Spaghetti Western Sunday. Dark days of Texas. Sweet Cheryl Lee.

Dark days of Texas..

A Chapter by Coyote Poetry

 Sometimes in the darkness. We can find light. 

Dark days of Texas .” Sweet Cheryl lee”

(Chapter seven and eight)

Eric hated the Summer in Texas. So damn hot. All you could do is rest during the day and ride at night only.  He watched Cheryl Lee wash-up.  They had found their favorite place. The hidden source of water and some mountain cover from the hot Texas sun. Eric loved his Cheryl Lee. She was a blue eyes, full busted lady. He remembered when he met her the first time. Her father was  the meaning, ugliest and baddest bad man in Texas.  Her father was called the Butcher of Laredo. Eric called him Danny. Danny never talked about the days in Laredo. He heard Danny killed 20 men in one day over the abuse and murder of his wife. He raised his daughter Cheryl Lee alone and he roamed the state of Texas with his three brothers. He always treated Cheryl Lee with respect and kindness because he was saved by Danny in Austin.  He was outnumbered and all his men dead . Danny appeared and he killed a dozen men before his eyes. Danny came to him and he asked him. You are too young to be dangerous and you don’t look like a dangerous wild dog. Why they want to kill you? Eric told him. They kill my mother and father in Oklahoma. I tried to kill all the Kansas men I could see. Danny laughed at him and he  told him. I like your black ass and you can stay and ride with me or die here in Austin. He joined them.

Danny introduced his daughter to Eric. This is Cheryl Lee. My only thing I hold precious. Me and my brothers raised her to fight, bite and be wise.  Eric and Cheryl Lee became friends. Cheryl Lee taught Eric the long blade and the short blade. Eric taught her the bow and arrow. He never attempted to touch her. Danny treated him like a son.

Eric left Danny and he went off alone. He remembered the sad day when Cheryl Lee appeared at his camp. Cheryl Lee was left alone after Danny and his brothers fought the Texas Rangers and lost. She went to Austin and she became a dancer and after a time. She sold her body for gold pieces. She worked for two years at the tavern. She made enough to escape Texas and she wanted to go to California. She told the owner Douglas. I will be leaving in the morning.  That night the owner and two men took her to her room. Stripped her down to her naked body. They raped and beat her for five hours. She was weak, bruised-up and she had pain everywhere. They made the mistake of releasing her. She washed-up and she dressed in pant and shirt. She open the wood tile and took out her pistol and her short and long knife. She put on the gun belt and put the short knife in her boot. The long knife on her side. She rested till the sun from the east appeared. She went downstairs and she saw the owner Douglas. She went to him and he laughed at her and he told her. You are just a whore and you will die a whore. She raised her gun and blew his head-off. She went up stair  and she cut the throats of the two rapist. She gathered all the gold pieces she could find. She packed water, bacon, flour and corn. She loaded her horse and she went west. She wanted to go to California and swim in the sea. Her body was sore and beaten. She rode for 8 hours till the horse had to rest. She heard the noise of Cowboys near and  she saw the town people riding toward her. She raised her rifle and pistol. She looked to the sky and she whispered. I’m coming dad. Going to die standing. All of a sudden. The town folks turned around. She turned around and Eric, Dominic and Eddie were behind her. She turned and she pointed the rifle at Eric. Eric told the men. Don’t shoot her.  He walked toward her and he told her. Cheryl Lee. I’m Eric. Remember me. The black Indian. Cheryl Lee looked crazy and she stared at Eric. She fell to the ground crying. Eric went to her and he saw the bruises on her face and body. He whispered to her. No-one will hurt you again Sweet Cheryl Lee.

Cheryl Lee turned around and she looked at Eric face. She knew he loved her and she was safe with him. She never left his side and she wasn’t right after the night in Austin. Eric was kind and gentle. He made her human again. She told him daily. Please Eric. You and the boys. Let’s go to California. We can be reborn in California.

Old man John learned the weather would break in one day. They would leave for western Texas on Sunday morning at 4 am.  Loca Amber told him. One of the boys in the saloon saw Eric in the Western territories. He was hiding and resting in his regular safe havens. Today was 110 degrees in the shade. Sunday support to be in the low nineties. He would find the rest of the men and women. They must gather and make the final plans.

Dark days of Texas- Sunday morning..

A Chapter by Coyote Poetry

 

Need help. A happy ending or not? Maybe happiness for some? Maybe a dead-end for many?

 

Dark days of Texas-Day one- Sunday morning.. Chapter eight.

Old man John awoke early. He had a lot to do before Sunday. It was early Saturday and the 7 am heat was 105 already. He left Wolf woman Sherry in her soft bed. He whispered to her. Please stay inside and rest. We will have a 7 pm meeting tonight and you need to rest while you can. She rose-up and she kissed him. She whispered. You need to rest today. Western Texas isn’t going to be kind to us.

He sat in the saloon alone. He spread the Texas map on the table. He ordered some black coffee and chewed on some bacon and eggs pondering the western Texas range. After Austin was open territory and the Mexican border.   Last real town was Fort Griffin. He knew Eric liked this area. A large area free of men and the desert kept  her secrets. He knew Eric’s father taught him the watering holes and the safe places. Eric wasn’t disliked in the free western Texas. The Apaches who were left, respected him and the Mexicans small villages held silence. The Mexicans held great dislike for the Texas Rangers. They did little good for them. He knew Eric would be on the Mexican border. Easy access to water, food and whiskey. Loca Amber told him last night. Eric is 80 miles from Fort Concho. He is near the Colorado river waiting for you. I would recommend you leave Texas alive and go home back to Michigan. Dirty Deed Eric don’t give anyone second chances.

Old man John knew. Amber was two-faced and cold. Her husband big dog Luke was a outlaw. He and Wild Buck Jalan put him down her husband five years ago. He knew Amber would cut his throat if she could. She was a full-busted lady with bright red hair and  she had the bluest eyes he ever seen. He knew she was setting them-up. He knew Eric had the advantage. He knew the land and he was protected by the natives. Old man John heard. Eric healed people liked his father did. He was safe and sound in the western desert. He knew Eric trusted few people. He had Dominic the butcher, Moon shine Eddie and Sweet Cheryl Lee with him. Rare occasion he traveled with many men. Eric was wise. He knew many men would be noticed and he would be traced and found by the Texas Rangers looking for him. He caressed the map. He knew finding Eric and his people was like looking for a flea in a haystack. He knew. He had to tempt him out into the open somehow.

Loca Amber gave a note to Old Richard, half Apache and half Mexican. A fearless man who knew Texas. Old Richard was a fearless tracker and she gave him gold pieces, 10 bottles of whiskey and a note for Eric. The note read.

Dear Eric
Handsome John, Wild Buck Jalan and Berserker Kurt are coming your way. I ask one favor my dear friend. Make them suffer and die slowly. Do this for my dead husband and me. They are leaving on Sunday for Fort Griffin. I told them. You are near the Colorado River. Be ready.  Love Amber

Old Richard took the note and he kissed Amber hand. He told her. Your wish is my command.  Remember I want the second part of the payment when I return. She smiled and she kissed his lips and she whispered.  You know I would do anything for their bodies to rot in the Texas sun. Dear Richard. Payment will be pay when deed is done.

Amber went to her room. She held the photo of her husband Luke. Luke was called Big Dog Luke because of his size and he always had large dogs with him. Year ago. Amber and her family left the east coast and they were heading to free land in California. Crossing Oklahoma, they were attacked by the desert Indians. They killed her parent and they had held her as a prisoner. She heard fighting and screaming outside the tee-pee. She was scared and she started to pray. She looked-up and she saw Luke at the entrance. Luke smiled at her and he told her. Praying don’t help out here honey. Only things worth a nickel is your knife and your gun. Are you alright honey? Amber rose-up and she hugged him. He was with four bounty hunters looking for wanted men. The four bounty hunters told Luke. Let’s rape her and leave her in the desert. Luke told them. If you touch her. I will kill you and I will feed you to my dogs. Late one night. Luke heard screaming. The four bounty hunters had stripped Amber to bare skin and they had her legs spread wide. Two of them had their pant to the ground ready to rape her. Luke shot the standing men instantly and he aimed his rifle at the men holding down Amber. They released her and they begged for their lives. Amber told him. Kill them now. If you don’t. Their word against my words. Luke told the men. Get your damn horses and leave now. Leave you rifle and guns here. A month later. Luke was a wanted man for killing the two bounty hunters. Amber smiled and she remembered. Luke taught her how to shoot the long rifle. Took two day. She was nervous and he wouldn’t give-up. She remembered shooting the pistols for hours till she could put a can down at 50 feet. He taught her the short and the long blade. She remembered laughing at Luke. He showed her the knife dance. Using feet, body and knife as one. She loved him so. No-one mess with Amber. Loca Amber had her snakes and she did the deadly knife dance. She was a dangerous lady.

Old man John watched Amber walk away. Today he would get Kurt and Jalan to get the wagon ready. Tammy and Shirley to order and pack the food and water.  He would send Wolf Woman Sherry to get some medicine and the best opium/whiskey. He knew even in the desert. The horse and man need to eat and rest. He touched Fort Griffin on the map. He whispered to himself. Last rest area and maybe a three days trip in the heat. He felt very old today. He looked at the 9 am sun and he wished for the Michigan Winter. He needed the cold today.

(Now I need a ending. Maybe a Mexican stand-off? Maybe Shirley saved Eric? Maybe Eric is killed? Maybe Old John is killed? What would be a good ending.

Dancing Coyote