High Gun at Surlock (2006) Read online

  Strap shrugged indifferently.

  ‘Some say he’s the quickest hand next to God, but I’ve never seen him in action.’

  ‘I hear he shot and killed the Santa Fe Kid in a stand-up fight. The Kid was supposed to be uncommonly good with a shooting-iron.’

  ‘Never seen him in action either.’ Strap dismissed the story. ‘If I was sitting on the Yates side of the fence, Phoenix wouldn’t scare me.’

  ‘You’ve been involved in a gunfight or two, have you?’

  ‘I took Cory Yates right on the main street of town some time back,’ he bragged. ‘Fifteen feet apart when we both drew down – killed him dead before he cleared leather.’ Strap uttered a grunt of satisfaction. ‘Nope, Phoenix don’t scare me none.’

  Kyler changed the subject. ‘Am I to report in to the boss after each trip?’

  ‘Not unless you had a run-in or some trouble. Me or Mugs will let you know when to make your next haul. You can take a couple days off.’

  ‘Good. I could use a little rest.’

  Strap swung about and sauntered down the street. He had a swagger like the biggest dog in the pack. Kyler had met his kind a thousand times during his tour with the carnival. All were cut from the same mold: arrogant and cocksure. They thought themselves invincible until someone cut them down to size. He wondered how many lives he had saved by besting and even embarrassing some of those would-be gunmen.

  ‘So, you going to stand out here growing roots like a lame-brain?’ Nat asked, having silently come up behind him. ‘Or are you ready for a little shut-eye?’

  ‘I’m headed that way.’

  ‘Good enough,’ Nat approved. ‘You need to get plenty of rest tonight, ’cause I need you to lend a hand with some fencing tomorrow.’

  ‘Fencing?’

  ‘I don’t aim to tend horses till one of them kicks the stuffings out of me, sonny boy. I own a little place a mile or so out of town. Got to put up a fence so I can raise me a crop of corn next year.’

  ‘You’re going to be a farmer?’

  ‘You got something against farming?’

  ‘Not a thing. I just don’t see you wearing bib-overalls and a floppy, worn-out hat, standing out in the sun and hoeing weeds day after day.’

  Nat tipped his head in the direction Strap had taken.

  ‘I seen you talkin’ to Adere. He likes to think he casts a tall shadow, but Phoenix is the one I’d be watching out for.’

  ‘We all work for the same company,’ Kyler replied easily. ‘No need for me to worry much about either one.’

  Nat snorted. ‘I ain’t as green as the first blade of spring grass, sonny.’

  Kyler frowned. ‘What is that supposed to mean?’

  ‘Who do you think sent the letter to Judge Tate? Why do you think I took up all friendly-like with you right off?’

  ‘You wrote the letter?’ Kyler asked, surprised. ‘But you work for Huxton.’

  ‘The man pays me to tend his animals and have them ready when they’re needed. He ain’t paying me blood-money to help run the Yates family out of business.’

  ‘You could be at risk telling me,’ Kyler warned.

  Nat spat a stream of tobacco juice into the dust.

  ‘You’re the man Tate sent to handle this chore.

  I’m curious, how you going to deal with a passel of hostile gunmen?’

  ‘Nothing to deal with yet, Nat. I haven’t seen any evidence of wrongdoing by Huxton or his men. I don’t think they trust me yet.’

  ‘Yeah, well, whilst you’ve been walking about with your head in a bucket, I’ve been doing some proper snooping. There’s going to be an “accidental” fire in the next day or two … out at the Yates place. They have a small ranch west of town where they breed their own draft horses and raise grain and hay for feed. They’ve been growing and working at this freight business for a good many years.’

  ‘Miss Yates pointed out as much for me,’ Kyler told him.

  ‘Anyhow, they’ve got a big barn, filled with their summer supplies. I overheard Strap and Mugs discussing how to make a fire look like an accident. Them two fellers sure enough intend some mischief.’

  Kyler rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

  ‘If I knew when they were going to set the fire,’ he said, ‘I might be able to thwart their plans.’

  ‘I’ll keep an ear to the window and try to find out.’

  ‘I appreciate the help, Nat. This is a big chore for only one man.’

  The old man nodded his agreement and spat again.

  ‘Yep,’ he gave a snort, ‘it’s likely a big enough chore to maybe get us both killed.’

  CHAPTER FOUR

  It was hot the next afternoon. Nat left with a wagon to get a second load of fence posts, while Kyler continued to dig holes. Pausing to wipe the sweat from his brow, he became aware of someone’s presence. He pivoted around swiftly, hand dipping toward his gun.

  He did not draw, however, as he recognized the visitor as Jessie Yates. She sat atop her big stallion, a few feet from where he had tethered Nipper. The young woman regarded him with an unreadable expression.

  ‘Howdy, Miss Yates,’ he said in greeting. ‘You’re a long way from home.’

  ‘Did you trade in your teamster job to become a farmer?’ she taunted him.

  ‘Helping a friend,’ he replied.

  ‘There’s a surprise,’ she teased again. ‘You have a friend?’

  Kyler put down the shovel and walked toward her.

  ‘I’d admire to be your friend too.’ He offered up a genuine sincerity. ‘I’m not such a bad guy.’

  The young woman tilted her head toward Nipper.

  ‘I thought maybe you’d give me a second chance to beat your nag.’

  ‘Yeah?’ he said, looking at her closely enough to detect an odd gleam in Jessie’s eye. What was she up to?

  ‘Just you and me this time.’ She smiled the challenge. ‘If you have the nerve.’

  He frowned at the challenge.

  ‘It’s pretty hot for running the horses.’

  ‘That’s a lame excuse,’ she retorted. ‘I think you’re afraid of being bested by a girl.’

  A warning bell sounded in Kyler’s head, but he could not figure out her angle.

  What’s the wager?’

  ‘If you win,’ she replied, displaying an impish simper, ‘you claim the prize … within reason.’

  ‘And if you win?’ he asked warily.

  ‘I return with your horse and you walk back – carrying your saddle.’

  Kyler paused to consider the contest.

  ‘If I win,’ he said carefully, ‘you have to allow me a dance next Saturday night.’

  Those words caused a frown to cloud her face.

  ‘I don’t know about that. My brothers might decide to string you up with a strong rope.’

  Kyler took hold of Nipper’s reins.

  ‘I’m not afraid of your brothers.’

  ‘You should be.’

  He maintained the dare. ‘You’re the one asking for a second race.’

  She laughed at his bravado.

  ‘Climb aboard your champion, Mr Dane. It’s a little over a mile to Miller’s Crossing, where the roads intersect. First one there wins.’

  ‘I know the place.’

  ‘Let’s go!’ she cried. She kicked her horse and took off with a head start.

  Kyler swung aboard, ready to pursue the girl.

  Nipper snorted from surprise, jumped, then began to buck mightily. Kyler had not yet gotten seated. He held on for about three lunges before he was tossed head-over-heels. He landed on his back and the wind rushed from his lungs.

  Through the haze of shock and confusion, he heard a mocking laughter. He gulped in a swallow of air and managed to sit up. When he caught sight of the girl, she was nearly doubled over in the saddle from mirth.

  ‘You should have seen yourself!’ she wailed. ‘I mean, it was so-o-o funny!’

  Kyler took a moment to gather both his breath and hi
s composure. He rose stiffly to his feet and dusted himself off. When he walked over to Nipper, the mare was still wide-eyed and skittish, dancing about nervously.

  ‘Whoa, girl,’ he spoke soothingly and patted her on the neck to calm her down. He ran his hand along her back and then lifted up the rear of the saddle, where he discovered and removed a thorny cactus.

  ‘So much for a dance Saturday night!’ Jessie jeered in a catty tone of voice. ‘Guess you’ll have to sit and hold hands with your Huxton pals.’

  Kyler began to loosen Nipper’s cinch. He wanted to make sure no spines had gotten stuck in her back. He had once known this kind of joke to go askew when an infection from a thorn had caused the eventual death of a horse.

  ‘Where’s your sense of humor, Dane?’ Jessie ridiculed him.

  Kyler mask his displeasure over her prank and managed a flirtatious smile.

  ‘You must be real afraid of letting me hold you in my arms, Jessie. Could it be that you don’t trust yourself?’

  She flared up at once.

  ‘What are you talking about?’

  ‘You must be worried about keeping a harness on your passions, if you were to get close to me.’ He smiled wider. ‘But you don’t have to worry. I assure you, I’m a gentleman. I wouldn’t take an unfair advantage of you during our dance.’

  ‘Why, you pompous, self-loving hypocrite! I’m not attracted to you!’

  ‘Oh, it’s OK,’ he continued his own teasing. ‘I expect you never figured to find a man who measured up against your brothers. It’s probably a real surprise, being drawn to me like you are.’

  ‘You … you …’ she sputtered. ‘I’ve never met a man with so much arrogance! I wouldn’t dance with you if my life depended on it!’

  He smiled. ‘We’ve still got a few days till the shindig. I reckon you’ll have time to change your mind.’

  Jessie jerked the reins of her horse and spun about. Then she dug her heels into his ribs and took off in a cloud of dust. Kyler allowed himself a smile, watching her race up the gentle slope and disappear over the hill. He had taken a fall, but had managed to turn the tables on Jessie. He felt the maneuver had chipped away another piece of ice.

  But is it enough to get her into my arms for a dance? he wondered. If competition was her idea of courtship, she had gained a minor victory at getting him tossed from Nipper’s back. He needed to impress her one more time before the dance.

  Charles Huxton heard the stage arrive and walked over to the window. It pulled up in front of Yates’s express office and the passenger door opened. Huxton groaned as he recognized the first person to step down from the coach. It was Alma Bailey Huxton, the tight-fisted tyrant who had married his brother and financed his freighting operation.

  And she had come to town on the Yates’s coach!

  Huxton quickly donned his freshly cleaned jacket and checked his reflection in the nearby mirror. His hat was perched slightly to one side, not a hair was out of place, and he had taken special care when shaving that morning. He swallowed his dread at facing the woman and hurried out of his office to go meet her.

  Alma was on the walk, regarding Big Mike with a critical eye as he unloaded her traveling trunk. She observed Huxton’s approach and turned to face him.

  ‘Charles.’ She greeted him with a cool reserve. ‘I thought I might have to seek you out.’

  ‘I received your message from the telegraph office and have been watching for the stage all morning. Yates is running about two hours late.’

  A tight frown furrowed her brow.

  ‘I expected to be riding in our new Concord by this time.’

  The word our grated on a nerve, but he hid the aversion.

  ‘It hasn’t arrived yet.’

  Alma backed up so that Mike Yates could not overhear their conversation. ‘What about the run to Cheyenne?’ she asked Huxton. ‘Have you decided how you are going to win the mail and shipping contracts away from our competitor?’

  ‘I’ve been corresponding with some influential people. Once we have our stage running I’m certain we’ll get our share of the business. There’s no comparison between a new Concord and that old Troy wagon you came in on.’

  ‘No argument there,’ she said crisply. ‘I don’t think there are even any springs under that wooden bucket.’

  Huxton tipped his head in the direction of a nearby eatery.

  ‘They serve a nice cup of tea at the Hot Grub Emporium. I believe they even offer cold lemonade.’

  ‘I’d prefer to get settled in a room first.’

  Huxton waved to Skinny Davis. The man hurried over at once.

  ‘Take Mrs Huxton’s things to the hotel,’ Huxton ordered. Then, looking at Alma: ‘I reserved you their best room this morning.’

  Alma nodded her approval, but watched after Skinny with an unmasked disapproval.

  ‘Are all of the men working for you of the same caliber as that one?’

  ‘He only does odd jobs.’

  ‘I thought you were serious about this business, Charles. You can’t influence people of importance by hiring scruffy, unsavory employees.’

  At that moment, Huxton spotted Kyler. He was dressed in a clean suit and had just come out of the barber shop.

  ‘Dane!’ he called out. ‘Come over here!’

  Hearing the name, Kyler stopped and looked around. When he spotted Huxton on the walk he hurried up the street to join him.

  Huxton felt an immediate relief as Kyler removed his hat to meet Alma. He had pegged Dane as a gentleman.

  ‘This is one of my drivers, Alma,’ he told her. ‘Kyler Dane, meet Alma Huxton, my sister-in-law.’

  Alma laughed. ‘How funny we should finally meet,’ she said. ‘I’m the one who recommended you to work for Charles!’

  Kyler appeared shocked by the news. In fact, he seemed almost struck mute. Charles chuckled. Kyler had obviously thought it had been his brother who had suggested he come to work for Huxton.

  ‘I thought you were a little taller,’ Alma remarked to Kyler. ‘My husband said you seemed to tower over him.’

  Kyler displayed an easy grin.

  ‘And he told me you were merely a handsome gal too,’ he complimented her. ‘I can see we both made mistakes. He thought I was taller, and you’re much prettier than I expected.’

  The words of flattery brought forth a complacent smile, but Alma was a businesswoman. She grew serious almost at once.

  ‘What are your thoughts about the situation here, Mr Dane?’ she asked. ‘I realize you’ve only been working for Charles for a short while, but do you believe there is a future for this freight line?’

  Kyler turned his hat in his hands, as if deciding the correct answer. When he spoke he was blunt and to the point.

  ‘There’s a fair amount of work here, but the Yates line has a firm hold in the community. We can compete with them, maybe even undercut them on prices, but they aren’t going to give up without a fight.’

  ‘Thank you for the honest opinion, Mr Dane. Good-day.’

  ‘Yes, ma’am,’ he said. ‘It was nice meeting you.’

  Huxton had his jaw anchored to hold back any harsh words. Kyler had told the truth, but that wasn’t something he wanted out in the open.

  ‘Seems like a pleasant man,’ Alma said once Kyler was out of earshot. ‘Not at all like I expected. David said he was on the rough and dirty side, with shifty eyes and a sharp tongue. I found him rather pleasant.’

  ‘Yes, well, you are not a threat to him. I can tell you, he is not a man to rile. I’ve never seen anyone quicker with a gun than him.’

  Alma turned and looked directly at Huxton. She did not waste any more breath on trivial matters. ‘I would like to see the company books, Charles.’

  ‘Certainly, Alma.’

  ‘You do remember our agreement?’ she asked. ‘You asked for six months and your time is up. You must assure me that we will start to make a profit within a few more weeks, or I shall be compelled to withdraw my financial support.
’

  Huxton lied: ‘I’m on the verge of closing some contracts. We are very close.’

  ‘Let’s forgo the tea and pleasantries,’ she said. ‘Send or bring the books over to my room. I’m going to clean up and take a short rest. You can call on me for dinner, let’s say about six?’

  ‘Fine,’ he replied.

  She started to take a step, but stopped.

  ‘Oh, and Charles.’ She gave him a sidelong stare. ‘I studied accounting principles at Vassar and did much of my father’s bookkeeping. It would not be wise to try and pass off any altered or contrived figures.’

  ‘I wouldn’t think of it,’ he said.

  ‘See you at dinner then.’

  ‘Yes, Alma,’ he replied, outwardly displaying an agreeable smile. Inside, a knot of powerless rage formed within his chest cavity.

  Kyler walked to the livery before he dared take a deep breath. Alma Huxton had been the one to OK his being hired! Had she actually met Kyler Dane, his goose would have been in the fire!

  He entered the livery barn and discovered Nat busy mending a busted wheel.

  ‘I just met Alma Huxton,’ he announced. ‘I do believe she’s a woman to step aside for.’

  Nat gave a bob of his head. ‘Gossip has it she is the one who put up the money behind this here freighting venture.’

  ‘That so?’

  ‘Charles’s brother married in to her family’s money. Alma’s pa built a clothing factory back East and made a bundle. He was struck by consumption and headed West for his health, but he died in Denver. Most states don’t allow for women to own businesses on their own, so Alma used her money to set other people up and took a cut of their profits. She has financed several businesses in Denver and at least one bank.’

  ‘So she funded her brother-in-law’s freight business,’ Kyler deduced.

  ‘Yep … H and B – B standing for Bailey, her maiden name. My guess: she’s here to look at the books and see why she isn’t getting any richer from her investment.’

  ‘Her visit could prompt more trouble for the Yates family. Huxton is going to be forced to push harder for more business.’

  ‘It’s in the works right now,’ Nat told him. ‘You remember the “accidental” fire I was telling you about?’ At Kyler’s nod, he continued ‘Well, I spotted Strap at the store this morning. He was buying himself a couple five-gallon cans of coal-oil.’