Ralph Compton Train to Durango (19 page)

Silver, keeping to alleys and less-traveled streets, made his way to the back of the old house belonging to Monique and Louise. Both women were at the table, drinking coffee.

“Where are your friends?” Monique asked.

“Taking care of some important business,” said Silver. “I'll be upstairs a while.”

“Just a minute and you can take some coffee with you,” Louise said.

“Thanks,” Silver said, accepting the cup. He went on up the stairs, taking them two at a time. Silver took his place at the window, and there was no sign of Drade Hogan. Most of an hour passed before there was any activity at the Hogan house. Then a freight wagon with a wooden box body drew up in front of the house, as though a delivery man was seeking an address. A sign painted on the wooden side of the wagon read: FREIGHTING AND HAULING. Silver waited until the wagon turned, losing sight of it as it went behind Hogan's house. He left the room in a run, only to encounter the naked Priscilla in the hall.

“What's your hurry?” Priscilla asked, blocking his path. “It's just you and me.”

Silver said nothing. He lifted her bodily and thrust her back past the doorway through which she had come. He then closed the door behind her and hurried down the hall. When he reached the rear of the Hogan house, a big man had lowered the tailgate of the wagon and was wrestling a heavy crate into it.

“Hold it,” said Silver. “I want to see who that's going to, and where it's going.”

“My name's Moynihan,” the hefty teamster said. “I been told to pick up and deliver this piece of freight, and I'm doin' it. Just who the hell are you, and what business is it of yours?”

“My name's Silver, and here are my credentials,” said Silver.

“Federal man, huh?” he said, looking Silver over critically.

“I'm not going to interfere with your pickup and delivery,” said Silver. “I need to see to whom it's addressed and where it's going. Then you can be on your way.”

“I reckon I can't get in trouble over that,” Moynihan said doubtfully. “Do what you got to do.”

Quickly Silver looked at the address. It read D. Hogan, Durango, Colorado.

“That's all, Moynihan,” said Silver. “Thanks.”

“You're welcome, I reckon,” Moynihan said.

Going in the back way, Silver returned to the upstairs room and took up his position before the window. It was an hour before sundown when Hogan finally appeared. Within a few minutes, Wes and El Lobo arrived.

“It's almighty dull, looking at Hogan's office building for seven hours,” said Wes, “and after all that, just followin' him back to here.”

Silver laughed. “You and Palo did what Hogan expected all of us to do. He had to get us away from the house for a while, so he could dispose of the gold he withdrew from the banks this morning.”

Silver then told them what he had learned.

“That means the stolen gold will be sent there,” Wes said.

“Per'ap it already be there,” said El Lobo.

“That's a possibility we have to consider,” Silver said.

“Hawk and Denbow,” said Wes. “Maybe that's where they fit in. Remember, we found their names written on a scrap of paper when we invaded the Dragon headquarters in San Francisco.”
³¹

“I haven't forgotten them,” Silver said. “Instead of riding all over southern Colorado, looking for them and the stolen gold, we'll let Hogan lead us to them.”

“That much makes sense,” said Wes. “but how does Hogan plan to get to Durango without us following?”

“I think he's counting on that,” Silver said. “Why do you reckon he was meeting with that bunch on Cherry Creek?”

“He'll have a dozen killers waiting for us,” said Wes.

“That many, or more,” Silver said. “The showdown's coming,
amigos
, and it may well be a fight to the death.”

“When Hogan runs,” said Wes, “do you aim for us to board the same train?”

“Definitely,” Silver said, “but we won't be traveling in a passenger coach. I intend to talk to the railroad officials in the morning. If we can't ride the caboose, we'll ride with our horses, in a boxcar. We'll get aboard well ahead of Hogan, and let him wonder where we are.”

“
Sí
,” said El Lobo, weary of following Hogan.

“But Durango's just a few shacks alongside the track,” Wes said. “Hogan can't stay there for any longer than it takes for us to catch up to him.”

“He won't be staying there,” said Silver.

“He'll need a wagon to move all that gold,” Wes said. “Where do you reckon he'll try to take it?”

“Into Mexico, if I had to guess,” said Silver. “If he goes south, after leaving Durango, it'll be hell with the lid off. It's the most treacherous country—with deep arroyos and drop-offs—I've ever seen. It would be rough going, with pack mules, and near impossible with a wagon.”

“Then we can just wait until he recovers the gold and heads out for wherever he aims to go,” Wes said, “and catch him red-handed.”

“Sounds simple enough,” said Silver, “but I think we're going to find ourselves facing an army of gunmen.”

•   •   •

Durango, Colorado, April 23, 1885

Blanton Hood and his eleven companions had been in Durango a day and a night, and boredom had already overtaken them.

“Damn it,” said Easterly, “one crummy saloon, and it ain't got any decent whiskey.”

“Yeah,” Bender said. “It's so dull here, I feel like goin' out and shootin' the first gent that I see. Nothin' to do but eat and sleep.”

“Oh, cut out the whining,” said Blanton Hood. “How often do you pocket fifty dollars a day for doin' nothing?”

“Maybe he's right,” Illivane said. “If the federals want Hogan bad enough to chase him here, we may soon be earning our money. Who is this federal boogey man, anyhow?”

“Bryan Silver,” said Hood. “He represents the U.S. attorney general's office, and he's hard as hell to kill. He's sided by a pair of gun-throwers—Wes Stone and Palo Elfego—who are as tough as he is, and fast as forked lightning with a pistol.”

“I've heard of them all,” Illivane said, remembering Hampton, Lawton, and Damark in jail in Dodge City.

The eight men who had been riding with Illivane kept their silence, realizing that the man they now worked for had sent them thirty thousand dollars, which they had failed to earn. Instead, they had fled Indian Territory when they believed the government was sending soldiers, leaving their three comrades in the Dodge City jail.

“Let's go over to the saloon and play a few hands of poker,” said Ginsler. “Their brew ain't the best, but it's better than nothin'.”

“Don't swig too much of that rotgut,” Hood said. “We don't know when Hogan will be here, and when he comes, I don't want nobody hung over.”

There being little else to do, most of Durango's citizens gathered for the coming of the morning train from Denver, and for its return from Santa Fe to Denver later in the day. This day, the evening train from Santa Fe backed a flat car off onto the side track. On the car, chained securely, was a brand-new freight wagon. The bows were in place, but the canvas was neatly folded in the wagon box. There was more than the wagon on the flat car, but it was covered with canvas and lashed down securely.

“I can't imagine who would want a freight wagon in a little place like this,” Concho said. “They got a railroad straight through to Denver.”

“Somebody that ain't goin' to Denver,” said Illivane. “I'd bet a double eagle against a Mex peso that fancy rig belongs to Hogan.”

“He aims to take a damn wagon across country, from here to Yuma? What's he takin' with him that needs a wagon?”

“Gold, maybe,” Illivane said. “For sure, I aim to find out. Why go for a bounty that may or may not be there, when Hogan may be haulin' a hundred times as much in that wagon?”

Concho laughed. “So we shoot one
hombre
instead of three.”

“Wrong,” said Illivane. “Somehow, Hogan managed to steal a pile of gold from the federals, and they won't let it go. We double-cross Hogan, and we'll still be up against Silver and his gun-throwing pards.”

“Well, hell,” Concho said, “we got to kill them anyhow if we play square with Hogan. You goin' to talk to Hood about this?”

“No,” said Illivane. “Why should I? The cheap bastard was payin' us fifty dollars a day when there's a fifty-thousand-dollar bounty on the heads of Silver and his gunslingers. I think we'll deal ourselves some cards and play out our own hand. If anybody sides Hood, it'll be Ginsler and Arrington, and there's nine of us against the three of them.”

“Yeah,” Concho said. “When you aim to tell the others?”

“Not for a while,” said Illivane. “We'll play both ends against the middle. We'll wait for Hogan and see what he aims to haul in that wagon. If it's gold, like we think, we'll go from there. But not a word of this to anybody, until I'm ready for them to know.”

•   •   •

Southeastern Arizona, April 25, 1885

“How far you reckon we are from Durango?” Hobie Denbow asked again.

“Not more than a hundred miles,” said Elias Hawk. “As I recall from a territorial map I once saw, we'll be a little more than halfway to Yuma, after we've crossed the Little Colorado.”

“I've heard some scary things about the rivers in this canyon country,” Denbow said. “If the river's down in a deep gorge, we may have to hunt all over hell, lookin' for some place to get the wagon across.”

“We'll worry about that when the time comes,” said Hawk. “We'd better rest the teams for a while. Then you can take the reins.”

•   •   •

Denver, Colorado, April 25, 1885

“He's about ready to run,” Silver said, as they watched Hogan enter the railroad depot.

“He'll have to arrange for a wagon,” said Wes. “There'll be no extra horses and no wagon in Durango.”

“Tomorrow,” said Hogan to the dispatcher, “I'll be leaving for Durango, and I'm taking four horses with me. I'll need a boxcar.”

“You got it,” the dispatcher said. “Be here at least half an hour before train time.”

From the depot, Silver, Wes, and El Lobo followed Hogan to a livery.

“I need three horses capable of pulling a wagon,” Hogan told the hostler.

“Three?” said the hoster. “You'll need four.”

“I have one,” Hogan said impatiently. “How much?”

“A hundred dollars apiece,” said the hostler.

“Here's your money, along with a little extra,” Hogan said. “I want them taken to the railroad depot in the morning, three-quarters of an hour before train time.”

Leaving the livery, Hogan rode back to the house. Going through his dresser drawers and closet, he carefully chose only the clothing that would fit into his carpetbag. Silver, Wes, and El Lobo were about to enter the women's house from the alley, when Silver paused and spoke.

“You and Palo go on in. I'd better make some arrangements with the railroad for us and our horses. I have an idea we may be leaving on short notice.”

“We're ready to go on short notice,” Silver said, when he returned. “We'll be riding in the caboose, and there'll be a boxcar for our horses. The station agent allowed something to slip that I found interesting. There'll be another boxcar with four horses aboard.”

“Hogan,” said Wes. “He must have a wagon somewhere in Durango.”

“We'll continue watching his house,” Silver said. “The moment he heads for the depot, we'll follow. But not close enough for him to see us.”

“He'll see us when we load the horses,” said Wes.

“We aren't going to be loading them,” Silver said. “Hogan's horses will be loaded first. Ours won't be loaded until he's boarded the train, and one of the railroad men will take care of that. We'll climb aboard the caboose just as the train's pulling out. Let him search the passenger coaches and wonder where we are.”

•   •   •

Denver, Colorado, April 26, 1885

Silver, Wes, and El Lobo had been watching the Hogan house all night, and not until an hour before train time did Hogan emerge.

“He has a carpetbag,” said Silver. “This may be it.”

Monique and Louise had breakfast on the table.

“Sorry,” Silver said. “I wish we had time to eat, but it looks like our bird's ready to fly away on the morning train. In case we don't get back this way, your generosity is most appreciated.”

Silver was out the door, Wes and El Lobo right behind him, before the two women could react. Taking their time getting to the livery, the men waited until they could hear the whistle of the approaching train before starting for the depot. From a distance, they could see Hogan standing beside his saddled horse. A hostler held three more horses on lead ropes. The horses were led up a ramp into the boxcar, and the sliding door was closed. Hogan didn't board the train immediately, but stood there looking around. Finally, when the train blew a departing blast from its whistle, Hogan boarded one of the passenger coaches. Only then did Silver, Wes, and El Lobo ride in behind the caboose. A brakeman took their horses to a boxcar directly behind the one Hogan had ordered. Silver, Wes, and El Lobo then climbed into the caboose.

“My name's Shawnessy,” said the brakeman, when he returned.

“I'm Bryan Silver. This is Wes Stone and Palo Elfego. We're obliged to the railroad for allowing us to travel in the caboose.”

“Glad to have you,” Shawnessy said. “Our orders are to help you any way we can.”

Shawnessy asked no questions, and none of his three passengers volunteered any information, so there was no conversation. The train stopped at Silverton long enough to take on water and unload some freight. With a clanging of its bell and a shriek of its whistle, the train lurched into motion. The next stop would be Durango.

•   •   •

The Little Colorado River, April 26, 1885

Elias Hawk and Hobie Denbow had discovered that the Little Colorado was, indeed, a difficult river to cross with a loaded wagon.

“Damn such a river,” said Denbow. “We must of come thirty miles out of our way, lookin' for a crossing. We should of gone on downstream a ways. These canyons are only gettin' deeper and wider.”

“Use your head,” Hawk said angrily. “Every mile we traveled downstream would take us that much farther from where we have to go. If all else fails, we can follow this river to where it forks off from the Colorado, and then follow the Colorado to Yuma.”

“Ain't you forgettin' something? We got the gold, so Hogan won't need a wagon. Him and his killers can ride us down. We got no time to spare,” said Denbow.

“Thanks,” Hawk said with some sarcasm. “I could never have figured that out by myself. We have no choice but to go on the way we're headed.”

•   •   •

Durango, Colorado, April 26, 1885

With clanging bell, the train rolled into Durango and shuddered to a stop.

“Shawnessy,” said Silver, “we're going to remain in here as long as we can. We have three horses and our saddles in a boxcar. Will you see that they're unloaded just before the train pulls out?”

“I'll do it,” Shawnessy said. “Good luck.”

When Shawnessy had gone, Silver climbed an iron ladder that led to the glassed-in cupola on top of the caboose.

“See anything?” Wes asked.

“Yes,” said Silver. “On a side track, there's a flat car with a brand-new freight wagon. It must have been brought in from Santa Fe, and I'm betting it belongs to Hogan. There go some railroad men with a ramp.”

“And here's Shawnessy with our horses,” Wes said.

There was a warning bellow from the locomotive's whistle signaling departure.

“Let's go,” said Silver. “If that's Hogan's wagon, he'll be occupied with it for a while.”

Hogan was indeed busy, for the gunmen he had hired had met the train.

“I don't see nobody follerin' you,” Blanton Hood said suspiciously.

“You didn't see that other boxcar, with their horses?” Hogan asked. “Damn it, they're somewhere on that train. I told you they'll be following me. Now help me harness the horses to this wagon.”

“You didn't tell us you aim to take a wagon through canyon country,” said Hood.

“That's no business of yours,” Hogan snapped. “You're being paid to see that I reach Yuma alive.”

“Hell,” said Illivane, “it'll take forever to get there in a wagon. You'll be lucky to get across the Little Colorado on a horse.”

“Let me worry about that,” Hogan said. “Concern yourselves with the three who will be following us. That's where the bounty is.”

When the team had been harnessed, Hogan drove to the depot, where he picked up the heavy crate with the gold he had withdrawn and sent ahead.

“Now what?” Hood demanded.

“I have something more to load,” said Hogan. “All of you are welcome to wait for me here. Then we'll head south.”

“Since we're riskin' our necks to get you to Yuma,” Hood said, “we'll just stick with you. Lead out.”

There was no help for it, so Hogan started for the mine. Not only did he have a band of suspicious killers following him, he soon would have to settle with Hawk and Denbow. Hogan reined up a good distance from the mine and climbed down from the wagon box.

“All of you wait here,” said Hogan, drawing his Colt. “There may be trouble.”

Hood laughed. “That's what you hired us for, bucko. We're goin' with you.”

Hogan had dire misgivings, but there was little he could do. His Colt cocked, he stepped into the tunnel.

“Anybody here?” Hogan shouted.

Only the sound of the wind whispered through nearby trees. Hogan went deeper into the tunnel, unsure as to how he might open Hawk's hidden door. But to his surprise, the door stood partially open, and Hogan paused in what had been the living quarters for Hawk and Denbow.

“Well, go on, damn it,” said Hood. “The door's open.”

“Then you go first,” Hogan said, stepping aside.

Hood seized one of the ladder-back chairs and flung it through the door. It skittered across the stone floor of the cavern, and there were almost simultaneous bellows from two shotguns. One load slammed into the partially open door, chest-high.

“Well,” said Hood, “you aim to go in there and look around?”

“I don't need to,” Hogan said. “I've been double-crossed. They had to use a wagon and it had to leave tracks. We'll follow it.”

“Like hell,” said Hood. “Our deal was to get you to Yuma alive.”

“We're still going to Yuma,” Hogan said desperately, “but not until I catch up to the scoundrels who robbed me.”

Hood laughed. “Robbed you of what?”

“None of your damn business,” said Hogan.

“Then maybe we'll just track it down and make it our business,” Hood said. “Some of you look around and see if you can find wagon tracks.”

“There's a wagon over yonder,” said Illivane.

“Their old one,” Hogan said.

“Wagon tracks headin' south,” said Ginsler.

“In that case,” Hood said, “we'll follow. Maybe they're bound for Yuma too.”

Drade Hogan said nothing. He had a strong suspicion that Hawk and Denbow would be leaving the country if they reached Yuma ahead of him.

“I'll travel as fast as I can,” said Hogan. “I want you
hombres
behind me, because the three that's after me will be coming.”

“Let ‘em come, and get that bounty ready,” Hood said. “We'll do a little bushwhackin' and find out just how hard these varmints are to kill. Easterly, Bender, and Arrington, I want you to fall back and unlimber your Winchesters.”

Silver, Wes, and El Lobo had been close enough to observe Hogan and his companions enter the mine. They also heard the two shotgun blasts. Then they watched, as some of the men studied the ground. Finally, with Hogan again on the wagon box, they all headed south.

“Trip wires,” said Silver. “If I'm any judge, the
Señor
Hogan has been double-crossed, and Hogan's taking this bunch to go after the culprits.”

“They're all headin' south,” Wes said. “The Mexican border, you reckon?”

“I doubt it,” said Silver. “Since you and Palo raised so much hell last year in Mexico, the Mexican government looks with suspicion on Yankees of any stripe.”
³²

“Yuma close to water,” El Lobo said. “Sailing ship, per'ap?”

“Palo, that may be the answer,” said Silver. “From Yuma, it's practically a stone's throw to the Gulf of California. A sailing ship could anchor far enough off-shore, and be out of reach of American authorities, while being ignored by the Mexicans.”

“So we don't know if Hogan was headed for Yuma,” Wes said. “He could be in pursuit of whoever double-crossed him and lit out with the gold.”

“That's about the only thing that makes sense, whether it's Hogan making tracks, or the gents who double-crossed him,” said Silver.

As they continued following Hogan's wagon and the hoof prints left by a dozen riders, it became more obvious the trail was leading southwest.

“I think we'd better be prepared for an ambush,” Wes said. “Just because somebody's done Hogan out of most of his gold, he likely won't forget about us.”

“We no have the
perro
with us,” said El Lobo.

“No,” Wes said, “and I regret leaving him behind. Empty's saved my life more than once, sniffing out bushwhackers.”

“We'll split up,” said Silver. “I'll continue following the wagon. Wes, you'll ride maybe a mile to the east, and Palo, you'll ride a mile or so to the west. Look for tracks where riders may have doubled back.”

“Why don't you let me take the ride down the middle?” Wes said. “If Palo or me fail to spot the bushwhackers in time, they could drill you dead-center.”

“Because I know you and Palo won't fail,” said Silver. “Now ride.”

Wes and El Lobo kicked their horses into a lope, leaving in opposite directions, while Silver continued following the tracks of Hogan's wagon. It was Wes who found the fresh tracks of three horses, circling wide, heading back the way they had come. Bryan Silver was in grave danger, and Wes kicked his horse into a fast gallop. He had to spring the trap before Silver rode within Winchester range. The three bushwhackers heard the galloping horse and began firing at Wes. But he reined up, just out of reach. The firing had served as a warning to Silver, and El Lobo came in riding hard, Winchester in hand. The three bushwhackers gave it up and rode madly to catch up with their comrades.

“Well?” said Blanton Hood, when Easterly, Bender, and Arrington reined up.

“They was ready for us,” Arrington said. “One of ‘em stayed on the trail, while the other two flanked us.”

“So you all turned tail like a bunch of scairt wolves,” said Hood.

“Our cover wasn't that good,” Easterly said. “Hell, I ain't gettin' myself ventilated for a bounty that's to be split twelve ways.”

“That goes double for me,” said Bender.

“I reckon I'll have to go along with that,” Arrington said. “A surprise bushwhacking is one thing, but by God, when they're waitin' for me with Winchesters, that's where I draw the line.”

“Damn the three of you,” said Blanton Hood. “Now we'll have one hell of a time bushwhacking them, if we're able to at all.”

“What was the shooting about?” Hogan asked, slowing his teams.

“Failed ambush,” said Hood. “Get them teams moving.”

A mile and a half behind, Wes and El Lobo came together with Silver.

“
Bueno
,” Silver said. “We'll stay back behind them, well out of range for a while, and let them think about that failed bushwhacking. They'll try again, and when they do, we'll rush them from three sides and gun them down.”

But the outlaws, while watching their back trail, made no further attempts to ambush their pursuers.

“I'm a mite tired of this,” said Wes. “We could move in at night and give ‘em hell with our Winchesters.”

“We could,” Silver said, “but Hogan's headed for a showdown with whoever's taken the gold. When all these coyotes are bloodied from fighting among themselves, we'll move in. Right now, we're out-gunned four to one. We'll follow along for a while, yet.”

•   •   •

The Little Colorado River, May 2, 1885

“They had trouble finding a place to cross,” Hogan said exultantly. “This is our chance to catch up to them.”

Blanton Hood said nothing. He was well aware that Illivane had been talking quietly to the eight men who had long been riding with him. Nothing had been said to Arrington or Ginsler, friends of Blanton Hood, but Hood kept his silence. He had long heard rumors of Drade Hogan's wealth, and he was virtually certain they were in pursuit of those riches. When at last they caught up to that elusive wagon, Hood would make his move.