Fort Lowell was more than a full day’s ride out of the way from the meeting point where they would be intercepting the cavalry detachment with the real silver.
Kitty, Kip, Cyclone and the others had spent a full day at Kip’s place making plans for the next several days. They had gathered pieces of wood and constructed a makeshift road sign on which they painted the words ‘Twin Peaks Cutoff’. They rubbed it in the dirt to give it a bit of a weathered look and take the freshness of the new paint off. They tossed it along with a mallet for driving the post into the ground, into the wagon with the rest of the load and had set off for Fort Lowell where Kip would secure the necessary uniforms and supplies they would need to carry out their plan.
Having acquired such a large gang, it was felt that it was not safe to stay to stay around Kip’s place while he went to the fort. Too much activity around the place for too long was bound to draw attention. Everyone saddled up and all rode on toward Fort Lowell together.
They camped about five miles east of the fort and the following morning, Kip rode off by himself, leading two unsaddled horses for the purposes of hauling the acquired equipment back.
Kitty had wanted to go with him as the two had become inseparable during the last couple of days, much to Cyclone’s unease.
Kip had explained that his contact at the fort would not be as likely to cooperate if he brought someone else along. After all, if he were caught doing this, he could be court martialed or worse.
Kitty understood and after tender goodbyes while Cyclone looked on with much discomfort, Kip rode away. Kitty watched him go, waving until the outline of his shadow became only a dot and ultimately disappeared into the horizon.
Cyclone walked away before Kitty turned around. He didn’t want her to see him watching her.
He spent the day avoiding her, not wanting to get into any discussion about Kip Dalton.
Kitty did not come around either. She sort of moped around. Sitting off by herself under the shade of a cottonwood tree.
They had chosen a good place to camp. It was secluded with plenty of rock cover. There were several trees for shade and good grass for the horses to graze. There was a stream nearby and they were far enough from the nearest trail that the likelihood of anyone happening upon them was unlikely.
By late afternoon, Kip returned. Kitty was jubilant and ran to him; greeting him as he slid from the saddle and into her arms.
Cyclone was lying on his back in the shade of a big oak tree; his big hat pulled low over his face. He pushed the brim up an inch and peeked out at Kip and Kitty. He sighed and groaned to himself. He pulled the hat brim back down over his eyes.
They broke camp the next day and with the uniforms and cavalry saddles stashed in the wagon with everything else. They set out to establish the place they would intercept the silver shipment.
They traveled most of the day before they found a place close enough to the real Twin Peaks Cutoff to be a believable alternative. There was a crossroad and although it was somewhat in the distance, there were two mountains close enough that you could call them twin peaks, with a little stretch of the imagination.
The trail was steep here and the horses had to strain a bit to haul the wagon load to the top where the crossroad spread out across a flat rim around the mountainside. The trail ahead continued to incline upward but spiraled enough to even out the difficulty of travel a bit. The countryside then leveled out into a dry plain that eventually spread into endless desert.
Here was where they would pound in the stake for the fake sign, but they would not do that until morning, just before the cavalry detachment was due. They did not want to take any chances of anyone coming by and seeing the sign prematurely.
The area in the near vicinity was not good for camping. There was no water about and grazing was sparse. There was, however, a lot of brush. It was ideal for hiding. They would be able to hide the wagon here while waiting for the cavalry.
In the meantime, they could scout around for someplace close for the night. Close enough to be back early enough and not miss the silver shipment in the morning.
Fortunately, they found such a place not far along the cross roads trail.
They prepared a good meal, went over the plan for the next day. Kip, Jeremy, and the four Beattie brothers would be wearing cavalry uniforms and be the receiving detachment. It was decided that since the Beatties were going to be doing the second round of the plan, they should do the first, so they would know exactly what was expected of them. Kip would act as the receiving officer this time to do the paperwork for the transfer. Kitty, Cyclone, Rap and Chief would stay hidden with the wagon of phony silver until the transaction had been completed.
Once the official cavalry detachment was satisfied their duty was done and had turned back, Kip and the others would hurriedly transfer the real silver and the fake the silver to the respective wagons.
Kip would then copy over the details of the transfer papers to a fresh copy that he had acquired for use with the meeting with Price’s phony cavalry. He and the Beattie brothers would travel on to that meeting. This time Red would play the part of the transfer officer as he was the only Beattie who could read and write. Kip would play the outrider to avoid recognition.
Meanwhile, Kitty would secure her share of the silver that she wanted and the amount promised to the Beattie brothers for their assistance. Then she and the others would head back toward Thimble Creek to the railroad and ship the remainder to the Denver Mint where it belonged. The part about shipping the silver back to the mint was not shared with the Beattie brothers.
Once Kip and the Beatties were done with the transfer with Price’s men, they would abandon their fake shipment and hurry back to catch up with Kitty and the others.
The meal was finished. Utensils were cleaned and put away. The campfires were burned down low and kept concealed and in anticipation of a big day on the morrow. Everyone turned in for the night.
The Beatties huddled together next to their own campfire. Red pulled his blanket up over his head, leaving just enough space for his face to peek out. He grinned through his grizzly beard and muttered low, “”Dream good, boys,” he said. “I’m still plannin’ on gettin’ all that silver. Three hundred thousand dollars sounds mighty good to me. Whooee. I’d say that’s worth dyin’ for.”
Chapter Twenty
The Return of Wildcat Kitty and the Cyclone Kid Page 26
