Yankton

Chapter 54

Chapter 54 Trouble on our Doorstep

Mark, Melonie, Melinda and Jake went on the first trip, so now it was now the rest of the supplies, Annie, Montana and I. While we were waiting, for the "wayback" machine to re-charge, I asked Annie how she enjoyed her journey into the unknown.

"See what "snooping" will get you Annie, you asked for it, you got it!" Annie looked at me, and said,

"When I first laid eyes on you and Mark in that saloon, I knew there was something different about you two, but never in my wildest dreams." She then turned to Montana and added,

"Ma'am, I want to thank you most dearly for giving me the opportunity to come along on this adventure, I am certainly most indebted to you."

"Well I hope you have gotten it out of your system for a time. I let you come because Kitty and Maggie have shown no interest in making the trip. I don't know, perhaps they just are not very adventuresome. Tell me Annie; are you still interested in seeking a husband?"

"What's this about a husband?" I asked,

"Annie told me she would like to find someone like you or Mark," said Montana. Annie seemed embarrassed by this revelation, but I looked at her and grinned.

"Not happy with what's available in 1877?" Annie grimaced,

"No, but I keep hoping. I thought perhaps that since you and Mark are so different, maybe there's someone here for me?"

"You never know Annie," I replied, 2014 has more than it's share of louts, jerks and assholes, don't be fooled Annie dear, but if your bound and determined to catch a good man, here in the twenty-first century, you'd better learn a whole lot about it don't you think?"

Annie shrugged,

"Yes, I suppose so, oh but your sister has already told me so much."

I gave her a hard look then said,

"Look Annie, Melinda is my sister, and she is family, but she is your modern counterpart, take it anyway you like. Guys like to have fun with women like her, but when thoughts of marriage enter a man's head, they start looking elsewhere." This seemed to confuse her,

"I don't understand, Mr. Yankton, if that's the case, why are you in love with Montana?" Montana squawked at this out of line comment, and was already to belt Annie, but I stayed her hand.

"Don't Montana," I snapped, "She has a good point. I love Montana because she possesses certain qualities very few women in this day and age have anymore. Just as you are seeking qualities in men you can't seem to find in 1877, so it is with me, Mark too." Look at it this way Annie, consider coming to the future a second chance god is giving you. Now you can continue on, and behave like my sister, or learn from what you experience and hopefully you will attract the right man, it's all up to you."

Annie then apologized to Montana for her comment which was accepted, for Montana could see my reasons as well. Later I told her,

"Is Annie so different from me Montana? I didn't come to the past seeking a wife but I found one, maybe Annie will do the reverse, let's hope for her sake that she does."

We had to get rather creative on getting everything loaded in the wagon with room for everybody to ride, but we got it done. As we cleared Deadwood, and were working our way up the north road, Annie commented, where did everything go?" Mark laughed,

"Annie, that's our line, now you're always going to be asking yourself "Shouldn't there be a house over there?" Or "I swore there was a woods over there."

Purgatory looked to still be in one piece, but then we would have been gone only three days by their reckoning. Unfortunately things weren't as peaceful as we had hoped. Colin and Maggie came out of the saloon once they realized we were home, announcing bad news.

"Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but we've had a bit of a situation here." By this time Caleb came running up, along with Mr. Whitworth and Klara.

"Well sir, just yesterday, we had a rowdy bunch come in here, they started fightin' with some of the Malory boys, then the next thing they started bustin the place up, Narcissa tried to stop them, they done slapped her around pretty bad, she's over at the clinic right now."

As soon as they heard this Mark and Melonie were off like a shot.

"Well they stole all her money but I was able to wound one of them, he's over in the shed, but the rest of them got away." Looking at Colin a little closer, I could see bruise marks on his face.

"Looks like you got a few licks in Colin," I observed.

"Oh they will remember me," growled Colin, "I left me mark." Montana and I immediately went to check on the saloon, finding a couple smashed tables, along with several chairs. Jake then appeared, taking a closer look at the damage before announcing,

"It's not as bad as it looks Brian, that glue you brought and some wire will fix things up until I can start making some new ones." Sockie informed us that several bottles had been broken, but at least it wasn't the good stuff we brought from the future, that was all stored under the bar, out of sight. Montana assured me she would handle things from here as far as the saloon was concerned. In the meantime, it was "old home week," for Melinda and the girls; they also began to ask Annie all sorts of questions as well.

My next stop was the clinic where I found Mark and Mel tending to a battered Narcissa.

"How is she?" I asked,

"Nothing appears to be broken, "said Mark. "Looks like a couple good punches, a black eye, and slap marks, she'll be fine."

"So what happened Narcissa?" I asked. She was lying in bed, and moaned as she tried to sit up Melonie made her lie back down.

"A group of ruffians came swaggering in the other evening, started picking fights and throwing things. Then they started fighting with that Malory trash, and then people started to run out. Next thing I know bodies were crashing into me and my table. Then someone pulled me up and started taking liberties with my person. Another man grabbed all the money off my table then started slapping me. The whole place was in an uproar; men shouting, Colin then shot one of them while the others then bolted out mounted their horses and escaped."

"Well you just rest Narcissa," I said, "You're in good hands here, Mark, Colin said he wounded one of them. The guy is over in the "box" I suppose you'd better come with me, if for no other reason than to prevent me from killing the guy." Mark grabbed his aid bag as we set off for the tiny one room cell, Craig had put together. Caleb and Steinar were helping Craig unload the wagon.

"That feed in those bags with the guy riding the horse is for your horse Caleb, but don't feed it to him yet."

The man was doubled up on the floor handcuffed to a steel ring bolted to the wall; he lay there moaning with blood all over him. Mark squatted down to examine him making the man cry out.

"Oh please sir, I am shot, I do not wish to die."

"He's been shot in the upper thigh," announced Mark, the bullet appears to have gone clean through, looks like it missed the bone and artery."

"Well while you're patching this guy up, we're gonna have us a little chat," I growled. Squatting down, I stuck my face right in his,

"What's your name asshole?"

"Little Bob,"

"Last name?"

"Wilber, uh Bob Wilber…Owww, that hurt! Damn it all what are you doing?"

"My friend is trying to patch you up, which is more than I would do," I snarled.

"Now Bob, what the f**k possessed you to come into my place and start busting things up assaulting my people and stealing money?"

Wilber started squalling again as Mark worked on his leg wound,

"Don't know nothing 'bout no money, we was just settlin' an old score with them Malory's."

"Well let me tell you this little Bob Wilber," I growled. "I'm confiscating every f*****g thing you own, that nag you rode in on, your guns your saddle, even your f*****g boots, somebody's got to pay for the damages, and since you're the only one here, guess who just volunteered?"

"You got no right to take my stuff, you ain't the law," snarled Wilber. I snickered,

"You're right, I'm not the law but I am god! I have the power of life and death; I'm taking you down to Deadwood where sheriff Bullock can deal with you. Your brothers come around, I'll deal with them, and quite frankly, it won't be pretty, you just might find yourself an only son."

"Well I've done all I can for him," said Mark, "Let's get out of here." We left Little Bob chained up in the "box." I checked back with Montana and Jake who assured me everything at the saloon was being taken care of. I them headed for the stable, where I found Caleb and Steinar finishing up with the wagon. I pointed out the horse chow, and said,

"The stuff in those bags is special horse feed; I'll show you how to measure it out. For the time being, I want to give it only to that horse I told you to take care of, by the way, have you given him a name yet?"

"Yes sir," replied Caleb, "I'm going to name him Pete!"

"Well that is certainly an interesting name, how did you decide on that particular name?"

"I always wanted a dog but mama wouldn't let me have one I would have called him Pete. Well now I have a horse, so I'm going to name him Pete."

"Well I guess that's as good a reason as any I've heard," I chuckled. "Say you two, I brought back something for both of you, maybe tomorrow, we'll go out and do a bit of shooting, I'll show it to you then."

The next morning, Colin and I grabbed Little Bob out of the "box," threw him over a horse, tied him down and set out for Deadwood. Mark told me the man was in no shape to ride, but he knew better than to press it. I couldn't really blame him though, it was his business to save lives, but he really didn't like what Bob and his brothers did either, so he didn't say anymore. Bob screamed and hollered all the way down to Deadwood, and had started bleeding again when we stopped in front of Bullock's office.

The sheriff was out when I dragged Bob inside the office and threw him down in front of the deputy.

"This piece of s**t goes by the name of "Little Bob" Wilber. Two days ago he and his brothers came into our saloon, busted the place up, assaulted one of our employees, and stole money. Sheriff Bullock has been on my case about not taking prisoners, so that's why this guy is still alive. Colin shot this man as he was attempting to flee the premises, an honest shoot in my book." The deputy looked at Bob who lay bleeding and moaning on the floor.

"This man needs a doctor!"

"Well Mark patched him up as best he could, it's not my fault he started bleeding, go get Doc Cochran if the sight of blood bothers you that much."

Just then the sheriff came in and immediately spotted Bob on the floor. Squatting down next to him, Bullock said,

"Looks like you crossed paths with the wrong man Bob, I told your brother not to go up there." He then stood up and looked at me.

"You shoot him?"

"No sheriff, I didn't I was out of town at the time, Colin did, Bob and his brothers got into a fight with the Malory boys, busted the place up, beat up Narcissa, and stole quite a bit of money off the tables. Bob tells me that his brothers might pay us another visit for shooting him. I don't need to remind you what will happen if they try that." Bullock then instructed his deputy to go get the Doc, then looking over Bob, asked me,

"How much do ya figger they took?"

"Couple hundred anyway," I replied. Taking a deep sigh, he added,

"Look Mr. Yankton, let me take care of this, you go hunting them down will just in in one of your bloodbaths, and create a lot of hard feelings, please just let me deal with this." Shrugging, I replied,

"All right sheriff, you're on I won't go after them, but if they come back around looking for trouble, I don't have to tell you what will happen."

"Yes," he sighed, I'm afraid I do." Before long the deputy returned with the doctor, who got Bob into a chair, and started working on Bob's wound. Cochran made no attempt to wash his hands, or disinfect in any way, I could only shake my head in disgust.

"Well sheriff, I'm out of here, you know where you can find me." As Colin and I were starting to leave town, Colin pointed to a tall lanky man dressed in black. He resembled Abraham Lincoln, but with a shorter beard.

"Look over there ain't that reverend Gale?" Indeed it was, I had read that there was a new minister in town taking over the duties of preacher Smith who was mysteriously murdered last year.

"Let's go talk to the gentleman for a moment Colin," I announced. The man was trying to negotiate the muddy street without getting his pants dirty, but wasn't having much luck.

Tipping my hat, I said,

"Good morning Reverend, might I have a word with you?" Reverend Gale squinted up at us, then smiled,

"Why certainly my good man, but do you mind if perhaps we move over to a dryer place?" We moved out of the general traffic, into a short alley, where Colin and I dismounted. Shaking his hand I introduced myself.

"Sir, my name is Brian Yankton, perhaps you've heard of me? I'm one of the co-owners of Purgatory." The reverend began to frown,

"Yes, I have heard of that den of iniquity, a most unusual name to be sure."

"Well reverend Gale," I replied, as we say, it's not quite heaven but it's not quite hell either. Listen, would you possibly consider performing a double wedding there in the near future?"

"You are requesting me to perform a wedding service?" Yes I am reverend," I continued.

"And while we're on the subject, Purgatory is beginning to grow, and there are several people that keep asking me about the possibility of enticing someone like you to swing by from time to time to conduct services. Originally one of our employees had spoken to Preacher Smith, but unfortunately, some coward shot him before he ever stopped by."

The reverend seemed interested in my offer, but then asked,

"What do you have in the way of a meeting house?"

"Well nothing like that yet, currently we are working on a boarding house, then a single men's barracks, that's what I mean about us growing. Eventually we do want to put up a place that can be used for a school, a meeting house, as well as a church. I guess for the time being, it will just have to be the saloon."

"Places of fornication and corruption, I am not comfortable with this."

"I understand reverend," I replied, "But it's all we have right now. Look, naturally, it would have to be on a Sunday, the saloon is generally closed anyway. I'm very aware of the feelings you men of the cloth have towards the "fair but frail" but two of our "girls" were the ones that originally contacted Preacher Smith. They know what all the truly fine citizens think of them but they like to hear from the "good book" every now and then. I will make it worth your while reverend meals and a place to spend the night will also be provided."

Reverend Gale seemed to consider this,

"I will consider your kind offer Mr. Yankton, though not this coming Sunday, perhaps the following week."

"Thank you very much reverend Gale," I said, "We look forward to seeing you."

"Well Colin," I said, "I need to see one more person, let's go find the county clerk."

Lawrence County was established in April and was only a few months old, in fact the clerk operated out of Bullock's office, until they found him more permanent quarters. Deadwood was in constant upheaval due to the number of people flooding in here. Another reason I chose to keep my distance was due to the fact I didn't want my name in the papers, and I was kind of a little trade-off I had made with Bullock. He did what he could to keep not only my name out of things but Mark's as well. It must have worked, since I've never come across mine or anyone else's name in the "books" however I always worried that I could slip up and it would.