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| Durango by � coondogk9 He slipped out of Durango one cold bitter night. The wind howled and cutting like a knife as he bowed his hat into the chilling blast. This was suicide but so was staying in Durango. The hotel had been boisterous all evening and drunken brawls clearly evident in hallways and upstairs and everywhere you looked. A typical cowboy Saturday night in the railroad hotel. Cowpunchers and even rustlers stood haggling over prices ducking whiskey bottles as they glared into each others eyes searching out that faint possibility of truth. The young girl wavered thru the stumbling mass with full mugs going and empty ones on the way back. She couldn�t have been more than 13 or 14 but noticeably a grown woman�s figure. Only her innocent face gave her away. He�d grown to like her over the last week while waiting for a punching job or someone needing a ranch hand back home might take him on the return. These were sorry times though on cattle drives. Almost what you�d call seasonal work as when the cattle herd was delivered to the railhead all or most of them were paid off and let go. Only a few die hard worthy cowpunchers stayed to tend the herd until they were actually shipped and gone. Brandon Shey Night Eagle was not one of those lucky few. To make it worse their herd had been stolen just outside of town before they had time to send in the courier with the bill of laden and the paperwork started. The rustlers took papers and all and were now the rightful owners in the eyes of the law. The trail boss and his close friends all worked for Alex Kingmon and had for 15 to 20 years now drained their lives blood on the desolate trail. He�d seen their cattle in the pens already and the rough crew of haggards who tended them with hands close to their guns constantly. But he was one against many. He didn�t even know how many now. when they hit there were over 20 that he counted and maybe more. He was pretty sure there were far less now though because he�s spotted at least 6 at the general store in open pine boxes waitin till the last moment for someone to claim the bodies or body so the undertaker could collect his fee. This was highly unlikely as these men�s own mothers wouldn�t have claimed them for free much less pay to say they knew them. This was a general rule among thieves. Steal something worth less that what you were willing to share then kill off the excess expenses after the job was done and do it quickly before they lost it in some poker game or got mugged themselves. Money was sometimes stolen 5 to 10 times back and forth among these rowdy bands of cut throats. I�d sat with the girl sometimes before she had to start her shift, which usually was from the time they opened until everyone left or was drug out by the heels. She was a nice girl, had no book lernin or any family. Her parents had been died in a train hold up when one of the robbers mask was uncovered so everyone was killed to keep the identity secret. She�d been shuffled from one relative to the next. Mostly as labor from hearing her side of it until she was old enough to get away from the beatings and torment from the other children of the families. To them she was nothing more than a servant and treated her as such, an owned, bought, and paid for servant. She made her way north on a wagon train and found the hotel saloon needed help and so she stayed. She also she cleaned the rooms in the morning before the bar opened which never was that busy until the cattle drives started coming in. This one was bad though as a freak winter storm had blown in and most couldn�t leave until it blew over. This was the third day now and it showed no sign of letting up. The rail cars were empty and the train was overdue now, most likely blocked by the storm somewhere in the mountains. Her name was Cally Foster and I was the only friend she had. She wanted me to stay and said I could take part of her chores and the pay if I couldn�t find anything else to do. I knew she was just scratchin the surface of poor as it was. If it wasn�t for the two free meals a day she would have already starved. They even charged her � rate for her room and as far as the free meals that was IF anything was left over and it was always dry, cold or burnt. If there was any way, I would take her with me but I didn�t even know when or where I was going yet. I heard noise of what sounded like another scuffle, then the scream, and then silence. I knew she was the only female in the hotel so I rushed upstairs. I saw two figures going out the window. I started towards them when I saw through an open door the lifeless body laying on the floor. I stopped and went in. I knew her neck was broken by the odd tilt of her head. Her clothes had been almost torn completely off and I took the dirty blanket off the bed and covered her naked body before others came in. I just stood and stared as the tears ran down my face. I could see her sitting at the table with so much hope and promise in a mending heart. We both knew she�d never get all she wanted or deserved but she never wanted much either. Then I was pushed aside as the room started to fill. I remember someone shouting: git a rope, lets hang the bastard. I came out of my memory and saw the looks in their eyes as they moved like in slow motion. Somehow I escaped and dove through the open window and slid off the verandah roof into the snow in the street. My horse had been sold along with my saddle and gear to get a room out of the cold. I headed for the stable and grabbed a saddle and bridle and picked out the best horse I saw. If your gonna get hung for horse stealin you might as well get a good one. Besides I was gonna get hung whether I stole or even killed someone already. I barely made it out the rear door before I heard the alarm I�d been found. I mounted on the run and forced the horse to jump the back fence rail. I was afraid as he was cold and tight and not limbered up yet we�d never make it but I heard the click as one hoof caught the rail and we were gone. I wandered aimlessly for several hours in the bitter cold dark night. I then decided to go back and take Cally to a better resting place. She at least deserved that. I knew if I was caught they�d hang me with no justice. After all who would take the word of an injun. I quietly slipped around the corner of the store. Peeking in I saw no customers or the owner. Cally wasn�t in any of the open boxes now snow covered. Several contained more than one body stacked like cordwood in natures freezer. I slipped into the store hoping the winds gale forces wouldn�t alarm anyone. I deftly covered the dry weathered, worn, floor with ease. I parted the curtained door and saw the undertaker, store owner with his back to me. I stood in stupor as his task seemed to be other than that of interring a body. Then I saw Cally�s arm dangling off the table and her legs hanging off the end as he �oh GOD, NOOOOOOOOOOO. I ran toward him and before he could turn I heard the snap as his neck broke in a loud crack. Then slump to the floor. My tears made it hard to see to cover and pull her back onto the table. I went to the front and placed the "CLOSED" sign over the window then sorted thru the clothing until I found a pretty dress that would look beautiful on Cally. I got her dressed in it and took several heavy blankets from a shelf then wrapped her in one and draped myself in another over a poncho I�d found. I picked her up and carried her out the door leaving it open and struggled to get her on the shying horse and myself also. Finally with Cally cradled in my arms across the front of the saddle and her covered head against my shoulder I rode off into the storm. I found a small clearing in the woods and dismounted balancing Cally in the saddle then lifted her down to be propped against a tree. I finally broke the thin frozen crust and placed Cally on the ground beside the trench. I unwrapped her and stared at her innocent beauty then leaned and kissed her lips. After wrapping her and covering the hole I said a silent prayer for her and told her I�d meet her soon. Then I sat down beside the mound and wept with my hand over her heart hidden down below as the snow slowly made my warm white blanket of sleep. >>>-------------> Durango, Peace or Pieces? He sauntered onto the steps leading into the saloon. He stood in the doorway letting his eyes adjust to the smoky dim lit interior. Then he ambled on over to the bar and laid the shotgun on the bar. The bartender came up and told him: Stranger, we don�t cotton tah heavy arms or pistolas on the bar. Let me put it behind the bar for you until you get ready tah leave. He reached for the shotgun then heard the clicks as both hammers cocked back. The shotgun was pointed midway between his pot belly and his chest with the strangers finger around the trigger still laying on the bar. The bartender said :well at least yah could put it standin up on the floor by yer feet. the stranger saw the bartenders eye flicker behind him and he saw the figure with the raised whiskey bottle reflected in the grimy streaked and cracked mirror behind the bar. He in the flash of an eye kicked out behind him and heard the broken glass as the bottle hit the floor when the coward grabbed his crotch then followed by the dull thud of his assailant and the disgusting smell of vomit as he writhed on the floor. The stranger never wavered and never turned around. He just steadily stared the bartender back against the bar. He told the bartender to get somebody to remove the feller on the floor behind him before he joined him but a mite more limber and bloody. The bartender nodded and the stranger saw the look of fear in his eyes when he shook his head no at the two behind him. The stranger was Mattry Cohain, a big fellow with eyes the color of black polished steel and just as hard. Clean cut other than the heavy mustache and carried himself in assurance. Six three and two hundred and forty five pounds of pure muscle and grit. Not an ounce of fat on him, he was gentle, but dangerous. He seldom rattled before he struck but if he did you�d better heed the warnin and move to the side, �.slowly. He felt a hand on his arm and before he could react a heavy callused hand clamped down on his on the shotgun. Mat turned slow and poised. Mat reached for his breast pocket and the squatty scar faced intruder grinnin through broken teeth grabbed it. He held it an a vise like grip his hands trembling from the exerted pressure he applied to Mat�s wrist. Then his grin faded to disbelief. He stood frozen, eyes wide in almost terror just staring into Mat�s face which had never changed expression. Mat said: if I was you mister I�d get on my horse and find more suitable surrounds a little less dangerous. The mans hand trembled but not from the grip he had, but out of cold fear. He�d already loosened his grip but not let go yet. Mat cocked an eybrow at him and motioned with his eyes at his wrist and the mans hand. The man let go and backed away. he backed 5 or 6 steps almost stumbling over a patron sittin watching all that was goin on. The man turned and literally ran out the door. You could hear him as he hollered heeyaw at his already thundering horse and they heard the hoof beats get farther away as he rode down the dusty street out of town. The saloon was still quiet in amazement at what they�d just witnessed. How could an unarmed man frighten a ruffian with the upper hand out of his wits like he did? Little did they know the man felt the cold hard steel under the sleeve of Mat�s wrist. He may not have know what it was but he knew it wasn�t supposed to be there and, whatever it was had been pointed right at his throat, right down the length of Mat�s arm. It was like a booby trap. He was afraid to hold on and afraid to let go. Mat just hung around town the next few weeks then one day rode off without saying a word. All kinds of rumors were flying around. Most stuck to the notion he was either a hired gun, a wanted man or both. More and more decent folks were either leaving or gettin run out, regardless the reason Durango was gettin more and more over run with bad breeds. The outlaws and trail trash began taking over the town. Might not have been quite as bad if they�d stuck together and had a plan. They had neither. It was one against the other constantly. They thinned the weaker or unsuspecting out some but never made a big impact on the numbers. As soon as one fell to the bullet or cut throat and bushwhacking antics another took his place. It had become a magnet and word was spreading rapidly that this was a lawless haven for anybody�s whims. The Railroad even had thoughts of bypassing Durango as a railhead station and using another further away but there wasn�t a more suitable location than Durango, besides they�d had little trouble from the gangs as far as employees were concerned because they minded their own business and there was little wealth associated with the railroad here. They carried no payroll, bullion, or passengers of any standing worth robbing so they just continued with hauling cattle to market. They had already cut passenger service more than a year ago and none were ever scheduled during the winter months with unpredictable snowstorms and landslides so they were actually ahead in that area. Some freight was hauled in on empty cattle cars but it was already paid for before it was shipped so that put the burden on the store owners to provide safer measures of receiving shipments. Matt was seen coming back into town in a buckboard covered in a tarp. He pulled up in front of the old dress shop now abandoned. He walked over to the blacksmith shop and went in. He came out a while later with the blacksmith and his helper and went back to the wagon. They rolled back the tarp and uncovered what looked like iron grates. The blacksmith looked it over then looked back over the dress shop and nodded his head in satisfaction. He and the helper set about unloading the wagon while Matt reached into the wagon seat and took out a leather saddlebag. He untied the thongs and pulled out a sheaf of papers then went over to the smithies tool bag and picked up a hammer. He went to the dress shop and began tacking up a notice of some sort and continued on down the street to the other buildings and trees around town until he had distributed all the papers but a handful which he took into the dress shop. People began gathering around various notices and you could hear some murmuring and others laughing out loud and slapping each other on the back. The notice read: THE GOOD PEOPLE OF DURNAGO COLORADO THIS NOTICE IS HEREBY DELIVERED IN ACCORDANCE OF THE LAWS OF COLORADO THAT THERE WILL BE HELD AN ELECTION FOR SHERIFF OF SAID TOWNSHIP NO LATER THAN TWO (2) WEEKS FROM THIS POSTED NOTICE. Signed by the governor of Colorado. That explained the blacksmith installing the iron bars and grates over the windows and doors of the dress shop and the new sign being hung noting the new residence of the Sheriffs Office. The news of the election stirred the town for days. Outlaw heads were gathering strength in numbers while other dwindled buckling under the threats or money offered to choose sides. Some were never going to make the election now residing in the pine boxes on the generals stores front porch. Now the day was here. Election day. Some came limping, others arms in slings and many with swollen lips and eyes swelled shut and covered in purple and black bruises. The untouched ones of good health appeared to hold the upper hand at the moment although some factions still battled over seniority and power. The long table was set up and 5 of the towns people sitting on the other side aiding and witnessing those voting and checking records and recording voters. At last when the election was declared over and the allotted 10 hours was expired and all present had finished casting their ballots the group of five gathered and began sorting ballots on the open table. Now with all the ballots sorted in separate stacks and a recorded vote tally written down the man at the head of the table approached Matt and handed him the tally sheet and handed him the stack of ballots. Matt looked it over and climbed up onto the wagon. He said people of Durango. You have now made a choice of whom you want for your sheriff of this rising community. We have�..16 votes for Drew (three fingers)Calders. There was clapping and hooraws from some in the crowd. Probably 16 or so I�d guess. We have 36 votes for Murphy (Edgey) Little. More clapping and yelling. Matt held up his hand. We have 6 or 7 here with one to two votes I�ll not name but as a matter of public record you may see them if you wish in the sheriff office also doubling as the courthouse for the time being. We have 78 votes for Mathew (Bulldog) Evans. The crow came alive then. There was dancing arm in arm and hats flying and pistol shots flying in the air. After waiting several minutes Mat held up his hands with the ballots and one by one the crowd quieted down. And last he said: we have Mattry Cohain with 7 votes. The crowd then went wild. There was no stopping them now they knew they had the town in the palm of their hands and it was legal, anyway until anyone could prove otherwise. Bulldog Evans stepped forward and demanded to see the badge. Mat pulled a gold star from his vest pocket and while Bulldog reached for it Mat stuck it on his lapel. Evans and the others in the crowd stared stunned and unbelieving and a hush so quiet you could hear your own heartbeat. Then Evans started up on the wagon just before Mat kicked him back to the ground. Evans went for his gun and before he could draw he looked right down the barrel of Mat�s shotgun after he heard the click of the hammer. Mat said: oh!!!!. Weren�t you told or didn�t you know you had to have paid your taxes in full as a resident and be registered as a citizen of the County as well as the Township of Durango? Mat tossed the stack of ballots in the air and said: these are fraudulent and worthless but I�m taking no action on fraud or legal action as your new sheriff. And before I forget. You have no legal course of action because since you�re not a legal citizen of the state, county, or anything with in its boundaries you can take no action in the election proceedings or contest it. Now you can hold another election if you so wish. You can elect to have this town in peace or pieces whichever you prefer because it makes no difference to me. Make up your mind cause we can do it either way, it�s all up to you. Anymore disturbance from anyone and you�ll get to help paint the new jail as it�s first residents or cut more pine slabs. Yah see them 10 men over there as he pointed toward the jail. Wull thems mah deputies. We�re gonna start with a few more than I�ll actually need later on and I�m even gonna narrow that number down some inna few minutes. The deputies all looked at one another in surprise. BRADFORD!!!! GIT OVER HERE. Bradford looking somewhat puzzled saundered over to Mat�s wagon. Mat looked down at him and said: Bradford, you got inna poker game last nite and lost a little didn yah? Wull yeah sheriff but whut�s that got to�.Well I�ll tell yah Bradford. You spent the better part of the night and all your money and threw in a piece of paper I have right here. This was a little setup planned just for you after you told a few friends about your little secret. Bradford went for his gun. Mat just jerked on the reins and the lead horses knocked him down, then Mat struck them on the back with the leads and Bradford was scrambling under and between horses trying to find protection. As the wagon rolled over him Mat turned and fired the shotgun through the floorboard of the wagon. When he cleared Bradford he pulled the horses to a halt. Bradford lay like a porcupine with long wood splinters sticking out of his chest and a large red spot spreading rapidly. His limp hand held the gun outstretched in the dirt. Mat held up the paper for all to see. This he said, is a confession dated and signed by the late Mr Bradford. In it he states being involved in the murder of a young girl that used to work and live here by the name of Cally Foster. This action he took on himself just saved the town the expense of feedin him until the judge would�ve sat in on the trial and hung him. somebody spoke up. Ther ain�t no judge gonna live long enuff to hold a trial here. Hehehe. Three�s done tried it an narry a one has made it tah town alive yet. Hahaha. Mat says: Well this ole boy�s a whole lot tougher�n them gents was. I was duly sworn in by the governor of Colorado and I have the papers to back it up. And as a judge I�m not only allowed to carry a firearm into court but required to. I know the law, I know how to use it and I know some things you don�t even wanna think about. Hahaha. Well then as a judge we all know yer gonna be out of town most ah the time runnin circuit so whacha gonna do then MR SHERIFF. Haw haw haw. Mat says: as your newly elected sheriff those duties I�m not obligated to perform as it would leave the town unprotected in my absence. 5 or 6 men had already checked out of the hotel and were seen tying saddlebags and ponchos on saddles just before riding out of town even before the crowd broke up. Mat knew this would happen but there were still many to be accosted and accounted for. More and more left over the next few weeks as Mat cracked down on their rowdy ways and behavior. More decent citizens were arriving everyday once word got out it was a safe haven to law abiding folks. Many came from neighboring towns not so well enforced. The rebuilding began. Churches were being built now by volunteers and the new courthouse was under construction. There was even talk of a school and several had education to teach. Heavy fines had been levied against the rowdies as Mat figgered the town would get no monetary benefit killing them all and for the most part the money they had more than likely was stolen from the town in the beginning. Mat sent a young fella off to the Capitol after he�d been studying law and able to pass the test Mat would turn his judicial duties over to him after he completed it. Mat would still keep the rank as he earned and it was not something you gave up. In time he might even set up a law practice here from things he�d learned in the white mans schools. Now at least he knew Cally and his younger brother would now rest in peace knowing their accusers and assailants were now punished and buried. Yes he was Brandon Shey Night Eagles half brother and the last murderer had been found, convicted and hung. Mat made sure he had a fair trial by taking him to the next county seat to be judged so no prejudice would reflect on him. Durango was by no means a sinless town of saints and lillies. It would take many years and many more men like Mattry Cohain to do this, but it had taken giant strides in the right direction. Mat never took all the credit either. He knew he didn�t and couldn�t have done it alone. The good left in others did that. They just needed a little help and guidance and them to see you can stand and be counted even in the deepest depths of the devils den. Vision Quest � 2002 T Lovett |