by Alan David
‘How you feeling?’ he asked her gently. ‘You got over the fright yet?’
‘Yes, thank you,’ she replied. ‘But I can’t get it out of my mind. It was so frightening.’
‘That’s the way it goes. But don’t worry about it. After a couple of days it’ll wear off and you’ll be able to live with it.’ He eyed her speculatively then, noting her good figure and the warmth and friendship showing in her eyes. If she had never been taken by a man then she would be a prize worth capturing, and his pulses raced at the thought. He glanced at Asa, found the older man’s gaze bent upon him, and changed his line of thought. But Asa was worried by the knowledge that someone might be passing information to the badmen and his eyes were not focused upon Manning.
‘I think we could work out who might be back of it,’ he said heavily. ‘Let’s take it step by step, huh? Who knows about the shipments we make before they go out, huh?’
‘There’s about half a dozen of us,’ Manning cut in. ‘Save your breath, Asa, because I’ve already been along that track myself. Sure you can make out a case against most of us in the know, but that money or bullion is brought out of the bank in a wagon and loaded in plain view of anyone who cares to stand at the depot and watch.’
‘I know that, but I don’t think that’s the way it’s being handled. There wouldn’t be time for anyone to get word out to the badmen once the gold is put aboard. The gangs have been striking miles away. Even if the informer had the telegraph at his disposal he couldn’t get word out quick enough.’
‘So you stick with your figuring that all the robbers in our area have been nothing more than lucky, huh?’
‘Hell, I don’t know,’ Asa retorted. ‘And that’s what is so galling about the whole blamed thing.’
Netta, listening to their words, turned cold as she considered her suspicions of Willard, and she gazed at Manning’s hard face and wondered what would happen if she blurted out her thoughts. The fear she had of Willard would be removed, she knew, but the shocking knowledge that their son might be responsible for the robberies would ruin the lives of Uncle Asa and Aunt Polly. She suppressed a sigh as she considered, but her lips were sealed. Willard had a lot of trouble to come home to roost on his shoulders, but she hoped he would escape it, if only for the sake of her aunt and uncle.
Aunt Polly appeared, carrying a tray, and set a large meal before Manning, standing beside his chair as he picked up knife and fork and set to with gusto.
‘Have I ever told you that you’re the best cook in the world, Aunt Polly?’ he demanded.
‘Go on with you, son,’ she countered, chuckling and placing a small hand upon his powerful shoulder. ‘I’ll bet there are half a dozen women around this country who you say that to. I’ve never met a charmer like you. It’s no wonder you turn the head of every poor girl who meets you.’
Manning glanced at Netta, wondering if she held any favourable opinions of him, and saw that her blue eyes were gleaming. He almost choked on a mouthful of food as his throat constricted with emotion, and waves of passion swilled through him as his imagination put him alone in the same room with Netta. He swallowed a mouthful of food and promised himself an opportunity to find out exactly what she did feel towards him, but duty came first and he glanced at Asa, who was frowning and shaking his head.
‘So we can forget about an attack against end of track,’ Manning said, his voice jerking Asa out of his thoughts. ‘I was talking it over with Ike Mozee. With a couple of hundred men around the camp, all with a rifle within arm’s length, Yaro would be a fool to strike there. So we’ve got to tempt him into making a hit at some place where we’ll be ready for him. That’s my idea of the campaign we should wage.’
‘For instance?’ Asa prompted. ‘We’ve lost the chance of those supplies at Gadson Flats.’ He crashed his right fist into his left palm and uttered such a string of curses that Aunt Polly remonstrated at his language. ‘Why didn’t we think of this before, huh? That’s what we get paid for.’
‘Well we’ve thought of it now, and this war is only one day old. I don’t figure we’ve wasted too much time, and Yaro will be expecting us to go out with all the men we’ve got available to chase across country trying to catch him. Now put yourself in Yaro’s boots. He knows as much about railroads as we do. If you wanted to put S & W out of business and prevent them reaching Apache Pass, how would you go about it?’
‘You can’t lay track until the graders have done their job. I figure that’s where Yaro will hit us next.’
‘That’s how I see it,’ Manning said.
‘So what do you want to do?’ Asa’s eyes glittered, aware that if they guessed wrong they would lay themselves open to irreparable damage.
‘I want to have enough men around the graders to make certain they’ll survive any attack.’
‘That means drawing guards away from other places.’
Manning nodded, his face grim. ‘You’ve already agreed that we can’t do anything unless we catch Yaro red-handed, so we’ve got to make our guesses good. So tell me what you think. Where will Yaro strike next?’
‘I’d need to know the man better than I do,’ Asa hedged. ‘I can’t put myself into his mind and think like him without knowing him.’
‘Then we’re gonna lose this war.’ Manning reached out for a cup of coffee, and his dark eyes glittered as he peered over the rim.
‘We’re gonna need a train loaded with guards, ready to rush to any part of the area. I’ll command that.’ Asa’s tone rose as his mind flitted across the broad face of the problem. ‘I reckon you should pick ten good, tough men you can trust and stay out there with the graders, Chet. I can trust you to do what’s right.’
‘Nope.’ Manning shook his head. ‘I’ll put Jake Mullin in charge of the graders’ escort. Jake I can trust.’
‘And what are you gonna do?’
‘When I’ve finished this wonderful supper I’m going along the street to talk to some of my contacts.’
‘You ain’t using that as an excuse to get up to your old tricks, are you?’ Asa paused and glanced at an attentive Aunt Polly. ‘Why don’t you and Netta clear that table now Chet’s finished?’ he asked pointedly.
‘I ain’t finished yet.’ Manning pulled a plate of apple pie towards him and picked up a spoon. ‘I hope you’ve got a second helping of this, Aunt Polly,’ he said in an aside.
‘I got as much as you can eat, Chet,’ came the enthusiastic reply. ‘I like to see you eat good, son. Don’t let Asa bully you into doing something you don’t think is right. You’re a Railroader through and through, like your Pa before you, and you can’t ever do anything wrong — your instincts won’t let you.’
‘You said that to his Pa,’ Asa protested. ‘He couldn’t do nothing wrong in your eyes. But he went out one day and got dropped in his tracks because he wouldn’t take help along.’
‘And Ben Yaro was the man who led that gang, wasn’t he?’ Manning spoke sharply. He grinned, but there was no mirth in his expression. ‘Okay, Asa, you needn’t worry. I’m on the job all right, and even if it don’t look like I’m doing the right thing, you can bet that I am.’
‘I feel like I’ve had the hell beaten out of me,’ Asa said tightly. ‘I got the feeling that what we’ve got to do is go out there and keep everyone on their toes and be ready for a strike anywhere or we’re gonna take the biggest hiding of our lives. I’ve been a Railroader a lot longer than you have, Chet, and don’t you forget it.’
‘I know that, and I respect your opinion. But I am the chief troubleshooter and you got to let me handle this the way I think it oughta be done. I know you’ve got the power to overrule me if you think I’m wrong, but you made me follow my Pa’s footsteps and I think you should give me the chance to prove myself. If I do make a mess of it you can take over to pick up the pieces, bury me, and then do what you think is right.’
‘You got yourself a deal,’ Asa said quietly, and their gazes met and held. ‘I hope for your sake that you won’t call
any wrong shots, Chet. If you do it’ll mean the end of a promising career.’
‘It’ll be worse than that,’ Manning pointed out. ‘If I fail it’ll mean the end of my life.’
‘Now cut out that kind of talk,’ Aunt Polly said briskly, moving forward to collect the dirty dishes. ‘I won’t listen to such things in my parlour. Netta, please wash these dishes, will you? It ain’t fitten for you to hear such talk. Asa, would you go into your office for a few minutes? I’d like to talk to Chet alone.’
Asa looked surprised, but shrugged and grinned at Manning. He got up with a shake of the head.
‘It’s about time she chawed on somebody else’s ear,’ he said. ‘I’ll be in my office when she gets through with you, Chet.’
‘Mebbe you could have some whisky poured into a glass for me,’ Manning told him, smiling, and he sat motionless while Netta put the dishes on the tray and departed. Asa followed the girl, closing the door behind him. Then Manning looked up at Aunt Polly and his easy smile faded. ‘Now then, Aunt Polly, what you got sticking in your craw? I know by that look on your face that you ain’t in a real good mood, and I sure hope it ain’t me you’re mad at.’
‘I ain’t mad at anybody, Chet.’ She sighed heavily and sat down at the table beside him, reaching out a work-hardened hand and placing it upon his brawny forearm. ‘I’ve been like a Ma to you, ain’t I?’
‘That you surely have.’ He nodded firmly. ‘I can remember my own Ma just a little, but I figure, if she’d lived, she would have been just like you. But what’s this leading up to? You can’t fool me. There’s something you want.’
‘You’ve always been a part of my family, Chet, ever since you came to live with us after your Ma died and your Pa was away most of the time. You’ve been like a son to me.’ Aunt Polly’s narrowed brown eyes were bright as she regarded him. ‘But you and Willard never acted like brothers.’
‘Shucks! Me and Willard are like engine grease and water. We never could mix. We have different outlooks. What’s on your mind, Aunt Polly? You know you could slap my face and I’d keep right on smiling. Heck, if someone’s been upsetting you then just tell me and he won’t see the light of tomorrow’s sun.’
‘It ain’t nothing like that. Look, I know you’ve got a lot on your plate right now, and it’s gonna get worse before it gets better. But I’m real worried about Willard.’
‘Willard!’ Manning pulled a face. ‘How come you’re worried? He ain’t got a dangerous job. Asa sent him out to Broken Rail because it’s quiet there. He won’t come to no harm.’
‘He’s changed a lot over the past year, Chet, and that’s no mistake. I been watching him and he don’t seem like my son anymore.’
‘Maybe he’s in love with some pretty girl.’
‘Willard?’ She smiled sadly and shook her head. ‘No. Whatever is wrong with him, it ain’t a gal. Willard ain’t got no time for them.’
‘So what do you want me to do? I can’t talk to him. He hates the sight of me.’
‘That’s a strong word. I’d say he was jealous of you because you’re big and tough and can take care of yourself, and he ain’t that type at all. He can’t live up to his father’s reputation.’
‘If that is what’s wrong with him then he’s got my sympathy, Aunt Polly. I got just about all I can do to try and come anywhere near to my Pa’s reputation.’
‘That ain’t quite the same thing! You’re your father’s son, but Asa is sadly disappointed with Willard and he shows it.’
‘And are you disappointed?’ Manning spoke sharply. ‘What’s wrong with Willard? I don’t see any faults in him. He ain’t a gambling man, that’s for sure, and I don’t figure I’ve ever seen him the worse for drink. You just said he ain’t got no time for women, so what’s your beef?’
‘They say a mother knows her own son better than he can know himself, Chet, and I’m afraid for Willard. I got this feeling deep inside that he’s in trouble, and there’s nothing I can do to help him.’
‘Is there anything I can do? I’ll talk to Willard if you want me to, although I figure he’d tell me to mind my own business, and I can’t say as I’d blame him.’
‘You could look out for him if the war catches him up with the rest of you,’ she said. ‘Don’t let his father know I’ve asked you this, Chet, and God knows I shouldn’t be heaping more responsibility upon you. But you’ve got broad shoulders, and I figure that if anyone comes out of this alive, you will. I wouldn’t want you to put yourself in danger trying to follow my wishes, but if you do get the chance to help Willard you’d be doing me a great favour by making the effort.’
‘Okay,’ he said lightly, covering her hand with his own and squeezing gently. ‘You know you’ve only got to ask, Aunt Polly. I don’t reckon there’s anyone else in this wide world I’d listen to, but you’ve only got to whistle and I’ll turn cartwheels.’
She leaned forward, a sad little smile on her homely face, and kissed his cheek. His own gaze was hard as he studied her features, for he could tell by her expression that she was merely putting on an attitude for his benefit. Deep down she was worried about the outcome of the Railroad war. He and Asa were there right in the middle of it, and when the shooting started in earnest the slugs would be thickest about them. It was not the first war they had been in, but Aunt Polly knew it could be their last, and Manning was aware that it was harder on her than on either of them. She had to sit at home and wait.
Chapter Nine
Ben Yaro cursed his men as they manhandled the boxes of gold up the face of the cutting to where their horses and pack mules were waiting. He stood on the rocks and watched the train moving south, and a crooked grin stretched his cruel lips as he considered how fortunate he was to have someone like Willard Blaine working with him.
‘Make it quick,’ he rasped, glancing around. ‘Manning could have set a trap for us. We think we’ve got clean away with it now, and that’s just when he would strike.’
‘Manning should be dead by now, Boss,’ Trig Forbes growled, wiping sweat from his forehead.
‘I’ll believe that when I see his funeral. Get a move on. Have these boxes loaded up and take three men with you to the ranch.’
‘Only three?’ Forbes protested, his pale eyes glittering. ‘Hell, we could run into a posse, or something.’
‘Cut it out. I got a lot to do without you questioning every order I give. Do you figure you can run this business better than me?’
Forbes gazed into Yaro’s muddy-coloured eyes for a moment then shook his head slowly. ‘I ain’t that much of a fool, Ben, but it seems to me you’re getting more open about the way we’re handling business these days.’
‘Let me worry about the details. Soon as you get this gold to the ranch you bury it where I showed you. Then head for the herd. You got that? And make those jaspers with the cattle stay awake. I don’t want any slip-up now. I’ll be along soon as I get word from town about Manning.’
‘Okay. You’re the boss.’
‘Damn right I am! And don’t you forget it.’ Yaro shrugged his massive shoulders, his lips pinching. The knife scar around his throat seemed to leap convulsively as he swallowed, and his Adam’s apple rose and fell. ‘We’re gonna strike such a blow at S & W that they’ll wonder what the hell hit them. Now get going. You’re wasting good time. I want all this to go as scheduled.’
The gang finished loading the boxes of gold on to the waiting mules, then returned to their mounts. Forbes detailed three men to accompany him and set out, and the rest sat watching them make their way into a gully and disappear.
‘Right, follow me,’ Yaro rasped, and swung his powerful dun to face the distant Buffalo Junction. ‘Keep your eyes skinned. I don’t want to walk into any trouble. Brannigan, ride on ahead and scout for us.’
One of the men, a big redhead, spurred his horse and rode out. Yaro settled down to a steady lope, his eyes narrowed, his dark-skinned face set in harsh lines. They were three miles from town when Brannigan reappeared, acc
ompanied by another rider, and Yaro caught his breath for an instant, wondering if the news brought by the newcomer would be good or bad.
‘Boss, there’s hell to pay,’ the rider reported, his face pale and eyes showing shock.
‘Get to the point,’ Yaro rasped. ‘Is Manning dead?’
‘Nope, he ain’t, but Blint and Pearson are, and the word around town is that Thomas is in a bad way. That’s why I’m late. I hung on to find out about Thomas.’ He went on to explain about the gunfight. ‘I watched it all from the first move,’ he ended. ‘And I never saw anything like it. They had Manning cold but he beat them. I tell you, that troubleshooter ain’t human. It was as neat a gun trap as you could have wished for, but he didn’t collect a scratch. I’ve heard all the talk about him, but I didn’t know he was that good.’
Yaro sat his mount as if turned to stone, his jawline bulging as he clenched his teeth. His knuckles were white as he gripped his reins, and the dun cavorted a little. The gang were motionless, awaiting Yaro’s reaction, all shocked by the news, because their best men had gone to deal with Manning.
‘I had the feeling something like this would happen,’ Yaro said at length. ‘Them damn fools must have done something wrong. They tipped off their hands somehow. Manning is good. We all know that. But he can’t be that good.’
‘I’m telling you, Boss. I saw the whole thing, and I don’t figure our men made a mistake. It all went just like you said. But Manning is greased lightning.’
‘You’ve said enough,’ Yaro grated, and his dull eyes seemed to hood over. ‘Shuddup. Get in line with the rest. We got some riding to do. I’m not surprised by this. In fact I half expected it to happen. That’s why I also made other arrangements for finishing off Manning.’
‘That why you sent Creed and Penner into town under cover?’ Brannigan demanded.