The Journey Home—Love and the Texas Ranger—A Short Story

This is a short story I wrote for a Texas Mountain Trail Writer's Retreat. It was included in the clubs Chaos  Book that is put out yearly after the retreat. Recently a group of authors at Champagne Books put together an Anthology with stories from 16 authors. This story was included.

Shared Whispers is a collection of short stories created by an eclectic group of sixteen award-winning writers from across the globe who create novels in such diverse genres as romance, suspense, mystery, thrillers, paranormal, fantasy, and science fiction. What’s the common theme to the anthology you’re about to read? Each story reflects the allure and importance of amore in our lives.

Why the title, Shared Whispers? Every writer has a unique voice in which they reflect the fictional Story Behind the Story, the seed from which the idea evolved. You’ll also find a brief bio of their writing career and other titles that might be of interest.
world carried in their mind’s eye. It can be the flow of their words or the rhythm or pulse to their scenes. The elegance of some voices pull you into the story, envelop you with their characters and offer momentary release from the drudgery and the complexity of modern life. In essence, these stories reveal the thoughts, the murmurs, the whispers shared with the Muse, our individual guide that holds our hand from the first to the last word. At the end of each creation, each author offers the

Life is hard and dangerous on the Texas plain for a couple separated by time, distance, and duty. Love brings them together—forever.

Romance and the Texas Ranger

The Journey Home

Texas Ranger Caleb Johnson slumped atop his horse, swaying to the pace of his sorrel mare. His head bobbed with the gait as he struggled to stay in the saddle and catch a few winks of sleep. It was a ritual he and Red were accustomed to. He’d ridden many miles while asleep and his horse hadn’t tossed him once. Some weeks it was the only sleep he got. Now wasn’t a good time not to be aware of his surroundings. He was alone, wounded, and weak. The pain from his shoulder injury screamed with each movement.

The captain ordered him to stay in camp until he could send him home with an escort. But, Caleb wouldn’t have it. Hell, he was shot, not dead. He’d stolen away in the middle of the night. All he wanted was to get home to Amy. It’d been five years since he’d seen her. Maybe he no longer had a wife. Rangers weren’t good marriage material and she’d not wanted him to join up. They’d had a terrible row. Her blue eyes flashed fire as she screamed, “I won’t be here when you decide to come home.”

Contrite over her scalding words, Amy wrote him faithfully at least once a month. It’d been a year now since he’d heard from her. Every time he thought he’d get home, his division was dispatched to another area and he couldn’t go. He shuddered. Was the tremor from his wound or fear? Something was wrong at home. He could feel it in his bones.

He struggled to stay awake, but fatigue, blood loss, and now with a raging fever, illness won out. His chin hit his chest and darkness clouded his consciousness. Dreams whirled through his mind—Amy on their wedding day, her shiny brown hair piled high on her head, ringlets curling around her face. Eyes spitting fire the day he left, her face red, almost as dark as the freckles that covered her pert nose. Oh, she was a corker. He loved her spit and vinegar.

            Red kicked up her heels, sending him forward, jolting him awake. Like a drunk woken by the nudge of a boot, blurry eyed, he glanced around and noticed three Indian braves on the mesa top to the west, a half a mile away.

            He wrapped the reins around the saddle horn, pulled his Winchester from its scabbard, and propped the butt on his thigh. He’d show them he was armed. Hell, he was so weak he couldn’t shoot a rabbit.  Hopefully they hadn’t seen him swaying in the saddle like a drunk. His knees tightened around Red. She sprinted forward but didn’t break into a full gallop. Don’t let them think you’re afraid and running. They’ll be on you like ants.

            War whoops echoed behind him. He raised the rifle with one arm, propping the butt at the juncture of his shoulder, turned and shot wild. A bullet slammed into his chest. He hit the packed earth. Red broke her stride and returned to him, nudging him with her nose and whinnying for him to get up.

            Shouts of victory surrounded him. Red’s reins were grabbed by a young brave. She fought against the restriction but the Indian coaxed her forward, gently stroked her muzzle and whispered in her ear. Soon, she quieted and stopped struggling though she snorted and stamped her hooves in agitation at the smell of blood.

            Vision fuzzy, Caleb spotted his valued star adorning the shirt of an older brave. Several men poked him with their rifles. He didn’t feel pain, only a roaring in his ears, and a calming sense of peace. The war party rode away in a flurry of triumphant shouts.

Bright light enclosed him. A form stepped out and knelt at his side. Pink lips, accompanied by a pert freckled nose and blue eyes, smiled. She leaned down and kissed him sweetly on the mouth. Her lilac scent filled his nostrils and joy filled his heart.

            “It’s time, Caleb. Time for you to come home.” Amy helped him rise and took his hand. “Come, my love.” Together they walked into the light.

                                                                        The End

If you'd like to purchase a copy of Shared Whispers, click on the link. It is also available at Amazon.com/

Thank you for stopping by today!
Linda

Ira Aten, Texas Ranger extraordinaire

1976 was a great year; I graduated high school that year, America celebrated the bicentennial and the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame was added to the Texas Ranger museum in Waco, Texas. Among those added to the hall of fame was Ira Aten, a man who led a full and colorful life as a Texas Ranger.

I happened upon this individual by accident when I was researching another topic. I became intrigued and bought a bibliography of the man; Rawhide Ranger, Ira Aten, Enforcing Law on the Western Frontier by Bob Alexander. While it’s a great bibliography, the book is also a great resource. If a writer ever wanted a better sense of what duties the Texas Ranger enjoyed and how he went about those duties, this book’s for you.

Ira Aten knew in his heart he wanted to become a lawman when he heard other lawmen conversing. He’d just witnessed the death of Sam Bass.

Aten joined the Texas Rangers in March 1883. As a new recruit, he was sent to the Rio Grande area where he encountered all sorts of dangerous situations. The mid 1880s saw a lot of strife when ranchers began fencing their property.  Ira became involved in the Fence Cutting War, often infiltrating various ranches as a ranch hand to keep an eye out for hombres intent on cutting those fences. After his involvement with the Jaybird–Woodpecker War, he was elected sheriff of Fort Bend County.

Johann Braeutigam circa 1880

And while all of these events helped cement his induction into the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame, the event that caught my interest happened on September 3, 1884 when the proprietor of Braeutigam’s Garten in Fredricksburg, Texas met with an untimely death. Johann Braeutigam was alone in his saloon when four men entered and demanded the cash box. Johann reached for his musket. The bandits shot the man and left the premises with very little cash.

As the Braeutigams were well respected and loved, the town cried out in anger and the Texas Rangers were brought in to help local law enforcement track down the killers. The rangers hunted down three suspects a month later. Jack Beam, Wesley Collier, and Bill Allison were originally housed in the Gillespie County Jail but later moved to the more secure facility in San Antonio.  A little over a month later, Ira Aten and a fellow ranger would apprehend another suspect, Ede Janes in Braeutigam’s murder who also landed in the Bexar County Jail.

Later, the Bexar County Jail proved to be not so secure when Braeutigam’s murders escaped by digging  under the foundation to freedom. Bill Allison was caught and returned to the jail in Fredericksburg.  That night the jail burned to the ground, thus killing its prisoner. In January 1886, Ira, with help from a local sheriff, intensified his search for the escaped murderers but to no avail. However, the governor had taken notice of Ira’s exploits and being sympathetic to the German community’s need to “put the matter to rest” and wanting to ensure the German vote during the next election had given Ira the green light for bringing Breautigam’s murders to justice by any means possible. March 6, 1886, Ira Aten turned over suspect, Jack Beam, to the authorities in Fredericksburg. Jack confessed Jim Fannin’s part in the killing as well.  

April 29, 1886, he confronted suspect, Wesley Collier. Gunfire was exchanged and while Ira’s bullet found its mark, Wesley Collier managed to escape. But not for long. On May 25, 1886, Ira caught a break in the case, discovering that Wes had designs on a certain maiden. He set up surveillance to watch the girl’s home. Wes showed up.  Ira and another lawman waited all night for him to come out of the house but when he didn’t, they lost patience and crept into the house looking for him. When they found him, Ira confronted him. Wes went for his gun and Ira shot him. Wes Collier died as a result of a bullet near the heart.

Having earned his reputation now as a “good” ranger and a dependable man hunter, Ira continued his pursuit of the last suspect in the Braeutigam murder, Jim Fannin. Unfortunately, Fannin was never found.  Charges against suspect Ede Janes were dropped. Jack Beam pled guilty and was sentenced to 9 years in the state penitentiary.

Now, as Paul Harvey would say, for the rest of the story; Johann Braeutigam was my great, great grandfather. Learn more about my family history by reading my blog post at Cowboy Kisses on Monday, October 7. One of these days, his story is going to inspire one of my romances.