Lenahan and Rags had sat there feeling the personal loss. After a time, he found a pick and shovel. He carefully wrapped Ima’s body in a sheet and he and Rags went out to the barn.
He went to the water trough, recovering Gabe’s body, he wrapped him in a sheet as well, and then, he brought the bodies into the barn. The fire in the hay had died away, but smoldered, beckoning to Leck as the most likely temporary grave for the Russell’s since the ground was frozen and too hard to dig.
Jess, Rags, a milk cow, two hogs, two other horses, seven chickens, a rooster, two barn cats, several spiders, mice and assorted wildlife comprised the funeral party, and looked on respectfully as Leck fixed a small cross on the site.
“Dear God...this is a moment I could never have imagined. I came here this morning to help my old friend, while I was on leave from my duties at the Fort. It was to be a joyful time...now this is the very worst moment in my life...I am so angry...so lost...Lord I’ve been absent from you for a while...but help me to understand why I should ever come back to a belief that you are all feeling...do you know what I’m feeling?”
Leck dropped his head for a moment, walked to his horse, leading him from the barn. Rags lay on the grave with his head toward the door. The other animals moved into the stalls... Lenahan began to close the big barn door from the night. He looked at the big dog.
Rags was Leck’s first ever inheritance. It felt somewhat strange...he did not know if he owned the dog or if an inheritance brought some privilege to the inherited source.
Rags was, one of those “last minute “ details that Ima just had to solve. It appeared to Leck that Rag’s future was essential for Ima to die in peace.
He wished now in retrospect that he could have had more time with Ima to discuss the dog. Specifically, how she had acquired the dog and if she knew who had breed the dog’s mother?
Rags was not an ordinary dog. It was obvious to Leck and the local veterinarian that Rags was the product of a carefully orchestrate and select breeding. Some things they knew. Rags was five years old. He was a mix breed mating of a Great Dane and, an Airedale. Rags got his size from the Great Dane but he got all other genetic dispositions form the Airedale.
Although the vet said he had never seen the offspring of such a mating, he had read during attendance at veterinarian school that a dog like Rags was quite common in the middle ages. At that time this crossbreed belonged principally to noblemen. They were guard dogs for the estate and the family, capable of great bravery and heavy endurance.
Rags stood forty-two inches at the nape of the neck and weighed one hundred twenty-seven pounds. He was solid muscle. He had the massive head of the Great Dane but the symmetrical face of the Airedale, and Rags always had a bad hair day, wiry and going in every direction.
But that was the only thing bad about Rag’s life. There existed no kinder, more intelligent, more faithful, more obedient, more loving dog that Leck, or anyone else in the family or village had ever known or seen. Rags, was so big and gentle, that all the grandchildren of all ages rode him like a pony whenever they came for a visit. Rags would totally wear the children and the other two family dogs to a frazzle by days end.
Rags was dark/dark gray in color, had large black eyes that seemed to penetrate your soul. He had a big, wet black nose and a huge red tongue, which hung at the side of his mouth. He had major paws and the pads on them were extremely hard but supple to the touch. Rags came with Ima to the marriage with Gabe. Gabe told Leck that Rags had tried courageously to save Mrs. Russell’s two girls from the kidnapping by the Cheyenne. After the girls had jumped from the burning wagon, Rags followed and savagely attacked a Cheyenne brave attempting to carry the girls to his horse. But another Cheyenne rode up and speared Rags with a lance in the shoulder.
The spear had stopped Rags from killing the Cheyenne and possibly saving the girls as well. Mrs. Russell had nursed Rags back to health within a matter of days the big dog was back to his job of protecting the family with what appeared to be a new vigor. Most especially, Rags was devoted to Mrs. Russell whom Rags loved more than his own life.
Historically, the vet had told Leck that these dogs were known to be totally loyal to the master, no matter how cruel, and he thought it highly unusual that Rags had transferred his loyalty to Leck, so willingly, on command from Ima. But the fact that it had happened gave credence to the intellect of the dog, Leck did not want, but came to love.
“Rags...let’s go home boy!”
Rags followed just behind Jess’s heels...Jess did not fart as they trotted down the lane and out the road toward Raywick and the Lenahan Farm.
It was late in the afternoon before the entourage rode into St. Mary’s. He stopped at the Sheriff’s office to make a statement on the deaths of the Russell’s and to post a complaint on the four men Ima had described including the strange looking sorrel with the black eye patch.
Antonio Norvellino, the town’s sheriff was contrite, he had known Russell since he was a child and had recently met his wife Ima when they had come up from the Oregon Trail a few months before.
“I promise you this Leck...we will get these bastards...I will send a dispatch immediately. They could not have gotten very far.” The Sheriff assured Leck.
“I got this death bed will from Ima authorizing me to sell the cattle Gabe purchased and are to be delivered today at Bardstown...thirty head. “Leck said.
“OK Leck, I’ll give you my official statement of your standing in our community. When you go over to Bardstown, you will have to go before the District Judge, have this will probated and you’ll get the court authorization for you to become the Executor as Ima has bequeathed.” The Sheriff said. “If you need any help Leck just let me know, or I know where to find you.”
“Antonio, there is one other thing I would ask you to do...please notify the Sheriff at Bardstown that two young girls, ages twelve and fourteen...blonde hair, green eyes...name of Mariana and Rebecca Russell...coming from Pittsburgh...due into Bardstown...maybe tomorrow. They are expecting their Aunt Ima to be there...ask him not to tell the girls about the death of Ima until I get there...put them up at the Old Talbot Tavern.” Leck asked.
“Count on it Leck...I’ll ask him to confirm via return telegram.” Antonio said.
“Obliged.” Replied Leck.
Leck continued on toward home relieved that a few pieces of the personal trauma were safely cared for. He had every hope that the next few hours in which he would share with his parents, brothers and sisters, the tragedy... which had unfolded for him on his seventeenth birthday, would be lifted from his youthful shoulders in fulfillment of his promise to Ima Russell.
Leck, Jess and Rags arrived at the Lenahan family farm in Raywick after dark. He knew that his parents who rose before dawn each day would be in bed. The light in the kitchen made it likely that his twin brothers Christian and Thomas, age twenty-four would still be up playing cards or reading. Sister Elaine, age twenty-six whose husband had died in 1851 during a skirmish with the Utes. He had been with the same Calvary unit in which Leck now served.
Catching the scent of Rags, the two family dogs of the Lenahan’s set up a serious defensive wall of howls and running jesters to let the big dog know this wasn’t his territory. Just as they were about to jump him, Leck hollered at the pair to let them know that it was ok. Then he called to Rags to keep him close.
“Rags...good boy, these guys are bullies, used to having everything their way...we’ll just take it easy here until things get a little more relaxed.” He said to the big dog.
By the time Leck had reached the barn, all three siblings had come out of the house and were at the barn door in a moment. Christian lit two lanterns as the other animals looked up at the commotion and saw the newest player in the barnyard.
Jess looked around and walked toward his stall, Tom took hold of his reigns.
“Hold on there big fellow...let’s get this tack off and get you rubbed down before