Chapter One
If any stranger had ridden toward the town of Oak Grove on the dark and overcast day, he might have taken one look and turned away. Because on this day, Oak Grove spelled trouble. At the edge of town, a tall, lean man stood in front of the house, and he didn’t look friendly. Eli ‘Shadow’ Wren had his hand on the coldness of his revolver. Although the numbers were on their side, the eight men facing him didn’t look confident. An observer would have trembled at the blue-eyed, blond-haired defender. At six-two, he was taller than most men. All eight men silently breathed a sigh of relief that their boss, Coleman, had climbed down from his horse and stepped into the street to face the blue-eyed man. At first, no one spoke, but the tension between the two could be cut with a knife. Both had their hands on their guns.
“Get out of the way, Wren, or I’ll kill you,” Coleman said. “You’re a dirty double-crosser. A double crosser ain’t worth spit.”
Wren just looked with scorn at his opponent.
“You were not exactly truthful with me, so your lies broke our agreement.”
Silence filled the street.
“And I don’t like being lied to. I owe you nothing. By the way, do you remember where you were twelve years ago? To the day. This day twelve years ago. Remember where you were?”
Coleman showed an angry sneer. He almost hissed at the question. “Now, how could I know where I was twelve years ago? No one could tell that.”
Wren didn’t show any emotion. “I do.”
“You better worry about the here and now, not what happened over a decade ago.”
People in the town ran from the streets and took cover inside a building or a saloon. Others, out of pistol range, stared at the confrontation. Most knew the reputation of Coleman – he was a bandit and a killer. More than one man had died by a Coleman bullet.
“Move away,” Coleman said.
Wren said nothing. He just stared at his opponent. Coleman wriggled the fingers of his gun hand. Wren’s fingers were steady. No nervousness.
“I’m getting impatient.”
“You shouldn’t be impatient. Death comes soon enough for most,” Wren said. “You remember where the Crimson Bandits were twelve years ago?”
“The Crimson Bandits?” For a moment, Coleman was puzzled. He mouthed the words but had no comprehension of what he was saying. He kept staring at the other gunman, but then a flash of recognition appeared on his face.
“Oh, my …” Coleman went for his gun, and Wren did the same. Colemen’s bullet whizzed a half-inch past his opponent’s ear. Wren’s bullet, though, had lodged in Coleman’s side. The gunman fell on the dusty street. A boy, about twelve, had walked outside to see the gunfight. As he watched the shooting, he became paralyzed. He tried to move, but his feet no longer worked. Colman grabbed the boy and used him as a partial shield.
“OK, get out of the way, or I’ll kill him!”
Wren fired again, and the bullet lodged in the gunman’s forehead a second after Coleman made his threat. He fell backward, loosening the boy from his grip. The boy’s mother ran out of her house screaming. She grabbed her son and hugged him. Wren walked slowly toward Coleman’s body and took a quick glance at him. He kept the stoic expression when the memory of a long-ago Coleman shooting a man in the stomach came to mind. He moved away when the sheriff and a deputy ran toward him. The eight men who had ridden with Coleman to the town drifted away. None of them approached their leader.
Eki Eli walked away silently. He nodded as a man walked toward him.
“You’re shooting is amazing,” the man said. “I saw a man one time who was incredibly fast. He was called the ‘Shadow.’ You remind me of him. Are you him?”
Eli smiled. “Not anymore,” he said and walked away.
SIX MONTHS LATER
Wren lit the cigarette he had just put in his mouth and kept reading the newspaper advertisement. Bette and Iris Keen were planning on taking a wagon train to Mount Rose, a town near the center of the state. They were asking for fellow travelers, men and women who wanted a new life or a new start. As he puffed on his cigarette, Wren thought a new life sounded good. He had served as a gunman for a while. He thought he could use a new life. He was tired of the old one. He was getting weary of the life he held. He wanted a new one. One where he had not made the mistakes he had previously made. Everything would be new. And all the mistakes would be forgotten.
He took another puff of the cigarette. He had traveled to California once and liked the place. He was just passing through then, but he remembered the land was beautiful. Besides, the two ladies might need a man who was good with a gun. Not that he bragged about his skill with a gun. He was trying to forget it. But they might need a scout. He knew most of the paths, valleys, and byways in California. The silent scout named Eli might be someone the two sisters wanted to hire. They needed a scout. If they didn’t know about the land or the state, he might be a valuable man to have along on the train.
He had a history of rambling, but now he was tired of riding from place to place. It was time to settle down, get a steady job and enjoy the state’s beauty. California had some majestic landmarks. It might be a scenic trip.
Besides, he needed something new. His old life was giving out on him. He didn’t like it anymore. There was nothing special about it. It was dull and mundane. He felt like he had seen everything, and most of it was bad. There seemed to be not much redeeming virtue in life. Wren guessed he needed to get away. But he needed to get away from life, and that was impossible unless you went to the grave, and he wasn’t ready for that yet.
He gave an almost-bitter sigh. He wouldn’t go to a funeral home. He would go to California. He tossed his cigarette away, stood up, and petted his horse. Wren had the remains of one small carrot in his pocket. He reached for the orange stub and gave it to Alex, who chomped on it quickly and swallowed it. Wren stuck a boot in a stirrup and lifted himself into the saddle.
“Let’s see if the two ladies like me and if I like them. I also need to know if they know anything about traveling in the West. More than one wagon train has been lost in the wild because of the stupidity of the travelers.
‘I hope the sisters are smart.” He rode a short distance with his horse and smiled. “Well, if the sisters are smart, they will put me on the payroll.”
He figured it would take only about three hours to get to the valley. Three hours of leisurely riding. He didn’t have to rush. It wouldn’t take long to find where the passengers would meet. The sisters had found a large valley that wasn’t being used for anything.
He found the road he wanted and headed south. It was a cloudy day, so the sun was bearable. He didn’t break out in a sweat riding south or see many other riders. Two came from the south and passed him by. They exchanged greetings but nothing else. A third rider turned on the road but rode only five miles before he turned off to head east. A carriage ahead of him turned right, and after that, he was alone on the road for several miles. He stopped at a lake a bit later, filled his canteen, and smoked another cigarette at the water hole. Then he climbed on his horse again and headed back on the road.
He saw another crossroads was coming up. He looked at the man from a distance and thought he looked slightly familiar. He spurred his horse slightly. The closer he came to the mounted rider, the more he thought he was familiar. He still couldn’t see him well, but there was something about the man … just about a minute later, he heard the man yell, “Eli! Eli! How’ve you been? All in one piece, I see. That’s good news.”
Wren slowed his horse, then finally recognized the man.
“Earl Goodheart! Howdy. It’s been about three years since I’ve seen you,” Eli said.
“Probably closer to four. Glad to see you again.”
The two men shook hands. Eli thought his friend had not changed much. He had a big smile, and his face was free of bullet marks, which was a plus in the West.
“What are you doing out here?” Eli asked.
“Just drifting. Looking for a job.”
“That’s what I’m going to check on.”
“Really, can they use two people?”
“Don’t see why not. Well, I don’t have the job yet, but for some reason, I feel certain they will hire me. I’ll ask about a second man. The two sisters are putting together a wagon train for people looking for a new home.”
“We see a lot of that in the West nowadays. It’s a place of new dreams.”
They shook hands and laughed. Eli pulled the clippings out of his pocket that told of a new home for all the new settlers. He handed it to Goodheart.
“This doesn’t look like a big outfit. How much are they paying?”
“Read the last line.”
Goodheart turned his attention back to the paper slip.
“Two hundred dollars. That’s good money. Where are they going?”
“Just down to the south of California. It’s not too long a journey, and it’s good money.”
“Know anything about the sisters?”
“Don’t know a thing. I haven’t even met them yet,” Wren said. “So I don’t know anything about them. Besides, I think they are courageous for attempting this. But I hope they know if this type of travel is new to them, they need professionals who can steer the wagon train about from danger.”
Goodheart nodded. “Well, there have been some rumors of Indian trouble down south. I don’t know which tribe is causing trouble, but it always pays to be careful.”
“How true. It pays to be doubly careful when Indians are involved.”
Goodheart swung his horse around and rode beside Wren.
“I’m glad I met up with you, Eli. I needed a job, and this is a good job if we’re the ones hired. Two hundred dollars. That’s good money.”
“But we haven’t heard all the details yet. We need the full details of the story from the two sisters.”
Goodheart shook his head. “It doesn’t matter what the details are. There are no details that would make me turn down a two-hundred-dollar job.” He picked up the newspaper story. “These ladies must be very trusting people. They advertise two jobs for two hundred dollars. A few people might mosey over to the camp spot to see if they could sniff out where they are keeping the money and then try to steal it.”
“That’s true. So we should get over there as soon as possible. We need to get there before the thieves come around and try to convince the sisters they are legitimate. That should be easy. You have an honest face, Eli. You got a mustache but that only adds to your charm. You have that deep voice, too, my friend. That will make the ladies swoon. You come off as a mighty honest man. I come off as slightly less honest, but still honest. Hey, if the ladies are young and good-looking, maybe they will like us even better.”
“Let’s use our credentials to get the job, not our looks.”
“What are credentials?”
“Our work, the jobs we have held.”
“Well, we’re good on that too. We have several jobs involving cattle and horses. And travel. We know this state darn well.”
They halted a moment while Eli picked up his canteen and took a drink. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the pamphlet.
“They – meaning our hopeful bosses – are gathering at Orchard City. That’s in north California, and they are headed south,” he said.
“That’s all right,” Goodheart said. “I know the state, north and south. Always had a soft spot for California. It always seemed to me to be a fine, even beautiful state. Nebraska is just flat, and I mean flat. It’s not particularly scenic.”
“Don’t let the Nebraskans hear you say that. I’m sure they like their state.”
“They won’t hear me say it because I never plan to go back there again.”
Wren laughed.
“How far until we hit our destination?”
“Just about ten miles. But I wonder how they are going to pick scouts if they don’t know anything about us,” Wren said.
“They will choose you because you have an honest face. Those green eyes give you a distinguished look. They will fall over in infatuation with you.”
“I’m not sure about that. I’m going straight now and will from now on, but I’ve had something of a spotted past,” Wren said.
Goodheart nodded. “Most people in the West have a spotted past. Some people who moved out here had a spotted past before they came. In fact, that’s why many have come, to forget their spotted past and start anew. I bet some of those wagon train folks want a new beginning. The West gives you the chance to do that.”
For a second, Wren thought of his days with the Crimson Bandits, then shook his head.
“To start anew,” he said.
“Yep, darn, I bet half the people on the wagon train will be starting anew.”
“Half … and one,” Wren said.
Goodheart smiled. “You have something of a past, Eli. Don’t worry about it. Most people out here won’t. To be honest, many of our best lawmen were once on the other side of the law.” He shook his head. “The West is a rough place, but it’s also a place of redemption for many.” Suddenly he laughed. “But it’s also a place where even our preachers have to be tough.”
The two saw Orchard City in the distance. It looked like any other small Western town. A sign on the outskirts of town said, “Bette and Iris’ Wagon Train Meeting – one mile west.”
A wind blew the grass and small trees, but it brought the temperature down. California could be hot in the summer so most people hoped for a cool wind in the summer. The two turned their horses west. Eli suddenly thought this was not a good idea. Few ladies would plan a wagon train without getting a wagon master and scouts signed up long before they left. You shouldn’t move three feet without getting a scout if you didn’t know the territory. He shrugged. But perhaps the two sisters were familiar with the state. He loved the West, but he realized it was dangerous country.
In a few minutes, they saw a banner strung across the road saying, “The Bette and Iris Fletcher Wagon Train.”
Goodheart looked over at his partner, “Well, this must be it.”
They kept riding slowly until they saw the lead wagon. A table was set up beside it, and a lady behind it handed a slip of paper to a gentleman and lady. They thanked the lady behind the desk.
“We are going to head out in a few days. Probably three, but there may delays, so we’ll let you know.”
The two men climbed down from their horses and walked to the woman sitting at the table. Wren tipped his hat.
“Hello, ma’am. Are you one of the Fletcher sisters?”
“I am. I’m Bette, and who might you be?”
”Eli Wren and this is Earl Goodheart, a friend of mine,” Wren said.
Goodheart tipped his hat, too, and gave a big smile.
“What do you want?” Bette said.
“Well, ma’am, we are two cowpokes who know California. Most of our lives have been spent in this state. We know the roads and pathways and rivers and creeks where the Indians are and almost everything else about the state. We were wondering if you needed a couple of scouts to help guide the wagon train. As I said, we know the state. You won’t get lost with us as your guides,” Wren said.
Bette leaned back in her chair. “Well, you do look honest; I will say that for you. And you have a nice voice.” She looked over at Goodheart.
“And are you Mr. Goodheart?”
“Yes, ma’am. And as my partner said, we know this state backward and forward. We won’t get you lost and will lead the train the easiest way to the destination. You won’t find two better scouts in the territory. We’re also honest and won’t lead you the wrong way.”
She nodded. “Well, we do need some scouts. We had a man who ran out on us a couple of days ago. We’ve been looking for another one. But it’s kinda nice when they find you. I put out some posters, glad I’m getting some replies. It saves a lot of walking.”
Wren nodded. “We’ll save you a great deal of trouble, too. We know which roads are the best to take, and we know the Indian territory that we need to keep out. You couldn’t find better scouts in the entire state.”
“Well, you look good to me. My sister will be back in a few minutes, and I want to confer with her before making an offer. We decide things together.”
“A very good policy,” Wren said. “Two heads are better than one, and two scouts are better than one.”
“Just hang around a bit. Bette is checking out the wagons. She will be back in a few minutes. How long have you lived in the state?”
“My whole life, ma’am,” Wren said.
“I’m a native of the state too, ma’am,” Goodheart said. “Frankly, I wouldn’t want to go anywhere else. It’s a beautiful state. I was born here, and I’m gonna die here. I don’t think there is any place better.”
“Ah, here she is,” Bette said as a lady walked up to the wagon. “Iris, I think I’ve found two scouts. Meet Earl Goodheart and Eli Wren. I think they are just what we need.”
A blonde, slender lady with green eyes stuck out her hand and shook the hands of both men.
“You must have impressed my sister, and she is not that easily impressed. I assume you know the territory,” Iris said.
“Yes, ma’am. We were both born here and know every trail and path,” Wren said.
Iris’s voice was not hostile, but her voice had a no-nonsense tone. “Then I assume you can draw us a map of the trail we will take. We want to go down to Chimney Rock. We are going to settle down there. You know where it is?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Wren said.
“It’s a small place. Not everybody knows where it is.”
“We do, ma’am,” Wren said. “I’ve even been there once. Small town but very nice.”
She laughed. “You really do know the country.”
“Yes, ma’am. And we’ll have that map for you as quickly as possible.”
“Very good.”
“How many people will you have on the wagon train?”
“About fifty. We didn’t expect to have that many, but individuals and family just sort of showed up. But all of them appear to be very nice. We haven’t had any trouble and don’t expect any.”
“Good. I hope we don’t have any.”
“But I want to confer with you two often. I want to know what’s ahead of us. I don’t want any surprises.”
“With us, ma’am, you won’t have any,” Goodheart said.
“I’ll hold you to that,” Bette said. “We were planning to leave in two days, so we may get two or three more wagons. Then we’ll head down to Bayfield, although I have no idea why it was named Bayfield. There is no bay within a hundred miles.”
Goodheart laughed. “Sometimes folks use a lot of imagination when they name those cities.”
“That’s the truth.”
Bette found her wallet and peeled off four twenty-dollar bills. She gave two to Eli and two to Earl.
“That’s your pay for signing on. You get the rest when we get to our destination.”
“Sounds fine,” Eli said. “If you’re leaving in two days, I’ll be out tomorrow looking around. We want to make sure there is a peaceful road ahead.”
“Thank you, Eli.”
Goodheart walked up and glanced around. When he saw no one but Eli, he walked over to him. Eli realized his friend wanted to ask him something.
“Something on your mind, Earl?”
Goodheart nodded. “You’ve been around these parts. You ever heard of the “Crimson Bandits?”
Eli flinched. He had never wanted to hear that name again.
He nodded. “Heard the name,” he said. “Bunch of outlaws is what I heard.”
Goodheart nodded. “Heard they were operating in this area. I don’t know anything about them except they are outlaws, and vicious. We don’t want to be near them.”
Eli nodded. “I will be careful when I’m scouting. I’ll look for a bunch of tracks.”
“Do that. They ride in a bunch. We don’t want to be caught by surprise.”
“I will surprise them, not the other way around.”
“Good. Last I heard, they had about eight outlaws in the bunch. We might have too many wagons for the bandits to try to take, but you never know. They are supposed to be bold as well as ruthless.”
“I’ll definitely keep an eye out for them,” Eli said.
“Good. We don’t want any outlaws sneaking up on us.”
Eli lit a cigarette and thought he would roam around the camp. He figured it might take two months to get to the destination. That would give the settlers plenty of time to build an encampment and maybe even build some houses before winter. You did not want to spend winter in California without a house. It could get very cold. Not as cold as Montana, but the temperature would often drop below freezing and once in a while drop below zero. In temperatures like that, you need a house around you and a fireplace. You don’t want to be in a California house in the winter if it doesn’t have a fireplace.
It was a large train. He didn’t realize how many people wanted to go to South California. Where they were going, he thought, was close to the New Mexico border. As he walked past the wagons, most appeared to hold families, including one that had six children split evenly between boys and girls. Most couples liked to have several children. Many things had to be done by a family in the West. Suddenly, a young woman approached and offered her hand.
“Molly Timmins, I understand you are one of our scouts,” she said.
“Yes, ma’am, Eli Wren is the name. Nice to meet you.”
“Mr. Wren, you look like a scout. You look like you know the West, both the good and the bad,” she said, smiling.
“Yes, ma’am. Born out here in the West, I have seen a lot of the bad but some of the good too. We have some good and honorable men out here but some bad ones, too.”
“I’m sure you are one of the good ones,” she said.
“Thank you, ma’am.”
She was a lovely woman, he thought. Black hair, a wonderful sparkly smile, brown eyes, and a lovely voice seemed to perk up your day, creating sunshine from gloom.
“May I walk with you?” she asked.
“I wish you would. Nice to have a companion, even for a walk.”
“Thank you. May I ask you something?”
“Of course,” he said. “You can ask me anything.”
“This may sound silly, but I already heard rumors about Indians. Is there any truth to that?”
“I doubt it, but although I know the way to South California, I haven’t been there for a while. So I’m not up to date on all the Indian activity. I haven’t heard of any problems, but my partner and I will be out scouting, so don’t worry. If there are any Indians creeping around, we will find them and warn the train.”
“That’s nice to hear.”
“Are you traveling with your family?”
“Yes, there’s my mother and father and two brothers. And unlike many brothers, they are bearable to be around and often very nice.” She nodded. “We get along well.”
He laughed. “Are you all going downstate to build a home?”
“Yes, my father wants to start a business. He spent a couple of years in South California when he was a child, and he liked it and wanted to return. He had a very happy time here.”
If I had ever had a happy time in my childhood, I’d like to go back there too, Eli thought.
“How about you? Do you like it?”
She nodded. “I think I will. It’s beautiful country. I like to paint. I think I will have many nature scenes in this part of the country.”
“Yes, I’m sure you will. I’m guessing you are a wonderful painter. I admire anyone with an artistic talent.”
“Well, I’m not sure how talented I am.”
“Anybody who can draw a leaf is talented as far as I am concerned. I tried drawing once when I was about six. I was awful. About ten years later, I tried it again to see if I had improved. I hadn’t. I was still awful. But I would love to see your paintings, Molly. I’m sure they are artistic.”
“I hope you’re right. Perhaps I should paint you. An authentic Westerner.”
“I would be honored, but just make me better looking.”
“You don’t need to be painted better looking. You’re handsome enough as is.”
Eli smiled and was a bit embarrassed.
“I thank you, ma’am. You are very complimentary.” He smiled. “I’m not sure that compliment is true, but I appreciate it.” He noticed it was getting dark. “Perhaps we should be getting back.”
“Yes, are we leaving tomorrow?”
“Believe we take off in two days. We have to check everything, and that takes a while. Tomorrow I may swing around the area just to ensure everything is OK.”
“Drop by and say hello,” she said.
Chapter Two
About a dozen people rode to the campsite the next days and said they wanted to join the train. Bette and Iris welcomed them. Cable and Rose, an older couple, signed up and chatted with the sisters for a few minutes. Eli noticed them because they were both wearing dark-colored clothes, making him wonder if they had lost a loved one recently. It was entirely possible. More than one family in the West had lost a child or a relative. But the couple didn’t sound depressed, though few families who had lost a loved one did. It was common in the West and not usually talked about.
But the next man who came by did talk a lot. He was very jovial. Vernie Allen, an average-sized man with light hair, commented on the wagon train, the weather, and almost everything else. Allen said he hadn’t found much luck in his present location so was going to try another place. He told jokes as he walked, and Eli smiled at him. He was amiable if just this side of buffoonish, Eli thought.
Just as Eli was leaving to scout, Ray Wyman came with his wagon. He wasn’t a jokester such as Allen. He had a sour complexion and a deep voice that sounded almost menacing. Eli knew Bette kept a gun in her skirt pocket. She eased her hand halfway in her pocket while Wyman signed up to join the wagon train. Eli was slightly suspicious of Wyman, but he had seen ugly men before and learned they were honorable men. One or two had fought with him. While he didn’t rush to judgment on Wyman, the man did have a fearsome countenance. The two sisters took the lead wagon, Bette took the reins, and Iris kept turning around to ensure no wagon was wandering off.
Eli had climbed on his horse.
“Want me to come with you?” Goodyear asked.
Eli shook his head. “Nope, I don’t expect any trouble. I just want a look at the territory and guess the best way to go. I know a little bit about this territory and I don’t think there’s any rough going for a couple of days.”
“That’s good to hear, but I’m happy to accompany you if you want.”
“Not today. Just stick with the sisters and see if there is any trouble here.” Eli looked around. “By the way, what did you think of Mr. Wyman?”
Goodyear replied immediately. “One of the ugliest men I’ve ever seen, but that doesn’t make him a bad man. I’ve known some very good men who could, frankly, scare small children. But they were good men. Good in the heart. Wyman doesn’t have a winning personality, either. But he could be a good man. We’ll just have to wait and find out. I hate to say I’ll keep an eye on a man because of his looks. But … I’ll keep an eye on the man because of his looks.”
Eli laughed. “Yes … just in case.”
He spurred his horse slightly and began riding slowly past the wagons, tipping his hat to several passengers. He smiled and tipped his hat to Molly Timmis, who waved at him as he passed. He caught a glimpse of her father as he drove the wagon with his mother with him. He could see a resemblance to her daughter – they both had blue eyes and slender frames. Both smiled a lot, too. That was a good sign. He rode on past them and onto the range, leaving the wagon train behind. He sensed no trouble, but you always had to be careful. Trouble and danger could come swiftly on the range and in the West. You always had to be careful. You could never let your guard down.
“A Bloody Battle for Land” is an Amazon Best-Selling novel, check it out here!
With the weight of his sins heavy upon him, the former gunslinger Eli “Shadow” Wren seeks redemption and a fresh start. He leads a wagon train bound for California, hoping to leave everything behind him. But as he navigates the perilous frontier, haunted by memories of loss and betrayal, his skills with arms might be the only thing standing between him and death…
It might be too early to retire his gun…
As the scorching sun beats down on the rugged landscape, Lani, a skilled herbalist and survivor of tribal persecution, finds herself at a crossroads in her quest for belonging. Cast out from her own people and hunted by vengeful foes, she seeks refuge with the wagon train, her heart yearning for a place to call home. But when her path crosses with Eli’s, a man with demons of his own, will she find the strength to trust in the bonds of fate?
The shadows threaten to engulf her…
In a land where justice is won with courage and integrity, Eli and Lani must stand together against looming threats. Will they find the salvation they seek, or will they be consumed by the darkness? Join them on a gripping wagon train adventure through the heart of the Wild West, where love and redemption await those brave enough to seek them.
“A Bloody Battle for Land” is a historical adventure novel of approximately 60,000 words. No cliffhangers, only pure unadulterated action.
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