The Dilemma
Part One

By AKeays

Continuation of the 2023 Advent Calendar story: A Kindred Spirit.

Heyes rode around the perimeter of the small herd of Bar Over Diamond cattle. The snow was melting, but the dampness and chill breeze cut through his well-worn corduroy coat like an ice pick through slush. It was time to get a new one. With the money he and the Kid were earning from Mr. Hardbuckle to watch his cows over the winter, he would have plenty to replace his worn-out clothing.

He shivered and was brought out of his musings by his horse slipping in the wet snow and then sliding down the two-foot decline. The horse came to a halt, still standing on all fours, but he snorted and shook his head with displeasure. He didn’t want to be out here in the cold any more than Heyes did.

Oh well, luck of the draw. A coin toss didn’t help much when there were six of you sharing the cabin and the duties. Especially when four of those six were lawmen.

Heyes shivered again and let out a breath, the air turning to mist in front of his face. He swiped a sleeve across his wet and cold nose and encouraged his horse to carry on.

Checking over the herd, it seemed that most of the cattle had come through the winter well enough. There was always a loss to predators, but they generally went after the weaker ones that wouldn’t have survived the winter anyway.

The cattle in this bunch busied themselves with pawing down through the wet snow to the grasses underneath. They were content, and their quiet lowing gave the valley a sense of peace.

Then Heyes stopped and frowned at tracks in the snow that headed away from the herd. That was odd; no self-respecting cow was going to leave the safety of its mates. Not unless it was forced to.

He followed the trail until he came to a section that was churned up and sloppy. He tried to decipher the imprints, but the snow was too far melted to hold a definite shape. The only thing he knew for sure was that he now followed more than one animal. He figured that one, at least, was a cow simply due to the place of origin, but were the others also cow prints? Did a small group decide that grazing was better elsewhere and leave the main herd? Or was it a sign that the rustlers he suspected to be in the area had started their thieving early?

Then he lucked out. A shod hoof print showed plainly as the horse it belonged to had pushed deeper into the snow and left a clear outline in the mud underneath.

He sat and contemplated his options. It could be dangerous to approach a rustlers’ cabin all on his lonesome, but going back up the hill to get help would take too much time. The herd was scattered through the valley and up into the hills, and everybody was out in their own sections trying to get a tally of how many had survived the winter. The only one at the cabin would be Deputy George, keeping the home fires burning and making sure hot coffee and supper were ready for the evening.

Heyes pushed his gelding forward and continued to follow the tracks. He didn’t have to go right up to the rustlers’ cabin. He just needed to know where it was. Then he could inform the lawmen that night, and he and the Kid could leave it to them to deal with the thieves.

An hour later, he knew he was getting close to a clearing, and he became more cautious. He didn’t follow the tracks anymore and instead kept his eyes up as he searched ahead through the thinning trees. Then, he stopped at the edge of a meadow. Ahead of him, a small ranch spread out, showing corrals and paddocks, a barn, and a decent-sized cabin with smoke coming from the chimney.

He backed his horse up a few steps to ensure he had cover, then dug his spyglass out of the saddlebag. Taking off his gloves, he brought the glass up to his eye and did a quick scan of the yard.

The only living beings he saw were horses in the paddock. The corrals, which would have held cattle, were empty, but over by the barn, a partially butchered cow carcass hung from an outside beam. Apparently, the steer that Heyes was tracking had met its demise shortly after arriving here.

Then a loud crack and a chunk of tree bark hitting Heyes in the face, caused his horse to rear and jump to the side. Heyes scrambled to regain control and dropped his spyglass in the process. He made a grab for his own rifle, but another shot broke the tree branch right beside him, and his horse fought again.

“Don’t even think it, mister!” came the demand from behind him. “I don’t wanna shoot ya’, but I will if’n you try fer yur gun again.”

“All right,” Heyes agreed, as he raised his right arm while he tried to settle his jittery mount with his left. “No problems here. I’m no threat to you.”

“Then what are ya doin’ snoopin’ around our spread?”

“Just curious,” Heyes told him, knowing that he wasn’t really lying. “Gotta wonder why someone would be out traipsing around on a day like this.”

“That kind’a supports my previous question, don’t it? What are you doin’ out here?”

Heyes decided that honesty was best, at least partially. “The Bar Over Diamond Ranch hired my partner and me to babysit his cows through the winter. We got a cabin up aways.”

Silence followed this declaration, and Heyes heard the rider coming up on his right side. He tensed, anticipating a blow. Figuring he had nothing to lose, he dared turn his head and look at his captor. His jaw dropped as a pair of surprised eyes met his.

“Dammit! Heyes! I thought I recognized that voice. What the hell ya’ doin’ up here?”

Heyes breathed a smile of relief. “Hi there, Cooper. Good to see you.”

Cooper started laughing and gave Heyes a slap on the back.

“Jeez, Heyes,” Cooper frowned as he returned his rifle to the boot. “You must be freezin’. That coat a yurs was gettin’ old back when we was runnin’ with the gang. Don’t ya think it’s time ya got a new one?”

“I was just thinking the same thing not half an hour ago.”

“Well, come on down to the cabin. Get ya some coffee and whiskey. That’ll warm ya up.”

Heyes glanced at the cabin, not sure if going into the wolf’s den on his own was a good idea.

“Nah, c’mon,” Cooper insisted. “I’m here with Reed and Schuster. It’ll be like old home week.”

“Ahh . . .”

Cooper didn’t wait for the answer, and he pushed his horse forward into the clearing.

Heyes sighed and followed. Reed was okay, but he recalled that Schuster was a loose cannon. He would have to be careful what he said.

As they neared the cabin, the door opened, and Reed stepped out with his rifle handy.

“Who ya got with ya there, Cooper?”

“It’s Heyes!”

“Heyes? Hannibal Heyes?”

“How many Heyeses do ya know? A’ course, it’s Hannibal Heyes!”

“Well, shoot, Heyes, C’mon in. Fresh pot ‘a coffee just brewin’!”

 

***

 

Heyes sat at the table, nursing his second whiskey. The fire was going and it felt good to get warmed up before he headed out again.

He’d done a quick survey of the barn when he’d settled his horse in there with a serving of hay. Several cow hides suggested that this small gang had been helping themselves to a cow now and then to supplement their diet of elk and rabbits. Running irons leaning up against the wall were ready to be put back to use once the spring thaw was done. He kicked himself now over admitting that he and the Kid were here to safeguard these cattle, but it had seemed like the best reason at the time.

Fortunately, the three men didn’t seem concerned; they actually thought it was funny.

“What a hoot,” Reed chuckled. “You and Kid Curry baby-sittin’ a bunch a cows? We heard ya left Devil’s Hole, but couldn’t ya find nothin’ better ta do?”

“It’s actually been easy money,” Heyes said. “We chased off one cougar and had to shoot a couple of wolves, I’m sorry to say. But other than that, it’s been a cozy job. Don’t have to watch our backs up here since no self-respecting lawman is going to traipse all over the mountainside looking for us.”

Schuster snorted. “Why do ya think we’re here? We figure nobody’s gonna notice a few cows taken, and if they did, they’d blame it on predators.” He narrowed his eyes at their guest. “Ain’t that right, Heyes?”

“Sure, fellas.” Heyes took a sip of whiskey. “A cow here and there isn’t going to be noticed.”

“Yeah,” said Cooper. “A fella owns that many cattle; he ain’t gonna miss a few.”

Heyes smiled, knowing they were digging, but all he did was nod and then downed his whiskey.

“Thanks for the drinks, boys. I better get back. I’ll give Kid Curry your regards.”

“Ah no, c’mon,” Reed complained. “Why don’t ya stay fer supper. We ain’t seen ya in years.”

“Yeah,” Cooper agreed. “We got us some real fresh beef steaks ready ta cook up.”

“Yup,” Reed laughed as he and Cooper slapped each other on the shoulder. “Real fresh.”

Schuster sat back and eyed their visitor. He wasn’t forgetting the rumors about Heyes and Curry going straight and even doing jobs for the law on occasion. He wasn’t quite ready to welcome the ex-outlaw leader back with open arms.

“Nah, I can’t fellas. Thanks anyway,” Heyes said, much to Schuster’s relief. “If I don’t get back before dark, the Kid will be worried.”

“I know you two are partners,” Reed snorted, “but did ya up and marry ‘im? He’s a big boy, c’mon, stay for supper.”

Nope,” Heyes insisted as he stood up. “I wish I could, but not today. Maybe another time before the thaw really sets in.”

 

***

 

As soon as Heyes was back into the cover of the trees, he pushed his horse up to a trot. He had noticed Schuster looking at him, trying to figure him out and decide whose side he was really on. Heyes wasn’t sure what to think, either. He never took those fellas as rustlers, so he had his own doubts about this situation.

The afternoon was already waning, but the tracks he’d followed here would also lead him back to the small herd. Once there, he knew the direction of the cabin, and the light reflected from the snow would help him find his way.

In the meantime, the more distance he put between himself and the rustlers’ cabin, the more comfortable he was. If those fellas got the bright idea of tracking him back, they would find themselves up against losing odds.

 

***

 

“Dammit, Heyes, I was just about ta saddle up and go look for ya’. Where ya’ been?”

Heyes pulled the saddle off the tired horse and sent him into his stall. He grabbed the pitchfork and tossed the hungry equine a large serving of hay.

He gave the Kid an exasperated huff. “I know. I got back as quickly as I could. I ran into some fellas we know, and now I’ve got a dilemma.”

The Kid was understandably confused. “Some fellas we know? Up here?”

Heyes nodded. “Yeah. You remember Cooper, Reed, and Schuster?”

“The Three Amigos, even though they weren’t Mexican? Sure, I remember ‘em.”

“They might be our rustlers.”

“Oh yeah? That don’t sound like them.”

“I know, but they stole a cow for butchering, and I followed the tracks to their cabin. Cooper and Reed were glad to see me, but Schuster, true to form, didn’t trust the situation.”

“Yeah, well, this time, he’s right. Besides, how do ya know they’re the rustlers? Maybe they come across that cabin and are just holed up there for the winter. Takin’ a couple of cows ta feed yourself ain’t quite the same thing as rustlin’ a whole herd.”

“I donno, Kid. The corrals were set up for branding, and the barn was full of running irons. It looked like they were getting ready for something.”

“You ever think that’s just the way they found it?”

“Yeah, I know.” Heyes sighed and, folding his arms, he leaned back against the stall door. “They were digging for information though.”

“Ya mean like you were?”

“Yeah, okay. Maybe they were just checking me out. Or, maybe they’ve turned to rustling. We haven’t spoken to them in years. Anything’s possible.”

“I suppose,” the Kid agreed, though he wasn’t overly convinced. “So, what now?”

“I don’t know. That’s the dilemma. We were hired to protect the herd, and that includes against rustlers.”

“Yeah,” Kid nodded. “But we never figured the rustlers would be fellas we knew and had ridden with us.”

“Like I said. We agreed to help the governor with certain jobs, but that didn’t include turning on our own. We’ve never gone after fellas we knew. Well, except Harry Waggoner, but he was nuts.”

The Kid snorted. “Yeah. But now we got ourselves a cabin full of lawmen. And we know that they came up here lookin’ for these rustlers. Now, you might ‘a up and found ‘em and . . . what? You gonna turn ‘em in?”

Heyes sighed and bit his lower lip. “I donno. Marshal Matt has kept his word. Even his deputies, once they got over the shock, have treated us pretty well. Even George. We all pulled together to get through this winter, and it’s worked out well. We even had ourselves a real nice Christmas dinner.”

“Ha! Yeah. He’s kept his word through the winter, but spring’s comin’. What about when it comes time ta part company? Will all bets be off?”

Heyes nodded. “I know. I’ve thought of that.” He pushed himself off the door and began to pace. “I like to think that Matt Jenkins is an honorable man and that his word is good. But then, what good would my word be if we don’t tell him about the rustlers? We’d not only be betraying Matt’s trust, but Mr. Hardbuckle’s as well. Not to mention if the Governor found out about it.”

“But if we say anything, we’d be knifin’ our friends in the back. They rode with us,” the Kid pointed out. “Ain’t loyalty ta them worth somethin’?”

“Yeah, it is.”

Heyes stopped pacing and sent the Kid an exasperated look. He snatched the hat off his head, ran a hand through his hair, and plunked the hat back down again.

The Kid twitched a smile; Heyes really was in a corner.

Heyes sighed. “Dammit.”

TBC