A Frontier Christmas

by William W. Johnstone

  “I doubt, sir, that your business can be more important than the governor’s business.”

  “The sheriff is with the governor, is he not?”

  “Yes.”

  “I must speak with him.”

  “As you said yourself, sir, the sheriff is with the governor. You may wait here until the meeting has ended.”

  “Be ye daft, mon? Do ye nae understand the term urgent? Hundreds of lives are at risk,” Duff said. “Now laddie, if ye don’t tell the governor this very minute that I’m here to speak with him, I’ll be for laying ye out on this very floor, ’n letting my ownself in through that door.”

  “Very well, sir, but it is you who will have to deal with the governor’s ire,” the private secretary said, huffing to show his displeasure with the interloper. He went into Governor Barber’s private office, but it was Sheriff Martin who came back out.

  “Duff, what are you doing out here? Why didn’t you just come on in?” he invited.

  “You’ll have to ask that rather supercilious gentleman why I was so detained,” Duff said, nodding toward the governor’s secretary as he came back out of the office.

  “I was just doing my job, sir,” the secretary said.

  “Mr. Patrick said you mentioned something about hundreds of lives?”

  “Aye, the ones in Rawhide Buttes.”

  “Then you know that Jesse and T. Bob Cave stole the serum.”

  “Aye, I know that the serum was stolen, ’n I know that it was those two black hearts who did the deed.”

  “Come on in. I was just telling the governor about it.”

  Governor Barber had a round face and a handlebar moustache. He was standing as Duff came into the room.

  “Mr. MacCallister, I’m sorry you weren’t granted immediate entry. I’m afraid that Mr. Patrick can be a bit overzealous at times.”

  “Aye, but ’tis water under the bridge, now.” Duff addressed Sheriff Martin. “You said that you are aware that the scoundrels who took the serum were the Cave brothers?”

  “Yes. Deputy Crabtree heard them address each other by their Christian names. He didn’t hear their last name, but how many Jesse and T. Bob’s can there be?”

  “Then you know that I have dealt with them before.”

  “Yes.”

  “I want you to appoint me deputy sheriff again.”

  “I’ll be glad to,” Sheriff Martin said.

  “Wait a minute, Sheriff,” Governor Barber said.

  For a moment, Duff feared that the governor was going to raise some opposition to him being appointed as deputy, but that fear evaporated when the governor spoke again.

  “Mr. MacCallister, suppose I appointed you as a special deputy to the office of the governor with police authority all over the state? That way you would not be limited by county jurisdiction.”

  “I would be much obliged for such an appointment,” Duff said.

  “Sheriff Martin, would you be a witness, sir?”

  “I would be honored,” Sheriff Martin said.

  “Raise your right hand.”

  Duff raised his right hand, and repeated the oath as spoken by the governor. “I, Duff MacCallister, do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States, and the Constitution and laws of the State of Wyoming, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same, and defend them against enemies, foreign and domestic, and that I will faithfully and impartially discharge the duties of a peace officer to the best of my ability, so help me God.”

  Governor Barber smiled. “Deputy MacCallister, you are now authorized to perform your duty anywhere within the boundaries of the state of Wyoming.”

  “Thank you, sir,” Duff said. “Now, with the permission of both of you gentlemen, I’ll be about m’ duty.”

  Sky Meadow Ranch

  “You’re worried about Meagan, aren’t you?” It was rare that Elmer used Meagan’s Christian name, but he spoke it in a way that communicated his concern, not only for Meagan but also for Duff.

  “Aye. The blaggards have stolen the very medicine needed to make her well, Elmer. And I’ll nae stand by and watch it happen.”

  “I’d like to go with you.”

  “I appreciate the offer, Elmer, but ’tis nae your fight. I’ve brought in those two before ’n I’ll do it again. I won’t promise they’ll be brought in alive this time.”

  “There’s more than two of ’em.”

  “From what I’ve heard there’s but Jesse and T. Bob Cave.”

  “More ’n likely Max Dingo is part of it. If he’s a part of it, there’ll be ten or twelve of ’em. And I know where they are hidin’.”

  Duff looked up in surprise. “And how would ye be knowin’ that, Elmer, I ask you?”

  “Duff, I’ve never kept it secret from you that I once rode the outlaw trail, have I?”

  “Nae, lad, you’ve been truthful about it from the beginning.”

  “Like I say, I know where you might want to start lookin’ for the lowlifes that done this.”

  “You know where they are?”

  “I can’t say as I know for sure ’n certain. But I do have a real good idea as to where they might be. There is a secret place where outlaws on the run sometimes congregate. Truth be told, I’ve spent some time there my ownself, and I ain’t never before told nobody about it on account of I always sort of felt like it wouldn’t be a very righteous thing for me to do. I mean, turnin’ on folks that once took me in. Do you understand that?”

  “I understand honor, Elmer, even if it is among thieves.”

  “Yeah, well, when somebody steals medicine that’s meant for innocent folks, includin’ women and children, then in my mind they don’t deserve no more honor. I’d say that, more ’n likely, you might find ’em in a place called Sidewinder Gorge.”

  “Sidewinder Gorge? Where would that place be? In all the time I’ve been here, I’ve never heard of it.”

  “Ain’t nobody never heard of it, ’ceptin’ them folks that has to hide out there. What you do is, you follow the Laramie River west till it forks. The north fork leads into the Laramie Mountains. There’s a canyon there that you can’t see from outside, but you can see sort of a big rock stickin’ up, kinda like a—what do you call it? An oblick?

  “Obelisk?”

  “Yeah, one of them. But here’s the thing . . . they near always have someone on top of that oblick, and he can see you long before you’ll ever see him. So if you’re plannin’ on gettin’ in there, you’re goin’ to have to be real careful and sneaky as all hell.”

  “Elmer, I thank you for the information.”

  “Like I say, there’s liable to be ten or twelve of ’em,” Elmer said. “An’ bein’ inside like they are, it ain’t goin’ to be easy to get to ’em.”

  “We’ll do whatever it takes,” Duff said.

  Rawhide Buttes

  Once again, Marshal Worley came to the north end of town to speak with Smoke. Again, the expression on Smoke’s face indicated some worry about Sally.

  “Your wife is fine,” Marshal Worley said, speaking quickly to alleviate Smoke’s concern.

  “Thanks for telling me. That’s comforting.”

  “I’ll tell you the truth. I don’t know how she can be, though. I mean, what with the way she’s right in the middle of ever’thing. She gets right in the face of those who are sick, squirting into the patient’s throats that potion Dr. Poindexter’s wife makes up. We need that medicine.”

  “Have we heard anything from the people who stole the medicine?” Smoke asked. “Have they contacted us to tell us where to take the money?”

  “No, we haven’t heard from them. But we have heard this, which is why I came out here to see you. I thought you might be interested in this telegram we just got from Duff MacCallister.” Worley showed the message to Smoke.

  BELIEVE STOLEN MEDICINE IN SIDEWINDER GORGE STOP NEED HELP STOP BRING MATT STOP MEET IN UVA EARLIEST CONVENIENCE STOP DUFF

  Smoke looked up toward Marshal Worl
ey. “Did you read this?”

  “Yes.”

  “If Duff needs help, I’m going, quarantine or no. And I’m going to ask you not to try and stop me.”

  “I’ve no intention of trying to stop you,” Marshal Worley said. “I’ve spoken with Dr. Poindexter. Under the circumstances, he’s willing to lift the quarantine on you and Matt.”

  “Thanks,” Smoke said.

  Uva

  It began snowing as Smoke and Matt rode from Rawhide Buttes to Uva, the snow falling so hard that it was difficult for the rider behind to see the rider ahead. They took turns leading, so that sometimes Smoke’s horse Seven would have to break the path, and sometimes Matt’s horse Spirit would. The snow slowed their journey, their path marked by a long, black line behind them.

  It was growing dark when they rode into town. Despite it being just past sundown, there were people everywhere, walking up and down the boardwalks, riding up and down the street in buggies, surreys, buckboards, and even wagons. In addition, Uva was alive with lights shining from restaurants, saloons, and businesses that were staying open late to allow customers to shop for Christmas. Already the town had been decorated with green boughs, and the windows of the shops were hung with red-bowed wreaths.

  “It sure looks different,” Matt said. “This town is all lit up. Rawhide Buttes is dark as the inside of a mine.”

  “Yep, a quarantine will do that to a town,” Smoke said.

  “Where do you think we’ll find Duff?”

  “Where do you think he’s most likely to buy a drink of scotch?”

  Matt chuckled. “Probably not at a leather goods store. Wait, isn’t that his horse over there?” He pointed to the hitching rail in front of the Sunset Saloon.

  “I do believe it is,” Smoke replied.

  The two men rode over to the hitching rail where, even if they hadn’t recognized Sky, they would have recognized the brand—the letters SM enclosed in a circle.

  Tying off Seven and Spirit alongside Duff’s horse, Smoke and Matt stepped into the saloon. Although some of the larger towns had electricity, Uva did not. The illumination came from glowing kerosene lanterns, attached to four wagon wheels that hung from the ceiling. The lanterns did a fairly efficient job of pushing away the darkness, though the light was somewhat dimmed by the billowing clouds of tobacco smoke from pipes, cigars, and cigarettes.

  “There he is,” Matt said, pointing to Duff, who was sitting alone at a table near the piano. At the moment, the scarred and cigar-burned piano was quiet.

  “Go join him. I’ll bring the drinks,” Smoke said as he headed toward the bar.

  A moment later, Smoke came to the table carrying two beers and a scotch.

  “I hope the scotch here meets with your approval,” Smoke said as he put the shot glass on the table in front of Duff. “It isn’t Mackinlay’s.”

  “Nae lad, that it is not. But for the moment, it will do.”

  “He was asking about Meagan,” Matt said.

  “I knew you would be wanting to know about her, so I spoke with Dr. Poindexter just before we left,” Smoke said. “He said her condition hasn’t worsened . . . but neither has it gotten any better. She’s going to need that antitoxin before she can fully recover.”

  “The medicine that was stolen,” Duff said.

  “Yes.”

  “How many others are ill with the disease?”

  “When we left this afternoon, there were twenty-three in the hospital, including Meagan. There may be at least that many more sick in their own homes.”

  “Hospital?”

  “Actually it’s the church. They’ve turned that into a hospital,” Smoke explained.

  “What about the woman Meagan stayed to help? Cora Ensor,” Duff asked.

  Smoke nodded. “She’s sick as well. I imagine Meagan caught the disease from her. I just hope Sally doesn’t catch it. She’s in the hospital twenty-four hours a day, now, helping out.”

  “Oh, Smoke, forgive me. I hadn’t even thought of Sally.”

  “They say that God watches over fools, babes, and drunks. I will add and the virtuous,” Smoke said. “It comforts me, and makes me believe that Sally will be all right.”

  “Have ye heard anything from the vandals that took the medicine?” Duff asked.

  “Nothing except what they told the courier who was bringing the medicine to us. They told him they wanted twenty thousand dollars, but so far they’ve not shared with us how we are to deliver the money.”

  “Are there plans to deliver the money?”

  “Meagan has put up five thousand dollars, and I’ve offered another five thousand. I think the banker can raise the remaining ten thousand, but it’s as I said, we have no idea how the money is to be delivered.”

  “It won’t be delivered at all,” Duff said. “We’re going to find the evil men who did this and take the medicine from them.”

  A loud burst of laughter came from a table on the far side of the room, and both Smoke and Matt glanced toward the sound.

  “Isn’t that—” Matt started to say, but Duff stuck his hand out and laid it on Matt’s arm, stopping him in mid-sentence.

  “Yes, but don’t call attention to it,” Duff said.

  The man Matt had noticed was Elmer, who was sitting at the table with several others, entertaining them with some tall tale. Again, the men laughed out loud.

  “Elmer is gathering information for us,” Duff said. “Have you eaten?”

  “No,” Matt replied.

  “Nor have I. Let us avail ourselves of whatever viand might be available here.”

  Over a supper of beans, bacon, and biscuits, the three men discussed what lay before them.

  “I need to tell you right away that you should disabuse yourself of any idea that Jesse and T. Bob Cave are the only two men involved. There may be as many as ten.”

  “You said in your telegram that they were in a place called Sidewinder Gorge,” Smoke said. “But Marshal Worley has lived here for over twenty years, and he said he’s never heard of it.”

  “That’s all right. Elmer has,” Duff said.

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  After their supper, the three men left the saloon to go to the hotel where Duff had taken a room.

  “I took one room because I don’t plan for us to stay here tonight,” Duff explained. “The room is so we can have a place to meet and plan our operation.”

  They were sitting in the room when Elmer arrived. He smiled at Smoke and Matt, and reached out to shake their hands. “I saw you two fellers when you came into the saloon, but I thought it might be best not to let on that I had an idea as to who either one of you was.”

  “How was your spy mission?” Duff asked.

  “Spy mission?” Elmer smiled. “Yeah, I guess you could call it a spy mission. Well, sir, if you was to ask me, and I reckon you just did, I’d say it was successful. Least wise, I gathered up a lot of information.”

  “All right. We’re listening.”

  “I’m going to need me a pencil and some paper so’s I can draw all this out for you,” Elmer said.

  “Draw what out?” Smoke asked.

  “Why, I’m goin’ to draw out where at you can find the outlaws that took the medicine.”

  Duff supplied the paper and Elmer began filling it with lines and shapes.

  “Now, the hideout is—”

  “Hideout?” Smoke asked.

  “Yeah, it’s where outlaws has hid for ten, maybe fifteen years,” Elmer said. “Like I was sayin’, the hideout itself is about twenty-five, maybe thirty miles, from here, an’ you can find it by followin’ the Laramie River due west, till you get to the fork. The North Fork runs into the canyon, but it passes under some rocks, so if someone was lookin’ at if from the outside, why, they’d never know that it continued on under them rocks, then come up on the other side.”

  As Elmer was explaining the setup, he was also illustrating it. “This here is the only way in. It’s so narrow that people goin’ in on horseback ha
s to go single file. And this here oblick—”

  “This what?” Matt asked.

  “Obelisk,” Duff said.

  “Yeah, well, what it is, is a tall skinny rock. And Dingo keeps somebody on top of that rock all the time, to keep a lookout. So there ain’t no one goin’ to be able to get in there, without Dingo knowin’ about it. And even if you could get in, why, they’s places all over where they can stand and hold off an army.”

  “How many are inside?” Duff asked.

  “Accordin’ to them boys I was talkin’ to back in the saloon, they’s at least ten inside, ’n maybe as many as twelve. And that ain’t countin’ the saloon gals.”

  “The saloon gals?” Duff asked. “You mean there are women inside?”

  “They was only two when I was there. Now there could be three or four.”

  “Will they be part of the defense?” Smoke asked. “What I mean is, will they be armed and shooting at us?”

  “I ain’t goin’ to say for sure that they won’t be shootin’ at us, but more ’n likely they won’t be. Like I said, they ain’t nothin’ but saloon girls. They ain’t really outlaws,” Elmer explained.

  He continued with his map. “This here is the main buildin’, an’ more ’n likely, this is where at we’re goin’ to find the medicine. This here same buildin’ is where Dingo stays all the time, an’ it’s where ever’ one comes to eat. Also, when they’re plannin’ out somethin’ they’re goin’ to be doin’, this here buildin’ is where they do it. You can’t miss it, bein’ as it’s the biggest buildin’ in the whole place. I’d say it’s about thirty foot long ’n maybe ten foot wide. I can’t swear to it ’cause it’s been near five years since I was in the place, but near as I can remember, they’s no more than two, maybe three more buildin’s.”

  “What are they made of?” Matt asked.

  “Logs, chinked with mud.”

  “Thank you, Elmer. In all my time in the military, I have never received a more thorough briefing.” Duff paused for a moment, then chuckled dryly. “Nor one that presented a greater challenge.”