On the Path of Vengeance – Extended Epilogue

El Paso, Texas:1870

Like the rest of the nation, Dallas was expanding fast. Garrett Zucker glanced around the bustling saloon around him, piano jangling under the countless conversations humming, laughter crackling from every corner of the riotous place.

It smelled of stale perfume, beer, bourbon, body odor. Men and women of every stripe and social climb stood side by side to drink and revel in the simple fact of having survived another day.

How democratic it all is, Garrett couldn’t help thinking, how like the nation in general. Different classes intermingling as equals, everybody partaking of the bounty of modern society.

Garrett pulled his gold watch from his vest pocket to check the time. His business meeting had wrapped up early, and he was faced with the decision of heading back to the ranch or staying the night and heading back with the morning’s first light.

Good meeting, he reflected, site for a second hospital at half the expected price. That’ll mean more rooms, more beds, more patients helped. Ross and Maybelle will be pleased.

And why shouldn’t they be? I’m good at this, damned good! I’m a lot better at negotiating and organizing all these businesses than I ever would have been driving Shaughnessy’s cattle or sheep. And I have to admit, it’s a lot more fulfilling and rewarding than being the foreman of the ranch. Hartfort’s doing a great job of that anyway, maybe even better than Ross during his brief tenure in the position.

“Pardon me?”

Garrett turned to see a very pretty young woman standing at the bar next to him, lovely blue eyes under straight, black hair, white skin pulling it all together. She wore a tea gown which draped her modest curves nicely. She looked around nervously, then back at Garrett.

“Are you all right, Miss …?”

“Sharon, sir, Sharon Anders. My friends call me Sheri.”

Garrett tipped his top hat. “I hope you’ll consider me one of them … Sheri. I’m Garrett Zucker.”

“Charmed, I’m sure.”

Garrett gestured to the bar in front of them. “Drink?”

“Oh, no, sir,” she said as if taken aback by the mere suggestion. “Actually, sir, I was … I was looking for my brother. He’s known to frequent such places as this.”

“Your brother?”

“Yes, sir, he … he favors gambling, I’m afraid. I don’t see him here, but I thought that you might perhaps have come across him. He’s quite distinct-looking, very … um, very large, with a single gray stripe running through the center of his beard.”

Garrett gave it some thought. “Like a skunk?”

She nodded, eyes cast downward. “Altogether too much so, I’m afraid.”

“I see.” Garrett was intrigued by this damsel in distress who stood before him, and his impulse was to help. She had an air of innocence, of wholesomeness, which seemed quite out of step with the saloon environment she found herself in.

But there was something else about her, something Garrett couldn’t quite place, which intrigued him more.

He tossed a few coins onto the bar and said, “Shall we take some air, see if we can spot him together … Sheri?” She smiled, slipped her arm into his, and he led her out of the Captain’s Cupboard saloon and into the street.

Walking down the crowded sidewalk, she seemed to grow more nervous, glancing around the street. Garrett took her for searching out her wayward brother, but that only raised more questions.

“What is it that your brother does … for a living, I mean? He’s a gambler by profession?”

“My no,” she said. “We … we have a farm outside of town, just northwest a bit, but we’ve had terrible luck since our parents died. We’ve had molds and bugs and all manner of misfortune. I don’t think we can keep it going much longer, tell you the truth.”

“Oh, well I’m … I’m sorry to hear that. Though I may be in a position to help.”

“Sir?”

“Have you thought about selling the property? Perhaps somebody with more resources can work the land different, get a better result. I know I can procure a most generous offer.”

“Buy the land? But … what about me and my brother?”

Garrett shrugged. “It sounds as if your brother has plenty to occupy his time. And as for you … perhaps, well, I don’t see a ring on your finger.”

She gaped as if once again taken aback, this time even stunned. “Mister Zucker, really! Such forwardness.”

Garrett stammered through an awkward smile. “I wasn’t actually proposing … Miss Anders.”

She looked at him with a coy little smile. “Not actually … Garrett.”

Glad to see her lightened reaction, he repeated, “No, not actually … Sheri.”

They walked on, Garrett feeling good in Sheri’s company. How strange that we should meet at the El Capitano, he reflected, owned by the Shaughnessy Barrow companies, a place I’ve been to countless times. Ross and I shared a drink here after he buried his mother, when I thought his name was Cass Higgins.

Well, Garrett had to silently correct himself, maybe it’s not so strange after all.

“You’re very kind,” Sheri said. “I’m not sure if my brother will sell the land.”

“You needn’t, if that idea troubles you. Perhaps you’d be interested in taking a partner, or even a loan of some sort.”

She looked at Garrett, confusion on her pretty, pale brow. “I don’t understand. Why are you being so … so generous of spirit? You can’t truly be as ready to marry me as you claim.”

“Let’s say that I’m a ruthless businessman looking to fleece you of your holdings, or at least exploit them to my own greedy benefit.”

Sheri waved him off. “That’s not the manner of man you are, I can see that.”

“Don’t be so sure.” He pulled his gold pocket watch from his vest pocket. “See this?” She nodded, and he went on, “I stole it from an orphanage filled with blind nuns.”

She looked like she was only trying to smile, to play along with his little joke. “I see.”

“That’s right. And then I … I sold the orphanage to a gang of bandits, who apparently opened up a musical theater, of all things!”

They shared a chuckle and walked on. She pulled herself a little closer to him, and Garrett was glad.

“Really, though,” Garrett went on, “we help a lot of people. Otherwise, I would caution you against trusting me or anybody with something so important.”

She leaned toward him, eyebrows high. “We?”

“I … I represent a … a certain interest, local to El Paso, very broad holdings. A lot of the profits go to certain … philanthropic endeavors.”

“The blind nuns?”

He chuckled, but she did not. “Lunatics, mostly, places where they can be humanely treated, cared for; even cured, a lot of them.”

“You don’t say.”

“And there are other holdings as well; hotels, other shops around town, a few restaurants, the soup kitchen.”

“You do that, the free soup on the corner?”

Garrett smiled. “That was my innovation, actually. Costs quite little, but it makes a difference to a lot of good people, won’t otherwise be able to have a good meal. You’d think people take advantage, but I’m glad to report they really don’t, most of them. It inspires them, I think, to turn their lives around, gives them strength to find work and then perform it to some degree of efficiency, and that’s good for the local economy.”

Sheri turned away from him suddenly and broke out in a quick sob, covering her face with her hand.

Garrett looked at her, confused, taking off his top hat to give himself a better view of her face. “Sheri, are you all right?”

“No, I … I can’t do this, I just can’t!”

“But … you don’t have to, Sheri. You can keep your farm just as it is, if you like. I was only trying to help. I hope you won’t judge me too harshly for—”

“No, Garrett, no, it’s not that.” She stopped walking, and Garrett stopped with her. He turned her to face him, but she kept her head turned away to avoid eye contact with him, for reasons that were making him increasingly worried. “Why did you have to be such a good man?”

Garrett tried to chuckle, but he knew he wasn’t convincing her any more than he was convincing himself. “But, I’m a scoundrel, we agreed!”

“Stop torturing me, Garrett, please!”

“Torturing you?”

“Just go … just go get on your horse and get out of here now, while there’s still time.”

“Time for what? Sheri, what are you talking about?”

“My brother … he’s not lost, he’s … he’s nearby, waiting to ambush you, Garrett.”

Garrett looked around, getting a little distance from Sheri, hand near his holstered pistol. “Ambush?”

“Up ahead.”

“But … how did you know I’d want to leave the saloon?”

Sheri sighed, close to tears. “It was my brother’s plan. I’m so sorry, Garrett, he made me do it, threatened me if I didn’t! I hate him; I hate him so much. He beats me and treats me like a slave. He killed my husband … at least, I think he did, I’m not sure. But he won’t let me marry again, he won’t work, he’s terrible to women; he’s monstrous, Garrett!”

“Why ambush me?”

Sheri turned away again, but Garrett held her chin and turned her to face him. “You know who I am; you know who I work for?”

Sheri shook her head. “We saw you ride in, take a meeting in those offices; you looked an easy target. Now would you just turn around and go, please? I’ll deal with my brother.”

Garrett didn’t need to use too much imagination to assume what that would be like. “He’ll beat you.”

With a determined sneer, she said, “Maybe it’s time I took matters into my own hands. Hangin’ fer murder won’t be any worse than living this way … if you call it living.”

Garrett wasn’t sure if she could be believed. This could be just another twist in the con, he reasoned, but there’s one way to ensure a safe way to deal with this brother, whoever he was.

Garrett said, “If I can free you from your brother’s bondage, would you like that?”

She looked at him with a confused shake of her head. “How are you going to—?”

“Just tell me. You don’t have to go with me, I’m not saying that. But if I could free you, to go anywhere in the world, do whatever you wanted to do—”

“Yes, of course, of course! Mister Zucker, you’re not teasing me, or—?”

“No, Sheri. Trust me, and let me help you.” Garrett glanced around again. “You go find this brother of yours and bring him back to the Captain’s Cupboard at the El Capitano hotel.”

Sheri looked around too, nervousness growing in her quivering lower lip and arched brows. “You’re going to have us arrested!” She pulled away to run, but Garrett held her, one hand on each arm.

“I’m not, Sheri, I’m not.” He looked deep into her eyes and she back at him until she was calm again. “I want to help. Now you go get your brother and bring him to me at the saloon.”

“But … what do I tell him?”

“Tell him I want to talk to him, that I’ve got a … an opportunity I want to discuss. That should be enough. You go to him now; I’ll be waiting in the saloon.”

Sheri seemed to give it some thought, then nodded and tried to smile. Garrett let go of her and turned to walk back toward the El Capitano.

He wasn’t sitting at that table near the center of the saloon more than five minutes before Sheri returned with the man Garrett presumed was her brother. She was right; he was massive, black-bearded with a single streak of gray. He was a hardened and hardhearted man, Garrett knew instantly.

Garrett stood up as Sheri and the man approached his table.

“Sister says you got a job fer me,” the man said.

“Once we’re introduced, perhaps. Name’s Zucker, Garrett Zucker.”

The big man looked Garrett up and down, lacking his finery and fine physique. “Terrance Anders. Friends call me Terry.”

“What shall I call you then?”

The two men stared each other down before Terry sat slowly, Garrett and Sheri following suit. Terry said, “Let’s find out. What’s this opportunity I hear’d tell of?”

“It’s more an offer than a job, actually. I’d like to buy your sister.”

Sheri gasped, eyes and mouth wide. “Garrett, how dare you?”

But Garrett just held up his hand to silence her.

Terry asked, “How much?”

“A thousand dollars, in cash.”

“A thousand … fer my sister? I can’t just go out and get another one, y’know.”

“Two thousand,” Garrett was quick to say.

Terry slowly said, “Gee, I don’t reckon I can sell my own sister—”

“Three thousand.”

“Five.”

“Done.” Garrett spat into his palm and extended his hand across the table, Terry doing the same to seal their bargain. “Very good,” Garrett want on, “you’ll have your cash by the end of the day … after we’ve worked out the details.”

Terry leaned forward, the joy of new wealth falling away from his expression. “What details, gimme my money and take yer woman, that’s that.”

“Of course, I don’t mean to haggle. But … what about her dowry?”

“Her dowry?”

“You do know what a dowry is?”

“Well, sure, but, um, we … I mean, she ain’t got no bridal dowry, nothin’ like that.”

Garrett scratched his chin. “She mentioned a farm. She says it’s doing very well, productive. Is that true?”

Garrett gave his adversary time to digest his lie, hoping he’d take the bait. “Well, yeah, it’s a bonanza down at the farm, that’s fer sure.”

“We’ll make it six thousand,” Garrett said, “and you throw in the farm.”

“Then where am I supposed t’live?”

“With six thousand dollars? About anywhere you want, I’d say.”

Terry’s eyes shifted from Sheri to Garrett and back as he was obviously thinking out the offer.

“Ten thousand.”

“No,” Garrett said. “I’m sorry, but … no.”

Garrett enjoyed the encroaching confusion overtaking Terry’s expression. “Ain’t you gonna counter my offer?”

“We came to an agreement and I modified it by a thousand. You declined. That’s all.”

Terry huffed a bit, looking around the saloon. “All right then, I accept, I’ll take the six, you can have the farm. Ain’t but dirt there anyway, but it’s too late to change yer mind!”

“Five thousand,” Garrett said, “including the farm.”

“We spat in our hands and shook on it!”

“Oh, you’re right, I’m sorry.”

“All right then, we’ll—”

“Four thousand, plus the farm.”

“What? Wait a minute —”

“Three.”

Terry held out his flattened palms as if to stop Garrett in his tracks, though he was merely sitting at a table. “Wait, now just hold on. Yer goin’ the wrong direction—”

“Oh, did I say three, I meant to say—”

“Three,” Terry almost shouted, “three’s the deal, we both agree. Take the farm, take the girl. Hell, she’s got a horse, you can have that too. Three thousand.”

Garrett sat across that table, casting what he hoped would appear to be a doubtful expression at Sheri, who turned away in disgust. Then he spat into his palm again, Terry doing the same before they shook again.

Garrett said, “Deal.”

“Deal.”

“Very well then. Tell me something, Mr. Anders. You seem a man who frequents places like this, am I right?”

“I ain’t ashamed.”

“Nor should you be. In fact, my employer owns this entire establishment.”

Terry looked around again, jaw slowly grinding under his skunk’s pelt beard. “That so?”

“Sure’s yer sittin’ here. And since you’re so … so well and recently moneyed, this might be a good time to settle any markers we may be holding on your custom here.” Garrett turned to the bartender and nodded.

The man turned to check through some receipts, and then said to Garrett, “Four hundred dollars, sir.”

“Four hundred,” Garrett said. “That leaves twenty-four hundred. Sound about right, Mr. Anders?”

“I … I guess. So where’s my money?”

“They’ll bring it to you from upstairs.” Garrett looked at the man guarding the upstairs office.

“We ain’t goin’ to the bank?”

“No need. But I want you to take a look around yourself, Mr. Anders.” Terry did, and Sheri did the same. “You’re surrounded by men in secret, gunmen, hired to be on constant guard. And not just here at the El Capitano, but at all of our hotels.”

“So?”

“So, your last look around here will be just that.” A man approached the table from behind Garrett, setting a heavy sack of coins onto the table. Loud enough for all to hear, Garret went on, “You are no longer welcome in this establishment, or any other owned by my employers. If you are seen by any of these men, or others alerted to your appearance, you’ll be taken for an interloper or a revenge seeker, and you’ll be shot without warning.”

Terry nodded, eyes shifting from the men around them to Garrett himself. “If you’re seen at any of the restaurants, shops, any of our holdings, you’ll meet the same quick end.”

“But … how’s I supposed to know’d which ones’er owned by you?”

“I guess you won’t.”

“But … I’ll have to plum leave El Paso.”

“And you’ve got a sack full of gold to get you wherever you’re heading.”

Terry snarled as he looked around, then he reached out to grab the wool sack. Garrett reached out and grabbed his arm. “And if I ever see you again, at our ranch or at your former farm, I’ll kill you myself.”

“Now that’s one horse too many—”

But Garrett was up from his seat in a flash, a year of training with Ross having vastly improved his drawing and firing skills. His Colt pistol was sticking into Terry’s face before anybody realized, and long before Terry could do anything about it. He sat shocked, staring into the pistol barrel.

“Do I make myself clear?”

Terry swallowed hard. “Um, yeah, sure, clear.”

“All right then,” Garrett said, releasing Terry’s arm and slowly returning his pistol to his holster. Terry stood slowly and picked up the wool sack. “Good luck t’yer, sis.”

Sheri didn’t even look him in the eyes as Terry picked up the wool sack and shuffled out of the saloon, never to return.

Garrett sat back down next to Sheri. “Well,” he said, “what are your plans?”

“My—? I—I don’t know!”

“Your farm is yours again for the taking, if you wish to return to it alone. At least you’re free of your brother’s servitude, as I promised.”

“Yes, yes I am. And I do appreciate that, Mr. Zu—Garrett.”

He smiled and gave her a little nod. “Care to return with me to the S & B Ranch? I have my own house on the property, and a small staff. You’ll be safe … and quite comfortable.”

Sheri didn’t seem to have to give it much thought. “Why … why yes, I think I should like that quite well.”

She smiled and extended her hand. Garrett took it and stood to lead her out of the Captain’s Cupboard, making the choice to head back to the ranch that day after all. But he wasn’t going back alone.

Garrett had the warm and wonderful feeling that he would never be alone again.

THE END

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