STORY ONE: A BAD BOY
By Molly M. Moon
Posted: 8/8/99
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Simon Banks took his glasses off and rubbed his eyes, it had been a particularly rough week. The wanted posters lay scattered on his desk. There were several new faces in town with the cattle drive that had just finished in Cheyenne. Just last night, Simon had set up lodging in the small jail for three rowdy cowboys who decided they wanted their horses in the saloon with them, the bonding on the long drive had been too great not to share a drink with their other halves. The saloon owner disagreed and Sheriff Banks had to give the gentlemen overnight lodging.
Lost in thought, he looked up, and sat back startled. Standing before him stood a tall, lanky man in a black duster with a black hat pulled down low. Simon had never even heard him enter. Then adding two and two together, a smile creased the corners of his mouth and he rose.
"Wolf Stoddard, darn it, never even heard you come in. Only man I know can sneak up on me."
"Simon," the tall man said as he pulled his hat from his head revealing a heavy head of black hair. The man embraced the color in his attire and in his dark ruddy skin. Blue eyes were the only concession to the darkness. These eyes were so light they sometimes looked gray and opaque and could turn to a steely ice when provoked. Simon had seen many a man back down when this particular gaze burned their way.
"What brings you to Happenstance, Marshal?" Simon asked as he motioned the other man to take the seat alongside his desk.
"Not Marshal. Mister will do. I quit."
Simon sat stunned for a few minutes. This man was the best lawman he had ever worked with. Marshal Wolf Stoddard had become a legend in the Montana Territory. No man ever escaped him when he set out to capture him, his tracking skills were learned early from an Apache friend and his draw could not be equaled. His reputation as a man best kept on your good side kept law and order more often than his gun.
"I thought you'd never quit, Wolf. What got you to finally take off the badge?"
"Time I stopped by my guess," Wolf said, laconically, as he turned his hat slowly in his hands.
"How about some coffee?" Simon asked as he pulled two cups from the sideboard and poured the hot, steamy liquid into the mugs.
"You never were a man of too many words, heck, I've been able to pull more information out of my horse," Simon chuckled as he set the mugs within easy reach of both men.
"Simon, I'm thinking of settling in these parts. Just wanted to check in, you never know what kind of element follows you once you hang up your badge. I didn't want to cause trouble for you by putting down roots here."
Simon sat back for a few moments nursing his cup and staring at the enigmatic man before him. The dark, ex-lawman was younger than him, around thirty-three more by his guess, but hardened. His face was creased by too much time in the sun, lonely nights outdoors, and the hard bitter life pursuing men outside the law often entailed. Yet, Simon had respect for this man. He was the most honest, forthright, and abiding man Simon ever met, with maybe the exception of Jim Ellison.
"Wolf, I'd be proud to have you for a neighbor and Happenstance would be lucky to have itself so legendary a citizen. I know there's a ranch for sale upwards in the valley beneath the Moon Cliffs, not too far from another friend of mine, Jim Ellison. You and he would be neighbors and you couldn't ask for a finer man to call upon in any hard times. He lives there with a young man, Blair Sandburg. Good people, Wolf, hardworking and honest."
"Thanks for the information, Simon. I'll check it out. But right now all I want to do is get me a room at the hotel, a hot bath, and some food. Then I think I'll sleep for the week," and with this Wolf Stoddard smiled. When Wolf Stoddard smiled women were known to stop and stare. The total lines of age and wear on his face played a medley around that smile creasing his face into a radiant beam of light, expressing a man who could laugh at the world and himself when circumstances were right. Simon was glad to see the man had not forgotten how.
Darby Cole brushed the last stroke of white paint on the porch railing of Miss Cassie's house. The odd job had earned him a few dollars to buy food and the cave he had found himself just outside of Happenstance had been a nice place to set up temporary lodging until he made enough money to move on. Moving on was something Darby Cole had become quite the expert on. From his early years with a mother who worked the saloons and dance halls of San Francisco, he had learned well the lessons of the hard life. Fending for himself, stealing food when necessary, and lying with the charm and grace of a practiced actor, Darby had proven time and time again what a fast wit and quick mind could do in the world.
Finally, at age fourteen, when his ma had been shot dead in a barroom brawl, Darby had headed out to Montana looking to hook up with one of the many cattle drives that were formed. Inching his way across the land, doing odd jobs, and avoiding trouble only at the last possible minute, he had finally made it to Happenstance. Except he had arrived a little too late and now found himself picking up odd jobs just to fill his belly. Oh well, he thought to himself, at least I've got a place to stay out of the rain and wind, and if I can sweet talk Miss Cassie I might be able to get some dinner.
With that thought, he hitched his pants up over his slender hips and raised himself full to his five feet six inch frame and knocked on her side door. The blond hair, though not long by any standards, flew wild and free around his face---a golden contrast to solid, black eyes. Eyes so deep and dark many a young female had lost herself in their depths. Now the charm would earn him a good, hot meal, if he played his cards just right.
"Oh, finished already?" Miss Cassie asked as she welcomed the young man into her warm and cozy kitchen. The smells coming from the stove made the young man's stomach protest in loud growls.
"Here's your money. That's one dollar for a week's work. You did a very nice job, young man."
"Thank you, ma’am," Darby said as he soulfully eyed the freshly baked pie and stew that was cooking on the stove.
"Darby, how about some dinner before you leave?" Miss Cassie asked nonchalantly. Anyone with half a brain would have noticed how covetously the young man studied the food, besides his stomach was making so much noise, Cassie had to turn her back to hide her smile.
"I'd surely like that Miss Cassie," Darby said with one of the most angelic smiles the world could ever hope to see.
With his belly full, his pockets a little heavier, and his step a little lighter, Darby Cole left Miss Cassie's around three. Just as he hit the streets, he noticed the wagon coming down Main Street. For a few minutes he waited and enviously studied the longhaired young man and older man that road on the buckboard seat. Since Darby had arrived in Happenstance some three months ago, he had seen the two men come into town twice. He envied the warm, intimate relationship that seemed to have developed between them. It very much reminded him of the father/son relationship that Simon Banks enjoyed with his young son, Darryl. How nice it must be, thought Darby, to have a strong, rock-hard force like Jim Ellison to look up to. For a brief moment the green-eyed devil popped up in the coal black eyes, why couldn't that be him sitting there.
Jim Ellison took a good-natured punch at the curly-haired young man next to him. Blair was whining again about the amount of supplies on their list and how much work was waiting for them back at the ranch. He had bribed the young man with the offer of a drink before dinner. Blair had accepted the bribe and even volunteered to have the grocery list filled tomorrow morning while Jim took care of the banking. An easy agreement had been reached.
Now as they both sat at one of the tables drinking their beers, Blair noticed the fair-haired young man who entered. He recognized Darby Cole, whom he had met during their last trip into town about six weeks ago. Blair liked the kid and felt protectiveness for the lonely boy. They had talked and Blair felt they had a lot in common. Darby had told him he would be moving on, but apparently his plans did not work out.
"Darby," Blair yelled across the crowded room. Late nights in a town like Happenstance, especially after a cattle drive had just ended, brought many tired cowhands to seek comfort in the glass.
Darby turned and saw Blair; he grabbed his beer off the bar and walked over to the table.
"Hi, Blair, how ya doin?"
"Darby, this is Jim Ellison, my friend, we work a ranch about a day’s ride out of town. Jim, this is Darby Cole."
"Darby," Jim Ellison said extending his hand as he rose from his chair.
Darby rubbed his hand on his jeans and shook hands with the taller, older man. The blue eyes were assessing him just a little too carefully. Darby squirmed a bit and dropped his eyes.
Blair, with his intense observations, realized that Darby was just a tad bit intimidated by the older man. Well, Jim could certainly be intimidating when he was angered, and he didn't look like he was going out of his way to make the young kid feel welcome.
"Err, Jim, would you mind if Darby and I went off to shoot some pool?" Blair asked his friend. He hated to leave his partner alone in town on their first night, but Jim didn't like shooting pool and Blair knew that Darby claimed prowess. Seeing the kid still in town, Blair wanted to test him at his own game.
"No, go ahead, just remember we promised an early night," Jim said, then sat back and admired the young man he had grown to love so much walk off with the contrasting blond head, shoulder-to-shoulder. Blair needed to have other friends his own age, Jim thought, He tried to keep his young guide happy and he had no doubt that he did, but the kid needed to share ideas and sow some wild oats with friends his own age. As long as he tells me where he’s going and comes back when he says he will, Jim reasoned.
Wolf Stoddard fluffed the pillow for the hundredth time. Exhaustion straining his efforts, while the ever elusive sleep fled every time he closed his eyes. The hot bath and meal had relaxed him, but the noise and music coming from down the street were keeping him awake, taking him back to other times he wanted to forget.
"We can't do that, Jim will kill me," a frightened, unsure voice drifted up from the alleyway below.
"Jim will never know if we play our cards right," a softer, younger sounding voice protested.
Wolf slowly rose from his bed and peered down into the dark alley below. Twilight bathe the alley in a soft light. A dark haired head closely conspired with a straw-colored head of wild, unkempt locks sticking out obstinately in every direction. Wolf leaned back against the window frame wondering what these two were up to.
"I've seen him before. Old man Brady comes out of there every Friday night. He can barely stand let alone mount that fidgety old nag of his. All we're going to do is give him a little added boost in the direction of sobriety."
"Oh, all right, but I'm just going to keep watch," the darker haired youth commented.
"No, problem, I'll do the deed, you watch my back, then we both stand back and have a hoot hollerin laugh compliments of old man Brady, himself."
With that Wolf saw the two stealthily walk to the hitching post across the street next to the saloon. The blond haired youth pulled a knife from his back pocket and sliced the cinch that wrapped around the underbelly of the horse. He laughed softly in anticipation and then both boys rushed back to the alley beneath Wolf's window to watch the festivities.
Jim Ellison sat with Simon at the table Blair had left little over an hour ago. The two friends had many stories to tell about their days in the army and catching up on town gossip during the long periods between visits. Just then their musings were interrupted with a loud commotion coming from the street.
Sheriff Banks immediately rose to check it out and Jim Ellison went with him.
Will Brady, lay flat on his back as his horse pranced around him frantically. The saddle was turned around on the horse's belly, but had not broken free, as was perhaps the intention. The old man's leg was now trapped in the stirrup. All his efforts to pull free were thwarted by the moving animal.
Jim Ellison knew how to talk quietly to skittish horses and calm them with his voice. He moved out into the street as Simon raced to Will's side. Jim grabbed the bridle and began murmuring soft words into the horse's ear. Simon pulled Will free.
"Goldang it, Will, how many times do I have to tell you. Learn to stop when you've had enough. I'm getting awfully tired of putting your ass in this saddle on Friday nights." Simon lectured all the while brushing off the man and checking for injuries.
"Let go of me you son of a bitch." A loud wail came from the alleyway across the street.
Wolf Stoddard came walking out of the shadows pulling two young men alongside him. Jim immediately moved forward realizing that Blair was one of the captives.
"Let him go." Jim stared into the pale eyes that were looking questioningly at him.
"Does one of these packages belong to you?" a soft, even voice inquired.
"Wolf, let that boy go," Simon said as he approached the group pointing to Blair.
Blair immediately pulled away and rushed over the Jim's side. Wolf still held onto the arm of his other captive.
"Wolf, this is Jim Ellison and Blair Sandburg, they're the two who live out in the valley that I've been telling you about. Jim, this is Wolf Stoddard, a good friend and former U.S. Marshal."
Jim nodded not bothering to extend his hand. Wolf was still holding on to the squirming youth in his grasp. Darby Cole was oblivious to anything going on around, he seemed intent on prying the vice-like fingers from his arm. The tall, dark man didn't seem to even be bothered by the task, never giving the brat any more than an occasional shake when he became too unruly.
"Blair, what happened?" Jim turned to his young friend. The question was spoken quietly, but the eyes of the man that asked them were steely with resolve.
Blair shifted from foot to foot.
"I overheard these two planning some fun for the evening. This is the one who actually cut the cinch." Wolf gave the brat in his grasp a hard shake, bringing the coal black eyes up to give him a hate-filled look.
"Is that true, Blair?" Jim asked his young friend.
"Yes."
"Simon, I'd like to handle this matter, if it's all right with you and Mr. Brady."
"Fine by me, Jim, I know you'll see that this kind of thing doesn't happen again. Will's probably going to want his saddle fixed or a new one to replace his."
"He'll have a new saddle and Blair's apology tomorrow. I think he needs a ride home for now."
"I'll take care of Brady" Simon assured him.
"What about this one?" Wolf asked.
"Darby, I know this was your idea. Didn't I tell you I wouldn't tolerate any more of your practical jokes? One of these days someone's going to get seriously hurt. You're going to help pay for that saddle, young man. I think one night in jail may help cool your heels."
Simon reached out for the blond boy, but the youth turned away to look directly into the blue eyes of his captor. The hate and contempt that surfaced from the murky depths would have sent chills through a lesser man's body, but Wolf Stoddard returned the glare with an icy one of his own. Then the impudent little imp kicked him hard in the shins while biting his arm. Moments later, the youth was long gone in the shadows of the alley.
"Darn brat! I'll tan his hide when I get my hands on him."
Simon couldn't help laughing, "He seems to bring out your talkative side."
Simon received a scowl, but he still couldn't suppress the grin on his face.
"I want to thank you, Wolf, for rounding up the two culprits. If you'll excuse me, I have some tanning of my own to do." Jim Ellison then grabbed the quiet young man by his side and marched him towards the hotel.
That night, after the loud pleas, smacks and bellows from the room next door had subsided to sobs and hiccups, Wolf Stoddard tried to find sleep. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw the black ones staring back at him filled with contempt. The black, cold eyes so like those eyes of the other, so very long ago.
Part 2 of Story One