Four Cowboys

By Joseph Mullen

What is it about the town of Elbow? Strange things happen there. The past seems to come alive but only for brief periods. Four cowboys come across town at different times, and each has an encounter with the supernatural. The past and present come together.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jan 6, 2022
• ISBN: 9781662463693

Book preview

Jeremiah Duncan

Elbow, Nebraska, is a small, western community that was founded in 1722, more than fifty years before the Revolutionary War, by a small group of colonists who wished to escape British rule and start a new life of their own. Its population never exceeded 450. It never appeared on any maps. No one famous ever came from there. Not many people have heard of the town. It became a layover place for a small handful of people heading west to strike it rich. The only thing Elbow, Nebraska, is famous for are the four cowboys that happened onto this small town starting in the fall of 1750, who were also on their way west to strike it rich in the vast expanse of the west.

Elbow had been settled by Wilber Holmes and a few of his friends who soon faded into history. A loner who only wanted to be left alone to enjoy himself in this country, Wilbur never married, never had anything to do with children, had nothing bad to say about anyone, made friends wherever he went. While traveling through this land, he made friends with the local Native Americans who let him and his small group farm the land and hunt the wildlife. Their only request was that they did not disturb their burial grounds that lay to the north, a request they honored, but others, who followed, refused to do so.

Jeremiah Duncan had just turned nineteen when he left Georgia to head west and explore this new land. He stumbled onto Elbow in the spring of 1750 quite by accident. He was following a trail that the early settlers had made when a dust storm came up and he had to seek shelter in a small cave until it blew over. Afterward he was unable to find the trail again, so he just followed the sun and hoped it would lead him somewhere where he could get his bearings better and continue on his way.

He led his horse through the wilderness, taking in the magnificent sights, when the tops of a few homes came into view. He patted his horse on the nose and kissed him on the side of the face. His face broke into a smile and mounted his horse for the final few hundred yards into town. There weren’t many buildings; six or seven was all he could see. In the surrounding area, he could make out a few farms. The men were out in the fields, and he assumed the women were inside preparing the next meal or doing womanly chores. He guided his horse past a fallen-down shack that looked as if it had been there for over fifty years and had been neglected for the same amount of time. He reined his horse in and looked the place over. The shack wasn’t much to look at, the small fields were overgrown, but he figured with time he might be able to get the place up and running. Perhaps within a year.

I know, Homer. The place looks really run-down. Maybe more than I can handle, but I think it could be worth a try. You know I’ve always wanted a farm of my own ever since dad lost his back home. This could be it, he said, patting the horse on the side of the head. Maybe when we get into the town, we’ll find out about the place and see what can be done for us to own it.

He spurred Homer forward and kept his eyes on the old place as the Homer made his way toward main street.

As he rode down main street, he took note of the few buildings there. A few homes, a general store, a small church was all that made up Elbow. A couple of people were walking around the dusty street, and none of them paid him any mind. He stopped outside the general store and tied Homer to the rail and entered the small store. The inside resembled the outside in the fact that there wasn’t much to see. Walking toward the counter, he met the owner.

New in town, the older man said. He had grey hair and was bent at the waist slightly. His glasses made a habit of falling off his face every so often. I’m Otis Welsh. I own this fine establishment you’re standing in. This here is Cassidy. She’s also new in town but has decided to stay and teach the children. She also helps me out. Getting a little too old to run this place by myself, he said, waving to a young woman with long, reddish-blond hair. She was quiet and seemed a little lost. She took a step backward, and Otis moved to stand between the two. Welcome to Elbow. What can I help you with?

I’m Jeremiah Duncan. Yeah, I’m new in town. Wondering about that run-down place on the edge of town. Who owns it?

You don’t want that place. Nothing but trouble. There are others that are in better shape, Otis said, starting to walk away.

No. I really would like to look at that one. I was raised on a farm back in Georgia and know what it takes to get a farm into shape. I’d like a crack at that one, Jeremiah said, following the elderly man through the store. Who do I see?

If you’re sure I can’t guide you someplace else, make life easier on you, keep you safe, then you’re in the right place. I handle things like that. I can fix you up, Otis said, shaking his head. Just remember, that place is nothing but trouble.

I’ll keep it in mind. Who owns it, and where can I find him?

No one owns it. That place was here when I got here four years ago and has looked like that every day. It never changes. No one owns it. No one even wants it. It’s yours if you can get it up and running and hold onto it.

Just like that? asked Jeremiah in surprise.

You’re not back east. Things are done differently out here. The place has been abandoned for a number of years, and no one wants it but you. In my book that makes you the owner. If you need anything, come see me or Kassie here, and we’ll be glad to run a tab for you until your first harvest comes in.

Appreciate that, Otis. I look forward to doing business with you.

Otis stood for a second or two then looked up into Jeremiah’s eyes. He looked deep into them. He searched his own brain for the correct words. He reached up and scratched the top of his head. His tongue came out and licked his lips.

Remember what I told you, he said slowly, deliberately. No one here wants that land. There are reasons that place has stood vacant as long as it has. You’ll find them out for yourself over time. Like I said, if you need anything, come see us, Otis said and shook Jeremiah’s hand and flashed a small, unnerving smile.

Jeremiah reached out and shook his hand but felt a little nervous about what he had just been told but didn’t want to let on. He nodded to Kassie than readied himself to leave.

I’ll be sure to remember that. I’m sure I’ll need something, and at least I know where to go, Jeremiah said and turned and walked out of the store.

He took hold of Homer’s reigns and proceeded to lead him down the street to the old farm. At the fence, he stopped and looked the place over again. He took in more this time than he did when he first looked upon it. The weeds were at least knee high and still growing. They would have to be taken out soon, or he would have no chance of planting before summer set it. There was a front porch on the old place, but from the road he could see the holes in it. The roof had settled, and he would need to replace that before winter set it.

Might be better off building a new cabin than fixing this one, he said to Homer.

Jeremiah Duncan walked through the small opening in the fence and walked up what was once a path to the front door. He stopped at the steps and looked them oven, shaking his head. They leaned a little to the left and appeared rotted. He gave a kick with his boot, and they leaned even more to the left. He carefully made his way up them and made his way to the door. Looking around at the small porch, he made a mental note that the holes he had seen earlier were bigger than he suspected. Opening the door, he cautiously made his way into the old structure.

The inside was as bad as the outside. It was an open structure, no inside walls, no second floor. Everything fit into the small space that was the inside, but he could see right through the back wall to the field behind it. There were a number of holes in the floor. The sun came through the holes in the roof that lined up with the holes in the floor.

Where to begin? he asked himself as he slowly made his way further into the old cabin. Maybe there’s a barn somewhere that I can sleep in till I can get this place patched up.

Jeremiah made his way to the back wall and peered through one of the openings. He could make out the fields that were overgrown; a small stream flowed off to the one side. Then he saw the barn. It appeared to be in better condition than the home. It would offer him protection from the weather until he could fix the roof, plus the floor and the walls of the cabin.

Things are looking up, he said as he turned and walked out the front door.

Taking hold of Homer, he led the horse around the cabin toward the old barn. The weeds were just past knee high, he discovered, and some huge rocks were scattered around the planting area. Other than that, the ground appeared to be perfect for planting. Moist still from the rain that had fallen two days ago. He could hear the small stream moving past the place. There weren’t too many trees to block the sun. He was beginning to feel better about the place, even though Otis’s words were still fresh in his mind.

Well, Homer, think I’ll be spending my nights out here with you until I can fix the cabin enough to live in. Kind of tired now, so I’ll get started first thing in the morning. Right now, time to rest and get some shut-eye, he said as he took the saddle off of Homer and then made a place to lie down in the corner. He pulled his hat down over his eyes and within minutes was sound asleep.

Jeremiah bolted upright and pulled his gun at the same time. He had heard something—something that didn’t seem ordinary. He tried to see through the darkness, but lack of a moon made it near impossible. He could make out Homer in the distance eating some grass that had grown over the years in the barn. He wasn’t sure of the cause of the sound. He opened his ears more, trying to hear it again, determine if it was from a dream or if someone was sneaking up on him. Otis’s words came back to him that no one in Elbow wanted this place. If no one wanted it, then why would someone be sneaking around in the dark? Slowly he got to his feet. His head moved left and right, trying to make out what was there. He made his way over to Homer and ran his hand down the horses back. He continued his search but found nothing. He was sure he had heard a sound that didn’t come from Homer, but he failed to find the owner of the noise.

I’m up now, old friend. Might as well get started on the repairs. Think the groundwork should come first so I can get the crops in before it gets too much into the year.

As the sun was beginning to rise over the distant mountains, Jeremiah was already hard at work in the field behind the cabin. He was working by the light of a gas lamp he had found in the barn. He had affixed it to two branches tied together with some rope from his saddlebags. He was pulling the weeds and tossing them onto a fire that was already too high, but he felt was okay since it was far enough from both the cabin and the barn to worry about. Homer stood in the field at a distance, eating his breakfast and keeping a watchful eye on the both the fire and his owner. Jeremiah’s stomach was sending him messages about breakfast, but he knew he needed the sun to be completely up before he went into town and looked around for a place to eat. So, for now, he toiled in the field, trying to get the place into shape.

He had only been at it for over an hour, and already it was beginning to look a whole lot better.

As he threw another armful of weeds onto the fire, he felt it time to take a short break and cool down a little. He looked around at the old place again, still undecided if he had made the right choice, but he couldn’t argue the price. His feeling was, if he walked away now, the only thing he lost would be a little time and a little hard work. The place was looking better. It didn’t feel like home yet; but with the passage of time, it would become home, and his dream of owning and running his own farm would have been realized. Then he could travel back east and tell his tale of finding a run-down farm and turning it around. His family would be even more proud of him. He turned his attention to the faraway mountains and took note of the sun almost topping them. Blue sky. It would be a good day to work in the field. Then something caught his eye.

A figure. Standing alone on a small hill. There were a few trees nearby him. He didn’t move, just stood there and looked down on the old place. He wore no shirt, appeared to wear leather pants and boots. A band around his head held a feather. A bow and arrows were strapped to his back, and he held a spear in his right hand.

Indian, came a voice from behind Jeremiah.

Jeremiah turned with a jerk and instinctively reached for his gun which was not on his side but close by on a patch of dirt. He measured the man then the distance between himself and his side arm. He decided against trying for it and instead crossed his arms across his chest in an effort to make himself look bigger than he was.

Jeremiah Duncan, he said, looking at the newcomer.

Seth Morgan. I run the saloon in Elbow. I heard someone had bought, or should I say took over, this run-down dump. No offense intended. Thought I would come over and introduce myself and see if you’re hungry. Going to be opening up soon. Like Otis, I can run a tab for you, if need be, he said, nodding toward town with a smile that was missing a few teeth.

Pleasure. What about our friend up there? Jeremiah said, pointing toward the hilltop. He turned to give the Indian another look but failed to see him there. His eyes searched the hilltop and surrounding area but came up short. He had disappeared.

He vanishes as fast as he appears. One minute there, the next gone, the next back again. Better get used to him if you plan on staying in Elbow. You’ll see him and his kind a lot. There’s a tribe of them just over the hill. Couple thousand. We don’t bother them. They don’t bother us. They tend to keep to themselves. How about that breakfast?

Jeremiah continued to scan the hillside, but he saw no trace of the man. It was another thing he would have to get use to out here. Back east, there were no Indians. He had heard of them, heard stories, but never saw any of them. His parents had never mentioned seeing any. Nor did his grandparents. They were new to him. An uneasy feeling came over him as he made his way toward his gun and put it on. He would have to remember to keep it on his person at all times out here and close as possible when he was in the barn and the cabin.

Sounds good. What do you have? he asked, walking over to Seth and reaching for the man’s hand.

Steak and eggs. Reasonable price, but like I said, I can run a tab for now. Once you harvest in the fall, maybe we can work out a trade. Fresh food would be good. Right now, we get it from another farm a day’s ride from here. Your place being close to town would make the food taste a whole lot better, Seth said, patting Jeremiah on the back as the two walked up the street toward a one-floor building in the distance.

It didn’t look like much from a distance, but once you got closer, the outside appeared to change and light up a bit. The morning sunlight hit it first thing and gave it a much-better look than it deserved. A double door opening with windows flanking it gave it a homey feeling. It was made of wood, like most of the buildings in town, and Jeremiah could see small cracks between the logs that let both the light and the wind in. It did give shelter from the storms, but it would fail to keep anyone warm in winter.

What will you have? asked Seth as they entered the building and walked up to the small bar. It was a homey little place, three tables and four seats at the bar. No decorations adorned the walls. Five oil lights would light the place at night. There was no back door to be seen. All traffic came and went through the double front doors. Behind the bar was a medium-sized wood burner that doubled as an oven.

How about some eggs and bread with a cup of coffee? asked Jeremiah, taking a seat at the bar. The seat was nothing more than a thick tree trunk cut to height.

Be ready in five minutes, Seth informed him as he began to get things ready.

Jeremiah turned to view the place then rose and went over to one of the windows that overlooked the street. People were beginning to go about their daily chores. It was a small town by comparison to where he came from. Back home, the town would be two to three times this size, and the streets would be full by this time of day. He would have to get used to the slower pace of life out west and the fact that there were fewer settlers out here. Eggs and bread back home would take no more