by Ken Farmer
Mason grinned and led the messenger into the warm parlor.
“Here you are, sir.” He handed the yellow envelope to Bodie and received a fifty cent piece in return. “Wow, thank you, Ranger…Should I wait for an answer?”
“Let’s see, shall we?” He opened the envelope and took the thin yellow flimsy out and unfolded it. “From Sophia, ‘Your suites are reserved and there will be someone to pick you up at the train station’…Well, well, this is interesting.”
“You going to make us wait all day or just keep it to yourself?” proffered Bone.
“No, no.” He looked over at Bone and Mason. “It seems that a guest at the villa committed suicide last week.”
“Ooo, that’s too bad,” said Mason.
“That’s not the point.” He looked up again. “Sophia says something just isn’t right. The guest was in a very good mood just moments before the apparent suicide. Wants me to come down and investigate.”
“Well?” questioned Mason.
“Just can’t, boys, I have to testify at a rustler’s trial in the morning. I’ll just send her an answer that all ya’ll are more than capable of conducting an investigation.”
“The girls are going to love this,” muttered Flynn.
“We’re going to be there, Mason, and you have to agree, this is what we do, besides, like Bodie says, he has to testify and there’s no telling how long a trial is going to take.”
“Good point, Bone,” said Mason and nodded to Bodie.
“Take this, son…Sophia, impossible for me to come…stop. The two couples I made reservations for are all top law officers, two detectives, one sheriff and a US Deputy Marshal…stop. You are in good hands…stop. Texas Ranger Bodie Hickman…End.” He handed the messenger another fifty cent piece.
“Yes, sir! Thank you, sir…get this right out.” He looked in awe at Bone and Mason, nodded and headed back to the door.
After the boy had left, Bodie turned to Bone and Mason. “Wish Annabel and me could go with ya’ll, I think you’re going to have fun. Just so you know…That suicide?…Makes seven in the villa since Don Flipe Deigo de la Vega died…all by hanging.”
“You’re joking,” commented Bone.
“Joke you not. Six…now seven suicides in the Villa de la Vega in eight years.”
“Sounds like a Poe or Doyle mystery,” said Fiona as she and Loraine stepped into the parlor from the foyer followed in a moment by Annabel.
“I have a feeling we’re not going to be bored,” added Loraine.
“You think?” replied Bone. He looked over at Loraine. “Don’t forget to pack our crime scene kit, Acushla.”
She cocked her head. “What’s Acushla?”
Bone grinned. “It’s a Gaelic word meaning…pulse of my heart.”
“Aww,” Loraine and Fiona said simultaneously.
Loraine grabbed his collar and pulled his head down to her level and planted a big kiss on his lips,” and said, “I love you, too, big guy.”
“Where did you hear that?” asked Fiona.
“It was something Lollie Whitaker said while Loraine was still out…She said Loraine was my acushla…” He kissed her back. “…and she was right.”
“Awright, ya’ll go back upstairs if you’re goin’ to start foolin’ ‘round,” quipped Mason.
“You could take a lesson or two at that, Mister Flynn,” said Fiona.
“Come here, woman.” He grabbed the raven-haired beauty’s arm and pulled her over against him and kissed her tenderly.
“Ooo, maybe we should be the ones to go back upstairs,” she said and kissed him back.
“We may not get much work done down in San Antonio,” commented Bone.
“And that’s a problem because?” questioned Loraine.
“Well, we may have to come up for air once in a while,” said Bone, pulling Loraine down onto his lap.
“Is that sour mash bourbon I smell?” asked Fiona.
“Yes, dear, would you like a glass?” answered Mason.
“Better make it a short one, Fiona. They’ve found out in our time that regular excessive alcohol is harmful to the baby,” commented Loraine.
“Oh, maybe I’ll just have some lemonade, then,” she said as she headed toward the kitchen.
“I don’t have such a problem…yet,” said Loraine with a twinkle in her eye. “I’ll take a small glass, please and thank you.” She looked over at Mason.
“Yes, m’lady, comin’ right up.” He took one of the glasses from the cut glass set in Faye’s bar hutch against the wall, filled it halfway and handed it to her.
“When I said a small glass, I didn’t mean half a small glass.”
“Oops.” Flynn stepped back over to the dry bar and finished filling her glass and took it back over to her.
“That’s more like it.” Loraine took a small sip, like you should with quality liquor. “Mmm, that is smooth.”
“Double-aged five years in charred white oak barrels or casks after being started with leftovers from a previous batch, much like sourdough bread,” Mason answered. “Ya’ll know that if it’s not distilled in Bourbon County, Kentucky, it can’t be called Bourbon whiskey?”
“Mexican law states that the fermented juice from the blue agave must come from the state of Jalisco before it can be called tequila,” added Bodie.
“Are we going to be graded on the curve for the quiz?” asked Bone as he took a sip of his sour mash bourbon.
“Well, I for one like to the know the history of my favorite drinks like Old Jake Beam Sour, started in 1795. It’s smooth as silk,” commented Fiona as she took a drink of her lemonade.
“That happens to be what the rest of ya’ll are drinking,” said Faye as she came through the door from the kitchen through the dining room.
“Well, it’s certainly good, madam,” said Bone. He turned to Loraine. “We all packed, my Acushla?”
“What does that mean, Bone?” Faye looked at the big man.
“It’s Irish for ‘pulse of my heart’,” answered Fiona before Bone could start.
Faye took a sharp intake of a breath and put her hand to her bosom. “I think that’s the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard.”
“And to think it came from Bone.” Mason took a sip of his sour mash.
Fiona glanced at him. “You could take some lessons on that, too, husband.”
Faye looked at Fiona and Mason. “ I think ya’ll are doin’ all right.”
“I’ll have to agree with you, Faye.” Fiona stepped over and hugged Mason. “He’ll do.”
Mason gave her a kiss and patted her shapely behind.
She looked over at him. “Later.”
“Won’t be any later until tomorrow. We have to catch that train…” He glanced at Faye’s grandfather clock on the far wall. “…in forty-five minutes.”
“Oh, speaking of, I made ya’ll a basket of food to take along with you for that long ride on the train…Fried chicken, roast beef sandwiches, fresh bread, watermelon rind preserves, pickles…”
Fiona interrupted, “Oh, good.”
Faye grinned and nodded. “…a couple of jars of tea…sweetened, and with a sprig of mint, plus wedding cake.”
“Oh, Faye that’s so sweet,” said Annabel.
“Not really. Have to get rid of that cake before I eat it all and have to let my dresses out.”
“Oh, hush up. You look fine.”
“You packed our extra ammo, right?”
Loraine looked at Bone with her ‘I’m going to hurt you’ look.
Bone nodded. “Figured.”
“Then why’d you ask, you big lug?”
“Uh…”
“We better bring our bags down. Bodie, you want to help me harness up Big Red and Bart to the carriage?”
“May as well, before I’m the one gettin’ in trouble.” He grinned at Bone.
The big man set his empty glass down on its doily. “I’ll help, too.”
Fiona drained the last of her lemonade and got to
her feet. “Cowards.”
ROSA’S CANTINA
SAN ANTONIO
Vernon sat at a table over next to the far wall in the dim lit Mexican saloon. He had a bottle of mescal in front of him—it was half empty. He held a bar glass—both hands wrapped around it. His eyes were bloodshot.
The proprietor, Rosa Gomez, walked over to his table and leaned over. “Don’t you think you’ve had enough, Señor Vernon?”
He slowly shook his head. “Ain’t never enough, Rosa…not…not in the whole world…ain’t enough.” He picked up his glass with both hands and took a long drink, and then set it down. Both his hands shook.
“Let me get Sancho to help you back to the hacienda?”
Vernon shook his head again. “Don’t live there no more,” he slurred.
“Where do you live, Señor?”
He took another drink. “Nowhere…I don’t live nowhere.”
“You no at villa?” asked Rosa.
Vernon shook his head as his eyes filled. “Can’t go back there.” He paused and took a deep breath. “Can’t never go back there…Ghosts.”
§§§
CHAPTER SIX
GAINESVILLE PD
2018
“…and this symbol is generally recognized around the world as a symbol of some type of portal,” commented Padrino, pointing to Captain St. John’s monitor. “Just what kind…is open to conjecture.”
“So you’re saying that there was a brief opening or fold this morning with me and wherever the hell Bone and Loraine are?”
“Or whenever…That’s the way I see it, David. Considering what my research into wave theory and electromagnetic vortexes has shown. That spiral there…I believe is open-ended to show that time continues and that you can cross from concentric ring inward to another concentric ring and theoretically…go back in time.” Padrino paused and glanced at the captain, and then the girls. “Could be a prime example of Einstein’s theory of special relativity where he explained quantum entanglement.”
“Oh, I’ve read about that. He called it ‘spooky action at a distance’,” Peach spoke up.
“Exactly,” said Padrino. “He also said the past, present, and future could all exist at the same time…I think your reaching Bone on your cell phone is a prime example of that.”
St. John rubbed his temples and shook his head. “Only Bone.”
“How did he sound, with the few words you were able to hear?” asked Padrino.
The captain looked up. “Happy…He sounded happy…When he answered, it was like he was surprised for a second, and then when he realized it was me…he sounded happy as a kid in a candy store when he said, ‘Hey, Cap’n…You wouldn’t believe…Hell, not sure I believe it myself. We’re’…and the connection was gone, no static, no chatter…Just one second he was there…and the next, he wasn’t.”
“That’s true. I heard him, too. Sounded like he had just won the lottery,” added Stella.
St. John spun his chair around and stared out the window for a moment and then turned back. “You don’t think this is one of his pranks, do you?…I mean if he can put two shotgun shells of flash powder in my ash tray and damn near blow the place up when the sheriff stubbed out his cigar…”
Stella and Peach both giggled.
“Bless Sheriff Brennan’s heart…Burnt all the hair off his right arm and his eyebrows, too…All we could hear down the hall, through the smoke, was him screamin’, ‘Damn you, Bone, you burnt me up!’” said Peach.
“Had to take him to the hospital…Eyebrows still haven’t grown back,” added Stella.
Padrino grinned and nodded. “Told me all about it when he got home. I think he giggled for two days.”
“Bone can’t hide anything, especially when he’s happy,” said St. John. “Was that way in the Corps over in Afghanistan, too.” He nodded again. “So, I don’t think he and Loraine are in any trouble…That I know.”
“Unless they kill each other…Bless their hearts, they’re like a cat and a dog.” Peach giggled again. “When they start snappin’ at each other, I have a dyin’ duck fit.”
St. John wrinkled his forehead. “Peach, what the hell does that mean?”
“Means I run an’ hide…an’ just listenin’ to them snipe at one another?…Well, honey, I get lost as last year’s Easter egg.”
St. John nodded and closed his eyes. “Know the feeling.”
“I’d like to go out an take a look at that cave, Captain…You want to go with me?” asked Padrino.
“Yeah, let’s do that. When?”
“How’s tomorrow suit you?”
“I’ll come out there and pick you up about ten.”
“I’ll be ready. Bring some smoked ham sandwiches, too,” said Padrino.
“Sounds good.”
SANTA FE DEPOT
GAINESVILLE
1898
Bone and Mason stood on either side of the metal steps leading up to the second passenger car, allowing the girls to board ahead of them. They had full carpet bags in each hand.
“I’d offer my hand, Pard, but it’s kind of full,” Bone said as Loraine stepped up on the stair.
“Damn you, Bone, do I look infirmed?”
“Well, not so you’d notice, hon…Just trying to be polite.”
“Turning over a complete new leaf, huh, Bone?” said Mason grinning.
Loraine had her shoulder strap purse and wore her dark gray travel trousers and black thigh length cutaway morning coat that covered her Kimber .45 on its gunbelt around her waist.
Fiona was similarly dressed except she wore her pencil-roll brim black gambler’s Stetson and with a red paisley bustier under her coat. Her twin .38-40 ivory-gripped Colts in reverse draw, showed as bulges under her coat.
Bone and Mason also had their side arms under their thigh length black frock coats. Bone, his 500, .50 caliber Smith & Wesson and Mason his stag-handled Colt .45, plus a snub-nose .38 long Colt birdshead in a shoulder holster.
Mason turned to Bodie who had walked up to the train, hitching the team out front of the depot that brought them in the carriage.
“Still averaging a train robbery every four days in Texas?” asked Mason.
“Yep, ‘cording to the cap’n down in Austin. If any numb nuts try to hit the train, it will either be between Ft. Worth an’ Waco or Waco an’ Austin… Keep your eyes open,” replied Bodie.
“Always do. ‘Preciate the ride…See you in about a week or so…Send you a telegram.”
“Ya’ll have a good time,” said Bodie.
“Plan on it.” Mason grinned as he followed Bone up the steps.
“All aboard…All aboard for Ft. Worth, Waco, Austin, SanAntone…All aboard,” yelled the blue clad conductor as he walked alongside the train on the red brick platform. He waved an all right at the engineer leaning out the side window of the cab of the black 4x4x2 coal-fired, steam locomotive.
The big wheels started to slowly rotate as the engine chuffed, breaking the inertia of the seven car passenger train.
The locomotive began to pick up speed as it headed south out of Gainesville. It would be at full speed of fifty miles an hour by the time they passed the small community of Valley View.
“Well, we’re under way, kids. Anybody hungry?” asked Bone
“It was almost one o’clock when Faye had lunch, Bone,” said Loraine.
“Yeah, sweetheart, but it’s almost supper time…somewhere.”
“You can wait.”
“That’s what my mama always said to me,” mumbled Bone.
“Are you hungry all the time?” asked Fiona.
He shrugged. “Pretty much…Think I was born that way…always figure I never know when I might get to eat again.”
“Actually, love, I could eat, too,” added Mason.
“What are we going to do with this pair, Loraine?”
“I don’t know,” She sighed. “Feed them I suppose.”
“Now you’re talking,” said Bone.
Fiona opened
the picnic type wicker basket and handed each of the men a drumstick along with a slice of Faye’s fresh bread.
“Yum.” Flynn took a big bite. “Oh,” he said as he chewed. “Bodie said there’s still a train robbery in Texas about every four days an’ that if they was to hit us, it would…” He took another bite. “…most likely be between Ft. Worth and Waco or Waco an’ Austin.”
“Don’t talk with your mouth full, dear,” instructed Fiona.
“Not…Just swallowed,” said Mason.
Fiona and Loraine exchanged glances and they both rolled their eyes.
The train slowed as it rolled into Denton for water and any passengers. The engine stopped just past the water spigot from the tower. The fireman crawled up on top to pull down the filler pipe and release the water into the tank in the tender behind the locomotive that also held the coal bunker. The operation took no more than four minutes.
The conductor waved at the engineer as the last passenger boarded. The big locomotive chugged out of the station and was underway again.
It passed the small town of Sanger without stopping since the flag wasn’t up and continued on toward Ft. Worth.
“Well, that hit the spot. May make it to Ft. Worth, now,” said Bone as he wiped his mouth with a napkin.
“It’s less than an hour, Bone,” replied Loraine.
“I know, dear, that’s why I said I may make it to Ft. Worth…emphasis on may.”
She shook her head. “My God.”
Loraine and Bone sat on the east side of the car, facing forward. He had the aisle seat. Fiona and Mason were directly across the aisleway, also facing forward with Fiona on the aisle. They sat almost in the center of the semi-crowded passenger car.
Two rough looking men in worn dark broadcloth suits and bandanas over the bottom half of their faces, stepped through the forward door from the first passenger car. They had their guns drawn.
“Now, folks, in case you don’t realize why we have our guns out…well, this is a holdup,” said the shorter of the two men. He pointed his Colt first at Fiona, and then waved it down the west side of the aisle.
“It would be wise if nobody done nothin’ stupid, like tryin’ to be a hero. We ain’t gonna hurt nobody…”
