Hightower Ii: Badlands Justice

By DF Sparks

Elizabeth Carter had taken up where her son had left off; she had formed her own gang of bank robbers and killers. And along with her two stepsons, Randall and Micah Kershaw, she has brought down a reign of terror from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to Brownsville, Texas. And at every bank robbery or every murder, she left this message: Tell Hightower his days are numbered!

It has been known for a long time that Elizabeth and her gang of cutthroats have been hiding out in the most inaccessible part of the bayou, which was a section that covered both the southwest section of Louisiana and the southeast section of Texas. She had sworn to rain hell down on anyone who had anything to do with the hanging of her son, especially Edward Hightower. She had sworn to wipe out his entire family and to hang him with the same rope that hung her son.

By threatening the life of a federal judge and his family, she had inadvertently provided Hightowers family with security because Judge Tatum ordered a troop of cavalry to erect a post on the Hightower property, not only to protect his family but to also ensure that the Indians who had moved on to a small reservation just south of the ranch were not harassed or bothered in any way.

General Whitehead had pulled some strings in the newly formed federal government and had gotten Hightower the authority he needed to go after Elizabeth Carter and her gang by having Hightower issued a deputy United States marshalls badge.

He had been issued these orders: Bring in Elizabeth Carter and her gangdead or alive!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Dec 20, 2017
• ISBN: 9781543461404

Book preview

Copyright © 2017 by DF Sparks.

Library of Congress Control Number:         2017916495

ISBN:                      Hardcover                        978-1-5434-6142-8

                                Softcover                           978-1-5434-6141-1

                                eBook                                 978-1-5434-6140-4

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

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.

Rev. date: 11/20/2017

Xlibris

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

769234

CONTENTS

Prelude

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

PRELUDE

E LIZABETH CARTER HAD taken up where her son had left off, she had formed her own gang of bank robbers and killers and along with her two stepsons, Randall and Micah Kershaw, had brought down a reign of terror from Baton Rouge, Louisiana to Brownsville, Texas, and at every bank robbery or every murder, She left this message tell Hightower, his days are numbered,!!!

It had been known for a long time that Elizabeth and her gang of cutthroats had been hiding out in the most inaccessible part of the Bayou, which was a section that covered both the southwest section of Louisiana and the South East section of Texas. She had sworn to rain hell down on anyone who had anything to do with the hanging of her son, especially Edward Hightower. She had sworn to wipe out his entire family and to hang him with the same rope that hung her son.

By threatening the life of a federal judge and his family. She had inadvertently provided Hightower’s family with security because judge Tatum ordered a troop of cavalry to erect a post on the Hightower property not only to protect his family, but to ensure that the Indians who had moved on to a small reservation, just south of the ranch were not harassed or bothered in any way.

General Whitehead had pulled some strings in the newly formed federal government and had gotten Hightower the authority he needed to go after Elizabeth Carter and her gang by having Hightower issued a deputy United States Marshall’s badge.

He had been issued these orders, bring in Elizabeth Carter and her gang. Dead or alive!!

CHAPTER 1

T HE SUN WAS just rising and turning the clouds in the East to a reddish orange, the breeze that was blowing still had a touch of winter in it, even though it was springtime in the Bayou. It was a time of joyment and thankfulness. There is nothing quite like the celebration that the Cajun people put together to welcome the coming of spring and the end to winter, as they would say, it’s time to par…...ty!!

Edward Hightower was relaxing on his front porch with a cup of coffee. He was joined by his wife, Rachel and his sister in law Dorothy. As usual, the two women planned the events of the day over a good hot cup of coffee the first thing every morning while sitting on the front porch and watching the sunrise over the Hightower ranch. It had been almost 6 months since Hightower had returned from bringing in Raymond Carter. Within a week. He was tried, convicted and hanged for a total of 14 murders and 11 bank robberies. Still feeling the pressures of having to testify against his stepbrother, Hightower had been kind of withdrawn and general Whitehead recommended that he take some time off and celebrate life with his new bride. So he had spent the winter working around the ranch fixing barn doors helping repair fence, just anything that needed to be done. He would pitch in and help.

Rachel and Dorothy took care of the yard and the house, but mostly it was Dorothy as Rachel was with child. The Dr. had said that Rachel was about four months along and being as small as she was, she needed to take it easy, but to Hightower, it was like trying to hogtie a bobcat. Hightower had known that Rachel was headstrong, bullheaded and as stubborn as any human being could be. She did not like to be told that she couldn’t do something, being the type of person that she was everything that needed to be done had to be done right now. But there were times when she knew she had reached her limit and she needed to rest. She would not allow Dorothy to work when she wasn’t there to help her. Rachel was constantly telling Dorothy, you’re my sister, not my maid. All in all, life was good on the Hightower ranch, but little did he know what had been happening along the southern coastline from Baton Rouge to Brownsville, Texas. It seemed that Elizabeth Carter had formed her own gang and had broken her two stepsons, Randall and Micah out of the mental institution where the law had placed them for their part in Jacob Sizemore’s murder. She had picked up where Raymond had left off, producing a wave of terror, consisting of bank robberies and murder. All of this had been kept from Hightower until she had openly threatened judge Tatum and his entire family by saying, she would revenge the death of her son, and Hightower would be the first to die.

When the judge had been told of the threat on his life and his entire family. He realized that he could keep Elizabeth Carter’s actions to himself no longer. Hightower had to be told of threats that had been made against him. So the judge and general Whitehead got together and had taking it up on themselves to have Hightower appointed as a deputy United States marshal. This would be a post that he could keep or relinquish after he had dealt with Elizabeth Carter. This had all been done in secret and without Hightower having any knowledge of the proceedings.

So there was nothing uncommon at all about seeing the judge and general Whitehead together, and they normally rode together when they came visiting the Hightower ranch. What was uncommon was that they were coming up the lane at the break of day and both horses were at a good gallop. Rachel seen them coming before Hightower did, and she told Dorothy to get a couple more cups and to bring the coffee pot out to the porch. That’s when Hightower looked in the same direction that Rachel was looking wondering what she was looking at. He was quite pleased to see his two old friends, and it seemed to perk him up to the extent that a big smile came across his face and he stood up and produced his hand to each man with the eagerness of an unemployed man finding a job.

What brings you out to this neck of the woods?

I’ll answer that Edward, just as soon as I get a hug from my two daughters, and a hot cup of coffee.

The general took off his hat and his saber and accepted with grace a steaming cup of coffee, after saying, thanks the general looked at Hightower and said, let’s take a walk, I need to discuss something with you.

No disrespect ment general, but anything you have to discuss with me you can discuss in front of my wife.!

This time general I agree with my son-in-law, this concerns his wife just as much as it concerns him, so get said what has to be said, and lets get it over with,

The general reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small blue velvet box about 3 in long and 3 inches wide, then he pitched it to Hightower and said, this belongs to you and I sincerely hope that you will accept it, because there is a job that has to be done and once again, we believe you’re the man to do it.

What the general is trying to say is that Elizabeth Carter has formed her a gang and she has taken up where Raymond left off, but the worst of it is that she has threatened the lives of everyone in the Tatum family, but her main threat is against you. She has said that you will be the first to die. Because she has threatened the life of a federal judge and his family, we took it upon ourselves to get in touch with the United States Marshall’s main office. In short, Edward we pulled some strings and we got what’s in that little blue box for you. So open it and tell us yes or no!

Hightower opened the box and leaned back in his chair and muttered to himself, holy cow, you really brought out the big guns this time, judge. What’s the reason behind this?, there are a lot of law man who can do the job of bringing in Elizabeth Carter, why me?

Because son, she and her gang has gotten themselves a hideout deep in the Bayou and you are the only one that has the knowledge of the Bayou that will be needed to flush her out. The people of the Bayou respect you as they respected your father. The people of the Bayou get into their share of mischief, but they have always believed in right and wrong. I can’t believe that they would willingly harbor a band of killers the judge paused and then stood up and continued, the wanted poster reads Dead or Alive can you do it."?

Hightower could read the urgency in the judge’s voice and could also see it on his face. Elizabeth Carter had struck fear into the heart of a man that not long ago didn’t know what the word fear ment.

Judge, I can’t take off after Elizabeth Carter and leave this ranch and my wife unprotected, it simply cannot be done.

"If we could figure out a way that your wife, the judge, Ms. Amy and miss Dorothy would be protected, would you consider taking on this job? The general asked.

Do you think that you have a solution general?

The judge spoke up saying, yes. Edward, I believe that we have a solution in mind.

Well, don’t keep it to yourself judge, spit it out.!!!

I think this would be better explained by the general, after all, it’s going to concern him.

With that judge Tatum looked at the general, it’s your plan, start talking.!

What I have in mind Hightower, is if you will allow me to build a temporary post on your land that can double not only as patrols for the new Indian reservation, but also close enough to the ranch house that the ranch house would be under constant surveillance by a complete platoon of troopers, would that kind of security be sufficient for you to at least consider going after Elizabeth Carter?

At this point Rachel stood up and said, the only way that I see this situation being resolved is if my father and my mother come out here to the ranch and stay until my husband has this problem resolved. Father, if you agree to bring mom out here, take some time off from your judge’s duties, and join us under the protection of the United States cavalry, I will see what I can do to talk my husband into accepting your offer, but it is still his decision and his alone.!

Then Rachel set back down and looked at Hightower and with her hands on her stomach as if she were holding the baby. She said, there is one other person here who has a say in this, how about we hear from her. Turning to her sister, she smiled and said, you’ve been quiet far too long Dorothy it’s time you put your two cents worth in.

Dorothy spoke very softly, but very distinctively, no matter what is decided about this Elizabeth Carter I am here with my sister, until she tells me that she no longer needs or wants my help. I have no doubt that Edward will do the right thing for all the right reasons. So if you gentlemen will excuse me, I have dishes to do and a house to clean. Then with the grace of a lady, she rose from her chair and disappeared through the front door. Rachel in turn got up from her chair, kissed her father on the cheek, and excusing herself, she turned and went through the front door saying, wait up, Dorothy, and I’ll give you a hand with those dishes,

If you can do what she asked, then I’ll go after Elizabeth, but only if this family is protected completely from any kind of harm.

The judge spoke up and with a smile on his face. Edward, all we needed was your permission to start construction of this post, everything else, including the troops are already prepared. Most of the troops that will be protecting your ranch Edward are troops that you have ridden into battle with, and they are quite eager to protect your family while you pursue Ms. Carter and her gang of cutthroats

At that very moment Rachel came back onto the front porch and excusing herself by saying, I’m sorry, gentlemen, but I forgot to do something. Then reaching and taking the little blue box from Hightower, she opened it and took out the star and preceded to pin it on to Hightower’s chest, saying only it looks good on you. Then she kissed him and turned and went back into the house.

Setting back down in his chair. Hightower, smiled at the judge and the general and said, I guess that settles everything, how soon do you think you can start construction on the post? Because I won’t leave until the post is up and running and the security around my family is complete.!

We kind of figured that’s the way things would be, so Mama should be on her way out here momentarily, she wanted to pack us both a few things which usually means at least two trunks full, maybe more. The troops are camped about 3 miles down the road and are ready to move at a moments notice, and I have already taken a leave of absence

I surely do hope that I am not this predictable to Elizabeth, because if I am this is going to turn out to be a long drawn out ordeal for both sides. General do you have anybody in the Bayou keeping tabs on Elizabeth and her bunch?

Yes Sir, I do, and I have used him many times before, he’s quite reliable. Most of all he knows how to keep his mouth shut and his head down while keeping his ears open and listening.

Is there anything that I need to know about getting in touch with this man?

"He has strict orders not to contact you unless he has definite information about where and when Ms. Carter