He was too friendly and good-natured to be what some of the stories said about him. Maybe Lupe just wanted to believe the best of his friend. He did know one thing about Ira, and that was if they were caught in a situation that pitted them against a couple of armed gunmen, Ira was the man he’d want with him. That speculation about Ira losing his nerve was wrong. Ira was the bravest man he knew.
From their hunts, he knew Ira was a crack shot, and he was as fast and accurate with his pistol as he was with a carbine. He was everything the stories said about him.
To the east, Rafe McGinty was following a different trail. He was backtracking the route he and Virgil had taken to Bensonville. He was moving along at a smooth pace. Rafe wondered if his brother Virgil was going to be mad when he woke up and found out that Rafe had gone after Harvey without him.
He figured Virgil would be proud of him when he and Harvey caught up with the darkie and that woman. Once they caught them, Rafe was prepared to do whatever it took to not only get their horses back, but also teach that boy a lesson for going against them.
He had a conscience regarding the brother’s intentions towards Uriah. To Virgil, it was all about the brothers and Uriah was less than human and had no rights.
Rafe didn’t really share his brother’s feelings, but he managed to put on a good front.
Rafe was steady on his course as he rode. The horse he brought for Harvey followed behind as he made his way through the countryside. It would take him all day to get to the cabin.
After he picked up Harvey, he would follow the trail to the west. He was hoping that Harvey had followed Virgil’s instructions and was waiting for him right there at the cabin.
Ira and Lupe would have been at the cabin first, with the exception of what they found along the tracks.
When they topped a ridge along the rails, Ira spotted birds circling up ahead. Circling birds usually meant a dead body.
The spot was right near a water tower the railroad had built. There they found the bodies of the two soldiers that were killed during the train robbery.
As Ira approached them, he slowed the gray to a walk and then quickly dismounted, motioning for Lupe to follow suit.
Ira noticed the tracks of the robbers and those of Uriah and Millicent. He’d stopped short to insure that he didn’t mess up the tracks near the dead cavalrymen.
“We need to hold back here and look at these tracks,” Ira urged Lupe.
“I got maybe ten people or more. A lot of footprints back here and they’re all headed off into the woods.” Lupe said, looking towards Ira.
“I got another two over this way. They hid back here in the brush then walked south along the tracks.”
“Several riders were here near these two dead cavalrymen.”
“You figuring the train was robbed here?” Lupe asked.
“Sure looks like it, buddy,” Ira said, looking at the tracks.
Ira rubbed his chin for a few minutes and then looked off into the woods. He followed the footprints to a stand of trees and then turned to Lupe.
“You’re going to have to go back to town and get a search party together.”
Lupe nodded; he knew that Ira was right. According to the tracks, there were at least 10 people lost in those woods that surely needed some help finding their way out. These woods were known to swallow up an experienced woodsman much less a few tenderfoots.
Lupe mounted his horse and turned towards Ira.
“What are you going to do?”
“I’m going to follow these two tracks and see where they lead.”
“You think that’s the folks that shot that man in town,” Lupe asked.
“Yep, that seems likely to me,” Ira said, looking back towards the tracks of the train robbers.
“I’d like to follow these train robbers, but I’d bet they’re long gone by now.”
“I would be,” Lupe responded.
Ira laughed and then said, “You do need to be. The only thing standing between someone looking for these folks and no one looking for them is the time it takes you to get back with a search party.”
Lupe smiled and turned his horse back towards town.
“I’ll see you when I see you. Be careful, my friend.”
“I will, you do the same,” Ira said as he waved.
Lupe rode back towards town while Ira took a small folding trail shovel off the gray and began to bury the two soldiers.
“You boys ran into some bad hombres, didn’t ya!” he said as he began digging. After he was through, he placed a makeshift cross made from two tree limbs and hung one of the soldier’s hats on it.
“Rest in peace, boys. If I get a chance I’ll round up the fellows that did this to you and give them what for.”
Ira mounted his horse and continued south, looking back only once at the spot the train robbers had entered the brush, and he thought, “Sometimes you don’t have a choice on which way to go.”
Ira knew the robbers had killed the soldiers, and he wanted to chase them down, but right now he also had a feeling that the McGinty brothers would kill the man they were after if he didn’t interfere. There was only one choice right now, and that was to contend with the living. After this was done, and if the weather held out, he’d track down the robbers and see what he could do.
He knew that he and Lupe couldn’t risk entering the woods to search for the passengers alone. As much as he disliked the idea of riding on, he left the spot behind him.
He knew Lupe would come back with a search party and the equipment they’d need to find as many of those folks as possible. Some of them might be lucky. If they stuck together and had good heads on their shoulders, a few of them might survive.
Chapter 8
On Kingman’s Ridge
The robbers were on Uriah’s mind too, but not because he wanted them to be. While resuming their trip to the nearest railhead Uriah and Millicent came across a well-traveled trail. They began to follow it, not realizing that they were riding right behind the very gang that left them stranded in the wilderness.
Thinking that it would be days before anyone started looking for them, the gang members were taking their time and riding south towards Richmond.
The turn towards Richmond was the direction that Uriah took as well. With Millicent’s safety on his mind he figured that if he got her there, he could get her on the next southbound train and back on her way to her new life. For some reason Uriah wasn’t worried about the McGinty brothers. He seemed to think that the few miles between them and the problems from Millicent’s bullet in Virgil’s shoulder would keep them busy until he and Millicent were long gone.
He noticed the tracks on the trail in front of them and decided to slow their travel. If it was the gang that was ahead of them, he didn’t want to run into them again anytime soon. This actually set in motion the next phase of their story.
Uriah had no idea that Rafe had already gotten mounts and was within a couple of hours of picking up Harvey and starting on their trail.
To the south, a cavalry patrol was following the railroad tracks. It was a ten-man patrol, led by a green spit and polish lieutenant and a noticeably seasoned sergeant. The sergeant rode a horse as if he was born on one instead of taking it up as his profession. He was there to steady the newly assigned officer’s hand until he became more experienced in the field. It was a task he dealt with diplomatically and with caution while he was striving to break the new officer in correctly.
The cavalry patrol was no more than 15 miles south of Kingman’s Ridge when Rafe arrived to meet with his brother Harvey.
Back in Bensonville, Virgil was regaining consciousness, and although he was groggy and filled with pain, he was returning to his grumpy old self.
As he got his bearings, he began to question the doctor as to the whereabouts of his brother Rafe.
“I heard he lit out to go find your other brother as soon as he knew you’d be okay.”
Virgil cursed. “That boy never could follow my
instructions. I told him to wait here for me.”
“He left yesterday with an extra horse and saddle,” the doctor told Virgil. Then he delivered the rest of his news when he told Virgil that the marshal also left, several hours later.
The doctor, having heard Virgil’s earlier concern for his brother running across the marshal, hoped that the news would keep Virgil stationary so he could heal. Unfortunately, it had the complete opposite effect on him. Virgil wasn’t afraid of the marshal; his remark to Rafe about the marshal was to keep Rafe from getting into a fray with Ira Beckam that Rafe couldn’t handle.
“You think the marshal went after my brother,” Virgil questioned.
“I don’t know,” the doctor said, “Marshal Beckam is a private man, he doesn’t discuss his plans with anyone.”
Virgil started to get up and the doctor cautioned him.
“You could use another day’s rest on that shoulder.”
“Not with Ira Beckam after my brother,” Virgil ranted.
The doctor, like several of the townspeople, wondered about Ira’s past, and the gunman’s remark sparked his interest, but not enough to question the grumpy man.
Virgil sunk back into the bed in the doctor’s office and lay there for a few more minutes. He knew what he wanted to do but wasn’t sure whether he was able. He was trying to get his mind to overcome the shoulder pain the recent gunshot and surgery provided to him.
While Virgil was contemplating what he needed to do, Lupe raced into town and immediately began putting together a search party for the train passengers.
The commotion that Lupe stirred up made Virgil sit up and take notice. The doctor was one of the first people that Lupe approached.
Lupe thought the passengers might need medical attention and planned to take the doctor out to the spot where everyone would be searching.
As Virgil overheard Lupe’s plea to the doctor, he made up his mind. He’d go look for his brother and soon. Lupe told the doctor that Marshal Beckam had left the search site and was following some tracks to the south towards Kingman’s Ridge.
The marshal’s direction of travel put him on a direct path to Rafe and Harvey. Virgil immediately assumed that no good could come out of a confrontation between his two brothers and Marshal Beckam. He’d heard rumors about Ira Beckam, and he knew that neither Rafe nor Harvey would be much of a match for the tricky marshal.
It didn’t take long before Lupe gathered up ten volunteers to go and search for the passengers. The thick wooded area had swallowed up many a traveler, and since the town’s people lived in the area, they were well aware of the danger.
After Lupe left with the search party and the doctor, Virgil slipped his shirt on over his good arm and left his other arm in the sling the doctor had bandaged. He walked down to the café and got some coffee and a meal.
Miss Sullivan served up a plate for him and offered him some kind conversation when she noticed that he’d been hurt.
She was curious about him and tried to keep her concern over Ira’s trip to follow Virgil’s brother a secret. She hoped to get some information on what kind of men Ira was following.
“Did you get shot?” she questioned.
“Yes, ma’am, I did.”
“Well, don’t you worry, we’ve got a real good doctor in this town and if he sewed you up, you’re going to be just fine.”
Although Miss Sullivan’s words were comforting, it wasn’t his wound that was on his mind. What he really wanted was information on what else was happening.
“What was all that commotion I heard earlier?”
“Oh,” she began, “There was a train robbery down the tracks, some cavalrymen were killed, and they think the passengers were forced off into the woods”
“Won’t they just come out on their own?” he questioned.
“Not likely,” she answered, “Those woods are real thick and filled with bears and mountain lions. If we don’t send some hunters in there after them, it’s likely they’ll become game.”
The statement made Virgil’s face pucker. Though he could sympathize with the traveler’s plight, he had to prod her for more information.
“I heard the marshal went on somewhere else.”
“That’s right,” Miss Sullivan replied. She seemed to puff up with pride when she began to talk about Ira Beckam. Her pride caused her to forget all about her previous plans to keep Ira’s rambling from the stranger.
“Ira, our marshal, is following some other tracks over towards Kingman’s Ridge. He seems to think some of the passengers made it that way, and they might be in danger.”
Virgil nodded and listened. He was wondering what Rafe would do. If Rafe found the two that stole their horses, he’d likely shoot them. If the marshal wasn’t far behind them, Rafe and Harvey would be in big trouble. He knew he had to go after them, no matter what his shoulder felt like.
Though Miss Sullivan tried to question Virgil about his brothers, he avoided her questions and finished his meal as quickly as he could.
After he finished eating, Virgil walked down to the livery and found his horse and saddle waiting for him. Because his horse had been at the livery since he and Rafe rode in, his mount was fresh and ready to travel. One of the older townsmen had opened the livery for Lupe and was watching after it for him.
He struggled to saddle the horse with his good arm. After getting it ready, he pulled himself up into the saddle and rode down towards the general store. He had just enough money left to buy a few days’ supplies and an old Colt revolver. He’d need the gun if he were going to save his brothers from the hands of the meddlesome marshal. He slid the Colt in and out of his holster, admiring the fit while he thought about the possibility of him standing toe to toe with Marshal Beckam.
Virgil fancied himself as a gunman. Though he believed that his brothers were not up to taking on the marshal, he felt that he was.
As soon as he took care of the marshal, he still wanted a chance at the two that shot him. His painful shoulder was a constant reminder of his anger that just wouldn’t let go.
With his supplies loaded, Virgil rode out towards Kingman’s Ridge unsure of what he would find. It seemed like everyone had a head start on him, and Virgil really didn’t feel like catching up. His shoulder hurt, and though he was thankful it wasn’t his gun hand, he was still in considerable pain. Whatever the doctor had used to numb him was still present in his system.
Virgil was convinced he’d feel better when the opium concoction the doctor drugged him with wore off. He felt like he was in a fog and unable to think clearly. While he thought about his condition, he wondered about what Rafe was doing.
He’d told him to wait until he recovered before taking out after Harvey. He couldn’t see any good that could come from Rafe racing off to get into trouble. He’d bailed his two younger brothers out of trouble most of their lives. It didn’t matter what the obstacle in front of him, they were his kin, and he’d stand up for them.
Miss Sullivan watched him ride out of town and wondered if she’d done the wrong thing by telling the stranger what Lupe told her. She thought Virgil would stay there in town waiting for Ira to bring the men back and not go chasing after them. When she realized he was going after his brothers, it only added to her concern for Ira.
As Virgil was hitting the trail, Rafe McGinty was arriving at the cabin on Kingman’s Ridge. Harvey heard the horses and looked out cautiously. He decided the smartest thing would be to hide until he knew who his company was. He was unarmed and wasn’t sure who was riding in. He was hoping it was Rafe and Virgil, but it was better to be cautious. Considering what they were about to do to Uriah, they were well aware of what kind of people were out there roaming the countryside.
Harvey feared he could run into someone that was more like him than he wanted to admit.
When Rafe rode up and Harvey realized it was his brother with another horse in tow, he stepped out from his cover.
“Hey, big brother,” Harvey smiled, “I was b
eginning to worry about you.” Rafe rode up with a smile and stepped down right away.
“You’ll be glad to know that the doctor in Bensonville took the bullet out of Virgil and he’s resting there until we get back.”
“That’s good news.” Harvey replied.
“I brought you some food, and after we eat we need to get on the trail of that gal and the darkie that shot Virgil.”
“You sure that’s what Virgil wants us to do?” Harvey questioned.
“Virgil ain’t here!” Rafe shouted, “You know good and well that’s what he’d want us to do.”
“What are we going to do when we catch them?” Harvey questioned.
“You know what we’re going to do. They shot our brother and stole our horses.”
“But we were going to beat that fella ourselves,” Harvey scoffed.
“You never mind that. It doesn’t make any difference what we were doing. That woman and the darkie shot our brother and might have killed him. I think we ought to string up that boy.”
Harvey knew better than to argue with Rafe or Virgil. As the youngest McGinty brother, they overshadowed him. He had become a follower to whoever was in charge at the time.
Today, Rafe was calling the shots. He’d do what Rafe wanted and hope it was best for the three of them.
Harvey had a queasy feeling in his stomach that he hoped was just hunger and not something else.
They settled in to the cabin long enough to get some food and talk over their plans before getting ready to move on.
After eating, they packed up Harvey’s horse and both of them set out to follow Uriah and Millicent. They were barely out of earshot when Ira Beckam arrived at the cabin.
Ira rode in cautiously and called out,
“Anyone in the cabin? This is Marshal Beckam from Bensonville. Is anyone in the cabin?”
Ira’s hand caressed the butt of the Colt strapped to his left side and his fingertips slowly moved over the worn wooden handle of his Peacemaker.
The Delivery Page 8