The Jinx and the Pinkerton by Carolyn Lampman

Author:Carolyn Lampman [Lampman, Carolyn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: fiction
Publisher: Red Canyon Press
Published: 2018-12-01T06:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 22

“Evenin’, McCabe,” Ben said as he sat down on a boulder next to Luke and pulled out his tobacco pouch.

Luke raised an eyebrow. “You’re late, Baxter. You were supposed to relieve me two hours ago.”

“I was busy,” Ben lowered his voice. “Are we alone?”

“Haven’t seen anybody around. You?”

“Everyone’s in bed as far as I could tell. You know,” Ben said conversationally as he rolled a cigarette, “if it hadn’t been for the Indians grabbing Charisse and the kids last week, I’d be wondering if you misinterpreted what you saw back in Independence.”

Luke gave him a wry look. “Trust me, that thought has crossed my mind. I don’t suppose you found something tonight.”

“Maybe.” He stuck the cigarette in his mouth and lit it. “I was several minutes early tonight and saw Simms studying some kind of document. I only caught a glimpse before he rolled it up and stuck it in the wagon, but I’m almost sure it was a map.”

“A map of what?” Luke asked.

“I couldn’t tell, but I think we need to find out.”

“Definitely. Maybe it will finally shed some light on this mess. How do we find it?”

“I have a general idea where it is,” Ben said. “After the game, I circled back because I figured Simms would put it in a more secure place the first chance he got.”

“And did he?”

“Yep. As soon as the coast was clear, he pulled it out and knelt by the side of the wagon. I couldn’t tell exactly what he was doing, but when he stood up a few minutes later, his hands were empty. I’m pretty sure he hid the map under the wagon somewhere.”

“I’m tempted to try and retrieve it now.”

Ben shook his head. “I don’t think it’s any accident that his sleeping tent is on that side of the wagon. I’ll keep them distracted tomorrow night during the poker game, and you can look.”

“All right. I wish we had a few more men so we could keep track of Simms and all his bully boys twenty-four hours a day. Fort Laramie is still within riding distance. One of them could easily sneak away and ride back to the fort or rendezvous with someone halfway.”

Ben nodded, “We’re getting close to Platte River Station too. Dammit! It’s been way over a month and we aren’t a bit closer to figuring out what’s going on than we were at the beginning!”

“Let’s hope I can find something tomorrow night,” Luke said. “We’re about due for a break in this case.”

Instead of planning his raid on Simms’ wagon as he drove the oxen down the trail the next day, Luke found himself trying to come up with a way to thaw Charisse’s reserve. Unfortunately, nothing had occurred to him by the end of the day.

“Jeveraux says we’ll reach the Platte River Station tomorrow or the day after,” Luke said as he washed his hands for supper. “I hear there’s a small trading post there.”

“Oh?” Charisse didn’t even look up from the pot she was stirring.

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