Ralph Compton Sixguns and Double Eagles (7 page)

Captain Powers arrived at dawn, shortly ahead of the rest of his command, which consisted of a corporal and three privates.

“Sergeant Gaines,” said Powers, “you will remain here. The rest of you men load your weapons and come with me.”

“We're going after a man name of Oliver Reed,” Wes said. “There likely won't be any trouble with Reed, but maybe an ambush along the way.”

If any of the men recognized Reed by his name, they said nothing, following Captain Powers as he led the way to a nearby stable. Empty lagged behind, with Wes and El Lobo. The seven of them saddled up and rode out, with Wes and El Lobo leading the way. Long before they reached the neighborhood where Reed lived, they could see the dirty gray of smoke against the blue of the sky. When they came within sight of the house, there was only a smoldering ruin. Men stood on the sidewalk and in the street.

“They kill him,” said El Lobo.

“My God,” Powers said.

The seven men reined up and at sight of the soldiers the curiosity seekers started backing away. Captain Powers halted them with a word.

“Do any of you know anything about this?”

“Nothin‘,” a bystander said. “I live over yonder, and was woke up by what sounded like dynamite. Time I got outside, the place was afire beyond help.”

“Somebody's gone after the law,” another man volunteered.

Powers shook his head. His men following, he rode away from the crowd, reining up to wait for Wes and El Lobo.

“Sorry,” said Powers. “We should have come here yesterday.”

“We have two more possibilities,” Wes said. “Their names are DeShazo and Morgan.”

When Wes, El Lobo, and the soldiers reached the Morgan house, there was no sign of life. Captain Powers pounded on the door but there was no response.

“Something's wrong here,” Wes said. “Let's go in.”

“Legally, we can‘t,” said Powers. “Not without a search warrant.”

“We're going,” Wes said, “legal or not.”

“We won't stop you,” said Powers. “If you enter, we'll follow.”

Wes eased the door open and entered a hall that led to a parlor, which was deserted. From there they could see a dining room and kitchen, also deserted.

“That leaves only the bedrooms,” Wes said.

“Then you'll have to go alone,” said Powers. “If there's nothing out of order here, the lot of us could be court-martialed.”

Wes started down the hall, El Lobo following. When they came to a door, they stood there a moment, listening. Slowly Wes turned the knob and the door swung open. Through a window sunlight streamed in, allowing them to see a man and a woman in bed.

“Por Dios,”
El Lobo whispered, “they sleep.”

“No,” said Wes, who had gone closer, “there's blood on the covers. They're dead.”

Quietly Wes and El Lobo retraced their steps to the parlor, where Captain Powers and his men nervously waited.

“Captain,” Wes said, “you'd better have a look. These people are dead.”

“Remain here,” said Powers to his men.

He followed Wes and El Lobo to the bedroom. Wes drew back the covers enough to reveal the gunshot wounds.

“My God,” Powers said, “they were both shot twice, and never knew what hit them.”

“‘This will have to be reported to the law,” said Wes, “and you'll have to do it without involving El Lobo and me.”

“Leaving me in a difficult position,” Powers said, “because legally I shouldn't even be here.”

“You can get authorization from Washington, if need be,” said Wes. “We still haven't been to the DeShazo place.”

“Very well,” Powers said. “We'll accompany you, but if you enter the house, you'll go alone. We'll take your word for anything you discover inside. I do not feel justified, involving myself and my command any deeper in deadly circumstances, when I know so little.”

“I understand your position, Captain,” said Wes, “and we're obliged for your patience.”

They reached the DeShazo place, and were able to ride in behind the house, where they dismounted. They couldn't be seen from the street, and there were trees and undergrowth where they could conceal their horses.

“You and your men remain with the horses, Captain,” Wes said. “El Lobo and me will take it from here.”

Wes knocked on the back door repeatedly, but there was no response. Trying the knob, he found the door locked.

“Madre de Dios,”
said El Lobo, who was looking through a kitchen window.

He had gotten the attention of Captain Powers, who had reached the window ahead of Wes.

“It won't be necessary to enter the house,” Powers said.

The man and woman lay facedown on the kitchen floor, blood staining the back of their nightclothes. They were dead without question, for they had been shot repeatedly.

“Six dead in a matter of hours,” said Wes. “You can see what we're up against.”

“Yes,” Powers said, “and I don't envy you. Where do you go from here?”

“It's just as well you don't know, Captain,” said Wes. “Someday, when this is finished, maybe we can sit down to a good meal and tell you what it was all about.”

“I'd like that,” Powers said. “You're enough like your father until I won't be surprised if you accomplish what you've set out to do. What shall I tell Silver?”

“Tell him all questionable parties to be arrested are dead,” said Wes. “El Lobo and me will leave you here.”

“Good luck,” Powers said.

Emo Hanks regarded his three henchmen with some satisfaction.

“We took care of the Reed place first,” said Ansco. “We went next to Morgan‘s, and then to DeShazo's. Won't none of them be talkin'.”

“I hope you had the good sense to accomplish it without being seen,” Hanks said.

“Of course we wasn't seen,” said Ansco in an aggrieved voice. “Hell, it was pitch dark and we didn't strike a light.”

“What about them troublesome gunslingers,” Dobie asked. “You want us to get back on their trail?”

“Eventually,” said Hanks, “but not yet. With Reed, Morgan, and DeShazo silenced, they can't hurt us here. They'll be movin' on, and once they're out of town, they're fair game. Let them get far enough away so there's no law and no military to get curious.”

“Suppose they take a steamboat,” Eads said. “You want us to follow?”

“No,” said Hanks, “they'll be expecting that. If they just ride out, then follow them and gun them down. Should they leave by steamboat, they'll have to load their horses well ahead of the time the boat leaves. Soon as you know they're going by steamboat, hightail it here and let me know. I have other plans.”

“There won't be a boat goin' north until tomorrow,” Ansco said. “You want us to take some more shots at them while they're in town?”

“Only if you can do it without answering to the law,” said Hanks. “Unless they ride out today, that probably means they'll be taking the steamboat tomorrow. See that you don't botch things up. If you can't find a good time and place for an ambush, then leave it alone. Get picked up by the law, and you're on your own.”

When Wes and El Lobo left Captain Powers and his men, they chose a roundabout way to the stable, where they would leave their horses. They unsaddled the animals, and leaving the stable, looked warily around.

“If we can get back to our room at the boardinghouse,” said Wes, “we'll stay there until we have to take the horses aboard the steamboat tomorrow.”

“Sí,”
El Lobo said. “They don't shoot at us now.”

“No reason for them to,” said Wes. “They've eliminated everybody who might have been a threat to them here. Now they'll have to start over, but from what Silver said, they won't waste any time. We can't wait to see what's goin' to happen here, when they're goin' strong elsewhere.”

“Where we go now?”

“Nevada,” Wes said. “There's a mint at Carson City, and it's the next obvious place. I don't understand the situation in Carson City, or their activity there. It's not that far on to San Francisco. There's a mint in ‘Frisco, and it's right on the coast, so why are they involved with the mint in Nevada, which is so far inland?”

“Steamboat don't go to Nevada,” said El Lobo.

“No,” Wes said. “We can take a steamboat to Kansas City and the train as far west as Boulder, Colorado. From there we'll have to ride.”

“Bueno
,
”
said El Lobo. “We have time to see if Dragon follow us.”

“I doubt they'll have to follow us to know where we're going,” Wes said. “They know that we know where the trouble spots are, and Nevada's next. They might just wait until we reach Boulder, or they might try and ambush us along the way. We'll just have to be prepared. If everything goes well, we'll spend a night in Dodge. If Harley Stafford's still with the railroad, I'd like to see him again. He's Vivian's brother. He was a friend of my father‘s, which I didn't know, until Vivian told me. Harley taught me the telegraph code, how to use a gun, and got me a job with the railroad.”

“He
bueno amigo,”
said El Lobo.

“That, and more,” Wes replied. “A man can't have too many friends quick with a gun. All too often, those who are quick on the trigger are looking for a reputation at somebody else's expense. You end up shooting people you don't even know, just to save your own hide.”

“We already do that,” said El Lobo. “We leave two
hombres
in river that we never see before.”

“Yes,” Wes agreed, “and we may end up shooting some more before we board that steamboat tomorrow.”

But they reached the boardinghouse and entered their room without incident. Empty took his place beneath the window. Removing hats, gunbelts, and boots, Wes and El Lobo stretched out on the bed to await supper. A few minutes before five, they made their way to the dining room.

“We missed you at supper last night, breakfast this morning, and dinner at noon,” said Garret.

“We spent last night with some friends,” Wes replied. “Our business here is finished, and we'll be leaving tomorrow.”

“Then we'll owe you money,” said Garret. “You're paid up for a week.”

“Just credit us for that,” Wes said, “and next time we're here, we'll visit you again.”

“Do that,” said Garret, “and we hope your stay in New Orleans has been pleasant.”

“Our stay with you has been more than pleasant,” Wes said.

El Lobo grinned, and Wes was careful not to look him in the eye.

 

The northbound steamboat was scheduled to depart at one o‘clock in the afternoon, so Wes and El Lobo arrived at the landing at eleven, to make arrangements to board their horses. Seeing nobody suspicious, they then paid for their passages.

 

“They took their horses to the landing,” Ansco reported. “They're takin' the boat, like you figured. We might still get close enough for a few shots before they board.”

“No,” said Hanks, “leave them be. I have other plans.”

When Ansco had gone, Hanks saddled a horse and rode to a residence in one of the more fashionable parts of New Orleans. An expensively dressed woman answered his knock and he followed her into the parlor. He hadn't even removed his hat when she spoke.

“What do
you
want? I know it's going to cost me.”

“Now, Lily,” Hanks said soothingly, “we've set you up with the fanciest house in New Orleans. All we ask is a favor now and then.”

“All right,” said Lily with a sigh. “What is it this time? You expect me to entertain another bank president for free?”

Hanks laughed. “Nothing as simple as that. I need two of your classiest women for a special assignment, and they must be ready to board a steamboat in less than two hours.”

“What . . .”

“No questions,” said Hanks, “just get them fancied up and get them down here. You'll learn as much as you need to know, when I talk to them. See that they take clothing for several weeks. Tell them only that they are to obey my orders without question.”

 

“I reckon we'll just wait here on the landing until time to board the steamboat,” Wes said. “At least there's no good place for an ambush.”

“Per‘ap they come after us on steamboat,” said El Lobo.

“Maybe,” Wes said, “but they don't have all that many places to hide. If they try to face us down, like the last time, we can handle them. It's the back-shootin' varmints with a hole to crawl into that bother me.”