Suckers. If Slade hadn’t used that word, he might have thought about the idea. But how could he live with himself, knowing that to provide for his family, he’d just done to another what had been done to them? Sold them down the river on a raft made of false dreams. No, he had to see this through.
“There’s evidence that my pa found silver. He sent money regularly.”
Slade snorted. “Gambling, probably. He’s been kicked out of every saloon in town dozens of times. Everyone knew he didn’t mean no harm, which is why they let him back in, but…” He gave Joseph a look of pity. “Everyone wins at the tables now and again. That’s how they keep you coming back. Which is why it’d be best if you just went on your way.”
Maybe Joseph was being a paranoid, but it seemed like Slade was in an awful big hurry to get rid of him. The man’s demeanor was pleasant enough, but there was something about his words…
“What’s it to you if I stay or go?”
Slade shook his head. “None of my business. Just figuring with your family and all, you’d want to be with them.”
The easy answer did little to ease the prickle on the back of Joseph’s neck. Still, what could he say to contradict a man who had been nothing but helpful?
“What do you make of the attacks on Annabelle and Nugget?”
Slade eyed him intently. “I’m not convinced Bad Billy found silver. But I do think he was into something. Whatever you’ve been digging into is making people nervous. If there’s something going on, I want to stop it before anyone else gets hurt.”
It wasn’t the first time he’d heard hints of his pa’s less than honest dealings. Which made him consider Slade’s idea of going to one of the local land agents and selling his pa’s claims. But how could he, in good conscience, have potential buyers be swindled? And, if something illegal was going on with his pa’s claims, would it put those people in danger? As much as Annabelle thought he and everyone else ignored her warnings about chasing after silver, he wasn’t going to sell someone else on a false dream.
Mary would tell him that he was overthinking the situation. Too bad she wasn’t here to talk to him and give him advice. What would be best for everyone?
He looked around the site, wishing it were as simple as a sign saying Silver Here.
If his pa had been killed, why here? Was the chasm a convenient place to dump a body, or did it signify something more?
Joseph went over to where Slade was poking around some rocks. “What kind of illegal activities was my pa involved in?”
Slade picked up another rock, then looked at him. “I guess we’ve all made it sound like he was a pretty bad guy. Truth is, when he wasn’t drinking, he was a decent fellow. Pleasant enough when you came across him in the street. But he got into scuffles in the saloons, and there were accusations of cheating.”
A drunk and a cheat. But it didn’t add up. “None of this makes any sense to me. If my pa wasn’t a horrible person, then what could he have done that would have people trying to harm Annabelle and Nugget?”
The rocks clattered where Slade dropped them to the ground. “My theory is that some of the people he cheated at cards are trying to get their land back.”
Which would mean— “So there is silver?”
“Naw.” Slade shook his head. “They’re dirtier than Bad Billy. They probably want to seed the mines to make it look like there’s silver, sell it to some sucker to make a tidy profit. Then, the sucker runs out of money and is so desperate for a way home, they sell it back for a pittance. And then the cycle begins again. Happens all the time.”
And Slade was suggesting that he do the same thing. After all, no one would buy this land except for the hope of finding gold or silver.
Maybe Joseph was a sucker, too, but he had to believe that his pa hadn’t completely died in vain. There had to be silver out there somewhere. His family was counting on him. And he wasn’t sure he could live with himself given the alternative.
“Let me think on it. I’m not ready to completely give up on my pa’s dream.”
Slade nodded slowly. “You do that. Lots of folks waste everything they have on hopes of finding gold or silver. Most of them lose everything. I’d hate to see that happen to you.”
Another reminder of Annabelle and her words on the subject. She had more wisdom than anyone gave her credit for. She just didn’t understand the difficulty in separating the wise decision from the only chance he had at getting enough money to save his family.
The ride home wasn’t nearly as pleasant. In fact, the storm he had thought they’d so cleverly missed had come upon them with a vengeance—punishment for the stupidity of thinking they could avoid nature.
Joseph pushed his horse hard, trying to keep up with Slade, but Slade was a more skilled rider on a faster horse, and he didn’t seem at all concerned about leaving Joseph behind.
Nothing about the site where Joseph’s pa had died looked even remotely possible for having silver. At least according to Slade. Which meant that all the maps and even his pa’s strange code had done nothing to help.
It was tempting to stop in town at one of the land offices to see if he could sell the claims. But all he could think of was the sadness on Annabelle’s face about miners and their false dreams. Could he sell that to someone else? Could he live with putting another family through what his had been through?
No, he couldn’t.
His horse slipped on the wet rocks. Continuing was becoming a suicide mission, but as he glanced around, he saw no safe place to take cover.
Lightning struck nearby, sending tiny ripples of electricity through him and making the horse’s hair stand on end. Not deadly, but a warning of the power of nature. The horse reared, and Joseph did his best to control it as rocks slid under them, the edge of the ground giving way.
Though Joseph managed to get the horse settled, it had caused him to lose sight of Slade against the wind and rain. Another loud boom reminded Joseph that they were too high, and on a horse, he was almost the tallest thing around.
“Slade!” The shout went unanswered, and Slade was nowhere to be seen.
More ground gave way, and Joseph fumbled, trying to get out of the saddle, but his foot remained stuck in the stirrups. Both man and horse slid down the embankment. Behind them, rocks crashed, following like an avalanche, only with rain and mud and boulders.
“Come on.” He signaled the horse and spurred him sideways, out of the path of the rocks, but with his stuck foot, was largely ineffective in controlling the spooked horse.
The horse reared and sidestepped as rocks whizzed past his head. Joseph ducked and pressed his body close to the horse, not sure which was the more dangerous move—remaining on the animal, or taking his chances among the rocks.
As he looked up, he heard a boom, then another shower of boulders headed his way.
The next lightning bolt lit up the sky, for all the good it did. All it showed was the direness of the situation. A wall of water rushed down the side of the hill. Frank had warned him about flash floods, but never did he imagine that the water would rush past like a raging river at spring thaw. Joseph looked for an escape. At the rate they were going, they’d be caught in the water in no time. If a boulder didn’t catch them first. He spotted a break just to the right. Now if he could convince the horse to take it…
Tugging as hard as he could, he turned the horse toward the open space. It, too, spotted the chance at safety, and bolted in that direction.
Faster than he’d ever imagined a horse being able to go, the animal charged into the opening, then raced down the mountain. It was all Joseph could do to cling to the horse and pray that they would both somehow arrive at the bottom safely.
When they got to the bottom of the hill, a tree slid past them. Rocks were still coming down to the left of them, and a huge pile of boulders, rocks, trees and miscellaneous debris had gathered where he and the horse would have ended up had he not spotted the break. Another few steps, and they’d have been caught
up in the flood.
Thank You, Lord.
He’d heard that storms in the mountains could be bad, but he’d never expected this. Between the rain loosening the ground at the edge of the hillside, and the lightning knocking down trees and shaking boulders loose, combined with the flash flood, it was amazing he’d survived.
He found a safe place to stop, then got off the horse. With the storm this bad, and so much lightning around, it was best to take his chances on foot. After a few paces, he could see Leadville, which from his vantage point would be a lot closer to wait out the storm in town than trying to get back to camp.
The rain worsened, pouring like a waterfall without breaks to indicate droplets. Hopefully Annabelle would keep Nugget… Joseph shook his head. Of course Annabelle was taking good care of Nugget. She loved his sister, and he couldn’t have asked for a better caretaker.
His mind started to wander in the direction of thinking of Annabelle as a mother again, but he stopped. No. Joseph glanced up at the sky. Better to be struck down than to continue tormenting himself. He’d find the silver, then send Annabelle on her way to the life she’d always dreamed of.
When he finally arrived in town, he was sure not a dry spot existed on his person. The streets were rivers of mud, and Joseph couldn’t remember ever seeing them so empty. Everyone had taken refuge from the storm.
He brought the horse to the livery Frank patronized, glad that Wes, the proprietor, came out to greet him.
“Got caught in the storm, did you?” Wes took the reins and led the horse into the stables.
Joseph nodded and took off his hat, shaking the water from it, knowing that it did no good.
“Want to come in and dry off?”
“Thanks.” Joseph followed him into the stables, thankful that something around him was actually dry, even though the smell of wet horse and manure burned his nostrils.
“I think Betsy has some coffee on. We’re about the same size, so I’ll lend you some dry clothes.”
“I’m obliged to you.”
“None doing. Frank’s a good friend, and I know he’d do the same for me.”
More of the same hospitality he’d grown used to. Such a dichotomy between the people like Frank and the rest of the world. Clearly Frank’s people loved as Christ loved, and gave freely. They’d been taught well. How could they be otherwise with Frank’s example?
Wes led him into the neat living quarters off the stable. “It’s not much, but with land prices here in town, it’s the best we can do.”
“It’s fine.” He looked around the room that Wes and his wife used for their home. Everything, including a cookstove and bed, was contained in that tiny room.
“Betsy, can you get our guest a cup of coffee while I find him some dry clothes?”
“Gracious!” Betsy hurried toward them. “Let’s get you by the fire to dry off. You’ll catch your death. What were you thinking, going out in that storm?”
“It caught me unawares. We were out looking at some of my pa’s claims, hoping to find clues as to the location of his silver. On the way back, I got caught in a flash flood.”
He didn’t bother explaining about Slade, or how it was really the expert’s fault they were in this mess. Especially since Betsy was shaking her head and clucking about risking one’s life for silver.
“You sound just like Annabelle,” he said as a way of trying to be friendly and breaking the ice.
Betsy stepped back. “Annabelle? I’m nothing like her. She’s a preacher’s daughter.”
“Betsy…” Wes’s warning came from the corner.
“It’s all right.” Joseph accepted the blanket Betsy handed him. “Sounds like you just need to get to know Annabelle better. She’s one of the kindest people I know. She’s been helping take care of my sister, and I can honestly say I don’t know what I’d do without her.”
Betsy stared at him for a moment, then looked over at Wes. “That’s what he’s been telling me, but I don’t know. I can’t imagine her wanting to be friends with the likes of me.”
Joseph wanted to continue defending her, but the more he rose to her defense, the more it looked like his feelings were more… Well, they… He shook his head. The woman was going to drive him crazy by the time he was done.
“Maybe you should invite her over. I’m sure she’d be honored to have you as a friend.” Joseph’s stomach ached. That was the worst part of the situation and him trying to be her friend. He’d be leaving soon, and things would be all the worse for Annabelle.
Betsy turned away, like she didn’t want to continue arguing the point. Joseph had to start learning to mind his own business, especially where Annabelle was concerned.
Wes returned, carrying a pile of clothes. “Betsy’ll turn her back while you get these on.”
Joseph changed as quickly as he could. “I’m finished,” he said as he buttoned the last button on the shirt.
“Based on you riding Frank’s best horse, and what you’ve said, I presume you’re Billy’s boy.” Wes looked at him, studying.
“Yes.”
It couldn’t be that bad if Wes already figured him out, but still supplied him with clean clothes anyway, right?
“Did you know my pa?”
Wes nodded slowly. “I took care of his horse. Had to sell it, though, to pay his past due on the stabling.”
If his pa had silver, why couldn’t he pay the stable?
“Mighty fine horse.” Wes stroked his chin. “I always wondered where he got the money for it.”
“Maybe he won it in a card game.”
Wes shook his head. “Not Billy. He was terrible at cards. Used to say that losing was God’s punishment for adding that to his multitude of sins.”
It sounded almost as if Wes knew his pa. “Were you friends?”
“As much as a body could be, I suppose.” Wes handed him a cup of coffee. “Billy mostly kept his own counsel. Visited that girl he had over on State Street, but didn’t spend too much time getting friendly with others.”
The description didn’t fit with what he’d been told about his pa. “Everyone I’ve talked to has spoken poorly of him.”
The fire crackled in response, because Wes just stood there, as though he was carefully considering his words.
Then finally, “Well, I suppose he didn’t do much to endear himself to anyone. Especially Slim Deckert. When Billy heard he’d roughed up one of the girls over at Miss Betty’s, he went and beat the daylights out of him. No one understood why he’d take up for a woman like that, but Billy just muttered that he had a daughter her age, and that she had to be somebody’s daughter.”
Another story that didn’t mesh with either his view of his pa, or the stories he’d heard. Though the name intrigued him. Slim was the guy his pa supposedly cheated to get the mine he’d just looked at.
“How did that make him unpopular?”
Wes shrugged. “There’s two types of people in this town. One that wants to get rid of the women. They’d just as soon have them sent away and everything cleaned up nicely. The other type wants them so’s they can use them, if you know what I mean.”
The collar of the unfamiliar shirt felt tight around Joseph’s neck. Yes, he knew what Wes meant. Because clearly his pa had taken advantage of the latter.
“Billy, he wasn’t neither. He saw a man for who and what he was, and he didn’t make no pretense otherwise. Didn’t matter if a man wore fancy clothes or drove a nice rig. If the man was a snake, he called him a snake. The snakes around here didn’t like that none.”
Wes’s eyes narrowed as he motioned to Joseph to lean in more. “There’s plenty of folks who wanted your pa dead, and not for any of the reasons you’d think.”
Not a very helpful answer. “But was there silver?”
“I don’t know. No one knows for sure. Only Billy, and he’s dead now.”
So close to answers, yet none that he sought. “Is there anything you can tell me that would be helpful? I just looked at a mine he s
upposedly won in a card game from Slim.”
“I’ve heard that tale.” Wes shrugged. “And even though Lon, the dealer, supports Slim’s side of the story, I never bought it. Like I said, Billy was terrible at cards.”
Which only made everything all the more murky. And made his pa’s death all the more likely to have been murder. But it didn’t give him any answers.
“If anyone knows anything, it would be the kid,” Wes continued. “Billy doted on her. When her ma took ill, he cared for that little girl himself. Paid Miss Betty well to keep Lily and the child.”
Money he could have sent home. While part of Joseph admired that his pa did the honorable thing with his mistress and their child, the other part stung at the thought of his mother and siblings struggling. How was he supposed to forgive a man for letting one family starve while supporting the other?
“Why’d he keep them at that place? Surely he’d put them in a house or something like that.”
“For a while, they lived at his cabin. But when Lily got sick, she needed to be close to the doctor. None of the decent boardinghouses would have her, given her old profession. Besides, her friends were all at Miss Betty’s.”
It was strange to think that a person would be more comfortable in a house of ill repute than anywhere else. Especially with a child.
“Plus, if you ask me—” Wes lowered his voice again “—I heard talk of some men out to get Billy. I imagine he wanted to keep his family safe.”
“How do you know all this? And why doesn’t Frank know?”
“Billy was afraid of putting the preacher in danger. He figured he’d risked enough by giving him his papers to hold, but the preacher’s safe is the safest in town, other than at the bank. And Billy had his reasons for not wanting to go to the bank.”
“But that doesn’t answer my question. How do you know all this?”
“Because…” He lowered his voice even further.
“Oh, for land’s sakes, Wes. Just tell him already. I’m not some delicate flower you have to protect.”
Betsy came and stood in their midst. “I used to work at Miss Betty’s with Lily. Wes and I fell in love, but given my profession, we were afraid that if people knew, they wouldn’t do business with Wes anymore. So we pretended like I was new to town, and everyone believed it. Except Billy, who recognized me from his visits to Lily.”
Love Inspired Historical November 2014 Page 88
