ESAU JONES Bounty Hunter

It was the spring of 1865, the war had ended, the President had been assassinated, reconstruction had began before the war ended and the border country of north and south was in a state of chaotic turmoil. Factions from both sides of the war had their lives up-heaved and destroyed beyond repair. Esau Jones was one of such men. He was only a teen-age boy when he rode as a renegade bushwhacker with Captain William Quantrill causing havoc with Union sympathizers and Union troops. During these tumultuous times, guerrilla warfare still gripped the border country of Kansas and Missouri. Bitter conflicts ensued, bringing an escalating cycle of atrocities by both sides. As guerrilla warfare decreased more and more, ex-guerrilla’s turned to outlawry for a revengeful living. Esau’s friend, Jesse James, tried to get him to join with him in banditry. Esau refused, saying he wished to go west in search of honest employment. Through a turn of fate, Esau fell into the occupation of bounty hunting. His reputation spread like wildfire among the outlaw element as the most feared bounty hunter of all time. Just to hear his name would cause one to quake in fear. Esau mounted the Bay, rode out from the hacienda, through the big gate and turned south which took him into a winding canyon veering to the west. Around the second bend, there she was, Senora Baroness Maria Juana Moynavasa, in all her radiant beauty, sitting on her Pinto as if waiting for him. He rode up beside her with his heart in a flutter. “I wanted to tell you good-bye and that I’m sorry we couldn’t have had more time together.” “Yes, I’m also sorry. I would have loved to spend more time with you.” “Maybe Esau, there will come a time in the future for us. I shall always think of you and wish I was with you.” ‘Yes, Maria, that time just may come.” “I wish in all my heart it could be now. But Esau, I know I’m being watched. So you must ride on, and remember I will always be watching and waiting for you and loving you in my heart.” Esau prodded the Bay and rode discerningly on down the canyon headed for flat ground, and Las Cruces, with a feeling of blissful despondency, if there be such a feeling. When the soothing hot towel was removed and the barber began to lather his face, the first thing Esau saw was the burnt-red leather leggings standing just inside the door. The man slowly inched over in front of the barber chair. “Esau Jones*it seems I caught yer ass off guard, don’t it.*I been livin’ fer just this day.” “Then your living must be bout done.” The redleg pulled his Army colt and a shot rang out loud and long in the little barber shop as the sheet covering Esau flew into the air and across the room from the combustion of Esau’s Colt forty-five. The redleg was hurled against the wall and slid to the floor dead from a shot through his heart. The sheet flittered slowly down over the dead redleg. Frank pulled up a chair and sit close to Esau. “Rufus Henry Ingram, huh.*You’re dredging up old memories best left forgotten.” “Was it true he was a Yankee spy?” “I really don’t think so, but the whole family was certainly Union sympathizers. He wasn’t with us long enough to get a good fix on’em.” “Wasn’t he with us at Lawrence?” “He went there with us, but it was a decisive opinion that he left shortly after the campaign started.*Why the interest in ol’Rufus?” “The interest is fifteen thousand dollars federal bounty for robbery and murder out in California. I needed to know if he was one of us.” “No, I think it’s safe to say he was not one of us.*Did you find what you were looking for after you left Uncle Woodson’s place?” “Yeah, what about you and Jess, did ya’ll find your Pa’s gravesite?” “Nope*did’ya bring the lady home with’ya?” “Nope*she had joined a convent, but I’ll bring her home as soon as I get a home to bring her to.” “Joined a convent, huh.” “Yeah, seems I’m in love with a nun.” “Lord help’ya, Esau boy.” Zerelda said. “I’ll be mightily praying fer’ya.” “In love with a nun,” Frank shook his head compassionately. “You ain’t sick are’ya Esau?” “Naugh, I feel fine.”