Sharpshooter

by Dusty Richards

  “Yes. There’s a lot more of it, he said.”

  “Yes, there is. My concern is someone will learn all about it and try to rob the train.”

  “I definitely have some tough men with me, but, like you said, it would be a concern. There is only one route in and out. I’d been to Utah a time or two. It hasn’t gotten any better. How in the hell did you find this one?”

  “We first discovered a cavern on the north wall of the Grand Canyon. The men took ropes and went off there to investigate it. It was about thirty feet down and thousands more feet of air under that. The Spanish had hidden three men in that cave and all the treasures they must have had. No one ever came back for them. The Indians may have gotten the outside force. Those men left notes. We recovered a pail of rubies in that cave and there was some interest in them. A man in Mesa offered to sell me a map to this spot here because he had become injured after finding some rubies on this site and could not get back up here. Instead, we found these trunks inside the caved-in cavern. We have not found any letters in these trunks, and only later did we find the rubies.”

  “Wow, you have been digging it up. But why was it hidden out here?”

  “Another question with no answer. Lots of this loot comes in minted coins. Our first find was raw gold and gold bars.”

  He introduced Curt and Adeline to Lisa and they went to have coffee and bear tracks in the tent.

  “Nice tent.”

  “I sent men to wire Tom for help. They brought it back along with that water wagon and a new Studebaker wagon. Spent my money like water. But we needed it.”

  “We have had some hard rains so it was nice to have this over us,” Lisa said.

  After coffee Chet and Curt went up and looked at the cavern and the trestle.

  “You built this?”

  “Yes.”

  “My lands, had it been up to me, all that would still be down there.”

  “Invention sometimes is necessary. I could improve on it now but it worked smoothly the first time. I figured the face of this cave was once open to the south and they had all this stored in here. Maybe an earthquake shook the front portion down and the men who brought it in there were buried. We found an air leak back here, widened it all we dared, drilling and blasting. We don’t spend a lot of time in here since we finished the delivery system.”

  “I don’t blame you.”

  “You and your men rest a day or two and then we can load you up for the trip down.”

  “You earned this treasure, Chet Byrnes. There will be two more trips coming, won’t there?”

  “Earl thought five in total.”

  “I know he brought an empty wagon out in case he had a breakdown.”

  “I won’t object to you doing that.”

  “Odds go up the more trips you make, don’t they?”

  “More outlaws to know about them, too.”

  “Most outlaws hate robberies like this. They have to have a way to pack it off. Money is light.”

  “Yes, paper money and notes are easy to handle. But one of these trunks could be worth a lot more than some small-town bank’s total deposits.”

  “Damned if you do or don’t. I bet you and Lisa are ready to head home.”

  “The ranches are in good hands. We are surviving.”

  “I met Jamie Meadows. That was a shame.”

  “We met the family he lost and really liked them. He gifted those other folks because he didn’t have it in him to drive those cattle back home.”

  “Tough enough dragging this loot back. That isn’t cow country going south. He said his brother was a larger adventurer than he was.”

  “He must have been.”

  “What do you think this strip of country is ever going to be good for?”

  “Raising lizards and rattlesnakes, I told my wife.”

  They laughed.

  * * *

  In two days, Curt, his wife, and his bunch left for Preskitt with one empty wagon, two others for supplies and water, and the others filled with trunks. Things went smoothly. Chet had offered for Jesus to go back home with that last wagon train. His man shook his head and sent his wife a long letter via the train.

  Chet ordered more hay and they hauled in more water. Rocky got to drive the mules to town empty and they filled the water wagon from an artesian well. Salty drove it back full or near that. Chet and the others rode on horseback. The trip took all day. Renny stayed with Lisa and they mended clothes.

  Coming home that day with the water wagon, the riders ran for the tent when they got close because a monsoon shower turned up. They barely beat it to the site and, from the dry tent, laughed at a water-soaked Salty and his umbrella.

  Ten days later Earl, his men, and the wagons were back.

  “Mr. Tanner at the bank is not sure where he will park all this. We are fast filling his vaults. But he says not to stop bringing it.” Then he laughed. “Oh yeah. Those coins were minted in Mexico before 1800. Some ruler—perhaps a governor—may have stolen them.”

  “Finders keepers, losers weepers.”

  “No one has claimed them and they can’t believe anyone found them.”

  “Hey, you hear Rocky shot an albino mule deer? Nice rack. I never saw one of those in my life.”

  “Me, neither. Bet he’s proud.”

  “Busting buttons. We rode up to a small lake and caught lots of large trout.”

  “How far away is it?” Earl asked.

  “One day up there and one day back. I didn’t see a sign of anyone ever being there but the storekeeper at Joseph Lake told us where it was at.”

  “You ever fish up in the Apache country?”

  Chet smiled. “Good fishing. They don’t eat them.”

  “Man, yes, wonderful fishing. Well, two days and we go back. No trouble on my part and Curt got along good, too. He was near to Flagstaff when we met them.”

  “Everything’s holding together down there?”

  “As far as I know, yes. Tom said it was the smoothest summer he could ever recall. Oh yeah, Millie said to tell you Bonnie had another boy down on the Diablo Ranch. That makes four kids now.”

  “She didn’t plan to have that many when she married my nephew JD.”

  “Time changes things.”

  “It really does.”

  Later Chet reported to his wife about the number four baby at Rancho Diablo.

  She shook her head. “I’m really losing that race.”

  “I don’t feel we have missed that much. We travel and enjoy and at this rate, we will be back home by September.”

  “Well, I am sure not pregnant.” She looked around to be certain they were alone. “Our girl found out about Eve’s curse.”

  “This early?”

  “She will be thirteen soon. Many girls start earlier.”

  “I didn’t want her to grow up.”

  “I can tell you one thing. She is not stupid, badly spoiled, or as crazy as I was at that age.”

  “Good.”

  “I agree and she talks to me. Which I appreciate.”

  “I hope that this business continues as smoothly as it has, but I will be glad to be back on our mountain.”

  “Me, too, but you have done a super job managing things. The showers, the tent, horse feed, and the meals Tad serves. And the lack of problems.”

  “Good people who have worked hard.”

  “You know who I think are the largest winners?”

  “Who?”

  “The girl and your two boys. They have learned how to work and play. I really think this summer will pay off in making them better adults.”

  “They will be better adults.”

  She looped her arm in his elbow. “Let’s go to bed.”

  “Amen.”

  CHAPTER 35

  Earl and his crew left for Preskitt and the cavern had begun to look half-empty. In three more weeks, maybe four, Chet felt they’d complete the job. The last train would be headed for Preskitt and Chet’s summer work would be done. Salt
y had been scouting with Billy Bob in new places every time he found a chance to go look. Chet and Jesus made shorter circles but nothing showed up to interest them nor were there rumors to run down.

  Curt and his wife arrived back with their wagon train for another load, rested a day, thanked Chet, and then took twenty-two more wagonloads of loot and were southbound.

  Things were fairly quiet among the original crew. Some men from the Dixie branch of the LDS church came one afternoon and visited with Chet.

  Oliver Pettigrew was the highest-ranking man in their group. He asked Chet if he wanted to consider investing in ranching there. His expenditures had certainly been welcome in the area.

  Chet thanked him and said he had no plans to do that. Pettigrew then asked, if not, would he get them connected to a telegraph line from Flagstaff up to Kanab, in Utah.

  “I am much better at herding cattle. But you could go south yourselves and speak to Cole Emerson, who is heading that business across the northern Arizona line.”

  “We understand he was, formerly, one of your foremen?”

  “Yes, he was. But he works for the stage line, the railroad line, and telegraph now.”

  “Will he talk to us?”

  “If it would make the railroad money, yes.”

  “Fair enough. How much Spanish treasure did you recover here, if I might ask?”

  “I will be flat honest with you gentlemen. I have no idea. We loaded it up and sent it down to Preskitt.”

  “Compared to the Grand Canyon cave site we heard about?”

  “Maybe twice as much. We had more large gold bars in that recovery.”

  Pettigrew nodded. “I must say, few outsiders come in, hire our people, buy from us at reasonable prices, and get along as well as you and your men, sir.”

  “You come by my home place on top of the Mingus Mountain side of the Verde, I will sure feed and host you at my house.”

  “Very generous of you to offer.”

  They parted. Getting a telegraph wire connected to the one at Flagstaff might make a good connection for Cole to add. But that was Cole’s business, not Chet’s.

  * * *

  In another week, the last wagon train arrived at Ruby Buttes, his men’s new name for the structure. They loaded nineteen wagons. Chet considered dismantling the showers, since they had room in the empty wagons. They did that. No one wanted the water wagon and mules. Salty was to drive it back down to Arizona. The cooking stoves, tables, chairs, silverware, and Lisa’s huge tent were all loaded.

  Chet thanked everyone, then gave a short prayer, thanking God and asking for protection going home. He, Lisa, and his kids, as he called them, saddled and left the region at daylight.

  It took a day and a half to get to Lee’s Ferry and a half day to get every rig across the wide Colorado. Day five they crossed on the Little Colorado ferry and he had everyone ready for some trouble in camp—none happened.

  Three more days on the Navajo Trail, and Valerie, with three railroad policemen on horseback, met them a half day east of Flagstaff. Her son, Rocky, rode out to greet her and the other two kids went with him. Lisa and Chet joined them.

  Chet waved the wagon train on and said they’d camp at the ranch property ahead. He didn’t see a dry eye when his son dropped out of the saddle and hugged Val.

  “He’s grown a foot this summer,” she sobbed.

  “Maybe more than that. He drove those mules with the water wagon and made a great hand. We had lots of fun. I want you and him at the fairground first Sunday in September.”

  “What for?”

  “Rocky, Adam, and Renny are all going to be in one race to see who the best is.”

  “What horses will we use?” Rocky asked as he and Renny got down from their horses to stand with Rocky.

  “That’s up to the riders.”

  The kids, in their excitement, hugged one another and jumped up and down.

  No sweat. They’d be damn tough on one another.

  Back in the saddle, Chet shook Rocky’s hand. “You take care of Val. I’ll see you in camp tonight.”

  Rocky stopped him. “It has been the best damn summer in my entire life.”

  He stepped back and saluted Chet.

  CHAPTER 36

  The cool afternoon air swept Chet’s face as he was coming up the new hacked-out road to the ranch’s yard and houses above Flagstaff. Survey stakes with ribbons tied on were where the roads would someday sprout off. The air reeked of pine sap, and he felt at home.

  A monsoonal pile of clouds swept in overhead and they raced to the property to get set up, but to their shock a large tent setup awaited them and a note: Glad you made it back. Cole and Val.

  “Cole and Val did it,” he shouted to Lisa and the kids.

  “Just like him,” Rocky said, and laughed.

  They unsaddled and one of the hands took their horses as the rain began. Thunder rolled across the mountain peaks secured in the billowing storm clouds. For Chet, it was good to be there. The others would come in under slickers, but the drop in temperatures felt great.

  He didn’t miss the strip’s hot temps one little bit. He’d be home in two days and could pick up the pieces from there. How much did he have that they brought back? No telling. It would all help the ranches he was building on.

  They’d been up there for the bulk of the summer, but he wouldn’t trade the time he got to spend with Lisa, his boys, and Renny for another king’s ransom.

  Some spy must have told Cole they’d arrived. He swept off his wet hat and hugged Lisa, shook hands with the boys, and hugged Renny. “I see those boys didn’t kill you, missy.”

  “No way I’d let them do that,” she told him with a grin. He agreed.

  “Tanner showed me some of it. My lands, there is a lot of it. Anyone bother you?”

  “Not to speak of.”

  “Well, you people are the talk of the Territory. And no one knows how much money you got from up there.”

  “I can’t help them. They had a cave-in at some time, and I guess that answer is under tons of rock and dirt.”

  “You mean you left some up there?”

  “Lisa, give him those rocks we picked out for him.”

  “You remembered me?”

  “Who could forget you?” Rocky teased him.

  “Heck, they are big ones. Thank you.”

  “How is business?”

  “Terrific. Read this letter he sent me.” He fished it out of his pocket.

  Dear Cole, I just saw accountings report for the third month. It is larger than any month you had before they ran you off. Great work, my friend. It goes to show what happens when you mean business, even way out there. Our land sales are brisk in your Territory. I am certainly proud. You need anything, wire me.

  “Be careful. He will have you in New Mexico laying track.”

  “Whew. He plans to have three more wires strung before the snow flies. I told him he had to have it up before then.”

  “I am going back up to my mountain shortly. I appreciate you loaning me the boy. He’s a mule skinner now.”

  “He wrote me several letters and told me how much rope you gave him. They had a great summer.”

  “So did we,” Lisa said, joining them. “And thanks, we really got to know the three of them. I’m helping Tad fix supper. Oh, Salty said he’d be back in the morning. He’s gone to see his wife. And Jesus is napping.”

  Cole frowned. “I told his wife when I thought you’d be down here.”

  Lisa shrugged. “He’s fine. I just wanted both of you to know.”

  “Well, Chet, what next?”

  “Check on my ranches, I guess—”

  “I think you may lose Spencer permanent. They will have more line expansion for him to string up.”

  “Utah wants to connect. I told them to come see you.”

  “Wonderful. Then I’ll get the credit for the line.”

  “I will find Fred an older man to help him run the Wagon Wheel. Have they gone back to more tr
ack laying?”

  “Slow. Shortage of everything.” At that, Cole excused himself to go back to work.

  Chet went and lay down on a cot and napped. Lisa woke him at suppertime. The wagon train had made it in. No trouble. Good.

  They took another day’s rest at Flagstaff. A combination of worn-out and at ease about being in a safe place. Robert heard about them being up there and came to see Chet.

  “Things going all right at the mill?”

  “Usual things. Lost a horse last week when a log pile rolled over on him. It wasn’t a mistake, just an unfortunate accident.” Robert shook his head. “We are making our quota. No one is complaining that I hear.”

  “Last statement I saw was fine.”

  “We have really hauled a lot of logs to the mill. They have three shifts running now. That’s the Flagstaff expansion. I figure that will back off. But I have still not heard a train whistle.”

  “It will be years getting here. Everyone is building tracks and can’t get something they need.”

  “I’d like to have some jewelry made for my wife, if you have any I could get set.”

  Chet took a tobacco sack out and held it over Robert’s palm, spilling some rubies into it. “Try these.”

  “Wow. Those are big. What do I owe you?”

  “Just keep things running. That’s your Christmas bonus.”

  Robert laughed. “I can damn sure do that.”

  He bound his gems up in a kerchief. “I can’t believe all you have found.”

  “To be very frank with you, neither can I. But our treasure searches are over for now.”

  “Those boys of yours are really growing. But who is that girl with them?”

  “Renny. Her parents died so the judge asked Lisa and me to take her and see if she liked us and we liked her. The feelings are mutual. She’s had a ball with those boys and can beat them at many things.”

  “This the first summer you ran off with them, isn’t it?”

  “Yes, and we’ll probably do it again.”

  “I better get back to the mill. I never expected rubies that big. Thanks.”

  “I never expected a superintendent as good as you are, either.” Chet clapped him on the shoulder. Robert was blushing and shaking his head over his praise. Good. He deserved it.