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    Big Thunder !
    Big Thunder !
    Big Thunder !
    Ebook173 pages3 hours

    Big Thunder !

    By Tom Leftwich

    ()

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    About this ebook

    Five fictional early west adventures in common with events of the 1878 era in Arizona and New Mexico. Unusual, sometimes violent but factual stories from that period of our southwest history. Follow the rescue of a young Indian Girl’s attempted murder. She was the only source to a hidden Treasure, Gunfighter says, “. I’m Jackson Wade, maybe you’ve heard stories about me . Don’t believe what you hear, I can be a hell of a lot worse than anything you heard”. Then experience surprising justice for a murderer attempting to steal a home stead Take a wild and dangerous trip with a good rifle fighting woman and the Cherokee Chief, says, “How many horses for your squaw white man?”, Then a young woman’s angry vengeance killing of four Raiders, sparks the beginning of a conflict which concludes when five stolen gold double eagles hang a murderer. Follow the rescue of an injured Apache woman escaping hanging and how she replaces the dead wife Maggie, of a retired Army Scout, but Oh my God! Who was she?
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherLulu.com
    Release dateFeb 7, 2020
    ISBN9781678125486
    Big Thunder !

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      Book preview

      Big Thunder ! - Tom Leftwich

      Big Thunder !

      Big Thunder  !

      By Tom Leftwich

      Copyright © 2020   By  Author :

      Tom Leftwich

      .

      ISBN: 978-1-67812-548-6

      lulu Publisher ID  26202849

      All rights reserved

      Printed in the United States of America.

      Preface

      It is my desire with every story I write, to bring enjoyable, realistic,  and interesting reading with satisfying short stories for today’s hectic life style.  A long novel is often  too lengthy to read during a commute or lunch break and a lot of the time you lose the spirit or life of the story overnight. Within these Western Fiction stories I have endeavored to include suspense, mystery , unusual incidents, some violence if necessary,  light humor and romance where possible. I hope you enjoy the read as much as I did the writing.

      Introduction

      It is my opinion that the introduction of a book should warn you of it’s contents and In doing so prepare you for things that may be unusual or surprising in nature. A number of my stories originate from actual events in our early west particularly in Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. I have been an avid student of pioneer and Indian activities in those areas. I sincerely hope that my fictional stories do not offend or embarrass any nationality or lifestyle. I have endeavored to put realism in my narratives without overly offensive language, or fantasy. My characters are drawn from the characteristics and lifestyle of men and women depicted in historical writings and diaries from the 1840 to 1885 era. This was the time of Indian wars, Renegade pillaging, Wagon Trains and major Gunfighter incidents.

      Acknowledgement:

      All of the stories and material written in this fictional collection is of my own conception.  Humorous quotations are credited as necessary in the introduction. All other entries reside in public domain. A big Thanks to pexel.com for inventory of public domain photo on book cover and particularly those which illustrate early western activities from which valuable information for story content can be credited.

      Dedication:

      It is my pleasure to dedicate this to good friends, Jeff, Charley, Raleigh and Ina Davis of Rosamond California. This dedication to acknowledge and thank them for their years of friendship. Great memories of our times together. Love you guys and hope you enjoy these stories. Truthful? Of course Not!  Please accept my apology for third grade cowboy English- reckon I never learned any better

      Summaries:

      Hey Jack

      An  Indian girl is thrown from a Mississippi paddle wheeler in an attempted  murder. Rescued by a noted Gun fighter and protected through a number of attempted captures because she knows the location of a small fortune.

      Stolen Homestead

      A single parent Range hand loses his job and attempts to Homestead a vacant open Ranch with the aid of the daughter of the murdered owner. Attempted theft of the ranch by the murderer leads to Surprising Justice.

      War Woman

      A young woman shot down. Rescued from attempted murderer by a local Blacksmith leads to a dangerous travel adventure through savage Indian country, while pursued by a group of killers wanting vengeance which was a bad Boot Hill decision.

      Charlie

      Called from his cabin Charlie is shot down by four killers whose boss wants his water rights. Charlie’s wife becomes a terrible avenger and five gold coins lead to a hanging.

      Big Thunder

      Tama , an Apache woman named for the beauty in a thunder and lightening storm. Rescued from hanging by a retired Army Scout leads to her taking over for Maggie, his dead wife. But Oh My God! Who was she?

      CHAPTER  1

      Hey Jack

      Hey Jack! Hey Jack ! Where are you Jack?’ Jack answered. Over here you dummy next to the river. Can’t you see my campfire. Dummy answered, Yeah Damnit, I saw your campfire alright. Headed for it and fell in the damn river, it was a reflection.  Jack laughed saying, ‘ Lou, you gotta quit drinkin that stuff. Git on over here by the fire and dry out. I told you that kerosene they sell on those paddle wheelers is not whiskey. It’s ten wonders you made it this far from the Dock. You’ve gotta clean yourself up Lou. They won’t want a drunk in Dodge runnin the Law. They already have too many of those. When are you supposed to get there? It’s a pretty good piece from the ol’Mississippi, you know.

      Lou replied, Jack, I come to tell you, I’ve got a seat on that Butterfield stage to Denver. Probably won’t see you again unless you git to Dodge someday. Wish you were there on that Paddle wheeler with me today. I never carry a gun when I go drinkin, but I sure could have used one this evening. You saw that pretty Indian girl they locked up in Davenport for stealing food. She was on board. I think they were taking her to some Reservation up river. That Jake Harvey and two of his gang took her away from the Marshall’s deputy . You know what they did to her, but the bastards weren’t happy with using her. She must be a real spitfire and managed to knife Harvey’s face. I saw them on the deck above throw her overboard and Jack they dropped her into path of the big paddles to kill her.  If I had my gun, I would be in Jail right now for shooting all three of the Bastards. Yeah, Jack, I know I’m drunk a little but Indian or not, she was murdered. I hope to God I never see Harvey in Dodge. I won’t hesitate in killin him. Jack said, Lou, that don’t surprise me and I agree Harvey needs killing. Did you see anything of the girl, she may have survived the wheel, if she didn’t drown. I’ve heard a number of men have gone under and came out with just injuries. Lou replied , No chance to see anything in that rolling water. It was pretty close to dark when it happened. I’d say she died, landed right by the paddles and pulled underneath. Jack, you got anything I can wear back to town. I know your stuff is too damn big but I gotta get outta these wets.

      It was close to midnight when Lou left Jack’s camp and Jack sat studying his fire, hoping his friend Lou made good in Dodge City, the wildest town west of the Mississippi.

      The man was Jackson Wade, a gun fighting Rebel from Kansas. He and Lou Dobbs were both men to avoid in a fight. Jack had been offered the Sheriff job in Dodge, but declined. He had had enough killing during the war. No need to look for more dead eyes keeping you awake at night. Rolling up in his bedroll, he heard a splash in the river. Probably a beaver tail smack he was thinking. Moving brush though, had him on his knees with rifle cocked. The campfire was getting low and the little light  didn’t help. What was out there? he didn’t know, but he was prepared to shoot if necessary.

      Suddenly he was shocked to see a figure pushing itself face down on the ground. Throwing brush on his fire lit up his camp and revealed a nightmare . It was an Indian girl, both arms were useless and probably broken. There was blood around her waist and more blood covered her face and head. She had been pushing herself on her face to get to his fire light. Jack was horrified to think this was the girl that Lou spoke of. My God, what had she gone through to survive. He went to her quickly assuring her that she was safe and he would help her . Surprisingly she mumbled some English and understood him. Now what ? he was thinking. The bleeding. Must stop the bleeding. Jack’s time in the War helped him in wrapping up the fractures. Next came splinting and trying to set the broken bones. His work was clumsy and the poor girl suffered  terrible pain, finally and mercifully passing out.

      Finally Jack thought he was through working on her, but found blood on the ground under her. He stripped off her clothes and found that she had a shallow knife cut across her stomach. This needed stitching and once again his Battlefield knowledge came to his rescue. Boil some horse hair and stitch her up. Finally finishing his crude stitching, He rolled her in his blankets for the night thankful to lay down and get some rest himself. The next three days were some he’d like to forget. There was no way to get her into town for help. He was stuck with her or walk away and leave her to die. She developed a fever and he didn’t have enough blankets to keep her warm, but thankful there was plenty of dry drift wood near by. He kept the fire burning night and day. On the third day, he had removed the crude bandage around her stomach and was moving her when she came awake.

      Her first reaction shocked and surprised him when she screamed,You  filthy white man . Take  pleasure on me. I kill you, With that she grabbed at his belt knife, let out a scream from the pain and almost passed out. Catching her breath and shaking with pain she exclaimed, I kill you. I kill you!  she continued in harsh angry Indian language until Jack yelled , Shut up dammit! I ain’t touched you! Woman  you’re so broken and outta your head, you don’t know a damn thing. Just you shut up and listen. Both of your arms are broken, you’ve been cut across the belly and you face is a mess.. You’ve been outta your head for three days  and I was cleaning up the mess you’re layin in. I don’t like this any more than you do, so shut up before I change my mind. The girl quit and lay staring up at Jack. She was in tremendous pain and made no effort to resist him. Jack said,  I’m sorry, but I have to move you. Relax if you can. The girl made no more sound as Jack finished the cleanup and went to the river saying, My name’s Jack. Just call out if you need me.

      Jack returned from changing his horse’s location and was met with a Thank you from the girl whom continued with, I’m sorry mister. I don’t know you. White men tried to kill me. I thought you were one. I was to die in the water but, I see your fire and kick to shore. It was very hard to get here.  Jack exclaimed, My God girl! it’s a miracle you got here. What’s your name? She replied, I am Mori of the Cherokee Indian Affairs Office in Davenport. Mister Rodgers the Manager had me arrested for stealing food and money that he had stolen. The Government inspector held an inventory and found the tremendous loss over five years. I was blamed, although I had only been there a year. Jack interrupted her saying, Mori there’s no need to tell me of the horrors you lived these last few days, I know most of your story. Just try to put it from your mind. You need to heal enough so I can get you to a doctor, but the nearest one is in Davenport. If I take you back there, the Sheriff will probably want to lock you up again. The only thing we can do is wait out the healing and hope that my setting your arms will work Ok. You went through a rough fever, but that seems to be gone now. I’ve trimmed a few limbs of willow and made a strong tea that’ll give you some pain relief. I hate to leave you helpless, but I must get to that Trading Post down by the docks and get some medicines and wraps for your wounds. I won’t be gone long and I’ll build up my fire. That should keep any animals away. Try if you can to stay awake and make no noise that folks on the river might hear. I’ll get back as soon as I can."

      The Trading Post had only medicine for horses and a couple of light blankets. They would have to do. Jack also bought up flour and bacon. He was thinking, The poor girl has nothing but trouble. Damn the luck ! I hadn’t planned on getting stuck here on this river, but I can’t just ride off leaving her to suffer and die.

      As he approached his campsite he heard demanding voices arguing saying, ‘ Damnit Sheriff, I think she’s the Indian girl Rodgers had us arrest. How she got messed up I don’t know, but Hell she’s an Indian. She can take it if we just carry her to the boat! You grab her feet."

      Jack charged  his horse straight into the camp firing a shot into the Campfire and exclaimed,  Get your dirty hands off my wife or you won’t have any! Sheriff you and your man better get the hell outta my camp before I lose my temper and shoot both of you. The Sheriff exclaimed, Take it easy Mister! Johnny here made a mistake. You know most of these Indians look alike.  We’ll get outta here. Jack angrily replied, Johnny boy you almost made your last mistake. I better not be bothered again. I’m gonna be here awhile . You can take that as a warning. The Sheriff and Johnny quickly got in their boat and left.

      Jack knelt down asking Mori, Are you OK? Did they hurt you? Mori replied, Not much mister Jack. I’m sorry, I fell asleep and must have yelled out. I keep having bad dreams. You don’t have to get in trouble for me and why did you tell them I’m  your squaw?  Jack said, Mori, we’re gonna be here awhile until you can travel. I told them you were my wife, not my squaw and they’ll sure think twice about messing with a mad gun fighting husband. That’s why I said what I did. You rest easy , I’ve got some stuff we can use for bandage and hot stuff  we use on horses for cuts and wounds. It stings some but helps heal. I know you Indians don’t eat bacon much , but that’s what we’re havin for supper. You’re just gonna have to get use to it. Mori replied. Mister Jack you bring sunshine to my heart and I’ll eat your bacon. Thank you.

      Two weeks later Mori was healing well and Jack was thinking of moving her to the nearby settlement of Morristown where he might rent a place and find work. He was getting low on money and getting tired of fish, but what worried him the most. He had built a lean to for Mori and today had moved her out from under and closer to the fire for warmth. Someone was watching his camp! He had seen reflections and moving figures too many times to think it was normal. He wanted to get more food, but Mori was not able to defend herself at all with both arms broken. If he left her alone , she would be at the mercy of anyone traveling the river. This arrangement was bothering him and finally after seeing a reflection of his camp fire light one evening, he had angrily said to Mori, I’m tired of somebody snooping around and watching us. I’m gonna Injun out there and put a stop to it.  Mori , I know you can’t handle one yet, but here’s my saddle gun. It’s an old long barreled Colt. Just pull the trigger if you need help. I won’t be far away.

      Jack went to the riverbank and circled behind where he had seen the reflection. Suddenly he could see figures between him and his campfire light. There were two men and both appeared to be carrying rifles. Jack moved slowly closer to them. He could hear them whispering to each . He was thinking, ‘What the hell were they up to and why watching my camp. They might be just passing by and saw the campfire. Everyone carries a rifle in this Indian country. That old wives tale about Indians unwilling to fight at night is for fools. Moving in close, he became alarmed, the men were setting themselves up to shoot and kill Mori ! She was laying right in the bright light of the campfire. Quickly throwing his rifle up , he was cursing himself ; afraid he wouldn’t be able to shoot both before they killed Mori He yelled , Drop it! I’ll shoot !"  

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