CHAPTER 2[GRAY RIDER]

Fort Reilly Kansas COLONEL ROBINSON OFFICE. Knock on a door.

Officer behind the desk COME IN

SIR CAPTAIN JAMES RICHARDSON REPORTING AS DIRECTED. SIR

OFFICER ,STAND AT EASE. I HAVE HERE YOUR RECORD CAPTAIN RICHARDSON, IT SHOW A GREAT DEVOTION TO DUTY AND GOOD JUDGMENT IN MATTERS THAT COME UP. GOOD RECORD SIR.

CAPTAIN RICHARDSON: THANK YOU SIR

OFFICER:   DO YOU KNOW WHO THE GRAY RIDER IS?

CAPTAIN: NO SIR I HEARD THE NAME ,BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS FICTION. NO ONE COULD HAVE DONE WHAT THEY SAY HE DID AND LIVE.

OFFICER:  HE REAL AND STORIES ARE TRUE, WELL MOST THEM. HE WAS AN ARMY SCOUT AT FORT SEAL . RETIRED BEFORE THE WAR. NEXT THING WE KNOW  HE WITH QUANTRILL. THE STORY IS SOME KANSAS RED LEGS RAPE AND MURDER HIS DAUGHTER .  HE JOIN QUANTRILL TO KILL KANSAS RED LEGS OR ANY KANSAS PEOPLE. HERE A WANTED POSTER.   IT SAYS 5000 DOLLARS FOR JACK JOHNSON DEAD.  THEY DO NOT JUST WANT HIM THEY WANT HIM DEAD.  I BELIEVE THE STORY OF HIS DAUGHTER BEING RAPED IS TRUE AND SOME OUR GOOD KANSAS PEOPLE DO NOT WANT HIM TO TELL HIS SIDE. I SENT FOR THE BEST ARMY SCOUT WE HAD AND HERE HIS LETTER BACK.

-------------------------------------------------------------------DEAR SIR. IN YOUR REQUEST IN THE MATTER OF JACK JOHNSON.   I HAVE KNOW THE MAN IN QUESTION FOR MANY YEARS.   I FINE HIM BE A HONORABLE MAN OF HI DEGREE. HE TRAIN ME AS ARMY SCOUT, AND THERE IS NO BETTER THAN HIM AS FAR AS PISTOL SHOT AND HORSEMAN . I DO NOT CARE TO BE ON WRONG END OF HIS PISTOL SIR.   SO I MUST RESPECTFUL DECLINE YOUR OFFER SIR , AND TEND TO MY DUTY AS MARSHAL OF ABILENE KANSAS.

YOURS TRULY

JAMES BUTLER HICKOK

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OFFICER I WANT YOU TAKE A GROUP OF MEN , MOSTLY KANSAS RED LEGS TO BRING HIM BACK FOR TRIAL ALIVE IF YOU CAN SIR..  ARMY OWE HIM THAT SIR. I GOT A INDIAN SCOUT TO LEAD YOU.

THE MEN WITH YOU - YOU CANNOT TRUST - THEY WILL HELP YOU FINE HIM.  BUT YOU MAY HAVE TO FIGHT THEM TO KEEP HIM ALIVE ;TO HAVE HIS DAY IN COURT. THAT'S BEST I CAN DO ,THEY HELP YOU UNTIL YOU CATCH HIM.

I WOULD GIVE YOU REGULAR TROOPS, BUT THEY ARE GREEN. THIS IS AN UNAUTHORIZED ASSIGNMENT.   MEANING ARMY KNOWS NOTHING. JACK JOHNSON SAVE MY LIFE AS A YOUNG OFFICER LIKE YOU. NEED I SAY MORE.

Captain RICHARDSON:  SIR I WILL DO MY BEST. TO MAKE THE RIGHT CALL OUT THERE. HOW FAR DO YOU WANT ME TO GO. SIR?

OFFICER:  CHASE JACK TO END OF HELL IF GOT TO , BUT BRING HIM BACK. I WANT HIM TO HAVE HIS DAY IN COURT.

CAPTAIN RICHARDSON: YES SIR. SALUTES AND TURNS.   GOES OUT THE DOOR

SAME DAY SMALL VILLAGE NEAR FORT DODGE KANSAS

LIZZIE JANE MC-MEND JUST GETTING TO HER MOTHERS HOUSE WITH WAGON PULLED BY TWO MULES.    SMALL BOY IN SEAT WITH HER.   BEHIND THE WAGON TIED TO REAR ARE TWO MILK COWS. A WOMAN CAME OUT TO GREET THEM.

WOMAN:   LIZZIE JANE GOOD TO SEE YOU AND JIMMY. WHAT BRING YOU HERE FROM THE FARM?

LIZZIE:   THE FARM IS NO MORE. THE COUNTY TOOK IT FOR BACK TAXES. THIS IS ALL I GOT AWAY WITH.

MOTHER:   WHAT YOU GOING TO DO NOW?

LIZZIE:   I GOT GET MONEY FOR NEW START. ONLY THING WORTH ANY THING IS THE BOUNTY ON GRAY RIDER, AND IT IS 5000 DEAD. I PLAN TO SELL THIS WAGON AND MULE TEAM AND COWS AND OUT FIT ME TO HUNT HIM.   MOTHER I NEED TO LEAVE JIMMY HERE UNTIL I GOT HIM.

MOTHER:   CHILD YOU ALWAYS WELCOME TO LEAVE JIMMY HERE.   I LOVE HIM SO, BUT YOU NEVER HUNTED MAN BEFORE.   I KNOW YOU THE BEST SHOT AROUND HERE, AND BEST HUNTER. THE GRAY RIDER IS A HAND FULL GIRL.  THEY DID NOT PUT THAT 5000 ON HIS HEAD BECAUSE HE IS EASY TO KILL. YOU NEVER KILL A MAN BEFORE, AND IT COME TO THAT .  THAT REWARD IS FOR HIM DEAD ,NOT A LIVE.

LIZZIE:   I KNOW THAT MA.  TROUBLE ME TOO.  I NEED THAT MONEY, AND KILLING HIM ONLY WAY TO GET IT WITH THE WAR SUCKING THE LIFE OUT THIS LAND.   HOW I WISH JOHNNY WAS ALIVE TO HELP ME WITH THIS.   DAM SHAME HE GOT KILT AT SHILOH.   THEM DAM REBELS TOOK MY MAN. SHE SOBS AND MOTHER TAKES HER IN HER ARMS .

LATTER LIZZIE TOOK THE WAGON INTO TOWN TO SELL THE TEAM MULES AND TWO MILK COWS AND THE WAGON.   SHE THOUGH SHE NEED CLOSE TO 100 DOLLARS TO OUT FIT HER SELF WITH A GOOD RIFLE ,HAND GUN AND HORSE.

SHE PULL UP TO DELIVERY STABLE WITH WAGON AND MILK COWS.  THE OWNER COMES OUT.

LIZZIE :  HI I AM LIZZIE MC-MEND I WANT TO SELL ALL THIS PLUS A SQUIRREL RIFLE.

OWNER:   I CAN GIVE YOU 40 DOLLARS FOR MULES,  20 DOLLARS FOR THE MILK COWS AND 40 DOLLARS FOR THE WAGON.

LIZZIE:   HOW MUCH FOR MY RIFLE HERE?

OWNER:   I ANT GOT MUCH NEED FOR IT. THE TRADING POST WILL MAKE YOU A DEAL ON THAT. LIVESTOCK IS WHAT I DEAL IN.

LIZZIE:   YOU GIVE ME 100 DOLLARS FOR THIS THEN?

OWNER:   YES MUM I WILL IN GOLD COIN.

LIZZIE:  YOU GOT A DEAL SIR.

 STEPS  DOWN OFF WAGON.  OWNER PAY LIZZIE IN GOLD COIN AND COUNT IT OUT TO HER. SHE THEN TAKES HER RIFLE AND GO TO TRADING POST.

STORE OWNER:   WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU TO DAY MRS.?

LIZZIE:   I WANT TO TRADE THIS IN AND GET A REPEATER RIFLE.

STORE OWNER:   I GOT THIS SPENCER REPEATER IN A 44 .IT IS A 6 SHOT LOAD THREW THE STOCK HERE. AND PULL DOWN THIS LEAVER AND IT CHAMBER A BULLET.

LIZZIE:   HOW MUCH WITH THIS AS TRADE IN? HOLDING UP HER RIFLE

STORE OWNER:   20 DOLLARS AND THROW IN TWO BOXES OF CARTRIDGES.

LIZZIE:   THROW IN THREE BOXES YOU GOT A DEAL.

STORE OWNER:   IT IS A DEAL THEN.  ANY THING ELSE?

LIZZIE:   I NEED A GOOD HAND GUN NOT TO HEAVY AND HOLSTER.

STORE OWNER:   I GOT THIS COLT BABY DRAGOON IT'S A 31 CALIBER WITH 4 INCH BARREL.

LIZZIE:   NO I NEED SOME THING LITTLE LARGER, FOR MAN.

STORE OWNER:   ALL I GOT IS THIS ARMY COLT. IT IS A 44 CALIBER

LIZZIE:   HOW MUCH WITH HOLSTER ?

STORE OWNER:   WHOLE OUT FIT BE 20 DOLLARS.   AND 5 DOLLAR MORE I THROW IN 50 CAPS AND 100 BALL AND JUG BLACK POWDER WITH IT.

LIZZIE:   MAKE THAT 100 CAPS YOU GOT A DEAL.

STORE OWNER:   THAT IS A DEAL THEN.

LIZZIE:   I NEED SOME SALT MEAT, AND FLOUR ,AND BEANS, AND COFFEE GROUND.  THOSE BIG MATCHES.  HOW MUCH?

STORE OWNER:   THAT BE A $1.50 CENTS. ANY THING ELSE?

LIZZIE:   NO THAT DO. WHAT I NEED OUT ON TRAIL,  I  WILL KILL.   I BE BACK PICK THIS UP.  SHE PAY THE STORE OWNER 41 DOLLARS AND 50 CENTS.

BACK TO LIVERY STABLE TO GET A HORSE SHE Goes.  STABLE OWNER COMES OUT.  

WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU AGAIN MRS.?

LIZZIE:   I NEED A GOOD HORSE ,AND SADDLE.

OWNER:   I GOT THREE FOR SALE. THAT BIG GILDING THERE IS 50 DOLLARS. I GOT THIS MUSTANG MARE HERE 20 DOLLARS ,BUT SHE ANT BROKE. THAT OLD MARE SHE IS GENITAL BUT GOT AGE ON HER.   SHE 10 DOLLARS.

LIZZIE:   HOW MUCH FOR SADDLE AND BRIDLE?

OWNER:   I WILL THROW THEM IN FREE IF YOU TAKE THE MUSTANG.   SHE HARD TO MOVE BECAUSE SHE NOT BROKEN.

LIZZIE:   SADDLE UP THAT MUSTANG AND BRING HER OUT IN THE STREET.   NOT ENOUGH ROOM IN THERE.

OWNER DID WHAT SHE SAID AND HELD THE HEAD WHILE LIZZIE STEP UP IN SADDLE .

THEN LIZZIE SAID "TURN HER A LOSE!" WHEN HE LET GO THAT MUSTANG WENT STRAIGHT UP AND WHEN SHE CAM DOWN SHE DID A HI KICK AND OFF DOWN THE STREET THEY WENT JUST A BUCKING AND LIZZIE HOLDING HER OWN. THEY ON BOARD WALK - OUT IN STREET - AROUND THE OUT HOUSE.   

LIZZIE BEING A WOMAN AND VERY WELL SHAPE WOMAN HER BREASTS  WAS MATCHING EVERY BUCK THAT THE MUSTANG MADE. THE TIGHT PANTS SHE WORE GAVE THE MEN GOT A EYE FULL TO SAY THE LEASE.   MEN SHOUTING,   DOGS BARKING IT WAS A SIGHT TO SEE.

TOO SOON FOR THE MEN THE MUSTANG MARE GAVE IN TO HER NEW MASTER AND SETTLE DOWN TO A TROT. SOON IT WAS ALL OVER BUT THE MEN HAD A BALL WITH IT.   LIZZIE TOOK THE MARE BACK TO STABLE AND SAID I LIKE HER.

OWNER: YOU EVER WANT A JOB BREAKING HORSES I GOT ONE FOR YOU.

LIZZIE:   THANK YOU BUT I GOT SOMETHING I NEED TO DO.

OWNER:   MRS. I AM GOING TO THROW IN THE OLDER HORSE .  SHE MAKE A GOOD PACK HORSE AND THE PACK GO ON HER BACK .IT WAS WORTH IT SEE YOU RIDE THAT MUSTANG.

LIZZIE THANK HIM FOR EXTRA GIFT OF PACK HORSE AND TOOK HER MUSTANG AND PACK HORSE DOWN TO TRADING POST GET HER SUPPLIES.

OWNER OF TRADING POST:   HERE YOUR SUPPLIES  MUM AND HERE YOU MONEY BACK FOR SUPPLIES PLUS 5 DOLLARS.    WORTH IT TO SEE YOU RIDE.

LIZZIE GOT HER SPENCER RIFLE AND HER ARMY COLT AND PUT HER SUPPLIES ON HER PACK HORSE. SHE STILL HAD 45 DOLLARS IN HER POCKETS FOR THE TRIP AFTER GRAY RIDER. SHE STEP UP ON THE MUSTANG MARE AND LEAD THE PACK HORSE AS SHE WENT WEST AFTER GRAY RIDER.