All the Queen's Men by Ethan J. Wolfe

Author:Ethan J. Wolfe
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Gale, Cengage Learning
Published: 2017-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Murphy watched the city of Little Rock, Arkansas, roll by his window as the train slowed its advance toward the station. The banks of the Arkansas River were visible in the background.

Easterners had the wrong impression of Little Rock. Those who had never been west of New Jersey believed the entire west to be populated by savages, uneducated hillbillies, and criminals. To a degree, they weren’t wrong in their beliefs; the west was plagued by criminals. But it was also filled with modern, bustling cities like Little Rock that boasted a population of fifteen thousand and a thriving trade-based economy.

Once the train was safely docked at the platform, Murphy took his satchel to the boxcar to retrieve Boyle.

Boyle, anxious to run after being cooped up for twenty hours, pulled Murphy toward the street.

“Easy, big fellow,” Murphy said. “You’ll get plenty of exercise starting tomorrow.”

From the station to Main Street, where a string of hotels and saloons lined both sides of the street, was just over a mile. Riders on horseback, wagons, and pedestrians clogged the streets and wood sidewalks.

Murphy stopped at the livery to board Boyle for the night.

“Give him plenty of hay and grain,” Murphy told the livery manager. “We have a long ride in the morning.”

“Want him brushed?” the manager asked.

“I do, but I’ll be back later to do it myself,” Murphy said. “He won’t let anyone but me brush him down unless he knows you, so don’t even try.”

Murphy removed saddlebags, satchel, and Winchester rifle from the saddle and carried them several blocks to a hotel. He asked for a room on the fourth floor, registered, and paid in advance for two days and nights.

After leaving saddlebags, satchel, and rifle in his room, Murphy returned to the front desk.

“Can you tell me where the telegraph office and post office are located?” he asked the clerk.

“Both are across the street from the sheriff’s office,” the clerk said. “Turn left outside the hotel and walk eight blocks to the intersection of River Street and Pine. One block east of Pine you’ll see both.”

Murphy nodded, walked out of the lobby to the street, and turned left. The sidewalks were crowded with pedestrians. The streets were mud-filled from rain either yesterday or early in the morning. By the time he arrived at the telegraph office, his boots were caked with mud from crossing the streets.

Two telegrams waited for him in the office. He signed for them and took a chair outside the telegraph office to read them.

The first telegram was from Burke.

To Murphy Stop From W Burke Stop Requested reports being compiled Stop Will require two weeks Stop Wire Burke with location to send Stop Requested maps arriving in Little Rock by train tomorrow Stop Reply when maps received Stop Burke

The telegram was dated yesterday.

The second telegram, surprisingly, was from Mary Kate and not the Colt people in Connecticut.

From MK Ritchie Stop Am home in Dodge City Stop Miss you very much Stop Please wire or write when you can

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