The Ticket XII

The Ticket Xii


I was well covered but I worried about my girls. To night was my night at the Manse It would give me a chance to feel them out and to see how it was affecting them. I walked out to the Married Quarters and spoke with my fence line men..

Joe noticed me and called out “How goes it boss.”

“How has the fence line been looking. Any unexplained breeches or anything suspicious.”

“Well Lon, chimed in, “ There is a couple of things that we have been talking about and were planing to bring to your attention. Two days ago we found the staples on one pole partially removed. The ground around the pole was disturbed. Pete climbed the fence to see if he could back track the culprit. You tell him Pete.”

“ I followed the tracks to another disturbed area near the small stand of trees near the creek. It looked like blood scattered around. I also found tracks of three horses. I followed them for awhile and came to what appeared to be three graves brushed over. Atop of each was a small jar containing a Black Scorpion, And this…” He handed me a button that had what looked like the Donegal Crest.

*****

Three horses with riders neared the North fence. They had been observing this section for a week. The fence riders had checked this area yesterday. This was their chance. They left the horses near the creek in a small stand of trees. They made there way to the nearest fence post and began to loosen the staples on the post as they had been told to do.

One of them was loosening a staple when his hand was stung by a ,22 bullet smashing into the staple puller and knocking it out of his hand.. They dropped to the ground and looked all around. Nothing and nobody was insight. They were in a panic…where was the shooter… why did he shoot the staple puller. Why not them?

Yes they were in a panic. They jumped up and ran for their horses. When they reached them they stoppled and looked around. As they reached for their reins an apparition appeared out of the ground with a stiletto in either hand. The stiletto’s entered just under the chin and pierced the brain. The third rider forgot about his horse and tried to run away. Their assailant reached in to a pouch at his waist and withdrew a 6 pointed star and in one motion flung it the escaping cowboy went down with the star embed in his neck and spine.

The Scorpion cleaned up his mess and gathered his weapons. He buried the staple puller with one of the bodies. He didn’t wish any cattle to get out so he put back in enough staples to secure the fence. After he finished he looked over the scene and dusted out the foot prints and rode one of the horses to his transportation where he abandoned the horses.

*******

I told them to stand easy I was going to contact Jacob Littlestar.