The Last Good Day by John L. Lansdale

Author:John L. Lansdale
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: BookVoice Publishing
Published: 2021-03-22T00:00:00+00:00

17

They were up early, saddling their horses when they heard a train whistle.

”The train’s here,” B.W. said. “It’s a little after seven.”

“We better high-tail it out there,” Rance said and they hurried outside to see tumbleweeds rolling down the street from a gusting wind. They hung on to their hats, mounted and took off.

The train was pulling out from the station as they rode up with their hats in their hands. They tied their horses to a hitching post and the horses turned sideways from the wind. The train blew its whistle as it crossed a dirt road on the edge of town. The horses started prancing around the station agent walking toward them. He looked like a ghost with his tall, thin frame, swinging the glowing lantern, his snow white hair and beard blowing in the early morning wind.

“Hey!” B.W. yelled. “How come the train’s leaving early?”

The man stopped and waited for them to get closer. “What’s that you say?” he asked. “Couldn’t hear you with the whistle blowing.”

“Why is the train leaving early?” Rance said.

“Leaving on time,” the man said.

“Thought it didn’t leave until ten?”

“Nope, seven-thirty like always.” He raised the globe on his lantern and the wind blew it out.

“Where’s the cattle cars?” B.W. said.

“It’s a passenger train, don’t no pull cattle.”

“Did Sheriff Shaw send a telegram to Pinefield yesterday?” Rance asked.

“Nope. Would have had me do it. I’m the only one knows how.”

“Should have asked for a copy of the telegram,” Rance said.

“He was formulatin’ this from the time he saw the money,” B.W. said. “I could see it in his eyes, thought if I gave him the horse and money it would ease the temptation. Shaw’s on that train, ain’t he?”

“He is,” the agent said. “Said he quit and was goin’ to California. Seemed all excited, kept lookin’ over his shoulder like he was expectin’ someone.”

“He was,” Rance said “We’re here.”

“Wish I had listened to B.W. now,” Tommy said. “ No way we can catch up. He’s long gone.”

“Me too,” Rance said.

“Got a leak in the boiler,” the agent said. “They’re goin’ to have to fix it when they get to Hudsonville. Got no tools here, probably take all day.”

“How far is that from here?” Rance asked.

“Twenty miles or so.”

“What’s the quickest way?”

“Follow the tracks, pretty straight shot from here,” the agent said. “Tried to tell him but he was too jumpy to listen.”

“Thanks,” Rance said and they hurried to the horses. They rode hard until their horses started puffing and stopped to rest them. They dismounted and wet the horses’ noses from their canteens.

“We gonna kill him?” Tommy said.

“Don’t know yet,” B.W. said.

“What you think, major?” Tommy said.

“I’ll let B.W. make the call.”

“I know what you was thinkin’ but everything has changed,” B.W. said. “It’s dog-eat-dog now and it’s goin’ to be that way for a long time.”

Rance didn’t say anything, just grabbed the saddle horn with his good hand and pulled himself up in the saddle. They rode another mile or two and

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