smudges on Michaels face and his blackened clothes.
"Michael is everything ok?"
Michael swung down from Sheol and said "I've got something to tell Hedi"

Rough Draft.....

FIRE...................

Saddling up Sheol, Michael took the short cut back to his farm, darkness was all around them as they rode in quiet.
Michael love the nights when he was alone away from town, He could see so many stars that it was uncountable.
The night sky was so big making him feel at home during these night rides.
His past invaded his worried mind, he thought of things he had seen and done for the first time in years.
The shootings, the death, the price he now readily pays for everyday of his life, it strips him bare by taking away his ability to have a normal life, to have a wife, kids,, to grow old.
The light in the sky was man made, Kicking Sheol into a run, Michael felt the old fire begin to burn in his soul and it only made him more angry by the minute.
Michael knew before he even crested the hill that it was his farm that would be burning, How could they do this he thought, how could they unleash his fury that he had tried so hard to bury.
"Goddam them to Hell" he screamed into the wind as he rode hard...Shoel seem to understand and went faster, snorting with the look of a crazed animal.
Michael pulled Sheol up when they reached the top of the hill that over looked the valley his farm was in.
Firer was bellowing high into the night air, his home was totally engulfed, his Barn looked to had been saved but not for long, the fire was stretching across the barn yard as if it wanted to consume the barn also.
Michael kick Sheol into a run.

Tom Steven's
One lone figure was pumping water from the well hand pump into a trough and taking buckets of water and throwing it on the fire..
Michael was hopeful it was Ben, but he knew better.
Tom Stevens had known Michael since the first day they camped on the plot of land he bought from an old timer that had lost his wife to the winter they had just got through.
He didn't want to sell but with his wife gone and his advanced age, he just couldn't see spending another winter there alone, so he decided to sell and move closer to his Son and his family in San Francisco.
Tom Stevens just happened to be passing through with a wagon train that was headed to California.
He had seen the for sale sign at the General Store they had stopped at to get some supplies
It didn't take much coaching to get his wife to stay here, She hated the dust, the rough riding wagons, and cooking by campfires.
They both had big grins when they waved goodbye to their newly found friends that were still on the wagon train. 
Tom Stevens was tired, he had been fighting the fire on his own for a couple of hours, he had sent Mary his wife to town to find Michael and get help..
When Michael burst into the court yard, Tom felt relief but something else...Dread
He wasn't sure why he felt "Dread" but it was right there in the pit of his stomach and he almost wanted to run from it but Michael was a friend and he had spent the first year with them, showing them how to grow vegetables, and how to farm really.
 Tom was a green horn and Michael knew it but never once said so..never once try to embarrass him in front of his wife.
Tom Stevens thanked him for that..
No, he would stay to help a friend.

The only thing that Michael Thought about is that he failed.
It wasn’t bad enough that he didn’t keep Ben safe until he healed up or that his farm was burning to the ground.
It was the failure to keep his dark side inside him, because he felt it welling up and bubbling over, drenching his soul with a hatred for the men that did this.
Michael and Stevens did what the could with the fire and making sure that it didn’t spread to the barn.
Finally, the dawn started to bring light into the valley, and with it, the exhaustion of fighting the fire all night overwhelmed both Stevens and Michael and they collapsed next to the horse trough.
“Michael, I’m so sorry, I got here as soon as I saw the light from the fire”
“ Stevens it’s OK, you did the best we could”
Putting his head under the water pump that filled the trough, Michael washed away some of the smoke that blackened his arms and face.
Handing a metal cup full of water to Stevens he asked “Did you see anything, anybody?”
“No, but it looked like someone dragged something from the barn to the back door, I noticed when I first got here”
Michael thought for a moment “Why would someone drag something from the barn into a burning house?”
“Unless”
Michael jumped up and ran into the barn.
That’s when he saw the blood trail crossing the floor leaving bloody straw in the path.
Michael followed it to the last horse stall.
There in the middle of the stall was Ben, propped up against the back wall,
He had Michaels shotgun that had hung over the fireplace laying in his lap.
The sun had raised high enough to pierce the darkness of the stall, Michael could see that Ben’s Shirt front was matted to his chest with blood.
Ben’s head was drooped down with his chin resting on his chest.
“Ben” Michael whispered.
Moving to Ben’s side, Michael gently started to remove the shot gun so that he could lay him flat, when Ben yelled and tried to hold onto the shotgun.
Surprise stunned Michael for a second, who would think Ben would be still alive “Ben, It’s Michael, I’m here now”
“Stay still Ben” Michael opened Ben’s shirt and what he saw, told him that Ben didn’t have long.
Coughing up Blood, Ben said “Michael,  They have killed me”
“Your not going anywhere Ben, what happened?”
“They came to find the Deed I had for the land” 
“What Deed?”
“The one my Ma gave me”
“What is so dang important about that land”? Michael asked
Ben coughed up more blood, straining to talk he said “Water and grazing rights, without that land Big John would be done”
“So he has been using it for free all these years?” Michael asked
“Michael, They are after Sue now, I heard them talking after they left me for dead”
“Michael please stop them” Ben pleaded
Michael heard Tom Stevens behind him
“Michael, Mary here, knows a little about Doctoring”
Mary knelled next to Ben, She looked him over and looked up to Michael.
Michael nodded and looked back to Ben
Mary stood up and Tom noticed tears in her eyes as he followed her out of the Barn.
“Ben did they get the Deed?”
It took a minute for Ben to answer
“No, it’s hiding in your saddle bags over there” Ben attempted to point but couldn’t raise his arm.
Michael knew where they were and he said “Ben I need to know where Sue is”
“It’s all there Michael, address and all, please get it to her”
“I will Ben”
Ben closed his eyes for the last time.

Rough Draft

The Sheriff......

After Hedi had gone, Michael looked over at the Sheriff
"What's on your mind Sheriff?"
"Michael that was dangerous"
"I can take care of myself" Michael said
"I know you can, and that's not what I mean"
"What do you mean then?"
"I agree to let you stay here, knowing about your past as I do, but I don't need you bringing your troubled past to my little town"
"I don't see how tonight could do that" Michael said
"You don't seem to realize those boys were part of a bigger group who rode into town a few days ago"
Michael started to see the connections.
"You mean that big Cowboy and the slick one"
"Yea I do, The Big one is called Big John and the slick one is his brother Frank, he is a killer, supposedly killed 12 men, they are Ranchers from Adams County"
"Why are they here?" Michael asked
"I have no idea, but I bet it ain't going benefit us"
"Look Michael, all I'm saying is this, Keep your head low for a few days and those boys will be gone"
Michael hated to crawl, but he saw what the Sheriff was getting at.
"I don't like it, but I will Sheriff, I not looking for trouble"
"Michael I know your an honest man, But give me your word"
"Sheriff there is no need for that"
The Sheriff stood his ground putting his hands on his hips
"Shoot, Ok Sheriff I'll keep it on the down and low for a few days, I've got a boy to get mended anyway"
"What?" the Sheriff asked
"Didn't the Doc tell you?, I found this kid on my porch a few days ago, he had been beaten badly and shot through the shoulder"
"You know that old coot doesn't say anything about anything, Doc ethic's or something"
"Well he is mending fast and probably be on his way in a week or so, I'll loan him a horse to make it easier"
"Did he say who did it?"
Michael decided it would be better to forgo mentioning about the Cowboys who came looking for him
"Nope he said it was too dark, but they got nothing for their troubles" he said
"So he's just a drifter?"
"I'd assume, Yea" Michael said
The Sheriff cocked his head to the side as if he was hearing some little voice talking to him.
"Well you know you'll probably never see that horse again"
"Kind of figured I'd give him old broom"
The Sheriff chuckled at that "Yea well nothing lost is nothing gained"
"Have a good night Michael and tell Hedi, she sounded lovely tonight"
Michael stood there for a minute, soaking in the night air finally turning to the Sheriff "Well you old coot, you were outside all along?"
"Michael this is my town and not much gets past me"
Turning with that, he yelled up at the swinging doors "Let's go boy we've rounds to finish up"
Michael smiled as he turned and headed for Hedi's place.
There goes a good man Michael thought

Hedi loved touching Michael the morning after they had made love, it was a time that he felt almost human.
But this wasn't morning and this wasn't one of those times, this was now and Michael was pulling on his boots.
She noticed His shirt was unbuttoned and hanging out of his pants as he stood, his muscles stood out, so defined as if he was chiseled from a statue.
But what took away from his phycic was the scares, he looked to been cut, shot and God knows what.
Taking her eyes way from his body.
"Whats wrong?" she asked
"Something isn't right"
She could hear the strain in his voice as the words left his mouth
"Do you want me to come?"
"No, I can't watch out for you and myself"
"What do you need Michael?"
Looking at her with those eyes of his he said "I need you to get out of town as fast as you can, get to the stables and buy a horse, I'll give you some money"
Reaching into his pocket he handed her enough to buy a horse
"You know, old Chuck probably won't even wake up"
"You make sure he does Hedi"
"I want you to ride up to Blue Gulch to the Cabin and wait for me"
"Michael please your starting to scare me"
"I've got to go Hedi, now promise me"
"Will you come soon, Michael"
Michael thought about it for a second
"Yea I will, now git"
"Well kiss me first"
Michael pulled her into his arms and kissed her madly
After a minute Hedi pulled back
"Hey your kissing me like it's the first time we kissed"
Michael just snuggled deeper into her neck, smelling the flowerily fragrance she wore, trying  to take in a lifetime of remembrance in that moment.
Pulling back Hedi thought she saw tears on Michael's face but he turned too quickly for her to be sure.
"Michael are you Ok"
"Yes Hedi, now get going"
As he slipped out the door into night, he knew in his heart this might be the last time he ever saw her.