Life at the ranch had never been easy for the Cooper family. The times were hard but they always had come on top of it. In times of trouble they could rely on each other. The problems for the Coopers began really well when rancher John Cooper hired the Mexican Pedro Carusso. They couldn’t suspect what the near future would bring them. But it wouldn’t be much good. Except Pedro the youngest son Buck caused also trouble at the ranch regularly. He had the habit to disappear trackless from time to time. His parents didn’t look amazed about it anymore. Buck was the only one of the three children who didn’t care about the ranch. It wouldn’t be much longer before he would go away for a long time again.
On a nice morning the ten year old daughter of John and Laura, Alice, was playing outside. She didn’t notice that Pedro was watching her. Pedro worked at the ranch as a stable hand. He was a hard worker though but buck and his older brother William didn’t trust him. They didn’t know why but they just did. Alice was the apple of the eye of her parents and they guarded very about her. Everybody at the ranch was thrilled with her and she found that more than fine. Only with her youngest brother Alice couldn’t get on. She didn’t know him really because Buck was a way a lot. She could get on better with her older brother. He didn’t like Buck either. At a certain moment Alice had disappeared. But she wasn’t the only one. Pedro too was gone. Nobody had seen them leave. Quite soon was discovered that she was away and John organized a search.
Buck wanted to search the area but his father said, “Buck, you stay here. Laura needs your support now the hardest. William is searching the area already.”
“I know the area, Billy doesn’t. He never comes further than the ranch, the road to town and back”, Buck answered very indignant.
“That doesn’t matter because you stay here”, John ordered.
With reluctance the boy agreed with the decision. He knew that William was always at the ranch and didn’t know the area.
When Laura and Buck were alone Buck said, “Ma, I know to find every corner and hiding place blindfolded. Billy will get lost right away.”
“You know what yurt father has said. I need you here. They will find Alice”, Laura answered calm at first sight but deep in her heart she was worried.
Somewhere she agreed with her youngest son. Though she didn’t give in with his request.
William stayed away all day but in the evening he came home with the message that he hadn’t found his sister.
“You shut up Bucky boy. Do you want to claim that you would have found her?”, William asked when he saw the look of Buck.
“Perhaps yes Billy”, he said sober.
“Easy boys. There are enough problems already”, John said at that moment.
He saw a row upcoming between the brothers. This wasn’t usual. Short after that Buck went to bed.
That night he couldn’t sleep. Finally he got up and got dressed. Unnoticed he grabbed his horse an left the ranch. He rode to his shelter to think there in peace. Each time when he wanted to be alone Buck went there. He loved his family but sometimes the unity got him too much.
Once he had arrived at his shelter he got a strange surprise. There laid his sister Alice sleeping. He went to sit by her and looked at her. Suddenly she woke up and looked into the eyes of her elder brother.
“How do you come? Everybody is worried about you”, said Buck.
Then Alice started to cry and he took her into his arms. Buck realized that he was involved with it. More than he would and could suspect.
Once Alice had calmed down she began to tell, “Pedro took me to his house. I had to play house maid for him. I got very mistreated if I didn’t do what he said. I could get away when he was away. I found this place by accident.”
“That explains why Pedro wanted to have a few days off”, said Buck.
He prepared some food for them both while Alice washed herself.
When they had eaten something Buck said, “You stay here while I pick up at home some clothes and stuff. I say that I have found you but can’t come home yet. I come back as soon as possible. Keep yourself as quiet as possible.”
“Alright Buck”, was the answer of his sister.
Buck mounted on and rode as fast as he could back to the ranch. It was pure luck that nobody was there so that Buck quickly could grab some stuff and clothes. No one saw him leave.
Meanwhile Alice had become more quite and she waited for the return of her brother. She kept herself deadly quiet until Buck was back.
When Buck came into the shelter Alice pointed his rifle at him.
“Easy sis. It’s me Buck”, she heard him say.
With a smile on his face he came in.
Alice asked sighing, “I thought that you were Pedro or someone else. Have you seen anyone at the ranch?”
“No, there was nobody. I have left a note behind for ma and taken your horse along. If you like we ride by afternoon to the ranch of uncle Joe. Pedro doesn’t know to find that one”, Buck said calm.
Alice grabbed the clothes and asked, “Eh, can you for a second……..?”
“Oh eh yes of course. Just say when you are ready”, reacted Buck.
He went outside to think in peace. While Alice got changed went through the thoughts of Buck about what to do now. Straight to home was impossible. So they had to get shelter somewhere. But where?
At the ranch William found the note that Buck had left behind. He read it and took it too his father.
John read the note and said, “You know how Buck is. I suspect that he looks for Alice. Don’t you worry. Your brother will show up.”
William nodded and went to work again. He was used to do the heavy work. Buck had been away several times but he always had come home. William was more homely. Sometimes it seemed like the Coopers had 2 children instead of 3. Buck was the only one who wasn’t born at a ranch. Perhaps that was the reason why he was drifting from time to time.
By afternoon Buck and Alice left the shelter. They had rested very well and their horses too. In a quick pace they rode to the ranch of their uncle Joe. Constantly Buck looked around him to see if they weren’t being followed. Finally they reached the ranch of Joe Cooper. It was already quite dark and late.
“They are still up. Light is burning”, Buck said when they approached the ranch.
“I am tired and I am hungry”, Alice said tired.
At that moment Buck got shot in his left arm and he fell out of the saddle. Quickly Alice rode towards the ranch house where Joe and Emma came outside.
“That is Alice of John and Laura”, Emma said when she recognized her niece.
Joe stopped the horse, lifted Alice from it and asked, “Alice, what are you doing here?”
“Buck has been hit”, she said a bit upset.
Emma took the girl inside while Joe went to Buck. Fortunately Buck wasn’t very badly injured and had gotten up again. Supported by his uncle he went to the ranch house.
In the house Emma took care of the wound and she gave her niece and nephew something to eat. After supper Alice fell fast asleep. After she was brought to bed Buck told what had happened.
“Just stay here until your arm is better. I will bring your father up to date that you are here”, Joe said when he had heard everything.
Buck recovered soon from his injury. In the meantime Joe had sent a letter to his brother which said that Buck and Alice were with him. John went to pick up his children.
“Boys, John is coming to get you”, Joe said after he had received and read the letter from John.
Alice liked that but Buck had his other reasons.
Outside she asked, “Don’t you want to go back home?”
“Not really. You go back to the ranch with pa. I am going my own way”, her brother answered absent.
“You belong with us. Just come along now!”, Alice said a bit disappointed.
Buck looked at her and said, “I know that but I need more freedom. I do come home one time. Believe me.”
Alice couldn’t convinced and became angry with her brother.
She said almost yelling to him, “I hope that you never come back again. I hate you!”
“You are just a spoiled brat. This all is because of you. I am gone”, was the answer of van Buck.
He grabbed his stuff together and saddled his horse. After this he mounted on and rode away.
In the house Alice said, “I hate Buck.”
“Alice, your brother always has been adventurous. He can take care of himself”, said Emma.
When the girl had calmed down John arrived at the ranch. Alice ran to her father.
“Daddy, I have missed you so”, she said sobbing in his arms.
“I missed you too honey. Where is Buck?”, John asked holding his daughter.
Emma told what had happened between them.
John said, “It’s maybe for all of us that he is away. Buck can’t be held at home very difficult. He will show up one time.”
John and Alice went back to their ranch together where Laura was deliriously glad to see her daughter again. She did understand why Buck was away once again. She wasn’t much worried about him either.
Though William agreed with Alice and said, “We always must help while Buck cuts the corners. I hope that he never returns.”
This wasn’t the first row the young Buck Cooper had caused and it wouldn’t be the last one either. John and Laura knew that their youngest son didn’t care about the ranch and they had resigned to that.
Buck had decided to look for his rest in Mexico. Nobody knew him there and he could catch up an improve his Spanish at the same time. Another reason for the trip was to get more information about Pedro.
After riding a few days Buck arrived in a small town at the border of Mexico and Texas. He had a dry throat and longed for along drink. When he got his eye on the saloon a smile came on his face. His horse walked to it stopped automatically in front of the entrance. Buck dismounted and hitched his horse.
“Stay here old boy”, he said to him and stroke the animal.
When Buck entered the saloon it was reasonably quiet. At the bar the young Cooper ordered a whisky.
The barkeeper gave him that and asked, “You are American?”
“Yes”, Buck said who could speak notably well an fluently Spanish.
He took a sip and looked around in the saloon. There were not many Mexicans for the time of the day.
Suddenly Buck heard saying behind him, “Hello amigo.”
He turned around and looked into the eyes of police chief Carlos Castillo.
“Señor Castillo, nice to see you again. May I offer you something to drink?”, Buck asked surprised.
“Make it a whisky”, said Carlos.
“Two whisky’s”, said Buck.
They took a bottle of whisky along and went to sit in a corner.
“Señor Cooper, what brings you here? You are far away from home”, said Carlos.
“My sister Alice was kidnapped by Pedro Carusso. Pedro is a stable hand at op the ranch but Billy and I don’t trust him. In the saloon back home I heard that he had lived here. Is there information about him?”, Buck asked calm.
“Yes, that’s right. I assume that you don’t have a place to spend the night. My house is your house. Stay as long as you want”, said Carlos.
“Thanks Carlos”, answered Buck.
They left the saloon and went to the house of Carlos.
After Buck had refreshed himself Carlos gave him the requested information about Pedro Carusso. It turned out that he and his sister Maria were murderers in disguise. They were both wanted for murder in whole Mexico.
“The ranch and my family are in danger”, Buck said when he had read both wanted posters.
Though he decided to stay in Mexico for a while.
The daughter of Carlos, Rosa, was very impressed by Buck who was a little bit older than she was. On a warm evening they sat outside together.
“Buck, you are the one for me”, Rosa said suddenly.
“Rosa, you even couldn’t live with me. A family is nothing for me. I need my freedom”, Buck explained.
“So what? I love you and nobody else. Understood?”, she asked.
“Understood”, said Buck.
He put her arm around her. With her he could forget his troubles. Despite that he decided to go back to Texas again after a while.
“Miss Rosa, I do come back one time”, Buck said just before he left.
He had left his address behind though.
One evening William found his brother at the saloon. Buck stood at the bar when William came to stand next to him.
“Once again in town?”, asked William.
“We live in a free country”, Buck said uninterested.
“The ranch is still the same as when you went away”, said his brother.
“So what? What do I care about the ranch? You and Alice were allowed to do more than I was. I was never being looked after”, Buck reacted fierce.
It became deadly quiet in the saloon. A heavy fight between the brothers began. At a certain moment Buck knocked his brother out cold.
“He asked for it”, was the comment of Buck and he left the saloon.
William came round quickly and headed for home.
When he came home Laura asked at once, “William, what has happened?”
“I ran into Buck in the saloon. We got a row and he knocked me out cold. He claimed that Alice and I mean more to you than he does”, William said tired.
“That’s nonsense. We love you all three even much”, John said amazed.
“Try to tell Buck that. You get beaten up on the spot by him”, William said fierce.
“Buck is different than you are. He always will manage”, said John.
Not much longer after that Laura and Alice suddenly got killed. John and William were away when it happened.
After the double funeral William said, “I go after Buck. He will pay because he has killed ma and Alice!”
“We don’t even know for sure if Buck is the killer”, said John.
“Of course he is the killer. He always was jealous at us. So what’s then easier to get your hands on the ranch than to murder your mother and sister? We are next on turn”, his son reacted angry.
“You stay here. Buck doesn’t care a damn thing about the ranch. You know that as good as I do”, John said calm.
They couldn’t suspect that Pedro was behind the killings. His sister Maria became the house keeper for the Coopers. Maria was at first sight friendly and helpful but in reality she was a living murder weapon.
One morning Jason Watts, the son of Doc, came riding to them.
“Mr Cooper, William, you must come to town at once. Buck has come under a stage coach and he is badly injured.”
John and William left for town right away.
In the hotel John asked the man at the reception desk, “In which room has my son Buck Cooper been brought?”
“Doc let him bring to his house. He has been hit tough”, answered the man.
In the house van Doc Buck got taken well care of but he was in great pain.
Doc said to John, “The driver rode Buck over on purpose. He has 5 broken ribs and his left leg is broken. He will have to stay in bed for the time being. You can be with him for a second.”
When John saw Buck he held his hand tight.
“You will get better”, he just said.
Buck was awake but couldn’t say anything due to the pain.
In the saloon William heard that driver Glen Wilson had rode over his brother on purpose.
“Why have you given my brother that accident?”, asked William.
“He threatened to kill me. That’s why I did it”, said Glen.
At that moment John came standing by them and he said, “You challenged him. You have never liked him.”
“Buck is also quick tempered of character. He looks for a fight with everyone”, was the argument of Glen.
“He has a quick temper but he will challenge someone. William, Buck has asked after you”, said John.
William went to the house of Doc.
When he saw his brother he said, “Hello Bucky Boy.”
“You always called me that way when we were little, Billy. How do I look?”, Buck asked who was awake.
“Great. Ma would have been proud of you”, William said and he went to sit next to him.
“Why would?”, Buck asked amazed.
“She and Alice were murdered 2 months ago. Shot dead. We couldn’t find you anywhere for their both funeral”, his brother explained.
“I was in Mexico at the time but I cannot say why yet”, Buck said and looked away from him.
After a few weeks Buck had recovered again but he remained crippled. Despite that he could ride a horse but he seldom went back to the ranch. He preferred the town much more. The relationship with his brother had improved with his brother by the accident.
When the brothers rode upon the yard one day there hung a strange sphere in air. It was deadly quiet and that made the boys very worried. Quickly they brought their horses into the stables. After that they went into the ranch house.
“Pa, Buck is home”, William called but he didn’t get a reply.
“Maybe pa is somewhere at the land”, Buck suggested.
“You search through the house, then I go to the land”, William said determined.
That happened but John was nowhere to be seen.
When Buck searched through the whole house he ended up in the kitchen at a certain moment. There he found a strange woman.
“Who are you?”, he asked amazed.
She looked at him and asked, “I am Maria, the house keeper. Who are you? A stable boy?”
“No. I am Cooper, Buck Cooper. I look for my father. Do you know where he is?”, asked Buck.
“No! Must that then. I am here for the whole house keeping since señora Cooper has died. I don’t know you so just go away”, Maria said fierce.
She was Mexican and very fierce of character. Buck couldn’t convince her that he lived at the
ranch until John came in.
“Señor Cooper, this young man refuses to leave your house”, Maria said to him.
“It’s alright Maria. This is my other son Buck. He has been away a while. Buck, where is your brother?”, asked John.
“He was to the land because we thought that you were there”, answered Buck.
“Come son. Then we go to the study”, said John.
William was already in the study.
Buck went to sit down and asked, “I don’t trust Maria. Is Pedro still here too?”
“Yes, but I don’t trust her either”, answered his brother.
“When I was away I have asked around about Pedro an it turns out that he is wanted in Mexico for murder and Maria too”, said Buck.
He got 2 wanted posters out of the inside pocket of his coat and put them open on the table. With a waiting look in his eyes Buck looked at his father and brother.
“Buck Cooper, I don’t know if I must hit you now or congratulate. What you have done now was very risky”, John said after he had read the wanted posters of Pedro and Maria.
Buck said then inoffensive, “The whole life is risky. What do we do with this?”
“Don’t let notice that you know this to Pedro and/or Maria. I rely on you both”, John said finally.
William and Buck both nodded.
After a while Buck said, “I go away. I still have some business to arrange in town. I spend the night there.”
When he was away John said, “There is something with him. He knows more that he is telling. I am going to inform where he sleeps. You stay here.”
William nodded but they didn’t know what was going to happen in the living room.
That evening Buck didn’t return at the ranch but he went to town where his boss waited for him.
Sheriff Tom Miller asked him, “What is going on at the Cooper ranch?”
“Pedro is still there and his sister Maria works there in the kitchen and does the house keeping since ma has died”, Buck told who had become deputy in the meantime.
“Don’t you feel yourself at home there anymore Buck?”, asked Tom.
“No. I have never felt at home there. I just can’t say it to pa and Billy. I wouldn’t know how they would react”, Buck said a bit absent.
He had a cup of coffee and poured one in for his boss too.
“You will have to tell them one day. Otherwise they will find out anyway”, Tom said calm.
Buck nodded. It was his turn to do the guard so he had a lot of time and opportunity to think.
“Think about what I have said son. If there are problems come right away”, Tom said and he went away to sleep.
It was a quiet night so far. Just at the moment when Buck was doing his round John came riding. They looked very amazed at each other.
John said while he dismounted from his horse, “Why are you still up here? It’s late already.”
“I will tell you on the spot. I am a deputy here since my return from Mexico. Don’t ask me if I come back living at the ranch because that will ever happen. Not now and not ever. I have never felt at home there”, Buck rattled in one piece.
“I wait for you in the office”, John just said.
This made the boy only more disquiet. He knew for sure that John would ask him to go home with him. He saw his horse standing and faced a dilemma, or staying or leave town to go to Rosa. Although he longed for his girl he decided to stay and face the music. He finished his round and went into the office. John waited for him and Tom sat there as well. Buck didn’t know where he had to look. Now the moment of truth had come for him.
“Buck Cooper, sit down. We must talk urgently”, John said a bit strict.
His son went to sit down sighing, worried about the sermon his father was going to give. The dark eyes of Buck just looked at the table which stood in between them as a silent witness.
John said, “You belong at the ranch. You k now that damn well yourself. The ranch is in great danger so I can use your support very well. The town can do without you, we can’t.”
“I have never felt at home at the ranch. Here I do. I never should have come back. Rosa was right”, Buck said excited.
The discussion ended in a definitive fraction between John and Buck.
“You are not my son anymore! Don’t you dare to come at the yard. I have you shot dead”, his father said before he went home.
When John was away said the young Cooper, “Now there is really no reason for me here anymore to stay her any longer.”
He took off his star and left the office without saying another word. Tom knew how stubborn father and son were and could be. Their reputation was well known.
On the way to the ranch John got held up by Buck.
“Pa, I am sorry. Pedro won’t get his hands on the ranch”, said the boy.
“I am sorry too. Come son. Can you get arrest warrants?”, asked John.
Buck nodded and rode back to his boss. He told everything and Tom gave him what he wanted.
Quite soon Buck had caught up with his father and together they rode back to the ranch. Though they didn’t know yet what had happened to William. When they came to the ranch everything was dark. Even the outside lamps were out while they normally were burning.
“Be careful lad”, warned John.
“I always am”, Buck reacted calm.
Buck went inside the house via the kitchen but there was also everything quiet. After that the deputy came into the living room. Here too was the light out. When Buck put on the light the saw the body of his brother lying. He cursed mumbling and realized that he and John were the next victims.
“Hi amigo”, he heard saying behind him.
Buck recognized the voice and felt a rifle in his back.
He did a few passes in front of her and said, “My house is my house and not yours.”
At the same time he dropped himself. By accident Pedro shot dead his sister instead of Buck. This one already laid on the ground, drew his revolver and emptied the weapon on the Mexican. John and the other hands (Jack and Hank) came to the noise. On the floor Buck laid still gasping. But quite soon he had caught his breath again. The bodies of Pedro and Maria got taken away. The next morning William got buried by Laura and Alice. Buck decide to stay at the ranch.
Then the peace had restored again at the ranch Buck received a letter from Rosa. She wrote that she was coming with her parents.
“Pa, Rosa is coming here”, Buck said a bit shy.
John looked at his son and asked, “And?”
“I miss her. Now I won’t let her go anymore”, the boy said a bit confused by his feelings for the Mexican girl.
“You mean: there might be a wedding soon. I give you my permission. You can even stay here with Rosa”, was the answer of John who understood how Buck felt.
The reunion was great for both and Rosa decided to stay.
“I do want to get married here at the ranch”, Buck said when they sat outside one evening.
“Me too”, answered Rosa.
Luckily for Buck his in-laws gave permission to marry their daughter. By all the events and Rosa Buck finally got the rest where he had been looking for all those years.