"Mister Drifter- Hank Tells a Tale" Part 5 by Susan Pearl

My brother, Hank, told me how he came to be with the three.  It was on that terrible day --that murderous day when he was told by the rancher to do what he had to do as there was going to be some big trouble that day.  Hank had gone to work for the rancher about two weeks before and every day Hank had put up fence.  Day after day for two weeks he and the other newly hired cowhands put up fence. Hank thought it to be strange because the rancher had no cattle.  The cattle man had been renting out most of his pasture land and people scratched their heads in wonder how he considered himself to be one of the biggest cattlemen in the area. But for some reason he broke his rental agreements and told the renters to remove all their cattle or he would claim the cattle to be his own. Then the day came and the Chism Trail Drive could be heard and seen coming around the southern canyon pass.  Hank said you were outstanding to lead the cattle away from the canyon and not one was lost.  Then he noticed the cattle were very restless and you, Mister Drifter, cut some wires to let the cattle get to the north pond.  Then he said you went back and forth chasing cattle back and your cattle drive hands were working with you as hard as they could.  The cattle were on the brink of a stampede to get to the pond when you cut several other wires and herded the cattle, heading them into a secured area and the cattle were corralled and contained.  Then the cattleman appeared and yelled for all of his cowhands to shoot to kill.  Hank said he realized it was a terrible trick but he rode with four hired cowhands and chased after the three shooting at them.  When they caught up with the three and got them off their horses they roughed them up pretty bad and tied their hands with rope.  The cowhands laughed and enjoyed being mean and kicking dirt in the faces of the three saying that if they had a branding iron they would use it on the three.  They liked seeing the three struggling with their hands tied behind their backs.  The one cowhand who seemed to be the leader said that the way he looked at it was that he had been told to "shoot to kill"- so he had permission from the boss cattleman to kill the three.  He then said that he didn't necessarily think they had to be killed by a bullet and that were other and more interesting ways to do it.  The cowhands laughed and started  drinking heavily.  The fate they wanted for the three was gruesome and beyond cruel.  Hank told the cowhands that he wanted to make sure the ties were still tight.  Hank went over and checked each tied rope but as he was checking he was really untying the three.  When Hank got to the last one it seemed the mood changed and the leader cowhand slurred, " You are taking way too long checking those ropes.  What's going on?"  he asked as he staggered.  Hank yelled that he had to retie the last one because it was way too loose.  The cowhand staggered more saying that he was going to check.  Just then Hank ran and jumped bareback onto a nearby grazing horse and grabbed the horse's main turning the horse toward the cowhands.  In all the confusion all of the cowhands looked over at Hank and that's when the three jumped the cowhands.  It was quite a fist fight but the hands were drunk and once down they couldn't get back up with lack of balance.  The three tied their hands behind their backs and Hank and the three saddled up the horses and rode out.  The leader cowhand yelled, "If ever I see any of you again you will die and it ain't goin' be pretty!"  Hank said that he then told the three that he knew the way to Arkansas and that was where they all should go.  they all agreed.  Later that night they met up with us  and that it is how it all came to be.  I am thinking, Mister Drifter, that when you saw my brother, Hank, that you knew I would be safe without you.  I think you knowing that I would be safe played a big part in you going back.  In fact, I know in my heart that to be true of you. Hank, also, said the last thing you wanted him to do was to draw out in the dirt the eight land markings that are markers showing the way to Arkansas.  Oh, Mister Drifter, I will dream of your handsome face, of your strong ruggedly carved features contrasted by the kindest eyes I've ever seen.  But all the while I still have this haunting feeling that the odds are against you in such a way that it makes me think this whole ploy has been designed to only trap you.  Maybe the two years you were away from the Chism Trail cattle drive some money may have exchanged hands under the table and that you would recognize the scheme.  Without a doubt I think that this was all set in motion to remove you from the Trail.  It is not a score to be settled with you because it isn't over anything you have done but, instead, it is over what you were about to find out.