Background
For those who wishes to ride into the knowledge of Texas and the days of hardships and prosperity, especially how all effected the lives who were involved, My story is fiction, but created from truth.
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(This saga takes the reader into the state of Texas during the Civil War era. The story is told by Ralph Hendricks of what he remembers about his family as a boy and lawman. Names are changed to protect the innocent.)
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Previous;
For your remembrance.
The following morning as I rode into town and stopped by Foster who had a telegram addressed to me. It was from my friend Sheriff Clark in an adjoining county. It was a warning saying I may have visitors coming through our area who were not of the best characters. He had not seen any wanted posters on the men, but it was no sign none existed.
I read the message twice and prayed silently they would pass us by and travel north toward Kansas or south toward Mexico but either way, Me or Charlie Baxter were no match for any gun play. My only solution was carrying the double barrel shotgun with the hope of not using it.
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Late evening as the sun angled toward a downward turn, two strangers tied their mounts to the railing in front of Kelley's saloon and just stood for minutes looking around to see if they were sizing our community. We had little to offer but two general stores, a livery stable, and other buildings with a barber shop in between. At the very end was the bank, minor compared but held more than fifty thousand dollars displayed on the front window.
I had asked Mr. Buskins not once but other times to remove the information saying, "Its like placing cheese on a trap hoping a rat would ignore it."
Only ignorance would accept a saying like that, and Baskins was not ignorant.
I watched the men slowly go inside the saloon. I suspected if they came to cause problems then I would know about it soon enough. I had sent Charlie to check on a complaint at one of our general stores. Someone was complaining about being short changed and upset. Mr. Daniels, the owner, was trying hard to convince the lady she had the right money, and nothing was out of the ordinary. However, she still insisted the law get involved so Charlie was there counting and recounting money.
Seeing Foster emptying the saloon's trash, I told him when he finished, to go and tell Charlie I needed him to come where I was but arm himself with one of the shotguns just in case.
My hunch was a long shot, but it was always playing it safe then reap problems. Hours later, the men finished with their drinks and never gave any impression they were but only drifters no doubt looking for work. However, I was wrong, they were two new hired men for the Wilson Ranch and had come to town looking for a poker game. Kelley said they acted cordially and apparently won a few dollars stating they would be back another time.
Later, the following day, I received another wire from Sheriff Clark stating there was trouble at the Capitol concerning the Governor's election and he would keep me posted about the happening.
I knew there were disturbance toward the two parties, (Democrat& Republican) disagreements concerning the election but I suspected it would be like west Texas winds and blow its self out.
I could have never been more wrong. Texas now had two governors and they both were locked inside the capitol for safety. The Democrat elected,(Coke.) And harped to Washington for the President to send Federal troops but to his disappointment none came but instead a firm warning to get things in order causing the current governor to quit and let Coke have it.
When I heard what had happened, my heart sank with disbelief suspecting Texas was in for a vast change and the ranchers, including my family would feel the results. My hope was the man had leadership qualities and would be an asset instead of a passivity
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Our little town was at a standstill when measuring growth, but our farming community was doing fine. I sometimes marveled at people who I was raised with and how determined they were to send their children to our new colleges, especially learning Agriculture.
The Priest family was interested in their sons attending especially having to deal with the former Harding situation.
Personally, I consider the Priest family a cut above the others. Lucy, my wife said, "Claudia Priest could plant a stick, and the thing would sprout roots and grow." Of course, she exaggerated, but it sounded nice.
Our state of Texas was in for a big change both good and bad, and it was the bad I knew would come which made my job more challenging.
Offered me more challenges.
Governor Davis had support by members of the radical faction of the Republican Party still believing he had a friend in the White House. However, the president let him know there would be no federal troops at his fingertips and not to expect any help, but Davis continued to fool himself into thinking he had federal help anytime he needed it. He was looking to fool a bunch of radicals allowing them to take control of the lower level of the Capitol building. This caused tension among armed citizens and violence loomed.
I received three telegrams from Sheriff Clark promising to keep me posted on what was happening in Austin.
The last thing my family and I wished to see was having a Democrat as governor, but we as others prepared for the change never knowing it would last for years to come.
WISHING ALL A HAPPY AND SAFE 2025.
