Steeley

© 2010 Bob Grady. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

First published by AuthorHouse 10/18/2010

ISBN: 978-1-4520-9090-0 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4520-9091-7 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4520-9092-4 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2010915658

Printed in the United States of America

This book is printed on acid-free paper.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any Web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Dedication To:

My daughter, Karla Grady Rucker, Friend, Nancy Sumner wife, Irene, for their inspiration, encouragement,

and assistance in having this book published.

Contents

Part 1

Part two

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Part 3

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Part 4

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Part 5

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Part 1

This is a story, beginning in the year 1871,

of a young, uneducated boy struggling for survival.

This young boy’s name is James Robert Walker. Everybody calls him Steeley. He doesn’t know his age, or when he was born. Steeley does know he was born of a white lady. She never married his father.

He’s been advised his father was white like my Mother.

Steeley’s Mother died about four, or five years ago. At the time he was about six, or maybe seven years of age.

Steeley has no kinfolks as far as he knows. Where his father is, he doesn’t know, and never knew. Steeley doesn’t know his father’s name.

Steeley never attended school, and never learned to read, write, or spell his name. When his Mother passed away the town buried her in back of the house where they lived.

Steeley’s hair is light brown, and he has green eyes. He has fair skin. He was born, and lived in Headley, Missouri all his life.

Steeley has always worn a cap as long as he recalls. His cap is dark in color. The brim is worn threadbare. His cap is worn where he uses his hands removing it, and putting it on.

His clothes are too big, and sloppy. Steeley’s tan pants hang below his worn boots, and rolled up a couple of times. His shirt has long-sleeves, blue stripes, and hangs loosely.

The boots he wears are worn almost through the toes.

Steeley does wear a red, checkered handkerchief, and tied around his neck. Steeley uses his handkerchief for wiping sweat from his face, and neck.

After this time in Steeley’s life certain events began which changed his life forever.

At this time, 1871 his age is about seventeen, but he isn’t sure. He’s either age seventeen, eighteen, or nineteen. Steeley recalls occurrences on or about eleven years ago.

Steeley is about as tall as the girl working in the saloon. He reaches just above the shoulders of most men. From what he understands he’s about 5 feet 6 to 8 inches tall. He really doesn’t know.

Steeley has never been measured, and doesn’t think he is fully grown.

Let’s reflect back! In this small town of Headley, Missouri there was a saloon, blacksmith shop, barber shop, and a livery stable.

It was about eleven years ago when Steeley made his rounds of these businesses. He earned money mostly for food. The only clothes he had were given to him. Most nights he slept in the livery stable.

For sleeping in the stables he cleaned the horse’s stalls, and fed animals hay, and other food, such as grain, sweet feed, and oats. Mr. Bland, the owner had piles of manure from the stables he stacked out back.

This is where Steeley dumped what was shoveled using a wheelbarrow. He learned working with horses having loose shoes, filing, and cleaning hooves. This was his hardest work. Mr. and Mrs. Bland lived above the stables. At times Mrs. Stella Bland offered food left over from their meals. This was Steeley’s life for many years until he left Headley.

At times Steeley worked in the saloon. At about age ten, or eleven he was emptying garbage, and sweeping the saloon when a drunken cowboy accused Steeley of stealing money from his table. He asked the cowboy to search him, and the cowboy would know he had no money.

What money he had, or earned given for his work. This drunken cowboy beat Steeley pretty badly. Steeley left as fast as he could. He went to the stables, and rested for two days recovering from the beating.

This made Steeley mad. It seems this cowboy was taking his anger out on him.

Steeley thought, what could he use for protection against those wanting to harm him? Steeley was going to do anything preventing beatings, or harm in the future.

Because the town folks believed this cowboy caused folks not to trust Steeley, and not wanting him doing work as Steeley had for years. When he didn’t have money, and was hungry he’d slip around, and steal food from the bakery, cafe, or wherever he could. Steeley didn’t like asking Mr. Bland for food.

He and Mrs. Bland gave him food the days he worked. Mrs. Bland gave Steeley biscuits and beans mostly.

Steeley was caught stealing food many times. Most people in town knew he stole food, and called him The Stealer.

Once while working in the saloon a drunk cowboy began calling him Steeley. This name sort of stuck.

A few months after the beating while leaving the saloon after dark Steeley came upon a drunken cowboy in the alley, next to the saloon. Steeley took his gun. It was a .45 colt he found out later.

After stealing this pistol, Steeley stole bullets from the gun belts of anyone he was close to. Many times he ran for his life. This kind of living caused constant fear. Steeley nervously jumped at the least thing occurring.

The months and years seemed slipping by. Steeley was tired being afraid, and tired of sleeping in the stable. He slept with horses, hay, and manure all the time. He wanted to hide where no one could find him.

About a mile outside of town Steeley found a hill. This hill was about ten (10) feet high. He began staying, and sleeping under this hill. Steeley could walk to the stable in fifteen minutes.

While working at the livery stable he saved old blankets, or anything he could use for sleeping. A piece of canvas from a covered wagon thrown away helped a lot.

He began digging a cave into the side of the hill. It took Steeley weeks, but he dug it big enough for sleeping, and storing what property he had.

He had nothing covering the opening to the cave.

He cut a piece of the canvas big enough to cover the opening. Steeley cut six branches from a tree. He sharpened one end of each. Steeley made six (6) small holes across one end of the canvas, and stuck the sharpened ends of the limbs into the holes. He hammered the sharpened ends into the top of the cave.

To hold the cover down he puts rocks on the bottom inside. Steeley kept his clothes in a roll. Steeley had his pistol, and began playing with it a lot. He learned pulling this pistol from his belt, and firing this pistol. Steeley had a shirt fitting real tight.

When he pulled it down tightly into his pants, especially on his right side, he drew his pistol faster than any other way.

Steeley practiced daily without firing bullets. It took weeks of practicing before he considered himself fast enough, or comfortable.

Steeley realized he needed more strength in his right hand and arm. At the livery stable he began using his arms lifting, carrying bales of hay, bags of oats, and grain. He did the same with anything needing lifting.

It took about six months, but finally Steeley’s arms were much stronger. This helped when practicing pulling his pistol. Steeley felt he was really fast.

Every morning Steeley spent about an hour, or more pulling the gun from his belt. It was hard in the beginning, but he gradually learned how to position it, and he could pull it quicker.

Steeley learned drawing his pistol from his belt without looking down.

When enough bullets were gathered Steeley would shoot at a tree. This gave a better feeling with live bullets coming from the pistol. He learned to walk, and run without losing the pistol.

While working in the saloon Steeley foolishly stole a dollar from a table. He didn’t think the drunken cowboy saw him. After he left the saloon the cowboy followed him outside, and threatened killing him. He wanted Steeley returning the stolen dollar.

Steeley apologized, and offered him his dollar. The cowboy changed his mind, and wanted to fight Steeley with his gun.

The cowboy knew Steeley had a pistol in his belt, and before Steeley knew what was occurring, this cowboy began pulling his pistol.

Steeley suddenly realized this cowboy was heck bent on shooting him. Steeley beat him by pulling his pistol faster and shot him. The cowboy was slow, and never got his gun completely free of its holster.

This happened so fast Steeley didn’t have a chance to think, or be scared. Later is when he began trembling, and taking several days recovering.

About six (6) town folks had seen what happened, and saw Steeley shoot this cowboy.

The sheriff arrested Steeley, and put him in jail. The sheriff talked with the folks who saw what happened, and the sheriff believed Steeley shot this cowboy defending himself, and he was released.

Everybody began talking how Steeley killed this man, and everybody bragged how fast Steeley drew his pistol.

Steeley began thinking of other ways he could get the jump on others wanting to fight him. His pistol was the only option.

The next morning as Steeley put his tight shirt, and pants on he pulled his pants down, and folding them over his knees exposing the inside of the pants leg.

Steeley pulled his shirt down, and pinned his shirttail to the inside bottom of the pants leg. When he pulled up his pants his shirt tail was tight. If he pulled his pants down on his hips more it tightened the shirt more. This gave a slippery shirt when his pistol was pulled.

Steeley doesn’t know how word travelled so fast, but it wasn’t long before a gunman came looking for The fast gun.

Steeley found out one morning when he left the cave, and walking to the livery stable. Mr. Bland was riding in his direction.

Mr. Bland said, Steeley, you better go back, and hide. A gunfighter has been asking for you all over town. He wears his gun low, and tied to his leg.

Steeley asked Mr. Bland, Did he know who the gunfighter was, or where he could hide?

Mr. Bland easily saw Steeley was nervous, moved around, and showing fear. Mr. Bland related, All I know is he calls himself ‘Killer Curly’ .I don’t know where you can hide, but stay away from town, and see what happens. Steeley returned to his cave, and began thinking what to do.

He couldn’t hide forever. He had to get over his fear knowing being afraid was not good. But how! Sooner or later he’d find Steeley. He had to work, eat, and might lose his job. He ate beef jerky purchased when he had money.

Steeley hid in the bushes that day.

After dark, Steeley slipped in the back of the stables to find Mr. Bland, using the back door. He called for Mr. Bland who asked what he wanted. Steeley said he needed talking, and was hungry. Mrs. Bland made a plate of food, and Mr. Bland brought it to him.

Mr. Bland said to Steeley, This gunfighter is asking for you all over town. He asked how to find you. He wanted to know where you lived.

Mr. Bland followed with, Most of the day he drank in the saloon, and was mad because he knew you were hiding from him. He watched the stable every day. This gunman said sooner or later you’d come out, and he’d find you.

’Killer Curly’ asked about your family. He’d kill your family if you didn’t come out. Everybody advised this gunman you had no family. He didn’t believe them. Mr. Bland said, ‘Killer Curly’ stated, Everybody has someone, and he’ll find out who your family is, one way, or another"?

Steeley asked, Did ‘Killer Curly’ know what he looked like? Mr. Bland said, Someone advised him you wore a cap. Steeley decided it would best not wearing his cap until this was settled. Steeley was afraid constantly, and lived in fear.

He began jumping at everything. His nerves were frayed. Steeley was in fear of what could happen. After two days of hiding Killer Curly didn’t go away.

Steeley reassured himself he had to face up to what was going to occur, and not be afraid.

Steeley decided he had work. He tried staying close inside the livery stable. He didn’t expose himself. One day a farmer came in boarding his horse. He wanted a rubdown, feed, and have his horse’s hooves cleaned. This farmer had to shop and take care of personal business.

Steeley had to get the farmer’s horse from the front door, but tried staying inside the stable the best he could. This gunfighter knew Steeley worked at the livery stable, and watched for Steeley at different times during the day. Killer Curly saw Steeley for the first time at the entrance of the stable, and began walking towards the entrance.

Steeley saw this gunman walking in his direction, and knew immediately it was the gunman. Steeley became nervous, and began trembling with fear. Steeley had laid it his pistol aside while working.

The gunman approached him, telling Steeley, You are the ‘Fast gun’ everyone’s talking about, and I’m going to find out.

Killer Curly had been drinking. This gunman saw Steeley had no gun, and said for him to get one, or he’d get one for him. Steeley was nearly crying with fear. Killer Curly grabbed Steeley by his collar, and began pulling Steeley outside, farther from the entrance.

Mr. Bland saw what was occurring. He picked up Steeley’s pistol, and handed it to him.

Mr. Bland knew Steeley had been practicing, and was pretty sure Steeley was faster than this gunman. With shaking hands Steeley stuck his gun inside his belt on the right side, and making sure it was comfortable. Steeley pulled his pants down to tighten his shirt tail.

This gunman yelled with anger in his voice. He was Killer Curly, and living up to his name. Killer Curly sarcastically stated, Any man faster has to prove it. He backed off about eight, or ten feet. He looked at Mr. Bland saying, Count to three.

He looked at Steeley, and snarled, Be ready to die. All this time Steeley was shaking, and scared at what could happen. He nervously glanced around. Steeley knew his eyes were jumping, and saw a gathering of town people looking.

This made Steeley’s fears worse. He did not know what would happen in the next few minutes.

At first Mr. Bland refused being involved. Steeley thought this gunman was