No Less Than the Journey (24 page)

CHAPTER 6

‘Now, tell me more about this man Gottland.’

Wes and Sheriff Murray were seated in the Trego Sheriff’s office. Behind them, a narrow bed had been made up in one of the iron-barred cages that formed the Trego lock-up.

After Wes had admitted knowing Ira Gottland, the Sheriff had said Wes could tell him more when he was safely ensconced in his gaol office.

Now, nursing a mug of coffee, Wes told Sheriff Murray of meeting Gottland in New Orleans and the subsequent events upriver that involved him, Aaron and the river pirates.

‘This Gottland sounds as though he’s both bad and clever,’ the Sheriff mused, ‘It’s a combination that spells trouble. I’ll have my deputies inquire around town and see what they turn up.’

Looking quizzically at Wes, he added, ‘One way or another you’ve had yourself quite a time of it since you arrived in America.’

Managing a weak grin, Wes said, ‘You haven’t heard the half of it, Sheriff. Throw in a riverboat wreck and a run-in with striking German miners and you’ll be getting close.’

‘It seems you can use a gun too, where did you learn that?’

‘My pa taught me how to handle a rifle,’ Wes replied, ‘but I’d never even seen a handgun until I came to America. Aaron Berryman showed me how to use one but it was an old mountain-man named Charlie Quinnell who kept me practising until he thought it was safe to leave me alone out here.’

‘You know Old Charlie as well?’ Sheriff Murray had been impressed when he learned that Wes knew US Marshal Aaron Berryman, but mention of Charlie really animated him. ‘I first met Old Charlie when I ran away from home to go trapping,’ Murray said, ‘He taught me to shoot as well and we hunted buffalo together for a while. He was more of a father to me than any kin I ever knew. How did you meet up with him? Last I heard, he was heading east with Buffalo Bill Cody.’

‘The East didn’t suit him …’ Wes told him of his own meeting with the old frontiersman and of their journey across Missouri and Kansas that culminated in their meeting with the US cavalry and Charlie going off with them in search of Indians, adding, ‘… The cavalry were from Fort Hays. I don’t know whether he’ll go back there with ’em when they’ve sorted out the Indians, but he and I were both heading for Colorado. Unless something happens to that bad-tempered mule of his he’ll be riding it across the Great Plains.’

‘We had a telegraph to say a whole parcel of Cheyenne and Arapaho braves were trying to make their way North to join up with the Cheyenne and Sioux up that way and a trainload of soldiers went through here, heading west, but I never imagined Old Charlie would be involved. He should be past all that by now.’

‘I wouldn’t say that to his face if I were you,’ Wes warned. ‘He doesn’t look upon himself as growing old. He’s even talking of taking a young Cheyenne wife somewhere along the way.’

Shaking his head in rueful admiration, the Sheriff said, ‘He’ll never change – but, talking of men with Cheyenne wives Eli said in his telegraph that he’ll be riding here tomorrow morning to see you.’

Sheriff Eli Wolfe left Lauraville at sun-up the following morning and was in Trego in time to share the breakfast brought to the lock-up for Wes and Sheriff Murray.

Wes was relieved Eli had not brought Tessa to Lauraville with him, the thought of such a possibility had kept him awake during the night although he had been dozing when Eli walked in.

The Lauraville sheriff was dismayed to see Wes’s weakened state. Shaking hands, he said, ‘Hell, Wes, why did you run out on me the way you did?’

‘Run out on you? It was your idea I should leave, remember?’

Sheriff Murray, who had been given only an outline by Wes of his reason for leaving Lauraville, waited with considerable interest for Eli’s reply.

Looking sheepish, Eli said, ‘That was before my run-in with the Denton’s. You saved my life, Wes, you must know that. They’d already told me I was going to die after they’d had a “little fun” with me. As for Tessa … she was upset because I’d come so close to being killed, but I swear she was even more upset when she found out you’d left Lauraville. It’s as much as I could do to stop her from riding out with me this morning.’

‘Then it’s just as well I left when I did, Eli. Tessa’s a great girl, she’s prettier than most and will grow up to be a bright and intelligent woman – but she’s still not much more than a child.’

‘I think she’d take issue with you on that, Wes – and her mother certainly would. Noni’s taken to reminding me that
she was no older than Tessa when she gave birth to her.’

‘That’s as may be, Eli, but although I like Tessa – and I do like her a lot – I don’t have the same feelings for her that you have for Noni. The last thing I would want to do is take advantage of the way she feels about me, she deserves better than that.’

‘I appreciate your concern for her, Wes, though neither she nor Noni would agree with either of us – but I’ve got something here Noni gave me for you to put on those bullet wounds of yours. It’s an ointment the Cheyenne women use on wounded braves – and it really works, believe me. Noni’s treated me with it twice now so I can vouch for it at first hand. I’ve got something else that should make you feel better too. There were hefty rewards out for the Dentons – and they’re yours. I hadn’t got the ready money at Lauraville and anyway, before I got the telegraph from Sheriff Murray I wasn’t sure where I’d find you, so I telegraphed the US Marshal’s office in Denver, asking Marshal Berryman to look out for you and pay the reward money when you arrived.’

‘That reminds me,’ said Sheriff Murray, who had been following their conversation, ‘I telegraphed Marshal Berryman in Denver too. One of my deputies has learned a great deal about Ira Gottland. A rumour is going around that he and the Denton’s were here because they’d planned to board a train travelling from Denver and rob the passengers and the boxcar of the gold that most trains from Denver carry to the East. The plan was never carried out because the army put men on board all trains in case they were attacked by the Cheyenne and Arapaho who are on the loose. Then, when the line was cut, out on the Great Plains, they gave up the idea altogether and the gang split up for a while. Gottland and Gideon Denton, with a couple of others left Trego on a train carrying a repair gang and some railroad parts up to the break. Once
there they’ll transfer to the railroad on the other side and catch a train on to Denver. They’ve been boasting about easy pickings up in the gold-diggings around that way. They left word for the other Denton brothers to join them there. Of course, they won’t be doing anything of the sort now, but there’s no doubt that they’ll get to hear of your part in the killing of the two Dentons in Lauraville. Gideon will be out for revenge, so you’d better make sure you’re up to dealing with him by the time you reach Denver, Wes. As sure as Hell’s hot you’re going to one day have to deal with Gideon Denton in the same way you did with his brothers.’

CHAPTER 7

Crossing the Great Plains on the train, Wes marvelled at the sheer vastness of the landscape. He almost wished he was traversing it on horseback in company with Old Charlie, ruefully conceding that his late partner might have already located the Indians for the cavalry and be in Denver before him.

The railroad link with Colorado had opened nine days after Wes’s arrival in Trego, but the first few trains en route for Denver had been so packed with passengers that it was another week before travel on the Kansas Pacific returned to normal and Wes was able to board a westbound train and enjoy any degree of comfort.

By this time his wounds had healed so well that even a usually sceptical Doctor Strauss admitted that the Cheyenne ointment probably contained a constituent unknown to qualified medical practitioners and which possessed positive healing qualities. He had written a letter to Eli Wolfe asking if his wife would provide him with the formula.

Eli duly obliged, but Noni knew only Cheyenne names for the various herbs and plants she had used and they meant
nothing to the frustrated doctor.

Despite Wes’s rapid recovery, he had not fully shaken off the effects of the Denton’s brother’s bullet and was ordered by the doctor to stay clear of trouble until he was fit once more.

As the train slowed on its approach to the Denver station, Wes was excited at the thought of meeting with Anabelita … but he was apprehensive too. It had been more than a month since they were last together. Much had happened in his life since then and no doubt a great deal had occurred in hers.

There was always the possibility there might be another man in her life … but this was something he had no wish to dwell upon. The first thing he needed to do was find out where she and the others were.

He had already decided he would begin his enquiries at the United States Marshals’ office. Even if Aaron was not there, someone should be able to tell him where he and the two women were staying.

Only minutes after the train came to a halt all Wes’s misgiving disappeared. Waiting until the majority of the passengers had disembarked, he was stepping from the train carrying his bag when from somewhere among the crowd about the train he heard a woman excitedly calling, ‘Wes…! Wes … over here!’

He recognized the voice immediately and looking over the heads of the crowd could see Anabelita literally jumping into the air in her efforts to attract his attention.

Waving an acknowledgement, he pushed his way through the throng and in the moments before she threw herself at him he saw a widely smiling Lola standing beside her, accompanied by a one-armed man.

He had no time to wonder about the absence of Aaron before he was caught up in Anabelita’s excited embrace.

For much of the journey on the Kansas Pacific train he had been silently rehearsing what he was going to say to her when they met again, but he had imagined it would take place in the privacy and quiet of her room somewhere, not in Denver’s crowded railroad station.

‘It’s good to see you again,’ he said, lamely, ‘… but how did you know I’d be arriving on this train?’

‘A telegraph message was sent to Aaron’s office. He’s away at the diggings in the mountains, but Pat brought it to us….’

‘Pat?’ Wes queried.

‘Yes, he came from Abilene with us, come and meet him … Oh, Wes! There’s so much to tell you … but it’s absolutely wonderful to be with you again….’

After greeting Lola, who was almost as effusive as Anabelita, Wes was introduced to Pat Rafferty. Informed that Wes had a horse and saddle in a horse box at the rear of the train, the one-armed man said he would collect them and take them to the stable at Aaron’s house.

Reluctant to lose sight of Anabelita for even a moment, Wes thanked Rafferty and said, ‘Shall we all make our way to the horse box, so I can show Pat which is my horse? She was chosen for me by Old Charlie and we’ve travelled a great many miles together. I’ve grown quite attached to her.’

‘Where is Old Charlie?’ Lola queried, ‘Did you spend much time together?’

‘There were times when I thought it was too much,’ Wes said, ruefully, ‘but to be honest we got along well enough most of the time. We parted company on the Smoky Hill trail, this side of Fort Hays, when he went off with the United States cavalry, chasing Indians. I’ve since heard they caught up with them and was hoping to find him here, in Denver.’

Anabelita was more familiar with the geography of the West than most women – or men – and she said meaningfully, ‘It
sounds as though you have a lot to talk about too … but it can wait, I’m just so happy you’re here….’

As she was speaking she gripped his left arm, above the elbow and squeezed it hard in affection causing him to let out an involuntary cry of pain.

He apologised immediately, but Anabelita was concerned, ‘What’s the matter, Wes … what did I do?’

‘It’s nothing. I hurt my arm a while ago … it’s almost better now, but still a bit tender.’

‘What do you mean, you hurt your arm? Let me see.’

‘No.’ Wes said firmly. Then, aware that she would not allow it to rest there, he confessed, ‘It’s a bullet wound. It grazed my ribs too … but it’s caused no permanent damage. I’m as right as rain now.’

‘No you’re not. I thought you looked pale when I first saw you getting off the train and decided you hadn’t been well. I wasn’t wrong, was I?’

She was interrupted by the quiet voice of Pat Rafferty who had overheard the conversation. He asked, ‘Does this have something to do with the reward that Aaron’s been authorized to pay you for the Denton brothers?’

When Wes nodded, Pat said, ‘I believe you saved the Federal government the cost of a hangman for two of them?’

‘I had no alternative,’ Wes said, defensively, ‘They both fired first – and one shot came close to settling things in their favour.’

‘I wasn’t criticizing you,’ Pat said, hastily, ‘Far from it, their demise was long overdue, but too many men – good men – have tried to get the better of them, and failed.’

‘Unfortunately, I believe there’s still another brother to be accounted for,’ Wes said, ‘Sheriff Murray said he’d heard he was somewhere in Colorado and had telegraphed the news to Aaron.’

‘That’s right, we’re talking of Gideon Denton. We missed him at the station and last we heard he was heading for the diggings up in the mountain with Ira Gottland and a few others of a similar ilk. That’s why Aaron has gone up there.’

‘Is Aaron up there on his own?’ Wes asked anxiously.

‘It’s how he prefers to work most of the time,’ Pat replied. ‘Besides, he hasn’t found anyone here to deputise yet.’

Concerned, Wes asked, ‘How far away are these diggings?’

Anabelita decided she had heard enough. ‘If you’re thinking of going up there to help Aaron you can forget it until I’ve seen that arm of yours and you’ve had it looked at by a doctor, right here in Denver. The last thing Aaron wants is to have to look after you as well as tending to his own business.’

‘I need to go up there to look for my uncle,’ Wes pointed out. Then, aware that Anabelita was genuinely concerned for him, he said, ‘but you’re right, of course. I need a few days to be certain my arm has healed properly. Do you know of somewhere in Denver where I can stay in the meantime?’

‘Yes,’ Anabelita replied, ‘in the house Aaron bought for all of us to stay in. It’s immediately behind the Thespian Club – Aaron’s gambling house – and was built to house actors and actresses who came to Denver to play in the Thespian Club when it was a theatre. Each of us have a room and there’s one for you too … if you want it. Come along, we have a lot of catching up to do….’