Gone to the Ranch

Ezra awoke with the warm sun shining thru the open window and the sound of people on the street below. He slowly opened his eyes to see young Marcos sitting at the round table in the corner of the room with Ezra's books open in front of him. Good Morning Marcos, Ezra said as the young boy jumped out of the chair and to the floor to face him. Good Morning Mr. Ezra, he replied. I see you have found my Bible and my Journal Marcos, I was not aware that you could read, he said to the boy. Yes, Ms Kitty has a teacher that taught all of the boys and girls to read, she says it is very important. The boy replied. Yes indeed Marcos, it is very important to know how to read. Now you can go ahead and read my Bible as much as you like, but as for my Journal, well, there are things in there a Boy your age just shouldn't know about yet. Do we have an understanding? Yes Senior, he replied. That a boy, now go down stairs and get me some breakfast, I have a long day ahead of me. Yes Senior, Marcos replied, and hurriedly left the room.

Hawkins set up against the headboard of the bed to clear his head. It had been almost three days since the incident in front of the Sheriffs office and his near run into Dallas. Since than Dallas had been making a methodical search for Hawkins and had even asked Cade about him. Hawkins knew it would happen when the two had made eye contact, When a man has been in enough confrontations and looks another man in the eyes, it truly is a window to the sole, and Hawkins knew that Dallas had seen Hawkins Blue Eyes of a Gun Fighter, and would be searching for answers as to why he was in town. He got out of bed and walked to the small water closet to wash his face. He heard Marcos open and close the door and set breakfast on the table. Mr Ezra, Mr Cade say that Scotty arrived last night on the stagecoach. He is working the bar for now, and you will see him later. Thank you Marcos, Hawkins replied, has he dried his face and his hands with a small towel and went to sit at the table to eat the Eggs and beans that Marcos had brought up from the Kitchen. Hawkins sat eating Breakfast and reading the small Bible that lay open on the table. Hawkins had found God during the War, and the Lord had served him well. He struggled nearly everyday, as many men did, but not with his faith did he struggle. He knew God existed and had set him on the path that he followed. He struggled with the things he had done along the path, and if even today he was making the right decision, using his skills to help those who needed it, but shedding the blood of evil men, hoping he was not becoming like the men he had killed.

He finished his breakfast and got dressed in a pair of brown pants, a green shirt, and a brown coachman's hat. He asked Marcos to have a buckboard wagon parked behind the hotel with a horse that he could ride out to see Cole Dakota. He took a short barrel shotgun from the chest and walked downstairs thru the kitchen and out the backdoor of the Desert Rose to find the buckboard wagon parked just as he had asked. Dame, Marcos is a smart and trust worthy lad, Ms Kitty has taught him well, he thought to himself. Hawkins drove the buckboard thru town as he new it would draw less attention then a man on a horse full armed. Several of Miles Andres men rode by paying little attention to him as he drove the buckboard wagon out of town and out to Cole Dakota's Ranch where he planned to stay a few days. Caed should find the note he left on the table for him, and would most likely be thankful to have a few nights rest, without Hawkins snoring away on the bed next to him.

It took a few hours to reach the Ranch and he was welcomed by Rooster on Horseback pointing his shotgun at Hawkins. That's far enough mister, Rooster shouted. Now is that anyway to treat me Rooster, Hawkins replied. Hawkins, What are you doing on that Buckboard, Rooster asked? Well, if I wanted Miles Andres men to see and follow me out here to the Ranch, I would have put on my Burgundy Jacket, my Guns and got on a big black horse and led the parade out of town Rooster, He replied. Makes since to me Amigo, head on up to the house, I think the Boss is eating lunch. Hawkins drove the buckboard wagon up to the house and a young cowboy took the horse and wagon to the barn. Cole walked out of the front door with a napkin in his hands wiping stew from his mouth. I see you were able to sneak out of town Hawkins. Hawkins shook his head in agreement and shook Cole's hand. Come on in the house we have much to discuss. Yes we do, Hawkins replied in agreement. The two men enterd Cole's office on the first floor on the three story house. Cole light a Cigar while Hawkins explained that he had almost everything in place. Caed had gathered some very useful information on Mile's men and had a good plan in place. Scotty had arrived unnoticed in town and would prove useful as always. Cole and Hawkins discussed how Rooster and the Tall Texan wanted to assist in taking down Dallas as well as himself, but Hawkins didn't want to see the men get killed. He knew they were good and trustworthy men and would be of use, but in a fight like this it was sure to get bloody and any hesitation at all could mean the difference between life and death. Cole and Hawkins finally agreed to let Rooster and the Tall Texan cover them and be ready if needed in the Desert Rose Saloon. Hawkins told Cole that it would all be over in a few more days and that the town of Wickenburg would be back to normal soon. The two men talked for several more hours discussing the plan in detail, and Hawkins stayed the night and returned to Wickenburg the next day.                          

The new Magnificent 7 movie

I had the opportunity to sit and watch the newly released "Magnificent 7" last night. I found it very entertaining and enjoyed it. I thought the movie was very well done and had some very exciting action and funny material from the actors.

The Magnificent 7 is the story of a town called Rose Creek and how seven men are brought together to face down a land baron who is stealing farms and forcing miners to work for him. It is interesting watching how the main character Sam Chisolm, played by Denzel Washington, collects the group of men and forms them into a powerful force to help the town. Ethan Hawke did a wonderful job portraying, Goodnight Robicheaux, a character haunted by his past as a Civil War Sharp Shooter. I also enjoyed Vincent D”onofrio in his role as Jack Home. The movie is rated PG and does have lots of shooting, explosions and some death scenes of innocent towns people. I would suggest this movie to anyone who enjoys the Western genre and wants to watch a fun and entertaining Western Movie.    

https://youtu.be/q-RBA0xoaWU

Hawkins Burgundy Coat was well known in St Louis among the Saloons where he dealt Faro. It was one of the things that had drawn Cade to work with Hawkins. The man seemed fearless at times, but Cade knew a side of him that most men never would. They traveled together on the Paddle Boats dealing Faro and building a trust in one another that few men had. Cade knew his strength and weakness, and his greatest weakness was Clover. Cade never had a liking for the women, but knew and respected Hawkins long history with her. He would see him at his best and also when he fought going back to the bottle that had brought him so much comfort during the war. Hawkins and his dame Burgundy Coat was always one to bring attention, sometimes not always the kind of attention a man wanted.

Hawkins met Clover in Wichita Kansas after the War. He had headed to Wichita to work in the Long Branch Saloon for Luke Short. Clover was one of the working girls and Hawkins took quick a liking to her, and they became lovers. He was still drinking during this time and hadn't sworn off not cheating at cards yet. He had made quite a bit of money that summer, during the Cattle Drive from Texas, and would pay for Clover to travel with him back to St Louis, MO, This would be where he started working on the Paddle Wheeler's running up and down the Mississippi River. The couple would work together traveling up and down river back and forth from New Orleans to St Louis. They made a good pair working the card tables, but things did not always go well. The couple would have some difficult times together, facing the many trials and difficulties of life on a River Boat trying to make a living. Their Love was true enough, but Clover was a working girl and Hawkins had to face the difficulties that brought for both of them. As Hawkins became more wealthy, Clover became more famous. How could these two face all that lay between them and still be together, was Love enough? Only time could tell.

    

Hawkins and Kenny had to face-down a pair of Horse-thief's north of Phoenix. Kenny had chased the pair to a small mining town where Hawkins had been hosting a friendly Faro game in the local Saloon. Seeing that Kenny was all alone and could use a helping hand, Hawkins decided to join in and lend some assistance. Of course the two fellows didn't want to meet a swift end and after Kenny let loose a shot from his Colt Pistol, The pair decided it was best to give Kenny back his Horses, and to make a quick getaway out of town. In the end things turned out all right after all, and no one had to die that day.


 

 

A walk around Wickenburg

Hawkins put the books back into the chest after carefully wrapping them in a silk cloth. A couple of the windows were open and he could hear the sounds on the street below and feel the warm breeze blowing thru the open windows. The dry desert air was much different then the humid air of the south and it felt good as the smell of sage and desert flowers wafted in the air. He decided it was time to get dressed and to take a look around town, keeping a low profile. Out of the chest he pulled a pair of black pants, a red native trade shirt, a brown vest and a coachmen's hat. He got dressed wrapping a red silk scarf around his neck. lastly he pulled a double barrel pearl handled derringer out of the chest, loading it and placing it in his vest pocket. He headed out the bedroom door and down the hallway, down the stairs and thru the kitchen walking out the rear door of the Desert Rose Saloon.

The town of Wickenburg was full of People and Horses, Hawkins found it easy to almost disappear into the crowded street. You could tell that many of the people were nervous and that there was a feeling of uneasiness in the air. Hawkins walked several blocks until he came into view of the Sheriffs office. He stopped in front of the tobacco shop across the street from the Sheriffs office and stepped inside. The elderly man behind the counter was friendly and sold Hawkins some twist tobacco for his pipe, after having a short conversation. Hawkins then took some of the tobacco and loaded the pipe while looking out the window across to the Sheriffs office. A tall man in his 20's stood on the front porch of the sheriffs office smoking a thin cigar and leaning on a post, watching people pass up and down the street. He wore black pants with a white shirt and double breasted red vest. His hat was black with a small brim and a silver band. He wore a black gun belt with two Colt Pistols holstered in it. Hawkins had seen his type before, especially after the war. This must be the man named Dallas. Hawkins knew he would be a formidable opponent, and was most likely as fast at the draw has he was. Hawkins was not in a hurry to be shot down by a young kid who was fast on the draw and most likely a very good shot. This would take some planning and the right time and place to face Dallas and not get killed.

Hawkins smoked the pipe and continued to watch Dallas thru the window of the Tobacco shop. A man walked up the steps of the sheriffs office with a bag in his hands giving Dallas plenty of room as Dallas stared at the man watching him climb the stairs and enter the sheriffs office. Hawkins could see that Dallas said something to the man as he passed, but he could not hear what was said. The man had a deathly look of fright on his face as he passed and disappeared from sight. After several minutes a voiced yelled, "Dallas, Get in here". Dallas dropped the cigar stomping on it with his boot, and disappeared into the Sheriffs office. The man who had entered with the bag then ran out of the sheriffs office into the street and Dallas was close behind. The man fumbled down the stairs falling into the street. Dallas stopped on the porch spreading his feet wide. Hawkins knew what was coming next. "We don't abide by cheaters and liars" Dallas yelled at the man. The man arose from the street and stumbled backward, as Dallas pulled the pistol with his left hand so fast that you would have almost missed it even looking right at him. Flame erupted from the end of the chrome plated pistol as the gun fired in this hand followed by three more quick shots. All four rounds struck the man in the street one of them passing completely thru the man and striking the frame of the window Hawkins was looking thru. He continued staring down at the man laying in the street as his blood ran out into the dirt. All of a sudden Hawkins felt the hair on his neck stand up, as he realized that Dallas was looking directly thru the Tobacco shop window at him from across the street. Hawkins took several steps back and saw that Dallas was starting to walk down the steps toward the wounded man in the street. Hawkins reached down to his gun belt and remembered he had only the small pistol in his pocket. He was holly unprepared to face Dallas, and it was very likely that he was going to walk thru the door and ask who he was. How could he have made such a stupid error in judgement? Caed would never let him hear the end of it, he was certain of that. Dallas stopped at the now dead mans feet kicking him and watching for movement. Then again looked thru the shop window in Hawkins direction. Dallas put his hand on his gun and began to walk to the Tobacco shop entrance. Hawkins swore under his breath and looked quickly around the room for an exit and there was none. As Dallas reach the Tobacco shop door he reached for the handle, just as a voice boomed out from behind him. "Dallas, dame you. I don't pay you to do this boy". Dallas spun around to face Miles Andres who was standing in his wagon in the street. "Sheriff, clean up this mess and Dallas you get back to the Mine where you belong". Miles roared at the young gunfighter. Dallas looked at Miles and told him "Yes, sure". Dallas turned back to the entrance of the Tobacco Shop and started to turn the handle of the door. "Dallas, I mean do it now boy". Dallas turned with a hard stare at the large man in the wagon, and let go of the door handle, turned and walked down the street back toward the mine on the south end of town. Hawkins realized he hadn't taken a breath for several moments and that he now had the small pistol in his hand behind his back. He was brought back to reality when the Tobacconist spoke to him. "Hell of a thing, shooting a man down like that, you alight mister"? Hawkins shook off the cloud in his head and responded. "Yes, ah, I wasn't aware it was such a dangerous place this town of yours". "Just give the Dallas kid plenty of room if you see him in the street and you'll be fine". The Tobacconist told him. Hawkins shook his head thanking the man and slipped the pistol back into his vest pocket. He quickly stepped out of the door and headed back to the Desert Rose Saloon and to his room.

Caed was waiting for Hawkins when he returned to the room. Hawkins explained everything that had happened and how he almost had a face to face meeting with Dallas in the Tobacco shop earlier. Of course Caed had a few choice words for Hawkins and was sure to let him know that his error would not be forgotten for sometime. Hawkins knew he had made an error in judgment and would be more careful in the future as he knew Dallas would now be looking for him in town. Caed eat dinner that was brought up to the room by Marcus, and headed back down to the gambling hall to collect more info on Dallas and the other men that worked for Miles Andrews. He had wanted Caed to be sharp, but Hawkins knew now, that he needed to worry more about himself being sharp then Caed at the moment. He changed his clothes to his night shirt and climbed into the soft bed with his bowie knife at his side and pistol in hand.   

          
     

  

Arrival in Wickenburg

Hawkins sat in a high-backed red chair looking out the second floor window facing west. It was nearly 2am, and he could hear the music coming from the first floor saloon and gambling hall. He and Cade had arrived in Wickenburg almost a week ago. The Tall Texan and Rooster had led them north from Tucson to the Stage Station at Picacho Peak and then north to Wickenburg.

 Caed and Hawkins had rode into the town of Wickenburg at dawn and followed the directions that Rooster had handed to them on the note from Cole Dakota.  The note had said to ride into town and go to the rear door of the Desert Rose Saloon, they were to tell whoever answered the rear door of the Saloon that they had a package for Ms. Klondike Kitty from Cole Dakota. A young Hispanic boy about 10 years old had answered the rear door of the Saloon when Caed had knocked on it. When he told the young boy that they had a package from Cole Dakota, the boy looked around quickly and passed the two men to see if anyone was watching them, and then led the two men thru the rear door and into the Kitchen where he had been sweeping and washing dishes. “Ms. Kitty said to take you two upstairs as soon as you got here and not to tell anyone” the boy had said, as he led the men thru the kitchen to a set of stairs and up to the second floor. “Ms. Kitty said to put you in the corner room and to bring you anything you need” The boy led the men down a long hall to the last door on the right and unlocked it with a key from his pocket. “Ms. Kitty says for you to stay here, and when she wakes up she will come to see you, I am Marcus and if you need something, pull the string on the wall and the bell will ring in the Kitchen and I will be right up, OK?” Hawkins and Caed followed the boy into the room and Hawkins thanked him handing him a silver dollar. Marcus took the coin and put it in his pocket, smiling he closed the door locking it. Caed and Hawkins stood in a large room almost 500 square feet in size. It was located in the south west corner of the two story building, and was decorated with dark red wall paper. There were two windows on each side of the exterior walls with heavy red drapes hanging over white lace curtains. The room had 2 queen sized beds, a small round table with a pitcher of water and two glasses, surrounded by four red high-backed chairs. A second door in the east wall led to another room with a flush toilet and brass bathtub, which also had a ceramic bowl placed next to a pitcher of water on a washstand and mirror.

It had been a long ride thru the desert, and Hawkins took a seat in one of the chairs, pouring himself a glass of water and sipping from it. “Caed, you best you get some rest. I'm not sure when this Ms. Kitty will show up and I want you to be sharp.” Caed nodded in agreement and undressed placing one of his pistols under the sheets as he climbed into the bed closest to the door, and drifted off to sleep. Hawkins sat in the red high-backed chair for a few more minutes sipping the water. He read thru the letter from Cole Dakota one more time, and then undressed and climbed into the second bed placing his pocket pistol under the pillow and his bowie knife under the sheets and closed his eyes.

Asdis Dahl aka Ms. Kitty was a robust, friendly, intelligent and finely dressed woman, whose family had hailed from Norway in the early 1800’s. She owned most of the property on the south end of Wickenburg Arizona up to and including the main cross roads that headed west to California and north to Prescott. Her headquarters had originally been the two story building called the Desert Rose Saloon located at the North East corner of the crossroads. She had made the room, where Hawkins and Cade where staying, on the second floor her home when she had first bought the property, but now lived in large home overlooking the Hassayampa River. Asdis had made extensive changes to the first floor of the Desert Rose Saloon building, which was originally a hotel, creating a large space for a gambling hall and saloon with a stage. A kitchen was built at the rear of the building and a dining room on the east side. From the first day she opened the doors of the Desert Rose Saloon miners, travelers, and cowboys filled the place looking for good food, entertainment and companionship.

Asids had originally come from Minnesota after her Father and Brother had both been killed in the Civil War and after her Mother had remarried. She had always been intelligent and loved to read books and would move to Colorado where she made a good sum of money working in the Brothels on Market street and would became Ms. Klondike Kitty, where she learned quickly that she could quadruple the money she made in the Colorado Brothels by helping to fund other women. She would help them to purchase supplies and to make the things that men needed to survive in the American West such as food and clothing. She would also teach the ladies to read and write, so that they would have the ability to assist in the reading and writing of letters and other documents. After almost ten years in Denver and after making a good sum of money, she headed south to Tombstone Arizona during the big Silver Rush in 1878. After setting up a small shop she began to once again help fund other woman in the community and to make money. She would witness the famed shootout between the Earp’s, Clanton’s, and McLaurys and soon after would leave Tombstone as the violence escalated in the city. She had met Cole Dakota and his wife Mrs. Lilly while living in Tombstone and the pair had invited Ms. Kitty to move to Wickenburg with the intent to have her invest in a safer community. With all the bloodshed in Tombstone, it had only made since for her to move north. She had now been in Wickenburg for almost four years and had grown to love the community in the high desert, with all its beautiful flowers and expansive opportunities. Cole and Mrs. Lilly would often come to town and have dinner at the Desert Rose Saloon. They enjoyed listening to the live band and the wonderful food. Things in Wickenburg had been going very well until Miles Andrews had purchased one on the mines just south of town and his thugs had began to extort the business owners for protection money. Several head of Cole Dakota’s cattle herd had gone mysteriously missing as well. Cole, Rooster and the Tall Texan had originally wanted to face Miles and his thugs head on, but Mrs. Lilly and Ms. Kitty had talked them out of it. One of Miles men, Dallas, was a cold blooded killer and had already proved his skills with a knife and pistol when someone got in his way. The town Sheriff was also now on Miles pay role as well. One night Ms. Kitty overheard a pair of men talking about an Ezra Hawkins in the Saloon and how he had helped his family down in Mississippi, she bought the men a meal and drinks to learn more about this man Hawkins and soon after Cole and Mrs. Lilly were headed back east to find Ezra Hawkins.

Hawkins awoke to the smell of stew and hot baked bread. Caed was sitting at the table with a woman eating and talking. Out of the corner of his eye he could see a tall blonde man standing near the door with his arms crossed. He was nearly as tall as the door frame and his muscles bulged under his shirt. “Oh, I see you are awake Mr. Hawkins, Cade was just explaining to me your trip here from New Orleans. Very exciting I must say, and how fortunate of you to meet Cactus Jack and Santee, two very lovely gentleman.” She had said. “Well, I take it you are our host Ms. Klondike Kitty I presume” he answered in reply, running his hand thru his hair and sitting up against the headboard of the bed. “Yes, and this is my assistant Angus, he cares for my horses and such. Marcus sent one of the girls up to the house to inform me of your arrival this morning. Once Angus and I had finished up with the horses, we decided to see if you were up and ready for company.” Ms. Kitty explained. Hawkins sat in the bed talking with Ms. Kitty and Caed about the situation. She explained the goings on since Miles Andrews arrival in Wickenburg almost a year ago, and about the situation they were in. The three agreed that Caed would be introduced as a new Faro dealer and would collect as much information as he could in the saloon. Hawkins would remain hidden in the room and await the opportunity to face miles and his thugs. Cade finished his meal and headed down to the saloon with Ms. Kitty and Angus. Hawkins arose from the bed putting his shirt on and sat at the table to eat some of the stew and bread that had been prepared. There was a slight knock on the door and Marcus lead seven boys into the room carrying Hawkins chest and several bags. He had Marcus remove two books from the chest and laid them on the table to his right. Hawkins than laid eight silver dollars on the table in front of Marcus, who picked up the coins and handed them to the other boys as they left the room, leaving Hawkins alone sitting at the table eating stew and thumbing thru one of the two books.

Rocky Mountain Rivalry,

June 1/2 in Loveland, Colorado.

This is a new and exciting event for Colorado in June. The Reneactment Guild of America will be hosting a Western Reenactment competition here in our own backyard. This will be a great opportunity for those that love the History of the American West to see the very best that Colorado has to offer as Western Reenactors from all over the state join together to spotlight their skills and talents in storytelling, and performing for live audiences. You will not want to miss this fun family event.

For all of those R.G.A. members here in Colorado don't forget to renew your membership, as they are due in January to December, yearly.

 

Also look for more information on some other great upcoming, first-ever, Colorado R.G.A. events on the web page for Monarch productions http://home.earthlink.net/~monarchproductions/id5.html 

 

 

Cody's Wild West show in Golden CO

On July 28th Monarch Productions will present Cody's Wild West show in Golden Colorado. This will be a fun family event with a mixture of  Period music, and demonstrations by some of the top western performers in Colorado. You won't want to miss this exciting event as Cowboys display the roping and shooting skills of the American West, and you surrounded by the color, sounds and history of Colorado.

Anomaly Con and the Steampunk Genre

Anomaly con starts on March 23^rd at the Tivoli Student Union in Denver, CO. It will be a fun-filled event filled with Steampunk genre vendors and participants. This will be their 3^rd event here in Denver at a location that is sure to inspire the participants with its historic surroundings originally built in 1866 as a brewery. It can sometimes be difficult to describe exactly what it is and is not Steampunk.  My interest in it began long after my interest in the history of the American West as a re-enactor and living historian. Although Steampunk follows along the lines of the Victorian time period and the clothing and customs of the time, it holds on to a promise of what could have been if things in our collective past happened a little differently. It is a world of steam powered computers, high tech firearms and weapons, balloon air ships that are commanded by pirates and captains of the sky that do battle to the death, and just about anything else one can imagine. Stories such as Dracula and Frankenstein that were written in the Victorian Era have added greatly and had much influence on the dress and ideas that people involved in Steampunk have today. The latest Three Musketeers movie falls into the Steampunk genre, even though it is an earlier time period then the Victorian Era. The movie Wild Wild West with Will Smith and the Sherlock Homes movies with Robert Downey Jr. fall much more in line with the Steampunk ideas and were influenced greatly by events such as Anomaly Con. Ladies have found much more freedom in the Steampunk genre than in the western re-enacting community as they can dress in period costumes as a Steampunk participant, yet have much more freedom with the character she creates and items she adds to her wardrobe. Goggles, gears and brass also make up much of what is used to help add flare and design to costumes and weapons in Steampunk. The show Brisco County Jr. tended to walk a thin line when it came to Steampunk staying with the more authentic weapons of the American West such as the revolver and rifles, but would often wonder into the realm of Steampunk with new inventions, gadgets and dress that one would not have seen in the American West. Although we tend to still think of the American West as a time when people lived lives of hard work and drudger, we tend to often forget that it was a time of invention and discovery as the telephone and electricity were often available in many large cities as well as plumbing and all sorts of industrial machinery. Sometimes, I think that as a western re-enactor we often miss out talking about the many great inventions that were created during the Victorian Age.  Some think of the Steampunk genre as something not worthy to stand next to the history of the American West and tend to stare down their nose when a group show up to an event wearing the signature goggles and gears of a Steampunker. I however think that they fall right in line with today’s re-enactors of American West history. The imagination and skills of Steampunk participants is exactly what we need to help keep interest in what we do and to help keep history alive. After all, it may be closer to the reality of the American West then most of us would like to believe, but that is just the opinion of a frontier gambler.    

If you would like more info on the upcoming Anomaly Con and everything that will be happening at this event, be sure to visit the website at http://anomalycon.com/

A man named Santee

Hawkins sat on the porch of the hotel in Lordsburg sipping from a cup of coffee. They had been there almost a week now, and had no luck at finding someone to help them thru the Chiricahua Mountains and Apache pass.  He had spoken to Lieutenant Spear, who was camped out on the west end of town, but the Lt had no interest in trying to make his way back to Ft Benson until he got more men from Fort Stockton. The Calvary Soldiers had arrived the day after Hawkins and his men, and they had been attacked at Apache Pass and had lost six men, four others were wounded and being cared for by the town physician which left the Lieutenant and only three other military men. The Lieutenant was still shaken by his experience in Apache pass has he had only been in Arizona for a few months and was fresh from West Point. The Sargent that was with them, whom the Lieutenant had relied heavily upon, had been killed in the pass leaving the young Lieutenant waiting  for someone with more experience to help him out of his current situation, being camped outside of Lordsburg.

The Tall Texan walked out of the hotel and sat next to Hawkins on the porch. A young bar boy ran across the dirt street and up the steps handing the Tall Texan a glass of beer. Rooster stood in the doorway of the Saloon across the street and hoisted his beer to the Tall Texan who hoisted his in return. Rooster then turned and walked back into the Saloon. “Where’s Caed at?”  “He’s in the saloon playing cards, he said I was a terrible bore currently and he needed to find some entertainment.” Hawkins replied. The Tall Texan nodded and continued to sip the beer. “Well, at least we can still head north or south from here and aren’t held up in between some rocks surrounded by Apache Warriors in the Chiricahua Mountains” The Tall Texan said as he got up from his chair and headed across the street to the Saloon. Hawkins was sure he had made the right choice, all the signs had been there and the trip had been good so far. He wasn’t sure where he had gone wrong or maybe he just needed to be patent and wait as his answer was on the way. A man walked from the Saloon from across the street and stopped at the bottom of the steps. He had a mustache, and wore a long white duster, gray stripped pants, black vest, black Stetson hat, and white shirt. He stood there for a moment and pulled a Cigar from his vest pocket lighting it. He continued to stand at the bottom of the stairs puffing on the cigar and then took a long drag from it blowing the smoke out in one long breath. Without looking at Hawkins he said “I hear tell you fellas need a guide thru the Chiricahua Mountains”.  “Why you know an Indian that can get us thru those mountains?” Hawkins replied.  “Well, let’s just say I have some goods that I need to get to Tucson and I need a wagon. Now you and your friends got a wagon and are going my way to Tucson. So I figured it would be a good match, and we all get what we want out of the deal.” Hawkins sat in the chair silent for few moments while he thought about it. “Mister, I think we got ourselves a deal, when can we leave for Tucson?” Hawkins asked. “Tomorrow morning” the stranger replied, “Meet me down on the west end of town at the Mercantile with your wagon, and we will leave from there”. The stranger then turned and walked back across the street and into the Saloon. Hawkins continued to sit on the porch and wondered if he was making a good decision or if this was a trap of some kind to steal their supplies in the desert. He didn’t have the luxury of waiting to find a dependable and known guide to lead them thru the mountains, and he was confident that if they did find trouble the men he was with could handle it as they were all dependable men.

The next morning the Tall Texan and Hawkins rode down to the Mercantile followed by Caed driving the small wagon. The stranger was standing on the steeps talking with the store owner as the men dismounted and walked up the steps. “Good morning Hawkins” The man said smiling with an unlit Cigar in his mouth. He then looked over to the wagon, “Morning Caed”. “Good morning Santee” Caed replied looking down toward his boots. “Yea know Hawkins, Caed there is pretty good at Cards, But I wouldn’t let him play with dice. He just ain’t as good with them as he is with those cards” Santee said with a grin on his face.  Santee lit the cigar and began to smoke it. “Mr. Tailor, can you please have your boys load my supplies into these good Gentlemen’s wagon, so we can be on our way?” he asked the store owner. The store owner’s sons quickly brought out five sealed boxes that were two feet wide, two feet long and two feet high and loaded them onto the wagon followed by two bags about the size of flour sacks and a large wooden barrel. “Well, that’s everything Gentlemen, shell we head to Tucson?” he asked as Santee mounted his horse and headed out of town.

 The three men rode west out of Lordsburg followed closely by Caed in the wagon, and Rooster far enough back as to stay out of sight of Santee and the group. “Hey Hawkins, what happened to your Mexican friend Rooster?” asked Santee. “He headed south down into Mexico, as he didn’t like the idea of going thru Apache country after seeing what they did to those Solders back in Lordsburg”. “Hawkins, I didn’t figure you to ride with men that would turn tale and run at the first sign of trouble, so I figured you had him following us just in case I wasn’t as friendly a fellow as you hopped I was, and if he is following us and your lying to me. Well, then your exactly the kind of man I think you are, and I respect you being cautious.” The group continued to ride west until they reached the small town of Doubtful Canyon where they ate dinner and spent the night. The next morning the group continued west and into the Chiricahua Mountains following the wagon trail thru the mountain pass. A couple miles out of town a loan rider was stopped in the middle of the trail, he appeared to be an old Apache Indian dressed in a white cotton tunic shirt and pants like the Mexicans wore with a red sash belt and breechcloth, and he had on hide moccasins. The Tall Texan didn’t hesitate putting the reins in his mouth and pulling his pistols, he started to spur his horse toward the Indian when Santee grabbed him by the shoulder. “Now hold on their partner, that’s Cactus Jack up ahead and we will need him to get thru these parts. So you may just want to hold off shooting him for now” Santee told him. The Tall Texan put his pistols back in his sash and took the reins back in his hands as Santee rode forward to meet the old Indian. The two appeared to be speaking, but the group could not hear the conversation, then Santee yelled back to the group. “Jack says the rode is clear up ahead and he talked with a group of Braves a while back to let them know we had paid to travel thru here. We should be able to get thru Apache pass without any difficulties”. The group rode forward with Cactus Jack and Santee leading the way. The group traveled thru the pass without seeing a single Apache warrior. “Hey Santee, where are these terrible Apache Warriors at, I haven’t seen one of them”, Santee tapped Jack on the shoulder and made some hand gestures to him and Jack began to laugh. Santee yelled back over his shoulder, “Oh they have been watching us, and if they wanted you to see them you would”.  All of a sudden gun fire erupted from behind the group. Several shots rang out as Rooster charged forward on his horse firing his pistol behind him, in pursuit were a dozen or more Apache warriors on horseback and several more on the hills above firing on him with Rifles. Rooster lay low in the saddle firing from his right side riding hard.  Jack spurred his horse toward Rooster as the men in the group pulled their pistols. Rooster looked up to see the Old Apache riding toward him and almost fell off his horse as he passed him making signs with his hands to the Apache Warriors who were in pursuit. “So I guess Rooster was following us all this time wasn’t he Hawkins?” Santee asked. Hawkins looked at Santee “Hell yes he was, I don’t take nothing to chance”. “I respect that Hawkins, but you almost got him killed. Guess I should have known you would have had someone following us”.  Jack rejoined the group and made hand signs to Santee, than headed west down the trail. “Jack says we should head west to Tucson, just in case Rooster actually hit one of the warriors he was shooting at, they may want payment for that as well” Santee told the group, then turned and followed Jack as the rest of the group all followed closely behind.

The group arrived in Tucson four days later and unpacked the goods that Santee had loaded onto the wagon at a Merchant near the downtown area. Santee stood talking with the store owner and he was paid an unknown amount of money. He then walked down the steps and rejoined the group. Jack stood near Hawkins, and he looked at the Old Apache, “Jack, I am not sure that you understand me, but thank you for helping us to get thru the pass and into Tucson”.  Jack stood there for a moment, “Your Welcome” he replied, “And tell your friend not to follow so far behind next time or I may not be able to help him”.  The group all looked at each other with amazement, as it was the first time Jack had spoken during the entire trip. Santee walked beside the Old Apache handing him a wade of Bills, then yelled over his should “If you boys need to head back east from here, just asked for Santee and Cactus Jack” as the two men walked away and down the street. Hawkins just shook his head looking at the ground. The rest of the group stood there wondering what had just happened. Hawkins looked at the group, “Let’s find a place to sleep and get some food, my head hurts.”  

From Texas to New Mexico

It was nearly midnight as the four men sat at the small dining room table on the first floor of the boarding house in Corpus Christi Texas. An overhead lamp illuminated the room as a map of the western part of North America was rolled out on the table in front of them. A candle holder kept one end of the map from rolling up and a pistol lay across the opposite end of the map. The four men sat and studied the map carefully in silence. “I still think we should head across Mexico and then north into Arizona”, said Rooster. The Tall Texan shook his head in disagreement, “The only way into Arizona is north thru Albuquerque and then west thru Flagpole and down south to Prescott”. Caed had a double edged knife in his right hand and the knife point was in the table and he was turning it with his fingers. “I still don’t see why we just can’t head directly thru southern Arizona passed Fort Bowie and then thru Tucson and north to Prescott” Caed replied. “The Tall Texan shook his head once again, “Rooster and I waited three days at Fort Bowie and traveled from there to Lordsburg with a company of Cavalry Soldiers and a group of about forty men thru the Chiricahua Mountains and the Apache were still brave enough to attack us and take shots at us all the way thru the Apache Pass. There is no way that the four of us and half a dozen horses will ever make it alone thru there.” He Replied. Caed sat back in response replacing the knife back into its sheath. Hawkins sat back in the chair looking at the map. “Well gentleman, we need to get there one way or another, and I prefer the quickest way. One way or another we need to leave here in two days and head west. I suggest we meet here in the morning and make a final decision then”. Rooster, and the Tall Texan got up from the chairs around the table and walked upstairs. Caed lined back in the chair looking at Hawkins. “Well, you ever fought an Apache before?” Hawkins shook his head slowly looking down at the table, deep in thought. “I need to take a walk” Hawkins replied. He picked the pistol up from the table that was laying on the map and stuck it into the holster on his rig. He then got up from the table and walked out the back door leaving Caed sitting in the dining room alone.

Hawkins walked down the back steps of the two story house and across the small yard to the street, he then headed north to where the shops, restaurants and saloons were located. As he approached a small saloon he could hear the music from a guitar travel thru the night air filling it with the sounds of Spanish music. He walked into the saloon and could see the guitar player in the far corner looking down and playing his instrument. He had heard this type of music in New Orleans, but the man in the saloon was a much better musician. Several men sat around the saloon and stood at the bar as two women served drinks and talked with customers. Two men were playing cards at a table near the middle of the room and Hawkins walked to the table placing a small leather bag down on it with a metallic clang. One of the men looked up smiling “Have a seat gringo” he said, as Hawkins pulled out a chair and joined the men at the table. He ordered a cup of coffee and put down two silver dollars on the middle of the table as they dealt his cards. Hawkins picked up the cards; he had a pair of twos a five and a Queen.  Hawkins placed two more silver dollars in the middle of the table and discarded the five and the Queen. The dealer took the cards and gave him two new ones; another two and an Ace. Hawkins smiled three of a kind Ace High, just like the men he would be riding with in a few days, it was a good sign and he called the deal winning the pot. It was going to be a good night of cards, he could feel it.

Hawkins walked out of the Saloon as the sun was rising in the Eastern sky. The three men had played cards till dawn and although he didn’t win more than eighty dollars, he felt more clear headed then he did the night before, and he knew where he wanted to go and where the four men were headed next. Walking back to the boarding house he could smell food being prepared up and down the street and it made him realize how hungry he was. He walked thru the front door of the boarding house and saw the other three men sitting down to breakfast in the small dining room. Hawkins took off his hat and joined them at the table as Mrs. Shelby, the wife of the boarding house owner, brought them each a plate with eggs, biscuits, sausage and gravy. She then brought in a pot of coffee and four cups pouring them each a cup. The three men sat in silence looking at him as Hawkins began to eat. “Well?” Caed finally said to him. Hawkins continued to hungrily eat the food in front of him. “We head north thru San Antonio, then east To Fort Stockton and on to Lordsburg.”, “And from there Gringo” Replied Rooster. “We look for someone to take us thru Apache country” Caed replied.  Rooster and the Tall Texan shook their heads in disbelief and then began to eat the food in front of them. Hawkins finished his plate of food, drank the last of the coffee in his cup and wiped his face. He then got up from the chair and began to leave the room. “Hey Hawkins, what are we supposed to do?” asked the Tall Texan. Hawkins turned around to face the Tall Texas “get the horses and pack, I’m going to bed” he then walked out of the room and up the stairs. The Tall Texan just shook his head in disbelief and continued to eat the food from his plate.  

The next morning Caed, Rooster and the Tall Texan were completing packing the gear onto the three pack mules in the stables on the north end of town, when Hawkins walked up followed up a cowboy in a red bib shirt, blue pants, black and red boots and a big Blue sombrero style hat. “Good Morning Gentlemen”.  “Were just about ready to go Hawkins, but I hear we may have to pay a small toll north of here to pass thru the King Ranch” Caed said. Hawkins smiled, “Meet Henry Jesop, seems he lost some money to me the other night and wanted to know how to earn it back.  Come to find out he works for the King Ranch and can help us get thru for the cost of the money he lost to me the other night.” Caed shook his head, “I just don’t know how you do it sometimes Hawkins, I just don’t know he replied". The five men mounted up and headed north toward San Antonio, Henry did as he promised and led the group thru the King Ranch and Hawkins paid him with two twenty dollar gold pieces which were more than Henry had lost to him at cards. Henry thanked the men as the four headed on thru San Antonio and onto Fort Stockton, a United States Army post, where they stayed three days to rest the horses and bought a small wagon for the mules to pull. The wagon would carry the supplies, and three barrels of water thru the desert ahead. The four men continued west thru El Paso, Las Cruces and onto Lordsburg thru the Desert following the wagon and stage trails heading to the Arizona Territory. The hot desert sun baked the men during the day and the cold desert nights made it hard to sleep.  Even though it was fall the Desert heat was relentless reaching into the mid-nineties during the mid-day. The men reached Lordsburg and found a hotel to stay in while they made plans to cross the Chiracaua Mountains.    

A trip to Texas

Caed, Cole Dakota, Mrs. Lilly and Hawkins sat in the second floor Bar of the paddle wheel steamboat Julius C. Wilkie talking until the sun began to rise on the eastern horizon discussing Cole and Mrs Lilly’s visit back east to a Congressman friend from Connecticut, the troubles in the Arizona Territory, and how Caed and Hawkins could be of use in helping to resolve their troubles back home. Cole removed a small leather pouch from his vest pocket and laid it on the table in front of Caed and Hawkins, it made a metallic clang as it hit the table . “Now I expect to see you two fellers just as we planned, you do this right and there will be twice as much in the next bag, Come on Lilly let’s leave these two gentlemen alone as I need to catch up on my rest to start the trip home to Arizona tomorrow. The four said their goodbyes and agreed upon a place and time to meet again in Arizona. Cole and Mrs. Lilly were in a rush to return home to Arizona, and would be getting off of the boat the next day. It would take Caed and Hawkins almost another four weeks to complete the contract they had signed, to work on the boat dealing Faro, before they could head west. They would depart when the boat returned to New Orleans and then head west from there. Hawkins made his way to his cabin located on the third floor and then undressed and climbed into bed setting the small brass pistol on the table next to him and the ivory handled knife under his pillow. It had been a long evening and he needed the rest. As he lay there in bed Hawkins thought about the conversation he had with Cole and Mrs. Lilly. He was sure that Cole was a good man, and Caed had never got the sense that he was lying to them. He closed his eyes and rolled over on his side as his mind drifted into a state of sleep as he dreamed about places he had never seen, but only heard about.   

The next four weeks went quickly as Caed and Hawkins dealt Faro and discussed the trip west and how to best arrive unseen once they made it to Arizona. All of their gear was stored by the steamboat company in New Orleans and they would gather all of it and make plans from there. The Juliius C. Wilkie arrived in New Orleans as scheduled and Cade and Hawkins collected the fifteen hundred dollars each from the steam line company as payment, and found a hotel to stay in until they were able to locate a ship heading to Galveston, Texas. The steam line delivered three trunks to the hotel, and a letter asking the two men to sign on for another six month contract for nearly three thousand dollars each. It was a great offer, but the men had made an agreement with Cole and Mrs. Lilly and they had never gone back on their word. Caed left to go and find a ship traveling west as Hawkins opened the trunks and stared to sort thru the clothing, hats and other gear. He pulled a leather rifle case from the trunk and removed his 1866 Henry Carbine. It felt good to hold the rifle back in his hands again and the action was still smooth. He also took out a seven inch revolver still in its holster and wrapped in the belt. It was hard to believe it had been over a year since he had held the firearms in his hands again. After what had happened in Virginia, he was glad to have Cade to watch his back this time around. It seemed that Caed had only been gone a few minutes, as Hawkins went thru the rest of the gear separating out what they would not need when he walked back thru the door. “Looks like we have a ride to Galveston on new ship that just arrived today called the Elissa”. “Good work Caed, we should be ready by tomorrow, and everything is here. We just need some more ammo and we should be set”. The two men sat of the floor side by side cleaning the pistols and rifles they removed from the trunks and sorting clothes; they worked till late in the night and then went to bed in preparation to board the ship the next day.

Caed was already down stairs in the dining area eating breakfast as Hawkins walked down the stairs followed by six men carrying the three trunks. Hawkins was dressed in black boots, black pants, white shirt, black and white striped vest, a bowler hat, and his Burgundy Jacket with black velvet cuffs and collar. Most everyone in the dining area watched Hawkins walking down the stairs as Caed just shook his head. As Hawkins approached the table, Caed spoke without looking up at him, “You know, you do that in Arizona and everyone in town will know who you are.”  “I know Caed, that is why I pulled it out this morning, it has been over a year since I wore this Jacket” Hawkins replied as he stood their taking in all the attention he could from those looking in his direction.  Turning to the men with the trunks, “Gentlemen, please take the green one back to the steam boat company and the two blue ones to the sailing ship Elissa down at the Docks". Hawkins then joined Caed at the table removing his hat and the two men ate breakfast together before heading down to the docks.

The ship Elissa was a three-masted, iron-hulled sailing ship that had been built in Aberdeen, Scotland and it was a beautiful sailing ship. The Elissa was in a class of Tall Sailing ships classified by the configuration of the sailing rig called a barque. It was well equipped and a fast sailing ship. The two men were amazed by the cabins on board and the professional manor of the Captain and crew. As always Caed had done a great job at finding them transportation. It would take only three days for the ship to sail from New Orleans to Galveston and another two days from Galveston to Corpus Christi, where Caed and Hawkins would disembark. Corpus Christi was a small coastal town, but had everything the two men would need for the journey to Arizona. The town was filled with Vaqueros, cowboys, sailors, and towns’ people as cattle were driven on and off ships and thru the city. The two men fit in as they had put away their fancy clothing from back east and dressed as Texas cowboys. Caed was dressed in black pants a tan shirt and black vest with a tan Stetson hat, Hawkins was in tan pants, Moccasin boots, green shirt and had a large Texas style straw hat on. The two men both wore their pistol belts and were fully armed, as most Texans were, and no one seemed to notice them. The two trunks were delivered to a small boarding house on the eastern edge of Corpus Christi as Caed and Hawkins went about purchasing food, horses, ammo and other supplies they would need. They planned to purchase the equipment and hopefully find a guild to take them most of the way to Arizona in a day or so. After purchasing five horses Caed and Hawkins went and ate lunch at a small restaurant. While the two men sat and ate, Caed saw a man over six feet tall wearing gray pants, two ivory handled pistols in a red sash, a red vest, white shirt, yellow silk scarf and tan hat with long hair down past his shoulders looking thru the window of the restaurant. He stopped looking when he saw Caed and Hawkins and turned and yelled something inaudible to an unseen individual as he walked away. Caed spoke without looking up, “Hey, I think someone found us”, “Dame, I had hoped to have been here longer than this, Maybe I should have worn my Jacket” Caed, just chuckled in response.  After eating, they checked their pistols under the table and headed out to the street unafraid of what may await them. “Now Caed, if they start shooting just stay low and keep firing”, Caed nodded as the two walked up the street. Caed spotted the tall man following them as they walked toward the boarding house where they were staying. The two men walked around the corner of a small barn and Caed ran around to the other side of the building as Hawkins stood in place with pistol drawn. The man ran around the corner of the barn and saw Hawkins pistol pointed straight in his face only inches away. The man thru up both hands and shouted “Whoa there Hawkins, don’t shoot me, dame the Boss said you were good” He then heard a click behind him as Caed cocked his pistol behind the tall man. “I was sent by Cole to help you get to Arizona” the tall man exclaimed. Then Caed heard a click behind him as the hammer of a single action shotgun cocked. “Looks like what we have here is a Mexican standoff amigos, and since I am the only Mexican I win” , “Rooster, knock it off before you get me shot dame it” The Tall man replied. “I’m the Tall Texan, and this is Rooster, Cole sent us here and said you would be arriving sometime this week and that we were supposed to guide you back to Arizona”. “Alright Texan, what is it that Cole told me never to ask him to do?” “Ah, that would be to play cards with him” replied the tall man. Hawkins lowered his pistol and un-cocked it as did Caed. Rooster put the shot gun back over his shoulder and the four men walked together to the boarding house. They had much to talk about and plans to make for the trip into Arizona and Hawkins didn’t want to leave anything to chance.  

A new Pistol

For those of you that may have seen the show American Guns on the Discovery Channel, it is filmed here in Wheat Ridge Colorado. I visited the Gunsmoke store today and had the opportunity to meet Rich Wyatt and his daughter Paige. The staff, Rich, and Paige were extremely friendly and very helpful. The store was full of customers, but I did not get the feeling that anyone was being ignored even with the amount of people in the store. Rich was posing for pictures and signing his autograph for customers as well as chating about the firearms in the store and what people were looking for. I found a great new Pistol just in time for Christmas and look forward to the chance to fire it. Thanks Rich and the crew at Gunsmoke for helping me find a great new Pistol and be sure to catch their show American Guns on the Discovery Channel.     

http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/american-guns/

A man named Cole Dakota

The sulfur grey smoke filled the air and blocked the view of anything you could see that was more than a few feet in front of him. Hawkins laid flat on the ground next to the 1861 Parrott Rifled Cannon on top of the trampled grass, the cannon ramrod held firm in his left hand next to him on the ground. He could still feel the ringing in his ears, that he had become so accustomed to, as only moments before the four gun battery hand been firing again and again, sending round after round across the field against the oncoming Confederate army. The pistol he wore on his side, in the black leather military holster, dug uncomfortably into his hip causing him to adjust his position in the grass. Hawkins could see Private Rodgers lying in the grass on the opposite side of the cannon, pistol in one hand and ramrod in the other. He could sense Sgt. Hampton kneeling near the back of the cannon behind him. They could all hear the sounds of combat and rifles firing at some distance away and all awaited the next command from Capt. Vander Maten who was somewhere behind them, most likely trying to see thru the smoke, that had been caused by the repeated firing of the cannons, with his binoculars. Suddenly a lone rider on a horse burst thru the smoke rearing back and pointing his pistol at the men around the cannon and pulled the trigger. Hawkins could see the burst of smoke and flame from the end of the pistol, as he awoke suddenly siting up from the bed he was lying in and reaching for where his holstered pistol would have been.

The room was pitched black and he could smell the sulfur smoke in the air from the engines of the paddle wheeler. The sound of gun fire could be heard just outside of his room. He rubbed his eyes as they adjusted to what little light there was in the room. He still awoke from dreams of battle, even though the war had ended almost ten years ago. “Some dame fools standing out on deck shooting at something” he thought to himself. Hawkins got out of bed and opened the window slats on the small window of the cabin. There was a stand in the corner of the room with a bowl and water pitcher on it. A mirror was attached to the wall above the stand. He poured water into the bowl and splashed water onto his face and head. He picked up a small towel from the chair next to the stand and dried his face and head. He looked out the window and could see the sky alight with red and yellow streaks as the sun was setting. His vest hung from the back of the chair and he removed the watch in the pocket to see what time it was, almost eight pm, “Time to get dressed for work and go meet Caed” he thought to himself. Hawkins got dressed in his white cotton shirt with alabaster buttons, red silk vest, black pants and black lace shoes. He tied the black string tie around the collar of his shirt and then put a small brass double barrel ivory handle pistol into his pocket and a pearl handled double edged knife into the sheath located on his right side. He left his small cabin on the second floor of the paddle wheel steamboat Julius C. Wilkie and started walking down to the game room on the first floor. Passengers and crew were active all over the ship as dinner was finished being served, and people made their way down to the game room on the first floor of the five deck paddle wheel steamboat. The passengers were dressed in their very best as they walked about the ship. There were ladies in European style dresses wearing fancy ear rings and necklaces, some had their hair up in a bun held in place with long Pins topped by Ivory or other gem stones while others wore fancy feather covered hats. The men all wore jackets and hats mostly dressed in black. Hawkins would node his head and say good evening as he walked past the many passengers in the corridors. He stopped in the small bar located mid ship on the second floor, as It was where you could usually find him, if he wasn’t working in the game room or sleeping. Tim, the African American bar tender was wiping glasses and preparing the bar for a busy evening. “Hey Tim, can you get me some coffee and a bowl of soup?”, Tim nodded his head, “Sure Hawkins”. Tim went thru a door behind the bar leading into the kitchen and returned with a bowl of soup and coffee. Both were hot and tasted good. Hawkins chatted with Tim for a short while as a few customers entered the small bar and ordered drinks then sat down to visit with friends. Tim was a good bartender and a friendly fellow; he had worked as a bartender in one of the many bars in New Orleans before joining the crew on the Paddle Wheeler and always seemed to know what was going on aboard ship. “Hey, what was all that shooting about earlier that woke me up out of a sound sleep?” He asked Tim. “Oh, that was the big Russian Latimer, He challenged some fellow to a shooting match to see who would pay the bill for drinks, they spent most the day over there in the corner drinking and looking at a bunch of papers”.  

Hawkins finished the soup and got another cup of coffee from Tim, then headed to the game room. He walked the short distance along the ship and down the stairs to the first floor deck and entered the large double doors into the game room. The band was already playing music on the large elevated stage toward the bow of the ship. Some couples danced on the dance floor at the foot of the stage while others sat at tables. The room was well light by Kerosene lamps located on the walls and on the tables. The room was bustling with people looking for open tables to sit or a place on the dance floor where waiters were serving passengers. Hawkins walked toward the rear of the game room where the poker and Faro tables were located. Caed was sitting at one of the three Faro Tables with the Case keeper in front of him with a nervous look on his face, he looked liked he was saying something to the people seated at the table. Three men and two women sitting at the table, but Hawkins could not hear what Caed was saying to them over the music and noise in the room. The Case Keeper was a small wooden box that folded in half on a brass hinge. On the inside of the box were miniature cards that marked Ace thru king with a metal bar and four beads on each bar. In the card game Faro, a card was played and one of the four markers for each card would be moved to mark that the particular card had been played and it was Caed’s job to keep track of all the cards and when they were played.   

Hawkins walked the thirty feet or so to the table and when Caed caught sight of him he smiled with a look of relief. Caed was a good Case Keeper and although he had not been playing the game very long. However playing Faro just about every night on the ship, for the last year or so, had taught him quite a bit about the game. Hawkins sat down at the table and apologized for being tardy, and explained that his delay was unavoidable. The players didn’t seem to care as Hawkins cut the soda card from the deck and Caed marked it in the Case Keeper. The players placed their bets on the table and Hawkins turned the first card over called the dealers Card, a two of Harts and Caed marked it in the Case Keeper. Next Hawkins turned the next card in the deck over called the players card, a five of Spades and Cade marked it in the Case Keeper. Hawkins collected a chip that had been placed on the two, and no one had bet on the five. He continued to deal cards this same way for the next few hours drinking coffee and talking a short break to stand when the cards had to be reshuffled. Around one o’clock that morning a cowboy dressed in black slacks, a blue shirt and black vest with a black Stetson hat made his way over to the table. He had a woman with him dressed in a long blue dress that looked like it had been made in France. The couple held hands as they approached and the cowboy took a seat at the Faro table while the woman stood behind him with her hands on his shoulders. Hawkins dealt the last two cards from the deck and collected chips from the losers and paid the winners. The other players left the table as Hawkins began to shuffle the cards to start a new Faro game. The Cowboy had a serious look on his face and looked Hawkins up and down as he shuffled the cards. Hawkins took the deck and placed the cards on the table in front of him.  “Welcome friend, I haven’t seen you and your lady before tonight, you just get on board earlier today?” The Cowboy nodded in response. “You here to player Faro” Hawkins asked him. The Cowboy slowly shook his head then replied “I’ve heard lots about you Hawkins, mostly good that is”, “Well that is nice to know”, Hawkins replied. “Do you mind if we talk in private for a moment?” the Cowboy asked. Hawkins looked at Caed, “Hey, why don’t you go and stretch a bit and get us some coffee Caed”. Caed got up from the table and walked away. “Please sir, you may proceed”. “Hawkins, my name is Cole Dakota and I got a Ranch out in Arizona Territory, and if you’re as good as they say you are I could use some assistance from you” Hawkins picked up the card deck in front of him and began to shuffle them again then placed the deck of cards in front of Cole, Cole cut the cards and pushed them back to Hawkins. Hawkins then turned the top four cards over from the top of the Deck, all four Aces. Cole sat back in the chair and smiled, “Son, it looks like you and I can do business together, just don’t ask me to play cards with you” The two men shook hands across the table and Caed came back with the coffee cups for him and Hawkins. “Caed here is my back up and I trust him, let’s go upstairs and talk” The two men got up and all four walked to the second floor Bar to discuss the business Cole Dakota needed assistance with in the Arizona Territory.

Back at the Buckhorn Exchange Resturant in Denver on Sunday Dec 4th

Hawkins and Caed Aldwych will be back at the Buckhorn Exchange Restaurant and Saloon in Denver hosting our Faro game in the upstairs Saloon area. The Buckhorn Exchange is the oldest Restaurant and Bar in Denver established in 1893and a great place to have dinner and learn about the history of Colorado. Many famous people have dinned in this amazing location on some of the great food they serve such as Prime grade beef steaks, buffalo prime rib, elk, salmon, quail, game hen, and succulent baby-back pork ribs, these are just some of the marvelous offerings on the Buckhorn menu. They also have some amazing exotic appetizers such as alligator tail, rattlesnake and buffalo sausage available, and no dinner is complete without the house specialty, Rocky Mountain Oysters. So be sure to make plans to come visit the Buckhorn Exchange this Sunday to have an amazing dinner and try your luck at a game of Faro in the upstairs Saloon.

http://www.buckhornexchange.com/

1000 Osage Str. 

Denver, CO 80204 

303-534-9505

How my life as a Historical Reenactor began

My love for American History was born of the many trips I took with my Grandmother, family and Boy Scout troop as a youth to historic locations across our great Country. I was blessed in so many ways as a youth to be able to travel and learn about our history from people that had a love for it. My Grandmother Phyllis Starr always had the most interesting collection of historic books in her home and My Grandfather Les Hockley was a true Colorado Cowboy born and raised in Weld county Colorado. Both would have a deep influence on my love of history and the pursuit of learning I follow today.

In 1995 thru what some would call providence I gave up my hobby as a Paintball player. I had enjoyed many years of the sport and had some great adventures in New York, Pennsylvania, North Dakota, Arizona and California participating in World Record Games, 24 hour scenario games, and even the opportunity to shoot it out with Rick Schroder, who is very good by the way, on a great paintball field in Arizona. But as God planned it was time to do something different with my weekends and money. My family and I attended the Festival of the West that year and I would later join Southwest Legends Gunfighters, a living history / reenactment group in Phoenix Arizona. James Davis, Tom Lowe and so many others help me to become the Western Living Historian I am today as part of Southwest Legends Gunfighters and it was a great start to what I do today.

I was also blessed with the opportunity to work with some amazing Men and ladies from the 1st Texas Lt Artillery also located in Arizona. With them I had the opportunity to work on and actually fire a fully functional Cannon. We even took a trip to Imperial Valley CA. where we fired Cannon Balls at a target 800 yards away. My father greatly enjoyed the trip out to the California desert to watch at the live fire event.

My family also participated with an organization called We Make History and their annual Heritage Festival where my wife portrayed a Prairie school teacher and my sons dressed the part in uniform and helped to teach and learn about the history of America.

Due to a change in my employment like so many others have faced these days, we moved from Arizona to Colorado in January 2011. Our family continues on with our adventures as a reenacting family here in Colorado and participate both at Four Mile Historic park in Denver and with the Vision Heirs, a Colonial American reenacting group. We greatly enjoy this new place we call home and look forward to the many adventures it holds for us. Thru this Blog I hope to be able to teach others about American History, promote reenacting in Colorado and to also have fun and make the most of the gift that I have been given. So keep an eye on my blog as I post some fun events online and write about the life and adventures of Ezra Hawkins, my alter ego and reenacting character as I explore the American West and work to keep the history of the American West alive for future generations.