Three Fine, Well-Tended Graves, Part I

Rudolph Sperry was a ranch-owner’s son, and rode hard for his Circle-S brand, helping punchers herd cattle 'cross the plains, in Nebraska’s western Sand Hill lands, he wasn’t that bad for a young man, but even though he daily risked his neck, it seemed the cowboys gave him no respect. He suspected it was because of his pa, they though Rudy a spoiled, rich man’s son, that he was only here because of that, and a true cowboy? He would never be one, one hard fall and he would be done. They weren’t fool ’nuff to say it to his face, but Rudy heard the whispers around the place. While he caught some snickers from the men, the worst was Jack Campbell’s piecing stare, the man rarely spoke, but all the cow-punchers withered under the older man’s cold glare, it could fill the toughest of men with despair, even old Barnes, foreman of the crew said,”Don’t push him, if you know what’s good for you.” But Rudy figured that if he could impress this stern rider with the eyes of stone, then the others would give him respect, and not treat him like a kid half-grown, Rudy would make his grit and skills known. But three months of riding at Jack’s side did nothing to lift him in their eyes. Then old Barnes took him aside to explain that it did no good trying to impress Jack, “See the man saw his wife and daughter shot down, from that kinda thing a man don’t come back, he don’t care if’n you try or you slack. I just know last time he was pushed too far he broke three jaws in a single bar.” Rudy was frustrated by this reveal, but luckily riding was not his entire life, he had taken sweet to the cook, Graciella, courted this raven beauty for three fortnights, she rapturously agreed to be his wife, a little one soon was well on the way, and Rudy stopped caring much about puncher’s praise. Come the next spring, the little bundle arrived, a daughter that they named Annaliese, his father was proud, and his mother overjoyed to help Graceilla with baby-sitting duties, Rudy did not know how he became so lucky. Even Jack Campbell, with face cut from wood, said,”Rudy, this time, you really did good.” And great as that summer was for the ranch, rumors of trouble soon came riding in, coaches were robbed by a bandit gang, led by the wanted soul, Andrew McGin, a killer who’d been long-steeped in sin. Marshal’s rode out but could never find the bandit or his rapacious kind... CONCLUDES IN PART II.