Redbird by E.E. Burke

Author:E.E. Burke
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: E.E. Burke

Chapter 14

The sun had climbed high into the sky by the time the worker’s train rolled to a stop near a section of track outside of Ladore. Henry followed the tracklayers who left the open-air car and walked to the construction area where new ties were laid out alongside the iron rails.

In their rush to make the border first, he had instructed his men to forego proper grading to save time. Now, they had to spend the extra money to fix it. Kate hadn’t agreed with his decision. She hadn’t understood what success required. He’d told her he was prepared to pay the price. How was he to know the cost might be her life?

He’d fought several losing bouts with his conscience over the past three days, and his nights hadn’t been conducive to sleep. During that time, they’d received no communication, no ransom note. What that might mean chilled him to the bone.

Henry spotted the black-haired Irish foreman and waved. McGrady had sent him a telegram and requested that they meet here and with haste. The message contained few details. Its tone indicated important news.

An army officer, whose wife owned the local hotel where Kate had been staying, accompanied McGrady. Two of the remaining companies of soldiers sent into Kansas to keep the peace between the railroad and the settlers were stationed just outside of town. They might’ve found Kate. Or, God forbid, what was left of her.

“Chief.” McGrady tugged the small bill on his cap. “Thanks for coming up here fast.”

The Irishman’s tanned face reflected uncharacteristic solemnity. He didn’t have good news, that was for sure.

Henry braced himself for the worst. “Well? Have you found Miss Parsons?”

“No, chief. We do have news that might pertain to her disappearance.”

As frustrating as it was not to find her, this meant there was still hope.

“It’s about one of the temporary workers we hired back a few months ago. Apparently, he had asked questions about Miss Parsons—who she was, if she was married, whether she belonged to you. The boys didn’t tell him anything, of course, except to mind his business. It’s not unusual for fellows to talk about women. They thought nothing of it at the time. Then after she turned up missing, well, they got to thinking they ought to say something.”

“Damn right.” Henry’s instincts told him they’d picked up the scent. “Who is this temporary worker? Where is he now?”

McGrady shrugged his bulky shoulders. “That’s just it. He’s long gone. I reckoned he’d drifted off with some of the others who went to work for the higher wages Mr. Joy offered at the time. The name he gave, turns out it belongs to a dead man.”

Henry swore. “There’s got to be some way to find him.”

“There’s more, chief. Seems this worker also asked about the payment schedules. Again, not unusual. Everybody wants to get paid. Except, looking back, the timing is awfully coincidental. He vanished right before our payroll got stolen out from under our noses.”

Henry looked between the two men’s grave expressions and the pieces fell together.

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