El Paso Bounty Hunter

By Bob MacDonald

The story begins in the year of 1862 with Jack MacLeod as a young naïve teenager growing up on a family farm in Louisiana. The War Between the States is in full swing and his two elder brothers while fighting for the Confederate Army, are killed.

A tragedy occurs, resulting in both his parents being killed. This leaves Jack all alone with no other kinfolk to call on. He, with only the clothes he stands up in and Flopears, his faithful mule, sets off on a journey of adventure.

In desperation, he turns to bounty hunting and before long had earned himself a reputation as a bloodthirsty assassin. He teams up with an elder man who proves to be a bit of a rapscallion --- though an honest rapscallion. Together they endure the trials and tribulations of the untamed West.

Arizona, Texas and later, Mexico feature in their travels. The town of El Paso figures prominently in their encounters with the lawless breed and cold-blooded gunslingers of the Wild West.

Both Jack MacLeod and his 'loveable rogue' partner become involved with females from different walks of life, but not everyone ends up living happily ever after --- as like so many fairy tales.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bob MacDonald
• Release date: Jan 16, 2021
• ISBN: 9781386185055

Bob MacDonald

Bob MacDonald is a retired West Australian Police officer of thirty years experience. Bob's last day at school was his 14th birthday - commencing work, the very next day, in a timber mill in his home town of Pemberton, West Australia.He later self-educated and enlisted in the West Australian police force, retiring as a superintendent in the Internal Investigations Branch of the Professional Standards portfolio.Since retirement Bob has been working at remote aboriginal communities in Central Australia, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. He also did a tour of duty on the island nation of Cyprus with the United Nations Blue Beret Peacekeepers.Bob, a keen sportsman continues with various sporting activities; which also includes fishing and camping trips. Writing articles for various magazines and now venturing into anecdotal short story compilations and fictional manuscripts ensures Bob leads a busy life.

Book preview

Chapter 01 - Jack MacLeod

The year is 1862 and Jack MacLeod sat quietly on the banks of the Ouachita River, a fishing line held idly in his hand and tears welling in his eyes. The tears rested not with the pain he still felt from his pa’s heavy belt, but from frustration in not being able to do anything to ease the plight of his long-suffering ma.

He’d caught enough catfish for the family’s dinner, but he’d been biding his time and not wanting to return to the farm homestead while his pa kept on with another of his foul moods. Jack had received a thrashing from his angry pa over his failure to kill and butcher a hog which his pa wanted to him to slaughter. One of Jack’s many jobs about the humble farm holding included feeding and caring for the pigs. And the hog nominated by his pa to be turned into bacon had been Jack’s favorite animal.

While feeding the small herd, he would talk affectionately to the friendly little porker, which he dubbed the name of ‘Grunter.’ Talking to a pig and giving it a pet name? To an adult, such behavior may have come across as a bit juvenile, but to a lonely sixteen-year-old boy, such goings-on presented a means for Jack to allow his imagination to run. And, by Jove, his life on the farm provided him with scant opportunity to frolic in the carefree manner of adolescent youth.

His two elder siblings, brothers Jonathan and Samuel, had joined the Confederate Army at the outbreak of the War Between the States. They had both been killed early in the conflict, leaving his ma broken-hearted. His pa, accustomed to relying on the two elder boys to carry out the farming duties, now passed that responsibility on to Jack. The smallholding, too limited in size to entertain the growing of cotton or sugar cane, scratched out an existence by running hogs, a few cattle and the planting of corn crops. A vegetable and herb garden near the homestead and several chickens helped provide for the dinner table. One mule, with the pet name of ‘Flop,’ supplemented the farm’s animal stock.

The fish that Jack regularly brought home provided the mainstay of the family’s dietary regime. The reason behind his habitual visits to the river not only centered around obtaining a catch for the night's supper, but to gain some peace while out of the reach of his abusive pa.

*

Jack’s pa, Alexander MacLeod, a cruel man at the best of times, became unpredictable and violent when affected by the moonshine whiskey he traded for his hogs. The farm lay about one mile from the Ouachita River and two day's ride north of the town of Monroe. Occasionally paddle steamers plied the stretch of water and MacLeod Snr would sometimes meet up with one of the river vessels and negotiate a trade between him and whichever shady captain happened to be in charge.

The moonshine liquor, contained in earthenware flagons, had set the river skippers back a mere pittance, but they drove a hard bargain for settling on an exchange for MacLeod’s hogs. Jack’s pa, desperate to get his hands on the firewater whiskey, abandoned all reasoning when clinching a deal and each occasion came to be viewed as a simple touch.

When his pa got hold of liquor Jack soon learned to keep out of his way, otherwise, he would likely, for no reason at all, be the recipient of a heavy blow about the ears from his pa’s hand; sometimes as an open-handed slap or a closed-fist punch. As painful and traumatic as his pa’s behavior became to him, Jack’s prime concern rested with his ma. When Jack wasn’t about to vent his rage upon, MacLeod targeted his wife.

On hearing his ma’s cries of pain and anguish, Jack, himself, cried. But his tears stemmed from the frustration of not being able to do anything to help his ma. On one occurrence when he intervened, his pa had picked him up, bodily, and flung him against the wall of the cabin’s kitchen. On that occasion, Jack limped for the best part of a week until his bruises subsided. Now, whenever he saw that his pa had got hold of a whiskey jug, he would take up his fishing line and head down to a quiet spot on the river bank.

*

On being just sixteen years of age, Jack, like all adolescent boys of that age, boasted a good imagination. And while seated in the shade of a willow oak tree, he visualized himself one day confronting his pa and knocking him down as payment for all his abuse of both he and his ma. He toyed with the idea of running away by hitching a ride on one of the paddle steamers when on their way back downstream.

No, he couldn’t go away and leave his ma. Without him being about, his pa would then only have her to be the sole target of his temper tantrums. Yes, he told himself, he would remain and care for his ma. And while committing to such an undertaking he uttered aloud, ‘And I will be a better person to you, ma, from now on. No more will I feel sorry for myself. I am a teenager now, and I will look after you from now on. That I promise.’

Chapter 02 - Bible Lessons

The homestead of the MacLeod farm comprised two rooms. MacLeod and his wife, Mary, slept in a loft, assessable by stairs, in the main living room/come kitchen. Jack bunked in an adjoining room, of which he had shared with his two elder siblings before the commencement of the war. A lean-to abutted onto the cabin and served as a shelter for the storing of firewood. A ramshackle barn/come grain storage facility/pigsty/stable/corral provided the only outbuilding on the property.

Jack had reached the stage of openly defying his pa. Why should he meekly succumb to the always angry man and be the receiver of a thrashing for some imaginary breach of behavior? No, he wouldn’t, he told himself. He knew the moods of his pa well-enough to foresee when he was likely to be flogged for some perceived act of neglect and would hightail it for all his worth.

Sometimes his pa, remembering Jack’s insubordination towards him, would wait till the boy had retired to his bed. Then, with a heavy strap in hand, would mete out a savage punishment. His ma would faithfully come to his aid but in most cases ended receiving the same beating which was being dished out to Jack.

*

As time passed Jack became restless with his tiresome existence. It boiled down to his love and loyalty of his ma which stopped him from taking off to experience the outside world. One day, at a time during his pa’s absence, Jack said to his ma, I see you reading the bible each day and realize I can’t read a word. Would you be able to teach me?

His mother smiled, and wrapping an arm around his shoulders, replied, Of course I will, son. I’m pleased you have asked, as it will give us both something to do ….. especially during the chilly winter nights.

That arrangement sounded beneficial in theory but when put into practice they had overlooked the potential reaction of MacLeod himself, What the hell are you two doing? he barked, on walking in unexpectedly to where they sat at the kitchen table.

Jack wants to learn to read and I am teaching him. It will benefit him in years to come, Mary MacLeod replied.

He need not know how to read. What need is there here on the farm? MacLeod snapped.

Jack virtually had to bite his tongue to stop from challenging his pa for his selfish comments. But he did so because he knew that if he added to the situation by whatever comment he may have tendered, his pa would more than likely take out his spite by acting physically towards either one of them.

He did not fear for himself, but that of his ma. So, without uttering a word in response to his pa’s actions, he rose and made his way for the door. Luckily, he kept his wits about him and had the forethought to keep a watchful eye while doing so. And that alertness paid dividends as he coped with being able to dodge the round-armed blow his pa aimed at his head.

*

Despite the endeavors carried out by MacLeod to stem the efforts made by Jack and his ma to continue with his reading lessons, Jack, a bright and willing learner, succeeded in rapidly picking up the basics of his recent assignment. To save his ma from further bullying from his pa, Jack resorted to taking the bible with him while at the river fishing.

When leaving the farm to join the Confederate forces, his brother, Johnathan, had given him an old flintlock pistol. The weapon had not been fired for many a year and no ammunition came with it. Jack, never having ever received gifts of any nature in the past, cherished the offering with all his heart.

He did not know what his pa’s reaction would be should he learn that he possessed the pistol. But, by being aware of his father’s mood swings, to be on the safe side, he stored the weapon behind a loose panel in his bedroom. Whenever he went fishing, he took it with him and while out of sight and out of mind he let his imagination run wild.

He’d select a grassy patch on the river bank and, in his mind’s eye, use the pistol to fight off a troop of blue-belly Yankee troopers. He practiced drawing it from his trousers pocket, throwing himself to one side and firing off imaginary shots at the charging horsemen.

Chapter 03 - War’s End

As the years passed by, Jack honed his fanciful gun-slinger skills with the old flintlock weapon down on the river bank. He could cock, aim true, and fire the handgun while flinging his body through the air, either to the right or to the left. He’d perfected the quick-draw from his trousers pocket and had become adept at utilizing his non-preferred left hand. He spun the pistol on the index fingers of both hands by employing the trigger guard and became so familiar with handling it in such a carefree manner; it virtually became part of him.

He continued putting fish on the dinner table. Occasionally he trapped a rabbit by setting snares. He saw many water birds about the river stretches but did not command the means to trap or shoot them. Though he’d not sighted alligators in the vicinity where he fished, he still trod those waters with caution.

*

One morning, while feeding the hogs, the sound of galloping horses' hooves shattered his carefree thoughts. On peering out from his vantage position in the barn, he watched as a troop of Union blue-clad soldiers pulled their charges to a halt in front of the homestead cabin.

A trooper bearing the rank of a lieutenant climbed down from his mount and called to the house. MacLeod, who’d been inside, emerged and engaged in conversation with the Union officer, What is the purpose of this visit? he asked, We are not involved in the war. There is only my wife and young son here.

I’m not accusing you of anything, the officer replied, "We are here to take possession of any livestock you are running on the spread. The war is over, did you know? The Confederate forces threw in the towel and surrendered, and my troop is part of an occupation force is to be based in this state for some time.

We need livestock to feed the men. I have wagons following and they will be here any minute now. Please don’t interfere as my men go about rounding up the stock.

Soon after, four horse-drawn wagons turned up and Jack watched as the soldiers herded the hogs and loaded them into the high-sided drays. Mounted troopers gathered the dozen cattle the farm carried, and within an hour or two of their arrival, the Union soldiers departed ….. along with all the hogs and cattle.

They left behind Bessie, the old milk cow, the mule and some chickens, of which they’d been unable to run down. The troopers, in an act of evil intentions, guided their horses backwards and forwards across the homesteads vegetable garden plot, thus destroying whatever crops which had been flourishing. When Mary MacLeod pressed the lieutenant about stripping them of their food supply and their means of living, the officer merely shrugged and answered, It is more important that my men get sufficient to eat. Just send that young plow-chaser son of yours down to the river and catch an alligator to chomp on when you want to feed your faces.

The officer must have found what he’d just said to be hilariously funny because he broke into uncontrollable belly-laughter. That bout of puerile buffoonery proved to be sufficient for the troopers to fall in line and emulate their leader's example. The troopers were still laughing and joking at the MacLeod family’s expense as they left the farm ….. herding the cattle and carrying the grunting and squealing hogs.

*

Life, after the visit of the Union soldiers, turned into a nightmare, especially for Mary MacLeod. Jack continued bringing fish to the larder and that fare, along with corn, proved to be the only staples to grace the family table.

However, it was not the limited menu which transformed Mary MacLeod’s life into a sea of misery but the behavior of her husband. MacLeod senior, in not having any livestock or farm produce to trade for whiskey, became unbearable to live with. Jack, now a strapping nineteen-year-old, dearly wanted to take his pa to task when he mistreated his ma. But she would not have a bar of him becoming involved.

She even went to the trouble of having him swear on the bible not to interfere in the pair’s domestic problems. He reluctantly agreed to comply with his ma’s wishes but found he needed to clear out to one of his fishing haunts to escape the yelling abuse of his pa and the crying of his ma.

Chapter 04 - All Alone

Life could not continue on the MacLeod farm in such a manner. MacLeod continued with his violent ways and all came to a head one afternoon when he, by some means, got his hands on a demijohn of whiskey.

Jack had been working in the barn when he overheard his ma begging her husband to cease beating her. Jack could bear it no longer and decided to ignore his bible-swearing promise and ran towards the cabin, the source of the disturbance. Just before he reached the front door, he heard his ma’s voice, at first pleading, and then in terror,

On flinging open the door, Jack saw the body of his ma sprawled on the floor. His pa, a metal fire-poker in hand, stood over her preparing to strike again. Jack yelled at his pa but needed to back away and dodge a vicious blow of the metal rod which had been aimed at his head.

He perceived no benefit in trying to talk to his pa and equally useless to confront him, unarmed and defenseless, while the senior member of the family behaved in such a violent manner. The lean-to shelter abutting on to the cabin wall stood stacked with firewood, and from that location Jack armed himself.

After grabbing hold of a length of tree branch, he barely had time to evade another blow aimed at him by his angry pa as he rushed from the cabin in pursuit.