Here is the way that Billie Maxwell sings it in Billy Venero parts I&II. Similar to what was posted above, but I made some corrections.


BILLY VENERO
(as recorded by Billie Maxwell)

Billy Venero heard them say in a Arizona town one day,
That a band of Apache indians were upon the trail of death.

Heard them tell of murder done three men killed at Rocky Run.
"They're in danger at the cow-ranch" said Venero under breath.

Cow-ranch, forty miles away was a little place that lay,
In a green and shady valley of that mighty wilderness.

Half a score of homes were there and in one a maiden fair,
Held the heart of Billy Venero, Billy Venero's little Bess.

Then no wonder he grew pale when he heard the cowboy's tale,
Of a man that they'd seen murdered the day before at Rocky Run.

Not a moment he delayed when his brave resolve was made.
"Why, man," his comrades told him when they heard of his daring plan.

"You are riding straight to death" but he answered "save your breath.
I may never reach the cow-ranch but I'll do the best I can."

Sharp and clear a rifle shot, woke the echoes of the spot,
"I am wounded" cried Venero, as he swayed from side to side.

"Where there's life there's always hope, slowly onward I will lope.
If I fail to reach the cow-ranch, Bessie Lee shall know I tried."

From a limb a pen he broke and he dipped his pen of oak,
In the warm blood that was spurting from a wound above his heart.

"Rouse" he wrote "before too late, Apache warriors lie in wait.
Good-bye Bess God bless you darling," and he felt the cold tears start.

Then he wrote his message fast, love's first message and the last,
To the saddle horn he tied it, and his lips were white with pain.

"Take this message, if not me, straight to little Bessie Lee."
Then he tied himself to the saddle and he gave his horse the reins.

Just at dusk a horse of brown wet with sweat came panting down
The little lane at the cow-ranch and stopped in front of Bessie's door.

But the cowboy was asleep and his slumbers were so deep
Little Bessie could not wake him though she tried for evermore.

You have heard that story told by the young and by the old,
Way down yonder at the cow-ranch the night the Apaches came.

Of that fierce and bloody fight, how the chief fell in the flight
And the panic-stricken warriors when they heard Venero's name.

God, heaven and earth between keep the little flowers so green
That little Bessie had planted as they laid her by his side.

Billie Maxwell recording:

Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b53OS-_1vvE
Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFbfpXQS1Xo