Two Wanted Men in the Old West: Sam Stone Wanted for Bank Robbery Tex Tyler Wanted for a Double Murder

By Robert J Gossett

This book is about the trials, tribulations, and triumphs of two men, who struggle to overcome crimes, or alleged crimes, committed as teenagers. Follow them as they attempt to lead productive lives, putting aside mistakes made while teen agers. Do they succeed in these arduous tasks? You decide as you follow the twists and turns in their adventure filed lives.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Sep 15, 2014
• ISBN: 9781496938695

Robert J Gossett

Gossett lived in San Antonio for thirty years and traveled the State extensively selling steel products. Many ranchers were his customers, and became his friends. During his travels he made many friends who were more than willing to share their experiences, and stories they had heard, with him. One of these friends was a retired Texas Ranger, and some of his adventures,he shared, are included in this book. Though Gossett now lives in Kenosha Wisconsin, he maintains his memberships in the American Legion Alamo Post #2, and The Texas Library Association. He also stays in contact with many of his Texas friends.

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© 2014 Robert J. Gossett. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 09/12/2014

ISBN: 978-1-4969-3870-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4969-3871-8 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4969-3869-5 (e)

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Illustrations by Tih Kobolson

CONTENTS

Chapter 1     Hiding In A Cave

Chapter 2     Gone To Texas

Chapter 3     Up The Chisholm Trail To Abilene, Kansas

Chapter 4     The Storm

Chapter 5     The Posse Arrives

Chapter 6     The Rawhiders

Chapter 7     The Cowboys Meet The Tripplets

Chapter 8     Jesse Chisholm

Chapter 9     Abilene

Chapter 10   Walsh, Colorado

Chapter 11   Bountiful, New Mexico

Chapter 12   Sam Meets One Of The Ryans

Chapter 13   Sam Meets A Non-Human Snake

Chapter 14   Sam Reunites With An Old Friend

Chapter 15   Sam Becomes A Deputy Sheriff

Chapter 16   The Ranch

Chapter 17   Tom Two Bears

Chapter 18   New Deputies On The Job

Chapter 19   The Wedding

Chapter 20   Sam’s Heaven Turns To Hell

Chapter 21   Sam Searches For The Killers

Chapter 22   Killers Caught

Chapter 23   Sam Returns To Waco With An Old Friend

Chapter 24   A New Adventure For Sam And Tom

Chapter 25   Mike Ward

Chapter 26   Tex Tyler

Chapter 27   The Chase Continues In Mexico

Chapter 28   The Triumphant But Difficult Trip Home

Chapter 29   The Homecoming

Chapter 30   Tex Returns To Cheyenne

Chapter 31   Reunion In Texas

Chapter 32   Tex And Sam In Cheyenne

Chapter 33   Tex Visits Texas

Chapter 34   Tex In His New Home On The Ranch

Chapter 35   Tex And Carmen Marry

Chapter 36   A New Era At The Ranch

DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to the late Shirley Ranker

who convinced me to resume writing.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The author gratefully acknowledges the following people who contributed to this work:

Sharon Slanchik, who edited this book.

John Slanchik for his invaluable computer assistance.

Tih Kobolson for her beautiful art work.

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CHAPTER 1

HIDING IN A CAVE

The cave was cold, dark, and damp and Sam’s hands were numb. He dared not build a fire in case the posse pursuing him would see the smoke. He had no idea how long he would have to hide out, but however long he had to endure it, it was better than being shot down by a bunch of irate, trigger-happy posse members who were anxious to shoot at anything that moved. To occupy his mind, he thought back to his childhood and the 17 years leading up to today.

His first recollections were of living in a cheap rooming house with his mother, Sarah. He could not remember his father, only the frequent men visiting his mother on a regular basis. He was always told to go get lost while the men were in the house. He didn’t even know what his own last name was and would not find out until he needed to register for school. Then his mother enrolled him as Sam Stone. He recalled Bill Stone was the name of one of the constant visitors at his house.

His mother, while not perfect, was in her own way a good mother. She made sure he always had enough to eat and had clean clothes to put on every day. She always reminded him to make sure to wear clean underwear in case there was an accident and he had to go see a doctor.

He had no pleasant memories of school. He was smart enough and liked Miss Ranker, his teacher, but the other boys picked on him. He was shorter than some of them and frail, so they picked on him constantly. Every recess he had to fight, and he got pretty good at it. He learned if he held a rock in his hand, he could hit the boys hard and they would stay on the ground when he knocked them down.

He was constantly being teased. Sometimes even the girls chimed in while the boys would chant, Little Sammy Stone, someone throw him a bone; he must be a dog because his mother is a bitch. Another one he heard often was, Poor Sammy Stone, he ain’t got no daddy anymore; but he don’t need one ’cause his mother’s a whore. He did not know what a whore was, so he asked Miss Ranker, What is a whore?

He got the answer, It is a woman with loose morals.

He didn’t know what morals were, but he thought it must be bad so whenever he heard it, he attacked the boys saying it, rock in hand. Even with the rock, he was no match for three or four boys. He often went back to class bruised and bleeding. He would always be cleaned up and bandaged by Miss Ranker before he went home.

His bad thoughts of childhood were interrupted by his stomach growling, so he moved to the mouth of the cave and saw it was still daylight. He would have to wait until dark, then try and lose the relentless pursuit of the posse. He couldn’t understand why they were so hell-bent on getting him. He didn’t take all of the money in the bank, only what was in the cashier’s drawer. They had plenty of money left, and he only took enough to last him for a month or two.

His thoughts then drifted back to the first bank he robbed. It was so easy, and he really hadn’t even planned on robbing it. A few days earlier, he took a rifle from a wagon parked in front of a saloon. Thinking someone might also steal it from him if he left it on his horse when he went inside, he always carried it inside with him. One day he went into a bank to sell some gold dust he stole from a miner, while carrying the rifle. The people in the bank raised their hands, even the cashier. Then they all handed him their wallets and watches. The cashier even assisted him by stuffing money into a bank bag. That was the beginning of wanted posters with his name on them, and they offered a reward for his arrest. He robbed more banks, but none were as easy as the first one.

He then began to think about the day he left home. He was 15 years old and needed to talk to his mother after a severe beating he took at school from five other boys. He did not see his mother in the parlor or the kitchen, so he went to her room. There she was in bed with a man he had never seen before. He surprised them both, and the man yelled at him, Get out of here, kid. His mother said, Please, Sam, go outside and play and I’ll talk to you later. The man yelled again, Beat it, kid, or I’ll kill you, and pointed a pistol at Sam.

Without answering, Sam walked around the head of the bed, took a half-full bottle of whiskey from the nightstand, and broke it over the man’s head. He then took the man’s pistol, went outside, took the man’s horse, and rode away to the sound of his mother’s voice screaming, Damn you, Sam. You could have killed him. He would never go home again.

Strangely, he did not miss his mother. The only person in the world he missed was Miss Ranker, but he dared not try to see her. Sam was jarred out of his thoughts when his horse nudged him, as if saying, I am hungry, please feed me. Sam shared the remaining water in his canteen with his horse, saddled him, and rode off into the approaching darkness.

Thinking he was safe from the posse, he made his way to a trail of smoke coming from the chimney of a farm house. He knocked on the door, and it was answered by a man in bib overalls holding a Colt pistol. Excuse me, sir, but I have been riding all day. I am cold, tired, and so hungry I can barely stand up. I would like to buy something to eat and some grain for my horse.

A woman’s voice came from inside, Caleb, bring that young man in here, and I’ll set a place for him at the table.

Sam replied, Thank you ma’am, but I wonder if I could feed my horse first? He is hungrier than I am.

She responded by shouting, Caleb, go fetch some oats and feed that horse, then come in here and I’ll feed all of us.

Caleb took the horse to the barn, put the feed bag on him, then returned, and the three of them sat down to a meal of chicken and dumplings. Sam ate as if he were starved. The woman told him, We are the Adams family, Caleb and Carol. Who might you be?

Sam thought fast and made up a nice lie to tell them. My name is Ranker, Dave Ranker, and I’m from up Tulsa way. My mama died a while back, and I’m on my way to Texas to see my Uncle Billy. The only part of that being true was the part about going to Texas. Oklahoma was getting too dangerous, so like a lot of outlaws before him, he was going to Texas where he was not wanted for anything.

Oh, I’m so sorry for you, and we both wish you well in your journey, she said.

Thank you, ma’am. If it’s all right with you, I’ll just bed down in the barn tonight and be on my way in the morning, Sam told her.

You’ll do no such thing. It’s too cold to sleep in the barn. After we all have some apple pie, I’ll fix you a pallet in here by the fire, and you can leave after you have some breakfast in the morning, Carol said.

Caleb said nothing, but Sam noticed his pistol was never far from him. Sam thought, What wonderful, friendly, trusting people Carol and Caleb are. I have never had to kill anyone, but they don’t know that.

Sam slept soundly on the pallet and awoke to the aroma of coffee brewing and biscuits being baked. Caleb came in from outside and told Sam, I gave your horse some grain and filled your canteen for you.

Thank you sir, Sam said.

After breakfast Sam thanked them both, left two silver dollars on the table and rode off, bound for Texas. Carol had packed him a bag of sandwiches, and he opened the bag for lunch and found six bacon and egg sandwiches, a slice of apple pie, and the two silver dollars he left for them. He also found in the saddle bag a bag of oats for his horse. What nice, caring, and sharing people! he thought.

CHAPTER 2

GONE TO TEXAS

Sam traveled for four days, avoiding towns when he could except to make a brief stop to stock up on food. He camped out at night, slept in his bedroll, and only built small fires—enough to keep predators away but not large enough to attract the attention of hostiles.

By the time he arrived at the Red River and crossed into Texas, he felt safe but only had $12 left from his last bank robbery. He thought, I’m going to have to get some more money somehow, but I sure don’t want to rob any banks here and have Texas wanted posters out for me.

That evening he bought a nickel beer in a saloon, ate two free sandwiches, and inquired about a job. The bartender told him, "Sorry, son, but there is not much work around here. All of those soldiers just back from the war are all looking, same as you. If I was you, I’d go on down to Fort Worth and see if you can get a job as a cowboy. Sam thanked him and left.

Two more days of camping out and Sam was in Fort Worth. Again he found a saloon, ate two free sandwiches with his beer, and asked the bartender, Know of any jobs around here?

He got the cross answer, Do I look like an employment agency?

No, sir, but I was told one time bartenders talk to a lot of people and know what is going on, more than most people, Sam replied.

The bartender’s tone softened and he asked, Are you a veteran of the war?

Sam replied, No, sir. I’m only 17 and I was too young for the war.

Well, kid, ride out of town to the west and about two miles out is the Brown ranch. See Hal Brown and ask him if he might have a spot for you, Sam was told.

Sam followed the instructions and Hal Brown did offer him a job, cleaning out stables and feeding the livestock. The pay was only $1 a day but it came with a place to sleep and three meals a day. Sam took the job and worked for two weeks. He thought, Shoveling shit is not the best job in the world, but I’ll work long enough to get my belly full, my horse fattened up, and some more money, then I’ll ride on.

After two weeks Sam told his boss, Sorry, sir, but I’m going to move on. But I sure do thank you for the job.

That’s OK son, you are a good worker and whoever else hires you, you can tell them old Hal Brown said so. A feller named Oliver Wheeler is going to bring a big herd from San Antonio to Abilene, Kansas. Go see him and tell him I sent you, Brown told him.

Sam set out for the long ride to San Antonio, camping out on the way to save money. He hoped his money would be enough to get him there. It was. When he arrived in San Antonio he had 50 cents left. He inquired at the Sheriff’s office and was directed to where Wheeler was grazing the herd.

He introduced himself to Oliver Wheeler and told him Hal Brown had directed him there and said he would recommend him. Oliver asked, You’re not wanted by the law are you?

Sam thought he could tell Wheeler the truth and told him, No sir, not in Texas. But I am wanted in Oklahoma.

You’re not wanted for murder or cattle rustling are you? Wheeler inquired.

Sam replied, No.

Well then, you’re hired. But I’m afraid we will be traveling through Oklahoma to reach Abilene, Kansas. Does that scare you?

Yes, sir, it does, but I’ll cope with it. I’m almost broke and I need a job so bad. I’ll take a chance, Sam explained.

Tell you what, instead of Sam Stone, we’ll call you Rocky, just Rocky. And if you can, grow a beard. That might help. We’ll be driving this herd up the Chisholm Trail to Abilene. Ever hear of it?

Yes, sir. I have heard it mentioned, but I don’t know where it is, Sam answered.

Well, let me tell you about Jesse Chisholm. His daddy was a Scotsman, and his mother was a Cherokee squaw. Jesse was their only child, and when he was 15 his daddy died. His mother went back to her tribe and Jesse was on his own. He started out as a mule skinner, driving a freight wagon. Within three years he had saved enough money and opened a trading post on the Red River. It was a success, and two years later he opened another one in Kansas, just south of Abilene. Then he and an Indian named Black Beaver followed an old Indian trail from the Red River north to his other trading post. Then Jesse met a man named Joe McCoy. McCoy had built stockyards in Abilene and wanted Texas ranchers to drive their cattle up there, and he could load them on rail cars and ship them back east, where they would command a better price. The two men developed a bond when Jesse told him of the trail he and Black Beaver had blazed and Jesse agreed to tell other ranchers about McCoy’s stockyards and convince them to use his trail to drive the herds to Abilene. That’s how to Chisholm Trail got its name.

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CHAPTER 3

UP THE CHISHOLM TRAIL TO ABILENE, KANSAS

Sam accepted Wheeler’s offer of $1 a day, and if they were successful a $50 bonus when the drive was over. Wheeler explained, The drive will take at least two or three months. We’re only going to drive them a few miles every day, maybe ten or twelve hours a day. I want them to all graze ten to twelve hours a day so they won’t arrive in Abilene looking like a bag of bones. Also if the cattle have enough graze, they are less likely to stampede.

Then Wheeler introduced Sam to the other people going on the drive:

John Boone. John Boone was one of Wheeler’s partners, but looked more like his body guard. He was a huge man with a full beard and an oversized stomach. Sam thought, He hasn’t missed many meals. Boone would be trail boss but would confer often with Wheeler.

Burned-up Bob; Bub for short. Oliver explained that Bob, as a young man, worked on a horse ranch near Amarillo. One unusually cold night, the hands had built a very large fire to warm themselves after tending to the herd of horses. Young Bob had gotten into a fight with one of the other ranch hands and ended up in the fire where the other man threw him. He probably would have died if the other ranchers hadn’t pulled him from the fire and put him in a nearby pile of snow to relieve the burns. And that is how he got all of those terrible scars on the left side of his face, his left leg, and the entire left part of his body. He’s not sensitive about the scars; he just accepts them as a reminder to not fight.

Billy and Bobby Burns. These were two twin boys, barely fifteen years old, who had been raised on a cattle ranch and were proficient with a pistol, rifle, rope, and knife.

Ray Ross. Ray was about thirty, slender of build with long arms, and he always had a chew of tobacco in his cheek.

Jim Henderson. He was a young man, probably twenty-five years old, average build, and red hair. He was a self-professed, ex-gun fighter and loved to show off his skills with a pistol, which he could draw and shoot very fast from his low-slung black holster.

Comanche Charlie. Charlie was a half-breed Comanche who had sharp vision and was an excellent shot. He could speak Cherokee or Comanche.

Joe Jones. Joe was the educated one among them. He had spent two years in college at the University of Texas before running out of money. He was now working to save enough money to return to college.

Bill Bass. He was the quiet one of the group. He said little, befriended no one, stayed to himself, and usually occupied his time by whittling.

Dave Smith. Dave was a short, squat man in his thirties. Some of the men called him shorty, but he was irritated when they did and told them so.

Long John Thomas. Aptly named, John stood six feet, six inches tall and had a heavier build than usually found on a very tall person. He was a likeable person with a quick smile.

Josh Jones. Josh had worked as a Wells Fargo shotgun guard and cowboy. He was a big man who knew how to avoid a fist fight, but when in one, he knew how to win.

Jose Sanchez. Jose knew his way around horses. He had spent most of his thirty years training, riding, and caring for horses. He would take good care of the string of thirty horses going with the herd.

Early the following morning, Wheeler assembled the group, and standing in a wagon driver’s box told them, Men, the plan for the trip is to drive this herd to Jesse Chisholm’s trading post #1, just north of the Red River. If we’re lucky we should arrive there in four or five weeks. Once we reach there, we’ll pick up another 400 or 500 head of Jesse’s cows, brand them with our trail brand, fold them in with our herd, and deliver the whole group to Jesse’s trading post #2 in Kansas. That trip should take another two or three months, if we are lucky. Then Jesse will go with us to deliver the herd to the stockyards in Abilene. So here we go! Obey orders, work hard, and stay safe, and we’ll all be celebrating in Abilene in a few months. And oh, yes, if you feel your horse growing tired, trade him in for a fresh one. We don’t need any problems from someone riding a worn out-horse. So God bless us all. Now head ’em up, and move ’em out.

So the drive began with one boss, one trail boss, one cook, one cook’s helper, ten drovers, and one horse wrangler. Since Sam was new, he would alternate riding drag with the other two newcomers, Billy and Bobby Burns. Boone had explained to them that riding drag was a dirty, dusty job. They had to make sure no stragglers were left behind and make sure the herd was not being followed by rustlers or hostile Indians.

At night, three night hawks (night guards) would stay on their horses watching over while everyone else slept. No one liked this job, but it was shared by all of the drovers. They worked in two-hour shifts so no one was deprived of a full night’s sleep. Sam was enjoying Big Bill’s food. He liked Bill’s food better than the food his mother made for him, and there was more of it. Breakfast was usually bacon and biscuits, and dinner was mostly beef stew and corn bread. No lunch was cooked.

CHAPTER 4

THE STORM

Everything had gone smoothly until they were approaching the Llano Escarpment. The day had been an unusually hot one, and the heat was giving way to a large clump of black thunderstorms approaching them from the west. Lightning was showing itself in the rapidly nearing clouds. Oliver spotted the clouds and ordered the men to bed down the