Yancy (The Landon Saga Book 5) Read online

  “Wagons will do.”

  “Do you mind if I call you Yancy?”

  “Yes.”

  Wagons hesitated, and I could tell that he didn’t know what to say to that. So, he chose to ignore my remark.

  “I’ve always liked you, Yancy,” he said boastfully. “I hope there’s no hard feelings between us. After the election, I mean.”

  “Depends.”

  “On what?” Wagons frowned.

  “On who wins.”

  “You gonna be a sore loser, Yancy? I was hoping we could still be friends.”

  I laid my fork down and looked up at him.

  “We’ve never been, and never will be, friends.”

  Wagons’ face flushed.

  “I’m sorry you feel that way, Yancy. I thought we always worked well together. You, me, and Coop accomplished a lot.”

  I glanced at Cooper. He was smiling, and I could tell that he was enjoying the confrontation.

  “Whatever was accomplished,” I said stiffly. “Wasn’t accomplished together.”

  “Well, I reckon that is true,” Wagons looked proud. “After all, I saved the town from burning, and I also killed Stew Baine. You and Coop were nowhere around.”

  “We were busy.”

  “Well, I reckon we know where we stand with each other,” Wagons said. “I wish it wasn’t this way.”

  “Sure.”

  “I hope we’re not enemies after tomorrow.”

  “Like I said; it depends.”

  “We’re both just trying to do what’s best for this town,” Wagons continued.

  “No. You’re trying to do what’s best for you,” I replied.

  Wagons opened his mouth, couldn’t think of anything to say, stood there a moment, and then turned and walked back across the room.

  I glanced at Cooper and Josie. Josie was watching me with wide eyes, but Cooper was still grinning.

  “’Ol Wagons is really getting under your skin, ain’t he?” Cooper said.

  I scowled as I took a swig of coffee.

  “If he calls me ‘Yancy’ one more time,” I warned, but didn’t finish the sentence.

  Chapter four

  “Think you’ll win this election?” Cooper asked me.

  “We’ll know tomorrow,” I shrugged.

  “You ain’t even got a gut feeling?”

  “No.”

  Cooper frowned, but didn’t reply.

  We had finished supper, and we were walking down the street towards our house. The sun had just disappeared in the west, and it was getting dark.

  “We ain’t discussed it, but what are we going to do if you don’t win?” Cooper asked.

  I didn’t reply as I squinted ahead. There was something in the street in front of our house, but I couldn’t make it out.

  “That’s what Judge Parker and I were discussing,” I said.

  Cooper thought on that before he said anything.

  “Last time you and Judge Parker had a talk, we ended up here in the middle of a range war,” Cooper recalled.

  “We did,” I nodded.

  “Almost got us killed.”

  “True.”

  “I’m married now,” Cooper pointed out.

  “You are.”

  “That means I’ve got responsibilities to consider.”

  “It does,” I agreed.

  “Things ain’t like they used to be, Yancy. I’ve got to start planning for the future.”

  “You do,” I nodded.

  Cooper looked at me and frowned.

  “Have I ever told you how irritating it is when you answer my questions with just one or two words?”

  I thought for a moment.

  “No,” I said.

  Cooper grunted, and I smiled.

  “Sorry,” I said.

  Cooper shook his head, and we walked on.

  As we got closer I finally made out the form in front of our house. I smiled and cleared my throat.

  “Your mule is back,” I beckoned.

  “What?” Cooper exclaimed, and Josie looked startled.

  Jug-head stood in the middle of the street. He had a halter on, but the lead rope had been broken, and the rope was frayed and coming apart.

  “What are you doing here?” Cooper frowned.

  Soon as Jug-head heard Cooper’s voice, he perked his ears and turned towards him.

  “I believe that’s the happiest I’ve ever seen that mule,” I commented.

  Cooper looked at me and scowled.

  Chapter five

  “He must’ve broke loose,” Cooper commented as he walked up beside Jug-head and grabbed the lead rope. “I bet Jack is upset.”

  “Probably is,” I agreed.

  “What will we do?” Josie spoke up.

  “I’ll take him back in the morning,” Cooper replied. “Tracks should be easy enough to follow.”

  “I’ll go with you,” I offered. “Give me something to do.”

  “You don’t want to stay here and find out if you won?”

  “Me being here won’t change the results,” I replied.

  Cooper nodded thoughtfully, and he tugged on Jug-head’s lead rope.

  “I’ll put him in a stall,” Cooper said.

  Josie nodded, and I asked, “Care for some coffee when you get back?”

  “Sure.”

  “I’ll make some,” I said.

  Cooper nodded as he led Jug-head down the street.

  ***

  Cooper and I sat out on the front porch of our house. We drank coffee and enjoyed the cool night air. Josie was inside, getting ready for bed.

  I told Cooper about Judge Parker’s job offer. Afterwards, Cooper was silent as he thought on it.

  “So I was right,” Cooper finally said.

  “You were,” I nodded.

  “If I wasn’t married-,” Cooper’s voice trailed off.

  “I know.”

  “However,” Cooper continued. “I’ve also got to make a living. You lose that election, and I ain’t got a job.”

  “If I do win,” I said, “I could always resign and let you be sheriff.”

  “Sounds like you’ve already made up your mind,” Cooper looked at me.

  “I’m liking the thought of it,” I admitted.

  “And you expect me to stay here while you go get yourself killed?”

  “Nobody’s killed me yet,” I replied. “And, like you said; you’ve got responsibilities now. I don’t.”

  Cooper frowned thoughtfully.

  “Well, I reckon we’ll have to wait and see how the election ends up before we make any final decisions,” Cooper said.

  I nodded.

  “And, whatever we decide, I’ll have to talk it over with Josie first,” Cooper said.

  I nodded again, and it fell silent. A few minutes passed, and I cleared my throat.

  “Our current living arrangement ain’t too good for newlyweds,” I said.

  “It is what it is,” Cooper shrugged.

  “But you two don’t have much alone time,” I protested.

  “We ain’t complaining.”

  “You don’t,” I agreed. I hesitated, and suggested, “I could go for a ride every once in a while.”

  “What sort of ride?”

  “You know. Ride around; see the country,” I explained. “That would give you two some alone time.”

  Cooper frowned and looked thoughtful.

  “I’ll think on it,” he said.

  “Let me know,” I said, and Cooper nodded.

  Chapter six

  Our house was small and simple. There was only one bedroom, a small front room, and a crowded kitchen. I slept on one side of the bedroom, and Josie and Cooper slept on the other side. There wasn’t much privacy.

  I woke early. I threw some wood in the wood stove, put on some coffee, and cooked a few eggs. We ate, and then Cooper and I went down to the livery stable and saddled our horses.

  We mounted up and rode out into the street, with me leading Jug-head. We
started to ride out, but then I spotted Jessica Tussle walking towards us.

  Jessica was in her mid-twenties. She had a good figure, long blond hair, and light blue eyes.

  For some reason, I always got a nervous feeling in the pit of my stomach whenever I was around her. And, I also could never think of anything to say.

  Jessica smiled when she saw us, and I nodded back.

  “Good morning, Yancy,” she said.

  “Jessica,” I said.

  “Going somewhere?”

  “Yes.”

  Jessica paused, waiting for me to explain. A few awkward seconds passed before I realized that, and then Cooper stepped in and helped ease the tension.

  “What brings you to town?” He asked pleasantly.

  “We came for some supplies,” Jessica explained, and then she looked at me. “Today’s the big day.”

  “What do you mean?” I asked.

  “You know. The election.”

  “Oh,” I nodded. “That.”

  “Tussle is voting for you,” Jessica said. “I made sure of that.”

  “I appreciate it.”

  Jessica nodded. Nobody could think of anything to say, and the silence was uncomfortable.

  “Well,” Jessica finally said. “Good luck with the election.”

  “I shouldn’t need luck,” I said abruptly, and I winced at how harsh that sounded.

  “Well, good luck all the same,” Jessica said, and she turned and walked up the street.

  I watched her go, and then I glanced at Cooper. He sighed and shook his head.

  “What?” I frowned.

  “Oh, nothing,” Cooper said, and we kicked up our horses and headed out.

  Chapter seven

  We rode out of town a ways, and then Cooper started hunting for the wagon tracks. Coop had once been one of the best trackers in the Union army, so it didn’t take him long to find them.

  The country around Midway was mainly flat, with a few rolling hills. The grass was tall, and there was a little brush, but not much.

  Cooper led the way, and I rode beside him, leading Jug-head. We tried to trot, but Jug-head wouldn’t cooperate. So we slowed to a walk, and our horses couldn’t help but nip at the green grass.

  It was silent, but then I heard Cooper sigh. I looked at him and frowned.

  “What is it?” I demanded to know.

  “It’s painful,” Cooper declared.

  “What is?” I frowned, confused.

  “You and Jessica,” Cooper explained. “Mostly, you’re always calm and collected. But whenever you’re around her, you get all tight and tense. So does she. Watching you two try to have a conversation is painful to watch.”

  I scowled, but didn’t reply.

  “You both like each other,” Cooper continued. “Anybody can see that. What’s the problem?”

  “You really want to know?”

  “I want to know.”

  I sighed and collected my thoughts.

  “When I settle down, I want to take care of somebody,” I said.

  “I feel the same way about Josie,” Cooper nodded.

  “But Jessica doesn’t need taking care of,” I replied. “She’s already got more money than I’ll ever make.”

  Cooper looked at me and frowned.

  “Is that the only thing holding you back?”

  “No,” I replied. “There’s more.”

  “Such as?”

  “Lee Mattingly,” I declared.

  “What about him?”

  “He likes her, and I think she likes him,” I said. “And, we both know that Jessica was somehow involved with Stew Baine escaping from jail.”

  “Is that still bothering you?”

  “Yes,” I said.

  “Stew Baine’s dead, Yancy. Does all that really matter now?”

  “It does to me,” I replied.

  “Yancy, you can’t always have things your way,” Cooper reasoned. “Sometimes, you’ve got to adjust to make things work. And, I wouldn’t worry about her having all that money. It ain’t her fault.”

  “It’s just the principal of it,” I argued. “A man is supposed to take care of his wife, not the other way around.”

  Cooper sighed.

  “I wish Josie and I had that problem,” he said wistfully. “I’m pretty sure we could overcome it.”

  “Mebbe I’m just not the marrying sort,” I said.

  “You want to be alone all your life?”

  “I ain’t alone,” I objected. “I’ve got you and Josie.”

  Cooper frowned, but didn’t reply.

  Chapter eight

  “They made it further than I figured they would,” Cooper commented as we searched the country in front of us. “I don’t see any sign of them.”

  It was nearing midday. It was getting hot, and sweat streaked down our faces.

  “Are they getting any fresher?” I beckoned at the tracks.

  “Some,” Cooper nodded.

  I had always marveled at how Cooper could follow and read sign. To me it looked like scratches in the ground, but to Cooper it was like a map.

  “We should have packed something to eat,” I said wistfully.

  “I’ve got some chigustei,” Cooper offered.

  “Some what?”

  “That’s what Josie calls it,” Cooper explained. “It’s Injun food. She made me some. Says it’s good for me.”

  “What is it?”

  “Not sure,” Cooper replied. “I think it’s made out of corn.”

  “Any good?”

  “Ain’t tried it yet.”

  “Well, I reckon it’s all we have,” I said, and Cooper nodded.

  There was a tree up ahead. We rode over to it, dismounted, and picketed our horses. I grabbed our canteens while Cooper dug out the chigustei from his saddlebags, and we sat under the shade of the tree.

  Cooper unwrapped the food and handed it to me.

  Chigustei sort of resembled a Mexican-style tortilla, only a lot thicker. I frowned as I studied it, and I took a small bite. I swallowed and took a larger bite.

  “How is it?” Cooper asked.

  “Dry,” I said as I took a swig from my canteen.

  Cooper took a cautious bite. His face was thoughtful as he chewed and swallowed.

  “It ain’t that bad,” he said.

  “Be better with some coffee,” I said.

  It fell silent as we ate. I finally choked down my chigustei, and Cooper offered me another one.

  “No thanks,” I said.

  “Did you like it?”

  “I like steak and beans better,” I said.

  Cooper nodded. He took a swig from his canteen and looked at me.

  “There’s something I’ve been meaning to talk with you about,” he said.

  “What is it?”

  “It’s Josie,” Cooper said. “I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but it’s been hard on her, living around white folks again.”

  “After all she’s been through, I’d say that’s to be expected,” I replied.

  “She feels out of place,” Cooper said, and added, “You know she doesn’t like to talk much.”

  “That’s what I like best about her.”

  Cooper frowned at me, and continued, “She also doesn’t like how the other women folk talk about her and stare at her.”

  “Tell her to stare back.”

  “But that ain’t all,” Cooper said. “Josie was married to an Injun, and they don’t like that either.”

  “That wasn’t Josie’s fault,” I replied. “She had no say in the matter.”

  “The town folks don’t see it that way.”

  I thought on that and grunted.

  “Well, who cares what they think.”

  “Josie does,” Cooper said, and added, “And another thing; Josie feels like she’s a burden to us. She wants to start helping out.”

  “Doing what?”

  “Doing the dishes, laundry; things like that.”

  “Long as it mak
es her feel better, I have no problem with that,” I smiled.

  “She also wants to cook for us.”

  “Can she cook?” I frowned.

  “Some.”

  “And what will she be cooking?” I asked suspiciously.

  “She learned a lot while living with the Indians,” Cooper replied innocently.

  “But I’m not an Injun,” I objected. “I like steak and beans, not plants and chigustei.”

  Cooper looked at me and frowned.

  “We’re going to eat whatever she cooks, and we’re also going to like it. We’re trying to build her confidence, you understand?”

  “She ain’t my wife,” I protested. “Why do I have to suffer?”

  Cooper scowled. I sighed, and then nodded.

  “Fine,” I muttered. “Long as I have my coffee, I reckon I can eat just about anything.”

  “Good,” Cooper nodded and stood. “Well, we’d best be going.”

  “We wouldn’t want to miss supper,” I commented wryly as I followed after him.

  Chapter nine

  We pushed on. I led Jug-head while Cooper followed the tracks.

  A half hour passed, and Cooper suddenly pulled up. He leaned low out of the saddle as he looked down.

  “What is it?” I asked as I stopped beside him.

  “See those horse tracks?” He pointed.

  I looked and nodded.

  “They ain’t shod,” Cooper said.

  “Injuns?”

  “Probably,” Cooper nodded.

  Cooper dismounted, walked forward a little, and squatted on his heels.

  “They’re following the wagon,” he finally said.

  “How many?”

  “Hard to say. Ten, mebbe twelve.”

  “They might just be curious,” I said hopefully.

  “I don’t think so,” Cooper disagreed as he climbed back into the saddle.

  “How old are the tracks?” I asked.

  “I’d say last night, or this morning.”

  “And how far ahead is wagon?”

  “Tracks are too mingled to tell,” Cooper said.

  I frowned as I thought on that.

  “Well, things just got a bit more interesting,” I finally said.

  “I’d say so,” Cooper nodded.