Lincoln County Series 1-3 (27 page)

They’d ridden the horses hard before stopping to give them a break. The men were edgy, being so close to finally catching the scum who’ve been causing havoc throughout the region. Jake knew the telegraph would have reached the next depot by now and hoped they sent men in the direction of the oncoming train as well. He’d also been privy to the fact that two United States Marshalls had been commissioned to bring this gang down. The outlaws didn’t stand a chance. But even with all of this, they still might be too late. Ed walked up to him, handing a canteen over to share. He splashed himself with the cool water while Ed spoke his mind. “I’m hoping they take Bethany off that train to no harm. We can track them if all they want is her.”

Jake squinted at him. “You really think they’ll be clean about it?”

Ed kicked around a rock near his boot. “Said I was hoping…didn’t say it was a set thing.”

“Suppose it’s always good to hope.”

After a short while, the men gathered the grazing horses and lit out again like there was a fire chasing after them.

*** *** ***

Andrew closed the newspaper he was reading and noticed Bethany seemed anxious. He didn’t know her from anybody, but promised Cameron he’d look after her until she got off at the next station. As an unofficial escort, he’d taken a seat across from her. She smiled wanly at his concerned attention, then looked out the window again.

“Everything all right, Mrs. Hoffman?”

With her eyes still looking outside the train she said, “I thought I saw someone I knew when I was getting on the train.”

Feeling uneasy he inquired, “Your husband? Cameron told me.”

She spared him a glance. “I believe I saw one of his men.”

He sat to attention. “Let’s say you did—what would that mean?”

She placed a gloved hand on the glass pane in thought. “It would mean they’re coming.”

*** *** ***

Jake put his ear to the track. “It’s warm, and there’s a low rumble.”

They’d cut across dry and crusted land and were a lot closer, taking about an hour of the train’s lead time away.

Thomas nodded. “We keep riding.”

Left to his thoughts now that the initial shot of adrenaline had departed his body, Jake couldn’t believe Cameron was going to have another child. Could her body handle it? He had no right to, but felt intense anger building up regarding Andrew. Both for getting her in that condition so soon after her last…incident and for abandoning her when she wasn’t even healthy, as she used to be. For her own good, he’d give Andrew a piece of his mind and make him get his tail end back home. The man was fortunate enough to have Cameron as his bride and he wasn’t living up to what she deserved. His mother could take care of herself. She was a tough old lady, strong in heart and spirit. It was Cameron who needed him right now and he aimed to assist in that.

Thomas held up his hand in an order to halt them. Once the horses ceased huffing and puffing, the men were able to listen. Jake recalled from travelling these parts once before that there was a large bend ahead just over the hills. Although they couldn’t see the train, it could now be heard, very faintly.

And so could the gunshots.

*** *** ***

Andrew heard gunfire before he could see the riders. He looked hard at Bethany, who seemed resigned. There seemed to be no fight in her. His first instinct was to get her out of sight.

She stopped him. “If they know you assisted me in any way, you’ll be dead.”

He found it hard to believe they would shoot down everyone on the entire train. “You need to hide. If they don’t know where you are maybe we can --”

“We can what?” she said. “Look around you, there’s old men, women and children on board. I won’t risk their lives for the sake of my lowly one. I will give myself up and hope to prevent violence.”

“Don’t say that. Your life is worth something. You don’t need to believe otherwise.”

“It’s too late to preach to me now, I’ve made my bed.”

He shook his head in disagreement. “Please, you must hide. It’s you they want and I will not make it easy for them.”

“Don’t help me, Preacher. I like your wife. She’s a good woman. You need to return to her in one piece.”

The gunfire was getting closer and suddenly the train was coming to a terrifying halt. It was not a controlled stop and he wondered if they might crash and that would be the end of it.

“They blocked the track with something.” She offered her knowledge, while holding herself steady.

Andrew was knocked back into his seat, a small child across the aisle held hands over her ears to protect against the horrible sounds of screeching wheels against iron. The train was slowing in short, jerking motions and he hoped that was a good thing. At least they’d know what they were up against when they could be still and see.

But the train’s movement didn’t cease until it crashed. It felt and sounded like the beast had been split in two.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Finally, Jake and the men were ascending the hill where he knew they’d be able to see the train’s location. He’d also hoped to get a glimpse of the number of men Hoffman had with him. Once he got to the top and peered down, he was not prepared for what he saw, and looking around the group catching up, he knew they were not either. Half of the train was suspended above the track, up and over a wall of large stones and the rest derailed completely. The train never stood a chance. It didn’t occur to Jake to wonder how on earth they managed those stones because he found himself in a rush alongside Thomas and his men. They were making way fast down the hill, guns drawn, ready for battle. As they drew closer, he could see bodies that must have been thrown from the train’s windows. An absurd gratefulness fell over him that Cameron had not boarded along with her husband. Rage began to build as he listened to the war cries of Thomas’s men and as the carnage from below began to sink in.

*** *** ***

He’d lost consciousness. Andrew lifted his head off the broken glass and placed the heel of his hand against his forehead. How long had he been out of it? His head felt like it was filled with water, heavy and unclear. He wiped the blood from his hands across his shirt and turned to Bethany. Seeing no visible injuries on her, he shook her awake. She’d either fainted from shock or hit her head as well, but she opened her eyes and tried to focus on him. It was also clear that she remembered they were in danger because she sprang into survival mode. He searched around at his feet until he reached his luggage, feeling around until he came in contact with the cool handle of his gun. The car they were in appeared to be tilted upon something, making it difficult to gain footing. That might be to their advantage as it would make it harder for the enemy to walk aboard and finish what they came to do. Swiping at the flow of blood stubbornly trickling into his left eye, he made his way across the aisle to rouse others. Those already awake he told not to panic, to stay put and lay low.

“Anyone else have a gun?” He inquired of them.

Four men raised their guns into the air and stood up as levelly as possible. Two women joined them, one of them Bethany. With him that was seven and he was pleased with that. The door to their car was being worked on. Apparently the outlaws were going to find a way in, despite the angle. Andrew was no captain, but no one else seemed to be stepping up so he dedicated himself as leader. No sense telling them this whole scenario was because they wanted Bethany. He wouldn’t risk them throwing her to the wolves, even if she thought she deserved it. He whispered to her, “Do not give yourself up. I mean it. Trust that this will work itself out.”

Just then they heard additional gunfire and the attack on the door ceased. He was perplexed. Were folks from the other cars taking a stand? Andrew did his best to look out a broken window but his view was the side of the mountain. He needed to cross over the aisle. The wreckage was great and he couldn’t make heads or tails of which part of the train lay where. But what he did see was a shoot out between men hailing down the hillside and the men trying to get in the door. This gave him much hope.

“We have help!” he told the others. “We need to barricade that door, not let them in. Shoot outside the windows, but don’t fire at the men from the hill—they’re with us. We’ll be a distraction.”

One of the men waving a gun weighed in. “Good idea,” he said and began firing.

Clumsily, the women put all they could in front of the sliding steel door while the men reigned down what bullets they had. Wanting to conserve bullets, in the case they made it inside, Andrew hastily ordered, “Hold fire! Save some ammunition.”

They held steady now that the group from the hill was on level ground. But the firing from outside did not let up and he wondered how long they had to find out who was winning.

*** *** ***

Jake counted nine men already—how many more were there? Hoffman had quite an outfit working under him. Nine, possibly more, against their group of six was doable, but there likely were more up ahead, where he had yet to see. He went out of range of the bullets hailing from the train and signaled to Thomas that he was going to ride up to the front. He’d scout ahead to see if there were more men to watch for. He kicked his horse and rode off, refusing to look at the scattered bodies strewn about the ground. Any survivors would have to wait out the gunfight. He couldn’t afford to see who they were—they’d only sidetrack him from his target. It was just the way it was. No time to rescue anybody and nowhere to put them if they were alive. They were most likely safer on the ground, and if they were wise, they’d play dead if they weren’t already.

He spotted two men at the front of the train having away at the safe, trying to bust it open. Jake eyed the dead engineer and the dead conductor lying grossly at the robbers’ feet. As they pulled out dynamite to help along the safe, he said, “Best be careful. That’s some dangerous stuff you got there, boys.”

He was faster at pulling the trigger than they were.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Once things outside began to settle down, Andrew saw Thomas ride towards the back of the train and relief rushed over him. He turned to tell Bethany they would be safe when he heard a crashing sound. A man broke through the glass next to her. As fast as he could, with equilibrium fighting him all the way, Andrew stumbled towards her. The man got to her first, and she was fast locked in his grip. Without a choice, he held up his hands in surrender. He wouldn’t push the man to harm anyone.

“Jimmy, you have me now,” Bethany pleaded. “Please don’t do anything else.”

He sneered, pulling her back against him. “Which of these men did you get on here with?”

She was silent.

He pointed a gun at one of the passengers. “Was it him?”

“No!” She shouted. “What are you talking about? I’m traveling alone!”

“Don’t lie to me. Silas saw you get on board with someone.” He swept his gun around until it settled on another. “Tell me now or I’ll begin to shoot at random. A sure fire way to nail him.” His laugh was on the side of insane.

“Please, darling,” she begged. I’m telling you the truth. I came alone.”

Jimmy shot the man in the leg.

Andrew stepped forward. “It was me. She came on board with me.”

Bethany fought to get free, giving Andrew time to reach for his gun. Her husband grabbed a tighter hold of her and warned, “If you make another move, she’s dead and you’re dead. Now let’s chat shall we?” He smiled perversely and signaled Andrew to have a seat.

Confused as to why he hadn’t been shot yet, Andrew complied, but he wasn’t going to play this man’s game. He prayed for courage and wisdom. Bethany was pushed into him and they sat together under the scrutiny of an illogical man. Softly, Bethany tried again in the submissive tone as before. “I only love you, Jimmy. I am traveling alone. He is a preacher, headed in another direction. I beg you to believe me.”

“Where were you going?” he asked her point blank.

She struggled with her words. He got increasingly agitated.

“I was getting off at the next depot to go home… to my father.”

“You are lying! He doesn’t want anything to do with you.”

“I’m not. I wrote him.”