by Mark Stewart
GALLOPING HORSE hooves, the unmistakable crack of gunfire came from the tinder dry Australian bush. Jessica sat on a log in the shade, content in watching a mob of small grey kangaroos. They hopped deeper into the bush to get away from the noise. A koala bear woken from its sleep slowly climbed higher in the gum tree. A four-foot brown snake slithered away, entering a dead hollow tree at the edge of the scrub, vanishing from sight. Jessica decided to return to the safety of the train.
A big man boasting a ten-day-old beard full of dust forced his grey mare to thunder out of the scrub. Two other men also on horseback were following. Each of the three men wore the same serious expression.
“Everyone step down from the train. Bring what you own. If you fail to heed my warning you will be shot,” yelled the dusty bearded rider.
The man’s deep voice and actions made him out to be evil to the bone. If anyone tried to resist, his life more than likely could be in serious jeopardy.
Three bullets fired into the air to plant fear in each of the train’s commuters worked to perfection.
The remaining commuters who were still sitting in the train scurried towards the closest door. The moment their feet touched the ground they were ushered to the middle of the third carriage and ordered to push their backs against the metal side.
The train driver and his assistant jumped down from the roof of the locomotive. They dived into the windowless cabin for their pistols.
The second rider galloped his horse to the front of the train. Jessica heard two shots in rapid succession over the constant hissing of steam from the single engine funnel. She felt certain both the engineer and the fireman were dead.
The first rider started patrolling the train’s entire length, menacingly turning his head to view Jessica on his return trip. The wide brimmed hat he wore kept his murderous eyes in the shade. Just for fun, he fired three more bullets into the air. The noise made most of the women jump. They took to cowering behind the men. Somewhere out of sight, a baby started to cry. The second uninvited rider belonging to the clan boarded the train. Directly in front of Jessica, the first bushranger sat on his horse slowly moving his gun back and forth. Every few seconds he’d point it at the face of a woman. After the third sweep of his gun, the man focused his attention on Jessica. He seemed mesmerized by her blue eyes and blonde hair. To him, she smelt rich, accustomed to the good life. Smacking his lips together he dismounted and walked over, pointing his gun directly under her nose. His evil smirk failed to put Jessica on edge. She stared back at him using a cold steel glare. He gave her a sarcastic nod before looking at the rest of the group. His deep dry husky growl belonged to a disconcerted man.
“My heartfelt thank you goes out to each one of you, nice people for listening,” growled the man boasting the dusty beard. “I certainly don’t want the children to see any one of you shot.”
Spying a large dead tree lying on its side thirty feet from the train, Jessica proceeded to march across the cleared land.
“Where are you going?” barked Dusty Beard.
“It’s hot. The log is in the shade,” hissed Jessica half way to the tree.
Dusty Beard looked taken-a-back, watching her settle into a nook at one end of the large hollow log. Ivan Kepler, the young lad who did everything to butter Jessica up using his charm and good manners, walked over to sit next to her. The bushranger scrutinized his lack of discipline. The moment he turned his back Kepler raised a cupped hand to his mouth, whispering in Jessica’s ear.
“There’s a brown snake in the log you’re sitting on.”
“Thanks for saying. I might be able to use it. One bite will see the bushranger dead.”
“Good plan if you’re brave enough to retrieve the reptile from the log.”
Jessica looked sideways at the lad through narrowed slits. “You’re not scared of a snake, are you?”
“No,” he stammered. “I’m thinking more along the lines of wait and see what happens. I’m sure they’ll leave quickly after they have robbed us.”
“Your words are of little comfort. I want to keep what I own.”
“Which brings me to what I came over to talk to you about; I took the liberty in hiding the magnificent silver colt .45’s you own in a far more effective hiding place than in the small draw left of center in the overhead luggage compartment. I’d hate for the Bushrangers to find the items.”
“I thought where I placed them should be the perfect hiding place.”
“In normal circumstances, you’re right. To the untrained eye, the small door is almost invisible. In my opinion, these bushrangers have done this sort of thing plenty of times before. It will be the first place they’d look.”
“So where did you hide them?” asked Jessica; doubt written across her face.
“Trust me; you can rest easy. Where you were sitting, behind your feet there’s a small door in the kick board. It is used for a maintenance draw. It’s full of railway spikes. I wrapped the guns in your clothes and put the lot in there. I’m positive the bushrangers won’t find the guns.”
“Thank you for your thoughtfulness. Let’s hope you’re right.”
“Me too,” Kepler whispered, his Adam’s apple bobbing sharply.
“You don’t sound too confident.”
“If by some chance they do discover your guns, here, take this one,” he suggested handing her a long-barreled pistol.
Jessica gave it a once over before shaking her head.
Grabbing the weapon back Kepler quickly placed it behind her. “Surely I don’t have to spell out what I’m thinking?”
“I take it you haven’t thought your plan through properly.”
“What do you mean? If they find your guns, shooting the Bushrangers will be your only option.”
“You do realize your plan has lots of holes in it.”
Kepler leaned closer to Jessica’s ear. “What could go wrong? Aim the gun at the bushrangers and pull the trigger. It’s easy.”
“The gun you gave me is a dueling pistol.”
“I’m not following what you mean?” questioned Kepler.
“The gun has only one bullet. There are three bushrangers.”
Looking a little sheepish over his mistake, Kepler quickly apologized.
“Accepted,” whispered Jessica. By confessing her marital status to Kepler, the lad might be hoping to use the robbery to his advantage so he could get to know her on a more personal level. From the time they left Melbourne, he didn’t allow her even a single moment of rest before pushing his face in front of hers to ask if she needed anything.
“Maybe I could buy you a drink when we arrive in Bendigo?” whispered Kepler, turning his head to look directly at Jessica. “All part of the railroad service.”
“No thanks. I have a pressing engagement.”
Kepler stared at her through sad hazel eyes. She’d witnessed the look too many times before from men more persuasive than Ivan Kepler. Many had tried and failed to sneak into her married life and too often into her bed.
“I hope I didn’t come on too strong. I haven’t met many nice girls in my lifetime. Come to think of it none ever gave me the time of day,” confessed Kepler.
His grin started to soften his looks further. The expression showed off his gentle, soft, caring nature. In another time in a different set of circumstances, Jessica might even have encouraged his advances.
“Thank you for the compliment. However, I’ve already stated there is a rather important errand I must complete. Before you add a comment, I need to accomplish what I’ve set out to do alone.”
One of the bushrangers sprinted up. He dismounted his horse directly in front of Jessica. Kepler quickly fell silent. The rider didn’t wait for the dust to settle before barking out his rage.
“What’s the talk?” he yelled.
The man’s strong Australian accent and colourful slang made him hard to understand.
“Nothing important,” Jessica mocked, lightly.
The man kept up his agit
ated stare. The moment Jessica faked a grin he looked away to focus on the robbery. Eventually, he again bore his eyes into Jessica and Kepler.
“Line up next to the others,” he growled, looking directly at Jessica. “I want to see you push your back into the side of the train. If you move, not only will you be shot, your boyfriend’s blood will be splattered all over the side of the carriage.”
“I’m not her boyfriend,” whimpered Kepler.
For his angry comment, the lad received a clip behind his left ear.
“Girl, take some advice from a man, find someone who is brave enough to stand up to anyone who threatens your life; someone other than the little weasel you call a boyfriend.”
Even though Jessica didn’t want to, she voluntarily cradled Kepler in her arms waiting for his pain to subside.
The man whipped up a cynical laugh. “If the kid ain’t your boyfriend, you sure are putting on a lousy act. Did you have a lover’s quarrel before the train stopped for water?”
“Why don’t you go back to where you came from,” hinted Jessica abruptly. Coiling her fingers into tight fists, she stood ready to take a swipe at the man’s nose.
“Get over to the train.”
Jessica’s face turned red, not from embarrassment, from frustration at not being able to do anything constructive to put a stop to the three-bushranger’s aggressive, thieving ways. She looked along the entire length of the train wondering why the men weren’t brave enough to stand up against the obnoxious criminals.
“I won’t tell you again. Get over to the train.”
The bushranger stepped behind Jessica, giving her a shove in the shoulder blade. Kepler received the same treatment when they walked past the man towards the carriage to join the remainder of the group.
Two of the three bushrangers started to stroll along the line of innocent commuters holding their hats out. Money and jewellery were thrown into their upturned hats while the second bushranger busied himself ransacking the bags that remained on the train. Guns, ammunition, money and any more jewelry were found and dropped into a large white calico bag. He heaved the booty over his shoulder, stepped down from the train and made his way back to his mates, only to disappear into the first carriage to resume his looting.
The man Jessica nicknamed Dusty Beard stood directly in front of her. “Place your valuables in the hat.”
Jessica folded her arms blatantly defying the man’s orders.
“Barry, get over here, I’m looking at a stubborn woman.”
Another bushranger resembling dusty beard’s brother marched over. “Place your valuables in the hat.”
“I’m not handing over my possessions to you or anyone else.”
The man stepped into her path. Jessica scrunched her nose noting his last bath, at a guess, could have been at least two weeks ago, or longer. She spat in the man’s face. For the act, she received a hard slap across the cheek.
“Strong man, hitting a woman; is it the best you can do?”
The man sidestepped to Kepler, pointing his gun at the lad’s heart. Jessica watched him closely. The sparkle in his eyes showed he enjoyed every second of the power play. As for Kepler, fear swept away all thoughts from his mind forcing his body to tremble uncontrollably.
“You don’t have the nerve to shoot an innocent lad who is unarmed and of no threat to you,” growled Jessica.
“Don’t test my patience girlie,” he replied.
For her resistance, Kepler received a tight-fisted punch to the jaw. The lad crumpled to the ground and kicked under the train. Out of reach, he coiled into a tight ball, sobbing. Dusty Beard turned his attention back to Jessica. He poked her in the stomach using the barrel of his revolver. The laugh he created was a hideous gargle of notes.
“Girl, I could shoot you where you stand. You have witnessed a small portion of my character. By the look of you, I’d say you’re not a stupid female. Believe me, when I tell you I don’t care about a human life. The only thing I want is money, guns, and ammunition.” He clicked his fingers. “Where are your bags?”
“I have none.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“I don’t care if you believe me or not.”
“Explain to me why you’re the only woman not wearing a dress?”
“My attire is my personal business. I don’t have to justify my actions to you or anyone.”
The bushranger lifted his hand to swipe Jessica’s sarcastic smirk from her face when he stopped in midair. The second bushranger ransacking the first carriage leaned out of the window dangling a gun belt. “Dan, get a look at what I’ve found.”
Dusty Beard slowly lowered his hand. Jessica watched his gaze zeroing in on the large silver buckle in the middle of the gun belt. The longer he stared, the more excited his pupils pulsated. His lips quivered when he read the single word; ‘COLT’ out loud. The four-letter word was hand etched in gold lettering on the rectangular shaped solid silver buckle. On either side of the word a horse with a long mane, rearing up on its back legs had also been etched in gold. He knew instantly the buckle was unique; one of its kind. The rumor of its existence had been rampant throughout the state of Victoria. Nobody he questioned knew of its exact where-a-bouts. Only a few admitted they’d ever seen it.
“Does this belong to you?” he growled at Jessica, thrusting the belt under her nose.
She remained stone-faced.
“Don’t make me ask a second time.”
“I’ve never seen the object before in my life,” insisted Jessica, using a calm, passive voice.
“You girl, are a liar. If you think for one minute, I will ever believe a single word you speak you are sadly mistaken. If you don’t tell me truthfully, I might shoot someone.” He gave Kepler a heartless gawk.
“Dusty Beard, or should I call you Dan, I don’t repeat the same answer,” taunted Jessica.
“Hand over the silver Colt .45’s, or you’ll have an extra bullet sized hole in your nice new white shirt. Your boyfriend will follow you seconds later. I’ll leave your bodies to be eaten by the foxes.”
Dan aimed his gun at Kepler. Jessica moved to grab hold of it. Dan gave her another backhand across the cheek. For a few seconds, she stood dazed.
“Thank you for revealing what I’ve been searching for is here.”
“Dan, have I got something else for you,” yelled the third bushranger. He lifted the objects through the window, waiting to see the excitement on his brother’s face. “Our search is over. We’ve found them.”
Dusty Beard sprinted over to the window. Grabbing hold of the guns, he studied them in great detail, twisting the weapons lovingly over and over in his hands. At any moment, Jessica thought he’d kiss them. She watched him check the bullet chambers, unload the guns and carefully replaced each bullet. Oblivious to the number of commuters, Dan sat on the train’s step studying the gold engravings on both the handles, comparing every square inch of the solid silver guns.
Eventually, Dan stood, raising the guns into the air. “They’re both mine,” he yelled. “My brother has located the two pieces of engineering magnificence. He has found the missing silver Colt .45’s. At last, I have found the twin guns.” He kissed and stroked both weapons before sliding them gently home in their respective holsters. He dropped his gun belt so he could clip Jessica’s around his waist. “People, this is a great day. Seeing how I’m in a great mood, I have decided to let you live.”
The only outward hint Jessica displayed from the robbery; the ends of her lips had curled slightly upwards. In seconds, her smirk vanished. A cold marble expression covered her soft feminine looks. Her eyes darkened. The bushranger’s antics didn’t amuse her. Jessica exhaled her frustration. Every mannerism, every twitch; every gesture the bushrangers accidently made she forced her mind to memorize.
Dan glared at Jessica through murderous eyes. “Do you know a Bobbi Forland?”
“I’ve never heard of the name,” she answered quickly.
Dan shoved his fist un
der Jessica’s nose. “By my reckoning, you’re the woman I’ve been ordered to find.”
“This Forland bloke has not only been telling you a lot of lies, but he has also sucked you in, making you look worse than a fool,” taunted Jessica.
“You’re too clever for your own good. I’m right, aren’t I? Where’s the blue diamond?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Your father told me the same words moments before he died when I asked him nicely where the colt .45’s are.”
“He wasn’t my father.”
“So, I do have the right girl. Let me take a few seconds to explain what happened. The man who owned the guns, the one I murdered happened to be your uncle. I’ll ask you again. Where’s the blue diamond ring Forland wants? Before you answer incorrectly take on board what I’m about to tell you. I’ve been hired by Forland to find the blue diamond. We made an easy deal. Give him the diamond ring; I get to keep the colt 45’s. He said if I come across a woman going by the name of Jessica I have his permission to do what I like. He added, take what I want. He informed me this Jessica woman has the guns and the diamond in her possession. I believe the woman I’ve been searching for is you.”
“You have the wrong woman. I don’t like being a bearer of bad news; there’s no such thing as a blue diamond.”
“Do you expect me to believe what you say?”
“Yes, a blue diamond is too hard to come by,” stated Jessica looking somewhat smug.
“What makes you so sure? What woman doesn’t love to wear a diamond ring? Show me your hands.”
Jessica pushed her hands further behind her, trying to stare the man down. Dan stepped forward.
“Have you ever heard the term, ‘Chinese whispers?’” asked Jessica.
“No, what does the double talk mean?”
“Don’t believe everything you hear.”
Dan’s face took on the shadows of a murderer who could never be remorseful for any evil act he accomplished. The man’s eyes bore into Jessica. He nodded at his brother who marched up behind her. In one massive show of strength, he wrapped his arms around her torso. Slowly he squeezed the air out of her lungs. The colour in Jessica’s face changed from a nice shade of white to bright red in seconds. At first, she attempted to kick him in the shins, trying to escape. In reality, Jessica knew she couldn’t match his strength. If he didn’t loosen his grip, soon, she’d suffocate. In the dying seconds of her life, she hoped her last trick worked.
She played dead in the bushranger’s arms.
Dan stepped up to her, yanking her hands to the front. Through bulging eyes, his jaw fell open at the size and the deep blue colour of the diamond. Twisting the ring from Jessica’s finger, his hands trembled. The moment he claimed his prize he gave Jessica a swift backhand. Released from the vice like grip she drifted down to the dust. Watching him through blurred vision, Jessica saw him lift the ring towards the sun to study the trophy in great detail.
“Eureka, the blue diamond is now mine. This beauty has to be at least five carats.”
Jessica slowly stood, staggering a little from the after effects of the tourniquet hold. She waited for the exact moment where her delivery could be of the greatest use. Her chance came when Dan lowered his right shoulder a few inches. Jessica immediately reacted, lashing out using a swift kick to his head. Dan stood swaying for a few seconds. He dusted his hat glaring at his attacker. He stepped forward, punching her, cutting her bottom lip. Blood splattered onto his boot.
Using the back of her hand, Jessica wiped the blood from off her cut lip. “You will never live long enough to do it again,” she spat.
“Let me explain your future if you desire to keep resisting my commands.” Dusty Beard pointed his gun at her. He pulled the trigger. The bullet whizzed past her ear, embedding in the carriage wall. “The next bullet will be implanted in you.”
“Except for a minor detail we finally agree on something,” coughed Jessica struggling to hear any noise from her left ear.
The bushranger pushed the ring deep into his pocket. “What’s the minor detail?”
“The next time we cross paths the first bullet out of the gun, I’m holding will kill you.”
The bushranger laughed hideously. Walking off, he mumbled in his beard.
Although the guns and the ring had been stolen, Jessica knew exactly where they were. She vowed, soon both her silver colt .45’s and her ring will be back where they belonged, on either side of her hips and the ring will be on her finger. Already she started to plan how to rob the three bushrangers of their lives.
Dan screamed at the other two. “Boys we’ve struck it rich today. Let’s ride.”
In seconds, the trio rode off leaving a dust cloud in their wake. Jessica folded her arms. She stood watching the dust cloud had settled. Behind her, the women commuters were sobbing over the loss of their possessions. Each one felt helpless at being robbed at gunpoint by three bushrangers; everyone except Jessica.
CHAPTER FOUR
