The Diary of Jerrod Bently, J.W. Osborn [the false prince series TXT] 📗

“I ain’t done nothing wrong, Doc,” Ned lied “That Indian set me up and that cowboy over there helped him, so did the girl. It’s all a lie. You know me, Doc. Since we was kids.”
“You just come along with me,” Doc replied as he ushered Ned to the open door of the small jail cell at the back of the office, “Your brother is looking for you and I am sure he will be mighty pleased to see you.” He seemed to enjoy the worried look the mention of Nathan Travis’s name brought to Ned’s face. Doc pushed him into the dingy cell and closed the door and locked it with the key he had tied to his belt. “You try to pick that lock Ned, and I will shoot you where you stand.”he added.
Knowing Doc Stevens since they were school boys together, Ned knew that he meant every word he said.
“You don’t understand Doc,” Ned began as he gripped the bars of the cell door “I am innocent. I didn’t do nuthin’ wrong.”
“No, you did nothing wrong,” Scrub Pot growled from across the room “Only tried to shoot my grand daughter and steal her horse.”
Stunned by what he had just heard, Doc turned to Scrub Pot. “What?” he demanded.
“It is true, Doc,” I said as I set the shotgun down on the desk . “Scrub Pot and I caught him with a gun on Sam and trying to get on her horse.”
“That’s a lie!,” Ned shouted from his cell “That is a bald face lie! I only wanted that horse. I don’t care about the girl or the old man.”
Doc’s face went red with rage and he gritted his teeth. “Is Sam all right?”, he ground out “You better tell me that girl is alive and well or I am going to kill this son of a coyote right here and hang for it willingly.”
As I watched Scrub Pot and Doc, I could tell he knew his friend’s temper well and how to defuse it. “Killing is against the law of God, my brother,” the old Indian replied “Samantha is fine. He never got a shot off at her before I nailed him in the ass a good dose of rock salt.”
The door opened and Sam walked in. She looked at her uncle standing there with his hand on his gun, the silver star pinned to his black leather vest. “What is going on?”, she demanded “And where the blazes have you been, Doc? We have been worried.”
“It doesn’t matter where I have been, Sammy,” he said in great relief as he went to her and put her arms around her. “I only heard your grandfather say that this outlaw wanted to hurt you, and I lost my temper.” Doc said as he embraced his niece. “Thank God you are all right.”
“There is much more to the story,” Scrub Pot said stoically “ We must talk, as the danger is not over.”
Doc nodded, “I didn’t come back to camp because there was a run in here that involved Ned. He robbed a freight wagon.” he said. “Portersville has no sherrif other than a lawyer by the name of Titus. So when the robbery happened, I asked to be deputized. Been here ever since.”
“You did not think wisely when you left the rangers,” Scrub Pot replied “I wanted you to go back, but you had a different path to follow.”
“We all have our choices, “ Doc replied wanting to change the subject. “Nathan Travis is in town and...”
“Nathan!!” Ned cried from his cell “My brother is here?!! You go get him right now, I want to talk to him.”
“I am sure he can’t wait to talk to you either, Ned,” Doc taunted. “Now unless you want to be hog tied and gagged, you best shut up.”
“Sam,” Doc said “You and Jerrod go over to the bake shop. It’s called “Victoria’s” and you will probably find Nate Travis there. He will be mighty interested in the fact that we have his twin brother locked up.”
“You can’t prove anything!,” Ned taunted “I didn’t do nuthin,’ so you can’t charge me with nuthin.”
“How about attempted murder and horse stealing?,” Scrub Pot said, a dangerous edge to his words. “You tried to kill Sam and me because that was what Roger Hinkley paid you to do.”
“I don’t know anybody named Hinkley,” Ned lied.
“Hinkley sent you to kill Sam and Scrub Pot?” Doc questioned, that cockeyed grin of his crossing his face,” How stupid can the man be to hire you, Ned?.”
“I knew Hinkley was no good,” Scrub Pot said “I warned Sam, but she would not listen to me. With us dead, Hinkley would not have to give up the ranch and he would try to lay claim to what is rightfully Sam’s inheritance from her father.”
“Now wait a minute,” Doc interjected “You never mentioned anything about Joseph leaving her anything but a memory.”
“It is not a good time for me to tell you, Doc,” Scrub Pot said “You will have to trust me. I have kept this secret for many years. “ The old man then fell silent. Doc had heard the rumors about hidden treasure somewhere on the same property as the Flying S Ranch was, but he had never believed it. He looked his old friend dead in the eyes, “Why you old crow,” he said “You have known about that treasure all along haven’t you.”
Scrub Pot remained silent. He would not speak of it again.

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“Thank you, Miss Victoria,” Nathan said as he paid for his coffee and pie. “You have got to be the best cook in the entire territory!”
“You have been on the trail for a long time, Captain Travis,” Victoria replied as she gave him his change. “I am glad you stopped by.” There were several other customers around the shop sitting at the tables and enjoying their purchases. “I have baking to do this morning,” Victoria said “So if you need me, I will be in the back.”
Nathan seemed a little nervous, like he wanted to ask her something but was afraid to. “Miss Victoria,” he said “I admire your friend, Frances. I think she is a fine figure of a woman.” Victoria smiled “She is a good friend, Mr. Travis,” she said.
“Well,” Nathan said quietly “I’d like to take her to that church social they were talking about this Sunday. Do you think she’d go with me?”
“Why don’t you ride out to the ranch and ask her,” Victoria suggested “I think she might just say yes.”
“Thank you Ma’am,” Nathan replied as he rose from his chair “Maybe I will do that after I stop by the sherif’s office.”
“Maybe the two of you can help me get things set up for the social on Sunday,” Victoria added. Nathan got up and pushed his chair in to the table. “Be glad to, Miss Victoria,” he said.
Sam and I found the bake shop and the bell clanged loudly as we opened the door and walked inside. I had never smelled anything so heavenly as the aroma of bread baking. I recognized Nathan Travis right away when I saw him standing by the glass front counter talking to an attractive blonde. I remembered a night a little over a month ago when I’d met him after he’d shot a cougar. “Hello Bently,” he said. I was surprised that he remembered me.
“Good to see you again,” I replied. “Doc needs you over at the jail. We got your brother locked up..”
“Well, that is welcome news.”, Nathan said “I am afraid he is in a lot of trouble.”
“That is true, ” Sam said “However, he needs to see a doctor as soon as possible.”
“Why is that?”, Nathan asked
“Because my Grandfather shot him in the rear with a load of rock salt about two days ago.” she said trying to keep a straight face. Nate tipped back his hat. He looked thoughtful for a moment and then burst out laughing.

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GRANTS CREEK TEXAS

The back forty acres of the Flying S Ranch was riddled with holes half dug and others deeper than six feet. Roger