Ralph Compton Train to Durango (5 page)

“Now you're about to get a run for your money,” said Silver under his breath.

Reaching the livery, Silver found his companions waiting. His horse was saddled, and he mounted.

“Let's ride,” Silver said. “That varmint across from the hotel's been following me, until I managed to lose him.”

“He wasn't there when we left the hotel,” said Wes.

“That's why I led him on a wild-goose chase,” Silver said. “When he returned, he had no way of knowing the rest of you weren't still in the hotel, waiting for me. I doubt that he has a horse nearby, and before he can get his hands on one, we'll be long gone.”

Wheezing for breath, Drake reached the Grand Hotel. When he pounded frantically on the door, Gandy Franks let him in, waiting impatiently until Drake had recovered his wind and was able to speak.

“They're . . . gone,” Drake said.

“You were to follow them,” said Franks. “Why didn't you?”

“Silver left the hotel, and I trailed him,” Drake said. “When he returned, he didn't go to the hotel, but to the livery. The others had saddled the horses, and when Silver joined ‘em, they all rode out. You didn't leave me no horse. You said it would draw attention to me.”

“You were within sight of a livery,” said Franks. “I made the mistake of thinking you were smart enough to go there for a horse if you needed one.”

“But they was all saddled and ready to ride,” Drake argued. “Time I got there and got a horse saddled, I'd have lost ‘em. I didn't think—”

“That's your trouble,” said Franks. “You never think. Get out.”

“You want me to—”

“I want you to get out and stay out,” Franks snarled.

“But you owe me—”

“I owe you nothing but a slug in the gut,” said Franks, “and if we was anywhere else, you'd collect it now.”

“I'll go,” Drake said, “but you ain't seen the last of me.”

“If you're in town this time tomorrow,” said Franks, “you'll be gettin' yourself measured for a pine box.”

Drake backed out the door, his hard eyes on Gandy Franks. When the door closed and Franks was sure Drake was gone, he belted on his Colt and reached for his hat. He must not allow the unwelcome news to reach Drade Hogan. He swallowed hard, recalling the disappearance of Rance Stringfield. When it came to failure, Hogan had his own grisly rewards.

•   •   •

“We'll be in Boulder in less than an hour,” Silver said. “If we're fortunate enough to board an eastbound train today, there's a chance we can be on our way before the Dragon knows which way we've gone.”

“There's always the telegraph,” said Wes. “That's got to be the way they headed off El Lobo and me, when we left Kansas City. While I hate to give them that much credit, I'd be willing to bet they have contacts in every town of any size.”
¹⁴

“Even Dodge?” Renita asked.

“Even Dodge,” said Wes. “There's nothin' to be gained by playing down the danger. As you and Tamara know, we left you unprotected in El Paso.”

“That was my fault,” Silver said. “I cautioned you and Palo not to reveal anything that I had told you of the conspiracy.”

“Now we have been told everything,” said Renita, “and whatever lies ahead of us, I am not afraid. I have a weapon to protect myself, and even if that bunch tracks us down and comes after us again, Tamara and me will be ready for them.”

“
Sí
,” Tamara said.

“
Bueno
,” said El Lobo.

“Both of you are more than worthy of being called Texans,” Silver said. “I'm hoping that when I lay a pistol in Molly Horrel's hands, she feels the same way.”

Being familiar with Boulder, Wes led the way to the railroad terminal.

“Let me arrange for the tickets and a boxcar for the horses,” said Wes. “There may be some trouble getting a boxcar on short notice, unless there's some folks here who may remember me from my days with the railroad.”

Before Wes reached the ticket office, he heard a shout. He turned, his hand near one of his Colts, and to his delight, there was Harley Stafford.

“I couldn't believe it was you, hoss,” said Harley. “Where's your Indian companero?”

“He's here,” Wes said. “We're on our way to Dodge, and we're not alone. There's plenty to tell you, but first, I reckon I'd better make some arrangements with the railroad. We'll need a boxcar for our horses.”

“I already have a boxcar,” said Harley. “Your horses can travel with mine. There'll be a train east in about two hours. Just enough time for us to eat and talk.”

Wes wasted no time introducing Harley to his companions.

“I've heard a lot about you,” Silver said, taking Harley's hand.

“I've heard considerable about you,” said Harley, “but most of it from Nathan. Wes and El Lobo have told me nothing, except that a bunch of
hombres
were out to kill them. I could damn near have figured that out for myself, since the last time they were in Dodge they'd been shot full of holes.”

“You know more than Renita and me,” Tamara said, her eyes on Harley. “We not told they be shot in Dodge.”

“Sorry, ladies,” said Harley. “I didn't mean to give away any secrets. They were shot before they reached Dodge. Foster Hagerman and me weren't told anything, except that the trail they were riding might be their last. If all of you are returning to Dodge, I hope you can tell me somethin' about this bunch with killing on their minds. If somebody's shootin' in my direction, I aim to shoot back.”

“Wes and Palo had been sworn to silence,” Silver said, “but things have changed to the extent that you can be told probably more than you'll want to know. We have some talkin' to do.”

•   •   •

Gandy Franks wasted no time getting to the telegraph office. He sent coded messages to contacts in Cheyenne, Boulder, Kansas City, and Dodge. Only then did he call on Drade Hogan with his admission of failure and what he had done to counter it.

“So they've given us the slip again,” said Hogan. “At least you had the presence of mind to use the telegraph. As long as we know where they're going, they haven't escaped.”

“I didn't telegraph west or south,” Franks said. “I could think of no reason for them going back to California, or south to Santa Fe or El Paso.”

“There is one thing bothering me,” said Hogan. “The Denver and Rio Grande has plans to go south all the way to El Paso. End of track is near Santa Fe now. I've learned that Silver, Stone, and Elfego rode to Durango—a hundred miles—and from there took a train to Denver. Why?”

“Hell, I don't know,” Franks said. “You think they had a reason?”

“Of course they had a reason,” said Hogan irritably. “We chose Durango because of its virtual isolation and the railroad connecting it to Denver. Now I don't intend to see all those plans shot to hell because of Silver and his gun-throwers. We must warn Hawk and Denbow. I want security doubled, and I want them made aware of the penalty for failure.”

“There's the telegraph,” Franks said.

“Too risky,” said Hogan. “I intend to send a messenger.”

“You want me to go?”

“I want you right here, keeping track of Silver and his men,” Hogan said. “What do you think of Turk Pardue and Dent Shankler from our operation in Carson City, and Emo Hanks from New Orleans?”

“I haven't seen any of ‘em in action since they come here,” said Franks. “I reckon one is good as the other. Only thing I have against any of them is that they've all had a shot at these two gunslingers ridin' with Silver, and they've all failed.”

“That's sound thinking,” Hogan said. “I should have considered that before Stringfield rode to El Paso. I'll send somebody else to Durango.”

Sighing with relief, Franks departed, closing the door behind him.

•   •   •

Harley Stafford listened in amazement as Bryan Silver told him as much as he needed to know about the Golden Dragon, and of their need to ensure the safety of Renita, Tamara, and Molly.

“I reckon they'll be safe enough in Dodge,” Harley said, “but arming them is the smart thing to do. I saw what those varmints did to Wes and Palo after stopping the train on its way to Dodge. Hagerman's a member of the town council, and I'm sure he'll do anything that he can.”

“Who's the sheriff in Dodge?” Silver asked.

“Jack Dumery,” said Harley. “They don't last long, and he's the latest. Good man, far as I know.”

“Seems like the trail towns would settle down, now that the cattle drives are done,” Silver said.

“They have, to some extent,” said Harley, “and now that they can't blame all the hell-raising on Texas cowboys, they're havin' to face up to the real problem. All the killers and renegades are still holed up in Indian Territory, and following their bank, train, and stage robberies, they return there. The federals should send a company of soldiers in there and clean up the territory.”

“Maybe when it becomes a state,” Silver said.
¹⁵

“I reckon that's one possibility we didn't consider when we thought of Dodge,” said Wes. “The kind of money the Golden Dragon throws around—even if it is phony—could recruit an army of killers just a day's ride away.”

“Maybe after we reach Dodge, we'd better allow them a few days to come after us,” Silver said. “Since our only lead was in Denver, and it didn't pan out, we really don't have any sense of direction.”

“If you lost them before leaving Denver,” said Harley, “how are they going to know where you are?”

“They'll know,” Silver said. “By the time we're ready to board the train for Dodge, I suspect they'll be watching us.”

“My God,” said Harley, “they might stop or derail the train.”

“I doubt it,” Silver said. “They know Renita and Tamara are with us, and that we'll be taking them to a place of safety. They'll telegraph ahead to Dodge and Kansas City, having somebody waiting at both railroad depots. I think we'll check in at the Dodge House and wait for them to make their move.”

“You're that sure they'll be coming?” Harley asked.

“I'm sure,” said Silver. “They want us dead.”

“
Sí
,“ El Lobo said. “They come.”

Boulder, Colorado, March 28, 1885

While the locomotive got up steam, Silver, Wes, and El Lobo led their five horses into the boxcar Harley Stafford had provided. Silver, Wes, El Lobo, Renita, and Tamara then joined Harley in one of the passenger coaches. Unseen eyes watched, and when the train pulled out, a stranger was aboard in the coach directly behind Silver and his party.

•   •   •

In Denver, Gandy Franks read with satisfaction the telegram he had sent to Boulder, and a second one that had gone to Dodge. Hutsinger and his deadly Winchester would be aboard the eastbound train, with instructions to kill. If, for any reason, Hutsinger failed, yet another trusted member of the legion of outlaws, Gannon, would be waiting in Dodge. He would immediately telegraph Denver, so that Franks would know if Silver and his party left the train at Dodge, or continued on to Kansas City.

•   •   •

Aboard the eastbound, Hutsinger got up and made his way to the end of the coach, to the glass-paneled door that opened to the observation deck. He opened the door and went out, coughing as smoke from the locomotive's stack swirled about him. When the smoke cleared, he stepped across to the deck of the coach that was coupled behind his own. He removed his hat and knelt down, so that he could see through the door's glass panel with little chance of his being seen. He noted with satisfaction that Silver, Harley Stafford, Wes, and El Lobo sat in seats facing the opposite end of the coach. Their backs were to him, with only the two women facing him. He would be returning to Boulder afoot, so he could not afford to stay aboard the train much longer. Swiftly he drew the Winchester from its canvas pouch, jacking a shell into the chamber. He got to his knees, prepared to shoot through the glass panel of the door. Wes Stone and Bryan Silver, the backs of their heads to him, were perfect targets. There were no other passengers in the way. Only Renita and Tamara were facing him. Slowly his finger tightened on the trigger. . . .

“Asesino!” Tamara shouted.

She had earlier belted the .31-caliber Colt around her slender waist, and with a swiftness that her companions would later recall with wonder, she drew the weapon and fired. While the slug missed Hutsinger, it shattered the glass in the door, and the slug from the bushwhacker's Winchester ripped into the ceiling of the coach. In an instant, Silver, Wes, El Lobo, and Harley had their Colts out, and answering lead screamed through the shattered door. Hutsinger dropped the Winchester, seeking only to escape with his life. But one of the slugs sang off the iron railing of the adjoining coach, and the deadly ricochet ripped into the unfortunate gunman. With a scream, Hutsinger slipped between the coaches and fell to the track below.

“
Sangre de Christo
,” said El Lobo, struggling into the aisle.

In the coach ahead, the conductor pulled the emergency signal, and the train lurched to a shuddering, grinding halt. Wes, Silver, and El Lobo were thrown to their knees in the aisle, their Colts in their hands. Empty crept fearfully from beneath a seat, not quite sure the world hadn't come to an end. Tamara, her teeth clenched and her face pale as death, still gripped her Colt.

“
Por Dios
,“ El Lobo said. “You save us.”

Glass from the shattered door panel rattled to the floor as the conductor came in. He looked from one to the other, before riveting his eyes on Silver.

“What in the world happened back here?”

“Somebody was hunkered outside that door with a Winchester, trying to kill us,” said Silver. “We returned the fire. I think one of us got lucky.”

“There's blood outside the door,” the conductor said. “Some of the crew is searching the tracks and the right-of-way.”

Only then did they discover Harley Stafford was gone. When he returned, he came in through the undamaged door at the other end of the coach.

“A ricochet got him,” Harley said. “If that wasn't enough, he fell beneath the wheels of the train. We gathered up what's left of him in a piece of canvas. He's in the caboose.”

“God almighty,” said the conductor, gripping the back of a seat. “You'll report this to the law, won't you?”

“When we get to Dodge,” Harley said. “Sheriff Jack Dumery will love this.”

The passengers took their seats again and the train lurched into motion. The others sat across the aisle, as far as they could get from Silver's party. Silver and Wes sat facing one end of the car, while El Lobo and Harley faced the other end, having changed seats with Tamara and Renita.

“That's the kind of varmints we're up against, Harley,” said Wes. “Before this is over, you may be sorry we came to Dodge.”

“No,” Harley said. “If there's to be a showdown, let it be where you have friends to watch your back.”

“You're a bueno
hombre
to ride the river with,” said Silver, “but I don't believe the end will come in Dodge. Evidently, the plan for taking Renita and Tamara from El Paso came together in Denver, and the
hombre
responsible for it returned there. I can't get the possibility out of my head that for some reason, the Dragon has moved inland.”

“All we know for sure is that Stringfield returned there, after hiring those killers,” Wes said. “It's hard to believe they've pulled out of San Francisco and New Orleans. They were depending on sailing ships to bring in their copper, silver, and gold from outside the United States for the counterfeiting of double eagles, and then for shipping the stolen genuine coins to other countries.”

“Unless they no longer intend to import materials for making counterfeit, and have no need to ship the genuine coins out of the country,” said Harley. “That does away with the need for a convenient harbor.”

“You've just put my thoughts into words,” Silver said. “They saw the writing on the wall when we boarded that sailing ship and recovered millions in stolen double eagles, and then found crates of imported metals when we invaded their headquarters. They knew, with that kind of hard evidence, I could have justified the searching of any incoming or outgoing vessel in any U.S. port.”
¹⁶

“So they don't aim to ship in foreign metals or ship stolen gold out of the country,” said Harley.

“No,” Silver said. “That tells me they'll have a stronghold for the stolen gold here in the West, and that they have a source of gold, silver, and copper without importing it.”

“There's silver and gold being mined all over Colorado,” said Wes, “but no legitimate mine would sell gold or silver ore that might be used for a questionable purpose.”

“There must be some government regulation, too,” Harley added.

“You're both right, to some degree,” said Silver, “but there's always a few who are more than willing to operate outside the law and in the face of government regulation. The names Hawk, Denbow, and Durango come to mind.”

“Elias Hawk and Hobie Denbow could likely account for the necessary silver and gold,” Wes said, “but what about the copper?”

“Some copper is mined in eastern Arizona,” said Silver, “and it's not quite as regulated as silver and gold.”

“That sounds like the leads you're looking for,” Harley said.

“Maybe,” said Silver, “but we'll have to consider them secondary. We've tried rounding up lesser criminals who might have led us to bigger fish, but they're very expendable. The Golden Dragon kills quickly and without mercy when one of its own is caught up in some circumstance in which he might talk to the law.”

“That's the gospel truth,” Wes said. “The varmints blew up a railroad coach in San Francisco, killing your federal men, just to silence two of their own.”
¹⁷

“You're goin' back to Colorado, then,” said Harley.

“I'm leaning in that direction,” Silver said, “but after what just happened, I'm inclined to wait a spell and see if they intend to continue this vendetta. They're not goin' to have the edge they had in El Paso.”

Harley laughed. “I'm inclined to believe you, the way this young lady pulls a Colt.”

“They both have one,” said Silver, “and I have a third one for Molly when she gets to Dodge. How often is there a stage from Santa Fe?”

“Once a week,” Harley said. “We'll be in Dodge well before it arrives.”

“Harley,” said Wes, “I have a big favor to ask of Foster Hagerman.”

“And you want to run it by me first, I reckon,” Harley said.

“Yeah,” said Wes. “I may need your help convincing him. I want to see all telegrams sent to or from Dodge. Is there a law against that?”

“I don't know,” Harley said.

“There is,” said Silver, “but we can get around it. I'll take full responsibility.”

“Then you'd better talk to him,” Harley said. “Tell him what you've told me about this conspiracy, and I'll back you up when you tell him about this attempted ambush aboard the train. It's bad publicity for the railroad, and I'm thinking he'll back your play.”

“I think we'd better start by looking at the telegrams that came in today,” said Wes. “The Dragon never puts all his eggs in one basket, and if they don't have a man in Dodge today, I'd bet my saddle there'll be one arriving sometime tomorrow.”

“This could be a means of getting our hands on some of them,” Silver said, “if we can intercept their messages without their knowing it. There's not much use in any of us goin' back to Denver until there's a need for it. They'll not find it so easy, comin' after us in Dodge.”

“You don't know that they will,” said Harley, “since their bushwhacker on the train didn't pan out.”

“They won't be satisfied as long as Wes, Palo, and me are alive, no matter where we are,” Silver said. “Before we whipped them in California, they might have backed off, but not now. They're a vengeance-minded bunch of bastards, and they'll kill us for the damage we've already done.”

“
Sí
,” said El Lobo, “but we kill them first.”

“He's right,” Wes said. “We got to shoot our way to the tall dog in the brass collar—the leader of the pack—and then put a slug between his eyes. Only then will we be free of the varmints.”

“Then I'm glad Tamara and me have guns,” said Renita, “and I'm glad there'll be one for Molly when she arrives.”

“This is not a woman's fight,” Silver said, “and I'm sorry the three of you are being dragged into it, but there's no other way. Wes and Palo tried to leave you out of it, and the two of you could easily have been murdered. We won't risk there being a next time.”

“
Sí
,” Tamara said, “and let there be no regrets. In Mexico they sell us like the mulo, and these bastardos who would murder us here are
perros
from the same evil empire. We relish the right to kill them as they would kill us.”

“She's right,” said Renita, “and I'll stand behind every damn word she said.”

“
Bueno
,” Silver said. “That's what it will take to finish them.”

With a blast of its whistle, the locomotive signaled their pending arrival in Dodge. The train slowed, and with some hope of escaping the monster, Empty crept out from beneath a seat.

“One of you lead my horse from one boxcar,” said Harley, getting to his feet. “I want to talk to Hagerman before he gets any secondhand information from the train's crew.”

“We'll stay out of the way until we hear from you,” Silver said. “Don't tell Hagerman any more than you have to. He may not be impressed with me, but I have the office of the attorney general and the federal government to back my play.”

When the train shuddered to a halt, Empty was first out, bounding down the coach's iron steps. Renita and Tamara remained on board until Silver, Wes, and El Lobo had led the six horses from the boxcar. Renita and Tamara then left the passenger coach, and the five of them waited for Harley Stafford. The conductor stood beside one of the passenger coaches, waiting. The train wouldn't depart until the grisly remains of the dead gunman had been removed from the caboose. When Harley and the division chief left Hagerman's office, his first words were to the driver of one of the hacks awaiting passengers from the train.

“There's a dead man in the caboose. Take him to Sheriff Dumery's office and tell the sheriff he's needed here. Here's your fare.”

As the hack rattled away toward the caboose, Hagerman spoke to the conductor.

“Have a couple of your crew remove the body from the caboose and put it in the hack. You'll have to wait until Sheriff Dumery gets here. He'll want a statement from you.”

The conductor climbed the steps to the passenger coach, and Hagerman then allowed himself to be introduced to Silver, Wes, El Lobo, Renita, and Tamara.

“There's still a lot you need to know,” Harley told Hagerman, “and you'll need to hear it from Silver. I don't know how much of it you'll want the sheriff to hear. I reckon we'd better satisfy him first, if we can.”

“All he needs to know immediately is that there was an attempted bushwhacking,” said Silver. “If there's any difficulty, Mr. Hagerman, you have me and the office of the attorney general to take full responsibility.”

“Thank you,” said Hagerman. “Sheriff Dumery is a reasonable man, and since this took place well out of his jurisdiction, I doubt that he'll pursue it beyond the filing of a report. Before we involve him further, if we must, I would appreciate knowing as much as you can tell me. I know Wes and El Lobo, and Harley is a trusted employee, so you are in good company. Tie your horses here where you can see them, and come on in to my office.”

Seated in Hagerman's office, Silver spoke rapidly. The division chief must be briefed before the arrival of the sheriff.

“You're expecting a showdown here, then,” said Hagerman, when Silver had finished.