Cedar Creek

By John Lyndon Green

Matt Watson is the marshall of Cedar Creek and doubles as sheriff for Wabash County in Southwest Kansas, a small town with not too many problems, except the feud between the Jamesons and the Strogmans.

Hady Mae Jameson rules the Jameson family after Claude Sr. had been killed allegedly by the Strogmans. Hady Mae believed the eldest son, Mark Strogman, had killed her Claude.

Although Matt and his two deputies, Larry and Lance, could find no proof of her claim, evidence pointed towards someone who had killed a calf to eat, and Claude came upon the rustler and the rustler and Claude drew and shot at each other. By the blood, both were hit. Claude died shortly after being hit. The rustler wasnt hit hard. The evidence pointed to him taking time to butcher Jamesons calf and taking a big part of it with him.

Matt, Larry, and Lance lost the rustlers tracks in Power Creek. Matt and his deputies went along Power Creek for two miles, not finding any place where the rustler could come out.

Neither Matt, Larry, nor Lance could find any tracks at the Strogmans ranch matching the rustler horse at the scene. Mark and five of the Strogmans hands had been gone with a small herd of fat cattle to sell in Colorado. Mark and his hands were gone for over two weeks.

Matt and Lance went back to the Strogmans ranch, checking all of the horse tracks. None of them matched the rustlers tracks. Mark let Matt check his body for fresh wounds, and none were fresh nor had the appearance of a gunshot wound.

Even though none of the horses tracks matched those of the rustler who had killed Claude Sr., Hady Mae said, Mark could have sold the horse while he was at the gold camps in Colorado, which was true to a point, except all five hands said, They had left two days before Claude Sr. had been killed.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Mar 24, 2016
• ISBN: 9781504982092

John Lyndon Green

Hello my name is John Lyndon Green. I am from a large family. I’m the last of fourteen children. I like to write to create a story in hopes some enjoy them. I think God gives all of us the ability to do something. It is up to us to try to see what works for us. Each job gets done by working at what we do, like a farmer cannot raise a crop unless he first plants his field, nor can a writer sell a book till he writes a story.

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© 2016 John Lyndon Green. 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 03/24/2016

ISBN: 978-1-5049-8208-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5049-8209-2 (e)

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CONTENTS

Introduction

End of the Feud

Pisces of the Puzzle

Look About

Neighbor's Dispute

Gathering Evidence

The Evidence

In The Dark

Trapped

The Posse Rides

Friday Night

Trapped

The Journey Ends

INTRODUCTION

Marshall Matt Watson

Matt Watson is the Marshall of Cedar Creek and doubles as sheriff for Wabash County in southwest Kansas; a small town with not too many problems except the feud between the Jameson's and the Strogman's.

Hady Mae Jameson rules the Jameson family after Claude Senior had been killed allegedly by the Strogman's, Hady Mae believed the eldest son Mark Strogman had killed her Claude.

Although Matt and his two deputies, Larry and Lance could find no proof of her claim, evidence pointed towards someone who had killed a calf to eat and Claude came upon the rustler; the rustler and Claude drew and shot at each other, by the blood both were hit, Claude died shortly after being hit; the rustler wasn't hit hard the evidence pointed to him taking time to butcher Jameson's calf and taking a big part of it with him.

Matt, Larry and Lance lost the rustler's tracks in Power Creek; Matt and his deputies went along Power Creek for two miles not find any were the rustler came out.

Matt, Larry nor Lance could find any tracks at the Strogman's ranch matching the rustler horse at the scene, Mark and five of the Strogman's hands had been gone with a small herd of fat cattle to sale in Colorado, Mark and his hands were gone for over two weeks.

Matt and Lance went back to the Strogman's ranch checking all of the horse tracks; none of them matched the rustler tracts, Mark let Matt chick his body for fresh wounds, none were fresh nor had they the appearance of a gunshot wound.

Even though none of the horses tracks match those of the rustler who had killed Claude Sr., Hady Mae said, Mark could have sold the horse while he was at the gold camps in Colorado; which was true to a point, except all five hands said, they had left two days before Claude Sr. had been killed."

Matt could not arrest anyone because he lacked evidence.

This wasn't the beginning of the feud, the feud had been going on for a couple of years, Estel Strogman and Claude Jameson has been going at each other accusing one another of stealing from each other, the feud had not been deadly till now.

Matt was the opinion that Mark Stroman hadn't anything to do with Claude's murder, for the most part the feud didn't affect the town too much except the bars, the Jameson went to the Longhorn bar and the Strogman's went to the Lucky Lady, otherwise the boys and hands obeyed the laws in town.

Once in a while a fight broke out between the hands of the two ranches in the street, Matt and his two deputies, Larry and Lance would lock the hand for a day or two and a ten dollars fine.

Matt's deputy's names are Lance Jones and Larry Miller; Matt's jailers' names are Lucas Jennings and Frank Peters they help when there are prisoners in the jail of a night and other times as needed such as when Matt Larry and Lance were out of town. They were older, but you didn't want to mess with them; Lucas and Frank had grown up in a wild time punching cows and they were tough; big and strong and able to take care of their selves and their jobs as deputies, most everybody liked and respected them anyway.

The hitch in the feud was Hady Mae Jameson youngest son, Joey and Estel nineteen-year-old daughter Janis were in love with each other and every chance they got which wasn't near as often as they wanted; with the feud and all ever one watching out for them, Joey and Janis still managed to get together.

The Stroman family had six sons and five daughters'; the Jameson family had five sons and four daughters.

Joey and Janis love affair wasn't the only one going on; Matt and Amber Jones were in love also, Amber the schoolteacher and Matt's deputy, Lance Jones sister.

Hady Mae came in to the kitchen and opened the cabinets and they were about empty, Claude Jr came in behind his mother and said, I'll hook up the wagon, Sammy and I'll get Joe and Pete we'll take you to town to get supplies Ma.

Yes it's time, Hady Mae answered, I'll get ready.

With any luck I' run into Mark, Claude Jr said.

No not yet, even though I am sure in my heart Mark killed your Pa, Hady Mae said, "but not yet, not in town.

I can take Mark, Ma, Claude Jr replied.

There may be truth but, you won't win if it comes to that, with Matt or even Lance for that matter, I just lost your Pa, and I don't want to lose my strong right arm boy, anyway that's not what we're going to do.

OH?

I told your Pa to change our brand two years ago and that's what we're going to do, she explained.

Were going to catch them at the Army where they have sold our calves, then let the law deal with Estel Strogman and his boys.

Yeah and I'm thinking they sold more calves then they have cows.

Speaking of our calves I haven't seen five of our heifers that I was saving to keep for Cows.

You just do what I tell you and we'll catch them red-handed, Hady Mae said I told your dad not to have a bar over the C, it is too easy to make into a bar G.

I know I told Pa to change our brand to but, he didn't believe we were losing calves, Claude Jr stated.

Yes he told me about a year and a half ago when y'all got the cattle up you are missing two heifers he plan to save for cows."

And we couldn't find them anywhere, Claude Jr finished for her.

Were going to put a little J on the C, one that's not too noticeable, if you know what I mean.

I see, Claude Jr replied that won't be too hard to do; I'll get Ray on it today.

No; I want you to go over to Center View to get it made, Ray talks some more than he needs to when he drinks, I am told the more he drank some more he talks, she explained.

That is true, Claude Jr agreed, "anyway we have time before around up, I'll get Sammy, Pete and Joe, will be alone shortly

Hady Mae nodded her head and said I'll be ready.

When Claude came back in Hady Mae and Sally; her oldest daughter were dressed to go to town, Sally had taken on most of the house work since her Pa died, Claude Jr thought his mother looking at their food supply might be a sign she was coming out of her grief; he hopes so, Sally's cooking was okay but mothers was better. Claude gave Sally the reins and climbed out of the wagon mounting his own horse and they headed to town. It was a nice early summer morning, they saw deer and a fox along Cedar Creek and a lot of birds.

Matt saw the Jameson's coming into town, he was standing outside the Marshall's office, he stuck his head back inside and told Lance there may be trouble, the Jameson's were coming into town and Mark Strogman is in town.

Want me to keep the eye on Mark, Lance asked?

Yeah, tell him we don't want any trouble, Matt replied, You know he can be a show off.

Okay, Lance said he got up and went to find Mark.

Matt met the Jameson's at Sanders Mercantile store, Morning, with a nod of his head.

Morning, they all said in reply.

There won't be any trouble from us, Hady Mae said so long as he doesn't start anything, pointing up the street.

I sent Lance along to have a talk with Mark, he explained but who knows about Mark?

Matt, don't thank it'll be a good idea for Mark to start anything,

Sammy; we will be no trouble. Hady Mae stated Matt if Mark is guilty; there'll be a time for you to deal with him, not us; long as he doesn't bring it to us but, if needed we'll defend ourselves.

All I can ask, Matt said, "I'm truly sorry about Claude Sr. and I've tried to find his killer and I haven't given up, I won't forget that horses track.

I won't forget them either, Claude Jr stated.

Matt I know in truth you're sorry about my Claude, Hady Mae said I'm sure you'll catch his killer and you'll catch who is stealing our cows.

Yes that I will, Matt assured her, in fact I sent a wire to the Army to get a description of the brands, plus I plan to talk to the buyers at the Goldfields camp's.

Sounds like you're going in the right direction, Hady Mae said.

Sally how are you doing, Matt asked?

I'm doing fine, Sally replied, how's Amber?

She's doing fine, he answered, been so busy of late I've hardly had time to talk to her lately.

That's no way to treat a girl, you better take better care of that gal Matt, Sally advised.

That or someone else will be taking her away from you, Hady Mae added.

I know I need to do a better job, Matt acknowledged, might have to go see her this morning.

Matt you take care of Amber, Claude said then we'll do our best to avoid trouble with Estel, Mark and the rest of the bunch.

When are you going to give up on Joey and Janis, Matt asked?

I don't know, Claude replied seems like they are determined to get together.

Not for a while, Hady Mae answered.

I understand, y'all have a good day and it's good to see you in town Hady Mae, Matt said and if you find something or need something you know where to find me and we will find Claude's killer.

Thank you Matt, Hady Mae said "you