Packing Iron (11 page)

The Blackwood Mansion, as it was known, sat on a low grassy rise at the end of the canyon. Three stories of wood and stone with a slate roof, a wedding cake facade and a large front porch overlooking the valley beyond, it was the envy of everyone in Old Calico. The furniture was handmade in San Francisco, the paintings by famous American and European artists and each room was lit by dynamo-charged electricity. That wasn’t all. The china, crystal and silverware came from Europe; and the snowy tablecloth was made of the finest Irish linen.

Gabriel, now bathed and shaved, was extra careful during dinner so that he didn’t spill anything on it.

Ingrid, sensing his unease, kept the conversation light and breezy; and to make sure he wasn’t embarrassed by using the incorrect silverware, she made sure before each course was served by the icy-polite British butler that Gabriel saw which knife, fork or spoon she was using.

As the five-course meal ended and cigars were brought out, Raven entered to say goodnight. Resentful of Reece’s strict rules – one of which was that ‘children’ did not dine with ‘grown-ups’ when guests were invited – she kissed her mother fondly, grudgingly muttered goodnight to ‘Uncle Reece,’ and made a big fuss about fawning over Gabriel and
telling him how much she’d missed him.

‘I’m envious,’ Reece half-joked to Gabriel after Raven had left. ‘She seems to really like you.’

‘No more than she does you,’ Ingrid said quickly.

‘I’d like to think that,’ he said. ‘But there are times, many times, when I get the feeling she’s avoiding me.’

‘Nonsense. Raven’s not like that. She’s entirely honest about her feelings. If she didn’t like you, she’d tell you. Isn’t that right, Gabe?’

‘She’s not shy ’bout speakin’ her piece,’ Gabriel agreed. Inwardly, though, he knew something was wrong. From the moment he’d arrived he could tell Raven wasn’t happy. The way she hugged him and remained at his side, ignoring Reece, made it obvious that she disliked him.

‘She doesn’t even ask me for chewing gum anymore,’ Reece said, hurt. ‘And when I offered to buy her a new dress the other day, she pretended not to hear me. Do you think it’s something I’ve done, or said to her?’ he asked Ingrid. Before she could answer, the butler entered. He spoke quietly to Reece, who immediately frowned and gave Gabriel a hard look.

‘Excuse me,’ he said, rising. ‘I’ll only be a minute.’

When he’d left Ingrid quickly turned to Gabriel. ‘I’m worried, Gabe. Reece is right. Raven does seem to have turned against him.’

‘Maybe she resents bein’ bossed around by a stranger.’

‘But he’s not a stranger; he’s her uncle. And after all, this is his home so it’s only proper that she do as he asks.’

‘’Cause it’s proper doesn’t make it easier to swallow.’

Ingrid didn’t answer for moment. ‘I’ve tried to discuss it with her,’ she said finally. ‘But it was like talking to a stone wall. You like him, don’t you?’ she said when Gabriel didn’t respond.

‘Don’t dislike him.’

‘That’s not what I asked you.’

‘It’s my answer.’

‘In other words, you won’t discuss it? My God, you are so exasperating,’ she said when again he didn’t respond. ‘It’s no wonder Raven adores you. You’re two of a kind—’

She broke off as her brother returned. Apologizing for his absence, he put fresh gum in his mouth and asked Ingrid if he could have a moment alone with Gabriel.

‘Of course.’ Rising, she gathered up her cream satin gown so she wouldn’t trip on the flowing skirt and withdrew.

Reece poured Gabriel a brandy and came right to the point: ‘That was Sheriff Vogel. Seems you and he had a little misunderstanding earlier.’

‘That what he called it?’

Reece Blackwood sighed, spat his licorice gum into a brass spittoon and reached for a cigar. ‘I’m not going to lie to you, Gabe. What you saw wasn’t pleasant but it was
necessary
. It’s the only kind of treatment the Utleys understand.’ He paused, expecting Gabriel to say something. When he didn’t, Reece said: ‘I don’t condone Vogel’s barbaric actions but nor do I intend to reprimand him for them either. They get results. And right now, I need results.’

‘Must be a better way than draggin’ a boy in the dirt.’

‘That boy,’ Reece said angrily, ‘is part of a clan of human filth that lives – no, make that infests – Diablo Canyon. They’re like a plague. They live like animals and multiply like vermin, fouling everything they touch. Their leader’s a violent, bullying patriarch who goes by the name of Remus Utley.’

‘The boy’s kin?’

‘His father.’ Reece clipped the end off his cigar and lit it with a gold lighter. ‘He’s an illiterate drunk who beats his wife and sires children like they were rats. Remus’s
grandfather
, Eli, spent what little gold he found in whore houses
and died of syphilis and the father was killed in a mine
cave-in
. Everyone expected Remus to move the clan out of the canyon after that, but he didn’t. Instead he spread out into Rockfall Pass. I offered him a more than fair price for the land but he laughed in my face. Said he intended to stay there till he rotted to death.’

‘Why? Is there gold or silver to be dug out?’

‘Not a dime’s worth. Even in the gold rush days it was known as Dry Diggin’s. That’s what’s so crazy about this whole thing. To spite me – well, the townspeople,’ Reece corrected, ‘he’s brought pain and misery to not only his own family but the half-dozen other families who live there with him. God knows, I’ve done everything a civilized man could possibly do to make him change his mind. But it’s useless. He’d rather see everyone starve to death than give up his land.’

Gabriel eyed Reece shrewdly and spit out a stream of smoke. ‘If the land ain’t worth anythin’, why do you want it?’

‘I don’t. I just want them out of there. Filth like that spreads like a disease. Gives Old Calico a bad name and stops outsiders from coming here. And without outsiders, no town can exist for long. And I don’t intend for scum like the Utleys to destroy something I’ve nurtured into
prosperity
, something good, a town where decent folks can live and work and raise their families in safety—’

‘So you resorted to force?’

‘I had no other choice. As I said, I’ve offered Remus money, land – fertile land where he and his clan could
relocate
– all to no avail. So now I intend to drive him out, by any means available to me—’

‘Includin’ Latigo Rawlins?’

‘Including Latigo Rawlins. I don’t know why that should disgust you,’ Reece said, seeing Gabriel’s expression. ‘Latigo isn’t doing anything you didn’t do back when you
were on the prod for Stillman Stadtlander.’

Gabriel smiled unpleasantly and studied the smoke
curling
up from his cigar. ‘Was wonderin’ when you’d get around to that.’

‘Don’t worry. I don’t intend to tell Ingrid.’

‘No need. She an’ Raven already know what I was – still am when it comes right down to it.’

Reece looked surprised but didn’t say anything. The two men smoked in silence for a few moments.

‘So what can I expect?’ Reece said finally. ‘More of the same or are you going to back my play?’

‘Anyone who isn’t with you is against you, that it?’

‘Isn’t that how you’d look at it?’

Gabriel slowly got to his feet. ‘Blackwood, let’s get
somethin
’ straight. My gun’s not for sale.’

Reece watched Gabriel walk to the door. There was
something
lethal about the man and it scared him.

‘You don’t like me much, do you, Moonlight?’

‘I don’t like you at all,’ Gabriel said. He walked out.

Ingrid was coming down the stairs as he collected his hat from the blank-faced butler.

‘You’re leaving?’

He nodded. She saw a glint in his eyes that troubled her.

‘You and my brother, you had words?’

Again, he nodded.

‘About me?’

‘Ask him. G’night ‘

‘Wait. Will I see you again?’

‘I’ll be around.’ He left. The butler closed the door and returned to the kitchen.

Ingrid felt someone watching. Turning, she saw Reece standing in the dining room door.

‘What did you two argue about?’

‘He didn’t tell you?’

‘Said to ask you.’

‘I wanted him to side with me against the Utleys. There’s big trouble looming, sis, and I could use his gun.’

‘Good God,’ Ingrid said. ‘You invite him to dinner and then ask him to kill for you?’

‘It’s what gunfighters do, in case you’ve forgotten.’

‘But not bankers,’ she said scathingly, ‘in case
you’ve
forgotten!’ She stormed upstairs.

‘Ingrid!’ Reece went to the foot of the stairs and called after his stepsister. ‘Ingrid, wait – I want to talk to you.’

She ignored him and he heard her bedroom door slam.

‘Well, well,’ a low voice said mockingly. ‘Trouble in paradise?’

Reece whirled and saw Latigo standing in the kitchen doorway, munching on a chicken leg.

‘Get out of my house!’ Reece shouted at him.

The small, slim gunfighter grinned impudently, tossed the chicken leg over his shoulder into the kitchen, licked his fingers clean and strolled past Reece to the front door.

There he turned and said softly: ‘Don’t ever raise your voice to me again, Mr Blackwood. Or I might forget I work for you.’ He walked out and down the steps to his horse.

Enraged, Reece grabbed an ancient Grecian urn sitting atop a small antique table, and hurled it against the wall.

It shattered into a thousand pieces.

Gabriel awoke with a start. It wasn’t yet dawn and someone was pounding on his hotel door.

‘Moonlight – Moonlight, you in there?’

Recognizing Reece Blackwood’s voice, Gabriel thumbed the hammer back on his Colt and went to the door. ‘What do you want?’

‘Open up!’

‘I can hear you through the door.’

‘Damn you, it’s important! Remus Utley’s kidnapped Ingrid and Raven—’

Gabriel yanked open the door and saw Reece, armed with a shotgun, and behind him Latigo Rawlins.

‘When?’

‘Some time earlier tonight.’

‘Know where he’s taken them?’

‘Diablo Canyon, most likely.’

‘It’s payback,’ Latigo added. ‘For what Sheriff Vogel an’ his deputies did to his boy, Mitch.’

‘Will you throw in with us now?’ Reece said.

Nodding, Gabriel sat on the bed, quickly pulled on his boots and shirt and buckled on his gun-belt. ‘How’d this Utley fella get hold of ’em?’

‘Some of his men broke into my home, pistol-whipped the butler and snatched them right out of their bedrooms.’

‘You must sleep heavy.’

‘Normally I would’ve heard them,’ Reece said, ashamed. ‘But after you left I drank more than I should’ve, and—’ He left the rest unsaid.

‘Any idea what Utley intends on doin’ with them?’

‘No. I doubt if he’ll harm them – even Remus can’t be that crazy. He knows he’d have everyone in the territory down on him. But other than that, I’ve no idea. I do know this, though,’ Reece said grimly. ‘This is the last time that bastard’s ever going to make me sweat. Once Ingrid and Raven are safe, I’m going to wipe him and his ugly brood out, once for all!’

Finished dressing, Gabriel grabbed his hat and followed Reece and Latigo down the stairs. Outside the hotel Sheriff Vogel, his deputies and some thirty armed riders waited.

One of them held the reins belonging to a big rangy buckskin. ‘The hostler couldn’t get your horse out of the stall,’ he explained to Gabriel. ‘Says the ornery devil tried to bite him every time he got close.’

‘Sounds ’bout right,’ said Gabriel. ‘Got a mean streak in him wider’n the Red River.’ Climbing into the saddle, he spurred the buckskin into a gallop and rode after Reece, Latigo and the others.

Ten minutes of hard riding brought the posse to the mouth of Rockfall Pass – a narrow, steep-walled gap in the hills that had earned its name twenty years earlier when an
earthquake
caused a rock slide that buried a group of miners on their way to Placerville.

Reece gathered everyone around him and spoke to the sheriff. ‘I want this done legally. Swear everyone in. That way, no one can ever accuse us of vigilantism.’

‘You heard Mr Blackwood, boys. Now raise your right hand an’ swear to uphold the law, so help you God.’

Everyone but Gabriel and Latigo obeyed. Sheriff Vogel knew better than to press them. ‘It’s done, Mr Blackwood.’

Satisfied, Reece faced the men. ‘Okay, now listen up. There’re lots of women and children in there. I don’t want any of them harmed. That clear?’

‘Them’s Utley women, boss,’ a rider grumbled. ‘They ain’t gonna just stand there while we gun down their men.’

‘That’s different. If any of them shoot at you, shoot back. You two,’ Reece added to Gabriel and Latigo, ‘stick with me. Remus is most likely holding Ingrid and Raven hostage in his cabin. While the men keep Utley’s boys pinned down, it’s up to us to get them out of there.’

‘This Utley,’ Gabriel said, ‘he some kinda fool?’

‘Far from it. He’s cunning as a snake.’

‘Then he’ll be expectin’ us. We go bustin’ in there an’ he’ll cut us down long before we can get to the women.’

‘Not if we strike now. If he’s expecting us at all, it won’t be till daylight. There’re hundreds of places to hide in the pass and the canyon and the Utleys know every one of them. Remus won’t think anyone would dare attack him in the dark.’

‘An’ if you’re wrong?’

‘Then we’ll force his hand and shoot it out. I’d take these men against a bunch of Utley trash any day.’

‘Not arguin’ that.’

‘Then what’s eating you?’

‘I’m worried about Ingrid an’ Raven. You willin’ to risk their lives on a hunch? If Utley’s the kind of filth you been paintin’ him, an’ he knows a rope’s waitin’ for him, what’s to stop him from shootin’ both of them just out of spite?’

Reece realized Gabriel was right. ‘You have a better idea?’

‘I ride in alone. Utley doesn’t know me, but his boy, Mitch, does. Maybe he’ll remember I cut him loose an’ saved him some roughing up by the sheriff. If he does, could be I can persuade him to make his old man listen to reason.’

‘And if you can’t?’

‘You’ll have a gun on the inside and I’ll be usin’ it to protect Ingrid and Raven when you come bustin’ in.’

Reece Blackwood mulled over Gabriel’s offer then took out his fob watch and checked the time. ‘Sunup’s in two hours. Another fifteen minutes for the sun to climb high enough to clear the ridgeline and bring daylight to the canyon. That’s how long you’ve got to talk Remus into letting the women go.’

‘Hold it,’ Sheriff Vogel said. ‘Puttin’ a lotta trust in this stranger, aren’t you, Mr Blackwood?’

‘Meaning?’

‘What if Utley hired him to come here? The ol’ man’s been threatenin’ to bring in outside guns for weeks now. Mebbe he’s one of ’em.’

‘That’s nonsense. He came to see my stepsister.’

‘Mebbe. An’ mebbe that was just his cover.’

Silence.

The men looked suspiciously at Gabriel, who made no attempt to deny the accusation.

‘It would explain why he cut Mitch loose an’ why he’s so all-fired on goin’ in there alone. Hell, he’s probably just itchin’ to warn Remus we’re comin’ in.’

Angry, the men started muttering in agreement.

And still Gabriel said nothing.

‘At least deny it,’ Reece said to him.

‘Why should he?’ Latigo put in. ‘He knows it ain’t true.’ He turned to the sheriff beside him. ‘An’ he knows you got pig slop for brains.’

Sheriff Vogel reddened angrily. ‘An’ you got a big mouth, Shorty—’ He broke off, alarmed, as he felt something
pressing
against his chin – and realized it was one of Latigo’s ivory-handled, nickel-plated guns.

Gabriel, accustomed as he was to gunmen with quick reflexes, had never seen anyone draw so fast.

‘Easy,’ he said softly. ‘Caution’s the way.’

Latigo showed no sign of hearing him. Rage narrowed his eyes into twin yellow slits.

‘Let it go, Rawlins,’ Reece pleaded. ‘One shot could mean the end for my stepister and niece.’

For another second Latigo seemed on the verge of
shooting
the sheriff. Then he smiled, boyishly, and returned the gun to its holster – only slightly slower than he’d drawn it.

‘You’re a lucky fella, Sheriff. But if you wanna enjoy your rockin’-chair days, don’t ever call me that again.’ He turned his horse away and Sheriff Vogel sagged with relief.

‘Go ahead,’ Reece told Gabriel. ‘But remember: in two hours we’re coming in.’