The Diary of Steve Mcfall and Kaddie Griffin

By Nancy Griffin

I recalled the most memorable times I had with him. Some were funny, and some were serious. It seemed like we never had a dull moment in our lives. We did enjoy the time we had together and with our children. He was the man that I thought he would never be. He proved his love to me many times, even when I was too stubborn to see. I wanted him as much as he wanted me. Our children understood the love we had for our family. Those children are the results of our love. I will always love my first love, my only love, Steve McFall.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jul 30, 2016
• ISBN: 9781524513092

Book preview

Chapter One

Welcome to Slater

Monday morning, the Carter’s and I was moving to Slater, Missouri, where my parents live. Jake and Beth Griffin are my parents. My parents own a big ranch on the out skirts of town. They live in a big log cabin house, and our ranch hands stay in a log bunk house on the ranch. I went to Harvard College up North with my best friend’s, Dan and Marie Carter. Dan and I graduated with a degree as an Accountant. We started a business up North doing bookkeeping and accounting work. Marie and I grew up together, since we were little girls. I stayed with an older couple, whom my parents knew and trusted, until I finished college and started a business. The older couple had lots of money and a big nice house. He had me to do his books from his business all the time. Although, my plan was to return home to my parents to help them out on the ranch.

It started out as a nice day to move. We traveled by train with one box car loaded with furniture and office equipment. Usually, the train would run on schedule. On rare occasions, we had unnecessary stops. The train stations would have lay overs or train robberies. One day, an outlaw gang stopped our train to rob it. The outlaw gang took off with the money the company had in a vault in a box car. There was twenty five thousand dollars in the vault. The outlaw gang shot and killed the security guards, before some of them got away. Two of the outlaw gang members were shot and killed. We were lucky there were not more shot. The train started moving on the tracks to our next destination. My parents were waiting on us at the train station with a wagon to unload our furniture and office equipment in. My parents were told by the manager at the train station, that our train was not on schedule today. My parents would keep checking at interval times to find out, when the arrival time would be.

On Friday morning, our train finally arrived at Slater, Missouri. My parents was standing there waiting to welcome us home. Dan, Marie and I got off the train with our luggage. My dad had several ranch hands there to help unload the box car. It had our furniture and office equipment in it. Dad asked me, Did you bring enough stuff with you on this trip? I hope it will all fit in this wagon. I told dad, Oh, dad! We left a few boxes up there, but our friend, Mr. William Ford, told me he would mail them to me. All of this fit into a wagon up there. After the ranch hands unloaded everything into the wagon, we went to Dan and Marie’s new home to unload their furniture. After we finished moving the Carter’s furniture, dad took us to our new office building to unload. Dad had purchased it for us, so we can open our new business here. Dan and I were partners of a bookkeeping and accounting business up North. The name of our business was called, The Bookkeeper.

We arrived at the new building to get it set up for business. My parents, our ranch hands, the Carters and I were moving the rest of the furniture from the wagon into the new office building. When the Evans’ gang of rustlers started riding through the town on their horses shooting their guns, yelling and scaring the town’s people. I was standing up in the wagon, when I saw the Evans’ gang of rustlers shooting recklessly. The town’s people were running in all directions to take cover from the straying bullets. I yelled to dad, Throw me your gun, so I can return fire, before they hurt a lot of innocent people! Dad threw me his hand gun. I was aiming to shoot their hands to cripple them, so they would not be able to continue firing their guns. Sheriff Tompkins, his deputies, Matthew Tate and Steve McFall rushed out of the Sheriff’s Office, when they heard the noise. Steve notice me standing up in the wagon shooting. He ran toward me yelling, Miss get down in the wagon! Suddenly, he jumped over the side of the wagon. He landed on top of me. Steve asked me in a loud voice, Are you trying to get shot? I answered him quickly, No! He notice every time the Evans’ gang of rustlers would shoot in our direction. Steve would push my head down in the wagon. He would raise up and return fire from his shotgun. He would reload and shoot again. I started yelling at him, Stop pushing my head down! I cannot see to shoot! Who are you? Where did you come from? Stop it! I was getting upset with him. Finally, the shooting came to a halt, and the Evans’ gang of rustlers were gathered up by the Sheriff and his deputies. There were a few bystanders wounded, but none were dead.

I yelled at Steve several times, Get off of me! Get off of me! I said get off of me! By this time, I was angry with him. Steve said, I am waiting for you to say please and thank you. I said, I do not have to say those things. I want you to get off of me, now! I shoved him off, then I got up on my feet. I chewed him out for pushing my head down in the wagon and landing on top of me. I said to him, Who gave you the right to jump in on top of me? You could have hurt me! You pushing my head down did not help the matter any! I could not see what I was aiming at! I was doing fine, until you jumped in. Steve said impatiently to me, Are you finished? I was trying to keep you from getting shot, but I guess it did not matter to you. The next time, I will wait for your permission. He was upset with my attitude toward him. I said, That would suit me fine! I climbed out of the wagon, and I walked into my office without saying another word to him. He followed me out of the wagon, and he walked away flustered, shaking his head no and putting his shotgun back into its holster. My dad stopped Steve, before he walked away. Dad said to him, I appreciate you shielding her from getting shot. Do not get upset with Kaddie. She is my daughter and usually a sweet girl, but she can be stubborn at times. Kaddie inherited the stubborness from her mother. Dad and Steve laughed. Then Steve said, Okay Jake. Dad shook hands with Steve to show him no hard feelings toward him. My dad knew Sam Tompkins from the past, that is how he got to know Steve. My parents, the ranch hands, the Carters and I moved the rest of the furniture and items into the office from the wagon. After we finished, we all went home. This was the first day, I encountered the man named Steve McFall, Bounty Hunter.

Chapter Two

The Confrontation

On Monday, I opened up the office at 8:00 A.M. Dan came in behind me carrying a small size box in his hands. Inside the box was our business cards and holders. I told Dan, I will take the box of cards around to all the businesses. Hopefully, I can attract customers for us. Dan told me, I will watch the office, while you are gone. As I was walking down the board walk, I went inside each business introducing myself along with shaking their hands and leaving my business cards.

As I came upon Dolly’s Saloon, two drunk cowboys, named Cal and Bud was standing in my way. I asked the two cowboys nicely, Will you please step aside, so I can get by? Cal and Bud would not budge one inch. They kept staring at me. I asked again in a more stern voice, Will you please let me by? Cal started getting close to me saying inappropriate jestures. How would you like to give me a little kiss on the lips? How about us going into the saloon, while you sit on my lap? Your body sure does turn a man on. Cal began touching my face, neck, shoulders and arms. During this time, I was trying to get my hand gun out of my cloth purse. Suddenly, I heard someone yelling. It was Steve McFall yelling, Hey, you two leave her alone! Steve had just got off his horse, when he turned around to see them touching me. The two drunk cowboys turned toward him. Cal told Steve, This is none of your business, boy. This is between me and her, so you get back on that horse and get out of here. I stood still. I was very nervous. Steve quickly grabbed his shotgun from its holster and cocked it. As he was walking toward them, Cal and Bud were trying to grab for their pistols from their holsters. While holding his shotgun on them, Steve said, Do not try it. I will blow a hole through you both, before you can shoot. Now, drop your guns. Steve was getting impatient and agitated toward them. Steve said, You two move away from her, now. As he turned toward me, the two cowboys attempted to grab their pistols. Steve quickly shot at their feet. He told them, You try that again. The next one will be between your eyes. Now, stand up and back away from those guns. They did exactly that. Then Steve motion with his hand for me to come ahead. I did, but I never stopped walking, until I reached the office. He walked along side of me. Then he stopped me at the bottom step to the office and he asked me, Are you okay? I told him, I could have handled the situation by myself. I am not helpless. I know how to use a gun. I walked up the steps into the office. Steve stood there with a funny look of confusion on his face. As he threw his hands up, he walked back toward his horse. This was my second encounter, I had with Steve McFall, Bounty Hunter. We seemed to clash with our ego’s.

Chapter Three

The Second Confrontation

On Wednesday afternoon, I had a small box of letters to be mailed. I told Dan, I am going to the Post Office to mail these letters. Is there anything we need? Dan said, Nothing I can think of, but I will watch the office, while you are gone. Unless you need me to go with you to keep you safe. I told Dan, I am a big girl now. I do not need you to fight my battles nor hold my hand, while I walk across the street. We both laughed, as I left the office.

As I was walking along on the board walk, I took my time. It was a nice sunny day. Before I reached the Post Office, I met up with Cal and Bud. I had problems with them the other day in front of Dolly’s Saloon. Cal and Bud remembered me the last time we met. I was hoping, that I would never see them again, but I was wrong. Cal and Bud blocked my way from going into the Post Office. Cal said, Look who we have here, Bud. This time, I am getting even with you and Steve McFall, so called Bounty Hunter. If I ever see him again, it would not be soon enough. I will make him think, he can threaten me with his shotgun. Unaware, Bud grabbed my box of letters out of my hands. He threw the box down on the ground. Cal grabbed me by the arms and shoved my back side hard against a solid wooden post in front of the Post Office. Cal made cruel remarks, I am going to make you suffer, every time you smart off to me. I am going to make you my woman. You will cook my meals, clean my house and scrub my back, when I want you to without giving me any sass. I told him, I will not do any of this. Cal said, You will or else? I said, Or else what? You will shoot me! Then Cal said, That may happen, but first, I am going to cut Steve McFall up in little pieces and feed him to the dogs. While you sit there and watch him beg. Cal tried to kiss me in a rough way, while Bud stood back and laughed. I reached into my purse, and I grabbed the barrel end of my hand gun tight. I quickly pulled it out of my purse, and I belted Cal in between his legs on his genital area hard. Cal yelled out, Ouch! With a quick response, he covered his genital area with both hands. Moaning, as he was going down on his knees bent over. I quickly got loose from Bud holding me, and I hit Cal again with the butt end of my hand gun on the back of his head. This knocked him out cold. Cal was lying on the board walk, while I was trying to get away from Bud holding me. Bud was a tall strong man. The Sheriff and Steve rushed out of the Sheriff’s Office, when they heard a commotion outside. They saw me standing there next to Cal and Bud. Bud had a gun next to my rib cage, while he was holding me tight around my neck. Steve said to himself, Not again. He yelled at Bud, Hey, let her go! As he walked toward us, he had drawn his shotgun from its holster. After checking for bullets, he cocked it. When Steve got close enough, he told Bud, Let her go! Bud said, She hurt Cal! Steve told him again, Let her go! Do not make me have to shoot you! Bud said, Do not shoot! I will let her go. Bud did exactly that. Then Steve told him, Now, back away from her. Bud stepped back, so Steve could pull me to his side. Steve asked me, Are you okay? I shook my head yes, as he looked at me. While Steve was holding his gun on Bud, Sheriff Tompkins told him, You pick up your friend and leave town. I do not want to see you here again. Bud picked up Cal off the board walk. As Bud was helping Cal across the street, Cal was staggering due to him getting knocked out.

Afterwards, Steve helped me pick up my box of letters off the ground along with a few that fell out of the box. Steve being concerned about me asked, Why are you not protecting yourself with a gun? I looked at him disappointed. I showed him my hand gun with one finger at the trigger site. I held it up in front of him to see. I asked him sarcastically, Is this what you are asking about? I twirled the hand gun on one finger, then I stopped it. I aimed at a small stem clinging to a limb of a tree. I shot the stem off perfectly. Steve knew I could shoot a hand gun, but he did not know how well. Steve looked surprised. He did not like me holding the hand gun in front of him, so he took the hand gun. Steve put it on safety, then he put the hand gun back into my purse. I asked, Is there anything else you need to ask me?

I walked into the Post Office to mail the letters, while he waited on me outside. A few minutes later, I walked out of the Post Office and said, Do you not have anything else to do besides following me? He said, Apparently not, it seems I am always saving your hide. I told him, I did not ask you to, so why do you even bother? Steve said, That is my job. I said, Well, your not getting paid for this one. I walked back to my office. He followed me, until I reached the steps in front of the office. As I walked up the steps, he walked away from me. This is the third day, he has rescued me. This was becoming a habit with him and me. This is not a good thing.

Chapter Four

The Bank Robbery

Friday morning, I walked to the Mercantile Bank to fill out an application for a deposit box for my business. As I was filling it out, five men with handkerchiefs over their faces came bursting through the front entrance of the bank with their guns drawn. The customers were scared and screaming. One of the bank robbers yelled, This is a hold up! Do everything they tell you, and no one will get hurt. Another bank robber told the customers, Raise your hands up and move against the wall. A third bank robber told the tellers, Open those drawers and put all the money in the bags. Be quick about it! Then he told another teller, You! Get in the vault and put all the money in this bag. Hurry it up! The fourth bank robber went to each customer making them put their personal items of value and cash into the bag.

As the bank robbers were occupied, one of the customers, named Ben Jenkins, sneaked out of the bank. He ran to the Sheriff’s Office. Ben reported to Sheriff Tompkins, that the Mercantile Bank is being robbed. Sheriff Tompkins, his deputies, Matthew Tate and Steve McFall rushed over and surrounded the bank, so the bank robbers could not leave. Sheriff Tompkins told Steve, Go over to the other side of the bank to help cover the front entrance. See, if you can get a better view of the bank robbers inside. Steve carefully got on the opposite side of the bank. Then Sheriff Tompkins told his deputies, Go around to cover the exits without them seeing you, incase the bank robbers try to shoot their way out of the bank. Sheriff Tompkins yelled at the bystanders, Get off the streets! Some of you men can take cover and help us shoot! The streets were quickly cleared. The bank robbers discovered they were surrounded by the Sheriff and his men. The bank robbers started getting uneasy and nervous. A few of them started talking among themselves. Two of the bank robbers tried to shoot their way out through the back entrance of the bank. They were not successful. Two more bank robbers wanted to give themselves up, so they would not get shot. They started to the front entrance of the bank, when the last bank robber called them cowards and shot them both.

The hostages and tellers were even more frightened what the bank robber might do next. Four of the bank robbers were dead. He was the only one left. He knew the Sheriff and his men was waiting on him to come out. After the bank robber took off his handkerchief from hiding his face, he took him a hostage. The hostage was me. I should have known, he would pick me. The way my luck was running. The bank robber grabbed me and said, They would not shoot a pretty young woman. After I got a closer look at him, he was an ugly, mean looking, bad breath, missing teeth bank robber. He grabbed me around my waist, and he told me, You stop squirming, or I will shoot you. I stopped. Then he told all the other hostages, You stay where you are. Do not move. I will shoot you, if you do. The hostages were scared, and they started clinging to one another more. Some of the hostages were afraid for me, because they knew I was young and full of life. They tried to get the bank robber to let me go, but he would not hear of it. One man attempted to get me from him, but the bank robber shot him in the shoulder. The bank robber yelled, I am coming out the front entrance with a hostage! If anyone tries to stop me, I will shoot the young woman! The bank robber was holding his gun close to the right side of my head, as we were walking out slowly. He held me tighter, as we walked outside. I was afraid, that he was going to squeeze me into, where I could not breath. Steve started to get closer, but the bank robber gave him a warning shot. He ran back behind the side of the bank to keep from getting shot. The bank robber said, If you try that again, I will shoot her. Then Steve told him, If you shoot her, I will have to shoot you. Steve was still trying to figure out a way to get closer without the bank robber knowing. Suddenly, I kicked him right between the legs on his genital area hard and swift with a heel of my boot. He loosened his grip on me enough, where I could slide out. With a quick reaction from the blow, the bank robber bent over moaning. I dived onto the ground and yelled, Shoot him, shoot him now! Steve had a clear view to shoot. He jumped out and quickly fired off two bullets into him, before the bank robber could shoot. I was afraid the bank robber would shoot me, so I laid very still on the ground, until he fell to the ground.

Afterwards, Steve walked over to kick the bank robber’s gun away from his hand. He took his foot and rolled the bank robber onto his back to make sure he was dead. Steve took off his cowboy hat to wipe the sweat off his forehead, then he took a deep breath in. Before he placed his hat back on his head. After he reached down to help me up off the ground. I began swiping