the Gentleman Gunfighter by C. F. Allison (latest ebook reader TXT) 📖

in the way of you keeping a promise. I’m much obliged to you for the presents. They’re real nice.” He noticed his initials were inlayed on each holster too. “It is entirely my pleasure”. Jason said.

“Well now that’s settled. Let’s see you shoot there Mr. Fancy Pants.” Clay said laughingly. “Nah, I’m not near as good as you.” Jason replied. “Come on now.” Clay insisted. “I’ll bet you aint no slouch either.”

Jason walked over to where Clay had been standing when he was trying out his new hardware. He loosened a little bit and as Ricky blinked his eyes, Jason’s six guns went off in unison. The flower bulbs on a distant cactus exploded to signify that Jason’s aim was deadly to go with his speed if he so chose it to be. “Wow!” Ricky couldn’t help but let the word of admiration slip out. “Did you see that Mario?” He asked his new friend. “Yeah I did.” Mario replied. “I think your just plain modest, or you’d make one hell of a poker player Jason. Which is it?” Jason just smiled and said, “All I do is practice everyday. After that day the soldiers came I swore I would never be defenseless again. Now I mostly practice in case I ever need to step up for someone like a stranger once did for me.”

“Well you know we got to see who’s fastest. Me or you.” Clay said. The mood in the camp got serious and the tension mounted. “Clay! That man is a friend to you!” Jack shouted. “Oh hell, not that way.” Clay responded. “The way me and Doc Holiday did. How fond of your hat are you Jason?” He asked. Jason gave Clay a puzzled look and answered with a question. “Why do you ask?”
“Well,” Clay began to explain. “me and Doc had us a contest of speed with the agreement that we’d only aim for the hat. Are you interested?” Jason thought for a minute or two and then said, “Why not. Sounds like it might be fun to see who wins.”

The men walked out from the camp a few paces. Staying within the light of the fire so they could see each other’s hats. As they faced each other Clay said, “I’ll give you the first move youngster.” As he took his stance.

The two men stood across from each other for what seemed like an eternity to the onlookers. Suddenly with lightening speed Jason made his move. As his pistol was about to reach its mark, His hat went flying off like a bird with a good tail wind. “I think Clay was just toying around with everybody when he was target practicing a while ago.” Ricky said to Mario. “Oh I knew he was. I’ve seen him draw and shoot when he was serious.” Mario told the young blonde cowhand. “Wow Mr. Clay. I guess I’ve got a need to keep practicing. You made that challenge just to teach me something didn’t you?” Jason said with a smile. “I like you Jason and I want you to stay in good health.” Clay started. “I felt obligated to give you the benefit of my experiences. You just learned lesson one. Lesson two is never let an enemy know just how fast you really are. A good gunfighter always holds back just a little bit unless he’s in a shootout with another man.” Clay told Jason solemnly. “I appreciate the good advise Mr. Clay.” The Godly young man responded. “I’ll never forget the lessons.” He said.

The next morning they all had a good breakfast before Clay and his crew set about their work, and young Jason saddled his horse and rode off his own direction.

The day had lingered for what seemed like forever. The heat made the workers feel as if they were slow roasting in the sun. At one point Jack even said that now he knew what a pig felt like. The next few days that followed were the same and it seemed like there would be no end to the heat wave. When they reach back to where they began riding fence, it was a welcome sight indeed. The crew had mended so many breaches in the fence line Clay was surprised Mr. McNulty hadn’t lost more cattle than he had.

Mr. McNulty, being very pleased with the crew, and grateful for the capture of the cattle rustlers gave the fence crew, except for Ricky of coarse a bonus and the weekend off. Clay, not caring what the rest of the crew did on their time off collected his bonus and rode off towards town.

Clay hadn’t seen Doc or Marshal Earp since he had gotten to town. He heard they were off looking for some guy that robbed the stage coach. Clay thought to himself that it must have been some guy that Doc didn’t like because he didn’t do the lawman thing.

Clay got himself a bottle and found a nice corner table to get a friendly game going. It didn’t take long to get enough people for the game to start. Clay was having a fair run in the game and enjoying himself when a farm hand came in talking about how some other farmer went crazy and killed his wife and kids and was running loose somewhere.

Clay finished his hand and got up from the table. He began to organize a posse to go and find the mad man. After organizing all the volunteers he could get, the men rode out to the farm to talk to the witnesses and pick up any trail they might be able to find.

The scene at the farm house was a gruesome one. The woman had been hacked to death with an axe. It looked as if the children were killed in their sleep. Clay’s temper flew out of control when he saw the dead family. “We’ve got to put this Mad Dog down.” He said to the posse. “Any man that would do this to a woman and children is out of his mind. He’ll be like a cornered animal when we find him men. Be ready.”

One of the men riding with Clay picked up the trail leaving the south side of the farm. He signaled the others and the hunt began for the killer. They had been trailing the man for about four hours when another posse member found the bloody axe used in the murders. That reassured the men they were on the right trail.

Clay had ridden ahead of the posse when he heard the sound of someone talking off to one side of the trail. He saw a horse wandering loose a few yards ahead so he stopped and dismounted from his steed. He walked closer and could see a figure pacing back and forth behind some brush with a pistol in his hand.

It was their killer alright. He was covered in blood and rambling “I’ve got to go back and get the rest of the women and kid’s safe. The lord will protect them when I send ‘em” Clay tip toed up behind the man and knocked the gun from his hand. “No you won’t. I got something better in mind for you. Why don’t you go wait for ‘em.” Clay tied the crazy mans hands behind his back and threw a lasso around his neck. He tied the other end of the rope to his saddle horn. Then Clay kicked his horse in the flanks and took off with his prisoner dragging behind him. As he rode past the rest of the posse he shouted, “We got him boys. Look at that, here he comes now.” Then he gave out that maniacal laugh he was so well known for.

The men in the posse looked at one another with shocked looks all around. One of then asked, “Well do we go after him?” Another replied. “Not me brother, I aint stupid. You go arrest him if you want to.” The men mounted up and started back to the farm house to give the murdered family a Christian burial.

There were people running outside of the saloons and diners as Clay rode into town shooting his six guns into the air and dragging the long dead family killer behind him. He stopped at a light post and threw his rope over the top of it. Using his horse he pulled the dead mans body up and then tied it off so it would hang there. Around the dead mans neck he hung a sign that read, “This is a killer of women and children.” After that Clay returned to the Long Branch and got another bottle.

Clay had gotten another card game going when he heard a familiar voice ring out, “Well Huckleberry, I see you’ve been busy.” It was his good friend Doc Holiday. “You know Wyatt’s going to be in here to ask you about that display in the street.” He said. “I don’t care; he can ask all he wants.” Clay replied back. Clay continued with his game it seemed without a care in the world. The truth was. He really didn’t care. A chair opened up at the table and Doc sat down to join the game.

Marshal Earp came in and walked over to the table. “Allison, you want to tell me about that body hanging off the lamp post?” He asked straight forward. “I like a man that’s to the point Marshal.” Clay answered. “The man was a murderer of women and children, and I heard him say he was planning to murder some more of ‘em so I stopped him from doing it. Saved the town from having to feed him while I was at it. I aint broke no laws Marshal. I felt it my duty to save lives.” He finished stating his case. “Good enough for me.” Marshal Earp said and he turned and walked away.

Clay awoke to the sound of some men in the street taking down the body he had hung up the night before. It was a clear and warm morning and Clay thought he would take a little walk before going to the diner for some breakfast. As he walked out the door of the motel he passed by Doc sitting in a chair watching the goings on. “Morning Doc.” He said. “I’m headed down for some breakfast. Care to join me?” Doc told him that he had eaten his already, but would see him later at the card table. “Be sure and bring your money now Huckleberry.” He said.

It was close to noon when Clay walked into the Long Branch. Doc was sitting at