by Evans, Tabor
“We’ve heard about your troubles,” Rose said. “And we’d like to help you out.”
“Not much you can do for me and Homer except feed us. We can’t be here for long.”
“Oh,” Ida said, “and why is that?”
“Tomorrow me and the marshal are goin’ to get on a train and ride all the way to Reno, then take a stage or a wagon on to Virginia City. I’m going to find out if my mother is still alive or not . . . but it don’t look too promising.”
Ida’s hand fluttered to her mouth and she looked away for a moment, struggling to gain her composure. Longarm touched her on the arm and said, “Bodie means that his mother wasn’t feeling too well the last time he saw her.”
“I see,” Ida managed to say. “Bodie, we would like to help you out in any way that we can.”
“A good meal for me and Homer and some cash would be appreciated, ma’am.”
“Of course,” Rose said quickly. “Would you please come inside and make yourselves comfortable. Ida and I have made some freshly squeezed lemonade.”
“That would be nice,” Longarm said, wishing he were someplace else.
Bodie told his dog to wait on the front porch, and once inside the house he was obviously impressed. “You sure have a nice place here,” he told the two women. “Nicer than anything I’ve ever seen before.”
“We like it, and we have an extra bedroom all made up and ready for you . . . of course, after you’ve had a bath and tried on some new clothes that we bought.”
“You bought me new clothes?”
“That’s right. The man at the store had seen you in the street, so he had a good idea of your size. I hope you like what we’ve bought for you, Bodie.”
“Anything would be nicer’n what I’m wearin’ now, ma’am.”
* * *
An hour later, Bodie was getting along just fine with the ladies. He’d talked them into giving his dog a hambone and some scraps, and he’d taken a bath and put on the new clothes, which fit well. With his clean face and hands and his hair slicked down, the boy looked almost handsome, and Longarm could see that he was quite the talker as he told his grandmother and aunt, without being too graphic, all about the wild mining camps he’d been brought up in. Nothing was said about the shoot-out and his role in it, and for that Longarm was grateful.
When Rose led Bodie to a bedroom that had been prepared just for the kid, Longarm took a moment to speak privately to Ida.
“What do you think?”
“I can see a lot of my daughter in that boy,” Ida said quietly. “And I see a lot of sadness, too.”
“Bodie has had a hard life,” Longarm reminded the older woman. “He looks like a boy, but he already thinks like a man. He’s had to grow up very fast.”
“Why are you taking him back to Nevada?” Ida asked. “Hasn’t he seen enough of all that?”
“It’s complicated, but necessary,” Longarm assured her. “You see, there was a letter that was found on John Stock’s body, and it told us some very good things and some very troubling things about Bodie’s mother.”
“I can’t take any more strain right now,” Ida confessed. “So just tell me the good things.”
“Your daughter found religion and quit her wild and dangerous life to marry a good and respectable man named Mr. Burlington. Apparently, they were very much in love and Mr. Burlington was quite wealthy.”
Ida took a deep breath and smiled. “That’s a miracle! Whatever could be bad about something like that?”
“I’m not sure that anything is,” Longarm said, unwilling to tell her about the bloodstains on the letter. “But Bodie has to go back to see his mother and meet her new husband.”
“Then we will probably never see the boy again.”
“Again,” Longarm hedged, “I’m not sure. All I know is that Bodie needs to go with me to Virginia City. He has some questions, and I have a few of my own, which have to do with the shooting we were involved in downtown.”
“I see.”
Ida did not see, but Longarm knew she was trying to be understanding. “Mrs. Clark, I’ll take good care of your grandson. If he wants to come back here to see you again, I’ll make sure that he can.”
“Very well,” Ida told him. “The moment I looked into his eyes I knew that he belonged with family. If his mother is finally willing to take care of Bodie, I’m grateful. But I’m also very doubtful that is going to happen.”
“And why do you say that?”
“A leopard never changes its spots, or a tiger its stripes. Ruby was always a disappointment, and I’ll not allow myself to be disappointed by her ever again, so make sure that you do not leave Bodie in the hands of someone who will not remain steadfast and responsible.”
“I understand, Mrs. Clark, and I share your concern,” Longarm told the woman. “Believe me, I’ll not leave the boy with his mother unless I’m absolutely certain it is in his best interest.”
“Thank you,” Ida said. “Thank you for that and for bringing him to our home, even if it is only for this one night.”
“Is the dog all right staying with Bodie in his room?”
“Oh yes, but I would rather he had brought a smaller animal. A rabbit or a pet mouse or something of that sort. Or a bird, perhaps.”
“Yes,” Longarm said, “that would have been easier. And now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to be leaving.”
“You’re not staying for supper?”
“I have things to do in preparation for our trip tomorrow,” Longarm told her.
“I understand.”
“I’ll be by to pick up Bodie about eight o’clock tomorrow morning.”
“I’ll give him enough money to purchase a round-trip ticket.”
“Do that,” Longarm said on his way out the door.
That night Longarm slept again with Gloria, and they shared a more relaxed and entertaining session of lovemaking. In the morning, Longarm kissed her good-bye and promised he’d return as soon as possible.
“Just be careful,” she told him. “And I’ll be waiting.”
* * *
Longarm then walked over to Center Street, collected Bodie and his big dog, and together they headed for the train station.
“I suppose you’re curious about riding a train,” Longarm said.
“Sure am.”
“You’ll like it,” Longarm promised. “We’ll buy you a ticket and settle in right away. This Denver Pacific train will take us up to Cheyenne, and then we’ll catch the Union Pacific, which will take us all the way to Reno.”
“How long will it take?”
“A little less than three days.”
“Then a half day up to Virginia City.”
“That’s about right,” Longarm told the boy as they went into the station to buy Bodie a ticket.
“Uh-oh,” Longarm said. “I think we’ve got trouble.”
Longarm saw the pair of Sheriff Miller’s deputies straighten up and step forward, faces grim.
“What are you going to do?” Bodie asked.
“I’m going to ask these men to pretend that they didn’t see us.”
“And if they won’t do that?”
“I’m not sure,” Longarm admitted. “I don’t want to have to fight ’em.”
“I’ll help you,” Bodie said. “I’m not afraid and I ain’t goin’ to let ’em arrest me and Homer.”
“Let me see if they’re going to be reasonable about this,” Longarm told the boy.
Both of Sheriff Miller’s deputies were big, strong young men, and Longarm knew they were going to insist on taking Bodie to jail.
“Marshal,” the largest of the pair said, “we’re going to take this boy into custody. You weren’t trying to take him out of town, were you?”
“As a matter of fact,” Longarm admitted, “that’s exactly what I intend to do.”
“Not a chance.”
“The train is pulling out soon and we need to buy Bodie a ticket.”
“I guess you don’t hear very well,” the deputy said. “I don’t want any trouble with you . . . but that’s your choice. We have our orders and the kid is coming with us.”
“I have to take him to Virginia City.”
The two big deputies exchanged glances, and a message seemed to pass unspoken between them, because they both reached for their guns.
Longarm saw the moves coming and drove a fist into the bigger man’s nose, breaking it with a sickening crunching sound. The deputy staggered, and Longarm slammed a hand down on the second deputy’s forearm so hard that the man’s Colt went flying. Before he could recover, Longarm drove a vicious left hook into his solar plexus and the deputy dropped to his knees, gasping for breath, face contorted with pain.
Longarm collected their pistols and said, “You men mean well and I’m sorry that I had to hurt you, but when you went for your guns, you gave me no choice.”
The larger one, whose nose had just been broken, had his face cupped in his hands. Blood was dripping through his fingers and he just shook his head.
“We’re going to buy this boy a ticket, board the train with his dog, and be on our way. And you boys are going to watch us pull out of the station. If you do what I tell you, I’ll toss your pistols out the window at the far end of the loading platform. If you don’t do what I say, you’ll have to go back to your office unarmed.”
“What the hell are we going to tell Sheriff Miller!” the man on his knees cried.
“Tell him that some men jumped you from behind and you put up one hell of a hard fight.”
“Clyde won’t believe that!”
“Then think of something better,” Longarm told the deputy. “It’s not my problem. Bodie, let’s get that ticket and board the train before all the good seats are taken.”
Bodie was grinning. “You sure hit ’em fast and hard!”
“Sometimes there’s no other way to keep a man from getting himself killed,” Longarm said as they walked away.
As they were boarding, the conductor held up his hand and said, “You aren’t planning on taking that dog on the train, are you?”
“I’m afraid we are,” Longarm replied.
“I can’t let you do that.”
“You have no choice,” Longarm said, showing the man his badge. “This is official business.”
The conductor shrugged. “All right. But if it bites a passenger, it’ll be your problem and not mine.”
“Fair enough.”
“And if it shits on the train, I’m not cleaning it up.”
“We’ll take care of that.”
“Then welcome aboard!”
Ten minutes later Longarm waved good-bye to the pair of deputies and then pitched their guns out the window and watched the pistols bounce across the loading platform. He saw the pair hurry over and snatch up their weapons.
“You think they’ll come after us?” Bodie asked.
“Nope. And I bet they’ll come up with one hell of a good story to explain that broken nose,” Longarm said.
“I sure would like to learn how to fight like you,” Bodie told him.
“Well,” Longarm replied, “you might just see a lot more fighting before this whole mess is over.”
Bodie glanced sideways at Longarm and grinned.
Chapter 11
Longarm and Bodie settled into their seats, with Homer lying in the aisle and blocking it completely.
“That dog is going to have to move,” the conductor said. “We’ve got to keep the aisles clear for people to pass through the coaches.”
“Where is he supposed to be?” Bodie asked.
“In a cattle car.”
Bodie shook his head. “Mister, the dog stays with me.”
The conductor shook his head. “Tell you what, Marshal Long. The next coach up is almost empty. Why don’t you three move up there and you’ll have a whole bunch of seats to yourself, and that beast can rest wherever it chooses.”
“Suits me,” Longarm said.
“Me too,” Bodie agreed.
And that’s how they worked it all the way up to Cheyenne. Later, when they transferred to the Union Pacific, they were happy to again find a nearly empty car, where they settled in for the night. They passed over the Laramie Mountains, and morning found them on the sagebrush-covered high plains of western Wyoming.
“When do they start serving breakfast?” Longarm asked as he gazed out at the familiar passing landscape.
“They’ve been serving for over an hour,” the conductor answered. “But you can’t take that dog into the dining car.”
“Why not?” Bodie asked.
“Because it’s against the rules and the dining staff would murder me if I let you bring a dog into their car.”
“Couldn’t we just tie Homer up beside the seat and bring him back some food and water?” Longarm asked.
“That would be fine.”
* * *
Later that day Longarm turned to his young friend and asked, “You said you’d never been on a train before.”
“That’s right.”
“Then how did you and John Stock get from Bodie to Denver?”
“We begged rides. Once, we paid and rode a stagecoach. Sometimes we just walked. It took over a month and wore us down. Getting over the Rocky Mountains was the hardest.”
“Well, then, riding this train must seem like quite a luxury.”
“It sure is,” Bodie agreed. “This is the best time I’ve ever had just sitting here with you and Homer, watching the world pass by and not havin’ to do a thing.”
Longarm pointed out the window. “The next stop is going to be at Rock Springs to take on coal and water. Bodie, do you know anything about the history of this transcontinental railroad?”
“Just a little bit. I heard it was a race of some kind between the Central Pacific out of Sacramento and the Union Pacific coming from the east out of Omaha.”
“That’s right.”
“And I heard that it was the Chinamen who pushed the Central Pacific over the Sierras. I knew a couple of Chinamen in Bodie, and they were good fellas. Kinda quiet and standoffish, but nice enough.”
“They are good people. A lot of them that helped build the railroad over Donner Pass and then across Nevada went back to China with their money. I heard that they saved most of what they earned so they could help their families and buy farmland. But quite a few Chinese stayed in the mining camps, and there’s a huge Chinatown in San Francisco.”
“What about the men who built the railroad for the Union Pacific? What happened to all of them?”
“Some stayed out in the West, some went back east or to the South, where they were born and raised. A lot of the construction workers were ex–Civil War soldiers. Many were riffraff and were escaping the law or their creditors, but once on the job they all pulled together to lay track across the Great Plains. Mostly, they had to worry about blizzards and Indians. But it was quite a race, and we’re going to see where the railroads met at a place called Promontory Point in the Utah Territory.”
Bodie grinned. “We gonna get to see that golden spike I heard was pounded into the joinin’?”
“No,” Longarm said, “I’m sure that they pulled it up long ago or someone would have stolen it. But there’s a statue and a little museum there that tells travelers the tale of the transcontinental race, and we’ll hold over there for an hour or so tomorrow morning.”
“I wish I could read better,” Bodie said. “They probably have the whole story written out on signs, but I’m such a poor reader that m
ost won’t mean a thing to me.”
“I’ll read what you can’t. Bodie, I know you’ve had it pretty rough all your young life, but I’ve got a hunch things are going to get much better for you in a hurry. And one thing you need to do is to get a little schooling so that you can read and do numbers.”
“I can add and subtract,” Bodie said proudly. “I got a knack for numbers and do ’em in my head all the time.”
“That’s good to hear,” Longarm said.
* * *
When their train pulled into Rock Springs, everyone got off to walk around and get a little exercise. The conductor said that they’d have one hour to see the small town and then they’d need to reboard. Anyone not back from shopping or sightseeing would be left behind.
“Come on,” Longarm told the kid. “There’s not much to see in Rock Springs, but we can get a bite to eat and stretch our legs.”
“Sure enough,” Bodie said.
But the minute they disembarked, the town sheriff spotted Longarm and hurried on over to greet him. “Marshal Long, good to see you passin’ through again.”
“Likewise.”
Longarm introduced Bodie and his dog, then said, “Were you looking for me?”
“I was,” the sheriff answered, reaching into his pocket and extracting a telegram. “I’ve got what I figure is a pretty important message for you from Marshal Vail in Denver.”
The telegram was short and very disturbing.
MARSHAL CUSTIS LONG STOP MISS GLORIA HARMON FOUND BEATEN TO DEATH IN HER SHOP STOP MURDER MAY RELATE TO OTHER BODIE RELATED KILLINGS STOP BE CAREFUL ON TRAIN AND WHEN YOU GET TO RENO STOP
Longarm crushed the telegram in his clenched fist and took a few steps off to be alone. He had never imagined that anyone would harm, much less murder, Gloria, and if she was beaten that could mean that whoever killed her had been seeking information about Bodie and perhaps even Longarm. But why! Longarm’s eyes burned with tears, and he roughly scrubbed them away with his sleeve.
“I’m sorry,” the sheriff said. “I take it from your reaction that the woman meant a great deal to you.”
