Christiana by Crooks Pam

Author:Crooks, Pam
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-03-31T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

Feet braced against the rollicking motion of the train’s iron wheels over the tracks, Holt stood on the caboose’s back deck and stared through the binocular lenses.

Movement in the distance. Not one man, but two. Both riding hard.

Nebraska’s flat prairie made for easy surveillance, and the men were getting closer. Little by little. Wasn’t anywhere else they could be headed but straight for the 1216, and that meant they were up to no good.

Holt waited until he could see what he needed to see. A black frock coat, tails flapping in the wind. The slightest hint of a red tie. And that was all he needed to know.

Swinging off the deck and into the caboose, he slammed the door shut behind him with a firm latching of the lock. Henry stood next to the gun cabinet, his brows furrowed in worry. Next to him was another man, a passenger Holt had seen before, but he didn’t take time to ask questions.

“Looks like it’s Gil Yancy, all right,” he said, setting the binoculars down on Henry’s desk with a clatter. “Got another man with him. Long haired. They’ll be here before long.”

“Long hair?” Henry pulled a Winchester from the cabinet and tossed it toward Holt. He caught the rifle one-handed. A box of cartridges followed, and Holt got to work loading. “Likely an outlaw that goes by Long Hair Lou. Rode with Yancy before he got thrown into the calaboose. We’ll be ready for them.” He took out more artillery. “This here’s Lee Wickman. He can help.”

Holt glanced up. The passenger was well-dressed, close to Holt’s age. Smooth-shaven and citified. “You know how to use a rifle?”

Holding another Winchester in one hand, Lee stepped forward and managed a quick clasp of Holt’s hand with his other. “My father used to be a sheriff in Lincoln County. I rode with his posse. I can stare down an outlaw with the best of them.”

His assurance was just what Holt needed to hear. “Good.”

“Any idea what Yancy’s after?” Lee asked, loading.

“A woman.”

Lee made a swift nod of understanding. “Where do you want me?”

“The baggage car. They might want the safe, too.” He shot Henry a grim look. “Stay here, in case they come in the back way.”

“I’ll be ready for them if they do,” Henry said, gesturing with a revolver fresh out of the cabinet.

Holt strode onto the deck on the front of the caboose, Lee on his heels. Here, between cars, they’d be hidden from the outlaws, and he leaned cautiously over the rail. He didn’t need binoculars to see the two still gained ground.

As if they’d worked together a dozen times over, Lee did the same, peering around the car on the other side, his weapon ready.

“How about we make a little noise?” Holt asked, lifting the butt of the Winchester to his shoulder. “Make them think we have an army of lawmen on this train.”

“I like the way your brain works.” Lee’s finger settled on the trigger. “You go first.”

Holt narrowed an eye and gauged the distance.

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