The Colonel asked, “Dan, do you need to add anything?”
“I will just add that Jason was the man Joe shot first.”
The Colonel said, “Judge after hearing all of this, what do you think?”
The Judge replied, “As far as the shooting goes, I see no problem as it was self-defense. There may be an inquiry, but that would just be a formality. As far as the kidnapping goes with the kidnapper dead, I am not sure how far that can go. As to the Reynolds other crimes what Jason said would be hearsay. I will send a telegram tomorrow to Denver to have a Prosecutor and Marshal meet me in Durango in two days to review all of this.”
Dan said, “Judge our immediate concern is any reprisals from the Reynolds. Is there anything that they would gain by eliminating Alice, Will or me?”
The Judge replied, “I think not, because their only legal defense for the
kidnapping is denying that they knew anything about what Jason did and once the prosecutor and marshal are aware of the facts they will be busy answering questions, but I would stay close here at the ranch until I talk to the people from Denver. I will go to Durango first thing in the morning.”
Dan said, “Thank you.”
Colonel, “Does anyone else have any questions or want to say anything?”
No one spoke up, so the Colonel continued, “I will be here or in the kitchen for the next two hours if anyone needs me. Dan, can you stay for a minute.”
“Yes, sir.”
Everyone left the parlor except Dan and the Colonel. The Colonel motioned for Dan to take a seat and then he sat opposite of him.
The Colonel said, “Dan I had no doubt that you would do everything you could to get Alice out and I know your abilities and instincts. That is why I thought of you for what I knew would be a challenging rescue. You expect more from yourself than even I expect of you. The only person you disappoint is yourself. I was pleased that Alice was able to tell Will and the Judge the job you have done getting her out.”
“Thank you, that means a lot to me.”
“We will talk again before you leave.”
“I am not leaving until I know this is all settled.”
“I understand.”
chapter 24
Bad News
Mark left the ranch and headed to town. He hated to be the one to tell Jacob that Jason was dead, but better family than someone else. He wasn’t sure what they needed to do now that the girl was back with family and Jason was dead. He urged his horse to a canter and made good time. He reached town just after Noon and dropped his horse off at the livery stable. He walked up the street to the bank and went to Jacob’s office.
He entered, and Jacob looked up and said, “What's the news?”
“It is not good. The girl is gone, and Jason is dead.”
“Jason dead! Are you sure?”
“Jay, one of the men from the ranch, was with Jason when he was shot and said there wasn’t a question that he was dead.”
“What happened?”
“As it was relayed to me, Jason and his men had closed on the girl and the man that was helping her. The girl and the man were on the trail on the up-slope opposite from Jason. Jason apparently decided to try and shoot them. He and two men took up positions and opened fire on the girl and the man. The man knocked the girl to the ground for safety after the first shot, and Jason and his men started firing as fast as possible in hopes of getting a lucky shot. While firing, someone from the top of the far ridge started firing at Jason and his men. With the sound of their shooting, Jay didn’t know anyone was shooting at them until the man beside him went down hard. Being exposed, he ran for the top of the ridge and cover. As he ran by Jason, he could tell that by the amount of blood and bone, blown out the back of Jason, that he was dead before he hit the ground. Jay said that the tracker Ruiz said that it sounded like a buffalo gun.”
“I am still trying to get used to the idea that Jason is dead.”
“I know it must have been bad luck that they overtook them just as they reached someone who could help. What do we do now that the girl has escaped?”
Jacob paused a minute and said, “Sit down and lets’ talk about our options.”
Mark took a seat and waited for his brother to say something.
Jacob said, “Our biggest problem is that we don’t know if the girl knows anything else about us other than that Jason kidnapped her. If that is all, she knows we can ride that storm out. But if she has other information or facts that would be a different problem.”
“How can we know what she knows?”
“Only by what actions are taken once her story gets out.”
“How do we know what actions are coming.”
“We have to have our ears to the ground. First, from his position as a telegraph operator in Alamosa, James can let us know of any activity on the wires we need to know about. You can send someone to Montrose to warn us if anything happens there.”
“I can do that. In fact, I can send Sam the foreman from Jason’s ranch there.”
“Do any of the men at the ranch know anything?”
“I don’t think they know anything other than Jason was holding the girl, no one except probably Sam. Sam and Jason were pretty close.”
“Okay, you do that, and I am going to take the train to Alamosa and talk to
James.”
“Is there anything else we need to do.”
“Just in case, think about what you would need and what you would take if we have to leave.”
“Do you think it will come to that?”
“No, but it is best to be ready for any eventuality.”
“Okay, I will see you tomorrow.”
“Until then.”
Mark left and headed toward the stable for his horse. Jacob told his assistant that he would be out the rest of the day and would be back no later than noon the next day.
chapter 25
Waiting
Dan left the parlor and went back out on the porch. He walked out to the steps and sat down on the top step. The night was dark, but as his eyes adjusted, he could see the outline of the mountains. He hoped for Alice’s sake that this would be over quickly, but he wasn’t in any hurry to leave. He would get with the Colonel before the night was over and see about putting out a few outriders just in case the Reynolds came a calling. He was sure the Colonel knew as well as he that when the Judge sent the telegram to Denver tomorrow the Reynolds would know about it. Then he thought that they might decide to cut and run instead of having all their past dealings looked into. As he was thinking, he heard someone come out the door behind him. He turned to see Alice coming out of the house.
She said, “Mind if I join you?”
“No, not at all.”
As she sat down, she said, “Did I say too much earlier?”
“No, it’s was fine.”
“What do you think is going to happen?”
“There are a number of possibilities and all the probable ones are good.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean nothing more is going to happen that will directly involve you. They will either get scared and run, be tied up in court for years on things not related to you or go to prison.”
“When will we know which way, it will go?”
“I can’t say for sure, but I think it will be at least a week and maybe as long as six to eight weeks.”
“When are you leaving?”
“Not until this is over and done.”
“Don’t you need to get back to Texas?”
“I made arrangements when I left that allow me to be gone as long as I need to be.”
“I am glad that you will be here.”
“I told you I would be here until it was over.”
“I know, but I was just worried that you might go.”
“I will tell you when I am going to go.”
“What are we going to do tomorrow?”
“Do you need to go to town and get some things.”
“But you are not going home until we hear back from the Judge and he is not meeting with the people from Denver until the day after tomorrow.”
“In that case, I do need to go to town.”
“Good we will go into town tomorrow with the Judge right after breakfast.”
“That will work for me. Dad has already gone to bed, but I will get some money from him in the morning before we go.”
“Is your father feeling alright?”
“I know he is very tired right now, but he says it was because he was worried about me for so long.”
“Do you want me to get a wagon ready for tomorrow or do you want to ride a horse?”
“A horse will be fine.”
The conversation died, and they just sat there beside each other for a while then Alice asked, “What time is breakfast in the morning?”
“7:00”
“I think I will go ahead and go upstairs and see you in the morning” and stood up.
Standing Dan said, “Goodnight and sleep well.”
“Goodnight.”
Alice went into the house, and Dan remained on the porch for a few minutes, then walked through the house to the kitchen. In the kitchen, he found the Colonel and the Judge sitting at the table drinking coffee.
Dan said, “Evening Colonel, evening Judge Parker.”
The Judge said, “Good evening Dan.”
The Colonel said, “Evening Dan. What’s on your mind?”
“I have been trying to access what threat if any, we need to guard against from the Reynolds. I am sure the two of you have also considered this. What do you think?”
The Colonel said, “The Judge and I have talked about it. We do not think the Reynolds will be doing anything directly against Alice or her father. The men who ran when Jason was killed have had time to get back and tell what happened. And they know by now that you and Alice have reached safety. If anything happens to Alice or you, the law will be looking right at them. If they do not cut and run, then they will deny any knowledge of Jason’s actions; therefore, they would have to stay away from Alice.”
“Good I was thinking about going to Durango tomorrow with the Judge. I want to send a couple of letters to Texas, and Alice wants to go to get some new clothing. But I would still like to have Bob Robert or someone you can spare travel with us.”
“I think that will be fine, don’t you Judge?”
The Judge said, “Yes, I do.”
Dan said, “Good. Judge what time are you planning on leaving in the morning?”
“Right after breakfast, say 8:30.”
“That’s fine Alice, and I will be ready.”
The Colonel said, “I will talk to Bob Robert tonight, and he will be ready too.”
Dan said, “Then I will say goodnight, it’s been a long day.”
The Judge and the Colonel said, “Goodnight.”
Dan went upstairs to his room. He looked around the room at all his gear and thought about checking and packing all of it but decided he needed to get some sleep instead. Maria had brought fresh water for the pitcher on the dresser and lit the lamp. He washed and got ready for bed. He was looking forward to not sleeping on the ground. He let his thoughts fade, and he was asleep.
It was still dark when he awoke at 5:30. He thought about going back to sleep, but decided to go ahead and get up. He carefully found his way to the dresser and the box of matches on the end of the dresser nearest the window. He lit a match and with its light found and lit the lamp. He used the wash water in the bowl to shave with and the fresh water in the pitcher to rinse his face. Then he dressed and made the bed. By now there was enough light in the window for him to blow the lamp out. He took his jacket and went downstairs to the kitchen. He entered the kitchen saw Maria getting ready to lift a large coffee pot from the stove.
Dan said, “If that is for the bunkhouse, I can take it.”
“Yes, it is. I took another pot earlier with their breakfast.”
“Then I will take this one.”
He used a dry dishcloth and wrapped it around the handle of the coffee pot. Then he left the kitchen by the back door and went to the bunkhouse. He had been in the bunkhouse before. It had beds at one end and a couple of tables with chairs at the other. The door was in the middle. He entered the bunkhouse to find most of the men still at the tables.
He sat the coffee on the table and said, “Good morning.”
Some replied, and some only looked up.
Dan looked at Bob Robert and said, “The Colonel talk to you last night?”
Bob Robert, “Yes and I will be ready at 8:30.”
With a nod, Dan said, “See you then.”
Dan went back to the kitchen.
Maria turned as he walked in and he said, “Do you have any coffee left?”
“I always have coffee,” while pouring him a cup.
“Thanks.”
Dan went from the kitchen through the dining room and to the parlor. He lit a lamp on the desk in the corner and took a seat. He got out some paper and envelopes and using the pen and ink well on the desk he wrote two letters. The first letter was to Tom Swanson letting him know that he was okay, and that the danger had passed. He also told him that he still was unsure when he would return. The second letter was to Bill Walker letting him know that he was okay, and that he could write to him directly at the Colonel’s ranch. He addressed and sealed the envelopes and put them in the inside pocket of his jacket. He would have preferred to send a telegram, but he wasn’t sure if it was safe yet. He would take them to the train station and have them sent express mail. Dan rose from the desk and blew out the lamp. It was now close to 6:30 so he went back to the kitchen for another cup of coffee. Maria was getting ready to roll her biscuit dough out, and through the door, he could see Joe standing on the back porch. Dan refilled his cup and went on the porch to join Joe.
As he closed the door, Dan said, “Good morning Joe.”
“Good morning.”
“You sleep okay?”
“Yes, and you?”
“Yes, I did.”
“What do you have planned today?”
“Judge Parker, Alice, Bob Robert and I are going to Durango.”
“I would have thought you would have had enough travel for a while.”
“I need to mail some letters, and Alice needs some things.”
“Is Bob Robert just in case?”
“Just in case.”
“I will get all the camp gear cleaned and put away.”
“So, going to Durango isn’t so bad after all?”
Joe started to say, ‘Especially with a pretty girl’ but didn’t, but did say “Be careful.”
“We will.”
Opening the door, a little, Maria said, “Breakfast in ten minutes.”
Dan said, “I think I will go ahead and go in.”
“Go ahead, I will be in shortly.”
He walked back through the kitchen to the dining room. Alice and her father were standing just inside the door talking.
When he entered, they turned and said, “Good morning.”
He said, “Good morning” then they continued their conversation.
Dan stayed near the kitchen door to give them room to talk. He noticed that she was still wearing the same dress, but that was all she had and why she wanted to go to town. Shortly Judge Parker entered, and Will turned to talk to him, and Alice walked over to him.
He said, “Is everything alright?”
“Yes, everything is great, we are just talking about the ranch. Wasn’t it great to sleep in a bed, last night?”
“Yes, it was. Do you still want to go to town today?”
“Yes, I am looking forward to it. I haven’t been to a town in over two years.”
“Good we will be leaving at 8:30 will that be alright?
“I am ready now.”
Joe held the door for Maria as she entered carrying a plate of bacon i
n one hand and a bowl of scrambled eggs in the other. The Colonel entered and joined in the conversation with the Judge and Will. Maria returned with a plate of biscuits and a bowl of gravy. She then returned with a pot of coffee and filled everyone’s cup. After she left the Colonel moved toward his chair, and everyone else moved to theirs. They waited for Alice to take her seat and then they sat.
The Colonel said, “I trust that everyone got a good night’s sleep.”
Alice said, “Yes, it was nice to sleep in a bed.”
The meal settled into the normal breakfast conversations. Time passed as everyone ate heartily. Dan watched Alice, it was nice to see her happy. He was going to hate to see her go back to her father’s ranch, but he knew that would not be for at least a week. He wanted to ask the Judge some questions, but he didn’t want to change the mood in the room.
As breakfast was finishing the Colonel said, “I am sending Bob Robert along with you to Durango. He is going to pick up a few things for the ranch and help you if you need it. Bob Robert will be at the front of the house at 8:30 with the horses. Have a good day and be careful.”
The Judge said, “I am going to wait for an answer to my telegram, and I will be prepared to stay the night if I have to.”
The Colonel asked, “Do you want a rider to go with you in case you have to stay?”
“No, that will not be necessary.”
The Colonel added, “I am going to have Bob Robert take a pack horse in case it is needed. Joe see me after breakfast.” Joe nodded.
Will said, “While we are all here together, I want to thank you again for all your help.”
The Colonel said, “As I said we are all glad to help a friend.”
The conversation died, and people started to drift away. Soon it was just Dan and the Colonel.
Dan said, “Sir, you are not having second thoughts about the safety of us going to Durango, are you?”
High Country Rescue Page 27