The Man from Stony Gap

    The Man from Stony Gap

Suzanne Marsh

He was dressed completely in black from his hat to his boots. He sat tall in the saddle as he rode into Fate. He was a handsome man with vengeance on his mind. Suddenly there was a scream that disturbed the quiet. To the stranger it sounded as if it had come from the saloon. He tied his horse to a hitching post just outside the saloon. There in the middle of the ruckus stood the most beautiful woman the stranger had ever seen. Standing next to her grabbing and pawing her was a scroungy looking mongrel that was bent on causing trouble that day. His name was Jethro Hardy, his brothers and he were town for a few hours. His brothers had warned him to stay out of trouble; it was hard to do what he was told when there were such pretty girls in the saloon. Jethro had his eyes and hands on the girl he considered the prettiest he had ever seen, Jenny Benet. Jenny began to scream as Jethro rammed his hand her bust. The bar tender went to get the sheriff; suddenly all eyes turned to the tall stranger who just walked in. He grabbed Jethro: “where I come from boy, we respect women.”

Jethro, turned to face the stranger:

“Where I come from, we don’t interfere with a man and a woman.”

Quickly the stranger drew his colt.45 pointing it directly at Jethro:

“Now boy, you let her go, get your hand out of where it doesn’t belong and show the

lady some respect.”

“She ain’t nothin but a dance hall girl. Now let me git on with what I was doin.”

“Boy, I ain’t gonna tell you again, you show that lady some respect or my colt

might accidentally go off.”

The Hardy brothers walked into the saloon, Tom shook his head as Jethro looked up at him. The stranger stared at them also. He knew they were related but he had no idea they were brothers.

“Mister, put the gun down, whatever Jethro done we will take care of it.”

“He hurt that young lady over there standing sort of staring. He should at least apologize for

being such nasty varmint.”

“Oh, he will.”

The stranger turned to leave. He had business here in Fate that needed his full attention. He was here to kill and return with the body of one J.P. Notway. There were various warrants out of his capture. The stranger went to the sheriff’s office, his mission two-fold. He was a bounty hunter; he was also a very respected gunfighter.

“Howdy Sheriff, I am looking for JP Notway. I understand he lives here somewhere in town.”

Sheriff Tom Barrett spun around on his heel to face the voice of the man standing there.

“Yeh he does go down Main Street turn two blocks go to Elm, his house is the last house on

Elm. You can’t miss it, it is weather worn just like the rest of the town.”

“Hey, by the way what do you want with?”

“I came to collect the bounty on him.”

The stranger handed the warrant and wanted poster to the Sheriff. The sheriff looked it over:

“No guns within the city limits.”

“I don’t need a gun sheriff.”

The sheriff glared at the stranger in black as he walked out the door of his office. Somehow this stranger did not bode well here in Fate; well, all he could was wait and see what he did next.

The stranger followed the sheriff’s directions. He noted the house, the entrances and exits. He also noted the bedroom was upstairs, that would make to easier to arrest him and take him into custody. He hated the thought of a gun fight, but he knew would win if there was one. He hunkered down behind some berry bushes, might as well enjoy some berries while he waited for dark. Darkness seemed like it would take forever to the stranger. He just wanted to be on his way back home to Stony Gap in west Texas. Just at dusk the stranger made his move as Tom Notway emerged from the barn:

“Tom Notway, I arrest you in the name of the law. I am taking you back to Stony Gap to stand

trial for the murder of Bob Dray. Put your hands above your head, put the gun down and step

Back. Tom did as he was told, he could not risk doing something stupid when he could bribe his way out of this. The problem was, this was not a bounty hunter he knew but he would try.

“Hey pard, how about I give you ten grand and I remain here.”

The stranger smiled a thin smile:

“No, the bounty on your head is plenty for me. Now let’s go.”

JP, hoped the Hardy boys were close by just in case bribery did not work. The stranger heard the rustle of leaves before JP. He knew someone was going to be fool hardy enough to try and stop him from returning his prisoner to Stony Gap. The stranger slowly, almost imperceptibly, unlatched his .45 from his holster. Much to his surprise, he noted the figure of that boy Jethro, he wondered how they were connected. Jethro, started toward the stranger but his brother Tom stopped him:

“what is wrong with you boy? That stranger is a gunslinger and bounty hunter you mess him

him and life ain’t gonna be worth much to you.”

“Awe Tom, I can take him easy. You know I am quick on the draw.”

“You ain’t as quick as that stranger. You ain’t even close. Now do what I told you and stay

put.”

JP motioned the Hardy’s to surround the stranger. Tom was already having second thoughts about the amount of money JP was offering. This guy looked dangerous; he had no desire to mess with him. The three brothers circled around the stranger. Jethro was the first to find himself looking down the barrel of the .45. Jethro was fearless when it came to guns something that would not work in his favor. The stranger grabbed Jethro, pointed the .45 at his head:

“Either you boys back off or I shoot the kid. I should anyway for the way he treated that young

woman earlier today. That is not why I am here in Fate, so if you boys will just turn around

and go the other way. I will put JP on a horse and ride out of here nice a peaceful like.”

The two older Hardy boys knew when to call a halt. That is just what they did. As the stranger rode out with JP the Hardy brothers stood scratching their heads and wondering just who the man from Stony Gap was.