Trail of Adventures: Trail of Dead Men

By M. T. Deason

M. T. Deason is a native of Oxford, Alabama. He is a man that likes to live life to the fullest. He has raced cars, raised horses, and worked in public service fields for local and federal agencies. He is a man that loves a good story and wants to tell one that his readers will enjoy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Stratton Press
• Release date: Aug 27, 2021
• ISBN: 9781648955440

M. T. Deason

M. T. Deason is a resident of Oxford, Alabama. He has a love for the old west and adventure. He has worked in public service for close to thirty years. He hopes to continue writing and entertaining his audience with more adventures.

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M. T. Deason

TRAIL OF DEAD MEN

Copyright © 2021 M. T. Deason

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by information storage and retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Stratton Press Publishing

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in the work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

ISBN (Paperback): 978-1-64895-543-3

ISBN (Ebook): 978-1-64895-544-0

Printed in the United States of America

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 1

Looking at the small town of Fork Creek, Wyoming, everything seemed peaceful enough. Doc and I were there to find the one who had placed the bounty on my head. As far as I knew, I had not done anything to anyone there to have someone pay to have me killed. Well, at least there wasn’t anyone alive. I had had trouble there before and helped out a woman named Kate, and as far as that was concerned, I had not left any enemies there that I knew of.

I’m a peaceful man, and I don’t look for trouble, but if it comes, I will do whatever I have to, to handle it. My name is Toab Harris, and a friend of mine by the name of Doc usually rides with me. We have been friends since the War Between the States. Now Doc has the reputation of being the mean one between the two of us, and most people think he’s nuts. Doc has a temper, and it’s not too smart to push him. Me, I try to think before I react and try to stay levelheaded, which doesn’t always work. When trouble comes, if I can talk down a situation, I will, but Doc would rather go ahead and have it out; no matter if it’s guns, knives, or fists, he just didn’t care. People think Doc’s crazy for it, but they have got him wrong. Doc’s a good man and a good friend, and I probably wouldn’t be here if he hadn’t been around. I would definitely rather have him on my side than against me even with both of us having reputations as being good with a gun. We didn’t know which of us was better, and it really didn’t matter as long as we were shooting someone else and not each other.

We had just come from Hoodville, New Mexico territory, where we had had a mess of trouble. Doc had fallen in love with a woman named Amanda, and she had been killed by some outlaws. Amanda had been a pretty little redhead that had stolen Doc’s heart and had really settled him down, making him show a different side most had never seen. Now the outlaws were dead, but Doc had still not gotten over Amanda’s death.

Me, well, there was a girl there too who was the older sister to Amanda whose name is Melanie, a pretty little blonde woman of twenty-two who had stolen my heart but drove me crazy too. We had talked some and had come to an understanding and a promise I would return to her when I had finished handling things here at Fork Creek. We also had problems understanding one another, like why I had to come back to Fork Creek and handle this situation about the bounty and also find out who this man R. C. was that had the bounty on me. She thought I should have just sent Doc or others that were friends of mine and let them handle it. Me, I’ve got to handle my own problems, and that is why I’m here.

The outlaws we had had trouble with had a note that told them to kill me. It was signed by a man with the initials R. C. and Fork Creek, Wyoming. Knowing this, Doc and me headed up to pay R. C. a visit and see why he figured I should be put in an early grave.

I say early, but for a free-riding man like me making it to thirty-four, almost thirty-five, was unusual. I had no home to speak of and had been living from town to town with Doc riding alongside, and him just twenty-four. I guess I’m not too good of an example to him, but he’s old enough to make his own choices, and he’s been doing it since the war at fifteen.

Doc looked over at me as we sat on our horses overlooking the town from part of the foothills of the Laramie Mountains a mile or so away and said, Toab, you know I could have handled this. You should have stayed with Melanie. She really loves you.

I smiled and said, You’ve told me that before, and the answer’s the same—it’s my job to do, not yours.

Doc frowned and said, Well, I keep thinking one day it will sink in.

I looked over at Doc, saying as I did, Doc, you know my head’s like granite. Nothing is going to sink into it.

I know, Lord knows I know, Doc said as he shook his head.

Shut up, let’s ride, I said as I touched the side of Tye, my big paint gelding, getting him started.

We headed down the hill to Fork Creek, where who knew what fate had waiting on us. Two free-riding men who had nothing but our horses, saddles, clothes, and guns. Maybe we had a hundred dollars between us, but that would be stretching it. Hopefully Kate would put us up at her place while we were in town.

The town of Fork Creek was like any other small western town. It had two saloons, a bank, a general store, another store with an eating place. Then there was also the Fork Creek Inn, and across from it was Kate’s place. Her now deceased husband once had a saloon in it, but after his death, Kate turned it into a boardinghouse with a diner in it. The town marshal had his office and jail at the end of town, and there were a few houses scattered here and there.

Doc and I rode down the street, stopping in front of Kate’s place. We tied our horses up and went to the door. Before we went in, we dusted off and took off our hats. Doc went in first, then I stepped in. There were six people eating at one of the tables. Kate had two long tables with benches in the center of the room, then four smaller round tables with chairs in each of the corners that had been left over from when the place was a saloon. The bar had been taken out to make for more room for all the tables.

The family of six was at one of the lager tables in the middle of the room. They looked like the typical family, with a husband and wife, two teenage boys, one teenage girl, and one boy waiting to reach his teens. Instead of Kate waiting on them, it was a pretty little blonde-haired girl around eighteen or nineteen. The waitress looked up and smiled at Doc and said, Have a seat. I’ll be with you in a minute.

We headed over to one of the round tables in the far corner and had a seat where we both could see the door and who came in or out. Neither of us were trustful men, and it was better being that way with the troubles we had had to face.

When the blonde got to our tables, she said, looking at Doc and smiling, Hi, I’m Joanie. What can I do for you today? Can I get you anything?

I grinned at Doc.

Doc asked, I don’t guess you got any beer, do you? He knew Kate didn’t allow drinking in her place.

Joanie looked puzzled and said, No, this isn’t a saloon anymore.

Doc smiled, saying, I know, and it’s a shame too.

I spoke up even though I was being ignored, We’ll both have coffee right now, then decide what we want to eat.

She continued to look at Doc and then asked, Is that all for now?

Doc just sat back and looked over at me.

I shook my head, then asked her, Where’s Kate?

She’s out with Rupert, gone on a buggy ride and picnic, Joanie said as she put down a piece of paper with what they had to eat on it.

Doc looked at me and asked, Who’s Rupert?

I shrugged my shoulders, saying, Beats me. It didn’t take her long to find someone else.

Doc said, Look at us, why would anyone wait for us? That’s why I said you should stay with Melanie before she finds herself someone else too.

I just frowned and said, I know, I know.

Doc and me, neither one had any luck with women. We seemed destined to get hurt or sometimes something worse. The reason we both had come out west was due, directly or indirectly, to women—one putting me in debt and me having to come west to try to pay off those debts, and with Doc, he never really told me except I knew it ended with gun play. That was when he showed up at my place in Alabama wanting to head west.

As for our looks, I guess we were average looking. I thought of myself as homely, though a few women told me I was handsome. I didn’t pay much attention. I’m five foot nine and about one ninety, built from working on the farm. Most of my weight is from my big broad shoulders. I’m half Cherokee and have curly black hair and dark brown eyes that are almost black and a black mustache.

Now Doc contrasts differently from me not only in personality but in looks also. He’s six foot even and about one ninety five. He too had to do a lot of hard work to muscle himself up. His hair is sandy brown and has brown eyes. Sometimes he sports a goatee, but now he was clean shaven.

We were both well-armed. Me, I had a Colt .45 holstered on my right side, and in my black knee-high cavalry boots, I had a pair of Rupert .31 rim fire four-barrel pistols tucked into each boot with the butts sticking out, butt forward on the outside of each leg. Sometimes I chose to wear a second Colt .45 tucked in my belt, but now it was just in my saddlebags.

Now Doc he carried a converted Colt Dragoon made to hold .44–40 cartridges that Doc made himself. He wore it in a cross-draw fashion on the front left middle where he could draw with either hand. He had a Colt .45 tucked behind his belt on his right back hip. If trouble came, we were both ready, and we each had our bowie knives on us too.

After we had eaten, Joanie came over and kept smiling at Doc. We paid her, and I said, We’ll be back later. Tell Kate that Doc and Toab were here.

Joanie looked at me. Her eyes wide, frightened looking, she asked, Toab? Toab Harris?

I guess I kind of looked funny at her and said, Yes, that’s me. Why?

Joanie sat down in one of the chairs.

I asked, What’s wrong?

She said, We were told you were dead.

I grinned and said, No, I’m not dead, though a lot of people have been trying lately to make sure that I am. In fact, we’re trying to find out why and who wants me dead.

Joanie shook her head, saying, I don’t know about that. All I know is a month ago, someone came to town and said you were dead.

I looked over at Doc then back at Joanie and asked her, Who was it?

Some drifter. He told Rupert, and he told Kate.

I asked, Who is this Rupert person you have mentioned?

He’s an attorney and businessman that used to do business with Kate’s deceased husband. Rupert wants her to go back to San Francisco with him. He says that she’s inherited some money from her husband and wants to make sure she gets it, Joanie said as she just stared at me.

I said under my breath, I bet he does.

Joanie asked, What?

I looked at her and said, Nothing, don’t tell her we were here. I want to surprise her.

Joanie said, raising her voice, You’ll give her a heart attack!

I smiled and said, She’s not the one I want to give a heart attack.

Doc asked, What are you going to do, Toab?

I just said, Come on, Doc, let’s go. I’ll tell you when we get out of here.

Joanie said, Bye, bye, Doc!

Doc just grunted, Bye.

I just smiled and just said, Come on, Doc.

When we got outside I told Doc, I don’t like the sound of things going on here. Take the horses to the livery stable, and I’ll get us some rooms at the hotel. I don’t believe we need to stay here, at least not as long as this Rupert is around.

Okay, unless you want me to just go ahead and kill him so we can leave? Doc asked as we walked away.

I replied, No, not right now anyway. Then I asked, Now do you see why I didn’t let you come up here alone?

Can’t say that I do, Doc said, grinning.

I bet. We need to go. Meet me at the hotel, I said as I headed on over to the hotel.

Right. Doc got up the horses and headed to the stables.

I went across the street to the hotel and opened the door and stepped in. Leonard Green, the owner and operator of the hotel, dropped the pen he was writing with, and his mouth dropped open like he had seen a ghost.

I said, Hi there, Leonard. Long time since I seen you.

He looked at me, shocked, before finally saying, We heard you were dead.

I don’t guess I am, at least I don’t know it if I am. Seems like to me that would be something I would know, I said, grinning.

Mr. Rupert told us you were dead, Leonard said as he just stared at me.

He lied, I said as I looked at him.

Can I help you, Toab? he finally asked.

I said, Doc and I would like a room apiece.

Leonard asked, You’re not staying at Kate’s this time? I thought you two had something going with each other?

I shook my head. Since this Mr. Rupert’s around, I figured we would just stay here.

Leonard nodded. Yeah, I can see why, Toab. He may look the gent, but I can tell he’s a dangerous man to deal with.

Why would you say that? I asked.

Leonard looked at me seriously, saying, Well, one thing is the company he keeps. He’s got a lot of boys working for him that are tough and not beholden to no man. They come around him gentle like. You be careful, Toab. I don’t like the looks of things around here. I sure don’t like it since he’s been sparking Kate. I always thought you two would make a good couple.

I just smiled and asked, What about those rooms?

He said, Oh, I almost forgot. He handed me my room key and started to hand me the other.

I said, Doc will be here soon. Just give it to him and tell him what room I will be in. I’ll be there waiting. Thanks for giving me a second-floor room.

I knew you would want to be able to see what’s going on, and it faces Kate’s place.

I said, Thanks, as I nodded at him.

Leonard just smiled and said, Happy to be of service, and I will be sure to tell Doc where you are.

I turned and headed to my room.

Doc came up and knocked on the door before he entered. I asked him, Did you get the horses settled in?

Doc answered, Yeah, you and them horses. You treat them like kids.

They are my kids. At least I raised them as such, I answered.

I know, Doc said as he just shook his head.

I asked, Did you hear anything at the stables?

Doc answered, Yeah, seems everyone thinks you’re dead.

I smiled. Look good for a corpse, don’t I?

Doc frowned. If you say so.

The room I had was a front one, and out the window you could see Kate’s place. There was a chair in the room, and I had placed it where I could see out while sitting in it. Doc sat on the bed and asked, What you going to do? Just sit there and watch for them?

Maybe, seems like the best idea I have right now.

Doc looked at me and then finally said, I’m going to the saloon. I have to have a beer.

Go ahead and see if you can find out anything. I’ll wait here, and when I see Kate and know Rupert is gone, I’ll go talk to her.

Doc just nodded and left. I got something to prop my feet upon, and I watched everything going on outside. When Kate and the man who had to be Rupert arrived, they were laughing and went on inside her place. I waited and watched, then after about an hour Rupert walked out and got in his buggy and went on down the street.

Rupert, from what I could see, was a big man over six feet and probably weighing around two hundred and thirty pounds, and none of it fat either but muscle. He was wearing a black frock coat and dark gray pants and a white ruffled shirt. He was also wearing a black string tie and a gray vest. He did look the gent, but he had a swagger to him also. He was carrying a cane, and from where I was, I didn’t see a gun on him, but he could still have one concealed. His hat was light gray, but he had taken it off, revealing reddish-brown hair worn short. I would guess a woman might find him attractive, but to me he looked like a made-up dude trying to be something he wasn’t.

When I knew Rupert was gone, I went to the washbasin and poured water in it from its pitcher. I cleaned up and shaved and then put on my newest shirt, which was only a few months old. It was a navy blue shirt with a bibbed front, and I was wearing some black slacks with my gun belt on. My old faded gray hat I would have to keep on while my good one was still with my pack horse at the stable. I would have to get all my other stuff later. Doc had only brought up my saddlebags, and that was where I had got my shirt from. I looked in the mirror and figured it would do. I thought I was ready as I was going to be and figured this would be interesting, seeing how Kate thought I was dead. I left, locking the door before I went on over to Kate’s.

I paused before I went in. I was nervous about seeing Kate, not knowing what I was going to tell her. At one point, I had thought I loved her, then I met Melanie, and things just happened with us that now I loved Melanie, or at least I thought I did.

Kate and Melanie were different in looks as night and day. Kate is tall and beautiful, having dark brown hair and eyes. She is about as tall as I am except for an inch or two. Now Melanie is only about five feet four, with long blonde hair and beautiful blue eyes. Both women are beautiful, and both are very much ladies in every sense of the word. Melanie, though, is bolder and more outgoing than Kate, who is quiet and shy but still has iron in her.

As I entered the room, Kate looked up and saw me. Her mouth dropped open, and I thought she would faint. Finally she pulled herself together and ran over to me and hugged me. After holding me for a few minutes, she said, I thought you were dead. Rupert had told us you were.

He lied, I said.

Kate stepped back. No, he wouldn’t lie to me. Someone lied to him and he didn’t know.

I just looked at her, and I didn’t like where this was headed.

She stepped back, taking my hands.