by Lynn Landes
Miners hit gas pockets all the time, and they either explode or suffocate due to a lack of air. They used canaries hung in cages to detect high levels of gas. If the birds died, they would run like hell for the surface.
Looking around at the pattern of debris he realizes the mine is caved inward not outward, as it would be for a regular gas explosion. He files that observation away for later and turns heading in the direction of the house shown on the map.
Riding up to the rubble of the house, he slows his horse to a trot. He slides from his horse and walks around looking closely at the debris and scorch marks. He leans down and pulls from the dirt, half a stick of unexploded dynamite with a blasting cap still attached. “That explains a lot.”
He decides to get his work done quickly and report to Mr. Wells before any complications arise. Solomon looks down at the map he was given. The feminine handwriting shows the mine, house, barn, and rivers running through the property. It also shows a family cemetery, not too far from the home.
Curious, he mounts up and rides to the family plot. A little wooden fence surrounds the cemetery, and inside he sees multiple headstones. He writes down all the names and stops when he looks at the dates and ages of the dead. “Damn.” Things are adding up, and it's not a pretty tale.
Retrieving his horse, he rides towards the river. Looking at the topography of the land, he decides to head the opposite direction of the miners on the hill. He could see they were using sluicing boxes and flumes to collect the gold, but if his assumption is correct, he will find what he needs further down. Any debris from the explosion would be small and sift through easily, and he will find it if it's here.
Hours later, just before sunset, he rides into town, dirty, dusty and determined. He beats the dust from his jeans and ties his horse up outside the post office. Faith is just closing up shop when he enters. Obviously pregnant, twenty-year-old Faith smiles at him, “We are about to close, Sir. How can I help you?”
“I will be needing to send a telegraph to San Francisco,” glancing at her belly as he says, “and I am prepared to pay you handsomely for your help.” He slaps a twenty-dollar bill on the counter and tries not to stare at the beautiful redhead before him. Though heavily pregnant she is stunning. His eye traces the freckles sprinkled over her alabaster skin and he’s enchanted.
Her blue eyes grow big, and her hand covers her baby protectively. One hand tugs a stray red curl that has sprung free, “That's very generous of you, Mr.?” Looking at the rugged cowboy, she is clearly nervous, but the money calls to her. Her husband has been mining for months and still doesn't have much to show for it. This past year he has become desperate, distant, and angry. He's gone more than he is at home.
“Abbott, Solomon Abbott, ma’am. I wouldn’t want to cause any problems. I will send it myself.” She slides the door open and steps through.
“I need to get off my feet anyway, Mr. Abbott, this baby is weighing on me today.” Smiling, she takes the twenty and makes her way to the back. “Take your time.”
Solomon watches her go and quickly taps out his message in Morse code, “Pure vein.” Then, before she returns sends a second one to a friend of his. He waits until he hears Faith moving to send the next one. “Leaving in the morning. Possible vein. Will discuss on return.” He repeats it and then finishes sending it while she waits.
“All finished ma'am.” Faith waddles back over. “Thank you, kindly. I will check back for a return message in the morning before I leave.” He smiles at her and she can’t help but notice how handsome he is. “Now, where can a starving man get some food?”
Faith smiles up at him and wonders if his dark hair is as soft as it looks. “That would be the hotel restaurant. You won’t find better food, I eat there every morning before work.” Embarrassed by her train of thought she turns away.
“Sounds good, I'm famished. I will see you tomorrow, Mrs.?” He questions.
“Faith Smith.” She responds.
“Have a good evening, Mrs. Faith Smith.”
When he steps out of the post office, he puts his hat back on and feels the pressure of unseen eyes. He slowly walks up the dusty street looking at the community. It seems to be thriving. A nice bank, saloon, post office and church. The general store is busy, which tells him there is money here, but he also detects a thread of fear.
Aiden waits until Solomon checks in at the hotel for the night and heads straight to see Faith. She is just locking up when he rides up, and she tries to hide her fear. He is a vile human being. Since her husband is gone so often, she and most of the women who live here fear him.
“Evening Faith, hope Billy's doing alright?” Leaping down from his horse he stomps up onto the wooden planks and waits.
“He's coming home soon, thanks for asking. What can I do for you?” She lies and pulls the shawl around her shoulder, avoiding his eyes.
“I’m glad to hear it. The Sheriff asked me to keep an eye on the stranger in town. He was seen leaving your place a few minutes ago. What did he want?”
“Oh, he asked me to send a telegram for him to San Francisco.”
Aiden steps in and tilts her chin upward. “Don’t make me ask, Faith?” he grumbles.
She knows better than to anger a snake, “It said, leaving in the morning, possible vein.” Faith jerks from his hold and turns protecting her child.
“Excellent, that wasn't so hard was it? I'll come and visit you once that baby is born.” With a flash, he is gone, and she can't stop trembling.
“Come home, Billy. Please.” The baby is due any day, and she is dreading another of his visits. If he touches her or the baby, she isn't sure how she will react. He is like a barely contained volcano. You can sense the violence always bubbling beneath the surface. Only his father can control him.
Solomon watches from a dark corner and tamps down his fury. Faith’s fear was obvious. Where the hell was her husband? He sighs and moves on to his hotel.
Aiden has decided to follow the surveyor back to San Francisco. “He will lead me right to her. I will pluck her and bring her back here, after she marries me, of course.” He smiles and heads back to his father's room to share the good news.
The two-story home they live in is considered grand in this part of the country. It can't hold a candle to San Francisco. Aiden likes to visit there as often as he can. The gambling is first class, the food is phenomenal, and the brothels are, in a word, delicious. He gets hard just thinking about the young girls they provide for him. Yeah, he plans to move there once he gets enough money.
“That little witch will be mine and so will her Daddy's money.” Killing her family had been easy. His men took turns using her mother, and he likes to think she enjoyed it. Her screams stopped after the first two men raped her, perhaps they'd strangled her too long. He was left frustrated, he wanted to hear the sounds of her moaning for him.
Killing Cassie’s husband was a pleasure he wanted to save for himself. Jim was soft, and he ambushed him easily. He tortured him while he told him in great detail what he planned to do to his pregnant wife. Aiden laughs aloud at the memory of Jim fighting. He fought back hard then, wanting to protect her, but in the end, he died screaming as they all did.
Aiden whistles while he walks into the kitchen. The cook has dinner prepared, and she is visibly relieved when he offers to take the tray to his father. “Allow me. Thank you for a fantastic meal, Senorita.”
The first thing he notices is the smell of blood and urine. “Damnit!” He grumbles. He holds his breath and enters the room. He walks the tray to the chair and places it carefully on the seat. Turning, he's not surprised at the sight he finds. “Again, Father? I told you I was leaving. Now, who will look after you?”
His father is sitting in the bed, and the young Maria is naked before him. She is bound and gagged, beaten, and bloodied. He is smoking a pipe and gazing out the window, ignoring the now dead girl before him.
“I can look after myself. What news have you found?” Aiden goes to the
cupboard and grabs a sheet, then talks while he works. He drags Maria from the bed cuts her bindings free and rolls her up inside the sheet staining it with her now cold blood. He lays out his plan as his father smiles.
“Excellent, by the time you return I will have taken care of any miners or surveyors that come this way. If they come with their machines, our mine will be stripped, and any hope of a future here will be destroyed. Take what money you need from the safe, don't fail me, son.” Eustace demands.
“Have I ever?” He tosses the limp body over his shoulder and heads outside.
Chapter 12
Dalton slips from their suite leaving a note with Mr. Astor unaware that Cassie is in the library. He has business to attend to that might be objectionable to the fairer sex. His first stop is the railroad ticket office to arrange passage. He finds to his surprise that Mr. Wells has two tickets for them to Wyoming on the Northern Pacific Railroad. Later in the morning, he has an appointment with the owner of the railroad to take a tour and meet the new partners.
With the plans he has for the railroad in his part of the country in his hands, Dalton is determined to make them listen and secure a fair agreement for the ranchers.
He heads to Mr. Wells office where he intends to find out as much as possible about Cassandra Wolf’s family and ranch.
“Thank you for seeing me on such short notice, Mr. Wells,” Dalton says shaking the man's hand.
“Not at all, Mr. Rivers. What can I do for you?” he asks leading him to a chair by the fireplace.
“I have a request that may seem odd. I would ask for your utmost discretion in this matter,” he asks earnestly.
“Now I am intrigued, Mr. Rivers. Nothing of our meeting has been ordinary. You have my assurances. What can I do for you?”
“Please call me Dalton. I would like you to wire ahead to your surveyor and have him find out as much information regarding my wife’s family and ranch. It is not something she likes to discuss and being so newly married, I would like to be prepared for any complications that may come back to haunt us.”
“Perfectly understandable and prudent to be sure. My man is there now and heading back tomorrow. I do have news for you regarding the mine. Her family mine is a veritable untapped vein, Dalton. If you are changing your mind regarding the contracts…” he starts to ask.
“No. My wife is set on this path. She is ready to move on and start our life together. Nothing will change her mind.” Dalton says thinking of her previous statements.
“Well then, if you're certain. I have your portions of the papers ready for your signature. Shall we?” Dalton smiles and thinks how excited she will be.
“Will her papers be ready as well? I could take them with me, and return them signed to you tomorrow after the ball?”
“Excellent. The surveyor wires me every morning with news. I should have that information for you by then.” Mr. Wells decrees. They begin the long process of reviewing the terms and signing documents.
After lunch together, Mr. Wells introduces him to the shareholders. This is what Dalton has been waiting for. A chance to discuss his intention for the Ranchers and Wyoming. He has never made it this far with the investors before and standing in front of the ten men he is ready and passionate about his cause.
“Gentlemen, I thank you in advance for your patience. I know many of you are not interested in the plight of the ranchers, but I think you will be after you hear me out. I submit to you that beef is next cash crop. The demand for cotton is huge in the East, especially with the war, but God willing this war will not last forever.”
“Mr. Rivers, what does this have to do with the railway?” One man grumbles and two others join him in his agreement.
“I'll tell you. I want a railway depot run in my hometown. It is fifty miles to the main line from there. We need to invest in a depot that will service the surrounding areas with the new style refrigerated cars, gentlemen. This investment needs to be made because I submit to you that an increase in demand for beef and material goods will only grow as the population in the west grows. As the railroad expands, opening access to new territory, so too will the towns in those areas grow. An increase in population means an increase in demands and profit. Cheaper transportation means more beef to the markets, and I will go so far as to suggest that transportation overseas to England will increase in the next ten years.”
“We appreciate your forward-thinking Mr. Rivers, but where is your proof?”
“Look around the city you are in gentlemen. In the last decade, San Francisco has exploded. News travels overseas to the surrounding countries, especially England. The ones who came here looking for gold and not finding it, are staying. Many are moving to the surrounding states with the hope of owning land. Legislation is being pushed through to offer land to the homesteaders who can live and work the land for five years or more. People are staying and working the land. Some as farmers and many as ranchers, and they will need a way to transport the heads of cattle to market. Stock cars are one way, but they are only good for local transporting. The need for beef will only grow, and Wyoming is the Eden of the west for ranching.”
“You have my ear, Mr. Rivers. I have long since thought that refrigeration was the wave of the future.” Mr. Wells reminds the shareholders. “It isn’t news to any of you, I say we hear him out.”
“Thank you for your consideration. Wyoming is abundant with grass. Supremely nutritious grass and good water is everywhere. Coupled with our mild winters the cattle are thriving. My own ranch has more head than I care to think of, but the problem is transporting those cattle! The railway will solve that. Refrigeration solves that. Of course, it's good to be able to transport live cattle for fresh butchering as well.”
“What are you proposing, Mr. Rivers? Who do you think should supply this depot and your refrigerated cars?” Mr. Peters inquires.
“What are we to gain from helping the ranchers?” Another man demands.
“Excellent questions. I would propose a shared profit on the sale of all cattle for a limited time to cover the cost of bringing the railroad and the development of the refrigerated cars. I have already spoken to the Ranchers in my surrounding counties, and they are in agreement. I have their proxy, and I came prepared to deal on their behalf.”
Mr. Wells smiles at this brilliant development. “I say we put it to vote, gentlemen.” Dalton is asked to wait outside while they vote.
He is relieved to be done with his presentation. As he paces, he thinks of Cassandra. What is to be done about her? None of this would have been possible if it weren't for her help and her money. That doesn't sit well with him, but he is looking at the welfare of his community. The time for games is over. Tomorrow after the ball they will discuss the future.
The vote concludes, and Mr. Wells comes to get him. “Congratulations Mr. Rivers we have an accord. We have talked about terms for a contract, and all agree with your proposal. It is fair, and I think we shall all profit greatly.”
Dalton shakes his hand and is exuberant!
“Now how about a tour of the stockyard and the new club cars that are being tested here in San Francisco.”
Hours later, Dalton can only smile at the day’s success. He was able to discuss his hopes for the railway line that he intends for Wyoming. His dream is for the Ranchers to be able to not just trade in beef or stock, but also wool and other goods.
The tour of the train yard includes the new materials being used to build the railways. Dalton is impressed with the speed at which the new club cars are being developed. They are decadent as everything in San Francisco is but he is delighted to find out that he will be traveling in one of the pilot program cars. After his trip, he will make any suggestions for improvement and send those back to Mr. Wells via wire.
“Time to celebrate!” he says to Mr. Wells at the end of the long day of business leaving to head back to the hotel.
Dalton’s last stop is Mr. Chou’s general store for a tea set for his grandmother. Mr. C
hou is wrapping up the fine china when he asks Dalton’s last name to go on the packages, hearing it he goes still.
“I have a gift for your wife, Mrs. Rivers.” He lays before him the repaired silver mirror and brush set and explains about the Williams Brothers the day that it was broken.
“It’s perfect, Mr. Chou. I insist you let me pay you.”
“No. She sent me a crazy French man who bought all of my silk! This is a gift from our family to yours.” He bows and wraps the packages promising to have them delivered to the train.
Dalton leaves shaking his head and laughing.
Chapter 13
Aimee arrives at five o'clock with Cassie's dress for the ball. She brings the shoes and a matching black lace wrap. The blue design of the Asian silk mixed with the black lace makes a startling contrast.
“Oh, Aimee! I have never seen anything like this! You must have worked all night!” She wonders in amazement.
“It was a team effort, but worth the result. I learned so much and thanks to you, he has agreed to take me on as an apprentice. I will be leaving with him to travel and learn under his tutelage! I don’t know how I will ever be able to thank you, Mrs. Rivers,” she exclaims with a tear.
Cassie takes her hand, “It was my pleasure, but make sure he doesn't take advantage of you, Aimee. You are a truly talented designer. Now show me how to put this on and walk and sit in it. I have never seen such a large skirt before!”
“Mr. Pingat says they will be out of season soon! For tonight, all eyes will be on you! First, the undergarments go on, not a typical white chemise, but black lace.”
“Aimee! This is gorgeous! Is it your design?”
“Yes, I thought why should only the outer garments be beautiful, why not the undergarments as well. Your husband will surely agree.”
Cassie blushes when she looks at the black lace chemise in the mirror. It reveals more than it covers, and she can only imagine what he would say if he ever saw it. Next a blue and black silk corset designed to match the dress with black stockings. Cassie puts on black shoes and turns to look at herself in the mirror. She barely recognizes the woman in the mirror. Her hair is done up in the latest style, stacked high on crown with long locks about her shoulders. A flush of excitement covers her cheeks, and she can't help but grin.
