Terry Jones was a twelve year old and brutal boy. He lived with his parents in Tucson, Arizona. The sheriff and his deputy weren't so pleased with the fact that Terry lived in their town. Frequently the boy caused big problems. This led to rows between him and his parents.
On a certain day Terry was in town with his friend Rocky Mullens.
Terry said, “We go to the saloon.”
“We may not come there in”, said Rocky.
“There is nobody who stops us, is there? Or are you afraid?”, his friend asked challenging.
“You know how my parents think about you. They rather have that I don't get on with you”, Rocky said sighing.
“Go home then fine and be a nice boy for your parents. I thought that we were friends but I have made a terrible mistake in that”, Terry said angry.
He gave Rocky a hard smack in the face and ran away. In his hurry the boy didn't look where he was walking and he bumped into Buck Cannon.
“Ho boy. Not so fast. Where must you go to?”, asked the rancher.
He held Terry tight with both hands and looked at him.
“Let me go Buck”, the boy answered and pulled himself loose.
Terry grabbed the revolver of Buck and ran away again. The boy was notable fast and also very sharp. Before Buck missed his revolver Terry was out of sight for a long time. Terry kept himself hidden in a deserted part of Tucson. He sat there often when he had done something again. He looked at the revolver and noticed that it was loaded.
“Now pa and ma will get their share and Rocky too. Buck Cannon, you are thanked very much for giving your weapon”, Terry said softly to himself.
After Buck had discovered that Terry had stolen his revolver he went to the sheriff to report the theft. The rancher knocked at the door. A voice said that he could come in. That happened.
Buck said, “Sheriff, that brat of a Terry Jones has stolen my revolver. He bumped into me and grabbed my weapon that way.”
“When it goes about the young man Jones I am always very pleased. I will arrest him”, said the sheriff.
The authority carrier wrote out an arrest warrant for Terry Jones. Though the boy was nowhere to be seen.
In a bad mood Buck came home again.
His brother John asked, “Has something happened in town?”
“That brat of a Terry Jones has stolen my revolver. When I lay my hands on him he won't live very long”, Buck answered.
“He just needs a hard hand”, said John.
“More a spanking”, was the reaction of his brother.
Manolito Montoya said, “When you give him that you have the chance that you get caught for it. You may not hit a kid just like that.”
“Mano is right, Buck”, said John.
“Terry is not a child but a brat. He has for nothing and nobody respect. Not even for the authority”, reacted Buck.
John went with Buck to Tucson to get more clearness about the theft of the revolver of Buck.
When Terry came home it was deadly quiet. The boy found this strange already because his parents were always yelling at him. He looked into all rooms. In the parental bedroom he found his parents. Unfortunately they weren't alive anymore. Terry put the revolver of Buck down and ran then out of the door. Hereby the boy walked almost Buck over again. Terry fell down and hardly couldn't get up again.
“Terry, what is the matter?”, the rancher asked worried.
“Leave me alone, Cannon. I hate you”, the boy bit at him.
Buck wanted to look at his injured ankle but Terry pushed him away harsh.
The rancher hit him in the face and, “Brat that you are.”
Terry hit back which stirred more strong feelings with Buck. Before it ended up in a complete fight John and the sheriff stepped in harsh.
“Terry, you are under arrest. Come along!”, said the sheriff.
The boy got up with difficulty. He limped along with the sheriff. John took his younger brother in hands.
“Buck, leave him alone. You only make it much worse this way”, said John.
“He started. I only wanted to help him”, Buck reacted indignant.
“I think that the sheriff still must see you so we will stay for a while. we have warned you”, replied his brother.
Buck knew that only far too well. He kept silent and looked ahead of him.
In the meantime Terry sat in a cell but he didn't say much. He knew that everyone in Tucson was against him but he didn't care about that.
The sheriff asked him, “Why did you steal the revolver of Buck Cannon ?”
“That is my business. Leave me alone!”, Terry said moody.
“It is now business too. Buck has reported the theft. Where is the weapon? The owner would like to have it back”, said Watkins.
“I threw it away”, the boy lied.
He didn't say that the weapon was in the bedroom of his parents was. The sheriff gave up.
Then the Cannon brothers came in. Buck told again what had happened.
“He has thrown your weapon away”, said the sheriff.
“I know the solution. Terry goes to work at the ranch till he has paid for a new revolver”, said John.
Terry thought it was a worthless idea and let that show too.
“I am not going to work at a ranch and certainly not at the High Chaparral”, he said determined.
“Why not?”, John asked calm.
“Why should I?”, was the counter-question of Terry.
“John, this is a pure waste of time. Come on and let’s go home”, Buck said who started to get quite annoyed with the attitude of Terry.
“Buck, go outside and wait there”, said his brother.
Buck did that.
John asked the boy again, “Why don’t you go to work at our ranch?”
“I rather go to jail than to have to work at your ranch”, said Terry.
He knew how John Cannon was.
At that moment deputy Nick Johnson came in with the shocking news, “Boss, Phil and Clara Jones are dead. They lie murdered in the parental bed room. Oh, eh hi John, Terry.”
“Nick, lock up his cell”, said the sheriff.
Nick locked the cell. Hereafter the authority went to the house of Terry Jones. In the parental bedroom the sheriff found not only the bodies of Phil and Clara Jones but also the revolver of Buck Cannon. The weapon wasn’t used because all bullets were still in it.
“Take them away and inform the undertaker”, said Watkins said to his deputy.
Nick nodded and did what him was told.
Back in his office the sheriff asked Terry, “Why did you lie?”
The boy said, “What does it matter what I say? I will get hanged anyway because I killed my parents. It will do you all good to hear that I am dead. This is just a rotten town.”
Terry didn’t make a secret of his hate against Tucson. The town saw him as scum and treated him like that. He didn’t go to school but hung around in town. When there was a fight somewhere it was almost clear that Terry had caused it.
Terry had to work at the ranch of John Cannon as punishment for the theft. The boy didn’t like this at all which led to big rows between him and his employer. Terry wasn’t used to be bosses around by others.
One evening Terry got into a row with Billy Blue Cannon, the son of John.
Terry was outside near the corral when Blue asked him, “Shouldn’t you go to bed by now?”
“Who do you think you are? You have nothing to say about me anyway”, Terry said brutal.
“I only was asking a question. Take it easy”, said Blue.
He noticed that the boy was up to something. Terry looked constantly at his horse that was saddled and ready to go. The boy walked to the bunkhouse followed by Blue.
By the door Terry said, “Say to your pa that from now on he must give the rotten chores to someone else. I am leaving!”
“You tell him that yourself. See how he reacts”, said Blue.
He dragged Terry along inside where John and Buck were.
“Blue, Terry, is there something?”, John asked amazed.
“Pa, this brat has something to tell you. Say it then”, said Blue.
Terry pulled himself loose and said furiously, “He forced me to tell you that I am leaving. Just find someone else to saddle him up with rotten chores.”
“You stay here Terry Jones. You can’t go anywhere but here. It is true that you happen to get the rotten jobs but you are too little and too young to do the heavy work at the ranch”, John said clam.
“You do that on purpose. I am just a cheap slave for you”, was the fierce answer of Terry.
He went back outside.
“Blue, stop him”, John said directly.
His son did that. The two boys began to fight at the yard so that John and Buck had to separate them.
In his office John said to Terry, “If you can’t behave yourself here at the High Chaparral I am obliged to bring you back to the sheriff. Then you can count on a jail punishment.”
“Just bring me away. I don’t care”, the boy said resolute.
He was raving jealous of Blue because he did have a father who cared about him and he didn’t. Though the boy didn’t say this to rancher. John didn’t know what he had to do with Terry. The boy hardly listened or not at all and did his work very bad. After one hour the hands had come to complain about the behavior and attitude of Terry.
“Alright. Get your stuff together. Hereby you are fired”, John said after a long silence.
“Glad to. I have been far too long my opinion”, reacted Terry.
He left the office without looking at John anymore.
In the living room he asked Buck, “Do you have your way now? Your brother has fired me like that.”
“You will have yourself to blame, thief that you are”, Buck said cool.
Terry looked at him but said nothing back and went then outside. He walked to the bunkhouse to pack his stuff.
Sam saw what he was doing and said, “You are leaving finally. Then it will become a lot more quite here.”
“Shut up Sam”, Terry bit at him.
It wasn’t the first time that Terry got into a fight with the hands. Since his arrival at the ranch Terry has caused a lot of commotion every time.
When Victoria heard that John went to bring Terry away she came into rebellion.
She said fierce to her husband, “You cannot bring such a lad away now it is already dark? Wait until it is light.”
“Terry is fired. Everyone has complains about him and his behavior. He cannot be maintained here at the ranch”, reacted John.
Victoria replied, “Terry deserves like everyone a new chance.”
“Wait a minute Victoria. We have given him chances as much as possible. But he keeps on abusing it every time”, said Buck.
“Only when he knows to behave himself he may stay”, said John said finally.
The rancher went outside where Terry waited for him.
“Are we going or what about that?”, asked the boy.
“In fact I wanted to give you a new chance but to hear at your voice you rather go to jail. So what do you want?”, asked the rancher.
“Goodbye”, said Terry.
He gave his horse the spurs. Within a few seconds he had left the ranch. John knew that searching was useless and went back inside.
“Is that brat staying?”, asked Buck.
“I suggested that he would get a new chance but he said goodbye and rode”, replied his brother.
After he had left the High Chaparral Terry rode in the direction of Tucson. Because he hung around a lot in town the boy knew every spot by heart. He stopped by a deserted house and dismounted. Suddenly he saw man dressed in black coming towards him.
“Terry Jones? Come here”, said the man.
Terry came and asked, “Who are you?”
“I am your uncle Keith. I need your help very hard. My accomplish Jesse Boone and I are going to rob the High Chaparral in four nights time and you do with us”, replied the man.
The boy said, “Why that ranch? A bank is easier to rob.”
“That is so but a ranch like that one of John Cannon is more nicer and interesting than a bank”, said Keith.
“I am not doing it”, said Terry.
Keith grabbed his nephew tight and said, “You do with us along. Or otherwise I kill you like I have made an orphan of you.”
Terry pulled himself loose and ran to his horse. He mounted on and rode back to the High Chaparral.
At the ranch there was still light burning in the ranch house. It was good for Terry because he had to see his former employer urgently. At the front door the boy slipped out of his saddle and he knocked at the door. John and Buck looked at each other amazed. Buck answered it and saw a gasping Terry standing.
John said, “Terry, what is the matter? Come in.”
Terry came in and said, “In town I ran into my uncle Keith Jones In four nights time he and his accomplish Jesse Boone will rob this ranch. They demand that I join them. Uncle Keith has killed my parents.”
“What does your uncle when you don’t co-operate?”, Buck wanted to know.
“Then he kills me too”, said Terry.
His roughness was completely gone. The brothers looked at each other.
John said, “Terry, you get a new chance and you remain here at the ranch.”
“Alright Mr. Cannon. I am sorry about my earlier behavior”, said Terry.
“Buck, bring him to the bunkhouse and tell the hands everything”, John said calm.
Buck took Terry along to the bunkhouse. There it became quiet at once when the two came in.
“Boys, I have something to announce. Terry here has learned that the ranch is in danger. His uncle and an accomplish want to rob the High Chaparral in four nights time. If Terry doesn’t join them his uncle kills him like he has killed his parents. John has decided to give Terry a new chance. He relies on your support”, Buck said to the others.
They all nodded.
Terry took a bed far away from the others. He wasn’t very relieved. Keith Jones was hard and ruthless and killed as much a she could. His nephew was dead scared of him. Keith took gratefully advantage of that. Terry laid on the bed and looked at the other hands. He was in deep trouble. A way out was according to him impossible. Quite late he fell asleep.
The following morning Terry was awake early. He got up and washed himself. Here after the boy went outside. He walked to the corral where they were breaking a horse. Buck first looked at him and then at his brother. This one nodded understanding. Suddenly the wild horse pushed a piece of fence of the corral away. The piece of fence came partly upon Terry. Sam and Joe kept the horse in control while John, Blue and Manolito took the fence away from Terry. Buck went straight away to get the doctor.
John asked, “Terry, do you have pain somewhere?”
The boy moaned heavily due to the pain. John and Manolito helped him on his feet and brought the injured stable boy to bed. Blue told Victoria what had happened. She went straight away to the bunk house.
“John, hoe is it with him?”, she asked worried.
“He is great pain. Buck is already on his way to get the doctor ”, he replied calm.
Victoria put a wet cloth on the forehead of Terry. John and Manolito went outside to see how big the damage was.
“Mr. Cannon, how is Terry?”, asked Sam.
“He is great pain but I don’t think that he will make it”, John replied worried.
The rancher returned to the bunkhouse where Terry fought for his life.
Buck was sooner back than expected with Doc. The heal master examined Terry for a long time.
Then he said to John and Victoria, “He has several broken ribs. But he is still young and will recover from it. Make sure that he gets plenty of rest.”
“That will happen”, said John.
Doc O’Brien left the ranch again. John and Buck watched him go.
“John, if we tell the sheriff that Terry is dead, perhaps we can lead that uncle of his in a trap”, Buck suggested.
The brothers stopped near the office of the sheriff. They dismounted and hitched their horses. Here after John went inside. Buck waited outside.
The sheriff looked up and asked amazed, “John, what are you doing here? Is there something the matter?”
“This morning Terry got a piece of fence of the corral on him and has passed away due to the injuries. Last night he was still in town. His Uncle Keith Jones and his accomplish Jesse Boone have plans to rob my ranch in three nights time. Keith has killed the parents of Terry”, replied the rancher.
“I heard that already from Nick. He had caught that in the saloon of Keith himself”, said Watkins.
“Nick can’t deal with Keith alone”, said John.
“With your help he can. Now that Terry is dead there is the chance that the robbery might take place sooner”, said the sheriff of Tucson.
John nodded.
John left the office of the sheriff and went with his brother to the saloon. At the bar they found the deputy.
“Hello John, Buck. Can I offer you something to drink?”, asked Nick.
That could. They went to sit at a table.
“Keith Jones wants to rob your ranch with Jesse Boone. It has to be with Terry. Otherwise it will go wrong”, the deputy told between two sips of beer.
“Terry has died this morning. Your boss wants that you get Keith with us”, said John.
“You have my full co-operation”, replied Nick.
The deputy already had a plan in mind.
He explained it to the brothers, “I know that Jesse is a bad shooter. He is just a hanger-on. I can convince him that Keith wants to keep the profit of their robbery all to himself. Jesse kills him and I kill him.”
“Alright. But we keep an eye on you”, said John.
They knew that Nick could be very rash sometimes. The deputy nodded.
Sometime later that afternoon Nick ran into Jesse Boone.
“Jesse, You’re the one I must have. Have you heard the latest news about your pal Keith Jones? He wants to keep the whole profit of your robbery all to himself”, said Nick.
“No way. I blow him away and that nephew of his too. I mean that Terry”, Jesse said angry.
“Don’t you worry about Terry. He is already dead”, Nick replied cool.
“Even better”, said Jesse.
He walked away to kill Keith. Nick gave a sign to the Cannons to follow him. Which happened. In an alley the outlaws met each other.
“Hello Jesse”, Keith said laughing.
“Shut up. See you in hell”, said Jesse.
He shot down his accomplish.
“Mr. Boone, look for a second this way”, called Buck.
In his stupidity the outlaw did that he got served a plate of blue beans by Nick and Buck.
“Nicky, watch out”, called Buck.
Keith shot at the deputy. This one fell down but saw chance to change the head of Keith into a strainer with the support of two bullets. Keith dropped down dead.
“The lasts two bullets were on behalf of Terry”, said the deputy.
“Where are you injured?”, asked Manolito.
“In my left side. Just get Doc”, said Nick said with a painful face.
After the shooting John and Buck confessed that Terry was still alive.
While he got treated Nick told, “Terry is not so bad as everyone thinks. Due to the bad family sphere he became so hard.”
“How do you know all this?”, John asked amazed.
“His mother Clara was my Aunt. My mother and she were sisters. Terry is never wanted by his parents”, the deputy explained.
Now the Cannons understood how Terry had become the rebel of Tucson.
“Buck, how would you feel like to guide Terry?”, asked John.
“Me? Why?”, his brother asked amazed.
“He does look like you somehow and Terry needs a home. He can get that at the High Chaparral”, replied John.
Buck nodded. The sheriff agreed with it too. John and Buck went home quickly.
Terry laid in bed but was approachable. The Cannon brothers came to sit by him and looked at him.
“Your uncle and his accomplish are being shot dead in Tucson. In deliberation with the sheriff we have decided to keep you here and that Buck guides you and teaches you the work here. What do you think about that?”, asked John.
“Alright but not until I am well again, I guess?”, the boy asked on his turn.
John nodded.
Now Terry had really found and got a home he became a very well asset for the High Chaparral.