Coburn’s alcoholism had only increased when Natty Lou, his wife dealt with her pain of their lost son by turning to another, more attentive man who had not withdrawn into a bottle, and six months ago she had finally left him, divorced him, and had remarried. Coming to work stone cold drunk had now become the norm, but one run when he had been sober, Colburn admitted that the only thing keeping him from placing the business end of his old Dragoon pistol in his mouth was his young daughter who had recently married and given him a grandson. They were the only things he had left to live for, he had told Farnsworth with a frankness that had touched his soul.
To that end, Farnsworth had begun to cover for him more and more. He himself had been an engineer, but several years ago he decided he preferred simply to be the fireman, keeping the steam up and not having to bear the full responsibilities of the engineer's position. Depending on his degree of drunkenness, and if Colburn could still shovel the coal, he put him to use. If the man could barely stand he would enlist whatever conductor was working that day to serve as fireman. Hank Colburn was a well-loved man and so far, none had spilled the beans to McGregor or anyone else.
As Colburn swayed in front of him mumbling a greeting of false cheer, Farnsworth buried his face in his hands and then finally looked up at his friend.
“You stay put. I’ll be right back Hank.”
Colburn smiled agreeably and Farnsworth felt it a pity that being in a drunken stupor was the only time he ever saw the man smile anymore. Quickly he made his way back to the caboose as he had done on several occasions before to enlist the aid of the brakeman to help him get Colburn to the caboose where he would sleep it off.
Pulling himself up onto the rear platform of the caboose he opened the door and hustled inside. On duty this day was the burly Zeb Clark, once a cowpuncher who had given up that way of life to join the ranks of those who operated the iron horse, as the Indians of the West often referred to the trains. More unwelcome news came when he found out that the rear brakeman scheduled for the run today was down at the doctor's office with a broken arm. On the way into work, he hadn't been watching where he was going and had walked right out in front of the wagon carrying grain alcohol to the saloons of Lake Bliss. He was lucky to have gotten off with just that injury.
Now Clark, the head brakeman who usually rode in the cab with them would have to ride in the caboose and carry out the different duties, such as watching for any signs of problems with the train, like smoke from a hot axle bearing from the raised cupola in the center of the caboose. For a moment Farnsworth had considered attempting to round up another brakeman among those who were off duty and at home, but two things stopped him.
He didn’t have time to be running from house to house trying to find someone. The passengers from the hotel with Pierce would be here soon, and the train had to leave on time. Secondly, he didn’t want to draw any attention to the crew this day, lest it be discovered that not only were they down a brakeman but the engineer himself. Resigning himself to his situation, Farnsworth had to concede that if the gods above had decided today would be a delightful day to put a rod up his ass for their amusement there was nothing he could do about it.
With Clark's help they soon had Colburn resting on a bunk in the caboose and broke the news to Parker that, after he got his passengers squared away with their drinks and made them all comfortable, he would have to report to the locomotive for fireman duty. The lad's face had gone ashen when he had asked how he was supposed to get from the passenger car to the locomotive with four freight cars and coal carrier between them and gotten the answer. With a grin and a slap on Parker's back, Zeb Clark had used his thumb to point upward and had broken the news of how Parker was going to be making his crossing between the two locations.
Parker had protested that it would mean multiple trips because he would need to check in on the passengers from time to time between shoveling coal. Clark roared with laughter when he had told the young man that it would give him a fantastic opportunity to practice his balance.
Soon, the passengers were loaded up, and Pierce had stopped by the cab to speak to the engineer to reiterate that they must keep to the schedule and not be late arriving at the end of the line in Stanton’s Gap. Farnsworth had lied when Pierce asked where he was by telling the rat-faced man that Colburn was conducting a final inspection of the train on the other side of it out of sight. Pierce had said he was going to go find him when Farnsworth warned that if Pierce wasted time telling the engineer things that he had already relayed to him it was only going to delay their departure. Reluctantly the man seemed to take the advice to heart and had hastened off to join the group he was stewarding in the passenger car.
***
It was now with relief that Farnsworth cast his gaze towards the gap that lay ahead. Once they were through it, only a couple of miles separated them from their destination and the Founder's Day celebration. On the other side of the cab, he heard Parker whistle with this head stuck out the window looking up at the left mountain that had once been part of the route. He had forgotten this was Parker's first time on this run.
“We’re not going up that thing are we, Mr. Farnsworth!”
“Not at all, Parker. We will be coming up on where the old track bed and the new one split off. I went over that old route plenty of times and am not ashamed to admit I’m glad they finally put the line through the gap.”
Popping back inside the teen scratched his head and reasonably asked why they hadn’t built the tracks through the gap in the first place rather than having to go up a grade and then running along the side of the mountain, overlooking the gap far below.
“Old man Stanton that founded the town owned the land running through the gap and the mountain on the right. Wouldn’t sell. Was convinced there was silver to be found. He finally up and died a few years ago and his more sensible family knew there was more money to be made selling the land to the railroad than some phantom vein of silver. So, the new track was laid down. There’s the switch now!”
Parker looked out the window and saw as they passed by the metal bar that allowed for the switching between the two tracks. It lay a quarter of a mile ahead of where the train would enter the gap itself.
“Why didn’t they tear up the old bed if it’s not being used anymore?”
“Simple, son. It cost enough money for the railroad to build the new track. No way it was going to pay good money to laborers to tear it up. Easy enough just to leave it to rot. Now enough questions. You dust yourself off as best you can and make another trip back to check in on the passengers. Pierce will get suspicious if you don’t keep checking in and might go back to the caboose and he won’t find you there, but he will find one drunken engineer!”
“Yes, sir!”
Farnsworth chuckled inside, as the boy’s face didn’t match the enthusiasm he had put into his response. The lad had made several trips back and forth during the journey and still had been nervous each time. Saying nothing more he disappeared out the back of the cab and Farnsworth found himself alone for a moment. He shook his head, feeling the tightness in his chest once more but as before it faded but not as quickly this time. As he found himself sweating profusely, he suddenly became aware of his name being shouted, repeatedly.
Parker pitched himself into the cab, stumbling and landing on his knees before he pulled himself up and shouted, "Stop the train!!" Farnsworth saw through the front window what the young man must have seen when he was atop the first boxcar. The train had just entered the gap and down the tracks, a mass of rocks and dirt had caved off the mountainside that the track bed had been built to hug as it passed through the gap
The seasoned railroad man that he was, Farnsworth was already in motion. Three long blasts from the whistle filled the air as he pulled on its cord with one hand, his other locking an iron grip around the tall lever that controlled the engine's braking mechanisms and yanked it with all his might. As the powerful 4-4-0 locomotive's large circular wheels locked up, an ear-p
iercing shriek reverberated from the mountainsides lining each side of the gap. Farnsworth wasn't even aware of the slack-jawed Parker that was standing over his shoulder, literally breathing down his neck. Instead, his gaze was focused on the obstruction on the tracks looming ever larger. Almost imperceptibly he saw that while the pile was still approaching, the speed of which they were hurtling towards it was beginning to taper.
Precious feet continued to evaporate between the cowcatcher at the front of the locomotive and the mess of dirt and rocks sprawled over the rails but Farnsworth felt his spirits buoyed. With less than a yard to spare, the mighty steam engine rolled to a stop and Farnsworth's eyes rolled upward in relief. He heard Parker fuming as to why in the world the railroad would build the tracks right along the base of the mountain instead of straight down the center of the gap.
Farnsworth knew it was because the terrain had been found to be far too unstable to safely lay the tracks on, but along the base of the mountain had been solid bedrock, ideal for stability, and the tracks had been put down there. Still, he didn't bother answering the boy but instead wilted into his chair with a question of his own forming, was it always this hard to breathe?
CHAPTER 4
* * *
lAs Dutch trotted along on his mount he found it a strange feeling when he glanced over to his left to find Lijuan at his side instead of his love Bright Feather. He had to remind himself that Lijuan had actually spent more time riding at his side through their childhood and teenage years than Bright Feather ever had. Yet he had become so accustomed to the Yavapai woman being right there next to him it seemed like she had always been there.
He was whistling now, his spirits rising, because once they were in Stanton’s Gap he would be reunited with her and most of the family for that matter. Dutch also found himself warmed inside at what a good time Lijuan had appeared to enjoy during their time prospecting.
The guilt he had felt earlier was finally beginning to evaporate. It had been incredibly palpable early that morning when he had stood at the bottom of the staircase in the Great Room of the Cedar Ledge ranch house with Catalina. Only a few minutes before he had ridden in with Bright Feather from Fort McCallister, the pair looking forward to a fun-filled day at the Founder’s Day weekend. Bright Feather had gone off to say her hellos to Whip, while he had stood conversing with Catalina who seemed unusually pensive.
His half Mexican sister was the light of the entire Wilde family. The raven-haired beauty went through life with a smile on her oblong face and a cheerfulness that could usually brighten all those around her. He had seen something in those deep brown eyes that were a shade removed from being all black, that told him something wasn’t quite right.
“Now you are still going to help Bright Feather pick out her dress, aren’t you? I’m counting on you to help her make the decision on which one to choose and not let Honor Elizabeth take over the entire process. We know how she considers herself the last word in ladies’ fashion eh, Peppercorn?”
The briefest of upturns in the corners of his sister’s mouth before they fell back to a flat line had told him his attempt to lighten her up had failed. His good-natured ribbing of Honor and even the use of her nickname that usually came with her putting on a show about why everyone had to call her that only bounced off of her with no effect.
“You betcha. She’s my truest friend. I sure as sugar will be there. Listen Dutch, there is somethin’ you gotta know, and you gotta know quick!” she suddenly said, her urgency registered in her eyes.
“I’m listening, Cattie,” had been his reply, happy to finally perhaps learn what had put her into such a peculiar mood.
“Is it possible you done forgot somethin’?” she said softly with her Mexican accent that she had picked up long ago spending her entire summers with her late mother’s kin on their Mexican vineyard as she grew up.
“David!” came a buoyant cry from the top of the stairs as Catalina squeezed her eyes shut and turned away.
“Too late!”
Dutch had only a moment to crinkle his brow in puzzlement as Lijuan swept down the stairs and practically leaped into his arms. He gave her a bear hug and then let the petite woman drop to her feet and looked down into her smiling face.
“Good morning! How is our little Beautiful and Graceful one?”
“Couldn’t be better! A day taking my mind off every last single detail that comes with running a ranch this size is going to be a nice change of pace. It’ll be a wonderful time with even better company!” she bubbled as she laid her hand on the crook of his arm.
“I will second that. I just wish we could all be there, but Dad has to head over to Phoenix to take care of that business so he can be back in time for the upcoming ceremony. Then Blue River, of course, has got that big order at the lumber mill for our new clients. They will be missed.”
When he had finished talking he was surprised to find Lijuan staring at him with a blank look on her face and Catalina making cringing expressions off to one side. Just then Bright Feather emerged from the back of the house, a large picnic basket swung from where she held it by her side. In a fluid motion, she swung it up and held it out to Lijuan.
“Hello, Lijuan. I ran into Mrs. Chow in the kitchen. She said to give this to you.”
Dutch’s puzzlement deepened, “You had a lunch packed, Lijuan? There is going to be plenty of food from vendors and the like at the Founder’s Day weekend celebration.
“That would be great … if you and I were going there, but I believe we had other plans,” she said as she flipped her hair and cocked her head to one side.
At last the dam had broken, and Dutch had felt his face flush as the terrible error that he had made washed over him. Lijuan was looking at him sharply, while Bright Feather’s lovely face had become mystified.
"Today … today is the day that we were going prospecting, isn't it?" he had stammered to her as he had witnessed her face suddenly become crestfallen, and the hurt was evident in her eyes that he had forgotten their long-established plans.
“Yes, three months ago we picked today as the day? Don’t you remember? We were out in the gazebo just before you had that mission over by the California border. I didn’t bring it up the last few times you were back here from McCallister because I just figured it would be just like any other year. You’d arrive early in the day like you are right now and we’d go …”
He had leaned in and kissed her forehead at that point and had begun to apologize profusely to his younger sibling.
“I am sorry, Lijuan. I completely forgot. About a month ago Bright Feather and I got to talking, and she mentioned how she’s never been to it, and I told her that the whole family likes to go, and I would take her and show her the best time. Damn it! Looking back on it, I realize they did move the Founder’s Day weekend up one week because some big shot from Washington was going to be in the area and they wanted him to give a speech and he was only going to be around then …”
Dutch’s voice had trailed off at that point. He had realized he was rambling to cover his embarrassment at not only hurting his beloved sister but as a military man who was supposed to have an eye and ear for details, this had gotten by him leaving him feeling extremely foolish.
That was when Bright Feather once more showcased just one of the many reasons that he loved her. With a smile, she had laid a hand on Dutch's shoulder.
“My love, if you had plans with Lijuan, please do not change them.” She looked over at Catalina. “I am sure Cattie would be very happy to show me the sights and sounds of this celebration alongside your family.”
Catalina had slapped her thigh and grinned, “Damn straight I would! With Papa, Blue River, and now Dutch not being able to go … this just became a girl’s trip! Look out Stanton’s Gap! Here come the Wilde women!” As was her way, she broke into laughter, her good spirits bubbling back to the surface now that Dutch’s faux pas was out in the open.
His eyes had swept over to Bright Feather, who had nodded an
d smiled to reassure him. Lijuan’s face had lost its look of disappointment and had become an unreadable mask, waiting for his decision. He knew full well his sister had a justly earned reputation as a hellcat so there was little doubt she was holding herself in check.
Dutch had turned away from Lijuan and laid both his hands on Bright Feather’s shoulders and looked into her ever-so-soft brown eyes.
“Are you sure you don’t mind going without me?”
Behind him, he had not seen Lijuan roll her eyes. There was no way Bright Feather could have missed it, but she had become practiced in handling Lijuan's transparent dislike for her.
“I love you … and I love your family,” she began to say, her eyes for a fleeting second locked with Lijuan’s, an understanding passed between them that Dutch was oblivious to, that they both knew that sentiment didn’t include Lijuan.
“If I can’t be with you, there certainly is no better company! Now is there?”
Shortly afterward they had ridden out heading for the creek after promising that they would meet up with the others later in the day after they had their fill of prospecting. A bit of an awkward silence had accompanied the siblings but slowly Lijuan had started to get past being forgotten about, and soon the pair were laughing all the way to Dutch's worthless claim.
He had thought again how it had been great fun and was very glad that it worked out that he had got to spend the time with his sister and now he was equally glad that he would be joining up with finishing the day with the woman he loved beyond all measure.
Sing The Death Song: Dutch Wilde & Bright Feather Western Adventure (Half Breed Haven Book 6) Page 4