Mountain Woman Snake River Blizzard

by Johnny Fowler

  Well before sundown, Man told the two boys to stop for the day. They looked at the sun and Roy asked, “Why are we calling it a day? We still have a couple of hours of daylight and we can finish this section.”

  “Don’t look,” Kate said, “but there are two men watching us from the side of that hill behind the barn. It’s Engledow and Valdez. We suspect they’re planning an ambush if they can get us separated. They don’t want to face both of us at the same time. Act naturally and go home. We’re going to follow them to their camp, get the police to circle them and take them into custody. Hopefully, without a fight.”

  Roy and Dan’s faces turned to astonishment, and then comprehension took control. Roy nodded. Both had to fight the urge to keep from looking at the side of the hill.

  “Should we go for the police?” Roy asked.

  Man considered it for a moment. “Until we know where the campsite is, the police wouldn't know where to meet us. The campsite could be miles from here. We’ll take care of it.”

  “Get your mule and go home,” Kate said. “Act naturally and don’t look at the side of the mountain or look back.”

  Man went into the barn to saddle Red Bird and Arabian so they would be ready to follow the two outlaws. Kate went inside to change into her working clothes. The boys followed him inside to get their mule.

  “Should something come up and we’re not here tomorrow morning,” Man said, “work on the walkway and shed. It’s possible we may not be home for a few days. They may get out of the trap and run. If so, we’ll be on their trail. When this is finished, start tearing down the old fence on the forty acres. Work on the north and west side first. Replace it like the other fence around the rest of the land. Take the wagon and get the supplies you need. I’ve made arrangement with D&D and they’ll let you have what you need.”

  “What about the south side?” Dan asked.

  “Take down the old fence, but hold off on building that side. I have plans. I’m going to fence off home sites.”

  “You can count on us, boss,” Roy said. “We’ll do it right.”

  Kate was watching from inside the house and when the two boys rode away on their mule, she hurried to the barn. She grabbed the binoculars, scrambled up the ladder, and took her place where she could see the location of the outlaws.

  There was no movement. She watched for another couple of minutes and climbed down. “They’re still watching, or at least I didn’t see them leave when the boys left. They may be hoping one of us will go into town alone. Since I know their location, I can watch from inside the house. Let’s go inside and pretend we’re calling it a day. Stop and wash up as you usually do. If they leave, hopefully, I’ll see them.”

  Man stopped at the well and took his time washing his face and arms. He was drying when she rushed out. “I saw Bob and Al moving back from their hiding place. I couldn’t see them leave, but I expect they called it a day, as well.”

  They hurried to the barn and mounted their horses. “I’m not taking the pack mule,” Man said. “Hopefully, we won’t need him and he might be in the way having to lead him as we follow them back to their camp.”

  Man and Kate wore their twin Walker Colts on their hips and had their Winchester rifles in the scabbards. Man picked up their trail from where their horses were tied. They were behind a thick stand of trees preventing them from being seen from the barn.

  Man took the point riding with his head down following the tracks and Kate rode close behind looking for any possible hiding place in case they were spotted and an ambush was waiting.

  She saw movement once and aimed her rife, but it was a doe and fawn. They went on for another mile until they were close to the Coeur d’Alene Lake when Kate whispered, “I see something in front of us.”

  Man pulled up and she pointed with her rifle. “I think it’s the canvas of a wagon.”

  Man circled and rode up a hill for a better look. Red Bird was close behind Arabian. They dismounted and crawled up to the crest of the hill for a better location to see the camp. She tossed him the binoculars.

  Man knelt behind a bush and adjusted the binoculars to look. “It’s them,” he said softly, and moved back down the slope where they couldn’t see him. Kate was close behind him.

  “You go for backup and I’ll stay here and keep watch,” Kate said.

  “No, I don’t want you out here alone,” Man decided. “We aren’t positive those two are working alone. Somebody could come in behind you and you would be caught in a crossfire.”

  “Then you stay and I’ll go for help,” she suggested.

  “The same deal. I don’t want you riding into town in the dark alone. I think we should both go. It may take a while for Chief Kincaid to round up enough policemen to surround their camp.”

  She nodded agreement.

  They mounted their horses and walked them slowly away as not to offer the sound of running horse’s hooves on rock that could carry down to the outlaw camp.

  As soon as they were far enough away, Man touched his spurs to the side of Arabian and he instantly began to lope. Red Bird was eager for the race and matched pace with Arabian.

  They found Captain Daughtry Dunlap seated in his office. He looked up and asked, “What can I help you with? From the expression on your faces, it’s important.”

  “We located the camp of Robert Engledow and Alejandro Valdez,” Man said. “Could you spare a few policemen to surround their camp? Hopefully, we can take them without anybody getting hurt.”

  “How many do you need?” Captain Dunlap asked.

  “I think we could cover all the escape routes with six,” Man said. “Kate and I’ll go in on the road and confront them. Your men could make an appearance on the other sides of their camp and hopefully that will be enough to cause them to toss their weapons.”

  “That’s wishful thinking,” Dunlap said. “But, it’s the right way to handle it. After what they did to Highsmith, this will end one of two ways. They’ll go down fighting or a drop through a trap door with a noose around their necks.”

  “We know,” Kate said, “but we have to give them a chance to surrender. Tell your men the instant they go for their weapons to open up.”

  Assistant Chief Dunlap gave a slight chuckle. “I’ll tell them, but that warning really isn’t necessary.”

  “How long before you can get men ready to ride?” Man asked.

  “Not long. I’ll send somebody to advise Chief Kincaid. I expect he’ll want to be in on this. He has been catching thunder from the executives at Gem Mine. I know he’s anxious for this to be over.”

  ***

  Bob was nervous. Something was wrong. “I have a bad feeling,” he said.

  “Me, too,” Al agreed. “I think we were tailed by those marshals. I kept looking back, but I didn’t see anybody. But, if they were back there, why haven’t they made their move?”

  “If they were tailing us and spotted our camp, they went into town for reinforcements,” Bob speculated. “That would be how they would handle it. That’s the way I would if I was them.”

  “What do we do?” Alejandro asked.

  “We get our rear in gear and get the hell out of here before the thundering herd of policemen are pointing rifles at us from behind every tree.”

  Al ran to bring the mules and hitched them to the wagon while Bob was busy loading their belongings. He tied Al’s horse to the back of the wagon and mounted his. Al jumped in the seat and followed Bob as he led the way to a main road to camouflage the tracks in with the other tracks.

  As soon as they were well away from the campsite, Bob veered close to the wagon. “I had a thought. It’ll be a long winter in a hideout somewhere. We have adequate supplies without having to go into a town. You know, having a woman along for company and to do the cooking would be nice.”

  “What are you saying?” Al asked.

 
; “We drop by and take Lucille with us. I know the two boys will be there, but they never carry a weapon and I doubt they know how to use one with any proficiency. We tie them up, load her and her things into the wagon, and we’ll be on our way. It wouldn’t take more than a few minutes. We can tie her in the back of the wagon and gag her until we’re out of hearing range.”

  “That’s kidnapping,” Al said.

  “So what,” Bob countered. “If we’re arrested we’ll have no chance after what we did to Highsmith. They can only hang us once. Think how nice it will be to have a woman in our beds this winter. Next spring when it’s time for us to go back to work, we take her to the nearest town and turn her loose.”

  “She’ll tell them we kidnapped her,” Al put in.

  “They’ll know that already, unless we kill the two boys and I’m not that low. Besides, if we killed them, she would fight us to the last breath. If she isn’t cooperative, I’ll tell her I’m going to kill them. That worked before with her.”

  Bob turned his horse toward the road where Lucille lived and Al followed in the wagon.

  Bob pulled his horse to a stop when he saw her home. “A buggy is parked in front. Who the hell could that be?” he said toward his horse’s head.

  “I don’t know. Do we go on?” Al asked.

  “Yeah, I want her,” Bob said as he pulled his pistol and checked the load.

  Al did the same.

  “Bring rope to tie them,” Bob ordered. They stepped down and went to the door with pistols drawn. “You take the boys, I’ll take whoever is in the buggy,” Bob said.

  He shoved the door open and lunged inside. Cliff Landers grabbed for his pistol, but Bob was too fast and brought the barrel of his pistol down on Cliff’s head. He slumped to the floor.

  Roy and Dan were on their feet, but Al had his pistol aimed at them. “Sit back down,” he demanded. They complied with the barked order.

  Bob went to Lucille. She hadn’t uttered a sound, but fear masked her face. He turned her around, tied her hands behind her back, stuffed a rag in her mouth, and secured it. Al was busy tying the two boys to a chair.

  “Take her bedding and clothes to the wagon,” Bob said. “We have room, take everything she has. Be sure to get her coat and all the blankets and quilts. It’ll be cold in Canada.”

  He turned to her. “Stand still and you won’t be hurt.” He quickly bound Cliff’s hands, helped Al load her things, and then pushed her out the door. He and Al lifted her into the back of the wagon and he tied her to the side so she couldn’t escape.

  “What about the buggy and horse?” Al asked. “Somebody may see it.”

  “So what,” Bob said. “By the time somebody comes by, we’ll be a long way from Coeur d’Alene headed south. I hope that comment causes the law to look to the north and they’ll notify the Canadian Mounted Police to look for us.”

  It was well after dark when Bob found a place for the night. A moon helped them stay on the road and they made good time until the light began to fade as the moon neared the western horizon. Bob climbed inside the wagon, untied Lucille’s hands, and took the gag from her mouth.

  “There’s nobody within miles of us,” he said. “So there’s no need to scream and call for help. Do what you’re told and I won’t hurt you. If you don’t, I’ll go back and put a bullet in your two sons’ heads. And, just for fun, I’ll blow your man friend’s private parts away as well as a couple of rounds through his knees and elbows.”

  Lucille’s face was pale in fright. She knew Bob’s mean nature. She had endured his abuse before. He pulled her to the rear of the wagon and she stepped down to the ground. Al came to the rear of the wagon and Bob said, “Get the sack with our food. I’m hungry. It’s so late, we can make do with some jerky and corn and Lucille can make a big breakfast when it’s daylight.”

  He pulled his bedding from the wagon and placed it under a tree. Al was watching him. Bob pointed to another tree. “She’s mine tonight.”

  Lucille cringed at his words, but said nothing. While she was getting them supper, she looked around. She had no idea which way she would run if she tried to flee. For now, her only option was to endure until she had a better plan of escape.

  When they finished eating, Bob stood and began to undress. He looked at Lucille. “You know what I want. Get naked and in the bed.” Al licked his lips as he watched.

  ***

  Man led the way with a dozen police officers behind him, including Captain Dunlap and Chief Kincaid. He pointed out the location of the camp, Dunlap took four police officers to the right, and Kincaid took four with him to the left. The two remaining police officers waited for Man to give the order.

  When he was sure the others had enough time to be in position, he and Kate walked toward the campsite with both Walker Colts drawn.

  When he rounded a boulder where he could see, he swore to himself. “They’re not here,” he shouted. Policemen came forward from all directions and met where Man stood. “Here’s where their wagon was parked,” he said.

  He began to circle the area and quickly picked up the tracks. “Bring my horse,” he said. “Mount up and I’ll try to track them.”

  It wasn’t long before the wagon tracks merged with others on the road. He pulled up and waited for the policemen to circle around him. “They must have spotted us tailing them from our home, or somehow they suspected what we were doing. Regardless, they’re gone now. Chief Kincaid, they’re on the run now. Please notify everybody to be on the lookout for a covered wagon with two men.”

  “I’ll get that out on the wire as soon as we get back,” Kincaid said. “I was hoping to end it here,” he added.

  “Thanks for your help,” Kate said. “We appreciate it.”

  “I’m still way behind in offering assistance,” Chief Kincaid said. “You did the right thing in asking us to back you. That was the smart way to handle it, but we have been in this business long enough to know not every operation is successful. We’ll get them, sooner or later.”

  Captain Dunlap and Chief Kincaid turned toward town and Man and Kate went toward home. “We go close to where Lucille lives,” Kate said. “I suggest we stop by and give them a report. There’s always the possibility they’re still in the area. We should remind her to keep her door barred.”

  Kate was the first to see the buggy parked in front of Lucille’s home. “I see Cliff is visiting again. Do we stop?” she asked.

  “I don’t think she or Cliff will mind since the boys are home,” he said with a chuckle.

  “You’re awful,” she said, matching his chuckle.

  “Something’s wrong,” Man said as he pulled his Walker from the holster. “The front door is wide open and it’s cold out here.”

  They dismounted and went to either side of the door. Man stepped in and moved to the right and Kate was a half-second behind him and moved to the left, both covering the room with their pistols.

  Dan saw them first and shouted, “It was Engledow and Valdez. They took Mom. Bob hit Cliff on the head awfully hard. He hasn’t moved since.”

  “We need to get him to a doctor,” Kate said. She pulled her Green River skinning knife and cut the boys loose. Man was busy with Cliff. Help me get him to the buggy,” he said.

  The four of them carried the unconscious man to the buggy. “Dan, you drive. Roy, help hold Cliff so he doesn’t fall out.”

  Man and Kate mounted and led the way toward town. They saw one of the police officers that had been with them earlier. “Engledow and Valdez kidnapped Lucille and hit Cliff on the head. It would be appreciated if you get word to Dunlap or Kincaid. We’re taking Cliff to the doctor.”

  As before, the four of them carried Cliff. The doctor met them at the door and showed them where to put him on an examination table.

  “What happened?” the doctor asked.

  “A gun barrel blow to the
head,” Man said.

  “My word. It’s Cliff Landers,” the doctor said as he wiped the blood from the face of the injured man. “He never harmed a fly.”

  “Do what you can for him,” Kate said. “We have work to do.”

  Kate and Man ushered the two boys out of the office and they went to Cliff’s buggy.

  Captain Dunlap came jogging toward them. “How is Cliff?” he asked as he sucked in a deep breath after the long run.

  “Unconscious. The doctor is working on him now. That’s all we know,” Kate replied.

  “What happened?” Dunlap asked.

  Kate pulled Roy and Dan in front of her. “They saw it all. You need their official statement.”

  “Tell Mr. Dunlap what happened,” she said facing the boys. As usual, Roy did the taking and went through the details. When he finished, Dan spoke for the first time. “Bob and Al took all of Mom’s clothes, her heavy coat and all the blankets and quilts. Bob said they would need them in Canada.”

  Kate glanced at Man. “That means they’re going south,” Kate said.

  Man nodded agreement.

  Dan was shaking his head. “Canada is north,” he said.

  “We know,” Kate said. “That wasn’t a slip of the tongue. Those two are professional crooks. He said that to throw us off. They’re going south.”

  “I’ll get out another wire,” Dunlap said.

  “That’s all we can do for now,” Man said. He turned to Roy and Dan. “Take Mr. Landers’ buggy to your place for the night. Bring it to our home tomorrow morning. We’ll take care of the horse until Cliff needs it. However, should we get a lead and hit the trail, you’ll need to take charge of the horse and buggy until he’s well.”

  “Yes, sir,” Roy said.

  Man pulled out money and counted it. He handed both boys their wages. “This is for this week and next. If we leave before we see you again, you know what to do.”

  “Yes, sir,” Roy said. “You can count on us giving you a fair day’s work. Please go find our mom and bring her home safely.”

  Kate put her arm around the shoulders of both boys. “We promise to do our best. There’s no way we can make promises. Those two are killers and what they’ll do before we find them is anybody’s guess. But, I can promise we’ll do our best to bring her home safely.”