So Wide the Sky by Elizabeth Grayson

Author:Elizabeth Grayson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: ePublishing Works!
Published: 2015-02-19T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

"The government's mark is on the back of the label," Hunter insisted, bending over Ben McGarrity's desk and pointing to a stamped impression in the shape of an eagle. "It means that can of milk came from one of the licensed traders."

McGarrity moved the paper closer to the lit lamp and nodded. "And you think one of those men is trading with the Sioux illegally?"

"Condensed milk is too expensive to be on the list of approved trade goods," Hunter said, "yet this can got to the encampment somehow. Whoever traded it is probably trading for other things—like arms and ammunition."

"Like the cache you discovered in Red Cloud's village." The major sat silent for a moment. "And you think this second mark, this horseshoe, will tell us who the trader is?"

"Yes, I do."

"But why would any trader put his mark on contraband?"

"It might have been put there by mistake," Hunter suggested. "Or he might figure the odds of someone tracking down a single can of milk were pretty long ones."

McGarrity nodded and rubbed at his beard. "I'll have someone go fetch Jessup. He's probably more familiar with the traders' marks than anyone."

Tyler Jessup took his own sweet time answering Major McGarrity's summons. When he finally made his way into the office, he was all bristle and blather.

"I don't see why you have to take a man away from his work to answer some damn question," he complained. "Now that the weather's better, the wagons are coming through thick and fast, and with the money freed up at payday, I'm downright busy. I can't afford to have the store locked up for long, so you better tell me what's so all-fired important."

Hunter had seen McGarrity chew up far fiercer men than Jessup and sat back to enjoy the fireworks.

"Well now, Mr. Jessup," McGarrity drawled. "You're here in this fort at the behest of the U.S. Army in general and me in particular. You set your hours by my clock, and the poker game in your back room goes on because I choose to look the other way. Don't you forget for a moment how all this works." He cleared his throat. "Now since we have that clarified, Mr. Jalbert and I have need of your expertise."

Jessup scowled in consternation, knowing he was caught.

"I have the label from a can of milk," McGarrity began to explain, "that was stamped and sold by one of the licensed traders. But on closer inspection, we discovered there's a second stamp."

"It's how we know whose goods are whose when they're shipped west," the sutler volunteered. "Each of us has a different mark."

"Then I would like you to identify the trader who handled this particular can." McGarrity handed the label across his desk and turned up the wick on the lamp.

"You get this up in Indian country?" the sutler asked. It wasn't a particularly inspired guess. Everyone at the fort knew where Hunter had been.

"Well, damn!" Jessup exclaimed when McGarrity inclined his head. "I knew she was up to something when I sold her that milk.

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