Shadow Walker (15 page)

They waited until all the passengers had boarded before ambling down the line of cars, hats pulled low, faces averted. Dawn and Cole had entered the first passenger car so they bypassed that one and entered the second, choosing a seat at the rear of the car.

“Do ya think the railroad man saw us?” Spider wondered.

“Naw. He suspects nothing,” Sam said with confidence. “He probably doesn’t even know there’s gold on board. We’ll get off at La Junta like we planned and beat the train to the pass. That gold is as good as ours.”

“Do ya think Dawn will be glad to see us now that Cobb’s gone? I got a powerful hankering for her.”

They exchanged looks. “We ain’t dumb, Spider. I reckon we’ll find a way to have both the woman and the gold.”

Weary after a restless night aboard the train, Dawn perched on the edge of the seat, looking out the window and listening to the harsh metallic clatter of the wheels, dreading the uncertain future that awaited her. She had hardly slept last night. It wasn’t until Cole had put his arm around her and pulled her head down on his shoulder that she had slept at all.

“Relax, Dawn,” Cole urged. “You’re not going to your death, you know. Trust me to know what’s best for you.”

His rather arrogant statement sent anger surging
through her. “Why should I trust you? I don’t want your pitty. We both know how anxious you are to get rid of me in a way that will salve your conscience.”

Cole had the grace to flush. Dawn had come too close to the truth. “That’s not entirely true. Your future is important to me. I want your promise that you’ll stay with Running Elk long enough to get to know him and his people. Who knows? You may find a good man to love.”

“I’d just break any promise I made,” Dawn said truthfully.

Disgruntled, Cole directed his gaze out the window. If he had any sense he’d disclaim responsibility for Dawn. She neither wanted nor appreciated his concern. Finding her a virgin had been a shock, one that called for special consideration. Walking away from the situation, as he had done in the past when he found himself in a difficult position, was unthinkable. He was under no obligation to provide for Dawn’s future, but something about the abused waif had struck a responsive chord in him. He was going to do his level best to see her settled without compromising his own freedom.

The train traveled north and west into Colorado, making scheduled stops along the way. At various stops Cole bought food for them to eat on the train. In between stops Dawn dozed fitfully, fighting the dust and heat drifting through the open windows. They had left the plains and were traveling into high country now. The train had just made a scheduled stop at La Junta to discharge passengers, and they were to have a longer
stop that evening at Pueblo to get a hot meal. Dawn looked forward with relish to stretching her legs.

Cole remained alert despite the stifling heat and mingled odors of dust and stale sweat. They were passing through a particularly desolate stretch of low-rising foothills and grasslands when Cole felt the hairs rise at the back of his neck. His attention sharpened but he saw nothing, heard nothing out of the ordinary. Everything seemed as it should be, but his instincts screamed danger. Glancing at Dawn, he saw that she was dozing and decided not to awaken her as he carefully rose and strolled through the passenger cars.

There were only two passenger cars, and everything seemed in order. Passengers were either reading, dozing or talking quietly to their seat companions. He recalled seeing two passengers debark at the last stop and retrieve their horses from the stock car, but saw no cause for concern. He continued down the aisle, presenting his credentials to the conductor standing at the rear of the second passenger car.

“A railroad detective,” the conductor said with cautious enthusiasm. “Were you sent to protect the gold shipment? I don’t think that’s necessary. Two armed guards are riding in the baggage compartment. Rumor has it that Billy Cobb is dead and his gang has scattered.”

“You heard right. I killed Cobb myself and recovered the stolen money. But as for the rest of the gang, two men are still at large. I reckon I’ll just mosey on back to the baggage compartment and have a look.”

“Suit yourself, Mr. Webster,” the conductor said as he adjusted his stance to the swaying train.

Suddenly the train slowed to a crawl, and warning bells went off in Cole’s head. He grabbed the conductor’s arm before the man could amble off. “Why is the train stopping?”

“Nothing to get excited about. This is a particularly dangerous spot. We’re beginning our incline into the mountains and the tracks are set on a narrow ledge. The engineer usually takes extra precautions to prevent an accident.”

His explanation didn’t satisfy Cole. His instincts hadn’t failed him yet. He released the conductor and continued toward the baggage cars. “I’m going on back to talk to the guards.”

Taking a shortcut, Pickens and Lewis had reached the narrow pass two hours ahead of the train. It was a perfect place for a train robbery. The town of Pueblo lay ahead; behind and around them were nothing but lofty mountains. They tethered their horses in the trees along one side of the incline and crept down to the tracks. It took over an hour to roll heavy rocks and dead logs into place. When they heard the train rattling along the tracks, they hid in a rocky crevice and waited.

The engineer saw the barrier as he rounded a blind curve but was unable to stop in time. He plowed into the barricade, derailing the engine and both passenger cars. By the time the train settled into the dust, Pickens and Lewis, saddlebags slung over their shoulders, had scrambled into the baggage car. The two guards were sprawled on the floor, too shaken to protect themselves. They were
shot in cold blood, one dying instantly and the other seriously wounded.

Cole had just passed through the second of three baggage cars when the train derailed. He was thrown against the side of the car, jolted but not hurt. He knew exactly what the derailment meant, particularly in this isolated place.

The sudden jolt sent Dawn hurtling into the aisle. She landed hard, stunned and shaken. Her first concern once her senses returned was Cole. She had been dozing when he’d wandered off and had no idea where he had gone. Then she saw the conductor picking his way down the cluttered aisle, assisting passengers back into their seats and answering questions.

“What happened?” Dawn asked when he reached her seat.

“Don’t know, ma’am. I’m heading up front to find out now.”

“Have you seen the man traveling with me?”

“You mean that railroad detective? Saw him a few minutes before the derailment. He was heading toward the baggage car. We’re carrying a gold shipment to Cheyenne. Don’t worry, ma’am, it’s well guarded.”

Dawn felt a sudden chill. Intuition told her that Cole was in danger. Without a thought for her own safety, she hurried toward the baggage cars, shoving and pushing her way through the tangle of excited passengers trying to find their scattered belongings.

“Hurry,” Sam called as he and Spider shoved sacks of gold coins into their saddlebags. “Take as
much as you can carry and hightail it back to the horses while I look for Dawn. The passengers are probably too shaken up to offer much resistance.”

He bent to his work, until Spider hissed a warning. “Someone’s coming.”

“Already?” Sam flattened himself against the wall beside the door, waiting for it to open. He heard the latch rattle, lifted his gun by the barrel and brought the butt down hard when the door opened and a man stepped through.

Cole would have been more alert had Dawn not surprised him. He sensed someone behind him and heard Dawn call his name just as he opened the door to the baggage car. He turned to warn her to go back. In that split second he was struck down.

Instead of running away, Dawn gave a cry of alarm and rushed to Cole’s side. He was lying between cars, in imminent danger of falling between the coupling and rolling down the steep incline. Unfortunately, her intention of helping Cole was thwarted when hands reached out and dragged her into the baggage car.

“Well, I’ll be damned,” Spider said with a grin. “Look what the wind blew in. You sure saved us a lot of trouble, honey. Good to see ya again. Did ya miss us?”

Dawn was stunned to see Spider and Sam. “How did you get here? What did you do to Cole?”

Sam grinned. “We rode the train, same as you. The railroad man ain’t dead yet,” he said as he raised his gun and took deliberate aim at Cole’s head. His bullet went wild when Dawn careened into him, spoiling his aim.

“Ya little bitch! I oughta—”

“People are coming, let’s get the hell out of here,” Spider urged when he heard footsteps and loud voices rushing toward them. “Bring the half-breed.”

“No, I’m not going anywhere with you!”

“Ya got no choice,” Spider said as he dragged Dawn with him through the baggage car and out the door. “Jump!” he ordered as he and Sam wrestled Dawn to the ground and dragged her into the trees. Seconds later the engineer, conductor and angry passengers burst through the door and started shooting at the fleeing figures.

“Don’t shoot!” someone shouted. “They got a woman with them.”

Dawn dragged her feet, trying to slow them down, to no avail. She was thrust up into the saddle in front of Sam and held on for dear life as they broke from the trees and sped away from the train wreck.

Cole came groggily to his feet, aware of the ruckus around him. Gunshots echoed through his aching head as he staggered to the doorway and peered out. Squinting against the setting sun, he saw two horsemen riding into the hills. One horse carried two passengers. A man and a woman, her petticoats billowing around her legs. A shudder went through Cole as he recalled turning to warn Dawn seconds before his head exploded. He spared a glance at the dead guard and noted with relief that the second man seemed to be stirring. He knew they would be taken care of and that he had more important things to think about.

Dawn. Lord, how could one tiny woman cause so much trouble?

The conductor stopped to offer aid, and Cole took the opportunity to ask about Dawn, although he feared he already knew the answer. “Have you seen the lady traveling with me? Is she all right?”

The conductor sent Cole a pitying look. “I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news, Mr. Webster, but the outlaws took your lady. After the derailing, I saw her heading toward the baggage car. The bandits took the gold and dragged the woman away with them.”

Cole didn’t waste time on small talk. He had to get to his horse quickly. Warrior would be shaken up, but it would take more than a derailment to frighten the stalwart stallion.

“I’m going after them. Board the lady’s horse at Smith’s Livery in Pueblo. I’ll pick him up later.”

“You going alone, mister?”

“There are only two of them,” Cole said with a grimness that made the conductor shiver. “I’m an expert tracker. They won’t escape me.”

The Cole who rode Warrior away from the narrow pass wasn’t the same Cole who had boarded the train. From the depths of his saddlebags he had retrieved Indian moccasins, breechclout and deerskin shirt. His legs above his knees were bare to his powerful thighs, and he had braided an eagle’s feather earned through feats of bravery in his burnished hair. His face, painted in garish stripes, was harsh and taut with purpose, his muscles rigid with determination. Cole Webster no longer existed.

Shadow Walker rose from the ashes of his past to take Cole’s place. The war cry that left his lips as he rode after the outlaws sent fear racing through the hearts of those gathered to watch him ride off. Most had heard of White Indians but few had seen one—until now. Somewhere into the rugged mountains rode a redheaded Indian with vengeance on his mind and murder in his heart.

Dawn tried to throw herself from the horse, but the large, burly Sam was too strong for her. He held onto her and kept her upright in the saddle as they bounced over a rocky trail that climbed steadily upward.

“Where are you taking me?” Dawn flung over her shoulder as she struggled in Sam’s ruthless grip.

“To a cave where we’ll be safe,” Sam said, leering at her as he rubbed his arm against her breasts. “We hid out there with Cobb a time or two. We even left supplies in case we ever needed them again. You’ll like it. It’s nice and dry and has a pile of blankets we can share. You can show us all the little tricks Cobb liked to brag about. His stories about you made our mouths water.”

“He lied!” Dawn protested.

“I don’t think so. Cobb told us how you and him would hump all night and you’d still want more. Me and the boys used to wonder if Cobb was man enough for you. We often discussed what we’d do to you if we ever got you alone.”

“We’re almost there,” Spider said as he rode up beside them. “We can hole up in the cave a day or
two, then take off for healthier parts.”

Spider took the lead. Sam followed close behind. It was full dark when Spider reined to a halt. They had reached their destination. Dawn’s untrained eyes could detect nothing remotely suggesting a cave or any other kind of hideout. There was no cabin, no lean-to, no narrow openings in the rock. Nothing but empty spaces, lofty mountains and rocky ledges.

“Get down,” Sam said, shoving Dawn from his winded mount as he dismounted. She fell heavily to the ground. He made no effort to help her regain her feet. “Are ya sure this is it?” he asked, turning to Spider.

“It’s right in front of your face,” Spider said.

Dawn saw nothing but bushes, trees and steep rocky inclines. She watched closely as Spider walked his horse behind the thick tangle of shrubs and disappeared from sight. A few minutes later Sam shoved her forward.

“Follow Spider. I’m right behind ya.”

Dawn spied the opening. It was concealed behind thick bushes. It was large enough to admit men and their horses too. Sam waited for them inside.

“Here we are, all nice and comfy,” Sam said for Dawn’s benefit. “The cave goes way back. We can even build a fire without fear of it being seen. There’s a stream a couple hundred yards farther back and a place to keep the horses.” He nudged Dawn and winked. “We’ll have plenty of time to find out how hot you really are.”