Authors: Eric Barkett
Chapter 11
Warning raised the men hurried. Jonathon Reed and his men saddled at the saloon. The five men had simple Colt’s at hand. Jed reckoned they were not good shots. Of course with superhuman strength they would not have to be. Nothing outwardly appeared different from these vampires to regular men. Douglas was speaking with Jonathon softly, out of range of everyone else. Jed went to Carter, who was alone as his deputy was guarding Hudson. The uneasy sheriff was double checking his saddlebags for the third time.
“Can you handle this?” Jed murmured. It was in the open now, he had finally given voice to his suspicions on the sheriff.
“I don’t know,” Carter sighed. “Used to be a time I would have volunteered for this. Ever since the war.” Recognizing he was making excuses he stopped short. “I’ll do what needs to be done.”
Jed nodded. Beth called out, “May I have a word with you, Jed?”
The gunslinger approached, “Ma’am.”
She was not holding her usual umbrella. Beth pleaded her hands clasped Jed’s. “I have a favor to ask. Please keep an eye on Carter. He has been a friend for many, many years. No matter what happens, try to keep him safe.”
He tipped his hat. “I’ll try.” Breaking away he mounted Boy. Obadiah was sitting beside him on Indomitable. White knuckles gripped the reins. It was not from fear, but excitement. Jed smiled briefly. Obadiah was getting a head for the business.
“Hear that?” Jonathon Reed questioned.
Jed couldn’t hear any strange sounds. Then. Pounding horse beats came at the edge of hearing. Rapidly it grew louder. It was coming from deeper in town. A dozen galloping horses rode down the street. People watched in bewilderment. There were barely twelve horses in town and now twelve strangers came. Except not all were strangers. Bjorn rode at the front, dwarfing the poor horse chosen to bear his burden. They pulled up in front of the others. Up closer the horses appeared tired and sweating heavily. They had been ridden hard and their condition reminded Jed of when he rode into town. It was glaringly obvious they had not taken the train.
Bjorn slid off his saddle prompting his men to do likewise. The German giant nearly stood even with his horse. The rest of his men were not so massive. Regular individuals harboring a dark secret. Most had beards and mustaches, generally hairy men. A bowler hat rested on Bjorn’s head. A small hat relatively, unless placed on another’s head, in which case it was more akin to a sombrero.
“Hello Bjorn.” Jed greeted.
White teeth showed as Bjorn smiled. “It is quite a greeting party you’ve brought me. Unless it is for someone else?”
“It’s for you, mutt.” Douglas snarled.
Jed swung off Boy. “Easy mayor. Let’s not get tempers up.”
The gunslinger had good reason for keeping the peace. Everyman Bjorn had brought was holding a gun. Their belts were lined with revolvers, Winchesters were holstered in the saddle. Plenty of firepower. These werewolves looked more like an army. Besides outnumbering the now paltry posse of vampires, the sun was going down. In less than an hour it would be dark. The time when hell would break loose.
Bjorn called out, “Brothers it is time.” Stroking his dropping mustache he waited patiently.
“They won’t be coming.” Jed answered, gazing at the mass of onlookers getting in view of the situation. Most thought they were looking from a safe vantage point. Some were on the saloon or through its windows, further down the street, and inside homes.
For the first time anger crossed Bjorn’s face. Mutterings of hate came from his men. Many stroked their guns, waiting for the moment.
“Then they will be avenged,” Bjorn decided.
“I would like to see you try,” Douglas shouted back as he pushed his way to the front.
At any moment someone would draw and fire. Unlike gunfights between humans it would not be over quickly. Each person would absorb several bullets. They would rush to cover, prolonging the battle. Inexorably the sun would set and any person lucky to avoid getting a stray shot would be in real danger. The werewolves would transform and the vampires would throw away any attempts at control. Even once the battle was over the bloodbath would continue.
Obadiah was still sitting in his saddle, hands brushing the hands of his guns. In a battle of evil, the humans would be the ones to lose. The kid was not nearly ready for something of this size. Jed couldn’t believe what was happening. Insane situations like this were supposed to have ended with the Civil War.
Jed saw this in stark clarity. Cursing his bad luck fervently he stood between both groups. “Wait,” he demanded.
Briefly it stopped the rising tensions. Eyes gazed at him. Knowing something like this could not be discussed in the open. “This is pointless. Douglas, Beth, and Bjorn would you please come inside the saloon. I think we all need to talk. We have plenty of time to shoot each other.”
Unsurprisingly, Bjorn seemed unwilling to consider that. Jed took a step forward and snarled in a harsh whisper, “Listen you fool, those are vampires sitting out in the sun. We need to talk.”
Surprisingly, Bjorn considered the idea. One of his men objected, “Let’s kill them now.”
Bjorn growled and the man stepped backward shamed. “Why not,” Bjorn shrugged.
Jed faced Beth and Douglas. “Beth this is not what you want. There can be peace.”
“Your right,” She said. “I am not a monster. Come on Douglas.” She moved forward to the saloon, expecting him to follow.
However, the mayor hesitated. Swiftly running up to the vampire, Jed said, “Listen, they have the upper hand right now. Fighting would destroy us. We have to wait for the right time.”
Douglas agreed silently taking the first step to the saloon, following Beth inside. Bjorn also started walking. Again Jed whispered, this time in Carter’s ears. The sheriff eyes widened but he nodded. He too began moving, heading to the side.
“Keep an eye out, Obadiah.”
The red haired gunslinger nodded. “Don’t worry I’ll shoot the first one to move.”
Jed could not help but smile. From the saloon, droves of people were evicted. This was going to be a private meeting. The people leaving hurried out of the street. As far as they could see, no one was on their side. The mayor was notoriously known for caring more about his coal mine than the town. Sheriff Carter was his sheriff. The saloon owner was some kind of outlaw and this made the gold miners think about the money in the bank. And the gunslingers were somewhere in between for whomever had the money. They wouldn’t believe the truth that the gunslingers were the only ones not trying to get them all killed.
Bjorn moved to the counter and grabbed a bottle of whiskey. He did not bother offering them anything. Sitting back on a chair, feet propped on the table, he popped the cap off and took a deep gulp. He wiped his mouth in a contented sigh.
“Let’s hear what you have to say.” Bjorn said.
Beth and Douglas sat down on the other side, much more formal. Standing to the side, not on either side was Jed. The gunslinger made sure no one was listening. He coughed and he struggled to cut it short. Clearing his throat he decided on what to say.
“What is it that you want?” He began. “Why are you all here? Is it for food? A place to live?” Jed stared into each of their eyes. “It is none of that. A thousand places offer better of all of that. What none of those places have is a place to live. Peace. Sanctuary. You all are tired of running. From the law. From gunslingers. Even from regular folk. That is the reason you came to Hickory.”
Jed slapped the table. “Then why are you fighting?”
Bjorn brows burrowed together. “What do you mean?”
The gunslinger explained. “Vampires and werewolves both get hunted. So why are you fighting for a piece of land? There is a simple solution that let both of you get what you want. Douglas you only care about the coal mine. That is where your livelihood is on. You don’t care a can of beans about the rest of town. Bjorn this is your saloon. You make a good living on the town folk’s drinking and gambling. Look here there is already a two mile divide between your places. A perfect wall for your own little kingdoms.”
“What about my brothers you vampires have killed.” Bjorn accused.
“You attacked us first,” Beth protested. “We were simply defending ourselves.”
Paraphrasing Adolf the long dead werewolf, Jed said, “Bjorn, they are hunting in Valhalla.” In perfect timing Carter arrived with Hudson. “Well not all of them,” Jed amended.
Bjorn stood up. “Hudson! You old dog you’re alive!”
Hudson proudly declared, “At your service, my king.”
Bjorn actually chuckled, a low deep rumbling sound. “Give me a moment if you will.” Bending really low he whispered in Hudson’s ears and then listened intently when his vassal spoke back. Bjorn stood up.
Taking advantage of the opportunity Jed said. “Now if the fighting continues, the folk will find out. What happens then, huh? Whoever wins won’t last long. A mob will get them, just like in the old stories.”
The German looked down. “Why don’t you have them rise up now?”
“Too many will die.” Jed said. “Besides both sides will pay me a hundred dollars a month.”
“What!?” Unsurprisingly it was Douglas who exclaimed.
Beth placed a restraining hand. “A small price. We are willing to agree.” The old vampire had a deep frown. Fortunately he did not object further.
The King of the Hunt considered the offer. “Both sides will avoid the other?” He asked.
“Yes.” Jed answered further stipulating, “Vampires and werewolves will leave each other alone. You will also leave the common folk. When it comes near the next full moon we will discuss what happens then. Any member that breaks this rule will be punished. Either by his leader or if I do not think it was severe enough, then by me.” The gunslinger placed his hands on his revolvers. “Agreed.”
“Agreed,” the others chorused.
Almost sighing in relief the gunslinger congratulated himself. “I reckon we should all go home.”
Outside the men eagerly awaited he news. The werewolves seemed disappointed, yet they complied with their leader’s wishes. Gradually and cautiously both sides dispersed. Carter began talking to the folk and tell the lie they would associate as the truth.
“You did it.” Obadiah congratulated. They were riding to the boarding house.
“I reckon I got lucky. Though that was the easy part. We still need to find a way to get rid of these pests.” Truthfully, Jed was feeling drained and hardly up to the task. He coughed again.
Sleep was difficult, constant thoughts strayed into his mind. None of them pleasant. Jed got up still hacking. He doubted anyone was in the rooms next door. Every night he was up late coughing. Bone weary and unable to sleep, he pulled his boots on. Since he was up he might as well take a look outside. The night air was peaceful and calm. He did not stay out long in case something was out there that night. Jed wasn’t in any mood to deal with it.
The town adapted quickly to the yesterday’s dealing. Carter informed them Bjorn and his ilk were not werewolves or bandits. It was all a simple misunderstanding. More than eager to be put at ease they accepted the story and moved on. Little did they know the storm was brewing. Or that Jed was stirring it up.
The gunslingers were making a visit to the saloon. It was early in the morning and Bjorn was cleaning everything, making sure it was all ready. Most of his group was there with him. Helping around or passing time lazily. Confidence was the key in these situations and Jed walked forward without a doubt. The glares he received could unnerve a man. At least enough to show fear.
A large rag was wiping over the bar counter. Steady circular motions he cleaned off any spilled whiskey. Dark eyes studied Jed. “I wondered when you would come to talk. Hudson told me everything.”
Jed leaned at the counter, showing no fear. “Where is the little pup?”
“At the train station doing his job. And he is not alone.”
That eliminated any possibility of skipping town. Help could neither be sent for nor received. Shame considering how little weapons laid in town. A silversmith and a good Catholic crucifix would do wonders. Jed tapped his fingers on the bar, a steady drumbeat.
Bjorn spoke. “Hudson says you’ve had a change of heart real sudden. Says you want to team up.”
“It’s a matter of principle,” Jed admitted. “I don’t like the blood sucking bastards. Honestly werewolves are the lesser of two evils”
“What does you partner say?”
Obadiah said, “As long as I get paid I do not care.”
Bjorn cackled, “You should be an outlaw. Rob the bank in town.”
“This is better than an outlaw.” The red haired lad said. “I can charge whatever you want and there is always work. It does not matter if it is human, werewolf, or vampire.”
Obadiah played a convincing role. Bjorn had little knowledge of his partner. A blessing that Obadiah had not had the time to get to know the folk well.
“After the vampires are killed what then?” Bjorn asked.
“We leave.” Jed replied. “I ain’t throwing my life away for no reason. Reckon there is a chance to kill some vampires, collect good money and leave. Bjorn you don’t have to pay me. I know that Douglas has plenty of money. Dead he won’t need it. You will behave yourself once I’m gone. Like I said you’re looking for a home, not a hunting ground.”