by Jim Cox
“It looks to me like a weekly, see-saw pattern is starting to take place,” Eli said. “One week they’re robbing a stagecoach and two weeks later a bank.” Eli paused for coffee. “I’ve noticed another thing, Scar.”
“What’s that?”
“According to the governor’s telegrams, the bank robberies always take place around three o’clock. Might be a coincidence but it might be part of their plan. Banks are normally quiet in mid-afternoon.” Scar nodded at Eli’s insight.
Time passed as the men looked at their map and considered the possibilities. Eli started. “There are only five banks in the entire Midwest section of Colorado that I know of, and four have already been robbed.”
“It leaves the bank at Council Bluff,” Scar interjected.
“You’re right, and it’s a big one. There are several silver mines in the mountains north of Council Bluff, and they all use the bank to hold their payroll and operating money. If the thieves keep to their pattern, they’ll be hitting it week after next.”
“How far away is Council Bluff, Eli? How long will it take me to get there?”
“It’s about seventy-five miles west of here…two long days of riding. The prairie road takes you most of the way, but at Eagle Pass, you turn north through the mountains for ten miles or so.” The men spent the next hour discussing the various robbery alternatives available to the bandits and the best way to capture them. By the time they had explored all of the possibilities, it was time for their noon meal.
“It’s time to eat, Eli. Wanna go to Jenny’s with me?”
“I’ll be staying here. I’ve got some leftover sausage patties from breakfast that needs to be eaten. Tell the women I said hello.” When Scar entered the café, he was surprised to see Jake and Rebecca at a corner table. He ambled back. “What are you doing here, Jake? Aren’t you needed at the ranch?” Both Jake and Rebecca looked sheepish.
“We’re fairly well caught up,” Jake said. “I wanted to talk with Rebecca for a while. It gets lonesome at the ranch.”
“And I left the classroom a little early. Liz said she could handle things.” Scar smiled and then headed to the fire for coffee. As he was pouring, Mrs. Kaiser whispered to him as she walked past holding filled plates. “They’ve met in here to eat every day for the last two weeks. I believe things are getting serious.” Scar sat with the couple but ate quickly, not wanting to hamper their courting.
At home that evening, Scar asked his wife, “Liz, what’s going on between Rebecca and Jake?”
Liz seemed not prepared for his question. She looked guiltily at him. “What do you mean, dear?”
Scar smiled. “You know what I’m talking about, Liz. I know it’s a woman thing between you and Rebecca, but it’s time you’re filling me in on the matter. I saw Jake with Rebecca at Jenny’s today, and Mrs. Kaiser told me they’ve met for lunch every day for the last two weeks.”
“I believe things are getting serious between them, Bart,” she said.
“Are marriage plans in the making?”
“I don’t know about Jake, but Rebecca certainly has an agenda. She’s thinking he’ll ask her to marry him after the busy time at the ranch…maybe in August or September.” Scar smiled. “What are you smiling at, Bart?”
“A man doesn’t stand a chance once a woman sets her mind on him.” They both laughed. A minute or two passed before he said, “You’ll miss Rebecca’s help at school when they marry, and she moves to the Double D.” Liz’s face took on a strange expression. “What is it, Liz? There’s something you’re not telling me.”
“Bart, would Jake be missed if he didn’t work for the Double D? Could the ranch get along without him?”
“He’d be missed, but your pa could get along without him. He could hire a replacement. What makes you ask that, Liz?”
“The bank president has contacted Jake and said the board of directors voted to employ him if he’s available. They want to train him over the next few years to become one of its managers.”
“You’re full of surprises today, Liz. What was Jake’s response to the bank’s offer?”
“He said he’d think about it but wouldn’t leave the ranch until the spring and summer work was over and his replacement was hired. Rebecca believes he wants to accept the job.”
A short time later they rose to do the evening chores. Liz started on the dirty dishes, and Scar went to the barn to feed and water the stock. When he started back to the house, he paused and looked skyward at the Colorado heavens. He saw the thousands of stars and a full moon shining brightly through the crystal clear air. He felt at peace and considered his changing world. I married a wonderful woman, Colorado has become a state, and I’ll soon become a member of its cabinet. As he paused more changes came to mind. Jake will be getting married and leaving the ranch, and the Double D is no longer a struggling, start-up ranch but one with roots, accepted by other ranchers. He smiled.
A cold gust of wind brought him back to the present. It’s extra cold for the middle of April, and nearly time for the Double D’s roundup to begin. They’ll have to start without me this year since I’ll be chasing the Abernathy brothers. He pushed the thought aside and opened the door.
Liz was in the sitting room holding coffee when Scar came in. She had placed his cup on the table by his chair. When he got settled, she started. “I have something else to tell you, Bart.”
“There’s more?” he asked with a raised brow.
“I told Rebecca we would move and they could live here if they got married and Jake took the bank job. That is if you’re agreeable.”
“Where would we live, Liz?”
“At the ranch,” she responded.
“What about your teaching?”
“Rebecca will take over. I’m sure the town board will agree.”
Scar looked puzzled.
“Bart,” Liz said, “if you remember, we agreed to make plans concerning our life’s goals while you were in Denver meeting with the governor.” Scar nodded. “I studied on the matter every day you were gone. I even made a list, and what it all comes down to is I want you to work at whatever makes you happy. Whatever fulfills your dreams, and I want to be at your side helping in the endeavor.”
“But, honey,” Scar said, scooting to the edge of his chair, “what about you? You love to teach and be around children. I want you to be happy, too.”
Liz wiped her eyes. “I’ll admit, it’ll be hard giving up my teaching career, but if that’s what it takes to be at your side, I’ll gladly make the sacrifice. It’s what I want to do.”
The silence was deafening for several minutes. Finally, Liz spoke. “If you’re working with the Indians, sweetheart, perhaps I can teach their children.”
“That’s a good idea, Liz,” he said as he sat in deep thought, “Or, maybe your time will be spent teaching ours.” They both had wide grins.
Chapter Fourteen
A week before Scar and Eli predicted the Council Bluff robbery was to take place, Scar was in the kitchen packing. His ground tarp, sleeping blankets, and rain gear were already tied to his saddle in the barn. His saddlebag would also be tied behind it as soon as he finished filling it. The other large bags of traveling supplies, already packed, would be tied onto Frankie’s back rack.
Scar heard the back door open and close. It was Liz returning home from school. “What are you doing, Bart?” she asked rather bluntly.
“I’m packing for my trip to Council Bluff. I’ll be leaving in the morning.”
“I didn’t know we’d be leaving so soon,” she responded.
“What do you mean, ‘we,’ Liz?”
“I’m going with you. Remember, last week we both agreed I’ll be at your side no matter what the endeavor might be.”
“But we weren’t talking about dangerous assignments,” he said with a stern voice.
“I don’t recall any exceptions made. Do you?”
“No, but…but.”
“No buts about it. I’m going with you.
Tell me what I need to pack.”
Scar stood looking at his wife. He knew better than to argue. “You’re the most stubborn woman I’ve ever known, Eliza Ann Carter. You can come along, but you’ll be staying in the hotel when we get there.”
Liz only smiled.
Scar recited a list of clothing she’d need and then informed her he would pack all of the other items. When he had finished, Liz turned and reached for her coat. “I’m going to tell Rebecca she’ll be on her own in the classroom for the next week or two, and then I’m going to the mercantile to purchase some clothes I’ll need. I’ll be back in plenty of time to fix supper.” She left with a perky little smile.
Scar poured himself a coffee and sat down at the table in a huff. His mind was on all the reasons why Liz shouldn’t be going. She’ll slow me down; she can’t stand the two-day ride. If the weather turns cold, she’ll freeze. What if she hurts herself or gets sick? Suppose I’m put out of commission, and she’s left to fend for herself in strange country?
Scar shook his head. His lips were tight. She’s the most independent woman I’ve ever known. You can’t tell her a thing. She does what she wants no matter what other people think. But then he reconsidered. She’s just like her ma. They’re like two peas in a pod. Scar went to the fire for more coffee. When he sat back down, he started smiling. “I wouldn’t want her any other way,” he mumbled to himself. “She’s the love of my life, and I wouldn’t change a thing, even if I could.”
»»•««
By noon the next day, the couple was nearly twenty miles west of Flat Peaks traveling on the main prairie road, which was a quarter of a mile south of the mountains. They had left town in the breaking dawn with a sky full of dark clouds, a rather brisk wind, and a temperature near freezing. Scar was in the lead on Maude, and Frankie stayed within twelve to twenty feet behind her. Lastly was Liz, riding a mid-sized sorrel mare named Molly. Scar stopped, and Liz rode up beside him. “There’s a stream in a grove of willows a short ways ahead,” he said. “It’s a good place to stop. We’ll let our mounts graze and rest up for thirty to forty minutes before we continue.”
Liz nodded.
A thoughtful traveler had left a sizable pile of wood near a stone-lined fire pit in the center of the grove. Scar retrieved the coffee pot from Frankie’s pack and handed it to Liz. By the time she returned from the creek with water, he had a fire going. After setting the pot on a flat stone he’d placed at the edge of the blaze, he removed Maude and Frankie’s gear and watched them walk off to a nearby patch of grass. He turned to unsaddle Molly, but Liz had already taken it off and was unpacking sandwiches she had prepared the night before.
Scar stood watching his wife. He had never seen her dressed like this before. She wore a black, flat-crowned western hat. Her sheepskin coat covered a black and red checked wool shirt tucked into black wool men’s pants. Her western boots were black. Even in her unusual attire, she was beautiful.
It was mid-afternoon when the dark swirling clouds brought in strong winds that were much colder and carried a few snowflakes. Liz twisted around and retrieved her gloves and a long neck scarf from her saddlebag. She placed the scarf over the top of her head, pulled it down over her ears and part of her face, and then tucked its tail inside of the coat collar. After pulling her coat collar high, she put her hat back on and pulled its tie-string tight.
∙•∙
Minutes later a blinding snow seemed to be falling sideways. Liz had no idea which direction she was riding and was at Molly’s mercy to follow Frankie, who by now was only a faded gray image. Her husband was blotted out entirely. Though Liz was oblivious to her location, she was not worried. She knew her husband would lead them to a safe shelter when it was time to stop for the night. Onward they plodded into the cold, snow-filled swirling wind.
It seemed to Liz the afternoon would never end. She was freezing. Her face was numb and her fingers and toes felt as though they were going to break off, but she stayed her course without complaining. Finally, she saw a tree, twenty feet away. Seconds later they were in thick timber which blocked the wind and allowed most of their visibility to return. The snow was now coming straight down.
Scar continued riding deeper into the woods. After a mile or so, they came to a vertical cliff over a hundred feet high. He turned left and continued riding west along the side of the mountain. The cold, miserable ride seemed to last for another hour before Molly stopped. Liz looked up and saw that Maude and Frankie had stopped and that Scar was walking toward her. She also noticed the mouth of a cave ten yards away. “We’ll spend the night here, Liz.”
The couple walked inside the cave together. It was a large oblong cavern, possibly thirty feet deep. The ceiling was over ten feet high, and the floor was sand. Stacked near the front entrance was a supply of firewood. “I’ll get a fire going, Liz. You can bring in Molly and the mules.”
∙•∙
Within thirty minutes, Scar and Liz were sitting close to the fire with their backs against the wall. Scar knew caves of this size normally stayed near fifty degrees year round, but with the fire, it would warm several more degrees. Scar had made their bed along one side of the cave and placed their traveling gear against the opposite side. As they took in the warmth of the cave, they sat holding coffee cups and watched the fat drizzle from the meat as five pieces of bacon hanging from a forked branch over the fire slowly turned brown. Earlier, Scar had tethered Molly to Maude’s nine-foot lead rope and let the animals wander off to feed. He knew they were probably now a quarter of a mile away and were busy scraping snow off the grass with their front hooves.
The couple had eaten their bacon sandwiches and finished two cups of coffee when Scar said, “You did well today, Liz, especially considering the terrible weather we rode through. I’m proud of you.” She eyed her husband with a smile and reached for his hand. The only sound for the next several minutes was the crackling of the fire. Outside the snow kept falling.
“Are you glad you came along?” The question seemed to come from nowhere.
Liz leaned her head on his shoulder and after a few seconds of thought said, “I’m more convinced now than ever. I love being with you in the wide open land. It’s so peaceful. I’ll admit it was very tiring and made me saddle sore, but I can handle it.”
He was about to tell her how much he enjoyed her company when he heard movement outside. Seconds later Maude entered the opening, leading Molly and Frankie to the back of the cave where they lay down. Turning to Liz, he said, “We’d better follow their lead and call it a night. We need to leave at first light.”
Scar placed several slow burning logs on the fire and then undressed down to his underdrawers before crawling under the covers. Liz followed his lead but was much slower. As she stood in the flickering firelight in her baggy underdrawers, she said in a firm tone, “You better not laugh at me, Bart Carter. You’ll be sorry if you do.” Somehow he muffled his laugh, but inwardly he was howling.
“Get me warm, Bart,” she said as she snuggled closer. “My feet are still freezing.” Scar agreed as soon as her ice chunks touched his legs.
The next morning they woke to a slight breeze and a much warmer temperature. After eating and repacking their gear, they angled southwest through the trees looking for the prairie trail. It was beautiful country. The bright sun rays reflected off the snow-covered landscape. Pillow-like clouds suspended in the blue sky floated to the east. Thirty minutes later, the travelers were back on the prairie trail with mountains to the north, some rising over ten thousand feet with pine and birch trees along their sides.
Later in the day, they reached Eagle Pass and headed north through the mountains. The day was nearly over by the time they reached the large plateau that held Council Bluff. The sun was painting a multicolored sky, which reflected off the snow-capped mountains surrounding the flatlands. The road through town, especially in the business district, was a smelly, green muddy mess, created by the high concentration of horse urine and manure.
Liz and Scar set their luggage down by the hotel’s reception desk. “My wife and I would like a room,” Scar said to the desk clerk standing behind the counter. “I’m not sure how long we’ll be staying, but I imagine it’ll be for four or five days.”
“Are you…” The clerk looked again at his manifest. “Are you Azro Bartholomew Carter?” The big man looked stern. Liz had a wide grin.
“That’s my Christian name, but folks call me Bart. How do you know my name?”
“We received a telegram from Eli. It was the only name given. He wrote you’d be checking in with us and to give you the best room in the hotel, regardless of the cost. We’ve reserved the Presidential Suite for you, Mr. Carter. It’s our best.” The clerk swiveled the register around for Scar’s signature. As the clerk was handing off the key, he said, “We’ll bring your luggage up to your room shortly, Mr. Carter.”
The suite was very nice. It had a large sitting room with several comfortable chairs and a fainting couch to lie on. Centered along one of its walls was a burning fireplace with firewood on its hearth. Beautiful paintings adorned the walls. There were two other rooms off the sitting room. One was a bedroom with a dresser and a walk-in closet. The other room contained a metal, oblong bathtub along one wall. Across the room was a cabinet with dishes and sundries items. Four large pitchers of water sat on its counter.
