“I shore will, Mr. Keller. They can sleep in the hayloft iffen they want.”
“You two be all right there? I’d rather you kept a low profile and didn’t raise any questions.”
“Yessir,” LeCroix answered. “Maybe iffen Mr. Clyde could bring us a bucket of beer once in a while?”
“He’ll deliver beer and a hot meal every night, don’t worry. You two just stay close, get the wagon fixed up to transport the gun, and stand ready. It won’t be long before we’re gonna need you and your Gatling gun. The pumps for Virginia City will be here soon, and when they arrive, we put my plan into action.”
Marty next headed to the hotel and reported what had happened to George Hearst. The mining magnate nodded his head at the information. “I am exceedingly hopeful you’ll get my pumps to me, Mr. Keller. They’re all that stands between me and bankruptcy.”
“With the gun and the two soldiers, I think we’ll go into the fight with a distinct advantage over the outlaws. Then we’ll drive them back to where they came from, wipe that out, and hopefully get all the leaders, including your Mr. Stoddard, as well as deliver your pumps.”
Hearst smiled, his dark eyes twinkling. “That would certainly make my day, I assure you.” He passed over a bank draft. “Here’s three thousand in advance for Malcolm O’Brian. You’ll give it to him from me?”
“Gladly.”
“When are you headed back to Carson City?”
“Tomorrow morning, although we’ve put out the word we’re leaving day after tomorrow, for Virginia City.”
“Good idea. Well, I’m gonna get me a bite to eat and then get a good night’s sleep before I go back to the mines. Care to join me?”
“Thank you, I’d be happy to.”
Marty and Hearst spent the meal talking about mining and the unique problems at the Virginia City mines. Marty listened and learned about hard-rock mining. He quickly brushed over his adventures on the bounty trail, and Hearst picked up on his reluctance to talk about it. He did relay a quick version of the attack on his home that killed his wife and son, the reason for being a bounty hunter.
“You still haven’t heard anything about this Hulett fellow or his companion?” Hearst commented.
“Not a word in nearly five years.”
“I agree, it’s very odd. They must have crawled into a hole somewhere and stayed put.”
“They’ll come out,” Marty answered. “Then I’ll find ’em and have my retribution. I’ll never stop looking for them until I do.”
“If it was my Phoebe and son Willie, I’d feel the same way. I wish you luck, Marty.”
With that, the two men parted company, Hearst headed to the bar for a nightcap and Marty to check on his new soldiers, before he bedded down. The next day would be a full one and they had to drive the stage over fifty miles of rough road to get back to Carson City. He walked into the barn to find the two black soldiers sitting on hay bales regaling Carson, Quinn, and Del with stories of their experiences against the Modoc Indians in Northern California.
“Evening, gentlemen,” Marty greeted them. “Seems like everyone’s here but Squint. Where’s he?”
Carson laughed. “He said something about getting a few drinks in him so he could sleep good. Said he’d be back directly.”
Marty listened as the tall, muscular, dignified, professional soldier softly spoke of a campaign where his rapid-fire gun made the difference in a long battle with entrenched but cornered Indians in the lava mountains west of Mt. Shasta, almost to the Oregon border.
“Sounds a lot like how I’d like to see our battle going,” Marty replied at the end of the story.
Carson eagerly spoke out. “I can’t wait to see that danged gun in action. It must be something.”
Corporal Blue smiled and spoke in his high, tenor voice. “You’ll never forgit it, once you git it a-goin’. It really is somethin’.”
Marty watched as LeCroix tamped and lit a worn pipe, methodically got it fired up, and then contentedly puffed a few streams of white smoke into the air, the pleasant aroma of pipe tobacco mingling with the acidic odor of horse manure.
“LeCroix,” Marty asked, “that’s a Louisiana name, isn’t it?”
“That it is, sir,” the black sergeant answered. “I’s the head Negra on a plantation near Baton Rouge, afore the war. Had near four hunnerd mens and womenfolk workin’ under me. When the war started, I runned off to New Awlens and jined the Yankee army. After the war was over, I jined the black regiments bein’ formed up to fight the Injuns. Been in the army ever since.”
LeCroix chuckled and pointed with the stem of his pipe. “Corporal Blue here, he’s from Ohio, come from free blacks, and jined the army after the war was over, but he’s seen the ole elephant, yessir, he’s seen ’em. Chasin’ them murderin’ Modacs through the lava rocks. He’s earned his stripes.”
“I’m sure he has,” Marty answered. “Do you have any questions on what I want you to build on the gun wagon, Sergeant LeCroix?”
“Nope, we’ll build it right, never you fear.”
“You stick close to the barn. I’ll be back once the pumps arrive and we’ll make our final plans then.”
“We’ll be here, Mr. Keller. Yessir. We’ll git it done.”
“I have no doubt, Sergeant. Come on, Carson, let’s grab some shut-eye. Tomorrow’s gonna be a long day.”
Squint drove the stage out of Reno the next morning before the sun came up, giving Marty hope that they had jumped the gun on the outlaws, in case there was any intent to hit them on the way back to Carson City.
The road from Reno south to the new state capital was along the valley floor, and was much easier to traverse than the mountain roads to and from Virginia City. They arrived in Carson City without any problems and Marty released Pat Quinn and Del until they met with the others on Sunday to continue their training for the coming showdown.
Chapter 21
Vern Blows His Stack
Vern Barton was mad. “Damned mad and with good reason,” he shouted at a cowed Charlie Call. “Whaddya think I pay ya for? Three trips. Three trips made by the stage and we ain’t hit it once.”
“I done told ya, boss. We was surprised. I’ve got some men up on Roberts Pass right now stackin’ some brush and logs fer a fire. The next time they try comin’ through, we’ll be ready. We’ll put a pile of burning brush out in the road to outline ’em by its light. Hell, we’ll cut ’em to pieces.”
“And what about them no-account lookouts in Virginia City and Reno? Neither one got word to us in time to git in position. Whatta they doin’? Lyin’ around swillin’ liquor on my time?”
“They’re ready now, boss. Next time, I’ll move some men to the Peavine line shack as soon as I hear a stage is in Reno, ready to head fer the Reno Road and hit ’em as soon as they leave town.”
“Damned right ya will. I don’t care iffen they gotta camp out a week in the cold. We gotta stop the stage and freight from movin’ twix Virginia City and the rest of the world. However, that ain’t what’s important now. I jus’ got word from Mr. Stoddard in Virginnie City that his spy in Pittsburgh says the pumps for Hearst are almost done. He expects ’em to be shipped early next week. That means they’ll be in Reno within two weeks, at the latest. We absolutely gotta stop them pumps. Get ’em fer Stoddard if we can, but stop ’em from ever reachin’ Hearst, no matter what.”
“I unnerstand, boss. I’ll have every man at the line shack as soon as ya git word they’re in Reno. O’Brian may try to sneak ’em out of town or travel in the dark, but I’ll be ready.”
“Damned right ya will. Call in the lookouts from Carson City and Virginnie City. I want every man we got on the firin’ line when it comes time to hit them freight wagons.”
“I gotcha, boss. I’ll call the lookouts in right away.”
A sinister gleam crossed Barton’s dark eyes. “Hold on a second, I’m gittin’ an ideer. Keep the lookouts on the job in Carson City. As soon as the pumps arrive, have them git O’Bri
an’s gal. Iffen he’s lookin’ fer her, he ain’t gonna be worryin’ about takin’ no pumps to the mines. Then we can have Clem Atkinson step in and offer to freight ’em in his wagons. Maybe we can git the pumps without a fight and hide ’em out till Stoddard needs ’em fer his mines.”
“You think Hearst would ever use Clem’s freight wagons?”
“He would iffen O’Brian was too busy lookin’ fer his bratty daughter to bother freightin’ the pumps up to the mines as soon as they arrive. Hearst ain’t gonna let them things jus’ sit at the railroad depot whilst O’Brian looks high and low fer his kid.”
“Good idea, boss. I’ll ride into Carson City tomorrow and pass the word to Sid and Jack to start workin’ on gittin’ O’Brian’s gal. Where should they put her?”
“Hell, I don’t care. Kill her and bury her deep in the woods fer all I give a hoot.”
Call shook his head. “I don’t know, boss. Killin’ a woman. It might bring a passel of law down on us. Maybe we oughta jus’ hide her out good fer a week or so. That oughta be long enough.”
“Whatever. Jus’ so they’re lookin’ fer her a good long while. There’s dozens of old mines up and down the Wasach Range. Park her in one and keep her there. In fact, take two more boys and put ’em in Carson City. I don’t wanna take no chances on her slippin’ away from our men.”
“I’ll send Dusty and Rod from Virginia City down to Carson City. Sam and Waco will stay in Reno in case O’Brian does try and ship the pumps. They’ll be our eyes on the pumps.”
Barton waved his hand dismissively. “Whatever. Jus’ so we don’t botch this thing up. Things are gonna come to a head real quick-like now. We gotta be ready.”
“I gotcha, boss. I’ll git right on it.” Call slipped out of the house, anxious to get out of Barton’s view. He did not need any more of his backside chewed off by the mercurial outlaw leader.
He sent Slim into Virginia City to tell Dusty and Rod to move on down and join up with Sid and Jack in Reno. Then he went out to inspect the few cows the ranch supported, just to stay clear of Vern Barton for a while. The next morning, Charlie headed south on the ranch road toward the Carson Creek road into Carson City while Barton girded his loins and reported to Ransom Stoddard in Virginia City. The outlaw leader had to explain how O’Brian’s successful stage run eluded his ambush and why he thought it would make ambushing the freight wagons even easier.
As he rode, he reviewed his plan to upset O’Brian’s applecart and grew more heartened every time he did. His ego prevented him from seeing any flaws in a plan he had devised. By the time he explained it to Stoddard, he was so confident that he convinced the scheming mine owner it was infallible.
Stoddard’s closing comment was “It’s almost time for me to break George Hearst, Vern. Don’t let anything stop you. You’ll never see the snow fall if you do. Understand?”
Barton swallowed the lump in his throat and nodded. “I won’t let ya down, Mr. Stoddard. You can count on it.”
He got out of the office before he wet his pants. As he relieved himself in the privy behind Stoddard’s building, he cursed himself for being so intimidated by the greedy mine owner. He just couldn’t help himself. Great evil triumphed over lesser evil every time.
Charlie arrived in Carson City and quickly met with his two henchmen to lay the groundwork for kidnapping Colleen O’Brian. “Start watchin’ her, and git an ideer of any habits she’s got that we can use. I seen half a dozen abandoned mines twix the ranch and here. Git her, stash her in one, and watch her like a hawk till I say fer ya to let her go.” Call paused until both outlaws’ eyes met his. “You two and Dusty and Rod, who’re on their way here from Reno, have only one job now. When I tell ya, grab the gal and hold on to her. But I don’t want to hear that any of you done anything to her. We don’t need that. You be certain Dusty and Ron unnerstand as well. No hanky-panky with the gal. Got it?”
Both men nodded, their faces serious. And both imagined what it would be like to have an attractive gal like Colleen O’Brian subject to their every whim and want. A very desirable image indeed. Both outlaws suppressed a smile of anticipation.
Marty rode out to the training site with Carson and Squint. As the men John Harper was training started their marksmanship exercise, Ross and Ruud rode up. They dismounted and tied their horses with the others, then walked to Marty’s side.
“Mornin’, Mr. Keller.” Ross spoke before Marty could greet the two scouts. “We been keepin’ our eyes on that jasper who rode outa town the day you left in the stage. His name’s Jack Page, by the way. For a while it was just him and a fella named Sid, who was hangin’ around keepin’ an eye on the O’Brians. Yesterday, two more fellas rode in and joined up with ’em.”
“What are they doing? Just watching?”
“ ’ Pears so.”
“Got any names on the new pair?”
“Nope, not yet. Me and Ruud here has stayed pretty far back, since you said you didn’t want us to give them any idea we was a-watchin’ ’em.”
“That’s right. Try and keep an eye on the four of ’em. Let me know if they do anything you consider suspicious.”
“We’ll do it, Mr. Keller. Is it all right if Ruud and me join in on the target practice?”
“By all means, if you want. Tell Johnny I said it was all right.”
Marty stayed at the training site, and by the end of the day was satisfied that the men were as ready as they probably ever would be with the limited time available to train them in the art of moving and shooting, using cover and concealment, and close-quarter fighting. As the day ended, Marty called the men to gather around him, which everyone did, silently awaiting his words.
“Well, it seems to me that Johnny and Pat have got you fellas pretty well prepared for the coming showdown. Today is your last chance to get out. I suspect the little dance we’re cooking up is gonna occur pretty quickly. All of you men were in the army, I think. Blue or gray, you know that one thing you had to do in a fight was react immediately when you got the orders from your superiors. If you want to increase your chances of surviving the next fight, listen and obey Johnny and Pat. They’ve got good experience going for them. I’m confident we can whip this bunch of outlaws, but to do it as safely as possible, you must listen and obey. Is everyone clear on this?”
There was a rumble of “Yessir,” “Yep,” and “I understand,” from the assembled men. Marty grunted, “And everyone is in?”
Again all he heard was affirmatives.
“Good enough, then. Stick close to town. Check in with Johnny twice a day, noontime and around six p.m. I’ll get word to you through him when and where I want you.”
As the men straggled off, Marty asked Johnny and Pat, as well as his two scouts, to stay behind. “They look pretty good,” Marty complimented Johnny and Pat. “You two have done a fine job in a short amount of time. Things are about to come to a head. I want to go over my plans with you fellas, along with Squint and Carson. You’ll all have major parts to play in the final outcome to this little barn dance.”
Marty picked up a stick and drew a rough outline of the roads between Reno and Virginia City, the location of the V bar B, the Peavine Ranch line shack, and the place where the last freight wagon attack had occurred. “The first part of my plan will be for Carson and you and your men, Johnny, to slip out of town here the day before we are due to leave Reno. I’ll telegraph you the exact date once I’m in Reno. Then you’ll go to a place where you can watch the road from the Peavine line shack without being seen. You’ll have to be able to spot the outlaws once they start up into the mountains. Then you’ll trail after them and get into a place where you can ambush the ambushers. When they start the ruckus, you will put a world of hurt on ’em, added to what I’m gonna be sending at them from the wagons. I’ve got a Gatling gun on loan from the army, which I’ll bring as additional fire support.”
“Oh me blessed saints,” Quinn murmured. “I’ve seen one a’ them bustards in action. It was brutal. I d
o believe we’re gonna make those ladies wish they’d stayed in bed that day.”
“Mr. Keller, why don’t we just hit them at the line shack, or on the way to the ambush site?” Ruud asked.
“It might be a bit safer if we did,” Marty answered, “but I want there to be no mistake, that these are the men who have been ambushing the stage line. We’re gonna wipe them out, off the face of the earth. The next bunch to consider doing it will have to think about that if they decide to try any funny business.”
“How many men we goin’ up against?” Ross asked.
“A good question. I’d imagine twenty to thirty. We’ll be outnumbered, but we’ll have the surprise on them, if things go as I plan. Like my old commander, Nathan B. Forrest, used to say, ‘Put the skeer into ’em, git ’em runnin’, and pile it on.’ ”
Carson jumped in, “And that’s what we’re gonna do, by gum. Where do you want me, Marty?”
“You’ll ride with Johnny and his men. You know where any surviving outlaws may run to, in case something happens to me.”
“Heck, I wanted to go with you.”
“Orders, Carson. You wouldn’t disobey me in front of the others, would you?”
“Of course not, Marty. I’ll go where you think I can do the most good.”
“That’s the spirit. Johnny, Carson knows my entire plan and has ridden with me on the backside of the mountains. He knows the location of the ranch, the outlaws’ last ambush site, and the trails to get there. Use him to your best advantage.”
“What about me?” Squint asked.
“I wanted you to drive the wagon carrying the Gatling gun. It’ll likely draw a lot of fire from the outlaws, so we’ll make you another iron box like we did for the stage.”
“I’m yur man, Marty. I’ll enjoy givin’ some payback fer my leg and shoulder.”
“What about us?” Ruud asked next.
“Yeah,” Ross echoed. “We don’t wanna git left outa the fun.”
“I thought you both wanted to avoid any gunplay?”
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