Outlaws Of Phantom Canyon (Savage Series)

by Lisa Rae

  “Hell no!” One outlaw yelled.

  “I’d rather die!” A second one said.

  “There’s no way I’m going back to prison!” Another one yelled.

  There was more of the same answers from the rest of the outlaws, before Clayton hollered out to the Commander, “Sorry Commander, we are not giving up and comin’ out.”

  The Commander turned to a couple of his men and ordered, “Torch the place. That will bring them out to fight.”

  “They’re getting ready to torch this place!” Ted yelled when he saw what was going on outside the window he was looking out of.

  The outlaws prepared themselves for battle. They knew this was it for them. They were pretty well equal in numbers now, but they were surrounded. If the saloon was torched, then they would be forced to come outside and fight.

  Gabriel had reloaded and was ready behind the water trough for the battle that was about to come. He peeked over the edge of the trough, and fired a round through the saloon wall near a window where he figured an outlaw would be. He was rewarded as he heard a soft grunt answer him. Before Gabriel could duck back down, an outlaw from another window shot back and the wood on the top edge of the water trough exploded in a shower of splinters. Several stung and bit into Gabriel’s cheeks.

  Lighted torches had now been thrown on the roof and under the saloon by some of the Calvary men. The flames burned through, and the smoke became so thick that the outlaws had no choice but to come out shooting.

  Clayton and Ted were smart. They let the other outlaws run out first, and let the Calvary fire upon them, while Clayton and Ted tried to sneak out low behind them. Hot lead laced the outlaw camp from both sides.

  One outlaw came out of the saloon levering rounds through his Winchester .44-40 rifle in a blur of speed as he advanced on the Calvary. He was rewarded by a blow to his chest that punctured a lung. Resulting in a wet, sucking sound, as the wounded outlaw fought to pull air into his body.

  Another outlaw fired before taking aim, and the bullet zipped between a Calvary horse’s legs and ploughed into the ground. While another outlaw went to one knee and snugged his Winchester .44 carbine to his shoulder in one smooth motion and fired.

  A Calvary officer put a round into the ear of an outlaw and sent him, brainless, onto Hell. While another Calvary man died of a .44 caliber poisoning, from the pistol in the hand of Levi.

  Gabriel was now standing and saw a flicker of movement close to his right and spun on his heal. Facing him was Tate. His gun arm was hanging down at his side with his Smith and Wesson .44 in his hand.

  “You going to use that thing, or plant daisies with it?” Gabriel asked, hoping Tate would draw on him so he could personally send him to Hell.

  Flame spit from the muzzle of Tate’s six-gun, while some unseen force punched him solidly in the center of his body, right below his ribcage. A splash of crimson rose before his eyes as they started dimming.

  Gabriel felt a tug and fiery burning sensation along his left side from Tate’s bullet, before turning towards Chet. He watched the fear drain the smirk of triumph off the coward’s face, as Gabriel put a .44 dot right between the would-be killer’s running lights.

  Roark was standing next to his brother now with a L.C. Smith short double barreled 10 gauge in his hands. He cut the legs out from under two outlaws with OO buck, while Gabriel fired hot lead into the face of another outlaw. The gunman’s hat flew off with the back of his head, and he did a high kick backwards into oblivion.

  Tommy, who ran the camp’s saloon, turned towards Roark to see the double zeros of the L.C. Smith pointed his way. Tommy flashed a white-toothed grin as he fired at the same time Roark did. Tommy’s bullet hit Roark in his left shoulder causing him to drop the shotgun, but not before the scattergun ripped Tommy’s chest apart, and catapulted him over a water trough.

  While Gabriel shoved fresh cartridges into his still-hot Colt, Roark pulled his iron from its holster and cracked hot lead through the air at another outlaw. The gunslinger stiffened, then his knees buckled and he slumped beside a prickly pear cactus.

  During all of this, Julianna headed back to her and Gabriel’s shack to hide while Spotted Elk and his warriors joined the fight. Their eyes glazed with blood lust, they swarmed again through the crowd of outlaws, and jumped onto the gunslingers with their battle axes and clubs.

  When Clayton and Ted seen Julianna run off towards her shack, they decided to follow. They knew she was the only way of possibly getting out of there alive. The Calvary was so busy fighting all the outlaws, that Clayton and Ted managed to slip past them.

  When Julianna reached the horses, she was busy calming them down from all the blasting, and did not see Clayton and Ted sneak up behind her. Until Clayton grabbed her from behind. Julianna whirled around. Her fingernails flashed like the talons of an eagle, as she raked them down the face of Clayton.

  He cried out in almost a feminine shriek as he pushed her away from him towards Ted, who grabbed her and put her up on one of the horses. Ted and Clayton mounted the other two horses, and took off while leading the horse that Julianna was riding on.

  They were at a dead run when Angel shot Ted out of the saddle from a long ways off. Clayton continued on with Julianna. While they were headed her way, Angel climbed down from where she had been hidden behind some large boulders, and stood behind a wide tree. When Clayton came close to where she hid, she stepped out and fired.

  Hot lead released a thunderous pain in the left shoulder of Clayton as he was knocked out of his saddle. Rising up beside a shack, he swung the muzzle of his Colt into line with Angel, only to find himself staring down the long, black tunnel of her Sharps .50 to the afterworld. They fired. Clayton was shot in the chest. The .50 caliber round blew his spine out the back side of his body. The impact threw him back against the shack, as he slid to the ground leaving a red smear down the side of the shack’s wall.

  Only grazed on her upper leg from Clayton’s bullet, Angel jumped onto the horse Clayton had been riding and took off with Julianna saying, “Come on! Let’s get you away from here.” Julianna eagerly followed.

  Angel led them out of the camp. They had just started up a canyon trail that lead away from the Phantom outlaw’s camp, when she suddenly came upon Barry. He pulled his pistol the same time Angel did as they stood there staring at each other.

  Outlaw or not, Angel couldn’t shoot him. She holstered her Colt .45 and climbed down from the horse she was riding. She stepped forward and handed him the leather reins to her horse and said, “Take my horse and take Julianna with you. But promise me you will keep her safe?”

  “Angel, I don’t understand. You come with us, and we all will get safely away.”

  Angel was relieved when she realized that Barry still thought she was an outlaw. It would be safer for Julianna that way. “No, I have to go back. There is something I must do.”

  Julianna chimed in then, as some of the shock had worn off her from being kidnapped by Clayton. “I want to stay here with Gabe. He will need me!”

  “Julianna, Gabriel needs you to be safe. It has become too dangerous for you here. All the outlaws look at you as their safe passage to get out alive. You must go.”

  “I will stay and help you,” Barry replied to Angel.

  “No. Go now and promise me you will get Julianna safely out of here? I will meet up with you guys in Colorado City. Go hide in my hotel room at the O’Connor Hotel. Room number 15,” Angel pleaded as she handed Julianna her hotel room key from her pocket.

  Barry nodded his head. “Be careful my angel!” Then he turned and led the way out of the Phantom outlaw’s camp.

  Angel headed back to help her brothers. Bodies continued to pile up at an incredible rate from those that were foolhardy enough to resist, she noted.

  When all the survivors had been rounded up and secured in manacles, the Calvary made a thorough search of the Phantom gang’s camp. They found Ruby and a few other women hiding in the cellar of a shack. The Calvary sa
id they were free to leave.

  “I can’t find Jules!” Gabriel worriedly told Roark and Angel.

  “She is safely on her way to Colorado City,” Angel told Gabriel as she explained what happened with Clayton, Ted, and then their run-in with Barry.

  “You let her leave with Barry! What in tarnation was you thinking?” Gabriel exploded.

  “All the outlaws were wanting to get to her to use her for protection. I had to. Barry will not hurt her,” Angel replied.

  “How do you know he won’t?”

  “Just trust me. I know!”

  Chapter 13

  Gabriel said his thanks and goodbyes to Spotted Elk and his warrior brothers, as they took off towards their Ute Indian village with their wounded.

  Once all the wounded outlaws were bandaged up the best they could, and tied onto the backs of a pack string of horses; the Calvary, Roark, and Angel herded them towards Canon City to the Colorado Territorial Prison where they would be held until their trials, for all the crimes each one was guilty of.

  Heading towards Colorado City looking for Barry and Julianna was Gabriel after he had promised Angel he would not kill Barry. But he did not promise he would not hurt him! Gabriel thought darkly.

  Gabriel winced in pain as his horse stumbled over some bigger rocks. The Calvary’s doctor had bandaged his side from the bullet that grazed it during the gunfight. There was no real damage caused by the bullet, but it sure smarted.

  After about a half hour, Gabriel was able to distinctly pick up Julianna and Barry’s fresh trail. They were probably about two, maybe three hours ahead of him. He kept after them at as fast as a pace as his wounded side would allow.

  *

  It was well after midnight before Barry and Julianna reached the outskirts of Colorado City. Julianna had been grateful for the fast pace they kept, as it did not allow for any time to talk. She had become close to Barry while working with him every day, and wasn’t sure she could keep up the lie if he questioned her.

  They made their way through the back streets and alleys to Rex Weaver’s Livery Stable, where they stalled their horses and Barry paid Rex well to keep quiet of their presence.

  “Rex told me there is a train leaving in an hour for Denver. I’m going to go get us a couple tickets. You go ahead to Angel’s room and I’ll be along shortly. It’s that building right over there,” Barry told Julianna as he pointed to the hotel.

  Julianna nodded her head and turned towards the O’Connor Hotel. She slipped around to the backside of the hotel building, and entered through the backdoor to avoid any questions. When she found the room, she used the key Angel had handed her to unlock the door and go inside.

  What was she going to do if Gabriel or Angel didn’t get there before it was time for the train to Denver? She didn’t want to leave this room until they came for her. But Barry may get suspicious and hurt her if he found out the truth. Just then she remembered the .38 derringer in her skirt pocket. It still had one shot left in it …

  When Barry walked through the hotel room door almost forty-five minutes later he said, “Come on. It’s time to go.”

  “You go. I’m staying here and waiting for Angel,” Julianna replied calmly as she slipped her hand in her skirt pocket in case she needed to use the derringer.

  “I promised her I would protect you. I can’t leave you behind.”

  “Then stay here,” Julianna said flatly, not caring if he stayed or left. All she was worried about right now was if Gabriel was safe?

  “Are you sure you don’t want to go?” Barry asked again.

  “I’m positive.”

  ” Will you tell Angel I’m headed for Denver?”

  “Yes.”

  *

  Numb now from the pain in his side, Gabriel trails into Colorado City a couple hours behind Julianna and Barry. He rides straight for the O’Connor Hotel, and ties his horse at the hitching rail in front of it. Climbing down from his big horse was no easy task as fresh pain shot through his side.

  After he managed to catch his breath, Gabriel went into the hotel and straight to Angel’s room. At this early hour of the morning no one was working at the front desk. When he reached the room, he silently pulled his Colt Peacemaker from its holster and knocked lightly. Gabriel wasn’t expecting Julianna to be alone when she answered the door and flew into his arms.

  “Where is Barry?” Gabriel asked quickly.

  “He took the train to Denver about an hour ago,” Julianna answered.

  Gabriel hugged and hungrily kissed Julianna for a few minutes as he held her in his arms, not wanting to let her go. But if he didn’t want Barry to get away, he knew he didn’t have time to waste. The train would be reaching Denver soon.

  “Stay here. I’ve got to go to the telegraph office and wire Denver. Then I’ll be right back,” Gabriel said as he was already heading out the hotel room door.

  Hurrying over to the telegraph office, Gabriel hoped he would reach Denver in time. He had to bang on the counter to wake the night operator. Luckily for Gabriel, Brent Saunders the head telegraph operator, and the Phantom gang’s spy, only worked during the daytime.

  Gabriel had the telegraph operator quickly send a telegram to the Denver sheriff, and the train station with Barry’s description to apprehend him the moment the train stopped. As Gabriel left the telegraph office, he ordered the operator to bring his messages to the hotel room as soon they came in.

  Once Gabriel was back at the hotel room, he hugged and held Julianna for a long time as the stress and anxiety of the day faded away, leaving them both exhausted.

  “Gabe, let’s lay down and get some sleep. You’re completely worn out.” When Gabriel pulled off his vest and shirt, Julianna saw he was wounded. “Oh my God! You’re wounded. Are you alright?”

  “Yes Jules, it is just a flesh wound. When we get up later I will go have the doctor clean it up and re-bandage it. Right now let’s get some sleep,” Gabriel said sleepily.

  Julianna snuggled up to Gabriel on his good side as he laid on his back and instantly fell asleep snoring. Julianna was only a few minutes behind him, as she relaxed knowing she and Gabriel were finally safe.

  They were woke up at daybreak by the messenger kid the nighttime telegraph operator sent. He delivered Gabriel a message from the Denver sheriff. Gabriel thanked the boy with a tip, and closed the door as he was reading the telegraph.

  “What does it say?” Julianna asked half asleep.

  “It says they were waiting when the train arrived, and that they searched it thoroughly; that Barry was not on the train.”

  “He didn’t get on the train then?” Julianna asked, as she wondered if Barry was still in Colorado City?

  “Maybe, or maybe he jumped off somewhere along the way,” Gabriel thought out loud. “I will need to check with the train station here to see if he boarded the train.

  “You go ahead and clean up, and go on down to the cafe’ and get yourself some breakfast. When I get done at the train station I will join you.”

  *

  After all that happened yesterday and no chance to eat, Julianna was starving. She had just finished her breakfast with Gabriel when her father, Governor Whitaker, walked into the cafe’.

  “Father!” Julianna jumped up from the table she was sitting at, and ran into his outstretched arms.

  “Oh Julie! I am glad you are safe. I’ve been so worried, even though Angel Savage came and told me you was safe in Gabriel’s protection.”

  “Yes father. Gabriel has taken good care of me.”

  Gabriel stood and shook hands with the governor. “Bill, it’s been a long time.”

  “Yes it has Gabriel. I want to thank you for protecting my daughter.” Governor Whitaker eagerly shook Gabriel’s hand.

  “You two already know each other?” Julianna asked in surprise.

  “Why yes, Mr. Savage has worked personally for me a few times,” Governor Whitaker said to his daughter.

  “Governor, why don’t you get a room
here, and stay with your daughter for a few days while I am gone. I need to go to Denver and see if I can track down the one outlaw we lost.”

  Putting his arm around his daughter’s shoulders, the governor said smiling, “Sounds like a good idea. And when you get back we will discuss your future.”

  Gabriel smiled at Julianna, then he turned and walked out and headed for the livery stable to saddle up his horse.

  She wasn’t sure what she expected, but she thought Gabriel would have gave her a hug or kiss goodbye before he left. Her heart sank a little. Now that they were all safe and it was over, would Gabriel go his own way? She thought he loved her as much as she loved him. But did he?

  Worry began to invade all of Julianna’s thoughts, as she visited with her father up in his room. She was about to tell her father about her stay at Spotted Elk’s village when Julianna all of a sudden became sick. She rushed over to the chamber pot to throw up the breakfast she had just ate.

  “Are you alright my dear?” Julianna’s father asked her.

  “Yes father, it’s probably just all the excitement, and not having eaten since yesterday morning. I’m going to go lay down for a while.”

  “Okay dear, just let me know if you need anything?” Governor Whitaker offered.

  *

  The next couple of days Julianna was sick again after she would eat breakfast. Not only was she suspicious that she may be pregnant, but so was her father. When Gabriel arrived back saying he could not find a lead on the outlaw he was looking for, Governor Whitaker asked him in front of Julianna, “Julie has been sick every day since you left. I suspect she is pregnant. Is this possible?”

  “Father! If you want to know such an answer, why don’t you ask me?” Julianna said in shock at her father’s bluntness.

  “I’m sorry dear, but I’m afraid you would lie to me under the circumstances,” the governor replied as he turned his gaze back to Gabriel, and he waited for an answer.

  “Yes sir, it is possible.” Gabriel said nervously.