The Calvert Gang Rides Again

         The Calvert Gang Rides Again

Suzanne Marsh

Texas 1878

Dusty Barlow and Cloud of Thunder rode quietly into Belle Plain in search of Tom Calvert and his gang. Dusty, a Texas Ranger was charged with keeping the peace in Belle Plain until Tom and his gang were behind bars for good. Dusty always drew attention, he was six foot of muscle, blond hair and eyes as blue as the bonnets in Texas. He and Cloud of Thunder, rode up to the Belle Plain Hotel, grabbed their saddle bags, dismounted. A bath awaited Dusty, Cloud of Thunder merely laughed at his brother’s ways, the way of the whites, he called it.

The Bar C Saloon, was down the street from the hotel, once Dusty had a bath, he wanted to see Lily, the girl he hoped to one day make his wife. She was beautiful, full figured with a smile that lit up the Texas sky. Thunder Cloud, wondered down to the Sheriff’s Office where he and Dusty would make the headquarters until the Calvert gang would once again ride into Belle Plain. They had shot up the town their last visit, folks were scared, Mayor Jack Hennessy had sent for the ranger. The dusty street had tumbleweed, flying everywhere, as Dusty walked into the saloon. Lily, saw him at once:

“Dusty, I thought it would be a while before you came back through, I am so happy to see

you.”

“Miss Lily, I missed you.”

“Would you like a drink Dusty?”

“Yeah, I have time for a beer, we can catch up on each other.”

Lily smiled, as she went to the bar where Sam Donovan poured out two beers. Lily returned to the table, with the beers. She seated herself across from Dusty:

“Dusty, what brings you back here?”

“Lily, we have had reports of Tom Calvert and his gang, here in Belle Plain.”

“Last time, he shot the sheriff, destroyed the town, pulled down Kate’s saloon. It

wasn’t nice.”

“Lily, don’t worry, when the time is right we will get the Calvert gang.”

“I do hope so Dusty, I do so hope so.”

Dusty patted her hand, drank his beer and headed to the sheriff’s office. Cloud of Thunder greeted him:

“I find sheriff’s rifles, no sheriff. Are we the law now?”

“Yes, Cloud of Thunder, we are until the town elects a new sheriff, and we capture the

Calvert Gang.”

“We have much work to do?”

“Yes, would you scout for signs of the gang?

“Yes, I can pick up trail, I will be back in two moons,”

“Cloud of Thunder don’t try to capture them, I want them to ride into a trap I am

setting for them here in Belle Plain.”

“See you then Dusty.”

Cloud of Thunder, jumped on his pinto stallion and galloped of out town. He began to look for signs of the Calvert gang. Suddenly, he heard the hoof beats of several horses, he quickly dismounted. Hiding behind a large prickley pair cactus, he watched intently. His waiting was rewarded the fourth horse carried none other than Tom Calvert. They rode by without noticing Cloud of Thunder. They were heading in the general direction of Belle Plain.

Cloud of Thunder waited until they were past his hiding spot, then remounted riding at a fast lope toward Belle Plain. He, followed behind the gang for several miles to be sure they were heading toward the small town. Darkness fell as Cloud of Thunder rode back into Belle Plain to the sherrif’s office:

“Dusty, you were right, the Calvert gang is on their way here. What are the plans?”

“How long before they get here?”

“Two days outside most.”

“Go find Mayor Hennessy, tell him I want the best riflemen in town. We meet here

in two hours.”

Cloud of Thunder did as he was bid. He walked to the barber shop that the Mayor owned:

“Mayor Hennessy, I am Cloud of Thunder, Ranger Dusty Barlow needs the best riflemen

you have here in Belle Plain. We will meet tonight in the sheriff’s office around nine,

Dusty wanted to wait until darkness fell, Calvert usually sends in at least one rider during

the day to be sure the bank has plenty of money on hand.”

The Mayor, a rotund man eyed Cloud of Thunder warily:

“Very well me boyo, I will be get the lads together and be there around nine. How many

riflemen does he think we will need?”

“I have no idea.”

Cloud of Thunder strode out of Mayor’s barber shop returning to the sherrif’s office:

“Dusty, they be here at nine.”

“Cloud of Thunder, the plan is really simple, I want you to get to the top of the C Saloon,

make sure Miss Lily is out of the building first. I will put riflemen on the tops of the

roofs around town. Ten rifles will be enough I think.”

Nine o’clock came quickly as the men began to trail into the sheriff’s office, Dusty informed them where he wanted them to shoot from. He hoped it would not come to a shoot out but had no doubt that it would.

Matt Reynolds, slipped into town later that night. Things seemed peaceful enough. He checked out the bank, that looked as if it would easy to hold up. With that information, Matt rode out to the Calvert gang’s camp.

“Tom, the bank is easy as takin candy from a baby. I actually walked in there after ten last night

nothing.”

“Sounds to easy Matt, but we will rob it tomorrow. We could use some better horses.”

Sunday morning, the town’s people were still asleep when Cloud of Thunder awoke in alarm. He woke Dusty:

“Dusty, the Calvert gang is here!”

“Wake every one at their posts.”

Cloud of Thunder moved stealthily toward the C saloon. He took up his post, on the top of the building. He watched as Dusty walked calmly down the dusty street toward the bank:

“Calvert, we have you covered, put down your guns.”

Guns began going off, screams were heard, the battle for the town had begun. Dusty, scrambled for safety as he fired his Colt .45 as Calvert fired back. The exchange took moments, although to Dusty it seemed like hours. Dusty winged Calvert, the entire gang was shooting. One by one they fell.

Tom Calvert was put on trial and hanged three days after the shoot out. Dusty and Miss Lily tied the know. Cloud of Thunder, settled just outside of Belle Plain.