Death's Horse Throws A Shoe

Part 4

Bill Harris was furious. "How could you let him run you off like that? There were three of you and he is only one man."

"A very fast, one man. He could have shot all three of us before we could get one round off," confessed Vance.

"I didn't ask for excuses, Vance. I want that land and I mean to have it."

Harris was shaking with anger. Why wasn't this easier? Why couldn't Barrow just take his offer and leave? The railroad was sure to go through his land and he would make a fortune, the only roadblock was Barrow. The line would go through his property as well, but the stubborn man would not budge. If he did not relent the line would be moved further South and he would lose out on a great deal of money.

"You should have seen it boss. He was quick as lightning. I don't think we even saw his arm move at all. The next thing you know, he had the drop on us. He even knew we was hidin' in the trees."

"Hmm. Seems like he's too much for you boys. It may be time to bring in some outside help." Harris rubbed his chin in thought. "Vance, you know what to do. Find some tough boys that are quick on the draw and don't scare as easy as you."

Vance nodded, grabbed the two that were with him and left. Harris balled up his fists and slammed them onto the table. He dropped into a chair and put his head in his hands. He hoped that Vance would be able to find the kind of people he would need to kill Barrow, or at the very least, chase him off so he could buy the land cheap at auction. It was all about the money and the power that it provided. Little Water would be his, and he would own all the land around the railroad. He would be raking in the gold, taking percentages from everyone. It would be all his.

"Damn, that Hank Barrow. You'll sell to me, or you'll die. One way or the other," he said to no one in particular.

*****

Allison Reynolds rode her roan through the hills. If her father ever found out, she would get the blunt end of a switch and the welts to prove it. She enjoyed riding. It made her stand out from all the other women in town. That was both a blessing and a curse. Everyone knew who she was and most found her to be strange. They would avoid her in the street. They were polite enough when confronted, but Allison knew it was all show. Mostly it was because of her father.

Allison was the only woman who wore pants. She was more comfortable in men's clothes than the heavy, frilly frocks that other women could not seem to live without. It not only bothered the women, but the men seemed to think it strange too. She guessed they did not like a lady who could take care of herself. Their loss. Allison did like that people left her alone. Besides, she had her eye on someone already. She did not need the attentions of the men from town. Her sights were squarely set on the one man who did not seem to think that she was some kind of an odd ball. He seemed to respect her for who she was and that attracted her more than anything else. It did hurt that he was rather handsome either.

Her roan seemed to read her mind and had walked her in the direction of his farm. She topped a hill. From the top she could see Barrow's whole spread. She stopped to watch, enjoying it when he was working. Allison then saw him stop, and she was about to approach until she saw the three riders approach him. Even without being able to see them that well, she knew at once that Vance was one of the riders. This did not look good. It seems they had come to try and intimidate Barrow into selling.

Allison watched the events unfold. She watched how Barrow dealt with the thugs, how they seemed mere children in the presence of a real man. It made her heart flutter. Beaten, Vance and his cronies rode off in a hurry. Barrow watched them go for quite some time without moving a muscle and then resumed work.

Allison snapped her reins and the roan took off down the hill in a careful trot. She leaned back in her saddle to keep from being thrown forward until they had reached more level ground. If Barrow was aware of her presence, he did not show it, but continued working. At the edge of the field she dismounted knowing that her roan would not wander to far, and started across the field. Her boots sank into the tilled earth and she had to keep from stumbling a couple of times. She got close and reached out a hand to get his attention when she fell face first into the dirt.

Allison got to her knees in time so Barrow putting his pistol away with a confused look on his face. She brushed off dirt as she stood.

"Sorry, Hank. I should've hollered or something."

"That's alright, Allison. You best be a little more careful. I just had a run-in and I might be a little on edge."

She moved a little closer and looked off in the direction that Vance had ridden away. "Yeah, I kind of saw that from up on the hill there."

Barrow stared at her appraisingly. "You come to help?"

"Just stopped in to say 'howdy' and be on my way."

"Always running off as quick as you come. One of these days, you ought to stay a little bit longer." Barrow grinned.

"Are you propositioning me?" Allison asked coyly.

"Wouldn't do no such thing. You're still a lady by my reckoning."

"You better believe I am, and don't you forget it, Hank Barrow."

Barrow laughed at her feigned outrage and gave her bottom a swat. "Get on home now, it'll be dark soon and I've got a lot to do before I get to call it a night."

Allison tried to look offended at the familiarity with which she had just been handled, but it would not be convincing even to the casual observer. Her mind raced trying to figure out how to get this man to finish the deal and make her his wife.

"See you later, Hank," she called over her shoulder as she retrieved her horse.

"Not if I see you first," he laughed. "You won't sneak up on me a second time."

Allison mounted her roan, trotted off towards home with an occasional glance back at Barrow who was watching her go. She smiled and her heart raced. She was a strong-willed girl and knew her own mind. Despite what her father thought, or anyone else for that matter, she would get what she wanted and what she wanted more than anything was to be Mrs. Hank Barrow.