End of a Era

Please consider reading the Trilogy of "The Trail West, Winterborn, and The Gathering to better understand how those characters and events flow into this story.

Reading Parts 1 to 3 will set the stage for the conclusion of this story.

Constructive comments and emails are very welcome and much appreciated.

If you like or even dislike the story please send me an email with your critique.

Thank you for taking the time to read my tale and commenting. I hope you enjoy the story

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Johnny Burrows walked back to the porch of the ranch house and sat in a rocker. He watched as Josh and Red led the two would be gunmen on their horses toward their fate with the Sheriff in Fountain. Sarah came out of the house and handed him a cup of coffee.

"Those two are like a stampede when they get something in their heads," she said nodding toward Josh and Red. "And if you see one the other isn't far away." Sarah chuckled. "If Danni and I hadn't a put our foot down we might all be sleeping in the same room."

Sarah laughed at the look on Johnny's face. "Well...it isn't quite that bad but pretty close," she admitted. "Breakfast will be ready by the time you get washed up. Come and eat."

"Yes em," Johnny said. He walked to the pump at the rear of the house and washed his face and hands. He went into the kitchen and sat at the huge table which was designed to seat twelve but could handle up to sixteen if everyone crowed in a little.

Sarah and Danni put a large breakfast on the table for Johnny. They served the children who were seated at a small table off to the side with the exception of Clint. When he saw Johnny he squirmed and twisted until Johnny reached out and took him from Danni.

Clint settled in on Johnny's lap. "Bear," he said with authority and snuggled closer to Johnny.

Johnny had a smile as big as Texas on his face. "How's my little cub this mornin?" He asked as he shared his food with Clint. The youngster turned up his nose at the coffee but determinedly took a sip because his personal bear was drinking it.

"Y'all got bout the nicest family I ever did see," Johnny said with what suspiciously looked like tears in his eyes.

"I guess we do," Danni agreed. "We've been lucky. I guess it was sort of fate that Josh and Red rode into Fountain and our lives."

"Never did hear how y'all met," Johnny commented.

Both Danni and Sarah smiled. "Josh, Red, and Jerry had just ridden into Fountain," Danni said. "Josh was just putting in time until the war was over and he could go back home. Course you know about that."

Johnny nodded. "Josh told me about the problems at home with Fogerty and the Bushwhackers that tried to make him join them."

"The boys were looking for work and came into the store to get some supplies and talk to Mr. Mitchell the owner. Sarah, our younger brother Jacob, and I had just left the general mercantile to meet Dad at the stable. We didn't know that the boys were following us. They thought they might find work with our father on the Maggie M."

Sarah took over the story. "We were confronted by three cowboys who worked for Tom Larson at the Lazy L. Did Red and Josh tell you about Larson and the Lazy L?" Johnny nodded and Sarah continued.

"Those cowboys were trying to scare us and had us backed up against a store front; they'd already slapped Jacob around, he was twelve at the time. Red and Josh stepped in front the cowboys to protect us."

"Those cowboys couldn't make up their mind on whether they should fight with Josh and Red," Danni remarked. She smiled at Sarah. "Red did all but call them cowards for jumping two women and a boy. And he was quite willing to make a fight of it." Danni turned to back to Sarah and added, "Red's is a good man and I'm glad he's Josh's friend and partner."

"Now you got me almost blubbering," Sarah said dabbing at her eyes with her apron. "Before those men could decide what to do, Jerry got the drop on them from behind. Red pointed out the rifle that Jerry had aimed at them and I guess that made the odds too even for them. They rode out of town like the devil was on their tail."

"The rest was just getting to know Josh and Red," Danni said smiling. "Course Red started courting Sarah the day that they met."

"Those two sure have led an interesting life," Johnny said. He chuckled and added, "I guess I rubbed off on Josh a mite."

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Josh, Red, and Dillon led their two prisoners to the Sheriff's office. They pushed the two into the office and explained to the Sheriff what had happened.

"They said a man named Jackson in Colorado Springs hired them to scare us off," Red told the Sheriff. "He should have hired better help."

"We're going to Colorado Springs and find this Jackson," Josh continued. "Need to find out why he hired them and put a stop to it."

The Sheriff warned them not to take the law into their own hands. Red just smiled and said, "Ain't against the law to talk to a fellar. Now ifin he wants to get nasty we'll have to protect ourselves."

Dillon asked, "If it was your family would you just sit back and let him run another bunch at you Sheriff? Or would you go put a stop to it?"

Shaking his head the Sheriff admitted, "Reckon I'd do just what you boys are intending to do. Find out why and put a stop to it."

"One way or the other," Red offered. Turning to his two friends he said, "Let's ride boys. The sooner we get shed of this problem the sooner we can get back home."

It would take then about half a day to get to Colorado Springs if they didn't push their horses. As they rode Josh said, "Sorta wish Jerry and the boys had taken the cattle to Colorado Springs this time instead of Pueblo. We could count on some help if things get interesting."

"Most of those boys are just cowhands," Red replied. "Other than Jerry they've never been in a fight." Looking at Josh he said, "I think we're better off with just the three of us." Before Josh could object he added, "If things look too bad, we'll go to the Marshal if need be."

They arrived in Colorado Springs just before supper time. After stabling their horses and arranging rooms at a local boarding house, they went to the café for supper. "Where you plan to go now?" Dillon asked as they walked out of the café.

"Thought we might scout out the Bird Cage saloon," Josh answered. "That's were Jackson is supposed to be tomorrow evening."

"Good idea," Dillon said. "Besides it looks like Red could use a drink."

The Bird Cage was only about a hundred yards from the café. As the three friends entered through the swinging doors, Josh and Red stepped to one side of the doors and surveyed the big room. Dillon did the same thing on the other side. There were several men in the saloon but it wasn't crowded.

I can see where they got the name, Josh thought. There was a big cage about ten feet tall and another ten feet around that held several types of small birds.

"Sure are noisy ain't they?" Red asked. "I bet the bartender can still hear me order whiskey. Let's find out." He made his way to one end of the bar.

They bartender came over. "What's your pleasure gents?"

Red looked at Josh and at his nod replied, "Three whiskeys if you please." The man set three glasses in front of them and reached for a bottle.

"Give us some of the good stuff back there," Dillon ordered pointing to several bottles behind the others next to the mirror.

"Yes sir,' the man replied. He poured three generous drinks. "That'll be three dollars Mister."

"Dang, I didn't plan on buying the whole bottle," Red complained.

Dillon tossed three silver dollars on the bar and chuckled. "Got to pay more for quality Red." Turning to Josh Dillon said, "Thought you didn't drink whiskey Josh."

Taking a sip of his drink Josh answered, "Don't normally but this isn't a normal time. One or two won't hurt me."

A few minutes later Josh motioned to the bartender for three more. As the man poured Josh said, "Heard I might find a fellar named Jackson in here. Got a business proposition for him. You know the man?"

Nodding the bartender replied, "He's not here tonight but he should be in tomorrow evening. He usually is."

Josh thanked the man and gave him four dollars. "The extra one is for you."

"Name's James. Let me know if you need anything," the bartender said.

As they drank and talked, all three looked around the saloon. They were all veterans of more than one gun fight and weren't going to be surprised by someone coming up behind them. Josh pointed to a door to one side of the bar. Red nodded and pointed to the big windows in the front of the room.

Standing at the end Dillon casually leaned over and looked behind the bar. He straightened up and shook his head at Josh, indicating that there was no gun behind the bar. They were leaving nothing to chance.

"Think I'll sit in on that poker game," Dillon said. "See if I can get a handle on Jackson." He walked over and sat down at the table. He ordered a round of drinks for the table and soon he was talking to the other players like he'd known them for a long time.

Josh motioned to the bartender for another drink for Red but ordered a beer for himself. Seeing Red smile at his beer he said, "No need to get sick like I did on my Pa's white lightening when I was a youngster."

Dillon played poker for about an hour. He stood thanked the men for the game and left the saloon. Josh and Red slowly followed him. They met up outside.

"Jackson is a supporter of Clay Allison. Colorado will become a state next month and Allison wants to be its first elected governor."

Josh nodded. "I think I understand now." Dillon nodded agreement.

"What?" Red questioned.

"Well Allison was in Fountain while you and Jerry were in Nebraska getting those new bulls," Josh replied. "Dillon here knows Allison."

"He was one of the northern regulators in Virginia during the Reconstruction," Dillon explained. "Allison, and others, got rich punishing the Virginians for being part of the Confederacy. These 'carpet baggers' stole most of the property of the southern sympathizers. They confiscated farms, livestock, and businesses leaving a lot of people homeless and penniless."

Dillon stopped with a faraway look in his eyes. He was remembering back to his father's death. In a low, steel hard voice he continued. "The northern regulators confiscated my father's bank to get his personal accounts. When they found out he'd sent the money to my mother in Boston they killed him."

After almost a minute, Dillon came back to the present. Looking at Red and Josh he said, "Allison was involved in taking my father's bank. Wouldn't be surprised if he was involved in the killing too."

"When Allison was in Fountain drumming up support for his run to be Governor, Dillon called him on his past," Josh explained to Red. "He told me the story that day and I backed Dillon's play. Everyone at the meeting started to grumble and left cussing Allison."

"So I reckon Allison hired Jackson to pay us back and scare us to keep us quiet," Red replied. Josh saw "that" look come into Red's eyes. That look that promised someone was going to be held accountable for their actions. "I think Mr. Allison chose the wrong people to rile," Red added with a deadly tone in his voice.

"We don't know for sure if Allison is involved Red so let's not go off half cocked," Josh said putting his hand on Red's shoulder. Then Josh's voice got hard. "But if he was, he'll regret the day he did."

The three friends were quiet the rest of the way to the boarding house.

"Guess we can sleep in tomorrow," Red remarked with a smile. "Don't get a chance to do that at home. Sarah's always got somethin or another for me to be doing."

Just after first light the next morning, Red walked into the kitchen of the boarding house looking for coffee. He wasn't that surprised to find Josh and Dillon sitting at the table with cups of coffee. Dillon pointed at the coffee pot on the stove. Red poured himself a cup and refilled his friend's cups.

"Guess you did sleep in this mornin Red," Josh said. "I didn't think you'd ever get up."

Red chuckled. "Reckon I'm too used to Sarah rousin me outta bed in the mornings to sleep very late."

Dillon and Josh both nodded. "Couldn't seem to sleep when I heard a rooster this morning," Dillon remarked. "I found Josh in here waiting for the coffee to cook." Taking a drink he said, "Josh tells me that Danni and Sarah never said much about you two coming to find this Jackson."

"No. Sarah didn't say anything but be careful," Red replied. "Reckon she and Danni both know it wouldn't have done any good to try and stop us."

"Danni said the same thing, be careful," Josh added. Then he chuckled. "She also told me not to push Diablo too hard. She thinks almost as much of that horse as she does me."

"What about Elizabeth?" Red asked. "With your two little ones at home, how old are they now? Didn't she try to stop you from leavin?"

Dillon gave Red and Josh a small smile. "John Robert is two and Ellie is just six months. Elizabeth started to try and talk me out of going but when she saw the look on my face she stopped. Her exact words were 'you wouldn't be the man you are if you didn't go protect your family'. I do believe the woman knows me better than I do myself."

"Well now that we got ourselves convinced that we rule our women, what should we do until this evenin," Red asked.

Josh laughed and snorted, spraying coffee all over the table. Dillon almost choked on his drink of coffee and laughed too. Red joined in the laughter.

"I think we rule them just the amount that they let us," Dillon said when he stopped laughing.

After a couple of minutes Josh suggested, "You know Dillon you could set up an account with the bank here in Colorado Springs. We set up an account here when we started driving cattle to the railhead here years ago. I know we've been driving the cattle to Pueblo the last two years. But if the prices get higher here at the Springs in the next year or two, we'll start driving the herds up here again."

"That's a good idea," Dillon responded. "Even if the prices are the same we'll make the drive here instead of Pueblo. It's a lot shorter drive than to Pueblo."

Before they could continue Mrs. Thomas, the owner of the boarding house, came in to begin making breakfast for her guests. She wasn't surprised to see the three men already up and ready to begin their day. Those boys aren't the kind to lie around until late in the morning, she thought as she built up the fire in the wood cook stove.

About 9 AM they made their way to First Colorado Bank and Dillon opened an account. Leaving the bank they rode around Colorado Springs for a couple of hours taking in the sights. Josh led Red and Dillon to the resort that General William Parker had built. In front of the hotel was a statue of the General.

"Who's this Parker?" Dillon asked.

"He's a railroad man that decided he would build a resort here to take advantage of the mineral springs," Red answered. "He sure went whole hog," he added pointing to the Antlers Hotel and the surrounding stores.

"I know this might sound a little strange, but I think I'll see if there's some little do dad in one of those shops that I can take home to Elizabeth," Dillon said. His natural tan turned a little red with embarrassment.

"That's a good idea," Josh replied. "Might be the smartest thing we could do."

They each found something they thought would please their wives. Josh suggested that they have lunch at one of the outdoor cafes near the hotel. After lunch they scouted the Bird Cage one more time, returned their horses to the livery and went back to the boarding house to wait for the hoped for meeting with Jackson.

It was going on 6 PM when Josh, Red, and Dillon pushed through the swinging doors into the saloon. Once again Josh and Red stepped to one side while Dillon stepped to the other. They surveyed the room and walked to the bar.

James, the same bartender that they had met the previous day was serving drinks. He came over and set three glasses down in front of them. Reaching back to the special section James pulled down the good whiskey and poured. Josh smiled at him and took a sip of his whiskey.

"That man you asked about is sitting at the back poker table," James said pointing with his chin.

Dillon tossed a $5 gold piece on the bar. Josh, Red, and Dillon turned as one looked at each other and walked toward a large poker table in the back corner of the room. There were six men at the table and there was no doubt which one they were looking for.

Jackson had stood to pull in a large poker pot. He was taller than Josh, who at 6' 2 was considered a big man. His long dark hair hung down to his shoulders. Looks like Wild Bill Hickok, Dillon thought. Jackson wore a hand carved leather gun rig with an ivory handled gun on each hip. The long scar running down the right side of his face matched the description that Lenny and Jess had given.

Josh stepped to one side of the table, Dillon stood directly across from the man with the scar and Red stepped to the other side.

The big man had set back down but looked up as Josh, Red and Dillon came to his table. There was a questioning look in his eyes but no fear.

"You boys want something?" Jackson asked.

"If you be Jackson, we've got a message for you," Red replied.

"I'm Stewart Jackson. What's the message?"

*********************

Johnny Burrows had just finished mucking out the stalls in the barn. With the cowhands on a cattle drive and Josh and Red in Colorado Springs, Johnny wanted to help with the chores around the ranch. Got to earn my own way, he thought. As he came out the barn he got a whiff of himself. Checking the position of the sun he knew he had better than an hour until supper.

Maybe I ought to ride out to that lake Red showed me and take a bath, he told himself. I sure don't want to offend the ladies, or my little partner Clint. He quickly saddle William and rode toward the lake. Johnny stopped at the bunk house and got a clean pair of pants, clean shirt, and a pair of socks. He was wearing his moccasins and could go barefoot in them but he had to admit that socks did feel better.

Johnny also grabbed a pair of long johns that Danni had given him. The one pair he had when he got to the ranch was threadbare and had several holes in them. When Danni did his laundry that first morning she just threw them away. She gave him a set of Josh's because they were close to the same size. Got to keep myself decent around womenfolk, he thought.

He came out of the lake and used his hands to strip the water from his body. Johnny had just finished dressing and put his dirty clothes in his saddle bag when he heard rifle shots in the distance. Too many shots to be someone huntin, he thought. Sounds like it's comin from over to the ranch house.

Johnny mounted William with a leap and spurred him into a gallop. Riding as fast as possible over the broken ground he quickly got to the tree line surrounding the house. Slowing his horse, he saw three men each separated by 30 feet or so shooting at the house. The sounds of the bullets striking the logs and the breaking of the windows were plain to hear.

No time to be careful this time, he thought. Little Clint had continued to call Johnny "bear" and that's how he reacted. He was like a big bad tempered grizzly protecting his young. Johnny put William back into a high gallop, pulled his pistol and charged the three men. He intended to kill them before they could kill him or anyone in the house.

One of the men turned at the noise of the galloping horse and tried to bring his rifle up. He didn't make it; Johnny spurred William and ran over him. One of Williams hoofs landed on the man's head, killing him. The next man in line heard his partners scream. He turned and saw a crazy man charging at him and raised his own rifle. The man got off one shot before Johnny shot him twice in the chest from less than 15 feet away.