Tuesday, April 1, 2014

HOWL AT THE MOON — Chapter 4 DEFENDING THE GOLD AND LITTLE CREEK

When Bobcat got home he filled the family in on what was taking place in Little Creek. Twister got so excited he grabbed his shoot'n irons, saddled his horse and was ready to go. Bobcat told him it would be a few hours before they headed back to town and that he should take a nap, it would pay off later. Twister couldn't sleep, not with the potential of being on a posse protecting Little Creek from villains such as Frisco Bob. Twister had never met Frisco Bob but his Pa and Jack Rojas had talked about him around campfires where Twister had listened with big eyes.

Bobcat Brian rode back into Little Creek at daybreak with Texas Twister in tow. Twister was only ten years old. He wasn't accustomed yet to riding all night and had not learned how to take cat naps while trusting his horse to take him where he needed to go. Instead he fought falling asleep as long as he could until he fell, humped over the saddle horn, fast asleep. It had been the longest night of his life.

"Let me take the horses to Levi's Livery and get them settled. Why don't you take the boy in the mine and let him sleep, he's about had it." Bobcat said as he rode up to Coyote Mann who was nervously standing in front of the bank waiting for Bobcat to return.

"Where's Crap Shoot, is he coming?" Coyote Mann questioned anxiously.

"He'll be along, Coyote Mann, don't worry. Just lay the boy down, he's had a hard night." Bobcat spoke slowly and calmly now as he does when trying to ease a colt under saddle for the first few rides.

After dropping the horses at Levi's Livery Bobcat walked back to the bank. Crap Shoot was there now along with Springfield Slim. "Where's Filthy Phil?" Bobcat questioned.

"He's waiting in the Mine." replied Coyote Mann, "We should get in there too and fill everyone in on what's happened."

"What about the sheriff?" Bobcat asked directly. Now he was going through a checklist in his mind.

"He's more nervous than I am! He's in the Mine also waiting to deputize us." Coyote man commented while lifting his signature hat to wipe his brow with a well worn bandana.

"Well, let's git going then.", Bobcat urged them all as he put his hand on Coyote's shoulder to help him understand that everything will work itself.
The four men headed to the mine where Sheriff Bad Eye Bobolu nervously waited with the remainder of the forming posse. Once everyone was inside, Bad Eye started by introducing himself as the Sheriff.

"We know you're the Sheriff Bad Eye." explained Springfield, "Can you please get to the details of why we are forming this posse?"

Bad Eye explained all about the good fortune Coyote Mann had found in the very hole they were now meeting in. He told them about the San Francisco Mint and how U.S. Grant himself was coming to deliver the gold. Then he cautiously revealed that Frisco Bob was most likely headed their way with two hired guns and intentions to take the gold no matter what. With that Bad Eye deputized the five men and one boy and christened them the Coyote Pack Posse. Next he instructed El Vaquero to hand out the badges. El Vaquero handed Coyote Valley Cowboys badge #6 to Coyote Mann, #12 to Bobcat Brian, #13 to Texas Twister, #60 to Filthy Phil and so on down the line until each man, now deputized by Sheriff Bob Eye Bobolu, wore the shiny silver star of the Valley of the Coyotes.

With nothing left to say, the sheriff and his deputy left the Mine, mounted up and headed south to rendezvous with the General and his Garrison.

Bobcat stepped into the doorway of the mine and faced the posse. With the now bright sunlight pouring in through the doorway, Bobcat appeared as just a dark silhouette facing the posse.

"Things will probably be quiet for awhile," Bobcat started, "I imagine Frisco Bob will make his move Friday night. I've never met Frisco Bob, but my cousin Jack Rojas has. Jack done run him outta Jim Town, but not before he heisted the Bank of Sonora and fleeced the gold fields of Columbia before that. It's been quite some time since that all went down and I'll bet Frisco Bob needs a new grubstake. I'm sure he's thinkin this is going to be an easy heist with the sheriff gone and just a few town folk left to defend the gold, but he's got another thing coming. Let's keep a low profile and not stir up the town. I imagine he'll make his move after the sun goes down so everybody be ready when night falls."

Wednesday and Thursday passed quietly without incident and the posse grew by two more members. Coyote Mann's son, Yoke, arrived Thursday afternoon along with his buddy Chaos Kid. The posse was more than happy to take on two new members as trusted as Yoke and Kayos. The posse members took turns sleeping during the day and all stayed awake at night. Friday mid-day Springfield Slim spotted a man with a white shirt, red vest and black coat make his way down Main Street. Behind him followed two rugged looking gunmen. All three eyeballed the bank pretty heavily as they rode past. Springfield Slim was on the porch of the Sheriff's office right across the street from the Bank. "Mornin Gents." he offered as they rode past. "Can I help ya find something or someone?"

"No thank you, Deputy," Frisco Bob offered back, "we's just passin through and thought we might spend a night of rest in this fine, quaint little town of yours. It looks like some thunder heads are buildin up and it might be nice to have a roof over our heads if they decide to open up."

"The saloon is right there next to the bank, they have some rooms upstairs." Slim commented. Filthy Phil had been inside the Sheriff's Office and saw Slim approach the strangers. He stepped out onto the boardwalk with his shotgun cradled in the crook of his right arm.

"Right next to the bank, that's nice Deputy, I think we will give it a go." Frisco Bob replied cordially.

"It's also right across the street from the sheriff's office, Frisco Bob." Slim's words cut like a knife. The three strangers had their backs towards the Deputy when the comment was made and the men just froze in place. Filthy Phil reached up with his left hand and cocked the mule ears of his shotgun slowly so no one could hear the clicks of the triggers setting.

Frisco Bob could sense the hairs standing up on the necks of Terrible Ted and Jail Bird Jay, even under their neckerchiefs. Both of his new outlaw partners seemed to stiffen as they had done that night on the Barbary Coast just before they drew those horse pistols. Frisco had too much riding on this job though and decided it would be best to act before they did.

"Deputy, I'm afraid you have me mistaken for someone else," Frisco Bob replied, " but I do believe we'll take your advice on the saloon across the street from the Sheriff's Office. Good day Deputy, don't let the rain get you." With that Frisco Bob nodded his head slightly to the left and down in a sign of "thank you" for the directions before all three rode on again.

Frisco Bob, Terrible Ted and Jail Bird Jay tied their horses up outside the saloon and went in for a drink. Springfield sat on the porch for awhile so as to not look too anxious. Filthy Phil stood behind him leaning against the wall still clenching his double barrel. Both Filthy Phil and Springfield Slim knew they had to let the rest of the posse know that Frisco Bob had made it to town and was now in the saloon with two additional gunmen. After about an hour, Springfield stood up and stretched, then slowly turned and walked into the sheriff's office followed by Phil. They woke Texas Twister up and told him to sneak out the back and make his way to the Coyote Den Mine where the rest of the posse was resting and let them know Frisco Bob and his two gunmen were in the saloon. Twister jumped up and did as he was told. He went out the back door and all the way down and around the Oak Coralls and back up to the Mine where he woke his Pa and the rest of the posse.

By this time the sky had grown dark with the thunder heads that Frisco Bob pointed out to Springfield. Soon the rain started to fall and the streets became muddy. This was odd weather for spring time in Alta California, it took Bobcat back to the time he had spent in Texas and up in the Rockies. It kind of gave everyone an odd feeling in the bottom of their gut.

"We need to get to Springfield and set up a plan." Crap Shoot said to break the silence.

"If it is all the same to you, I think I'd like to stay in this mine with the gold that's here." Coyote Mann replied.

"Chaos Kid and I will stay here with my father." Yoke added.

"That's good," Bobcat concluded, "Crap Shoot, Texas Twister and I will head to the Sheriff's Office and sit there with Springfield and Filthy Phil. We can keep a good watch on the bank and you three can protect the gold in the mine."

"How will we know if something starts to happen?" questioned Chaos Kid. As Chaos glanced over at Bobcat he could swear that he saw Bobcat's eyes light up.

"Don't worry, you'll know by the fire and smoke." he replied with a wry smile.

With that, the skies opened up and the rain fall hard. It came down in sheets with lightening flashing across the sky showing it's wicked, boney hands and thunder rolled through town shaking buildings and rattling the glass windows in the few stores. Crap Shoot, Bobcat and Twister used the rain as cover to make their way to the Sheriff's Office undetected by Frisco Bob and his crew.

So much rain fell, the little creek next to Main Street swelled until it overflowed and began to run right down the middle of town. Springfield was glad to see the other posse members. He wanted to know what the plan was and what to do next. Crap Shoot pointed out that the three gunmen had not broken any laws yet and nothing could be done until they did.

"Coyote Mann, Yoke and Chaos Kid have the mine covered and we can watch the bank from here." Crap Shoot explained. "Let's just sit tight and see what happens; the sun will go down soon."

Filthy Phil was worried about his friend, Coyote Mann, and the gold in the Mine. "The Gold in the Mine isn't even in a safe." Filthy Phil blirted out in a concerned voice. "I think I better go back to the Mine and help them protect that stash."

"That sounds fine. Why don't you stop by the saloon on your way and let them boys know you still have the scatter gun with ya." Bobcat replied. "That way they will think there's only Springfield left in this office."

Filthy Phil pulled on his slicker and headed across the street with the mule eared coach gun setting in his arms in the same manner as it did earlier in the evening. The rain was still coming down and the street was more like a river than a the middle of town. He walked in the saloon and made eye contact with each of the three strangers. Once again the tension grew and Frisco stepped in to avoid a gunfight before he could get his loot. "Evenin Deputy, we're glad we took your friends advice on the saloon." Frisco offered to ease the room. "Did ya git wet come'n over ta see us?"

The conversation was making Filthy Phil sick to his stomach so he decided to leave before he did something he regretted. He left through the front door, nodded towards the Sheriff's Office and headed to the Mine to help Coyote Mann protect his stash.

Shortly before sunset, the rain slowed then stopped, leaving the town with a fresh rinse and a muddy street. As the sky darkened, Frisco Bob, Terrible Ted and Jail Bird Jay made their move. They slid out the back of the saloon and made their way behind Spitfire Sam's vegetable cart between the buildings and all the way up to the side of the bank undetected.

El Vaquero built the bank with no back door so no thieves could slip in or out the back. This forced Frisco and his men to come out to the street and enter through the front door. Even though the sun had set and the light was fading, the Coyote Pack Posse could see the would-be thieves making their way to the front of the bank.

Springfield grabbed his 66 with its long octagonal barrel and said, "Now they're breaking the law." And he headed across the street shooting twice at the last two men as they scurried through the broken in front door of the bank.

He ran to the doorway firing in two shot bursts. When his rifle was empty, he turned and Crap Shoot tossed him a side by side. Springfield gave each man a double burst from the big shotgun in his hands. Springfield put so much lead into the bank it literally blew a hole in the back wall big enough for Frisco and his gang to escape the bank. After tossing the shotgun to Springfield, Crap Shoot freed his pistols from their holsters and fired double shots through the window at Frisco Bob and his gang.

Filthy Phil and Coyote Mann heard the ruckus and headed out of the Mine to get some of the action. They met Frisco Bob, Terrible Ted and Jail Bird as they rolled out of the back of the bank empty handed. Coyote and Phil rewarded the thieves with yet more gunfire as they hit the dirt behind the bank. Not knowing exactly where all the gunfire was coming from Frisco and his men drew their weapons and started firing crazily in all direction as they took off back towards the saloon thoroughly confused and bewildered. A wild ricochets caught Filthy Phil in the left arm. Unable to fire his long arms, Filthy Phil resorted to shooting his handguns with his right hand only.

A cloud of smoke engulfed the terrified, fleeing men as they headed towards the saloon hoping to find their horses and make an escape. Half way between the bank and the saloon Bobcat was waiting for them at the vegetable cart with his shotgun, rifle and pistols laid out in front of him loaded. There was so much smoke in the air that Bobcat couldn't actually see the men, it was just a cloud slowly moving towards him. When he heard one of the men call out, "Can ya see the horses yet?" Bobcat yelled back, "No horses for you, DAMMIT!" and proceeded to empty all of his weapons into the cloud as fast as he could shoot.

Frisco Bob, Terrible Ted and Jail Bird Jay realized they were out-gunned by this sleepy little town and decided to cut and run. The Coyote Pack reformed with all its members on Main Street. Choking from the smoke of the gunfight, Bobcat asked the posse if they had any ammo left. He instructed them to load any gun they could find and help him give Frisco Bob and his hired guns a DAMMIT send off. Each posse member loaded his rifle, pistols or shogun and lined up in front of the bank. With a nod from Bobcat they unloaded all at once at the fleeing thieves and gave them a resounding, "DAMMIT!"

With the immediate threat run out of town, Bobcat lead the posse back into the saloon where Coyote Mann bought several rounds of whiskey and beer for the Pack. The clinking of the piano keys could be heard up and down Main Street as Danville Dove sang everyone's favorite ballads throughout the night.
Frisco Bob and his henchmen had been run out of town and the gold was safe......for now, DAMMIT!

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