Branch’s Destiny

By Richard M Beloin MD

This is the 9th book in this series depicting life on the western front, after railroads and inside plumbing but before the automobile and the industrial revolution.

The first half of this book, like his others, depicts the hard and dangerous life of a bounty hunter turned US Marshal. The second half covers his newfound romantic life and an early retirement from ‘living by the gun.’ The new Duo delves into raising horses for riding, working, racing, and raising crops to feed these 300 horses.

There is plenty of action, intrigue, romance, historical facts for the gun and horse lovers and anyone who enjoys a darn good story.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Oct 23, 2020
• ISBN: 9781664138001

Richard M Beloin MD

The author is a retired physician who now spends his winters in South Texas with his wife of 50 years. After fifteen years as an accomplished Cowboy Action Shooter and a lifelong enthusiast of American Western History, he has returned to writing in 2016. He has been writing western fiction circa 1880’s since 2018 and has now accumulated four books in this series. They are: Wayne’s Calling, Cal’s Mission, Sylvia’s Dream, and this latest production called Paladin Duos.

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Copyright © 2020 by Richard M Beloin MD.

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: 10/23/2020

Xlibris

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Contents

Dedication

Book 1: Branch and Gail

Chapter 1—Branch’s Beginning

Chapter 2—Experience the Hard Way

Chapter 3—The Early Capers

Chapter 4—The Later Capers

Chapter 5—Denver Days

Chapter 6—Cleaning up Waco

Chapter 7—Human Trafficking

Book 2: The Circle W Ranch

Chapter 8—Learning the Ropes

Chapter 9—Tale of two Lives

Chapter 10—The Wedding and Settling Down

Chapter 11—Ranching, Racing & Harvesting

Chapter 12—Commercialization

Chapter 13—The Auction Festivities

DEDICATION

I dedicate this book to two long standing horse loving friends

Jerry and Lynn

BOOK ONE

Branch and Gail

CHAPTER 1

Branch’s Beginning

Branch, son of Alden and Flora West, was born in 1871 in Durango, Colorado. His father was one of two foremen in the Durango Hammer Mill and Smelter, while his mom worked at the Wallace Mercantile—owned by Efrain and Agatha Wallace. Branch had two older brothers, Lou who was four years older and Kip being six years ahead of Branch.

Family life was a stable affair with both parents working and the three boys having access to the town’s friends, it’s many fishing locations, and access to a 22 rifle for plinking or squirrel/rabbit hunting. Suddenly, when Branch hit age 12, the family experienced its first disruption—an event that Branch never saw coming.

The senior West with his connection at the smelter, and a mine that the smelter owned, arranged for his two oldest sons to go to work in the mine. Lou and Kip were happy with the chance to make some money. After working all day in the mine, neither boys wanted to do anything with Branch after their late supper.

Branch tried to make new routines with the local kids, but Branch was not enthused with the results. Fortunately, for his 13th birthday, Branch got a real cowboy gun in 22 caliber. To pay for his ammunition which cost two bits for a box of 50 rounds, he went to work for Sam Monroe at his gun shop. Every day after school and all of Saturday, Branch would run errands, clean guns, help buffing gun parts to perform action jobs. In return, he got all the ammo he needed. For weeks he practiced shooting his pistol and finally realized two important facts. First, he had the natural ability of pointing his pistol at the target and hitting it without aiming. Secondly, he would never be a fast draw gunfighter. Because of an old sports injury, he could not grip the gun handle and snatch it out of the holster with any significant speed, as well as not having enough strength to cock the hammer with his deformed thumb.

One Saturday, Branch came to work early. Stepping in the shop, Branch took the opportunity to speak with Sam before the shop opened. My Pa wants me to try working in the mine. Lou is making 50 cents a day and Kip makes more at 75 cents. Sam knew this day would come and quickly added, it’s time for me to pay you and I would gladly pay you 50 cents a day on Saturday and another 50 cents for after schoolwork hours.

Well, the reality is that I’m graduating from high school in a month since I started school early. At age 15, I can now be hired as an apprentice in the mine, and that is what my Pa wants me to do. Well, since you know the gun trade, if it don’t work out in the mine, come and see me. I’ll hire you full time and match or better the mine’s wages.

*

The first day in the mine was a revelation. As they were walking in the entrance, Branch felt the tunnel walls and ceiling close in on him. The deeper he went in, the faster his heart would race, the more he was sweating and finally kept saying he couldn’t breathe. The job foreman recognized the problem and sent his men ahead so he could talk to Branch.

What you’re experiencing son is the fear these walls and ceilings will close in and crush you. Well, that’s not going to happen. The walls and ceilings are shored up with 6X6 inch timber. It would take an earthquake to cause a collapse. So, sit here, look around, talk to yourself, keep saying that you can always run out of the adit tunnel, convince yourself that there is plenty of room and air to breathe. When you’re settled down, come and join us. You’ll take over control, like all the men have done when first in the mine.

The foreman assigned Branch to pick up the loose fallen rock tailings that interfered with the minecart steel wheels. He had several wheelbarrows to fill during the 500-foot trek to the outside, but at least he was able to catch a full breath every time he reached the open air. After dumping the useless tailings, he reentered the dreaded adit to repeat his clean up job. Several weeks passed as a new young man took over his job and Branch took a job cleaning up after the dynamite blasts. The mine was not modernized with a compressed air mucker, so the blasting debris had to be picked up manually or by shovel, and loaded in the railed minecarts.

One day, the earth shook, and it wasn’t caused by dynamite. Everyone went quiet as they heard a massive cave-in. Everyone ran down the adit to find it completely plugged. The cave-in was massive and the only miner absent was the new boy who had replaced Branch. The question was whether he was ahead or under the fallen dirt and rocks.

Realizing the miners were trapped, Branch said, we’re all going to run out of air and die! Kip responded, not likely little brother. We have a 3X3 foot air shaft with a cage hoisted up by a windlass. Since, you’re the youngest man here, you get to go first.

Branch was helped into the cage and when the door was closed and secured, his heart started racing and true panic followed. When Kip pulled the up-rope, Branch was lifted up the 150 feet to the outside world. Every upwards foot was complicated by falling dirt from the loosened 4X4 timbers used to build the shaft. In total darkness and totally helpless, Branch then made a promise to God. If you get me out of this hell hole, I will dedicate years of my life to do your good will! Suddenly, darkness started to dissipate and in seconds, the cage erupted in the high noon sun.

Branch jumped out of the cage, jumped face down on the ground and only said for no one to hear, Lord, my promise is my word, once I figure how to achieve this goal. For the remainder of the day, everyman was pulled out of the mine thru the cage in the air shaft. The boy working the adit tunnel was not found and presumed under the rubble. Before walking home, Branch went to the office, quit his job, drew his pay and never looked back.

*

It took two days for Branch to settle his nerves. Meeting up with Sam Monroe, he gladly took the job as Sam’s assistant at $5 a week. After explaining his dilemma of not ever being a fast draw, he asked Sam how he could use a firearm to defend himself if he ever became a lawman. Sam understood the situation and agreed to start working on the solution.

Weeks went by, and Branch learned the trade. He started breaking down pistols and rifles and rebuilding them. He could see in some strange dimensions how one tiny part would activate the next part and so, on and on, and on, till the last part, the firing pin, made the gun go bang. Two months later, unknown to him, Sam was finishing the modifications to two firearms specifically altered for Branch.

One Sunday afternoon, Branch was invited to Sam’s private range behind the gun shop. As you know, I’ve been working on a solution for your right hand and right arm weakness. You need a primary firearm and a backup firearm whose end result is based on your innate ability to point and shoot. The primary weapon is a lever action 12-gauge shotgun just produced by Winchester and it’s the model 1887.

I took a production weapon and modified it to make it a gunfighting firearm. Here are the external changes. The barrel is only 14 inches and the forearm was cut to be one inch shorter than the barrel. The end of the forearm has been rounded for smoothness and the magazine tube under the barrel holds three shells. The shoulder stock has been partially cut off. What remains is the pistol grip bootleg and about 1.5 inches of the cheek rest—now this is called a ‘mare’s leg.’ The cut off end has been sealed with a curved smooth steel plate. The last change was adding an extension spur on the lever’s trigger guard—more on this adaptation in a minute.

Branch was amazed at what he saw. Now for the internal changes. The original lever traveled over a long throw of about 8 inches, making speed shooting impossible. I shortened this swing to 3 inches. Now when you close the lever, this spur in the trigger guard automatically engages the trigger and fires the weapon—and every time you cycle the action, as soon as you close the lever, it fires without you pulling the trigger. Also the hammer has a reduced spring which you can pull with your bad thumb. Let me demonstrate!

Sam adds three shells in the lower magazine tube, a shell in the chamber, closes the lever, and then engages the automatic spur in the trigger guard. Then before placing the loaded firearm in its special holster, you carefully de-cock the hammer just like you do with any single action pistol. Then hook the mare’s leg in its special holster which I’ll explain after the demo."

Without any warning, Sam detaches the mare’s leg from its holster, anchors the butt plate on his holster belt in front of the holster, pulls the hammer back, pulls the trigger, and quickly cycles the lever three times. The result was BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG. Branch was hopping around on one leg, the smoke was so thick you could barely see your hand, his eyes were as big as tin cups, and his ears started buzzing from the muzzle blast. Sam had a grin from ear to ear and said, gosh, I love this baby, it really is a gatling gun in your hands, and can you imagine what four loads of OO Buckshot will cause in human devastation?

Unbelievable, I want it, no I need it. Now please explain how this holster works? This is a hip strap that is the integral part of the three- inch belt. The back-belt loops hold 45 caliber and 12-gauge shells. Instead of a cup type standard holster, this hip strap has a C shaped clamp that attaches to the receiver just above the wood forearm. The tip of the hip strap has a cup with a center pin that holds the barrel tip from falling out. You extract the shotgun by grabbing the pistol bootleg and pushing it forward to release its hold on the receiver. In one full motion you swing the mare’s leg forward, cock it, anchor the butt plate on your 3-inch belt, pull the trigger, and work the lever as fast as you can. Just remember, once a loaded gun goes on your clip-on holster, the hammer should be down on the half-cock position and the automatic spur set. Now try it.

Branch loaded up, did everything Sam had done and started. He first fired by pulling the trigger and then started working the lever with all his might. As fast as he worked the action front to back, the shotgun fired. He repeated the process and with four tin cans at 12 yards he pulverized all four with his natural ability to point and shoot. The only requirement to handle recoil was the need for the steel butt plate to be anchored on his 3-inch belt, and his left hand secured on the forearm.

Thank you, Sam Monroe, I’ll take it. How much?

Hey, we ain’t done yet. You need a backup gun since you only have four shots out of your mare’s leg. What do you do if you are attacked by six outlaws?

Yes, I see your point, but knowing you, I’m sure you have an answer, heh?

Well of course. Slip this holster to the left of your rig’s belt buckle and slip this pistol in the holster. Notice how the pistol lays almost 45 degrees, side to side, in the cross-draw holster instead of the standard up and down position. This 45o side to side pistol lay allows you to pull it out without lifting it up.

That’s a great help but it doesn’t resolve the issue of cocking the pistol’s hammer with my bad thumb.

Let me show you something new. He takes the pistol, loads it, then puts his left hand in his pocket, and proceeds, with his right hand, to fire six rounds out of the pistol. What the heck, what is that thing?"

This is a new Colt Model 1878 in 44-40 caliber. It is a double action pistol, not a single action like the Colt Peacemaker. You don’t have to pull the hammer back, just pull the trigger. Now I performed an action job on the internal parts and made some changes to make it more durable. This will be your back up gun. Once your mare’s leg is out of ammo, hold it by the forearm with your left hand and pull your backup gun out with your right hand. Now you’ll need plenty of practice before you’re ready to go against outlaw gunfighters.

Sam, I’m overwhelmed, I want these guns and before I get a loan, I need to have a price. How much?

The price is a commitment; I want you to stay and work in my shop till your 18th birthday. I will increase your wages to $1.50 a day and charge you ammo at my cost. If you reload ammo, I will supply the components and the reloading tools, you supply the labor, and we share 50/50 the loaded rounds. Six months before your 18th birthday I will hire your replacement so you can train him. On your birthday, those guns are yours and I know you will leave to become a lawman or a bounty hunter.

"Sam, that is a deal and I promise to stay till I’m 18. I also accept the challenge to reload our ammo, both pistol and shotgun.

*

For the next two and a half years, Branch applied himself to working productively at the gun shop, the shooting range, and the reloading bench. He had few social interactions with the fairer sex and his perpetual pastime was to practice the draw and shooting of both his firearms. Most of the time, his emphasis was on the lever action shotgun.

Over time, he documented his reaction time. In the first days, he could draw his mare’s leg, shoot four tin cans at 25 feet, and hold his mare’s leg with the left hand as he pulled out his DA(double action) pistol, and fired one round at the fifth tin can and hit it. This was all done with the point and shoot method without aiming and in 19 seconds. After a year and a half of daily practice, the same feat was now accomplished in 5 seconds.

Branch worked 8 hours a day in the gun shop. In no time, there wasn’t a job he could not do. Selling firearms required a free-flowing knowledge of the different models on display from pistols to rifles to shotguns. Any negotiation of prices other than the tagged price was done by Sam. Ninety percent of sold firearms were sold as tagged and Branch took care of the sale himself. Branch became familiar with the dismantling of any firearm in general use. Repairing them was a simple task and Sam gladly let him at the repairs. When business was slow, Branch would sit at the reloading bench and pump out loaded rounds for sale in the shop—he didn’t share in the reloads done during work hours.

Reloading at home was a 50/50 proposition—half reloads to Sam and half to Branch Sam had purchased two reloading presses—one for the shop and one for Branch’s home. These universal presses converted from paper shotgun shells to brass pistol/rifle cartridges. The press was a single stage and Branch would prepare 100 casings, and add 100 new primers. The next step was to add FFF Black powder while using a brass scoop to prevent a sparking explosion. The 45 and 44-40 brass pistol/rifle cartridges would be charged with 40 grains of FFF powder as the shotgun shells were charged with 65 grains of FFF powder. Then the brass cartridges would have a bullet added while the shotgun casings would have a lubricated paperboard wad over the powder and nine 0.33-inch pellets added over the wad. The final step was crimping the cartridge onto the lead bullet, or crimping the paper cartridge over the lead pellets.

Time moved on and Sam found a suitable worker. Branch took months to train him and being quite astute, he quickly learned the trade. As his 18th birthday was a week away, the town sheriff had an accident and broke his leg. Branch’s dad saw an opportunity to push his son into lawman work which was certainly safer than bounty hunting. Branch agreed to an interview with Sheriff Watson.

That infamous morning, while driving the home buggy, he dropped his mom off to work at the Wallace Mercantile. As she was stepping down, Efrain Wallace came running out and said, Branch, please get Doc Wilson and Sheriff Watson, we’ve been robbed, and Agatha was pistol whipped. I’ll get the doc, but the sheriff is useless in bed with his full-length leg cast.

Arriving with the doc, Branch asked Efrain what happened. Three scruffy miscreants jumped us and demanded I open the safe. I refused since it contained a week’s income. They reacted by pistol whipping poor Agatha. I nearly died to see her in so much pain, so I opened the safe and they robbed us of almost $600. Did you see which direction they took? Yes, they went east in the mountains. Could you identify them if you saw a wanted poster on them? Yes, I know I could. Then let’s go to the sheriff’s office and go thru the wanted posters.

While Efrain was checking out the posters, Branch explained what had just happened to the sheriff. Sheriff Watson was disgusted at not being able to go after the thieves. Branch finally said, I’ll go after them and bring them back with Efrain’s money. Efrain stepped up and handed Branch three wanted posters. The three were wanted dead or alive for several murders during bank robberies in New Mexico. Sheriff Watson said, All three have $1,000 rewards which means they are violent and dangerous killers. Are you sure you want to tackle them; it sounds like they are cases for US Marshals? By the time they get here the trail will be cold, if they ever come. No, I’m gearing up with supplies and going after them.

*

The tracks were hard to follow since the outlaws were not pushing their horses and making deeper tracks. They must have known that