Mountain Woman Snake River Blizzard

by Johnny Fowler

  “I have no idea,” Jason said. “When we open the safe to put money inside or take it out for payroll, there are always two of us. I doubt any of the miners know. Maybe a few of the supervisors, Highsmith, and the four that works for him.”

  Chief Kincaid had joined them and listened to Defee’s report.

  “I talked to one of the supervisors about the hammers,” Kincaid said. “He went to check. They were taken from a tool shed near the mine entrance. Highsmith lives in the house behind this office. He was single.”

  “What is the name of the night watchmen working both nights?” she asked.

  Kincaid glanced at a notebook he had in his hand. “Two were on duty. A man named Alejandro Valdez was on duty both nights.” He looked up and met Kate’s eyes. “Robert Engledow on Sunday night.”

  Kate did a good job hiding her expression.

  “I’ll send men to bring Valdez and Engledow in for questioning,” Chief Kincaid said. He went to the police officer who had brought Man and Kate to the mine and talked to him for a minute. The police officer went outside and rode away.

  Kate went over Highsmith’s office, but found nothing of importance. She did find a metal rod with a cloth around one end. It appeared they’d heated it over the fire in a lamp.

  She turned to Man. “I wonder if they put something in his mouth when they were burning him, or did they let him scream. If so, why wasn’t he heard by the night watchmen?” She answered her own question. “Unless they did it after the last shift went home.”

  “Unless you have something else you need to look at,” Man said, “are you ready to get back to town? We need to see if they located Valdez and Engledow, and brought them in for questioning.”

  She shook her head.

  They rode back to town with Chief Kincaid. As they rode, he reported his men had made several trips down the road where Lucille lived and there was no sign of Engledow.

  Dunlap was waiting when they entered the police station. “There was nobody at home at Valdez or Engledow’s home. I left men at both places with orders to bring them in for questioning.”

  “I wonder if they decided it would be safer if they found a new place to hang their hats,” Kate said. “If they’re guilty of the robbery and murder, they probably hit the trail.”

  “I’ll put out a notice to all the surrounding police stations and sheriff’s offices,” Chief Kincaid said.

  “We’ll notify Chief Marshal Meek,” Man added. “We’ll be at home if anything breaks. Send somebody to get us. We’ll have everything ready if we need to hit the trail, should they be spotted.”

  ***

  Alejandro Valdez and Robert Engledow stood looking down at the body of Wilburn Highsmith. “You were too damn quick with that knife,” Al said.

  “He didn’t have the combination to the big safe,” Bob countered. “He gave up the combination to the little safe before we asked. I never dreamed the head accountant for the mine didn’t know how to open his safe. I guess the owners didn’t trust him.”

  “We had better get a move on,” Al said. “I see pink in the east. It’ll soon be daylight and people will be coming by. We could beat on that big safe until next week at this time and never get it open.”

  “I know, but I spent months setting this up,” Bob said. “I know there’s enough money in that safe to last us the rest of our lives. I intended for this to be my last job and I was going where it’s warm the year around and settle down.”

  “I would have blown it like I always do on fast women and good booze,” Al put in.

  The two men went to their horses and rode to where Al had hid his wagon. “Which way are we going?” Al asked.

  “South,” Engledow said. “Winter is coming and I want to go where it’s warmer.”

  “You’re the boss,” Alejandro said.

  “It’s time to change our names again,” Engledow said. “I’ve already decided on Robert White.”

  Al thought for a moment, and then chuckled. “Bob White, I like it. Where did you come up with Engledow? I never asked before.”

  “He was a lawyer in the town where I grew up. I never liked him, so I thought I would give him a bad name.”

  “You’ve certainly done that with what you did to that woman that you referred to as your wife and that Shobert woman that lives down the road from you. And you added to it tonight torturing and murdering Highsmith.”

  Engledow, now White, made no comment.

  “What happened to cause you to kill her?” Al asked.

  “We got in a fight and I lost my temper and hit her too hard.”

  “So you tossed her body off the cliff to hide the marks on her.”

  “Of course. And it worked. However, those damn marshals are probing into it and accused me of raping Lucille. They’re stirring too much. That’s why I insisted we went ahead tonight.”

  “Yeah,” Al said. “It’s time we moved on even if we didn’t get what we wanted.”

  “Have you come up with your new name,” Bob asked. “I need to start using it so it’ll come naturally. I hope it’s better than Alejandro Valdez is. I had to work on remembering that one for a month. How did you come up with it?”

  “I met a woman and she said she went for hot Spanish men.”

  Bob laughed. “You’re about as much Spanish as me. Did she buy it?”

  “For a while, but then we were here and it was too late to change my name. I knew we were going to move out tonight, and like you, I came up with a new name. Alexander Clay. I want to keep my first name like you, so you can still call me Al.”

  “Where are we headed?” Al asked.

  “I have no place in mind, just a long way south of here. “I know those two marshals will be on our trail.”

  “So why don’t we wait for them and end it so we won’t have to look over our shoulder?”

  “That’s a thought,” Bob said. “From what I hear both of them are fast and shoot straight. We would have to drop them on the first volley.”

  Al nodded in agreement. “If we picked the right place and knew they were behind us, we could knock them off before they knew what hit them.”

  Chapter 4

  Man and Kate rode to where Dan and Roy were cutting poles for the shed and walkway to the barn. They stepped down and the two boys came to meet them. “Did you see anything of Engledow over the weekend?” Kate asked.

  “No, ma’am,” Roy replied. “But we build a new heavy door for the cabin and put a board across the inside. Without a battering ram, nobody can get in. We drilled a hole so mom could peek outside if somebody knocked.”

  “That was smart,” Kate said.

  “We should have thought of that long before now, but we didn’t know what Engledow was doing. She kept it from us.”

  “That would be embarrassing to discuss with her sons,” Kate added.

  “There was a robbery at Gem Mine and a man was murdered,” Man said. “Engledow is the night watchman at the mine. He could have been on duty at the time of the robbery and we want to talk with him. If you see him, get word to us as fast as possible. The police are watching his home and will bring him in should he come back.”

  “We thought you should know,” Kate said. “Be very cautious if you see him.”

  The two boys looked at each other, and then Roy said, “We’re worried about Mom being at home alone.”

  “I don’t think she’s in danger,” Kate said. “With the policeman watching for Engledow, with the new door and board across it, she’ll be safe if she doesn’t open the door.”

  They left the two boys at work and went home. Kate started going through their packs and replacing needed items. The packsaddles for the mules would be ready should they need to leave in a hurry.

  Man started digging holes for the poles for the shed and walkway.

  At noon, Kate came
out and waved at Man. “Signal the boys it’s time to eat.”

  He went out where they could see him and waved his hat. Roy returned the gesture and the two boys jogged to the house. Man was busy at the well washing his hands and face. He tossed the soap to Dan, dried his hands, and handed the towel to Roy.

  “Kate has food on the table, come in when you finish.”

  As they ate, Roy asked, “Who was murdered at the mine?”

  “A man named Highsmith,” Man replied. “He was the accountant and in charge of making payroll. However, the robbers didn’t get in the big safe. Highsmith didn’t know the combination. They only got some petty cash.”

  “If it was Engledow,” Kate said, “he’s a very brutal man. Highsmith was tortured before he was murdered.”

  “He wanted the combination to the safe?” Roy asked.

  “That’s the way we read it,” Man said.

  At mid-afternoon, Kate came out to talk with Man. “I’m going to ride into town and check with the telegraph office and Chief Kincaid. I need a few things from the store, as well.”

  Man stopped and wiped his face with a bandana he had in his back pocket. It was unseasonably warm for this time of year.

  “That’s a good idea. I hope to be ready to put the poles in the ground soon. This weather can’t hold much longer. We should already have a snow cover by this time of the year.”

  “I know,” Kate said. “I’ll be back before quitting time and put something hot on the table for you. I know you’ll need it after all the holes you’ve dug today.”

  She took one of the mules and loped away. Man watched, admiring how gracefully she rode, her auburn hair blowing behind her. When she disappeared from sight, he went back to work.”

  Kate rode slowly down North First Street enjoying the sights and speaking to people. Dunlap, the assistant police chief, saw her and stepped out on the street. Kate turned Red Bird toward him and waited until he was close enough to speak.

  “Good morning Deputy Marshal Kate. As you requested, we’ve been watching the home of Lucille Shobert and looking for Bob Engledow. She’s fine. Chief Kincaid has notified every law enforcement office in the area. So far there have been no sightings of Engledow or Alejandro Valdez.”

  “Thanks,” she replied with a genuine smile. “If Bob Engledow was involved in the robbery and murder, I expect he’s gone. We’ll have to wait until we get a lead before we can do anything. He may be headed in any direction, including north into Canada.”

  “How is that husband of yours doing today?” Dunlap asked.

  “He’s busy digging holes for a shed and walkway to the barn. There was no place to put our winter firewood to keep it from being covered with snow and he wanted a covered way to get from the house to the barn. Roy and Dan Shobert are cutting the poles. I expect by the time I get home they’ll be putting them in place. We hope to finish before the first big snowfall.”

  “You had better hurry, then. If the signs are right, it’s going to be a bad winter. Mother Nature is giving us more time to prepare. I’ve been busy cutting extra fire wood.”

  “Then I’d better get moving so I can get home and help. I came in for supplies and to check if there were any telegrams from Chief Meek.”

  She gave him a wave and turned Red Bird back on the street. Her next stop was the telegraph office. There were no wires. She composed a short report and handed it to the agent. “If anything urgent comes in for us, please let a policeman know.”

  “Will do, Deputy Marshal Kate. Since I send all of the telegrams, I know what you’re waiting for. I’ll get word to you one way or the other. I didn’t know Highsmith that well, but he came in to send wires. Being tortured that way was awful, and for nothing. I mean, since he didn’t know the combination to the safe.”

  Kate bid him goodbye and went to the store for supplies. The merchant helped carry her purchases out to the mule and helped load them. “Thank you,” she said. “I talked to Dunlap and he said all the signs pointed to a really bad winter. Should we get snowed in, I wanted to have a good supply of food.”

  “I hear the Indians are saying that,” the storeowner said. “They have a lot of signs they use to predict the weather and I’ve learned to listen to them. I ordered extra merchandise to be on the safe side. There have been times the wagons that bring in supplies couldn’t get here.”

  Kate mounted Red Bird and turned toward home. She noticed a man watching her and when she was closer, he stepped out and held up his hand.

  “Deputy Marshal Kate,” he said. “I know who you are, of course. Everybody in Coeur d’Alene knows about you and your marshal husband. It’s no secret anymore about Bob Engledow and Al Valdez being suspects in the murder of Highsmith. My name is Clifton Landers, but most call me Cliff.”

  Kate waited. She knew Cliff had something he wanted to say.

  “What I’m trying to put into words,” he stammered. “I knew Lucille and her husband. Lucille and my wife were friends. I lost her about the same time Lucille lost her husband.”

  He paused, searching for what to say.

  Kate saw his dilemma and helped him out. “You wonder if she would welcome you calling on her.”

  A huge smile crossed his face as he nodded his head.

  “That I don’t know,” Kate said. “But, I suggest that you take some candy or flowers and knock on her door and you could find out. Maybe invite her out to something. While the weather is pretty, you could have a picnic or take her to eat. I know she has been cooped up in her cabin and has had a rough time of it.”

  “I know she has,” Cliff said.

  “I can’t speak for her, of course,” Kate added. “But, if I were you, I would give it a try. If you don’t, you’ll never know.”

  “Thank you,” he said.

  “I finished my shopping and I’m on the way home. I’ll drop by and see her. I need to do that, anyway. And, if you want, I’ll mention that you asked about her. I can casually mention that you would like to see her. That way, when you knock on her door, it won’t be a surprise. She’s very cautious now, so if she knows to expect you, she’ll be more prepared.”

  “Thank you,” Cliff said. “Tell her I’ll be by about six this afternoon. As soon as I close my store.”

  “You own a store?”

  He pointed over his shoulder. “Landers Mercantile.”

  Kate nodded. “I’ll tell her to expect you. It was nice meeting you, Cliff Landers.”

  She smiled as she rode toward Lucille’s home. Cliff seemed like a nice man and maybe he was what Lucille needed.

  She slowed Red Bird as she approached the home of Bob Engledow. There didn’t appear to be anybody at home, but she decided to check. She rode to the barn, tied Red Bird and the mule to the fence, and went into the barn. It was empty. She checked the stall and the manure was older. There wasn’t a horse here last night.

  Kate pulled her Walker Colt, slipped another bullet into it, and returned it to her holster. She walked to the back door of the house, put her ear to it, and listened for a full minute. There were no sounds from inside.

  She pulled her pistol and tried the door. It was open as expected. Her eyes darted around the dark room, but saw nothing. Cautiously, she went inside and left the door open for light.

  She was in a covered porch that was more of a junk room than porch. A door to the house was on the other side and she made her way to it and listened again. No sounds came from the main part of the house. She opened the door and stepped in quickly. A kitchen table with piles of dirty dishes greeted her.

  The room was empty, so she went on through an opening into a parlor with a huge fireplace and chairs. She knelt, felt the ashes, and they were cold.

  There was another door. She went to it, peeked inside, and saw the bedroom. It was empty, as well. A lamp was on a table and she needed light to see. She lit it and held it up. The
bedroom was void of clothing. It appeared Bob had fled and took his clothes. She made a quick search, but found nothing.

  She carried the lamp and went back through the house. It was obvious somebody had taken everything but the furniture. Bob had fled and was in a wagon. He couldn’t carry everything on a horse. That information could be useful.

  She blew the lamp out, put it on the kitchen table, and went out the way she came in. Red Bird was waiting, watching her.

  Since Bob had apparently taken a wagon, she went back to the barn and looked for tracks. There was none. She’d have to find out where the wagon had come from.

  She led Red Bird, went to the front of the house, and examined the dirt. There they were, wagon tracks. Somebody had driven a wagon close to the front door.

  Alejandro Valdez, the other night watchman, came to mind. Al had supplied the wagon and they’d left together, she speculated.

  She mounted Red Bird and rode on to where Lucille lived. Red Bird stopped at the yard fence and Kate shouted, “Lucille, it’s me, Kate.”

  The door opened and Lucille came out on the porch with a smile on her face. “Hello, and welcome,” she said.

  Kate followed her inside and noticed the heavy door the boys had put on the cabin. A pole was standing beside the door and she saw two metal fasteners on either side of the door. From their shape, the pole could be placed in them to prevent anybody from pushing the door open. There was a hole in the door so she could see outside. It was covered with a piece of leather that could be moved to the side to look out.

  She nodded with a gesture. “Nice job. I know you feel more secure how.”

  “Yes. I wish I had told the boys earlier, but I was afraid they would do something and get themselves hurt or killed. Bob always carried a pistol on his hip.”

  “Lucille,” Kate said. “I need to get on home. Your boys and Man are building a storage shed for us and I need to put food on the table for the working men. But, I wanted to drop by and check on you.”

  “Thank you,” Lucille said, “for everything you’ve done for us.”

  “Just doing my job and being neighborly,” Kate said. “Have you heard or seen anything of Engledow the past couple of days?”