CHAPTER THREE
Temptation
Hannigan was recovering faster than he expected, but then he had too, he had been walking farther each day working the stuffiness out and he wanted his full range of movement back. He'd been working on his right shoulder also. The slug had passed through right below his joint so it has been just a matter of healing and working on it...
His draw was almost back to normal and he knew in another week he would be back to normal and could ride out of here. He still was confused about who to trust, Sadie seemed like she cared, but on the other hand, she had been paying more attention to him than he thought proper for a new widow, it made him uncomfortable. He shook his head to drive out the thoughts and get back to his quick drawing as he limped along. Sadie came riding up to him and asked if he wanted a ride back to the ranch
“Nope Sadie I need to walk and think”,
“What are you thinking about?”
“Everything about me?”
“Why do you ask?”
“Because you haven't been overly friendly since you've got on your feet”.
“Sadie... You make me uncomfortable”
“Why is that?”
“Because you're a widow and I feel you're paying a little too much attention to me”.
“How dare you! I would help any dog that was shot up that's just my way”. “Are you sure?”
“Hannigan go to Hell”....
Turning her horse she rode off in a hurry
Well that should straighten things out......and he laughed to himself. Women I'll never figure them out when he got within eye shot of the Ranch he saw five men on horses talking to Sadie on the porch.
Staying back in the tree's he watched carefully, wishing he could hear them. Sadie was throwing her arms like she was mad as hell finally they turned and left riding towards town. He gave them 15 min before he left the tree line and headed to the Cabin.
Walking in the door, Sadie told him to wash up and come to the table, dinner was ready.
When he finally sat down, he looked at Sadie and asked...
“What did they want...?”
“You of course! And, I almost told them where to find you, but I figured since I have all this time invested in you I might as well keep you hidden a while longer”.
“Well you should have told them. I’m about ready to finish this up and head home to my own problems”.
Hannigan was still feeling the after facts of Sadie being a Haskett and could be involved in Bill’s murder.
Sadie stared at him for a moment and blurted out...
“Why do you need to be such an ass...?”
Hannigan got up from the table, turning towards the door, he thought maybe it was time to head out and quit putting everyone in danger being here....plus been tied down in one place was making him jumpy.
Sadie said behind him,
“They sent for the Marshall from The Snake River Basin, so they came to identify you”.
He stopped, slowly he turned
“What did you say”...
“I said they sent for the Marshall who put out that Most Wanted Poster” “Shit” Hannigan thought…..
“I'd say you have about 10-12 days before he gets back here”.
Grinning he said “Well the good thing is I don't have to lie about my name anymore”
Sadie smiled and said
“Nope Hannigan, and one last thing; “They said they only sent for the Marshall to identify your dead body”.
The smile on Hannigan face faded, replacing it was a look Sadie had never seen before and it scared her.
“Hannigan, they sent for a couple of Gunslingers out of Dodge City also they should be arriving by train in the next couple of days”.
“Well let them come I'll be ready”.
He turned to leave, but Sadie spoke up again
“Hannigan you can still stay here”.
“I've brought enough trouble to you and with the way things are going it will only get worse”. He then turned and went out the door into the night.
After shutting the door behind him, he stood in the cold, letting it soak through his coat and into his bones, it felt good and it made him feel the death that was coming.
Sadie sat for a minute after he left and looked over at Lily
“There goes a good man, I wish I could tell him the truth”
“Maybe he would understand Lily”
“Miss Sadie most men only see what's ahead not behind or to the sides, so it's best if he finds out the truth himself, and then he will believe it”.
“A man like that needs that and won't be pushed in any other way Miss Sadie”.
Sadie was silent for a while thinking about it all and she said
“Lily you may be right, he is a different sort as I've ever seen”.
Hannigan saddled up his horse and took off towards town, he figured if they wanted him, he would make it easy for them.
As he rode he worked on a plan to finish this before the Marshal got here, in the meantime he was going to be a pain in the Hackett’s ass trying to force their hand.
He kept thinking about Sadie and how she fits into the picture other than being a Widow not in a legal term but they were engaged.
Hannigan felt there was more to this story than what was in plain sight and he was going to dig out lie by lie.
Pulling up to the livery stable, he paid the old man to take care of his horse.
The old man eyed him closely and said
“Thought you were dead”
“Well you're not the first nor the last to think that”
“Well young men I'd say you’re: Hard to Kill"
Hannigan laughed at that and thanked him and put extra gold eagle in his hand.
As Hannigan walked towards the Saloon and his room, his head moving back and forth looking for danger. He moved up the board walk till he stood in front of the Saloon doors, Looking over the top of the swinging doors he survived the room looking for problems, seeing nothing he pushed his way in.
Ben the Barkeep looked up in surprise, but then a smile formed and he nodded to Hannigan.
Hannigan limped up the bar just as Ben sat a shot of the good stuff on the bar.
“Well Ben, looks like we are going to get along after all”.
Ben laughed
“Of course Bishop....I guess I can call you that now”
“Well they are still not sure who I am, but soon Ben soon”.
Ben smiled and said
“Bishop I've known you since you were about as high as a jackrabbit and I've seen that look you’re wearing now and it makes me nervous, people are going to die”.
Hannigan looked up at Ben and said
“Yea I imagined you have and you know I need to set things right”.
“I know Ben said, most of the town people who aren't bought and paid for by the Hackett’s would gladly accept a change here... It just hasn't been right since they came to town”.
“What's going on?”
“Ben Hackett’s silver Mine Bishop”
“What about it?”
“It's running out, Bishop everything was fine when it was going strong, but now that it's running out they want all the properties around them so they can expand their mining”...
Hannigan looked at Ben again and said
“And Billy's property is one of them?”
“Yep and others?”
“And the ones that didn't sell out have been found either missing or murdered and that dam Sheriff couldn't find his ass with two good hands”. “So no one has taken any action against them?”
“We aren’t strong enough or organized plus we are too scared to act on it”.
Hannigan shook his head and took another drink,
“I'm glad you took care of that Sam Smith he was their enforcer”
“Well it cost me a couple of weeks in bed, his backup shot me from an upstairs window”.
“Hannigan you're like a cat with nine lives”
Hannigan laughed at that and said
“The Livery owner said I was "Hard to Kill" I only wish you both were right” Ben laughed and they both took a drink
“Ben I got to ask about that Sadie Haskett”
Ben studied Hannigan face and said “Oh her”.
“Well supposedly she and Billy was engaged, but no one saw them together
you know like a date, nothing romantic like”
Hannigan picked up on the meaning and asked...
“Ben what do you mean?”
“Well if you were going to marry someone wouldn't you be submitten with them?”
“We never saw that it was like an arranged court-ship and soon to be marriage”.
“Well that is weird Ben I wonder what's going on or was going on”.
“No one knows Bishop but, whatever it was, it seems to work for a while at keeping the Hackett’s from causing trouble until Billy's shooting”
Ben leaned over the bar and whispered; “talk around town was Sadie set him up, she was using him to get his property for her brothers”.
Hannigan straightened up and said
“What the Hell”!
He felt the anger rising up to his boiling point.
Using that kid and then killing him.... Son-of-bitch!
Just then he heard someone come into the Saloon. Looking up into the Mirror behind the bar, he saw it was the Sheriff and he was looking dead at him...
#
“Well......well look what the cat drag in”....
Hannigan turned to face the Sheriff
“I was just going to say the same thing to you, Sheriff”...
“Don't get smart-ass with me Jim or should I say Hannigan?”
“Well Sheriff that's for you to find out”...
“We've sent for the Marshall that put out that Wanted Poster on you”. “Well good luck with that Sheriff”
“You think you’re so smart Hannigan maybe I should take you in for killing Sam Smith in cold blood”...
“Well Sheriff...good luck with that, in fact I think I've wished you enough good luck, maybe you should run along before your luck runs out”... “Are you threatening me...?”
“Do you feel threatened?”
“You son-of-bitch I should throw you in jail for murder”
“Well first off...if you call my wonderful mother a bitch again, I'm going to kill you and second you have no witness's that I killed anyone and Third; I want you to listen closely Sheriff I don't see you doing your job here in Idaho Silver, I see you on the Haskett payroll, so I don't feel you're a Sheriff but you are a no account good for nothing piece of shit that claims to be Sheriff... So if I was you, Sheriff... I would turn in my Badge before the Marshall of Snake River Basin gets here, because that is a man I'd ride the trail with and he will throw you outta town”...
Hannigan could see the Sheriff's face getting redder and redder...you could almost see the stream coming off his head...
One of the card players at a table started to laugh and then the whole room started to roar with laughter...
The Sheriff's hand was shaking as he inched it closer to his gun....
Our eyes met and for a moment I thought I'd had pushed him too hard and he would draw, but then I saw his fire, whimpering out and he turned and stalked out with everyone laughing at him...
“Ben said from behind me....Well that didn't go over well”
“Oh yea it did.....It went just the way I wanted”...
“Drinks on me Hannigan yelled”...
Jim Morgan and Jack Anderson had received the telegraph in their Hotel, for the cash offered they wasted no time in getting their guns and clothing packed. Jack Anderson had just finished cleaning his double barreled derringers the he kept up his sleeves, He was known as a good shot at any distance but his hidden derringers were his little surprise.
Jim Morgan had killed 15 men.... 10 in a fair fight and 5 he bushwhacked. And he touched his prized Colt 44, that had the trigger lightened and the barrel shortened to speed his draw Both men had killed men for a price and fun, and they had left a trail of blood and widows in their path..
Jumping on the first train west they settled in for the 5 day trip... Finally they had time to talk and plan...
“Jim, have you heard of this Jim Trainer?”
“Nope never, probably some sod buster putting up a fight”...
“I think we should be in and out of town in less then 24 hours making an easy $50,000 each”
“ Jack smiled, yea I like that thought and it's coming at a good time”... “What do you mean?”
“Well I think it's time we headed to Mexico and wait for the heat to blow over from that last fiasco we had in Dodge”...
“Yea Jack that was a mistake that shouldn't have been made”...
“What the hell Jim! How could I tell it was only a kid? At 1000 yards it's just a little hard to tell the difference”...
“Now Jack I understand and that kid shouldn't have been out in the field it was his daddy's work”...
“It was his fault for being there”...
“Yea you’re right Jim It was his fault”...
“Well it still didn't set to well with Dodge and this job came at the perfect time”....
“Yea maybe our luck has changed”
They both smiled at that and settled into their seats dreaming of Mexico...the ladies and the easy $50,000 they were going to collect...
Sadie ringed her hands and she fidgeted in her rocker, finally she made a decision...
“Lily I'm riding into town”
“OK Miss Sadie....Good Luck”...
“Sadie laughed and thought....I just could never get anything pass her”...
Riding into town she headed for the Saloon since she knew that Hannigan was staying there, before she dismounted she saw the Sheriff Come storming out the swinging doors... Making eye contact with him, she saw him flinch as he realized why she was there and he kept moving down the boardwalk...
Sadie hearing the laughing as she moved through the swinging doors, seeing Hannigan at the Bar she walked up beside him and told Ben to give her a shot of the good stuff...
“Ben said Sadie are you sure...? Goddammit Ben get it, or I'll get it for you!’
Hannigan grinned at her and said...
“Why are you here?”
“To set things straight once and for all”....
‘What things Sadie’....
“About Billy and Me”.....
Hannigan turned towards here with a renewed interest...
“OK I'm all ears”
“Well I was helping Billy, I was helping to keep his Mine, his home”. “And why would you do that?”
“Because he was a good kid and after his Ma and Pa were killed” Hannigan saw something in Sadie's eyes flicker but then was gone almost as fast as it came... She is hiding something he thought,
“OK Sadie so what makes you think I'm going to believe that from the kindness of your heart you were going to marry Billy to save his spread?”
“I wasn't going to, really marry him...but make my brothers believe we did so they would leave him alone”.
“Or until you figured out a way to get Billy out of the way”......
“You son-of-bitch...how could you think that of me after everything I've done for you and Billy”...
“Because you're not telling me the truth or whole truth which makes me think you have other ideas about what's right and wrong here”...
“Bishop Hannigan you can go straight to the devil you low-down, shit eating, trail bum”...
She turned and stalked out of the Saloon into the dark cold night
“Well that went well Bishop”...
Hannigan shook his head and said,
“Ben something here isn't fitting with what we know and it’s like a burr under my saddle and guess what...I keep getting bucked off”
“Ben laughed, well Sadie would be one to get bucked off for that's for sure”...
“Hannigan laughed and said Ben no truer words have been spoken”... “Well Ben I'm turning in I've got a long day tomorrow I’m going back out and try to find Bill trail and where he was shot”...
#
Retaliation
Hannigan walked down the hall to his room, deep in thought about what Sadie was hiding and why? When he got to his door, he noticed the green thread he had put between the jam and door had fallen. Pulling his Colt Lightening from his back holster he held it loosely to his side, letting his right hand be the faint...an empty hand... He pushed the door open and walked in.....
Sadie rushed him and slapped him hard across the face How dare you talk to me like that, you stupid asshole.
She started to slap him again and he grabbed her holding her arms tightly to her sides and they stood there for a couple of seconds...face to face Hannigan couldn't control his emotions and kissed her hard and she pulled back and sputtered you son-of-.. She didn't get the last part out because he kissed her again ...he felt her soften and then relax... He let go of her arms and she pulled him closer....
As they kissed Hannigan could feel her breast and her hard nipples press against his chest, He knew she was enjoying what she was doing to him because she started to rub against him and he could feel his manhood get hard moaning...she pulled him to the bed and on top of her...
Hannigan knew this was wrong and he kept thinking about Billy and how he had let him down with what he was doing.
But the lust was just too strong and he just couldn't quit... As they lay there after, both wet with sweat. They started to laugh...
“Sadie I'm sorry, I'm not sure what happened”...
“Bishop you know I wanted you just as much”...
“But I feel like shit because of Billy”...
“Bishop quit!”
“Quit what?”
“Sadie let out a sigh... Bishop ...Billy was my half-brother”...
“What the hell...you were going to marry your half-brother Jesus Christ”
“Bishop get your head out of the gutter”...
“My brothers didn’t know Billy was an half-brother...Billy and I figured it out by some pictures and papers he found after his parents were murdered”...
“So you played acting that you were a couple?”
“Of course Bishop.....I was trying to buy Billy some time so that we could get the territory Marshall here to straighten out this mess”...
“You mean the Sheriff and your brothers?”
“Yes well it looks like they sent for him without your help”
“Yea unfortunately too late for Billy so they still don't know Billy was family?”
“Yes and I want to keep it that way until the Marshall gets here...and Billy's half-brother and family get here from Dodge”...
“He had a Half Brother?”
“Yea and they are willing to run his place”.
“Sadie looked at Hannigan with pleading eyes and said they were on their way here before Billy's death and should be here soon”...
“Billy was looking forward to connecting with all his family, including my Brothers and her voice faded out as she said this”...
“Those no-account bushwhackers don't have the right to anything anymore and when they find out they killed a brother... All for nothing Billy wanted to help them”....
“Hannigan swallowed and said... What about this?”
“This?”
“Yes what just happened tonight...?”
“Oh you mean US!”
“Yes us...that sound made him uneasy” he was still having a hard time with all the new information but still thought Bill-Sadie....
“Well if you want to ride off before the Marshall gets here I wouldn't blame you and this night will just be a memory Or”...
Or what?”
“Or you can stay”....
“Sadie I have some unfinished business back home... I need to clear my name, see my family”
“What about after?”
“Sadie...let’s see how this all ends up...you never know this might be my last stop on the way to hell”
“Sadie laughed... So you want tonight as a memory?”
“Hannigan laid there for a minute thinking”...
“Well I guess being quiet gives me the answer”... so she jumped up and threw on her clothes
“Sadie wait”...
“Nope let’s keep this simple”...
“Goodbye Hannigan”...
And she stomped out the door Hannigan could hear her sniffling as she went down the hall...
Women, I'll never figure them out...but he liked her strong spirit...He smiled to himself... He had things to think about and had started to put a plan together...
He knew the timing had to be right.
Figuring the Gunslingers should be here in a day or so and the Marshall the day after... But first he had to push the Haskett Brothers into action.
The problem now...How to do this without killing them and loosing Sadie forever if she really wanted him...
Hannigan drifted off to sleep, he found himself back on the Battle field again and his best friend falling under a barriage of bullets fired directly at them...
The room next to Hannigan could hear him screaming.
“Again, Henry can't you go next door and tell him to shut up”...
“Henry looked at his wife and said”...
“First thing... The man was in the war and he has the right to scream all he wants and second if you don't like it you go tell him”...
His wife flipped over facing the wall and Henry said.
“That’s what I thought...now go to sleep and be Thankful he's here”....
They next morning Hannigan rode the trail back to where he found Billy... He wanted to find the place where he had been bushwhacked, the snow that fell that night he had stayed with Billy was just a dusting and any foot or hoof prints should be still visible since the ground had frozen that night.
He rode up the draw crisscrossing back and forth trying to find Billy's trail... Finally he found where it looked like something had plummeted down the mountain side... Broken branches, skid marks, as he followed it up. He found a piece of Billy's shirt hanging on one branch.
Further up, he found a spur... After getting to the top of the ridge, Hannigan looked around for a spot he would of picked to jump someone and he found it a little farther down the ridge in a cut out that ran along the ridge.
It was a shallow place void of tree's but the sheep trail ran through it. Riding into it Hannigan found a small stream flowing through it before it headed off down the side the valley. This is where he found blood, dark against the rocks...
He could see the blood spatter path which could tell him the direction the bullet came from. Turning his horse he moved in towards the area he felt the bullet had come from...coming upon a patch of tree's about 50 yards out, he dropped from his horse, tying his horse to a branch.
He moved around the first tree looking for signs... In the middle of the trees there was an area torn up by several horses, it was hard to make out because it looked like whoever was here had been waiting awhile and had a nervous horse...
Looking closer at the ground as he moved closer to the torn up area. Hannigan found a cigar stub...Wasn’t one of Sadie’s Brothers smoking a cigar in the restaurant? He couldn’t be sure just yet.
And one of the horses had a unique horseshoe...it actual had a star stamped in it as if it was a trademark from a horse shoe maker...Nice! That's when he heard the thunk of a bullet at it ripped its way through the tree's and hit the tree next to him...
Hannigan it the dirt and rolled over facing the direction the bullet came from... Another shot clipped a branch from above his head and he moved over so he was behind the tree...
Glancing out from behind it he was just in time to see the flash of a rifle shot from about 200 yards up the ridge from where he came from, Shit he thought to himself... Pulling his Colt 45 he laid down cover fire the best he could but the 45 wasn't meant for 200 yards... But then he wasn't planning on hitting anyone he wanted to keep their heads down as he ran for his horse and his Winchester.