The Lady Shootist

The

Lady

Shootist

Michael O’Gara

Copyright © 2014 Michael O’Gara

All rights reserved.

eBook Edition

This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This is a fictional work coming from the author’s imagination. Any similarity to actual persons, events, places, organizations and companies, is purely coincidental.

Published by Heartland Indie Publishing LLC

This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 1

Alexa was standing by the sink washing a pot when she heard the first shot and her father yell. Her father had drilled into her what she was to do if this happened. She ran into his bedroom and took his revolver and holster out of the chest at the foot of the bed. She quickly checked and made sure it was loaded and slung the holster over her neck. She ran and grabbed the shotgun off the wall and made sure there were shells in it.

She heard more shots as she made for the front door to bring her father his weapons. She heard a man yell, We got ‘em both. There’s a girl here we can have sport with.

Alexa heard someone on the front porch and cocked the shotgun and put it to her shoulder. She put one leg in front and one slightly behind to brace herself for the kick. The door opened and, as soon as she saw the man, she pulled one trigger and the shotgun pushed hard against her shoulder and there was an almost deafening boom. The double ought shot tore the man’s gut apart and with such force it threw him backward.

One of his partners stopped on the porch shocked by the sight of his partner being cut nearly in half. Unfortunately for him, and fortunately for Alexa, he stopped in front of the window. Alexa aimed and pulled the second trigger. The window exploded outward and took the other man full in the side and threw him off the porch.

Alexa heard someone kicking at the back door and ran out the front door. She saw a revolver lying on the ground and dropped the shotgun. She picked the revolver up with her left hand and ran around back. She stayed on the soil so as to not be heard by the man at the back. She drew her father’s revolver with her right hand as she ran and cocked it. She now had a pistol in each hand. When she came around the side of the house, she saw a man going through the back door that now hung on one hinge. She ran parallel to the house and saw his back through the doorway. He was listening for a sound.

Alexa did not hesitate. She shot him in the back from about twelve feet away. The man fell to his knees and Alexa moved closer and shot him again and he fell forward on his face. She walked to him and he was twitching. She shot him again from two feet away. He stopped twitching.

Alexa did exactly what made sense. She immediately took cover and reloaded. She then went outside moving cautiously. She saw there were only three horses, so she thought she’d probably gotten them all.

Alexa went to her father and it was obvious he was dead. She ran to where her brother lay and he was dead too. Alexa stood for a moment thinking. Their herd had been stolen and now her father and brother had been murdered. The plot to take their ranch was just about complete. Alexa figured she was dead if she stayed here.

Alexa went into the house and took her worn dress off and put on some of her brother’s clothes including an undershirt, shirt, underwear, pants, and socks. Alexa was very tall for a girl and her brother’s clothes fit her in length, but a little loosely. His boots were a little big, but she could not wear her own for they were a dead giveaway. They were girl’s boots. She put on another pair of her brother’s socks and then his dress boots.

Alexa went about gathering all the guns, and holsters. She gathered the families’ as well as those of the dead murderers. She searched the men and took two nice gold rings with stones off the men. She also took a gold pocket watch. She searched the three men’s saddle bags and found a lot of money and wanted posters with their pictures on them. They were dead or alive posters, so it did not matter she had shot one man in the back. Alexa took the men’s horses into the barn and fed and watered them. She then dragged the bodies of the outlaws near the farm wagon and put boards up to the back of the wagon. She dragged the men’s bodies up onto the wagon.

Alexa went and took her father’s body by the arms and dragged him to where her mother was buried. She repeated the process for her brother. Alexa did not cry. She did not realize she should be crying or that she should be grieving. Alexa had enough contact with others outside the family to know she was different. She had little emotional response and, when danger threatened, she was just cold stone rational.

Alexa dug a grave for her father and brother. It was hard work. They would both go in the same hole, but they were dead so it really didn’t matter. It was evening when Alexa finished filling the grave. Her body ached and she had blisters on her hands because in her hurry she’d forgotten to put on work gloves. She went into the house and drank some water and ate some cheese, bread, and jerky. She was too tired to cook.

Alexa took a fancy repeating rifle from the rifle sheath on a horse of one of the men she’d killed. She made sure it was loaded and kept it nearby as she gathered up all she thought she’d need or was valuable. She put it all in the family’s wagon. She went inside and cut her hair to look like a boy’s.

She then made one last search to make sure she had everything she’d need. The last thing she did was take her father’s money from its hiding place. She put the dead men’s saddles, and her family’s as well, into the wagon next to the bodies of the dead men. She tethered six riding horses behind the wagon and then hitched the team. She loaded her baggage, which consisted mainly of her brother’s only set of decent clothes, and put the loaded shotgun and repeating rifle next to her on the bench of the wagon and left. She set off for the county seat of the next county over, which was Stone County.

The stockyard was in Stoneville. She’d been there with her pa once or twice. The county sheriff there was honest, not like the one here. She’d heard what the one man had said. They’d known she was there and planned to use her like a bull did a cow. They probably would have killed her afterward if she were lucky. Instead, they were dead. Alexa was working on nervous energy and drove all through the night and arrived at dawn. She went directly to the sheriff’s office.

There was no one there, so Alexa waited sitting on the wagon’s bench. It wasn’t long before the sheriff showed up.

Alexa said, Good morning, Sheriff.

The sheriff said, You look familiar, paused and then said, I know that stench.

Alexa said, I’m Lex Cummings.

Sheriff Carl Thomson. Pleased to meet ya.

Alexa said, There’s three wanted men in the wagon, and she handed the posters to the sheriff. I’ve come to claim the reward.

The sheriff asked, You claiming to have killed these fellers yourself?

Lex, as she now called herself, said, My father and brother died in the shootout. These men came to our spread and started shooting right off. Hard to tell who killed who. It was kind of crazy.

The sheriff looked at Lex and said, Well, you brought them in so the reward is yours as soon as I verify they are who you say.

The sheriff went and examined the bodies against the posters. He said, The world’s better off without these three in it.

Lex said, Yes, sir. It is.

The sheriff reached out and put his hand on Lex’s right shoulder and she flinched. It wasn’t because she hurt, but because she did not want to be touched. The sheriff assumed she was hurt.

The sheriff said, I know who did the scatter-gun work. You were smart to shoot the other no good in the back. Giving fellows like that an even break is a big mistake.

Lex said nothing.

The sheriff said, Seeing as they’s loaded already, I’d be obliged if you’d take me and these bodies to the undertakers.

Lex said, I’m not paying to bury them.

The sheriff smiled and said, Don’t be greedy. The reward’s six hundred dollars and it will cost but thirty five to bury them proper.

Lex nodded and got up into the wagon. She didn’t want any trouble.

The sheriff climbed up and looked at the guns by Lex and said, You expecting trouble?

Lex said, Having people try to kill me has caused me to be very cautious.

The sheriff nodded and pointed. Lex drove in that direction. The sheriff asked, Are you goin’ back to the ranch?

Lex said, I can’t work it alone and it’s too dangerous to be there alone. The sheriff in Forge Roads is not a reputable lawman like you. Our herd was rustled and I’ve been run off. My family is all dead. Some cutthroats find out I took reward money and they’d all be on the hunt for me and the reward. The sheriff and his no goods would probably be first to come after me.

The sheriff nodded understanding for he knew Sheriff Crater’s reputation and it wasn’t good. He surprised Lex when he said, I could use a young deputy with a steady hand when the shooting starts.

Lex said, What will folks think if you hire me and me so young.

It seems to me you can handle yourself in a gun fight and when they see who you brung in there ain’t no one fool enough to say anythin’ to your face or mine. You speak awful city like.

Lex said, My mother taught me to speak properly, to read, and cipher.

The sheriff said, And your pa taught you shooting.

Yes, sir.

They arrived at the undertakers and the sheriff got down. Lex followed his lead and took the repeating rifle with her.

The undertaker came out and the sheriff said, Got three wanted men for you to bury, Sam.

Sam looked at Lex, The boy don’t look like no bounty hunter, Carl, in spite of all them holsters looped around his neck.

Carl said, Appearances can fool a feller.

Sam came and looked at the corpses, then Lex, and said, I see what you mean. Sam called out, Leroy, Isaiah, come bring these bodies inside.

Carl said, You’ll be paid when the reward money comes in. Same as always.

Sam said, Twelve dollars apiece.

Carl said, Thirty-five fer all.

Sam nodded agreement and Leroy and Isaiah moved the bodies. Carl showed the wanted posters to Sam then Carl and Lex waited not saying anything.

When the bodies had been removed, Carl climbed up on the wagon. Lex got back up and started toward the sheriff’s office.

Carl said, It will take some weeks for your money to get here. You interested in being a deputy or not?

Lex said, What would I have to do?

You make sure no one shoots me in the back, watch, and learn. The town marshal takes care of most of the town stuff. We help out when he’s away or anything’s dangerous.

Lex looked at the sheriff and said, How much does it pay?

Carl said, Thirty a month and a one room place behind the jail. There’s no extra pay if we have prisoners and you have to keep watch at night. That means sleeping in the chair or on the floor in the jail. We get any there’s a bounty on, you claim the reward and we split it. Whatever we take from wanted fellers, we split even like.

Lex said, Alright, but I need some time to get some business done. She knew the wages were good and she had no other options at present and needed a place to live.

Carl said, I can help you get the horses and tack sold. I know Dan at the livery and he’s an honest man, but he sure does love to dicker. He’ll probably sell what you don’t need for a share of the price and board your horse to boot.

Lex said, Okay.

Carl pointed and they went there. Carl got down and Lex followed carrying the repeating rifle. A big man came out.

Carl said, Lex, this is Dan. Dan this is my new deputy, Lex.

Dan offered his hand and Lex shook it. She tried not to show her discomfort, but decided on a different approach.

When Dan let go Lex shook her hand out and said, You have a grip like a mountain lion attached to a yearling calf. I thought you’d squeeze my hand to mush.

Dan laughed, You’re the first to be man enough to admit it.

Carl smiled and said, It’s Dan’s way of tormenting folks.

Lex said, Well the next time he wants to shake my hand I’ll make sure there’s a pistol in it.

Dan let out a booming laugh and said, The young feller’s alright.

Carl nodded.

Dan asked, What business can we do together?

Lex said, I have five horses to sell and a team and wagon. Tack too. I’m keeping the black stallion.

Dan said, Best of the lot by the looks, but it’s all nice horse flesh.

Lex nodded and said, I’m keeping the best saddle and you know which that is.

Dan nodded and said, Them others will fetch a pretty penny. I can do you better on the wagon and team.

Lex said, How’s that?

Let me keep them and board the horses. I’ll rent them and the wagon out. I’ll split the rent money sixty forty with you.

Lex said, It’s not fair I take sixty percent. Fifty-fifty.

Dan smiled and said, I didn’t mean you’d get the sixty.

Lex smiled and said, I know.

Dan said, Fifty five forty five and I’ll take a fifth of what I can get for the horses and tack.

Lex said, And Carl said you were honest.

Dan laughed again and Lex said, Deal.

Dan offered a hand shake and Lex said, Be gentle with me.

Dan was gentler, but firm. He smiled.

Lex said, I’ll bring the wagon and team back when I unload it.

Dan said, Sounds right by me. I’ll be here.

Dan went and unhitched the horses tethered to the back of the wagon. Lex carried in the best saddle and put it where the stallion was to be stalled. Carl helped bring in the others. When the tack was unloaded, Lex went back to the wagon with Carl.

Carl said, I’ll show you your room.

Lex said, First I have to stop at the bank. It took Lex just a few minutes to open an account in her name. The bank manager didn’t want to at first, but she told him the sheriff was outside and would vouch. He looked out the window and opened the account. Lex deposited her father’s savings and some of the money she’d taken from the three outlaws.

Lex came out and said to Carl, Let’s go see my new home.

Carl pointed and they headed towards the sheriff’s office. They got close and Carl pointed to the lane beside the jail and Lex drove down it. There was a small one room shack out back. Carl pointed to it and Lex pulled up and stopped the wagon. Carl handed her a key and she went inside. There was a wood bed platform, a small table and two chairs, and a wood stove. There was a wooden floor and the seams of the planking in the walls, floor, and roof were sealed. The roof was covered with tin. The little place would be weather tight.

Lex came out and started unloading the wagon. She left the guns in the wagon.

When she locked