Chapter 3
The Diversion
Arriving at their cabin they dismounted in front of a small stable that Emery had built just behind their cabin. The stable was still without a front door but provided sufficient protection for the horses in a cold Wisconsin winter. The door would be built and placed once this battle was over. They walked the horses into the stable and pulled their saddles off. With fists full of straw they began wiping down the horses.
“Son, I know you never killed a man before, let alone even aimed at any one with intent. You’re gonna be thinkin’ about what happened back there for a long time and questioning yourself. You need to know you made a man-sized decision today and I want you to remember that that decision saved my life. I wish I could tell you that you’ll never have to shoot at a man again, but I fear there will be a lot more killin’ before this is done.”
Ray was about to ask what else he could have done when they heard the sound of horse hooves out front of the cabin. They both grabbed their rifles and moved quickly to the front of the stable. Cocking his rifle, Emery leaned out of the opening just enough to look over at the front porch of the cabin.
“Mr. Cooper, Mr. Cooper, Ray, are you there?” came a soft voice.
“Who the heck is that Pa?” Ray asked.
“Well I'll be damned, it's that Foster girl.” Emery said. “Hey girl, who's with ya?”
“No one Mr. Cooper, I came alone to warn you,” she cried, riding her horse toward the front of the stable.
“You mean to tell me you rode all the way up here by yourself?” asked Emery.
“I rode out with four of my Pa’s men towards the crew camp, but I split up with them about five miles back. They went on to the camp and I came here. I didn't want them to know exactly where your cabin was.”
“How did you know where the cabin was?” Emery questioned.
“Mrs. Cooper told me.”
“What? Damn, that woman is gonna get us killed,” said Emery under his breath.
“No, No,” said the Foster girl. “After I told her about my Pa’s intentions she told me.”
“What intentions are those? Taking my land? You forget we already figured that one out.”
“No, I heard him talking to four of his men after you left. He wants to put a mill here in order to lumber trees further north and he told them he knew if he sent a crew up here, that you’d follow. He ordered them to make sure you didn’t come back. He needs you dead in order to take over the land. Those four men are only up here to make sure you don’t come back,” she began to cry, her eyes glowing from unshed tears, her blonde hair whipped loose from the wind.
Ray left the safety of the stable to help her down off her horse. She let her arms wrap around his shoulders and her face tucked into his chest. Holding Ray tightly, her tears slowed as she realized he was holding her back. When her watery eyes meet Ray’s, he could feel her breath on his cold face. Ray’s heart was melting for this tender, frail girl.
“It's gonna be all right. Do you think your Pa has any idea you're here?” Ray asked softly.
“He probably thinks I ran away again. He doesn't know I over-heard him,” reported the girl. “He is so heartless, to kill people over a piece of land,” she choked out, her voice trembling.
“People have killed for a lot less,” Ray said. “But you’re right and it's not a game we’re happy to be dealt into either. Let's get your horse inside the stable and you inside where it's warm.”
She surprised Ray by her show of affection when she drew her arm around his and pulled him in close. Ray took hold of the horse’s bridle and they walked into the stable together. Emery stopped behind them staring, looking down at the deep tracks left by her horse. The Foster girl hadn’t covered up her tracks as they had done, traveling through creeks, over rocks, and even back over their own trail to make sure no one could follow. She had left a path right to their front door.
“Do you think anyone saw you take off?” Emery asked.
Ray turned to face his Pa when he saw the tracks Emery was looking at.
“The men I rode with swore they wouldn’t tell, and no one saw me,” she answered.
“Let’s hope so,” said Emery as he walked heavily into the cabin.
Ray placed her horse into the stall next to his horse that he simply called “Horse”. Removing the saddle and blanket he picked up a handful of straw and began to rub the horse down.
“I don't know how to thank you for riding all the way up here to warn us. I don't even know your name.” Ray said as he turned toward her.
“My name’s Samantha, and I can think of a way,” she said with a shy look on her face as she moved in closer.
Ray moved back a little as her move forward spooked him.
“Haven't you ever kissed a girl before?” she said slyly with a smile forming on her lips.
“Of course I have,” Ray lied.
Wrapping her arms around his neck she slowly moved her face to his placing a soft kiss onto his lips. She pulled back slightly looking up into Ray’s eyes and then moved her head to push her lips hard against his. Ray’s mind was so flooded with emotion and excitement by the unfamiliar attention paid to him by this beautiful girl that he never heard the muffled sounds coming from the cabin. She pushed her body up against his as she pulled him in closer and ran her fingers through his hair. Ray was totally lost in her grasp. She pulled her face back again and looked into his eyes as she reached down the front of his chest. Stopping at his belt buckle she unfastened his gun belt. It fell away from Ray’s waist and she tossed it across the stable. Ray didn't care; his mind was racing with what might be coming next. She was definitely in control and Ray did not argue. She pulled Ray to the stable floor with a look in her eyes that was both evil and exciting. As they settled to the floor next to each other Ray was awakened from his fog by another loud noise outside.
”What the hell was that?” Ray said as he rose with a start.
“It was nothing, don't leave yet. Aren't you enjoying yourself?” Samantha said as she held his arm to keep him from investigating.
“I heard somethin’,” Ray snapped.
“I heard it too. I think your Pa is just cutting some wood,” she explained, tugged at Ray's belt.
Not wanting this new experience to end Ray easily accepted her explanation and returned to her embrace.
-CKS-
Many passionate moments later, they both rose from the stable floor, brushing straw off as they exited the stable.
“You go ahead; I want to freshen up a bit.” Samantha purred.
“Okay, I'll see you inside,” Ray told her as he picked up his gun belt and headed towards the door. Stepping outside of the stable, Ray noticed it was already getting dark. That's when he realized they had been in the stable for almost an hour. What was he going to say to his Pa about what he was doing? Hopefully he would guess and not ask.
As Ray rounded the corner of the cabin he saw the door was wide open. That wasn't like his Pa. Ray headed for the cabin door and yelled out, “Pa! Hey, Pa! Why did you leave the door open?”
Ray jumped into the doorway ready to question his Pa about letting all the heat out, but the cabin was dark, with no fire in the hearth.
“Pa, where are you? Why no fire? Where are you?” Ray called out.
He couldn't see anything in the cabin and with no answer Ray turned and stepped outside. That's when he saw Samantha riding away at a full gallop, laughing and giggling like a kid running from a candy store with a pocket full of stolen candy sticks. Ray called after her but she didn't stop. Samantha looked back only once, still laughing as she disappeared over the ridge.
Ray wracked his mind trying to figure out what was going on. His Pa was nowhere to be seen, and the girl who must be in love with him had just ridden off laughing.
A wave of desperation hit him. “Pa!”
He turned slowly back to face the darkness hanging inside the cabin door. “Pa, are you in there? Pa?” Ray moved
slowly towards the door. Almost knowing what he would find, he asked the emptiness pleadingly, “Pa, please answer.”
Ray entered the cabin and worked his way through the darkness. Bumping his leg into a table, he reached across it with his hand and found a match. A soft light broke the darkness of the room as soon as Ray struck the tip on the top of the table. There, lying motionless on the floor was Ray’s Pa. There was no sound of breathing, he was just laying twisted on the floor like a rag doll tossed into a corner. Ray screamed in anger when he saw the large axe buried into his Pa’s back. He didn’t have to approach his Pa to know he was gone. The match burned his finger and he dropped it to the floor, once again dipping the room in darkness. Ray’s head began to swim. He reached for the table or a chair to steady himself. Finding none and overwhelmed by grief, he collapsed on to the floor.
-CKS-
Ray wasn’t sure if he would be able to bury his Pa, but knew he couldn't wait until morning to do it. While it was still dark outside he began digging a hole near the edge of the lake. He thought the spot would make a proper grave. The ground was still frozen near the surface but with bloodied hands he broke through to softer soil. The pain caused by the shovel handle seemed to help a little as he dug and thought about his Pa. How was he ever going to tell Ma? What was he going to do now? Pa had always been there, but now, because of him…
As he placed the last shovel of dirt over his Pa, the rising sun’s rays sparkled off the lake. Buried where his Pa would be able to look out over the land and lake he had saved for his family. The brightness of the sun hurt Ray’s eyes as he turned back to his Pa. The fingers of light reached to the base of the grave as if to carry away his spirit. It was too much; Ray broke down, knowing he had failed his Pa. If he had not been with Samantha, he could have helped him, warned him.
“Samantha!” Ray shouted with clinched fists.
Samantha had kept Ray in the stable while someone else killed his Pa. As he stared down at his Pa’s grave, tears froze to his cheeks, and his agony turned to rage.
“I don't know why you didn't kill me too, but you'll sure as hell wished you had!” promised Ray.
Ray knew right then and there that he had but one goal; to take back all that was his Pa's.
Knowing the Mill crew now knew about the cabin, Ray quickly saddled up his horse, packed all the supplies onto his Pa’s horse and rode out. He didn't know the land but he knew where the crew was. With their numbers the crew would not be able to hide. Ray would stay on the move, making it hard for them to find him. If he could stop the remaining three leaders then he figured the rest would go home.
A few miles from where the crew was camped he found a small meadow. It had a natural corral created by birch trees growing so close together the horses could not get out. Ray placed two downed logs across the entrance. The horses would have plenty of room to move around and access to a small overhang of fallen trees for shelter. The tree’s canopy made grass accessible to the horses. Ray knew he would be sharing the shelter with them, so he placed the supplies under the overhang and released Pa's horse to roll in the corral. Remounting his horse he pulled the Winchester out of the scabbard and checked the rounds. Once the .44 in his holster had been checked as well he rode out.
The smoke from their camp told him he was close, while the smell reminded him of the faces of the four men that had accosted his Pa earlier. As it was getting dark, Ray dismounted and tied his horse to a tree, leaving the knot loose so his horse could pull free if Ray did not make it back. Waiting for full darkness he sat down on the ground and leaned up against a tree. Pulling the collar of the heavy coat up around his neck and his hat down over his eyes, he quickly fell asleep.
Sometime during a very restless sleep Ray was awakened with a start. He looked over to his mount. The horse’s ears were pricked up, and Ray knew something was out there. He rose, holding the horse’s snout to keep him quiet. There was the sound again. Ray could hear footsteps coming toward him through the trees. He leaned back in hopes of hiding his shape from the approaching threat and rolled slowly against the tree to try and see around its edge. It was too dark to see who it was. The silence was finally broken when one of the men spoke, “John, I ain't gonna be doin’ this sittin’ next to you, you go over behind those bushes and I'll go over here.”
“Larry, you’d love it if I sat next to you,” John answered with a laugh.
“You go to hell Calhoun!” replied Larry.
Ray stepped quickly out from behind the tree right in front of the two.
“Damn it who's that?” shrieked Larry.
“Take it easy boys, it's me, Ray.”
“Hot damn, if it ain't,” laughed John, “what the hell are you doin’ around here?”
“What do ya mean, what am I doin’ around here?” questioned Ray.
“We finally got a job workin’ at the mill. They sent us up here to that lumber camp.” Larry stated.
“Those guys said your Pa sold out and took you guys to California,” remarked John as he pointed toward the camp. “I’m glad to see you; I couldn’t believe you’d head out without telling Larry and me.”
“Pa’d never leave Wisconsin. He loved it here. They killed him just a few hours ago,” Ray spoke softly, still feeling the bite of death.
“Your Pa's dead? Who's the son of a bitch that killed him?” lashed out Larry.
“Look, we’ve all been friends as long as I can remember. You both knew Pa and the kind of man he was. He deserved better. This land was his dream and they came in the dark, stole it from him and stuck an axe in his back.”
“Ray, do you know who did it?” asked John as he and Larry walked up to him to calm him down and talk more quietly.
“Yeah, it was the guys from the lumber camp, and I saw one of them for sure… Samantha Foster.”
“Who’s this Samantha Foster?” inquired John.
“She’s Foster’s daughter, you know who Foster is? Anyway Pa bought some land up here legal and honest and Foster said it was his land and Pa had no right to it. We found out a few days ago that Foster sent some men up here to cut down our lumber so Pa and I rode up here a couple days ago to protect it. Turns out all along Foster just wanted to lure Pa up here so his men could kill him. That way they could take back the land. The sons-a-bitches brought Samantha Foster along with 'em.
“You saw this girl hit your Pa with an ax?” asked Larry. “Are you bullshittin’ us?”
“She might as well have,” said Ray as he looked past both of them with his eyes filled with hate and anger.
“She kept me busy in the stable while the others from the camp killed Pa. She rode out laughin’ right before I found Pa. When I called to her she just kept on ridin’ and laughin’.”
“Well that lines up with what I saw,” said John. “She was the girl that had ridden up with the four big guys that called themselves the foremen of the camp. Apparently, one of the men got shot. No one would talk to us about the shooting. It all happened before we got up here. She rode off with the three while we were asking for a job. I bet that’s when she was headed for your cabin.”
“Well boys, do I have to ask? I sure could use your help. Neither one of you have any family around here, not really. Pa was as much of a Pa to you two as he was to me. If you help me, I'll help you. We'll split this land up and work it together. Of course you know I'm goin' after them with or without you.”
“Now hold on damn you. You got no call to make it sound like we would do anythin’ else but back you,” snarled John.
“John’s right, Ray. You talk like that again and I'll punch your face in,” said Larry.
“So what are we gonna do to stop 'em?” smiled John, the wheels visibly turning in his head.
“First off, is there any one in camp that you couldn't shoot if you had to?” Ray asked.
“When we rode in this morning looking for work everyone we might have known must of already pulled out. Now I know why. They must have found out your Pa was kill
ed or something.” Drawing a breath John swore, “No Ray, there’s no one there we care about.”
“How many are left?”
“I figure there are the three foremen, about twenty men and maybe that Foster girl, if she came back to the camp.”
“Replacements for those that left should be showin’ up soon I bet,” said Larry.
Ray thought for a moment. “Then we need to hit them before they have larger numbers.”
“Larger numbers?” said Larry, “You consider 3 against 23 good odds? Hell we can't kill that many men.”
“I don't want to kill anyone that doesn’t have it comin’. Mostly I just want to scare them off if we can,” said Ray.
“And if that doesn't work?” asked John
“Then we may have to open this dance up,” Ray stated.
“We'll go back into camp and get our stuff, and meet up with you on the other side of the hill. We’ll decide then what our next move is gonna be,” said John.
“Okay. Try not to make your leavin’ too obvious. Some of those guys may know that we’re friends,” Ray cautioned.