The Phantom of the Rocking R: Fictional Story of Ranch Life in Western North Dakota

By Richard A Welk

The Phantom of the Rocking R is a fictional story of ranching in western North Dakota. It covers a hundred years and four generations of ranching on the same ranch located in the beautiful, rugged badlands north of Medora, North Dakota. Matthew Kaiser set out on his adventure to the North Dakota Badlands in the spring of 1892. A century later, his great-grandson Joe takes over the same ranch, with the mystery of the Phantom. The book covers hardships, joy, sadness, sorrow, suspense, betrayal, love, romance, divorce, and drama. After a hundred years, the Phantom is finally identified.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jun 19, 2018
• ISBN: 9781984535221

Richard A Welk

Biography My name is Richard A Welk although all my Poetry, Paintings, Short Stories I have always used RAW. I was born the sixth child into a family of Seven, October 25, 1943 in Harvey, ND Although my life story really started in Rugby, ND, in 1946. I attended Little Flower Catholic School, 1-8, Rugby High School. I worked for Red Owl. Dickinson Lumber, Self-employed Drafting and Estimating, later at Hulsing and Associates Architects as Project Manager. I received awards in the Arts (Oils, Water Colors, Acrylics, Pencil Drawings, and Poetry.) I live in rugged terrain, at a place we call Thousand Oaks in western North Dakota. There are lots of trees, 3,000-foot mountains with creeks running below. It is full of abundant wildlife. I enjoy the outdoors. I spend most of my free time in nature, hiking, camping, canoeing, boating, white water rafting. I have seen the world from the top of mountains in two continents. I enjoy doing all this with family and friends.

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Copyright © 2018 by Richard A. Welk.

Library of Congress Control Number:      2018907015

ISBN:                  Hardcover                        978-1-9845-3520-7

                            Softcover                           978-1-9845-3521-4

                            eBook                                978-1-9845-3522-1

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 Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 06/18/2018

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Contents

Chapter 1     An Important Decision

Chapter 2     A Bold Step

Chapter 3     Joy to Sorrow

Chapter 4     The Following Year

Chapter 5     Friendship to Lovers

Chapter 6     Divorce

Chapter 7     The Roundup

Chapter 8     Great-Grandfather’s Stories

Chapter 9     Matt Leaves Pleasant Valley

Chapter 10   Three Young Boys Together

Chapter 11   The Boys Start Their Dreams

Chapter 12   Real Trouble

Chapter 13   The Sentencing

Chapter 14   Buck’s Adventure

Chapter 15   Buck Hunts Down His Family’s Killers

Chapter 16   A Tragedy

Quick Outline Notes and Characters of Four Generations on the Rocking R Ranch

Matthew (Matt) G. Kaiser (DOB 1876), Joe’s great-grandfather

Set out on his adventure to the North Dakota Badlands in the spring of 1892 at the age of sixteen.

Met Jerry Hendrickson (DOB 1874) on his way to Medora, age eighteen

Met Riccardo Antonio (DOB 1876) on the river by Medora, age sixteen

Met Robert (Buck) MacKenzie (DOB 1878) in Medora, 1892, age fourteen

Matthew bought the Rocking R Ranch in 1896, and in 1897, he married Jennifer (Jenny) Groden (DOB 1877).

Children: a.) Cathleen (DOB 1899)

b.) Phyllis (DOB 1903)

c.) Marcia (DOB 1905)

d.) Theodore (Teddy) Kaiser (DOB 1907), Joe’s grandfather

In 1925, Theodore Kaiser married Janice Romanice (DOB 1909).

In 1926, Theodore Kaiser took partnership of the Rocking R Ranch.

Children: a.) George Matthew Kaiser (DOB 1926), Joe’s father

In 1953, George took partnership of the Rocking R Ranch.

In 1955, George married Madge Kidowaski (DOB 1931).

Children: a.) Joseph (Joe) Robert Kaiser (DOB 1959)

In 1989, Joe married Trina Cummins (DOB 1966)

In 1996, Joe took over the Rocking R Ranch.

Children: a.) Ryan Kaiser (DOB July 8, 1990)

b.) Caroline Kaiser (DOB April 25, 1992)

c.) Trisha Kaiser (DOB March 30, 1995)

d.) Charlotte Kaiser (DOB December 29, 1996)

e.) Melissa Kaiser (DOB 1964), Joe’s sister

In 1991, Melissa Married Ron Schnaidar.

Thanks to the late Dennis Hulsing, my former employer at Hulsing and Associates Architects. He inspired me beyond my normal range of perception.

Thank you to my wife, Kathy, for her continuous inspiration, putting up with long, late hours, cheering me on to keep going, and helping with the proofreading.

Thanks to our five children: Dean, Lisa, Sara, Scott, and Sheri, and grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Thanks to my siblings and my parents, August and Doris Welk.

This book is also dedicated to the outdoors; nature is my solace, serenity, and source of peace.

Chapter 1

An Important Decision

May 1989

Joe, in his casual way, was trying to say goodbye to Trina, a girl he knew from Dickinson State University (DSU). He had met her last year at Dickinson’s rodeo over the Fourth of July. Now, almost a year later, on a cool evening in early May, he was headed out on the rodeo circuit for the summer. He thought that he had finally met someone he could spend the rest of his life with. He just didn’t know how to tell Trina he loved her. He knew he would miss her but didn’t think it was very macho to admit that sort of stuff.

Trina had driven out to the Rocking R Ranch, north of Medora, North Dakota, to make sure she got a chance to say goodbye to Joe before he left for the summer. She had fallen in love with him months ago but was not sure how he felt. She didn’t want to stop him from his bronc riding, so she said nothing. She felt it would be embarrassing if she told Joe how she felt and he had no special feeling for her. At times, it seemed he did—including a day earlier this spring, when they were out horseback riding on a hot afternoon. Later that day, as the sun was setting, they swam in the Little Missouri River; he had just his briefs on, and she wore only her panties. That evening, they had made love for the first and only time.

Yet today, she felt uneasy about having given herself to someone who couldn’t express his feelings. She had never done anything like that before or since, but at the time, it seemed so right. She knew she loved him dearly and wanted him to stay but thought maybe the five months he was going to be gone would be good for them. Maybe by then, she would get the answer about her future with Joe.

Joe had everything ready: his horse was loaded in the trailer, saddles were packed, and the trailer was hooked to his pickup. Joe, looking as clumsy as a newborn calf, wanted to hold and kiss Trina. Being the more aggressive one, Trina stepped forward, hugged Joe, and kissed him. Joe, now red-faced, stumbled over to his beat-up ’77 pickup. He crawled in and waved at Trina, turned and waved at his parents, and drove off. Wiping tears from her eyes, Trina waved and watched the road dust circle around the tail lights until the horse trailer disappeared over the hill. She said goodbye to Joe’s parents, walked over to her car, and headed back to Dickinson to finish out her last year at DSU.

With tears in her eyes and uncertain about her future with Joe, Trina turned on her signal lights at Medora as she drove onto the entrance ramp of I-94 East. She reached over to change the radio station from classical to country western, because tonight was definitely country. The song that just started was Dolly Parton singing her version of I Will Always Love You. Trying to drive and frantically looking for a tissue, Trina thought her life was in limbo. Rodeos now seemed to be between them, and there was no place for her in Joe’s life. As she wiped her nose and dried her eyes, a semitrailer sounded his loud air horn, bringing her back to reality.

As she drove, she decided to continue pursuing her dreams of studying music, particularly the piano and violin. Trina was taking art and music classes at DSU and was going to graduate with a degree in music in less than a month. She had plans to continue studying music at the Academy of Music at the University of Northwestern in St Paul, Minnesota.

Joe had turned right at Medora and headed west for Glendive, Montana, for his first rodeo at noon the following day. It was about an hour drive, and he was having the same problem as Trina: every song the DJ played on the radio reminded him of her.

A little while later, he reached the rodeo grounds. After unloading his truck, he exercised his horse and then gave him some grain, hay, and water. Then he got a beer for himself and bullshitted with some of the other cowboys, laughing at their tales about women and past rodeos. All the while, he felt an ache deep in his heart about the lady he left behind. He knew he would be spending a lonely night in his pickup, trying to get some sleep.

After the rodeo, he was packing up for Baker, Montana, hoping he would do better than he did in Glendive. He was tired and sore and knew he had to drive to Sundance, Wyoming, and on to Belle Fourche, South Dakota, in the next couple days. Then he would go on to Spearfish and finish the week out in Rapid City. He was sore and felt beat up. He thought, Damn, I am much too young to feel this damned old. Then he thought, Gee, that reminds me of some song on the radio.

He was not in the big rodeo money yet, and things didn’t look good. The horses he drew so far in the first week were lean and mean. Now he was having a hard time justifying his mounting expenses. Finishing below the top three meant he didn’t earn very much, and it only made the bumps hurt more. He was doing a little better in calf roping, but he barely made enough to pay his entry fees.

The following week was no better. He rodeoed in Newcastle and Cheyenne, Wyoming. One night when he found a pay phone, he tried calling Trina but couldn’t reach her. A recording said the line was no longer in service. He wondered what happened, but then he remembered that college was over for the year. He finally got ahold of her parents in Lemmon, South Dakota, and they said she had a job in Dickinson and a new apartment. They gave him Trina’s new number and wished him luck with his rodeos. Joe tried the new number, but there was no answer. He came out of the phone booth, got into his pickup, and sat there for a while, reflecting on where he was in life. He thought about the old fellow he saw last night watering the rodeo stock.

That night, when Joe was loading his horse and giving him fresh hay, an old man wearing a sombrero came over to him and said, Joe, ya drew Old Frustrate, the meanest horse that stock supplier has. He’s never been ridden out.

Yeah, I know, said Joe. It’s the luck of the draw, and my luck ain’t been very good lately.

Well, you ever thought about givin’ up rodeoing? You ain’t eighteen anymore, said the old man.

Yeah, I sure have, Joe said, especially after tonight.

I just want to say that the smartest riders know when it’s time to quit.

So, did you ride in the rodeos? asked Joe.

The old-timer, staring off into space, said, Well, I did for a short time, but that was not the worst decision l made. I was in love with a woman, a beautiful woman, and somehow, I let her go, never to see her again. My next ride, I knew I was beat and should’ve let go of the rope, but I didn’t. I held onto it. Joe, too many times we seem to let go of the good things and hold on too long to the wrong things.

Was that back in your rodeo days? asked Joe.

Yep. I met her at a restaurant, and it was love at first sight. I went back the next day to ask her to marry me, but that chance never came. Later, I made the mistake of telling the truth in court. Looking back now, it would be good advice for anyone’s life. The decisions you make now and in your future will determine your life. Good or bad, we have to live or die by them, said the old man.

Joe walked around the trailer, checking the tires; he turned back and said, You know, I’m about in the same situation. Hey, where’d you go?

Joe looked for the old man, but he seemed to have just vanished.

Joe thought, Hmm, that’s weird. The man looked like the third pick-up rider I saw in the arena tonight when my boot got caught on my stirrup. He undone it like magic and then disappeared, so I wasn’t able to thank him. I wonder what the hell he meant about the court trial. Guess I’ll never know; he just vanished like a ghost. Hmm that sounds scary. I’ll just call him the Phantom.

Joe thought about continuing on to Denver but decided to turn his Ford around and head north, back to North Dakota and, hopefully, to Trina. He wanted to stop at home, clean up, and see his mom and dad. He hoped it wasn’t too late to see Trina. He wanted to finally tell her how he felt.

He was now thirty years old and felt the effects of every bucking horse he ever rode. He stuck an old tape in his cassette player. It was Garth Brooks singing Much Too Young to Feel this Damn Old. He laughed and thought, No shit. This song is about me, although he stopped laughing when the part of the song got to lonely women, bad booze. He thought, This is all I have left now. Well, right or wrong, I’m on my way back home.

He thought about that old guy, thinking he’d seen him before, not just last night but some other time. Joe seemed to remember the man’s face, the curly hair, the smile; he kind of looked like that pencil drawing of Riccardo in his mom’s hallway. Riccardo was an old friend of his great-grandfather Matthew, except that was a hundred years ago.

Oh well, Joe thought, I could make the ranch by sunrise. I should really stop somewhere and get some rest, but the hell with it; I’m rolling now.

Joe had been on the rodeo circuit about four weeks, but it seemed like much longer. He was headed home from Cheyenne, WY to the Rocking R Ranch north of Medora, ND which was about a 7-hr. drive. As the sun came up over the horizon, he was glad to be home again. His parents, George and Madge, were pouring their first cup of coffee. After the hugs, handshakes and how are you, how’d ya do riding, was all over, Joe asked if Trina had called while he was gone.

Yes, she called about a week ago and left her new number. It’s over there on the pad by the phone, his mom said.

Okay, thanks, Mom, Joe said as he ripped the page off the pad and headed down the hallway.

Do you want breakfast? his mother asked. I’m ready to start cooking.

I need to clean up first, but yes, thanks. I’ll be out in about half an hour.

Joe’s room was at the end of the hallway. As he passed the pencil drawing of Riccardo, he stopped for a moment and thought, Gee, if that ain’t the spittin’ image: the curly hair, the sombrero, the eyes, the smile. It sure looks like that old man in Cheyenne. It’s almost spooky; that drawing is a hundred years old.

About thirty minutes later, Joe came walking out, ready for breakfast. George had set the table was now pouring the coffee into three cups. Madge was busy bringing over the food in serving bowls.

Joe said with excitement, Wow, what are we having, Mom? Sure smells delicious.

I made scrambled eggs with green onions, peppers, and cheese, she replied. Meanwhile, your dad made fried potatoes and onions. I boiled some homemade country style sausage and made pancakes. That’s about it, so sit down and eat now before it gets cold.

Joe laughed and said, "That sounded like Grandpa Jones on Hee Haw."

They all laughed, and then his father said grace. George ended with, Good to have you home for a while, Joe. How long you going to be here? You going back on the circuit?

Yeah, I’m glad to be home too, Joe said as he started to eat, and no, I’m done with the rodeos. Yum, this sure beats the hell out of fast food places.

You going to be able to give me a hand moving some of the heifers up to the northwest pasture? asked George.

Yeah, I sure can, but not today. I’m going to crash for about eight hours, and then later, I’m driving into Dickinson to talk to Trina, said Joe.

Well, I think they have some kind of a banquet and dance tonight, Mom said, "because Marianne’s boy graduated this year. She said they’re having