Desert Rose

       Desert Rose

Suzanne Marsh

Was it a mirage? The heat seemed to swirl in front of his eyes. The heat of the Chihuahuan Desert was so oppressive to the outlaws. He pressed on in hopes of crossing into Mexico. His mind must be playing tricks, could that really be a town? Was he saved? He fainted as he reached the small town of Desert Rose, Texas. Sheriff Rip Townsend stood silently observing the town, movement caught his attention as he watched the stranger fall over. He yelled to his deputy Jake Thorne to go get Doc Melrose. Doc Melrose came at a quickened pace, he could barely make out the figure lying prone on the ground, a gray stallions’ reins in his hand. Doc reached down to feel for the man’s pulse. Doc, turned to sheriff:

“Take him over to my place, he needs rest.”

Four of the men standing close by picked him up and carried him to the doc’s place across the street. Tim Johnson, watched as the men picked up the stranger, he could swear he had seen him somewhere. Tim was among other things a bounty hunter. He thought that perhaps he had seen this man on a wanted poster. Tim strode toward the jail where most of the wanted pictures from at least ten years ago were posted. Tim, always laughed at Townsend, noting that the Sheriff, however did keep the peace most of the time.

The wind, once again began to howl, coyotes howled into the wind carrying their sound through the town. The shutters on the building began to rattle. The Sheriff watched the sky restlessly. Mary Hamlin began her night at the saloon, she had run away from her father years ago. She owned the saloon, but also ran it with an iron fist. Her girls each had a small pistol tucked into a garter on her leg. The town of Desert Rose was peaceful at the moment.

Just before dawn, gun fire could be heard throughout the town. Sheriff Townsend, grabbed his rifle, carefully looking out the barred window to see where the gun fire was coming from. Sure enough, there in a cloud of dust was the Tom Walton gang. Most of the time they were harmless, they would ride in fire a few shots, then ride back out of town. The Sheriff stepped outside, clearing his voice he shouted:

“Tom, what the hell are you doing? Git on outa here before I shoot you.”

“Sorry Sheriff no can do. Me and the boys here are celebratin, we delivered

a herd of cattle down the street yonder, and we got money!”

“Tom, ride on outa here NOW! You ain’t welcomed here.”

Tom aimed his gun and shot the sheriff, who fell over dead. The folks of Desert Rose began to gather on the boardwalk in front of the saloon. Deputy Thorne held his shot gun up to shoulder, threatening:

“Tom, you done kilt the sheriff, I am gonna arrest you for the murder of sheriff Townsend.”

Tom Walton, laughed almost to the point of hysteria:

“No, you ain’t Thorne you valule your life, you sure ain’t stupid enough to arrest me.”

Just as Thorne released the shot, Tom drew his revolver, firing. Thorne went down at just the same moment as Tom Walton. Throne, was dead as he hit the ground. Tom Walton, and his gang rode out of town, they would return.

Doc Melrose sat quietly watching his patient and hoping he did not have any more customers. He only had one extra bed and it was occupied. Truth was, Doc was contemplating leaving town after this stranger came to. Desert Rose had become unsafe for law abiding citizens. The stranger began to moan, he was coming to. Doc, brought over water for him to drink:

“Hey stranger, you feelin better? Who are you?”

“Yeah, I lost my way, I was headin for Mexico. My name is Jed, Jed Harding.”

Just then, two men burst in:

“Doc, Doc you gotta come, the sheriff and deputy have both been shot by Tom Walton

and his bunch.”

Doc, motion for the stranger to stay put as he followed the men out the door and into the street. The tumbleweeds were blowing all over the street raising dust clouds to match the ominous sky. Doc, could tell both men were dead:

“Might just as well haul em over to the undertaker, they are both dead.”

Word spread through the town, that the sheriff and deputy were dead, they had to find someone with a quick draw that wasn’t afraid of the Walton Gang. Doc returned to his place to find the stranger sitting up in bed:

“What is goin on out there Doc?”

“The sheriff and the deputy were both killed by the Walton gang tonight, we ain’t got

no law here right now. Say, would you consider stayin for a while, I noticed them pearl

handled guns of yours.”

The stranger smiled:

“Yeah, I owe you folks a lot for savin me from dyin. Who is this Tom Walton anyway?”

Doc, shook a bit remember the pistol whipping he received at the hands of Tom Walton:

“He’s a no good outlaw. There is I think, a wanted poster with a reward of one

thousand dollars on his head.”

That seemed to gain the stranger’s interest, doc thought maybe he was a bounty hunter, they were a dime a dozen, at least one rode in per week to gaze at the wanted posters in the jail. Doc, transversed the street seeking Mayor Jeb Mason. He located the Mayor, in the saloon:

“Jeb, I found us a gunfighter for sheriff. The stranger has two pearl handled revolvers.”

“Doc, did you offer him money or a job or what?”

“I ain’t really talked to the feller yet.”

“Well, then do so before the Walton gang returns.”

Doc hobbled back to his place, the door squeaked as he opened it. The stranger was standing up, his jeans on:

“Stranger, I seen those pearl handled revolvers, our town needs help. The Walton gang’s

comin back, we can’t go up against them alone.”

The stranger, reached into the pocket of his jeans producing a star:

“I am Texas Ranger Jim Slade, I was headin to Mexico to arrest a mean hombre by the name

of Tom Walton.”

Doc, sighed:

“Walton and his gang will be coming back here, Desert Rose is without any law.”

“Go git the mayor and all the volunteers you can find. We are gonna give the Walton

gang a big surprise. Send out two men that know this country, have them track the

whereabouts of the Walton gang. Once we have word the gang is on their way,

as many men that can shoot, will be needed on roof tops. We can tip over wagons

for cover.”

Doc felt as if he wanted to cry; he thanked the ranger. He hoped that once the Walton gang was gone forever there would finally be peace in Desert Rose.

Two weeks later, one of the men that had been tracking the Walton gang, came at a fast lope into town:

“I saw Tom Walton and his gang, they are headed this way! Two maybe three days out.”

Ranger Slade, hearing the news began to order preparations. Several wagons that were not in use were tipped on their sides to shield the deputies from gun fire. He began to show men where to go on the roof tops, but to be sure there was shelter from bullets.

Noon the following day, Tom Walton and his gang rode into Desert Rose, shooting at anything that moved. Slade, came out of his office, to his surprise, Tom Walton recognized him:

“so Slade, we meet again, I thought I was done with you when I left you on foot in the

desert with that horse of yours. You musta walked what almost fifty miles?”

Slade knew not to draw, to let Walton make the first move. It did not take long:

“Come on Slade, I know you want to kill me.”

“Not really Walton, there is a lot of paperwork involved.”

As Slade replied, he began to walk away, making the perfect target to get shot in the back. Walton motioned his gang to commence shooting. Rifles appeared on roofs all over town. A bullet nick Tom Walton. He yelled:

“Slade, if you’re gonna shoot me then shoot me, if not I am gonna destroy Desert Rose.”

Slade, spun, guns blazing. Tom Walton, was dead in his saddle. His gang or what was left of them, rode out of Desert Rose, over the border to Mexico and disappeared forever.