by Hall, Billy
He’d ride back to the H Bar V bunkhouse where he was staying and tomorrow he’d continue with the plan – he’d take care of Kate’s problems; he’d make sure she and Billy were secure and free from parasites seeking to steal her land and cattle. Then he’d ride back to the Indian Nation where he belonged.
The thought surged in the back of his mind that he should at least give her an opportunity to take back the things she had said. He fought the idea down instantly. That would be too much like begging, and he wouldn’t beg for the love of any woman. She had made herself perfectly clear – she never wanted to see him again. She ordered him off her place. That was that. His love for her wouldn’t allow him to leave her in jeopardy, but she would have her wish. She would never see him again.
CHAPTER 17
‘It looks like the whole country turned out.’
Sam looked around the large hollow. They were just over the ridge from the huge dam Russell’s men were building. The sun had just sunk below the mountains to the west, casting their long shadows across the land like harbingers of doom. The impression was reflected in the faces of nearly all those assembled.
It appeared that every small rancher and homesteader in the country had arrived. There were more than a hundred people assembled, including many of the wives and older children. Every person held the shovel they had been asked to bring.
Oz joined the group, striding down from the top of the ridge where he had been ensconced in a clump of brush.
‘Everybody gone?’ Sam asked.
Oz nodded. ‘Long gone an’ clear outa sight.’
‘Then let’s get started,’ Sam said.
He turned to the assembled crowd. ‘I can’t thank all of you enough for being here tonight. With this many people, we can get the job done in great shape. The dam Russell’s building is just over the top of that ridge,’ he explained, in case some of them didn’t know. ‘We need to dig a ditch all the way across it, about twenty-five foot down from the top of where it’s built up to. We need to dig it as deep as we can in the time we have, leavin’ time to fill it up again before we leave.’
Some of those assembled sported slowly spreading grins as they intuited Sam’s plan. One of them, whose name Sam didn’t know, put it into words. ‘You gonna lay dynamite in the ditch, then?’
Heads snapped up in sudden understanding. Every eye focused on Sam, awaiting his reply.
Sam nodded, smiling. ‘That’s exactly what we’re gonna do. Then we’ll bury it, with everything set and ready, and the wicks run over the ridge to here. Then all we have to do when it’s time is light it off.’
One of the wives spoke up. ‘Won’t they notice where we’ve dug the ditch?’
Sam shook his head. ‘It’s all fresh dirt. If we smooth the ground out over the ditch again, they’ll just keep adding dirt on top and burying it deeper.’
‘That’d take a mighty big pile o’ dynamite to string out that far,’ somebody objected.
‘We’ve got plenty. We decided we might not have enough the first trip, so Oz and I made another trip to Laramie and doubled up on what we’d bought. Over there underneath those tarps is enough dynamite to do the job in good shape.’
‘Then we’d best get started,’ another voice suggested. ‘The moon’s already comin’ up.’
With no further talk, the group trooped up the hill and over the ridge. They spread out in a line that reached clear across the raw earth of the new dam. Sam indicated where he wanted the ditch, and shovels began throwing dirt with a swift rhythm.
A crooked ditch swiftly took form across the span of earth. Uphill from the ditch, Sam, Oz, Bart, and Eduardo rolled out four reels of black-wick. They stretched them over the top of the ridge, ending the first one at the nearest end of the dam, and ending the other three so that their ends were evenly spaced the length of the ditch. The last one reached within fifty feet of the far end.
‘How you gonna get ’em all to go off at the same time?’ Oz eventually asked. ‘They’re all different lengths.’
Sam nodded. ‘The first one’ll be the only one to go off, if it works right.’
The other three stopped what they were doing and stared at him, obviously confused.
He explained. ‘Dynamite don’t blow up from a spark. I’ve watched guys unwrap a stick of dynamite, then stick a cigarette in it. The cigarette just went out.’
‘Then what makes it blow up?’
‘Concussion. Shock. It’s actually sawdust that’s soaked in nitroglycerine. The wick, that’s stuck into the middle of a stick of dynamite, makes the cap blow up. The cap blowin’ up is what sets off the dynamite. We’ll lay out the dynamite so every stick overlaps the one ahead of it. The jar of one stick blowin’ up will set off the next one, and the next and the next and so on all the way across the canyon. It’ll happen so fast it’ll be like they all went up at the same time. Once the first stick blows up, the rest’ll happen without waitin’ for the other wicks to burn to the cap.’
‘Then how come we’re puttin’ these others in.’
‘Just in case things don’t work quite right. If there ends up bein’ too much space between sticks, it might stop things. Then the next wick will start it up again.’
‘So one of ’em is enough to do the job, and the rest are just insurance?’
‘Exactly.’
The three thought about it for a few seconds. Bart finally said, ‘I’d have never thought of that. Good to have insurance.’
When the ditch was as deep as he wanted, Sam called off the crew. They gathered, wiping sweat from their faces, waiting further orders.
‘Now we need to get the dynamite into the ditches,’ he announced. ‘Oz will show you where it is. Any of you that don’t mind handlin’ dynamite grab a handful and bring it to me, or lay it out along the high side of the ditch. We’ll start from one end and lay it out in the bottom of the ditch. But let me remind you of something, in case any of you haven’t handled dynamite – dynamite don’t blow up from a spark or fire. It blows up from a jar. That means don’t drop it. Don’t try to carry more than you can carry without dropping any. It ain’t likely that just droppin’ a stick would make it go, but I don’t want to take any chances. As you bring it to us, we’ll get it laid out in the ditch. As soon as we’ve got it laid out a ways, some of you can come along behind and fill the ditch up over the top of it. If you’ve got a big rock, don’t throw it into the ditch until there’s plenty of dirt on top of the dynamite. That could set it off too.’
He felt as if he had just made a long speech like a politician, but he needed to be sure they understood what to do. He waited to see if anyone had questions, but most had already started for the other side of the ridge where the dynamite waited.
By the time the first of them arrived with armfuls of the explosive, Sam had inserted the end of the shortest black-wick into a cap, crimping it tightly with his teeth. He opened the end of a stick of dynamite and inserted the cap into its center, rolling the paper carefully around it again. He laid it in the bottom of the ditch and positioned three more sticks directly on top of it. Then he and Oz began laying out dynamite in two overlapping rows in the bottom of the ditch. They were placed end to end in the two rows, so the ends of those in one row were exactly in the center of those in the row lying against its side.
Following his instructions, as he and Oz laid out the dynamite, Bart and Eduardo followed. They shoved dirt down on to the dynamite, packing it by hand around the explosive to cover it and keep it in place.
It was quickly apparent that they weren’t going to use half the dynamite he and Oz had secured. They began to lay three rows of the reddish brown cylinders instead of two, then increased it to four. Through the center of the dam they increased it to five rows.
By the time they had proceeded fifty feet, others began filling in the ditch, smoothing it over, erasing all signs of its presence.
They finished fully two hours earlier than Sam had hoped. By the soft light of the full moon, he walked
the length of the nearly finished dam. He looked at the moon’s reflection on the considerable lake already pent up behind it. He hoped it wasn’t deep enough yet to cause problems from the wall of water that would surge down the valley when the dam was breached.
As he thought of that surge of water, he mentally measured the distance of the creek from Kate’s house. He studied, in his mind’s eye, the lift of ground from creek to house, measuring how many feet of water would be necessary to threaten the house and yard.
He studied the backed up water in the newly formed reservoir again. He knew Kate and Billy should be in no danger, but his stomach was knotted in fear nonetheless.
He pulled the kerchief from his back pocket to wipe away the sweat from his face. As he did, he smelled again the fragrant piece of soft soap he still kept carefully saved within it. He had nearly run out of the soap Kate had placed amongst his things when he had abruptly and angrily left. When he was down to that one last sliver of the fragrant substance, he could not bring himself to use it. He kept it carefully wrapped in his kerchief, smelling it whenever he wiped sweat or dirt from his face. Every time, as now, it wakened the ache in his gut as if a mule had kicked him.
He stuffed the kerchief back into his pocket angrily, vowing again to get rid of that last reminder of what would never be. Even as he did, he knew deep down he wouldn’t ever be able to do so. He’d keep it there, and let it keep tearing his heart apart every time he smelled it, until it eventually lost its fragrance.
He strode to the end of the dam, where his tired crew waited. ‘Let’s erase as many signs of our presence as we can and get out of here,’ he said, his voice gruffer than he intended.
Nobody seemed to notice the abrupt harshness of his tone.
It was Bart that put the nagging worry in the back of his mind into words. ‘There’s gonna be a pretty big bunch o’ water barrelin’ down that valley when the dam blows,’ he observed. ‘You don’t reckon it’ll flood Kate out do you?’
Sam shook his head. ‘It shouldn’t. The house is quite a bit higher than the crick. It wouldn’t hurt to let her know about it, though, just in case.’
Eduardo eyed Sam appraisingly. ‘It would be the good thing for you to ride there and tell her what is about to happen.’
Sam glared at him in sudden anger, but held his tongue. When he had better control, he said, ‘You can let her know. She don’t want me on her place.’
‘I think she is wishing more than anything to have you on her place,’ Eduardo argued softly.
‘Now what would make you think that?’
‘My mother has visited her two or three times since you have come back. She says that Kate is a very miserable woman without you, and very much wants for you to come and say that you are sorry, so she can say so too.’
‘I got nothin’ to apologize for,’ Sam retorted. ‘She’s the one that kicked me off her place. If she’s got something to say, she’s the one that needs to come and say it. If your Ma’s been over there blabbin’, then she knows where I am.’
Eduardo nodded. ‘She knows. My mother has tried to tell her to ride over and talk to you, but it seems that she is just as stubborn as you are, my friend. She says it is you who must make the first move.’
Sam acted as if he were going to respond, then wheeled and stalked away instead. He busied himself with making sure the black-wicks were well hidden where they snaked over the top of the ridge. Using one of the tarpaulins that had covered the dynamite and wicks, he ensured that the ends of the wicks would stay perfectly dry until time for them to be lighted.
The first streaks of dawn were reaching fingers into the eastern sky as the four of them rode away, following the trail of the tired crew of workers that had dispersed as soon as the last of the dynamite was buried.
CHAPTER 18
After supper on a ranch is usually a time to sit around, swap tall tales, roll a couple of cigarettes and relax. This night on the H Bar V there was none of that casual atmosphere in evidence. It was replaced by a silent and tense air of expectation.
Most of the hands had already retired to the bunkhouse. Sam knew they would all turn in early, then lay sleepless in their bunks until the middle of the night. Then they would all saddle up and ride to what might well be the last place they would see in this world.
He, Oz, Bart, and Eduardo were already saddled. They were just getting ready to step into saddles, when the dogs announced the approach of a rider.
All four instinctively moved around behind their horses as they waited to see who would be arriving at this late hour.
The fading light caught a glint of reflection from a star on the rider’s vest as he trotted into the yard.
Hiram Spalding stepped out of the house to greet him. ‘Howdy Harm,’ he called out. ‘Ridin’ a little late in the day, ain’t you? You missed supper, but git down and come in. We’ll rustle up a bait o’ grub for you.’
Harm Denton stopped his horse half a dozen paces in front of the rancher. He stepped from the saddle. ‘Howdy, Hi,’ he responded.
Instead of answering the rancher’s invitation, he addressed the other four. ‘You boys look like you’re headin’ out kinda late.’
The four looked at each other uncertainly. As one, they turned their gazes back to Hiram, clearly seeking a cue from him about how much to entrust to the marshal.
Hiram showed no hesitation. ‘Busy night comin’,’ he confirmed the marshal’s observation. ‘Glad you just happened to show up.’
‘What’re you boys up to?’
‘Have you heard about the dam Russell’s built on Spring Crick?’
The marshal’s head jerked up. ‘Dam? On Spring Crick? That don’t even run through Russell’s place, does it?’
‘It runs through land he grazes, but you’re right. It’s government land. You know that spot where it goes through that red rock canyon?’
The marshal nodded. ‘I know the spot.’
‘He’s built a dam clear across the canyon there.’
The marshal stared at the rancher in disbelief. ‘Why, a dam across there would stop up Spring Crick for miles and miles. That’d put every outfit downstream from there plumb outa business.’
‘Not to mention it’s illegal, since it’s on government range.’
‘You gonna get an injunction?’
‘Too late. He’s already got the crick stopped up.’
‘So what are you boys aimin’ to do about it?’
Sam decided it might be best for him to offer the answer. ‘We thought maybe we’d ride over there and move that dam outa the canyon.’
The marshal stared incomprehendingly. ‘How in the world do you think you’re gonna do that?’
‘Three nights ago we laid enough dynamite in the middle of that dam to do the job. All we gotta do tonight is light it off.’
The marshal stared for a long moment, digesting the information.
‘I ain’t sure that’s entirely legal,’ he said finally.
‘Why not,’ Hiram challenged. ‘We’re just removin’ somethin’ from government range that had no legal right to be there in the first place. It’s no crime if we aren’t damagin’ anyone else’s property. It ain’t Russell’s property, ’cause it ain’t on his land.’
The marshal frowned a long moment, then slowly a grin spread out beneath his large mustache. ‘I’d have to say you’re plumb right. Mind if I ride along?’
‘Proud to have you,’ Sam responded at once.
‘That ain’t what brought you here, though,’ Hiram guessed.
‘Well, no, it ain’t. Actually, I rode over here to ask for a bit of help. I was hopin’ some of your boys would be willin’ to form up a posse to give me a hand servin’ a warrant.’
‘What kind of warrant?’
‘I found out there’s an old warrant on Russell from down in New Orleans. It seems he sorta disappeared with all the bankroll of a gamblin’ outfit an’ whorehouse that him and another fella was partners in. He killed the other fella in the
process, so there’s a warrant out for him, for both robbery and murder.’
Silence settled over the group like a gossamer shroud for a full minute, as each digested the information, and its ramifications.
Sam put their thinking into words. ‘When we blow that dam, Russell will plumb certain come ridin’ hell-for-leather with that whole gang o’ gun hands he’s got hired. He’ll be real anxious to wipe out the ones he’ll figure are responsible. We’re almost as certain what way he’ll come. We got it set up to be ready for ’em, and hopefully convince ’em to give up without a fight. That’d be the perfect time to arrest him.’
The marshal considered it for a long moment. Finally he said, ‘And you got this whole party set up for tonight, I take it?’
‘Yup.’
‘Done sent out the invitations, decorated the barn, an’ hired the fiddler, huh?’
Sam grinned. ‘We sorta left the barn out of it. Hiram’s kinda tetchy about his barn.’
‘Well, if I was to deputize this bunch you got ready, I reckon that’d make it an official act of the government to restore government range to its rightful condition, and bring to justice certain nefarious criminal elements of the territory.’
Eduardo mirrored Sam’s grin. ‘Now that is what I call feeling the sunshine of the saints smiling upon us. It is a sign, my friends. This night will be wondrous.’
‘Not to mention a heap o’ fun,’ Bart echoed.
‘Don’t go gettin’ to cocky,’ Sam cautioned. ‘Russell and his men ain’t likely to roll over without a fight.’
The cold reality of his words instantly chilled the growing sense of enthusiasm. Even so, it was better than any of them could possibly have hoped. As the five rode out together, Sam couldn’t keep his own spirits from soaring.