The Santa Fe Trail

by Ralph Compton

  Two hours before sundown, Woody had the herd bunched across the Arkansas from Fort Dodge.

  “We’ll be here tonight and tomorrow night,” said Woody. “I’m goin’ to report to the post commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Hatton. I’ll get permission for us to go to the sutler’s store tomorrow. There’s enough daylight left for anybody needin’ to wash clothes or bedrolls. Just because the fort’s across the river, don’t get careless and wander too far away.”

  Woody noted that Levi Stubbs had seen to it that Wiley and Whit had followed him with their wagons, and that all three were almost a mile upriver from the fort. His action wasn’t lost on Rusty, Vic, and Ash.

  “The old varmint’s actin’ almighty guilty,” Rusty observed.

  “Yeah,” said Vic. “Looks like the girls knowed what they was talkin’ about.”

  “We may all be sweatin’ for nothing,” Ash said. “Until we see somebody from the fort ridin’ over yonder to the Stubbs wagons, we got nothin’ to worry about.”

  Woody was shown into the post commander’s office, and Lieutenant-Colonel Hatton greeted him cordially.

  “We aim to lay over through tomorrow night,” said Woody, “and I’d like permission for my outfit to visit the sutler’s store.”

  “Permission granted,” Hatton said. “Are the Stubbs wagons still trailing with you?”

  “In a manner of speaking,” said Woody. “They went on around us, and are quite a ways beyond the fort. The sons and daughters are neighborly enough, but Stubbs is a mite stand-offish.”

  “I’ll be leading a patrol down there within the hour,” Hatton said. “I would advise you and your outfit to remain within your camp until I have questioned Stubbs.”

  “I’ll see that my outfit is told,” said Woody.

  He was surprised at the thinly veiled warning from Hatton. He was hopeful the officer might reveal to him the military’s interest in Levi Stubbs, but Hatton said no more. Without further conversation, Woody excused himself, left the fort, and rode across the river. He found everybody waiting expectantly. First, he told them they had permission to visit the sutler’s the next day. He then told them of Hatton’s strange request regarding old Levi Stubbs and his wagons.

  “That is indeed a strange request,” Gladstone Pitkin observed.

  “Maybe not,” said Nip Kelly. “Stubbs has been treated kindly by you, by Woody, and as far as I know, by everybody in this outfit, but he’s been hostile as hell. I’ve known too many men who were running from something or somebody, and he fits the pattern.”

  “He does, for a fact,” Gavin agreed.

  “Wiley, Whit, and the girls ain’t done nothin’,” said Vic. “Somebody oughta stand up for them.”

  “I don’t believe that’s our responsibility,” Gladstone Pitkin said.

  “If it comes down to that,” said Vic, “it’s my responsibility to speak up for Bonita.”

  “I’ll be standin’ up for Laketa,” Rusty said.

  “And me for Jania,” said Ash.

  “It’s no more than I expected,” Pitkin said. “Need I remind you that it is my prerogative to dismiss the three of you, if your conduct warrants it?”

  “No,” said Rusty, “and I reckon you don’t need remindin’ that it’s our prerogative to quit, if your conduct warrants it.”

  “All right, damn it,” Woody said, “before anybody gets his tail up over what may or may not happen to the Stubbs outfit, maybe we oughta see what interest the military has in Stubbs.”

  “I will subscribe to that,” said Pitkin stiffly.

  Rusty, Vic, and Ash had nothing to say. Their eyes were on the fort across the river, and even as they watched, Lieutenant-Colonel Hatton led a patrol of nine men toward the Stubbs wagons.

  “Oh, God,” Whit groaned, “here it comes.”

  “Git your Winchesters ready,” said Levi. “Them Federals ain’t snoopin’ through my wagons an’ my goods.”

  “Paw, no,” Wiley begged, “You can’t fight the army.”

  “He can’t afford not to,” said Bonita. “There’s something he can’t let them discover.”

  “Barreled whiskey,” Whit said. “Ain’t no law agin that.”

  Laketa laughed bitterly. “There’s more than whiskey. Tell him, Paw.”

  “Shut your mouth, woman!” Levi bawled.

  Stubbs jacked a shell into the chamber of his Winchester. Wiley and Whit clutched their weapons, fearful and uncertain. Lieutenant-Colonel Hatton raised his hand, and the patrol reined up fifty yards away. Hatton spoke.

  “Mr. Stubbs—if that’s your name—I am Lieutenant-Colonel Hatton. I am an officer in the army of the United States of America. It is my right and my duty to inspect those wagons and examine their contents. Lay down your arms.”

  “These wagons an’ their cargo is private property,” Stubbs snarled. “Now you ride back the way you come. Trot that horse a step closer, an’ I’ll kill you.”

  “Paw, no,” Whit cried.

  Wiley dropped his Winchester and raised his hands. Whit quickly did the same.

  “Sergeant Hardesty,” said Lieutenant-Colonel Hatton, “prepare to fire.”

  Levi Stubbs fired, but his shot went over Hatton’s head, for when he made his move, Sergeant Hardesty had obeyed orders. Stubbs stumbled backwards, blood pumping from a hole in his chest. He dropped the Winchester and collapsed in the dust. While the remaining soldiers held their rifles at the ready, Sergeant Hardesty dismounted, walked to the inert Stubbs, and knelt beside him. He then got to his feet and spoke to Hatton.

  “He’s dead, sir.”

  Wiley, Whit, Bonita, Jania, and Laketa stared at the body of their father in horrified silence. It was to them that Hatton spoke.

  “It is regrettable that he chose to follow such a course. Will the rest of you stand aside while my men search these wagons?”

  “Yes, sir,” Wiley said.

  “Sergeant Hardesty,” said Hatton, “take charge of the search.”

  All of Pitkin’s outfit had witnessed the shooting, and stricken by the suddenness of it, nobody said anything for a moment. Nip Kelly recovered first.

  “My God, I’ve never seen a man make such a fool move. He didn’t have a chance.”

  “He must have been hidin’ something that purely couldn’t stand the light of day,” said Gavin. “They’re searchin’ the wagons.”

  “He wasn’t a very sociable man,” said Naomi Pitkin, “but I feel sorry for his family.”

  “So do I,” Woody said. “Under certain circumstances, the military can confiscate some or all of a man’s property. Old Levi’s sons and daughters could be stranded here. Or worse, if they share his guilt, they could be arrested and sent to prison.”

  “Damned if I’ll stand by for that,” said Vic.

  “I thought,” Pitkin said, “we had agreed not to make any hasty decisions regarding the Stubbs family until we know the outcome of all this.”

  “I thought so too,” said Woody. “After they’ve completed their search of the wagons, I’ll call on Lieutenant-Colonel Hatton. While he can always tell us to mind our own business, I’m counting on him being fair enough to explain this Stubbs affair.”

  Hatton’s men searched Wiley’s wagon first, opening the whiskey barrels.

  “Nothing in that one, sir,” Sergeant Hardesty said, “except barreled whiskey.”

  “Certainly not worth a man’s life,” said Hatton. “Search the other wagons.”

  A search of Whit’s wagon revealed only barreled whiskey. Hatton said nothing, his face turning grim, as the soldiers moved on to the third wagon. Their search had barely gotten underway when there was an excited shout from Sergeant Hardesty.

  “We found it, sir!”

  Two of the men rolled a barrel out on the wagon’s tailgate and then lifted it to the ground.

  “Open the rest of the barrels,” Hatton ordered, “This may not be all of it.”

  But upon opening the remaining barrels, the soldiers found only whiskey. None of the St
ubbs survivors were allowed near the open barrel, and Whit asked a timid question.

  “Sir, ain’t we allowed to know what’s in that barrel that’s worth our Paw gittin’ kilt?”

  “You’ll know tomorrow,” said Hatton. “I will conduct a hearing in the morning in an attempt to learn to what extent the rest of you are implicated in this. Until then, all of you are under military arrest. You will hitch your teams to these wagons, and they will be taken to the fort. Sergeant Hardesty, have that barrel returned to the wagon, and assign a man to take the reins and follow us to the fort. You Stubbs men will bring the other two wagons.”

  “If you got to arrest somebody,” Whit said, “then take me an’ Wiley, my brother. Let our sisters stay the night in the Pitkin camp.”

  “All of you will go to the fort, as ordered,” said Hatton firmly. “There will be suitable quarters for the ladies.”

  Wiley and Whit harnessed the teams to their wagons, while a pair of the soldiers soon had the mules harnessed to the third wagon. Almost as an afterthought, Hatton seemed to remember Levi’s dead body. He spoke to Wiley.

  “Do you want me to send a burial detail to take care of your father?”

  “With all of us under arrest an’ bein’ took to the fort,” said Wiley, “what choice have we got?”

  “Yeah,” Whit said bitterly, “you kilt him. Now you kin bury him.”

  Hatton looked at Bonita, Jania, and Laketa, and while they were pale and shaken, they glared back at him defiantly.

  “Very well,” said Hatton. “Sergeant Hardesty, have the body loaded in one of these wagons. Then assign a burial detail when we reach the fort.”

  Whit helped Bonita and Jania up to his wagon box, and Laketa mounted the box with Wiley. The Stubbs brothers guided their teams in behind the wagon driven by one of the soldiers, who led them to a place in the river shallow enough for the wagons to cross. The mounted soldiers, led by Hatton, followed.

  “By God,” said Gavin, “they’re all bein’ taken to the fort, along with the wagons.”

  “Yeah,” Nip said, “The blue bellies must have found what they was lookin’ for. Can’t help wonderin’ what was so all-fired valuable in that wagon.”

  “Woody,” said Rusty, “Vic, Ash, and me has got to know what’s goin’ to happen to Bonita, Jania, and Laketa. Will you try and find out, or you want us three to go knockin’ on that blue belly officer’s door?”

  Gladstone Pitkin looked as though he might erupt, but Woody silenced him without speaking a word. He then answered Rusty’s question.

  “You wouldn’t get anywhere with a breach of military etiquette except in trouble. I’ll ride to the fort, express your interest in the Stubbs women, and see what I can learn. I’ll be back before supper, and I’m depending on all of you to keep the lid on, until we get some answers.”

  When Woody reached the fort, there was no sign of Wiley, Whit, or the three Stubbs women. The wagons had been lined up next to the orderly room. Two soldiers—obviously sentries—paced back and forth. Woody nodded to them and stepped into the orderly room where a corporal sat behind a battered desk.

  “I need to talk to Lieutenant-Colonel Hatton,” Woody said.

  “And you are?”

  “Woody Miles,” said Woody impatiently. “I was here not two hours ago.”

  There was no friendliness in the soldier’s manner, as he knocked on Hatton’s door.

  “Yes,” Hatton said. “What is it?”

  “Woody Miles is here to see you, sir,” the corporal said.

  “Send him in,” Hatton replied.

  Woody entered the office, closed the door, and wasted no time explaining the purpose of his visit. Hatton looked at him long and hard before he spoke.

  “This entire affair is most regrettable, and while I can appreciate your concern for the Stubbs family, I am unable to divulge any information concerning their arrest at this time. I am awaiting a response to several telegrams I have sent to Fort Leavenworth. Tomorrow there will be a hearing in the post chapel. Perhaps at that time I’ll be at liberty to answer your questions. You are welcome to attend this hearing, accompanied by the three young men who are concerned about the ladies in question. Good day.”

  It was a curt dismissal that invited no response. Woody stepped out the door, closing it behind him. He nodded to the corporal, left the orderly room, mounted his horse, and rode back across the river. When he dismounted, his words were for Rusty, Vic, and Ash.

  “There’s a hearing in the morning, at the post chapel. The three of you are invited to be there with me. Hatton’s waiting for telegrams from Fort Leavenworth, likely to help him decide if the rest of the family’s involved in whatever old Levi Stubbs had going.”

  “I am not to accompany you, then,” Gladstone Pitkin said.

  “No,” said Woody. “You’re welcome to go in my place, if you want.”

  Pitkin’s eyes met those of Rusty, Vic, and Ash, and a chill crept up his spine. If the scheduled hearing didn’t go to suit these three hellions from Texas, the Englishman had not the slightest doubt there would be hell to pay. In spades.

  “I think not,” Pitkin said. “I trust you to act on my behalf, doing what must be done.”

  13

  Fort Dodge, Kansas. July 9, 1869.

  Woody, Rusty, Vic, and Ash reached the fort a few minutes before the hearing was to begin. The soldiers who had searched the Stubbs wagons were already seated near the front of the chapel. There was no sign of any of the Stubbs family, and when they appeared, it was under the watchful eyes of armed guards. Briefly, Vic’s eyes met Bonita’s, and in them was a frightened, desperate appeal. Lieutenant-Colonel Hatton was the last to enter, and he took his place behind the podium.

  “We have concluded an investigation into a matter of utmost importance to the military,” Hatton said. “Just this morning, I received clearance from Fort Leavenworth, and the details surrounding this bizarre circumstance are no longer classified. The purpose of this hearing is to settle, once and for all, the guilt or innocence of the surviving family of the late Levi Stubbs. The family and friends of the family seem unclear as to the military’s interest in Stubbs. Let it be known that the shooting yesterday afternoon became necessary as a result of Mr. Stubbs’ hostility, and the military is under no obligation to justify it. As a courtesy to the family and friends, I am about to relate to you the activities of one Levi Stubbs that led to his death yesterday.”

  Hatton cleared his throat, opened a file, and began to read.

  “Levi Stubbs rode with Quantrill. Finally, when Quantrill fled Kansas, Stubbs joined a band of former Quantrill riders, and their many nefarious activities included the theft of two army payrolls in gold, exceeding fifty thousand dollars. Through the Secret Service and Pinkerton operatives, the military kept tabs on all former Quantrill men. Levi Stubbs was the only known survivor, and the Pinkertons lost him in Kansas City. His description was telegraphed to every frontier outpost west of the Mississippi. Yesterday, in one of the Stubbs wagons, we found most of the two missing payrolls. Now is there anyone present who would refute all or any part of what I have related?”

  Nobody had anything to say, and all eyes were on Hatton when he spoke again.

  “Will the family members accompanying Levi Stubbs please stand?”

  Wiley, Whit, Bonita, Jania, and Laketa stood.

  “I have questioned all of you individually,” Hatton said, “and have been told basically the same story. I believe that if any one of you were lying, there would be some conflicting answers, and there were none. I have therefore concluded that Levi Stubbs acted alone, without the knowledge of any of you. At the conclusion of this hearing, you are free to go. Good luck.”

  Bonita, Jania, and Laketa wept, while Wiley and Whit didn’t seem far from it. Rusty, Vic, and Ash made haste to get to the Stubbs girls, while Woody sought out Lieutenant-Colonel Hatton.

  “I trust the hearing was conducted to your satisfaction,” Hatton said drily.

  “It wa
s, sir,” said Woody. “Stubbs was a hard man, and while none of us thought highly of him, we had no idea…”

  “The Quantrill saga was a sorry episode in American history,” Hatton said. “Let us hope this final act will close the curtain on it for all time.”

  Woody found Rusty, Vic, and Ash, each with one of the Stubbs girls.

  “I reckon all of you are satisfied,” said Woody.

  Vic laughed. “I reckon we are. Hatton looks like a hardnosed old coyote, all spit and polish, but beneath all that brass, he’s got a heart.”

  “He strikes me that way,” Woody said. “Where’s Wiley and Whit?”

  “They’re gone to the sutler’s store,” said Rusty. “There’s just the two of them now, and with one wagon too many they’re lookin’ to sell one of ’em. Wagon, teams, whiskey, and all.”

  “That’s a hell of a lot of whiskey,” Woody said. “I doubt the sutler can take all of it, and he certainly won’t have need of a wagon and team.”

  “Let’s mosey over that way and see,” said Vic.

  They encountered Wiley and Whit as they were leaving the sutler’s.

  “More whiskey than he needs,” Wiley said, “an’ he’s got no use for the wagon and the mules.”

  “But they’s a town in the makin’ about eight miles west of here,” said Whit. “There’s already a general store an’ two saloons. We’re goin’ there an’ try our luck.”*

  “You’d better get started, then,” Woody said. “We’ll be leaving here tomorrow at first light.”

  “Maybe some of us oughta ride along with ’em, leadin’ some extra horses,” said Vic. “If they sell the whiskey, the wagon, and the team, it’ll be a long walk back.”

  “What about us?” Bonita asked.

  “You can return to our camp,” said Woody. “Wiley, you and Whit can take the other two wagons there, if you like. Vic, bring the third one.”

  With Bonita on the wagon box with Vic, Jania with Whit, and Laketa with Wiley, they left the fort and crossed the river. Woody, Rusty, and Ash rode along behind, and when they reined up in camp, the rest of the outfit was waiting. Woody quickly explained what had taken place, and Gladstone Pitkin was obviously relieved. In fact, he extended a most gracious welcome to the Stubbs girls, fully aware that he was making a most favorable impression on Rusty, Vic, and Ash. Woody took it a step further when he spoke to Pitkin.