Ralph Compton Whiskey River (37 page)

 

The next morning, with the renegade Indians bound and distributed among the wagons, the newly organized caravan started for Fort Worth. The captured outlaws, their hands bound behind them, rode their own horses.

The arrival of Lieutenant Wanz and his prisoners created a stir at the fort. Nobody had ever brought so many captives in from Indian territory. The lieutenant didn't report to Captain Ferguson until all the captives were locked up and under guard.

Lieutenant Wanz knocked on Ferguson's door. Entering, he saluted.

“Damn the formalities, Lieutenant,” said Ferguson. “Tell me what happened.”

Wanz gave him a report in detail, up to and including the disposal of what was thought to be whiskey but was only water. Ferguson slammed his fist against the desk in delight when Lieutenant Wanz told him how the eight teamsters had turned on the outlaws.

“I'll see there's a pardon for every one of them,” said Ferguson. “They've earned it.”

“There's one thing more, sir,” Lieutenant Wanz said.

He then told Captain Ferguson the little he knew of the stolen gold, and that possibly Amanda and Betsy might remember how to find it.

“They'd been through so much, so dirty, ragged, and scared. I didn't have the heart to have them search for that hidden gold along the Washita,” said Wanz.

“You made the right decision, Lieutenant,” Ferguson said. “After a week or two of rest, decent food, and some new clothing, perhaps they'll go with you and a detail to the Washita.”

“They've promised to do exactly that,” said Wanz, “but before they do anything else, they want to talk to the post chaplain. They're wanting to be married.”

“Married? To whom?”

“Amanda to Mark Rogers, and Betsy to Bill Harder,” Lieutenant Wanz said.

“Well, by God,” said Captain Ferguson, “you can't keep a Texan down for long. When this Reconstruction is over, Texas is going to be one hell of a state.”

“Do you want to talk to the teamsters, the men who have earned pardons?” Wanz asked.

“I'll talk to them all in the morning,” said Ferguson. “I need to study the wanted dodgers you brought back on those outlaws. There's going to be a pile of reward money to be divided among these teamsters. Go to the sutler's store and make arrangements for them all—and especially the ladies—to get anything they need. I'll guarantee payment.”

Carl, Lee, Vernon, Todd, Nick, and Ed were assigned bunks in the bachelor officers' quarters, while Mark and Amanda and Bill and Betsy were allowed the privacy of two small cabins. Stackler's dog, Arky, was busy making friends at the mess hall, for his nose had led him there. There was enough time before the evening meal for the eight teamsters and the two women to visit the sutler's store.

“I never had three new dresses all at once in my life,” Betsy said as they left the sutler's store, “I just hope we can afford them.”

“Lieutenant Wanz says we can,” said Mark. “I just hate it they didn't have pantaloons. Now Bill and me will have to teach you and Amanda to sit down properly. Those dresses aren't near as long as I thought they'd be.”

“Then you should have bought us both some new Levis,” Betsy said, “because I won't ever ride a sidesaddle. The first time I straddle a horse in one of those dresses, everybody's likely to get an eyeful.”

“I told Lieutenant Wanz to find the chaplain for us,” Bill said, “and he promised to do it right after supper.”

“Yeah,” said Mark, “it's time to put up or shut up. Damned if I'm sleeping in a bed with my britches on and a female in a new dress beside me.”

The evening meal at Fort Worth was a memorable event. The teamsters, including Betsy and Amanda, ate at the officers' mess, where Captain Wanz related the capture of the renegade Indians and the total destruction of the Estrello gang.

“We didn't lose a man,” Lieutenant Wanz boasted.

After supper, true to his word, Lieutenant Wanz led Betsy, Amanda, Bill, and Mark to the little post chapel. To their surprise, the place was already packed, and men stood outside the windows, trying to see inside. There was a hushed silence as the two couples went into the chapel, and they weren't surprised to find their six teamster comrades there in a front row. The double ceremony was done quickly, and all six teamsters were on their feet slapping the backs of the embarrassed grooms. Then they began kissing the brides.

“Damn it, just
once,”
Bill said when Nick went after Betsy a second time.

Finally, they were allowed to return to their cabins for the night.

“I never dreamed I'd be able to take my clothes off before a man and do it all legal,” Betsy said. “What are we going to do if I'm so ignorant I don't know how . . . to. . . ?”

“We'll practice all night,” said Bill.

The following morning Stackler's dog was still eating when the teamsters, Amanda, and Betsy left the officers' mess. Lieutenant Wanz escorted them to Captain Ferguson's office. Ferguson shook hands with them all, beaming with pleasure at Amanda and Betsy.

“I've done some calculating,” Captain Ferguson said, “and there's more than a hundred thousand dollars in rewards for those outlaws and renegade Indians. It'll take a month or so to get the money, and all of you are welcome to remain here until then.”

“We still have to look for that stolen gold,” said Lieutenant Wanz.

“I'm almost afraid to go looking for it,” Betsy said. “It's been so long, I'm afraid we can't find it.”

“You won't be faulted if you can't,” said Ferguson, “but we should at least give it a try. Lieutenant Wanz, choose a dozen men to go with you. Of course, Bill and Mark will go, and your teamster friends if they so desire.”

The thirteen soldiers, eight teamsters, and two women reached the southern portion of the Washita River when the sun was noon high.

“The best I remember,” Betsy said, “there was a gnarled old pine tree whose roots had rotted away on the side away from the river. The gold was put in the hole in canvas bags and covered with dirt. Some of the pine's limbs were dead. It may have fallen by now.”

They rode for five miles up the Washita and then back down, without finding the old pine. Suddenly, Arky began barking and scratching along the riverbank where it had caved in. One of the soldiers had brought a shovel, and when he drove it into the ground, he brought up a resin-rich pine root. In the same shovelful of dirt was a tarnished but identifiable double eagle.

“The pine rotted down,” Ed said, “but I'm bettin' those rich pine roots held the gold right where it was buried.”

“That gold would never have been recovered, had it not been for Amanda and Betsy,” Captain Ferguson said. “I'll do all in my power to see that you each receive a reward. Now that you have your freedom, what do you gentlemen intend to do with your lives? You're not hurting for money.”

“If I could get the rest of these
hombres
to throw in with me,” said Ed, “I'd buy some wagons and teams and freight goods from St. Louis, St. Joe, and Kansas City, south to Santa Fe. There won't be a railroad there for many years.”

“I'll go in with you,” Nick said.

“So will I,” said Vernon.

Quickly, Todd, Lee, and Carl volunteered. Only Bill and Mark said nothing. Bill looked at Betsy, while Mark looked at Amanda.

“Amanda,” said Betsy, “shall we let them grow old and gray driving freight wagons?”

“Why not?” Amanda said. “I'm through sleeping by myself. I'll go with Mark.”

“Then I'll go with Bill,” said Betsy. “We'll keep the outfit together.”

“Maybe you can help solve another government problem,” Captain Ferguson said. “We must sell the confiscated freight wagons, mules, and horses, and with Reconstruction playing hell in Texas, nobody's got any money except you folks. How about it? Will you take it all off my hands?”

The teamsters looked at one another and grinned. It was more than they'd ever hoped for.

“We'll do it,” they all said in a single voice.

“Good luck,” said Captain Ferguson, “and don't be strangers. You'll be hauling to south Texas, and when you do, stop by and eat with us. Stackler's dog is getting fat.”

All of them shook hands with Ferguson, saluted him smartly, and stepped out the door. They were on their way to a new life.

“A writer in the tradition of Louis L'Amour and Zane Grey!”