Chapter One | The Bountiful Bounty
‘The Hound’
Arizona 1873
Clayton whistled an old tune while riding down a desiccated valley in the Arizona plains. Born and raised in South Texas, Clayton Hardin came to pick up the dangerous profession of bounty hunting. As of recent, he’s been on the trail of the two murderous bandits, Bo Clancy and his accomplice Boone Holliday. The two bandits are half-brothers, although, you’d never guessed it because of the limited physical resemblance.
Clayton has been following the two brothers for three days now, which is not an uncommon length of tracking. Clayton is not only interested in collecting the bounty by claiming their bodies, but if he can be led to their stash of stolen goods he can receive a pretty heavy sum of money for turning in the stolen treasures to the authorities. However, by the looks of it, Bo and Boone are not returning to their hideout anytime soon.
Clayton hopped down from his Quarter Horse, Buck, and led him to a nearby freshwater stream. “There you go, buddy.” He muttered to the stallion who leisurely lapped up the clear crisp water.
While tracking the bandits, Clayton made sure to stay far enough behind Bo and Boone. Clayton is an excellent shot, and thanks to living with the Comanche Indians for the majority of his life, he has become an incredible tracker. For these reasons Clayton has had many successful captures. His name is now feared amongst all bandits in the mid-west and beyond. This has earned him the sobriquet: Clay ‘The Hound’ Hardin. ‘If Clay is on your tail, you’ll never know it until it’s too late.’
Clayton removed his tan Stetson from his head and knelt down beside Buck at the stream. He splashed some water on his tanned face before quenching his thirst. He ran his hands over his sandy colored beard, making a mental note that he needs to shave. Typically he doesn’t let his facial hair grow out, but he’s been on the road for several days non-stop. He hadn’t any time to drop by a barber shop and his own razor had gone dull.
While day dreaming of good food and a warm bed, he suddenly heard the sound of several gun shots across the way. The shots rang loud enough for him to determine the distance of the gunfire. He promptly jumped to his feet, putting his hand on the hilt of one of his pistols. The multiple shots back and forth alerted Clayton that this was not some hunting happening--it was a gun fight.
Four pistols and a shot gun, he calculated in his head. Bo and Boone must be raiding a nearby home. “Dammit...” Clayton swore under his breath. He should have been watching the two bandits closer or even killed them before they had the chance to attack an innocent family. However, due to his own greed, Clayton had instead followed the bandits in hopes to be led to the hidden fortune. Instead now there are people likely murdered and it is his fault.
Clayton rushed over and swung himself up on top of Buck. “Yah!” He firmly kicked Bucks flanks. With a grunt and a neigh, Buck galloped onward at breakneck speed toward the violent altercation up ahead.
Clayton had the reigns in one hand and one of his pistols in the other. Once he neared the commotion the gunfire suddenly ceased. He immediately slowed Buck down to a light trot, the soft ground muffled the sound of his hooves. When he decided that they were close enough Clayton hid Buck out near a thicket of trees before he stealthily advanced the rest of the way on foot. He could smell the gun powder in the air and hear the gruff voices of the bandits arguing.
He peeked out from the trees to see Bo Clancy dragging a white man by his feet over to the stables. The man’s eyes were wide open, but unseeing, and blood poured out from his chest and abdomen. The man was most definitely dead. The regret instantly began to strangle Clayton's heart.
While Bo hid the lifeless body under some loose hay, Boone sauntered outside of the cabin and stood on the porch. Casually he ate an apple, peeling back piece by piece with the blade of his knife. He looked bored--a wicked man with absolutely no remorse. Murder is nothing new to these two men. They kill as often as they breathe.
The home was a small shabby house nestled in a dense crescent of trees. A small stable sat a few yards beside it and a stone well in the front yard. The house was just like any other home out in the far country of Arizona. There was a chicken coop, hog pen, and a small vegetable garden on the other side of the home. A hardworking family living in a humble home out in the country--gone in an instant.
“She’s dead,” Boone sucked his teeth while he leaned against one of the wooden pillars that held up the shabby overhang. “There ain’t much here, but it’s enough to get us through to El Paso. Dan will be pissed, but...” Boone finished his sentence with a shrug.
Dan. Clayton knew exactly the criminal Boone was speaking of. Billy Dan Brooks, also known as Danny Boy. Dan is a big boss with an even bigger bounty on his head. Bo and Boone are worth $1000 a piece, dead or alive, but Billy Dan Brooks is worth $6,500--and dead is the only way Dan is wanted by the authorities. Dan is a ruthless murderer and burglar. Surprisingly, sexual assault is not an interest of his. Then again with the amount of money and power he has there’s no need for him to force himself upon women because so many willingly offer.
Dan started a life of crime at the young age of thirteen, regularly committing theft and gruesome acts of violence. When he was just fourteen years of age he murdered his parents with a shotgun blast to their skulls while they slept soundly in their beds. Dan obviously has psychological issues based off of his record of heinous crimes. When he was caught the first and only time, he was thrown into a mental institution. However, while he was there he killed three nurses and two patients. Afterwards he was seen unfit to live amongst society in any way, but before he could be executed he escaped.
It then took him less than a year to build up a gang of outlaws that terrorize city after city; raping, killing, and robbing. Clayton has taken out several of his goons, but Dan only recruits more in their place. The fame that Dan has acquired on behalf of his evil acts has only encouraged his wickedly ruthless deeds.
Clayton has been trying to locate Dan for years. That is why the mention of his name instantly brought music to Clayton’s ears. He will follow the bandits to meet Dan so he can increase his payout and finally put an end to his killing spree.
Bo dusted off his hands as he finished hiding the dead man and then walked over to stand before Boone. “We’re leavin’ to Tucson to meet up with Ned and the boys first, remember? They’ll have plenty of money to bring Danny Boy so that our lil’ addition will be overlooked.”
Bo is the smarter of the two bandits--but not by much. Boone spat as he nodded his head in agreement. Ned Hamilton?This just keeps getting better and better, Clayton smiled to himself.
Ned Hamilton is Dan’s right hand man and the co-leader of Dan’s band of bandits called ‘The Ruthless Ruffians’. If this all goes as planned Clayton can take all their bodies and leave with a bounty over $30,000. It looks like Clayton will be all set for an early retirement.
“Yeah, I didn’t think about that,” Boone rubbed the stubble on his chin. “We shouldn’t have spent our money on all ’em damn hussies.”
Bo rolled his eyes and walked over to the nearby well. He glared at Boone. “I done told you that we shouldn’t waste our coin payin’ for ’em broads. We ain’t ever paid for ’em before so why start now? But nooo your dumbass wanted to give ’em some silver,” Bo said as he pulled up a bucket of water from the well and sloppily guzzled it down.
Boone frowned and crossed his arms, “We ain’t gotta force ourselves on ’em all the time, Bo. Besides I kinda liked that blond one. . .she was real nice to me and--”
“That’s their fuckin’ job, Boone,” Bo shook his head at Boone’s naivety. “I swear you’re a goddamn idiot,” Bo muttered, but load enough for Boone to hear.
Boone pouted before glaring over at his half-brother. Boone is treated as the 'slow' one of the group. He’s often talked down to and bullied by the lot of them. Clayton would almost sympathize for the guy, but Boone’s a murderous maniac so. . .no.
Clayton advanced further while the bandits continued to argue back and forth. He stopped when he made it close enough behind several old crates and barrels. He can not kill the two idiots if he wants to get a hold of Dan and Ned. Ned is waiting on Bo and Boone to arrive, while Dan is waiting on Ned and the rest of the gang. He will let Bo and Boone go for now so he can follow them to meet up with Ned. Then he will track them to Billy Dan Brooks’ hid out. It’s the perfect plan.
However, what happened next, Clayton did not expect. . .
