Gentry

By Ted Stetson

The Civil War scattered many families this is the story of Will Gentry's search for his wife and son.
It begins with an attack by three bushwhackers In Dry Gulch.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ted Stetson
• Release date: Jun 3, 2022
• ISBN: 9781005106645

Ted Stetson

Ted Stetson is a member of SFWA. He was born in Brooklyn and raised on Long Island and went to Seton Hall and Hofstra. He graduated from the University of St. Thomas, Houston, Texas. He was awarded First Place by the Florida Literary Arts Council and First Place in the Lucy B. McIntire contest of the Poetry Society of Georgia. His short fiction has appeared in Twisted Tongue, MysteryAuthors.com, Future Orbits, State Street Review, and the anthologies; One Evening a Year, Mota: Truth, Ruins Extraterrestrial Terra, Ruins Terra and Barren Worlds. His books include: Night Beasts, The Computer Song Book.

Book preview

Chapter 1 – Moss

After pa run off, my ma said, ‘Moss, get a job or I gonna kick you out.’ So I got as many jobs as I could so I wouldn’t have to go home. It seemed better that way. One of my jobs was night clerk at the Altamont Hotel. The Altamont ain’t like a big city accommodation, but for Hope, it was okay. That’s how I met Will Gentry.

Everybody hereabouts heard of him. After the war, he headed west searching for his wife and was captured by Indians. They say no one gets away from the Indians alive or with everything intact. But he did. He became a scout for the Army, one of the best scouts, I hear tell; and then, he left. Some Army people were angry about it, but I could see where he come from.

He left being a scout and went back to hunting for his wife and the man she run off with. He didn’t seem real worried about it, just upset that he could not find her. I told him, heck there’s a heap of land west of the Mississippi and he just gave me a look.

Back then he wasn’t known as a gunfighter with Wanted Posters and rewards up everywhere. He was just another man the war displaced, alone and like a snake shedding his skin, you didn’t want to cross him. Back then, he wasn’t mean, but he sure was quiet.

The night it all started was in the fall and I was night clerking at the hotel. It was almost dark and I was standing behind the front desk checking the guest register. Many guests couldn’t write and I had to print their name next to a ‘X’. Across the lobby was the hotel bar. It was closed, but three four-flushers were sitting at a table drinking, acting drunker than they were. Rumor had it that Captain Wallace wanted Gentry to scout for him so he could chase a passel of Indians off land just north of his ranch. Wallace had a reputation for sending patrols after unarmed Indians. Before he retired, he bought the old Abraham Greene homestead, a small outfit that didn’t have enough of the right kind of land to make it work. However, on the outskirts of the ranch was an Indian settlement with some mighty fine grazing. I guess he figured he’d get rid of the Indians and double his spread. That’s what he wanted Gentry for, but Gentry said ‘no’ and the Indians found out about Wallace’s plans and were prepared. Wallace was angry as a rattler for paying too much for a ranch that wouldn’t make him a rich cattleman.

I was watching the three buzzards sipping liquid courage, getting in a fighting mood, pushing each other and telling tales only a fool would believe, when Gentry walked in and they got real quiet. He held out four fingers, meaning he wanted the key to room four. I took the key off the peg on the wall and handed it to him.

Back then you could see that there was something special about Gentry. A man who survived the war, prison camps, being wounded and being captured by Indians. A man with a rough history. It made him stronger. You could see it in his face, how he walked; he was different in a rugged way. The three bushwhackers walked around with puffed up chests, Gentry didn’t have to act tough, he was.

Well, golly, what’s come in out of the night, Bert, the biggest of the group, said.

The great Indian fighter, said Jacob, the middle one at the table with long black hair. Thought himself a ladies’ man.

Mister too good for us, Davis, the smallest of the group, said. Long ago Davis had tried to take an Indian girl and she cut him from below his right eye to his lip. Didn’t kill him. An army doc stitched him up, but the scar did not help his scrawny looks. Bert and Jacob caught her and beat her senseless. That was years ago.

They might have been Confederates back then. Heard that at one time or another they were Confederates then Yanks. A rumor was floating around that they were in their own private army with Captain Wallace in charge. After the war there were a number of them private militia about, causing trouble, grabbing land.

Gentry turned to them and in an even voice said, You want something?

Yeah, they did. I guess Gentry hadn’t heard. Captain Wallace wanted them to beat him up for refusing to go out on his made-up patrol. If Gentry got away with refusing his dumb orders, what might the rest of them do?

Damn coward, Burt grumbled. The others laughed.

Gentry took a step toward them, all the friendliness gone from his face. You want to start something? he said, more than willing to oblige.

The three fools laughed, but they weren’t reaching for their guns, not here where he could see them. And none of them lunkheads got to their feet.

Gentry said, One at a time or all at once.

Now the three got to thinking. Did they really want to do it in here, in the light where he had a good chance of shooting them? They weren’t too sure about that.

Gentry walked to the stairs to go to the second floor.

Indian lover, Davis quipped.

Gentry was on the first step when his cold eyes gave them the once over. I was about to duck behind the counter. Lord knows my legs were shaking and I wasn’t even involved.

He slowly turned and stared at each of them. In here or outside. One at a time or all at once. With guns or without. The hotel, the world, got real quiet. The three ex-corporals were no longer smiling. They were staring at Gentry’s gun hand. They must have seen him shoot and were thinking about how fast he was. Could he outdraw all three of them? If he couldn’t outdraw all three of them, who would he shoot first? Second? It was scary. I guess they realized this was no fun assignment. They weren’t just gonna rile him or beat him; they might get hurt. They must a thought three ganging up on one, what could go wrong? Like all of Captain Wallace’s orders, this one lacked good sense. They sat like three toads on a log.

Davis tried to speak, but his mouth trembled.

Shut the hell up, Gentry said. That shook them even more. Even officers didn’t speak to these bushwhackers like that. Fools don’t throw scraps to mad dogs. I expected lead to fly any second.

Just then Miss Murphy walked in. She was one of the girls from the Hope Dance Hall. Rumor was she owned part of it and a few other establishments. She strolled inside like she was something special. Two men in the street called to her, but she slammed the door on them. She didn’t like no one to call to her, not anymore. She saw what was going on and sashayed to the counter and asked for the key to her room. Room number 7. Lucky Seven, she called it.

She had big brown eyes, long brown hair, and a dark green silk top to her green dress. She gazed at Gentry then the ex-soldiers and made a face, tired of all this fighting.

Boys, boys, don’t fight over me ‘fore I even get here. She chuckled and things lightened up a bit.

She walked up to Gentry and put her arm in his. Come on, honey, she said. My room is at the top of the stairs.

She went up the stairs just about pulling him with her.

When they were upstairs, out of sight, the three ex-soldiers got up quickly. None of them seemed affected by the booze they’d been drinking. They were talking low how Gentry let a girl rescue him and save his life, but I could see they were relieved. Reckon they were just mouthing off. Making their way out, big Bert turned to me with contempt.

You didn’t see nuthin’, Jacob, the nasty one, said.

See what? I said.

They smiled like they buffaloed me, but it was them who was lucky to be alive. I seen the wounds on Gentry from the war. The only wounds these fools had was blisters from hightailing it away from the action. Then they were out the door and gone into the night.

*****

Chapter 2 – Altamont Hotel

Miss Sherry Murphy stopped in front of Gentry’s room. Want to spend some time?

He smiled, but she could see the answer in his blue eyes.

Is she that important to you?

The war separated us.

And you’re going to find her?

She was my wife and . . . .

She put her hand up. No. I know. I know.

She moved her hips like women do.

But the night is long and cold and lonely, she softly said.

He sighed and she smiled sadly at him.

Why don’t I ever learn?

Thank you, he said. For asking.

That’s the nicest thing anyone’s said to me in some time. A tear welled up in her eye.

Miss Murphy was about to lean forward and plant one on him when a commotion rose up across the hall. The Hill brothers were sharing a small room and had brought up two girls from the saloon for some fun, but there was barely space for two people in Room Number 9.

What’s the problem? Miss Murphy asked. When the girls saw who it was, they quieted the brothers down.

There’s no room, George said.

How much room do you need? Albert quipped.

I can’t move without bumping into you.

Well, move your lard ass over.

Boys! Miss Murphy said and they stopped. This is a hotel, not out back of the saloon.

We can switch, Gentry said. My room’s bigger.

Miss Murphy turned to him. She was the one who had him put in room 4, so she could keep an eye on him across the hall.

Why am I not surprised at your generosity?

It’s just for the night, he said and she feared he was leaving.

You done searching hereabouts?

No. I need to visit a few nearby towns.

She turned to the Hill brothers. Hurry up. Put your stuff in the gentleman’s room and put his stuff in yours.

I can move my own gear, Gentry said.

She turned to him and you could see in her brown eyes she wanted him so bad it was only through her strong will she didn’t throw herself at him like the other girls did.

The brothers helped Gentry move his saddle bags and gear into their room and thanked him for letting them switch.

As Gentry was walking to room 9, Miss Murphy said, Now that we’re neighbors, I might drop over for a drink.

Don’t have a bottle, he said.

She gently touched the side of his cheek. Don’t need one.

The two girls watched them with eyes wide open like they never seen anything like that before. The Hill brothers were nodding their heads wanting Gentry to accept her offer.

He walked to his room and glanced back at her standing there in her pretty green dress. I think he wanted to tell her green was not his lucky color, but there was no reason to hurt her.

Gentry walked into the room and closed the door and put the rickety chair under the doorknob. I told him it would not stop anyone hell-bent on getting inside, but he said it would slow them down and that’s all he needed.

*****

Chapter 3 – Ambush

I finished my duties at the front desk and went upstairs to make sure the back door was locked so no one could coyote in during the night to rob the guests. I had just locked the back door when I heard the lobby door creak. To me, it sounded like someone was sneaking into the hotel. I flattened myself against the wall and peeked around the corner.

Someone had blown out the lantern behind the front desk and they were coming up the main stairs. I couldn’t see them ‘cause the light was off. I listened to the sounds and realized it was more than one person trying to be sneaky quiet. I ducked back out of sight, afraid the hall lantern would show my face. I heard them come up the stairs, coming my way, and stop. Then the hall lantern went out. With the light out, I was frightened. Whoever it was, they were up to no good.

I peeked around the corner and from the moonlight coming in the lobby windows I saw someone holding a sawed-off shotgun. A scattergun. I ducked back before they saw me. Now I was petrified. Who the hell would sneak into a hotel with a shotgun?

I pressed my back against the wall and tried to remember what I seen. The person holding the scattergun weren’t real big. Davis come to mind, but I wasn’t sure. I peeked again and could see they went into room 4 and there were at least three of them.

I didn’t know what to do. For a moment I was too scared to do anything. I was so scared I was shaking. Then Gentry’s door opened a crack and he checked the hall. A moment later the door to room 9 opened and Miss Murphy sneaked a look. Gentry’s door closed. She turned to room 4, then to Gentry’s room. Now room 4 sounded like a battle was being fought. Holding a wrap around her, she hurried down the hall to room 9, knocked once and went in.

Before she went in, she glanced in my direction and I knew I had to do something or I’d lose my job. So, gathering up my courage I ran down the hall shouting, Help! Help! knocking on doors and on the wall. I no sooner got to room 4, when the door opened and someone clubbed me and I went down.

I wasn’t out but a few minutes. When I come to I find people, hotel guests in room 4. I staggered into the room. Someone had beaten up the Hill brothers. Miss Murphy sent for the doc. Albert Hill had regained consciousness, but George seemed like he got the worst of it. George was so bloody that before they wiped the blood away, I almost thought it was Gentry. They were near bouts the same size, both had on blue shirts, Gentry was a little taller and better looking, but in the dark, in the middle of a melee, I could see someone getting them mixed up.

Old Doc Vaughn rushed up the stairs, out of breath and smelling like a barroom. He patched Albert up real fast, and had some people carry George down the stairs