Western Historical Fiction
Date Published: 08-19-2025
Publisher: Artemesia Publishing, LLC
As the Kelly Can Saga continues, Charlie and his wife, Susan, must deal with continued conflict as they attempt to grow their fledgling Kelly Oil Company. Like many other oilmen, Charlie and his partner, Hank Thomas, want to acquire oil and mineral rights to the Osage Nation’s land in northern Oklahoma. This leads them to confrontations with an adversary from their recent past. Susan’s life is imperiled by those evil characters. How will her cowboy come to her rescue and deal with dangerous direct threats on their lives? Charlie rapidly steps up to the challenge as any past Top Hand at the world-famous Miller’s 101 Ranch would.
Chapter One
The Day After the Day After
October 1919
CHARLIE KELLY STOOD AT the foot of the bed, his
six-foot five-inch frame towered over the person that
lay there. He loved the black-haired beauty who lay asleep, her naked
body entwined in the sheets. She was his wife Susan, who, thirty-six hours
before, had been held captive by two hoodlums wanting revenge for their
business losses to the powerful Kramer Group owned by the Kellys.
Charlie walked around to the bedside, bent down, and kissed
her. “Sweetheart, we need to git on the road. Our home at The Double Bar K
ranch ain't gittin' any closer.”
She rolled over and moaned. “Do we have to?”
“I’m afraid so.”
She climbed out of bed, yawned, and saw that Charlie hadn’t
dressed. “Well, aren’t you the handsome devil I call husband?”
“I better be. I waited for you to wake up to shower and git
ready. Want ta join me?”
“You bet.”
After their shower, and as they packed for their trip home,
Susan said, “Last night, as we sat at our table and shared the bottle of
cabernet, you said something about trouble with the Chicago Outfit. I think it was something like that. What did you mean?”
“Night before last, as the group was plannin’ how we were
goin’ to rescue you from Willard and his goon, I got a phone call from Hank
Thomas, our Landman. He was up at Burbank and had been out at our oil well
site. Someone had shot our oilfield storage
tanks full of holes. It couldn’t have been Willard because he was here in
Cushing holdin’ ya captive. I think it's the Chicago mob tryin' to scare us or
settle a score. Do you remember Zane, our cement quarry manager, sayin' he
learned the other bidder on the quarry auction in Sapulpa was someone from the
Chicago mob? I think we may be lookin' at a new enemy whether we want it or
not.”
“Charlie, I’m scared. What if they come after us the way
Willard did with me two nights ago?”
He patted her shoulder. “That’s why we’re creatin’ a new security
company with Bailey Muldoon as our lead.”
“It can’t happen fast enough to suit me, big guy.”
“I agree. Let’s git outta here.”
***
As they stood under a massive chandelier at the Cushing
Hotel’s impressive mahogany registration desk to settle their bill, Susan
yawned. She laid her head against Charlie’s shoulder as she squeezed his arm.
“I'm hungry. Can we eat here at the hotel before we head out?”
Charlie looked down at her sleepy eyes. “Sure, why don’t you
go into the restaurant and git us a table. I’ll finish here and load our
suitcases in the car. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
“Okay, Sweetheart.” She stopped at the restaurant entrance
and looked back across the lobby at her cowboy as he talked to the clerk. Her
pulse raced as she marveled at his rugged, hand-some looks and confident demeanor. Then she reluctantly headed into the restaurant.
“Hey, Charlie.”
Charlie turned and saw Bailey Muldoon, the new Kramer Group
Head of Security, and Richard Murphy from the Oklahoma Bureau of Investigation
coming out of the elevator.
He walked toward them. “Mornin’ fellas. Hope you were able
to get some rest.” He looked at Bailey. “Are ya headin' out? I guess you’re
goin’ back to Ponca City?”
Although tall himself, Bailey looked up and nodded. “Yes, I
need to go back and finish up some things. And Hank called me. I need to see
the damage he was talking about at the well site. Then, as your new President
of Kramer Security, I'll start putting together some ideas regarding what the
Kramer Group, and of course you and Susan, need to consider as we develop the
new company. Give Susan my best.”
Charlie nodded. “I will and let me know what ya find up in Burbank,” He turned and put his hand on Richard’s
shoulder. “Thanks again for all your help the other night.”
Richard ran his hand through his graying hair, smiled,
and shrugged. “Just happy I could be of service to you and Susan. How is she
this morning? Is she still upstairs?”
Charlie chuckled, “No. She's in the restaurant. She said she
was starvin’. I guess her appetite is still healthy. She'll be fine, but it’ll take some time. Thanks for askin'.”
Richard patted his chest. “I’m glad to hear it. And know
this; you can always call me if you need anything.”
Charlie said, “You bet, Richard. You two travel safe.”
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