Let's Go Get 'Em: Bounty Hunters

By Tom Harding

Dan Colt was a big man. Standing six foot, four inches and weighing nearly three hundred pounds. Dan has a full black beard with traces of gray .He is a handsome man in his mid fortys. He is a bounty hunter and one of the best. This man has no fear of anyone, anytime, anything, anywhere, and he is the nicest person you have ever met, but some people make the mistake of riling him. Dan has the temper of a grizzly bear, but he has a soft spot for women and children. His horse Buck is fourteen hundred pound buckskin and has no problem packing Dan around. His dog Sammi, a female German Sheppard, now five years old and weighing well over one hundred pounds. He bought Sammi when she was four weeks old, and Dan spent many, many hours training her to his commands. If anyone did harm to Sammi, Dan would cut their throat, in one second. If anyone would does harm to Dan, Sammi would go for their throat in a second. She travels with Dan everywhere he goes. Dan carries a.45 Colt on one hip and a 14 inch Bowie knife big and sharp, on the other hip. An old timer that knows Dan said that Dan was chasing an outlaw and when he caught him the outlaw fought back. Dan cut his head off with one swipe of his knife. He reached down and unbuckled the outlaws gun and holster and hung it over the saddle home of the outlaws horse. He didnt take the rest of his body. He left that for the coyotes.

Dan said the outlaws guns saddle and his horse was his bonus. Then he put the outlaws head in a sack and turned it in for the bounty. When Dan came across a beautiful woman named Maggie. She was wearing a beautiful long green gown. She took Dans breathe away. Dan also came across a 12 year old orphan boy named Billy. He was pretty much like most boys that age. Kinda skinny. He had blonde hair with a cow lick on the back of his head. He always had a half dozen blonde hairs sticking straight up. He was growing faster than his pants. They were usually two inches too short. Billy was a pretty tough kid and he will prove it. Dan teamed up with a bounty hunter named Joe Cobb. Joe proved too many rowdy cowboys and outlaws that it was a bad idea to try their luck at challenging Joe to a fight. Joe was a big man about the same size as Dan. They also came across a very beautiful tall slender young lady that can damn well take care of herself. Her name is Abby. A little girl named Little Milly was rescued after a wagon train got lost.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Oct 9, 2009
• ISBN: 9781462821402

Tom Harding

Tom Harding was born and raised in Holt County, North Central, Nebraska. His love for ranches and horses—particularly racing horses and driving horses—were pretty much his lifetime passion. He was always reading Western books. As a little boy, he was always shooting the bad guys from his Shetland pony named Queen using his toy pistol. When he was fourteen, he started breaking horses. In his mid-forties, he restored several antique carriages and wagons, and his passion for breeding, raising, and racing quarter horses lasted for many years. Writing this book has prompted him to reenact some of the cowboy that was and still is in him. He hopes that everyone who reads this book will enjoy it as much as he enjoyed writing it.

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

There was an outlaw by the name of Butch Butcher; he went by the nickname the Snake. He and three other bandits ambushed three cowboys driving a small herd of cattle. The three cowboys got caught out in the wide open, with no place for cover. Snake and the other murderers were hiding behind large rocks. When they opened fire on the cowboys, a bloody battle erupted. All three cowboys were killed. Two of Snake’s bandits were killed. Snake Butcher and Robert Sage were the only ones that survived the bloody battle. They were wanted for three murders and cattle rustling. Robert Sage was later caught and hanged in Texas where the crime was committed.

A bounty hunter by the name of Dan Colt went after Snake, but Snake eluded him for a couple of months. Dan, not being a quitter, stayed on his trail and finally caught Snake in a small town in mid-Arizona called Payson. Snake was in the saloon having, unknowingly, his last shot of whiskey. When Snake looked in the mirror, he saw Dan behind him. Snake froze for a second then grabbed for his gun. Dan grasped his wrist, squeezed it with a powerful grip that was so painful the Snake dropped to his knees. Dan said, Your luck just ran out, Snake. Dan asked the rest of the bar patrons to stay back and out of the way.

Snake said, You don’t even know who I am.

Oh yes, I do, you’re the Snake.

Sammi let out a convincing bark and growl. She wanted to get Snake in the worst way, but Dan told her to stay back. Snake didn’t want Sammi on him. He knew it was all over and didn’t resist any further. Dan put the handcuffs on him, then picked him up and set him on a chair, and said, Sit there, you son of a bitch.

Dan pulled a Wanted poster out of his pocket and unfolded it and handed it to one of the patrons and asked, Does this look like the man sitting on that chair? Pass this around to everyone. After they all looked at the picture, Dan asked, Is this him? They all agreed that was him. He led Snake out to where Buck was tied. I want to get everything clear, Dan said. I will give you four choices if you try to run from me.

Snake asked, What choices do I have?

Number one, I’ll twist your head off with these ol’ calloused hands. Dan showed his open hands. Number two, I will cut your head off with this big bowie knife, he said, pointing to his knife, number three, your throat ripped out by my dog, Sammi. That’s her growlin’. And number four, a bullet from that .44 Magnum rifle you see sticking out of that saddle scabbard. Do you hear what I’m sayin’?

I hear you, replied Snake. Dan then took Snake to the jail, and the marshal locked him up for the night.

The next morning, Dan asked the marshal if he knew where he could buy a packhorse. The marshal thought for a second and then said, You might try old man Jones. He has a few packhorses.

Is that what they call him, old man Jones?

Yep, that’s what they call him. If you want to go out to his place, you go down to that first street and turn left, then go about a mile. His place is on the right. Dan thanked the marshal. He saddled Buck, and he and Sammi headed out. When he figured he had ridden about a mile, he saw an old man in the front yard of a ranch house. Dan rode up and asked, Are you old man Jones?

Yep, that’s me. What can I do fer ya?

Well, I need a packhorse and a packsaddle. The marshal said you might sell me one.

Well, I really don’t have any for sale. What ya needin’ ’em fer?

Dan said, My name is Dan Colt, and I’m a bounty hunter, and I caught Snake Butcher. He’s wanted for murder.

Oh ya, I’ve seen his Wanted posters, replied Jones. So ya got him, huh?

Yep, I have to take him all the way back to Texas, and it’s goin’ to be hotter than hell ridin’ all the way from Arizona to Texas. I need a packhorse real bad. I need to take extra water and food.

Well, Jones said, I’ll tell ya what I’ll do. You give me $25 and that big dog, and I’ll sell ya a horse.

No no no, Dan cut in. I can’t let you have my dog. Twenty-five dollars, ya, but not my dog. My dog’s name is Sammi, and she saved my life a few times. She will be by my side until either she dies or I die, whatever comes first.

Okay, if ya got ol’ Snake, I’ll sell ya one. Let’s look at the horses.

Dan asked if he could buy one about the same size as the one he’s riding. Dan tied Buck to the fence, and they walked by the barn where there were several corrals with about twenty or more horses in them.

Jones said, There’s ol’ Claude. Claude was big, about fourteen hundred pounds. Sorrel with a full white blaze and four white stockings. Very flashy. Jones asked, Is he big enough fer ya?

Dan said, Yep, he’s big enough. Dan opened Claude’s mouth and checked his teeth. Ya, he’s about nine or ten. He’ll do.

When ya goin’ to need ’em? asked Jones.

Right now. I want to pull out tomorrow morning. So it was a deal. Dan, Claude, Buck, and Sammi headed back to town.

The next morning, Dan saddled all three horses. Then he walked down to the general store and asked the clerk if he had jerky. The clerk said he did. How much do you need?

About five pounds and ten cans of beans and a couple sacks of the dried fruits.

The clerk put all the food in a burlap bag. Dan also bought four one-gallon canteens. He went back to the horses and led Claude to the livery barn and asked the man for two hundred pounds of oats in two burlap sacks. He strapped one on each side of the packsaddle then strapped the food and oats evenly to balance the weight. He took Claude to the water trough where the water pump was and filled the canteens. Dan was riding Buck. Snake’s horse was tied to Buck’s saddle, and Claude was tied to Snake’s saddle. Snake was chained to his saddle. They were about fifteen days from reaching Texas to turn Snake over to the Texas Rangers and collect the two-thousand-dollar bounty. On the third day out, Dan could see at a long distance ahead what looked like Indian adobe huts, but he wasn’t real concerned. The marshal told him before they pulled out that he would run into some Indians, but he thought that most of them were friendly although there were renegades. The renegades were either kicked out of the tribe or split away on their own. They lived by stealing; and they had no problem killing people for their money, their livestock, or anything else of value. They liked guns and would kill to get them. To be safe, if Dan saw anything at a distance that didn’t look right, he would pull his telescope out from his saddlebags. The telescope had saved his life several times. But nothing looked suspicious at this time. The farther they rode, the more Dan could make out that it was an Indian tribe settlement consisting of adobe huts and a few tepees. No one seemed to pay much attention when they approached. Dan knew that water wouldn’t be far from a tribe of Indians. Usually, they settle close to water. Dan noticed a field of corn. Now he knew water was near. He rode up to the Indian that was doing the least, figuring he would be the chief.

Howdy, said Dan. The chief welcomed him. Is there water here? asked Dan

Yep, there is water for the horses over there in the shade of those trees. There is water for the water cans there at the pump.

After watering the horses, Dan filled the canteens. The chief asked, Are you and him the only two? pointing at Snake and the big dog.

Ya, just the three of us, replied Dan.

Much danger, said the chief. We call renegades. The chief held up seven fingers.

Dan asked, Are they near here?

Don’t know, sometime, ya. Sometime, no.

I think maybe we should travel at night.

By the way, my name’s Dan Colt, Dan said, reaching his hand out. The chief shook Dan’s hand.

My name Chief Wild Horse. Dan asked the chief if they could rest there until sundown. The chief nodded his head.

Looking at the sun, Dan figured it was about four hours until sundown. They all rested in the shade. At sundown, the horses were saddled. Snake was chained to his saddle again. They traveled several nights with no problem. Dan was assured that they were past the area where the renegades were terrorizing and killing. They decided to travel by day again. It’s hard to find water at night. Although, they did find one river and a couple small streams where there was enough water for the horses to drink. They were running short of water now. So they headed out early, hoping to find water for the horses. Otherwise, he would have to use the water from the canteens, which wouldn’t last long.

They traveled several hours when they came across three covered wagons traveling west. They stopped, and Dan introduced himself. He asked if they had run across water.

One man said, There’s a small town about two hours back, and they have water.

Dan asked, Do you have guns?

Yes, we do. Why?

There are about seven renegades that are looking for small wagon trains like the ones you have. They will kill you if you don’t kill them first. They kill for your wagons, horses, and especially your guns. So whatever you do, keep a lookout for them. We traveled at night for several nights. The only thing is it’s hard to find water traveling at night. But I see you have a few barrels of water, so you can travel farther between waterings than we can. So again, be careful and good luck. Dan headed out to get water for the horses. The guy was right. They pulled into this very small town, which didn’t have a name. It consisted of a saloon and a store with very little merchandise. They were in pretty good shape for food. There was a blacksmith with a small barn but had enough room for the horses. They could get fed and watered. It being midafternoon would give the horses a good rest and get their bellies filled. Sammi also needed a little rest. Dan asked the blacksmith if there was a sheriff or marshal.

No, answered the blacksmith. The sheriff comes through about every two weeks.

Dan said, I was hopin’ you would have a jail.

Oh ya, I built a jail cell for the sheriff so when he comes through with a prisoner, he could lock him up overnight.

Do you mind if I locked Snake up overnight?

Is that the Snake that’s wanted in Texas?

That’s him.

So you got the bastard? Good for you.

Where can I get food for Sammi, Snake, and myself? asked Dan.

The blacksmith said, The saloon has sandwiches.

Do they have good whiskey?

Ya, you can get mighty drunk on that stuff they sell.

Dan asked the blacksmith if he could put shoes on the big packhorse. He didn’t have shoes when he bought him, and now he’s getting some big chips.

You bet, said the blacksmith. He’ll be ready for you in the mornin’.

Dan walked over to the saloon and asked for some whiskey and noticed a menu and asked the barkeep for three roast-beef sandwiches. He asked the barkeep if he could take a sandwich and some water to the prisoner in the jail cell. Dan noticed three shifty-looking guys sitting at a table. They seemed the kind that never made an honest dollar in their life.

When the barkeep returned from delivering the sandwich and water, he came in somewhat excited, talking loud, and asked Dan, Is that prisoner the one they call Snake? Dan was thinking, What a question for him to ask in front of those shady-looking characters.

Ah, ya. Dan was thinking this could be bad. He was guessing he would find out. Dan had the other two sandwiches in front of him. He turned around and whistled for Sammi to come in and have her sandwich. When she came in, she was looking at the guys and was growling in a low, steady growl.

Dan said, It’s all right, Sammi. Here is your sandwich. Sammi gobbled down the sandwich, but she never took her eyes off the drifters. They felt uneasy with Sammi and her constant growl. So they drank up their beers and left. Everything else was taken care of for the night. The next morning, Dan was getting everything ready to move out. He asked the blacksmith if he had seen those drifters.

No, not this morning.

Then Dan asked if there was any shelter ahead, in case those guys try to kill him and Sammi, take Snake for the bounty, and then take the horses and the guns too. That would make a good haul for ’em.

Yes, headin’ east, there are plenty places for shelter.

Would you like me to send someone with you?

No, if I can find shelter, I’ll be all right. Dan headed out, looking in every direction. After about two hours out, he saw dust about thirty minutes back heading his way. Well, Snake, I think we better find a shelter and dig in. I think that’s them.

Looking around, the only shelter he could see was a clump of trees. Dan thought they’d better take that. So they rode in far enough where he could still see the trail. Dan got the horses tied behind trees, and then he unchained Snake and told him to get down on his belly and stay there. If you have any thoughts of running, Snake, remember Sammi is watching you.

Snake said, Don’t worry, I’ll stay where you tell me.

That’s a good decision you made, Snake. Then Dan checked his rifle to be sure it was fully loaded. He then found a tree limb that was just right to steady his rifle over. Dan could see them coming before they could see him. He could see they had rifles in their hands. There was no doubt that they were after them to take Snake for the bounty. Dan figured if he could take one at about two hundred yards that would give him plenty time for the other two. As they got close enough, Dan steadied his rifle and squeezed the trigger.

Boom! Blowing one off his horse. The other two were now lifting their rifles to their shoulders. Dan squeezed the trigger. Boom! Number two down. The last one turned his horse and tried to get away, but Dan thought, Don’t take a chance. He shoved another bullet in the chamber, aimed and squeezed the trigger, and boom! Three down.

Snake said, That’s damn good shootin’.

Dan answered, In my business, you best be a good shot. Dan put Snake back on his horse then rounded up the outlaw’s horses and tied them one after another. Dan went back to the dead outlaws, reached down, and unbuckled their guns and holsters. Dan told one of the dead outlaws, You won’t be needin’ these guns anymore. Then he picked up their rifles and put them back in the scabbards. He hung the guns and holsters over the saddle horns. They were ready to pull out. Dan was riding Buck with the other horses in a string behind him. Dan turned around and had to grin. He said, We look like a freight train, Snake.

Snake asked, What are you goin’ to do with the dead outlaws?

Dan said, I’m goin’ to leave them for the coyotes. Dan asked Snake, Do I look like the kind of a man that would let a poor coyote go hungry? Then he grinned. Dan said, Let’s go, Buck. We need to find some water.

The string was on its way. Later that afternoon, they came across a small town in east New Mexico. Dan was happy to see there was a marshal’s office and jail. They rode up to the jail and were met by the marshal.

Howdy, neighbor, said the marshal. Looks like you have the lizard in chains.

No, said Dan, this is Snake Butcher.

Oh ya, replied the marshal. I knew he was some kind of a slithery creature. It looks like you have quite a string of horses. Could I ask where you came across all of them?

Well, Dan said, there were three outlaws that did something real stupid.

The marshal grinned and said, Say no more. I’m glad ya got ’em.

Dan asked the marshal if he could leave Snake in his jail overnight.

Sure. Bring him in, and I’ll lock him up.

Oh, by the way, Dan asked, would you happen to have an extra bunk in there? I would like to sleep close by with my dog, Sammi.

The marshal looked at Sammi and said, That is a mighty big dog. Is she friendly?

Only when I tell her to be.

How much does she weigh? asked the marshal.

I think a little over a hundred pounds, and she is a light sleeper. No one will get past her. I had a couple months in trackin’ Snake down, and I would hate to lose him now.

Sure. The other cell is empty, and there is a blanket that you can roll up for a pillow. I don’t think you will need it to cover up with in this scorching heat.

After getting Snake locked up, Snake started complaining about it being too hot in the cell. Can’t you chain me to the post out front?

No! I’m gonna sleep in there also. So quit complaining. Besides, where you’re goin’, it will be hotter than that cell. You might as well get used to it. Out the door, Dan took Buck and the other five horses to the livery barn and asked the man in charge if he would give the horses one gallon of oats and all the hay they could eat, and do the same thing in the morning. Dan asked if he could have them fed and watered by sunup. The livery man said that he would take good care of them, and they would be ready by sunup. Dan and Sammi walked back to the saloon and noticed a small café named Sally’s café next door.

Dan stepped inside and asked, Are you the owner?

Yes, I am, Sally answered. Then Dan asked if she could take Snake some supper and some cold water and asked if she could throw a beefsteak on for him. He then walked through the swinging doors of the saloon. He told Sammi to stay at the door. He sat down at the bar and asked the barkeep for a glass and some whiskey. The barkeep set a glass and a bottle of whiskey in front of him. The barkeep couldn’t wait to ask Dan about Snake.

I hear you have Snake Butcher in chains?

News travels fast, replied Dan.

Sure does, said the barkeep. This is a small town, and like ya say, news travels fast. It will be good to take that Wanted poster down so we don’t have to look at his ol’ Snake face anymore. The barkeep asked, How did you catch him?

Well, that’s a long story, about two months worth to be exact, answered Dan.

Did he put up a fight?

Not after I gave him some choices if he tried to get away.

Do you mind if I ask what his choices were? asked the barkeep.

Well, Dan said, I told him that I or my dog would kill him. He’s been pretty good ever since.

Where do you have to take him to collect the bounty?

Well, I would rather not talk about that.

Oh ya, I understand, replied the barkeep.

Dan paid for his drinks and went to Sally’s café and had his supper. He then moseyed back to the marshal’s office and sat on the bench out front. A kid about sixteen or seventeen years old came over and sat down beside Dan on the bench.

Hi, mister, are you the one that caught ol’ Snake?

Yep, I reckon I am.

Don’t you know that you can take him in dead or alive?

Ya, I know that, said Dan.

So why don’t you shoot him and take him in dead, then you won’t take a chance of him gettin’ away?

No, said Dan. I’ll take him in and let the Texas Rangers hang him or whatever they want to do with him.

The boy said, I’ll kill him for ya if you want me to. I’ll get my dad’s shotgun.

No no no, I don’t want you to kill him.

But you don’t understand, said the kid. You can lay him across his saddle and chain his head to one stirrup and his feet to the other stirrup, and you won’t have to feed him or take a chance of him gettin’ away. If you want, I’ll shoot him between the eyes.

Wouldn’t that be great? said Dan. If you blow his face off, then when I take him to the Texas Rangers, they can’t recognize him. Then I get no bounty.

The boy said that he would shoot him in the belly. Dan thought for a minute and then said, Okay, go get your dad’s shotgun. The boy took off, running as fast as he could to get the shotgun.

Dan stepped in the marshal’s office and asked the marshal, What the hell is wrong with that kid?

I think he’s a few cows short of havin’ a full herd. The marshal laughed and said, That’s dumb Goober.

Is that his name? asked Dan.

I don’t know. That’s all I’ve ever heard him called, answered the marshal. He and his parents moved here about four or five years ago. We think his mother dropped him on his head shortly after birth.

Dan turned around, and here comes the kid with his dad’s shotgun. He ran up to Dan, and Dan said, Here, Goober, let me see the gun. Goober handed the double-barreled shotgun to Dan. Dan opened the breach. Sure enough, both barrels were loaded. Dan turned to the marshal and asked if he would please take the gun and lock it up until he was gone out of there tomorrow.

This kid is goin’ to kill somebody with this damn shotgun. Then he turned to the kid. I’ll tell you why I don’t want him dead.

Dan asked, Have you ever smelled a dead body after a few days on the trail? He smells bad enough as it is.

Oh ya, I didn’t think about that, said Goober.

The next morning, Dan and Sammi were up early. The man from the livery barn came over and told Dan that the horses were fed and watered about an hour ago. They were in good shape and ready to go.

Would you like some pancakes before you head out?

Well, I’d like that, but the only thing is that I would have to feed Snake too.

Then he said, I’ll have my wife fix plenty for you, Snake, and some for Sammi. I’ll be happy to pay for the breakfast. By the way, what’s your name?

The livery man said, My name is Jake, and no, you can’t pay for your breakfast.

Then Jake said, I’ll tell my wife, and she will have ’em ready in a few minutes.

After they ate, Dan asked Jake how far it was to water and food headin’ east. Jake thought for a few seconds and then said, There is a small river about five hours’ ride from here, and there’s plenty of grass along the river if you want the horses to graze for a while.

Dan asked how far it was from the river to the Texas border.

About another five hours from here. You’re lookin’ at nine or ten hours. Dan, do you have enough food along?

No, Jake, I don’t have enough to get there.

Jake asked, Do you want to buy enough jerky to get you there? Ted, the owner of the market down the street, has jerky. He keeps plenty dried ahead for people coming through. They stock up before pullin’ out.

What time does he open? asked Dan.

He should be open in a few minutes.

When the store opened, Dan stopped in to pick up five pounds of jerky. He saw some canteens hanging on the wall. He asked Ted if he could tell him how much water it would take to get him, Snake, and Sammi to the next town.

How many canteens do you have with you?

I have four that hold one gallon each.

That should get you to a little town called Lariat, that’s just across the border in Texas, with no problem.

Dan filled the canteens at the water pump that was in front of the saloon at the water trough.