"White Bear Clan" Harmon Bell Texas Ranger

Chapter I

All morning Harm had been giving his situation some thought since he heard the news from Tully the depot agent. He had came to several conclusions and one of them was his life was a drag and flatly sucked. He liked the work repairing damaged railroad cars or those rail cars just in the need of packing the axles or changing brakes on the cars. But the Katy Railroad had cut him back to just four days a week. Harm was able to live on the ten dollars a week and he would have some left over for other things or to put in his fruit jar to save. But on eight dollars a week it could change things some. Mrs. Bearden only charged him three dollars a week for his meals and a place to sleep in the woodshed behind her boarding house.

Now that the railroad had cut back on the days he worked. He had three days of not working and he needed to find something to do to fill in when he wasn’t working for the railroad. Harm knew that he got bored setting around on Saturday and Sunday with only washing his clothes on Saturday. There were two pool halls but him not being a drinking man, didn’t like playing dominos or shooting pool, and him not being a talkative person that he would go crazy with not doing anything on the long weekends. He would go up to the hotel every Saturday morning early and read all the news papers that had arrived in the mail. That only took him a few hours and sometimes no time at all for there were no newspapers to read for he had read them the week before or they had not arrived in town.

With the morning being cool Harm and taken his Jumper jacket off before setting down to eat. The day had already went to the hot side of things for the sun was bearing down on the rail yard. Harm had just set down for his noon meal and he felt the presents of the big red dog that he called Red. He unwrapped one of the sandwiches and laid it on the end of the crosstie he was setting on and it was at arms length. Red you might as well come on over and eat with me. Harm said, as he took the wrapped cloth towel from the other sandwich.

Harm watched from the corner of his eye as the big dog came over, picked the sandwich up in his mouth, and then backed away into the brush. Red, how long have you been eating lunch with me here in the yard? Harm didn’t expect an answer but he needed someone to talk with and no one wanted to listen to a small man of a hundred pounds that stood less than five feet tall. Hell even the kids around here were bigger than I am. Harm said out loud.

No need for you to come down here tomorrow Red. I won’t be working here for three days. I need to find a job around town to fill in my time. You know of any jobs around here Red?

The big red dog had moved down to the end of the crosstie sleeper for he could probably smell the cake Mrs. Bearden had put into the Lard Bucket which Harm carried his lunch. As Harm continued to talk to the big red dog, the dog would turn his head and whine deep in his throat as if he was trying to talk to Harm. Harm finally pulled the cake out of the lard bucket and gave big Red his portion by laying it on the end of the crosstie. Instead of Red taking the big portion of cake back into the brush to ate the piece of cake as he sat there and then liked his chops.

See you later big fellow, Harm said as he was putting the rags back into the lard bucket and snapped the lid on top. He got up and went back to the axle he was packing with grease and rags. Harm worked through the afternoon until he heard the depot agent ring the piece of iron in front of the depot. That signaled the end of the work day. This time it also signaled Harm that it was the end of his shorten work week.

By five o’clock Harm was tired, picked up his lard bucket, as he headed to the depot to turn in his work order sheet. The rocks were hot and he could feel the heat through his shoes. He had wanted to buy a pair of thick soled boots but had been holding back for they cost was higher than he wanted to spend. As he came out of the depot door he turned towards Mrs. Bearden’s wood shed. There he would wash up and put on his other good pair of bib overalls that he tried to keep clean and only washed when they became dirty or sweaty and the shirt before going into the boarding house to eat. The bib overalls and shirt he had worn were for working and was almost stiff with grease and sweat. Saturday was wash day and he would use Mrs. Bearden’s wash pot after she finished washing. He would boil those clothes and then clean up the pot for Mrs. Bearden.

Red met Harm just as he was coming out the front door of the depot. The big dog would bark and run toward town. Harm just watched the dog for he had never seen him this late in the day. The big dog would come back, bark at Harm, and start off again. Finally Harm decided to follow the dog. The dog walked ahead of Harm, would look back ever now and then, as if to make sure Harm was coming.

Harmon followed the dog through town and down near the creek, at Pickens Livery, Red turned into the runway of the livery barn and set down looking back towards the back of the building. Harm stopped and stood there not knowing what to do. Why in the world did you bring me to this barn for Big Red? Harm asked the big red dog.

From the back of the livery barn came a weak voice, Back here I need help. Harm and Red walked toward the back and in the last stall near the store room was laying a man on his back. The man looked up and said, Thank God someone finally came. Help me to my bed in the feed room and then get the Doc. As Harm was bending over to move the man, the man passed out, this was probably a blessing for the livery man.

Harm had to use all his strength, that he could muster, as he half carried and half dragged the six foot over two hundred pound frame of the man to his bunk in the feed room. Harm finally got the man on the bunk and then he ran through the barn and up the street to the Doc’s Office, which was over Johansson General Store. Going up the stairs Harm opened the door to the office and said, Doc, Mister Pickens at the livery is hurt bad. He needs your help.

It didn’t take the Doctor a minute to leave his woman patient setting at his desk. Grab his black bag and go down the stairs in front of Harm. The Doctor was a tall lean man and he could surly run. The Doctor had made it into the feed room before Harm got to the livery runway.

Big Red was setting near the door of the feed room as Harm came up to the door. There wasn’t much room in the feed room so Harm and Red stayed in the livery walk way. The Doctor was in the feed room working on Mister Pickens and after a while Harm turned and headed for the boarding house. Mrs. Bearden would stop serving food at six thirty and Harm was hungry. After changing his clothes and washing off some of the grease and dirt, he made it to the table just as Mrs. Bearden was taking the dirty dishes into the kitchen. Harm filled his plate, from the platter and bowels left on the table, and Mrs. Bearden asked, Why you so late today, Harm?

Harm said, Mrs. Bearden the man at the livery got hurt and the big red dog I have told you about led me down there. I got the man in the bunk of the feed room, and then I went and got the Doc for him. The Doc is there with him now. As he ate his supper he continued, Also the railroad is cutting Simon and me back to four days a week on the work.

Mrs. Bearden just stood and listened to Harm until he was finished, talking and eating. Then she took his plate and cleaned up the table with a dampen rag. Harm walked back down to the livery after supper to find out how the man was doing. As he entered the livery the Doc was coming out the door.

Young man, old Jess is going to need some help. He ain’t got nobody around here that can do for him. Jess is in pretty bad shape. That horse he was working with almost killed him and he might up and die on us before daylight tomorrow. I got a dose of laudanum down him and he might sleep most of the night. He’s gona have to lie as still as he possibly can until them ribs heal up some. The Doctor said to Harm and he went out the front of the livery barn door.

Wonder what the Doc thinks I can do for the old man? Harm said to himself. Harm stood there watching the Doctor going back up town, and then Harm went to of the feed room and looked in through the door on Jess lying in the bunk, Red was setting in the floor near the head of the livery man. Harm went into the room and set down in the only chair in the room. Mister Pickens had one arm with a split, one leg with a splint on the lower part and his ribs wrapped with bandages. Harm decided to stay until Mister Pickens came around and see what he might do for the old man because he hadn’t a thing to do until work time on Monday morning.

Well he did need to wash his clothes. Mrs. Bearden charged a dollar to wash three suits of clothes and He couldn’t spare the money. By splitting the wood and getting the fire started under the pot he would do his own laundry and she let him stay in the shed and did not charge him for using the pot of water and soap. He only spent what money he had to spend on necessities he had saved over three hundred dollars in the fruit jar buried in the wood shed under his bunk. Tully, the agent at the depot had told him that the railroad was cutting back on workers and that Harm’s job might be gone or he would have to move to a larger terminal on the rail line in not to distant future.

It was getting late into the night, the lantern that Harm had lit was almost out of oil, and Harm was getting sleepy. Looking around the room, Harm found two blankets rolled up setting on some feed sacks. Harm moved the feed sacks around, turned the lamp off, and crawled on top of the sacks of feed spreading the blankets over him. The dog lay down near the livery man and it wasn’t long until Harm was fast asleep.

Chapter II

The light in the livery runway was turning a light gray with the coming sun rise. When Harm set up, with a creak in his back, and looked around. Mister Pickens was still asleep and the dog was setting on his hunches looking at Harm. Harm rolled the blankets back up as they had been the night before. He left the livery and went back to Mrs. Bearden’s boarding house arriving just as the lady was taking biscuits from the oven.

Harm set down in the kitchen and ate his breakfast. Mrs. Bearden hadn’t said a word. She fixed Harms lunch bucket with ham, biscuits and several slices of dried apple pie. Mrs. Bearden I’m not working today at the rail yards. Harm said as he finished his second cup of coffee.

You going back to the Pickens Livery aren’t you?

Yes ma’am. I don’t have anything else to do today and the Doc wanted someone to stay with Mister Pickens.

Then you’ll need your lunch and I put some extra in there if that old reprobate decides to eat. Mrs. Bearden said with a smile on her face, Also take this jar of wild cat whiskey and put a wee bit in his coffee because it might take some of his pain and meanness out and he not spend any of it on you.

Harm grabbed the lard can, quart jar of whiskey, and headed back to the livery. As he passed the railroad depot, Simon came out the door with his lunch pail. Harm walked with Simon almost to the car knockers shed and they talked on the way. Simon said, Harm I hadn’t found nobody that will hire him to work two or three days a week. Have you found any work?

Nope I haven’t even been out to ask around yet Tully just told me yesterday morning. I’m waiting for the livery man to wake up and see how bad he is hurt. If I hear of any work I’ll get back with you. Harmon said for he knew that Simon had a wife, three kids and needed the money but the railroad had cut him to four days a week as they had done to Harm.

Harm got back to the livery and found Mister Pickens was still out. Harm started feeding the four horses, which were in the stalls, and then he went to the corrals out back to take care of the five horses which were in the back corral. Harm came back and for nothing better to do he took a pitch fork, shovel, and wheel barrow and started cleaning the stalls.

He would lead the horses one at a time out to the corral beside of the livery and turn the horse loose. He then cleaned the stalls the horse had been occupying. The stalls were all cleaned out and some fresh straw scattered into them when Harm heard Mister Pickens call out, Hey you out there. Can you come in here?

Harm walked over to the door of the feed room where Pickens was laying on the bunk. What you doing out there in my stables? Pickens asked from the bunk.

Just trying to clean up some and take care of the horses. Harm replied.

Hell I can’t pay you for the work.

We might work something out until your back on your feet again.

Could you make me some coffee?

Sure thing. Harm replied as he went to the small stove and started a fire from the ash kindling so it wouldn’t heat the place up a whole lot. After filling the coffee pot, with water from a bucket setting on a small table near the door, he moved the lid from over the hole on top of the stove and set the pot over the flame. Harm turned to Pickens and asked, If you are hungry Mrs. Bearden sent some biscuits and ham to eat? Me and Red have already ate this morning.

What’s your name? Pickens asked as Harm was propping him up so he could drink the coffee when it got ready.

Folks call me Harm.

Hadn’t seen you around town before. Where you been hiding out?

I work for the railroad as a car knocker. I’ve been staying at Mrs. Bearden’s since coming to town four months ago. Don’t go up town much because I’m trying to save my money.

What brought you down here yesterday?

The big red dog of yours over there, Harm said as he pointed to Red.

I’ve seen him around the livery and fed him a time or two. I wouldn’t call him my dog, isn’t that your dog? Pickens replied.

No sir, he has been coming up to the rail yards and eating lunch with me. I thought he was your dog the way he acted and brought me down here yesterday. I can work around here Friday, Saturday and Sunday a helping you.

Hell I can’t pay you because I’m not making hardly any money here. Taint many folks coming through on horse back any more and the town folks take care of their own horses, if they’s got one. Even though I rent one every blue moon to some fool that gets off the train and wants to look the country side over for one reason or the other.

Harm had been eyeing the saddle hanging on the wall all the time he had been here with Pickens. That saddle up there on the wall. You in the notion to maybe sell it. Harm asked as he poured a cup of coffee. Harm poured a small amount of the whiskey into the cup before he handed the cup to Pickens, and then he took the lid off the bucket and set the lunch bucket on the bunk.

Mister Pickens fished a biscuit and a slice of ham out of the lard bucket and looked at the saddle before answering Harm. That’s a fifty dollar saddle. But I might part with it. Pickens said as he munched on the food. He finished eating and was drinking from the coffee cup.

I’ll work three days a week on cleaning and taking care of the horses. But I’ll come down, feed, and water them the other four days unless you can get someone to do it for you. I’ll work a month for you for the saddle.

Pickens went to spitting and sputtering. The Doc came into the room and Harm got up leaving to finish his work. Harm could hear the Doc and Pickens talking but he paid no attention to what they were saying. Harm finally went out to the water pump beside the front corral. After priming the pump, with two cans of water from the water trough, he went to working the pump handle up and down until the water was flowing well. The four water troughs were hooked together with pipe. He kept the pumping up until he could see water from the last water trough running out on the ground. Pickens had a good system for watering the horses in the corrals. He had connected the water troughs with pipe and you could fill all of them from this well.

Harm had just finished with the watering as the Doc came out of the livery. Harm don’t you work for the railroad? The Doctor asked.

Yes sir.

How you going to work at the rail yards and keep the livery and old Jess going? The Doctor asked with a concerned look on his face.

I’ve been giving it some thought and hadn’t quiet worked it out yet. Harm answered.

The Doctor stood there few minutes, and replied, Guess you’re the nearest one Jess can depend on then to take care of him. The leg isn’t broke but don’t tell Jess for a while.

Why did you put a set of splits on the leg then Doc?

To keep the old reprobate lying around till his ribs and insides heal up some. Other wise he might be up trying to take care of the horses.

I see what you mean because that’s about how I figured he might be that away. Harm said as the Doc then left going up the street. Harm watched the tall man until he reached the foot of the stairs going up to his office.

Chapter III

Harm had the livery stables cleaned and the horses put up in their stalls for the night. There hadn’t been a customer all day and Harm knew why Jess was having trouble with money. Harm stopped at the cubby hole feed room to check on Mister Pickens. As he came up to the door, he looked in and Mister Pickens was setting up. I’ve finished for the day and was going up to Mrs. Bearden’s to split some wood for the wash pot tomorrow. Is there anything I need to do for you before I leave? Harm asked from the door way.

Naw you done good kid. Are you coming back tomorrow?

Nope, be back after I eat and get the wood split and into place. I’ll bring you some supper. Harm replied and left heading toward the boarding house. He had been thinking how he was going to wake up early enough to feed and still didn’t know how long it would take him to care for the horses. He was almost passed the General store and the thought hit him that he should get a clock. But damn he hated to have to spend the money.

Harm climbed the steps to the General Store, going through the door and up to the counter, Harm saw Mister Johansson coming up from the back of the store.

Harm what can I do for you today? Mister Johansson asked.

Need me an alarm clock.

Your clock break or just quit you?

No sir I’ve never had one.

What makes you think your needing a clock?

Need to get up earlier of a morning so I can feed Mister Pickens horses while he’s down and I wont be late for work.

Mister Johansson went over to the shelf behind the counter and brought back a clock that had bells on top. He set it on the counter and showed Harm how to wind the clock, set the time and the alarm on the clock to the right time. How he should turn the alarm on and off. That way he could stop the ringing of the alarm. Then he commented, As long as you need it to help old Jess out you just take the clock at no charge. That’s the least I can do to help out old Jess.

You sure about no charge for the clock.

Yep you need anything else?

Not right now Mister Johansson, Harm replied as he picked up the clock and headed on toward the boarding house.

The alarm clock was a ringing loud as Harm rolled over and shut the clock off. At four in the morning the sunlight hadn’t even made a gray tint in the sky even with it being the last of May. Harm lit the candle near the clock on the small shelf beside his bed. After getting dressed Harm blew out the candle and headed for the livery barn. He had just got to the big double doors at the livery as the light from the east started turning the daylight gray.

Harm feed the horses, as they finished eating, he lead the horses from the stalls into the big corral beside of the livery. Jess was hollering by that time about wanting a pot of coffee made for him. Harm went into the feed room and started the stove, put water in the coffee pot, setting the pot on the stove. Harm, what in the hell are you down here this time of morning for? Jess Pickens asked as he was using the Thunder mug bucket.

I had to come in this early to take care of the horse so I won’t be late for work. Harm replied as he put the coffee grounds into the pot and moved the pot over to the side of the stove closest to the bed. Got the animals taken care of for this morning and I’ll be back after work to take care of them for the night. Then I can put them in the stalls and feed them also. If’n anyone comes in they can take care of their own horse until I get here after work. Harm poured a cup of coffee and handed it to Jess. Anything else you want before I go?

Naw. I’ll manage today and see how it goes. You sure you're a coming back after work? Jess asked sipping on his coffee.

Yep, sure will. Harm replied as he headed back to the boarding house for breakfast.

The week seemed to go by quickly and it was Friday again. Harm worked around the livery during the three day weekend and had managed to fix a lot of things that Jess had let go to run down. Harm had even had time to grease the wheels on the buckboard and two small wagons that were setting in the shed out