Liberty Showdown by Harlan Finchley

Author:Harlan Finchley
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Culbin Press
Published: 2020-07-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

“YOU TWO SURE ARE THE main topic of conversation in Messina’s saloon,” Lloyd Mitchell said when Kelsey Nevada had spoken with him and then ushered them over. “Sheriff Osbourne is searching everywhere for you.”

“In that case, will you still help us?” Gideon asked.

Lloyd turned to Kelsey, who nodded, so Lloyd nodded, too.

“Kelsey doesn’t have a problem with you so neither do I,” he said. “On the other hand I’d guess you haven’t told him why the lawman is looking for you.”

“We told him we’d seen some trouble and he wasn’t interested in hearing the details, but for what it’s worth, the accusations against us are false. Warner Gray killed Deputy Troughton, not us.”

“I wasn’t there so I can’t know if that’s what actually happened, but I don’t trust Warner and you have yet to give me a reason to distrust you.” Lloyd pointed at both men. “The first time that you do, I won’t hesitate to talk to Sheriff Osbourne.”

When both men nodded, he turned toward Liberty. Kelsey had escorted them along the route the railroad would take and they had met Lloyd two hours away from the town where the craggy heights were just a blot on the horizon.

The sky above Eagle Heights was clear. Gideon wasn’t disappointed as Lloyd’s failure to mention the double eagle confirmed his suspicion that the apparition appeared only at infrequent intervals and possibly it wasn’t seen by everyone.

“We’d like help in getting close enough to town to use the mine tunnels,” Joshua said.

Lloyd frowned. “I gather they go on for miles and with the chances of getting lost, it’ll be safer to stay above ground.”

“We have a map.”

Lloyd raised an eyebrow. “I’d find a map useful for my work.”

“Then we’d be delighted to let you make a copy.”

“There’s no need now that I know where to get one, and I’ll be interested to find out why Rudyard hasn’t mentioned that a map is available. On the other hand, I’ve yet to see anyone go into the tunnels.” Lloyd snorted a laugh. “Most of his workers still think the mine is cursed.”

“So what are the workers doing?”

Lloyd tipped back his hat and Kelsey sighed suggesting this matter was a frequent source of conversation.

“Nobody other than Rudyard and his most trusted aides know. All we do know is that he plans to build something. Once a day a wagon train arrives loaded down with wood. They’ve already got enough to build a second town, but I don’t reckon that’s what he plans to do.”

“If we find out anything, we’ll let you know.”

Lloyd nodded and with that he moved on to discuss business with Kelsey leaving Gideon and Joshua to join Brewster. Their new companion had stayed away during their conversation with Lloyd, which Gideon reckoned was the right idea when they were trying to show they were trustworthy.

When they moved on, they let Lloyd and Kelsey go about their business and survey the land, which meant they made slow progress. They mingled in with

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