Silver City Massacre (12 page)

Jake laughed. “I reckon you got off to a good start, tanglin' with two of Boss Beauchamp's boys. Let me welcome you to Silver City, young feller. What's your name?”

“Joel McAllister.”

“McAllister?” The bartender reacted much the same as the blacksmith had. “Well, now, that makes it more interestin' by the second.”

“What's that supposed to mean?” Joel asked.

“I'll just give you a friendly little piece of advice,” Jake said. “Watch your back. There's a lot of decent folks around Silver City, but there's enough of the other kind to make it smart for fellers like you to keep a sharp eye.” He was about to say more, but Riley stuck his head in the door at that moment.

“Come on, Joel. What the hell are you doin'? If I'da known you were gonna hang around in the saloon, I'da come back to join you.” He looked over at the bartender and said, “See you later, Jake.”

“Maybe, maybe not,” Jake mumbled to himself.

“What the hell were you doin' with those two in there?” Joel asked when they were outside.

Riley chuckled, satisfied with himself. “Those two boys were nice enough to stand for the drinks while they were tellin' me about this minin' claim that was startin' to pay off big. Only problem was they had too much luck with their other claim and they couldn't work both of 'em. So they were gonna sell that claim to me for a helluva good price.” He paused to have another good chuckle. “Why? Was there any problem?”

“No, but you'd best be careful where you do your drinkin' from now on. I don't think you made too many friends in the Silver Dollar.”

“I figured as much,” Riley said, still enjoying the thought of all the free whiskey he had downed. “Elvira and Ruthie have gone back to the horses. They came outta the store while you were wastin' time in the saloon.”

“Glad to hear it,” Joel said. “I think we might as well get on our way.” He shot a quick glance toward the door of the saloon to make sure Riley's drinking companions didn't suddenly appear.

“I was gonna ask ol' Sid and Leon back there if they knew where your brother's mine was,” Riley said. “But I figured it's just as well they didn't know where we were headed.”

“I expect so,” Joel replied with a smirk of amusement. “No matter, I know how to get there.”

The trail was easy to find, just as the blacksmith had said. They had followed the creek north, and not far after crossing the main road to the east that connected Silver City to the rest of the world, they came to the little pile of rocks.

“Looks like a grave,” Elvira remarked. “I hope that ain't your brother's idea of welcome. Looks more like a warning.”

“It's just a pile of rocks,” Joel said. His thoughts were on the narrow trail that wound its way up through a band of spruce trees before disappearing from sight, and how difficult it was going to be to drive their small herd of horses up it. “I'm thinkin' I'd best lead, then start the horses up after me. With the rest of you behind 'em, they oughta follow right on up that trail.”

No one had a better idea, so he started up the trail, and Riley and Red Shirt drove the horses onto the bottom of the path. As Joel had predicted, the horses strung out in single file and followed dutifully up the mountain.

Once through the band of spruce, the trail climbed a slope sparsely dotted with runty-looking pines and wide areas of grass still wearing the remnants of a recent snow. Joel thought immediately of the potential for raising cattle and horses on the mountain meadows. He wondered if Boone had made any plans along those lines. Just ahead of him now, the trail wound around a huge outcropping of rocks. He looked back below him to make sure everyone was keeping up. Satisfied, he nudged the gray with his heels and started around the rock overhang. That was as far as he got before a rifle slug ricocheted off the rock over his head, and a voice bellowed out above him.

“That's about as far as you need to go! Turn around while you've got a chance, 'cause I ain't gonna tell you again.”

Below him, the horses continued to push up around him, while Riley and the others looked around frantically for someplace to take cover. Joel reined his horse back as best he could, trying to keep the rocks between him and his unseen antagonist.

“Hold on, damn it!” he yelled. “Boone, is that you?”

There was a long moment with no response. Then the call came back. “Who wants to know?”

“I do. It's me, Joel, and I didn't come all the way from Texas just to get shot.”

“Joel?” the astonished voice replied. “Is that really you? Ride on past that rock ledge and let me see you.”

“It's me, all right. Now don't shoot. I'm comin' out.” He nudged the gray and rode past the ledge out into an open meadow, looking all around in an effort to spot his brother.

“Well, I'll be damned,” Boone drawled as he rose from his position behind a rock that had been wedged between two scrubby pines, “if it ain't my little brother.” He threw his head back and laughed as if it was the funniest thing he had ever seen. “I swear, I never thought I'd ever see you again.” Then he saw the extra horses pushing up around Joel. “What the hell have you got with you?” He hobbled down to meet his brother, moving as nimbly as a person could expect with one stiff leg.

Even though he had imagined his big brother moving with a limp, Joel did not anticipate the impact it would have on his emotions upon first seeing Boone literally dragging one leg as he hurried down the slope to greet him. Boone, always strong and agile as a mountain lion, now descended the narrow trail in an uneven, jerky motion. He still displayed that wide smile that Joel remembered, however. Joel dismounted and climbed to meet him.

“Helluva way to welcome your brother,” he said upon reaching Boone's outstretched hand. He shook his hand, then pulled him close enough for a big bear hug.

“I can't believe you actually made it out here,” Boone said joyfully. “I thought you'd end up goin' to Mexico with Shelby.” He pushed Joel back to arm's length to take a good look at him. “You don't look none the worse for wear. The army musta suited you.”

“I could say the same for you,” Joel lied. For in truth, there were lines in the weathered face that had no doubt been deepened by the war, and the hair across his temples had turned to gray. “Looks like you picked up a little snow around your ears,” he teased. He didn't mention the leg.

“Wisdom,” Boone replied, laughing. “That's what turns your hair white. Maybe it'll happen to you.” The reunion was interrupted then by an impatient voice from below.

“Well, is it safe for the rest of us to come up?” Riley yelled.

“Come on,” Joel called back.

“What in hell did you bring with you?” Boone asked then. “How many's back there?”

“When I decided to come out here, I figured there wouldn't be nobody but me, but I picked up a few more on the way.” He briefly told Boone how each member of his party had happened along as they watched them move up to join the two brothers. “I picked up these horses, too,” Joel went on. “Figured I might wanna try my hand at raisin' horses. These Indian ponies ain't been gelded, so I'm plannin' to put them to work. I'm gonna need to find some mares, though, so the stallions can do their stuff. Whaddaya think?”

“Well, there's plenty of room for them to graze,” Boone replied. “Sounds like you and I have a lot to talk about. Damn, I'm glad to see you!” Then he turned to greet Riley, who was the first to reach him. “This the sergeant that served with you?”

“Say howdy to Riley Tarver,” Joel said. Boone greeted him warmly.

“Reckon you wasn't expectin' this bunch to show up at your door,” Riley said as they shook hands.

“It is a surprise, but I've come to expect surprises whenever Joel is concerned. There's plenty of room for everybody,” Boone replied. He greeted each of the others in the same gracious manner, with nothing but a questioning glance at his brother when introduced to the Indian and the two females. When the introductions were done, he said, “Let's go on up to my cabin. You folks are most likely hungry, so we'll get something to eat. You can turn your horses loose up near the cabin. I've got a few head of cattle and an extra horse in a pasture up there. Just follow me.”

“I drive horses,” Red Shirt said.

“Good idea,” Joel replied, fell in beside his brother, and led his horse. “That wasn't what I'd call a real friendly greeting with that rifle when I stuck my head out from behind those rocks. Wanna tell me about that?”

“There's a lot to tell,” Boone answered. “Let's let it wait till later when we've got time.” He glanced at Elvira and Ruthie walking behind them, then lowered his voice. “What I wanna know is what you're plannin' to do with the women and the Indian.”

“I'm damned if I know, to tell you the truth,” Joel answered. “Riley and I are the only ones who were supposed to be comin' out here to work with you. The other three just decided to come with me. I told you how I happened on Elvira and the girl. I thought I was goin' to get rid of 'em at Fort Hall, but Elvira had other ideas. You'll see when you get to know her. She pretty much does what she wants.” He was quick to qualify his remarks. “Don't get me wrong, though. She's damn handy to have around, does the cookin' and works like a man. I've kinda got comfortable havin' her around. She takes care of Ruthie, and the girl's a willin' worker, too.”

“What about the Indian?” Boone asked.

“Red Shirt? He's damn good with horses and knows the country well. I get the feelin' he'd like to stay with us, even though that wasn't the plan when we left the Snake.” He shook his head, knowing he had brought a lot of trouble with him. “I know you didn't expect to have this bunch show up at your door. Hell, you didn't even expect Riley. But I'll deal with it, and get the others started somewhere on their own.” He paused to think out loud. “Red Shirt won't be a problem. He was a loner when we met him. He'll just go back to livin' in the mountains like he did before, I reckon.”

Boone gave the matter some serious thought before he spoke again. “Well,” he finally said, “there ain't any hurry about doin' anything about it right now. Let's just let it go till after supper and we'll talk about it some more then.”

“All right,” Joel said. He knew his brother well enough to tell there was a lot more on his mind. He had a notion that it had a good deal to do with the warning shot fired over his head earlier.

Boone led them about three-quarters of the way up the mountain until coming to a huge outcropping of rock that appeared to reach all the way to the top. The path led around the mountain from that point, but they had only gone a couple of dozen yards when he pointed to an opening between two rock columns. “That's where I'm workin' right now.”

“Are you pullin' anything out of this mountain?” Joel asked.

“I'm gettin' a little more than grub money, but I'm sure that mine's got a lot more to give. I just haven't gotten into the heart of it yet, but it's in there. I just need the time to get to it. With you here to help, maybe we'll find out where she's hidin' the real stuff.” He pointed toward a ring of pines farther down the side of the mountain. “Tell the Indian to head those horses toward those trees. There's a stream on the other side, and that's where I built my cabin.” He then drew a revolver from his holster and fired two quick shots in the air. “Hold on!” he yelled when his shots caused his guests to start. “Just warnin' shots.”

•   •   •

Standing at the corner post of the small porch, her eyes straining to stare at the path where it emerged from the pine trees, a .58 Springfield musket in her hand, the somber Shoshoni woman watched and waited. She grunted softly to herself when she heard the two shots in rapid succession and propped the musket against the wall. The first shot from Boone's Henry a short time before had caused her to pick up the musket and go out on the porch. Now she turned to return to her work, only to pause, surprised, when the horses suddenly appeared in the opening between the trees. In a minute or two, the horses were followed by more horses with riders, and then she saw Boone on one of the horses behind another man. Astonished, she stood still and waited for an explanation.

“We've got company for supper, Blue,” Boone called out from behind Joel. The Indian woman made no reply, but stood watching the strangers dismount by the corral beside a small barn. Her dark eyes darted back and forth between her husband and the five strangers, lingering momentarily on the Bannock warrior as he slid deftly from the back of the bay horse. “I expect you'll need to cook up that elk haunch hangin' in the smokehouse,” Boone told her when he stepped up beside her. Turning to his guests, he said, “This is Blue Beads.” She turned to cast a reproachful glance in his direction, prompting him to add, “I guess you'd say she's my wife. She takes care of everything inside the house, and I take care of everything outside. Ain't that right, Blue?”

Elvira was the first to step forward. “We're pleased to meet you, Blue Beads. My name's Elvira. We're sorry to pile in on you all of a sudden, but me and Ruthie here will be glad to help you with the cookin'.” She glanced at Boone then and said, “We've got supplies and food with us, too. We expected to take care of ourselves. We can make a separate camp down by the stream so we don't cause you too much bother.”

“No such a thing,” Boone responded. “We've got plenty of room in the house. You and the little lady can use the storeroom. It's mostly empty, anyway. And the men can sleep in the front room.”

“A corner in the barn would do for me,” Riley spoke up. “No need to put yourself out. I ain't slept inside a buildin' in so long, I wouldn't know what to do under a roof.” He nodded to Red Shirt then. “Me and ol' Red Shirt will do fine in the barn.” Red Shirt shrugged.

“We get some pretty cold nights up here,” Boone said. “You might wanna stay in the house by the stove. But we'll work all that out later. Come on, and I'll help you with your horses.” The men went to the barn to unsaddle the horses and unload the packs. Elvira and Ruthie went inside with Blue Beads.

“Blue Beads, huh?” Joel teased with a wide grin for his brother. “So there's a Mrs. McAllister now, you rutty ol' dog.”

“Well, it ain't exactly official,” Boone responded, “but I reckon she's my wife. Hell, I needed someone to help me take care of the place.”

“Looks to me like you've built yourself quite a place here, and if you've thinkin' about raising some cattle and horses, you're sure gonna need more than you and a woman.”

“Well, I figured I could handle it till you got here, and to prove I counted on you, I filed for this claim in both our names, so you're half owner. The territorial government approved our claim for three hundred and twenty acres just as long as I proved up the land. That meant improvin' it and locatin' water. I did all that, so it's officially our land, and nobody else has any claims on it.”

“Well, damn, Boone,” Joel started. He had not expected to be an owner. “That's mighty considerate of you, and you know I appreciate it, but I feel like I oughta earn it first.” He shook his head, amazed. “And you've done all this by yourself?”

“To tell you the truth, I had a couple of fellows helping me, but they got run off,” Boone said. “But at least it wasn't until after we got the house and barn built.”

“Whaddaya mean, they got run off?” Joel asked.

“Well, that's something I need to talk about with you fellows, and I reckon we might as well do it now.” He was watching Joel and Riley opening the packs and supplies. Eyeing the Sharps carbines and ammunition, he commented, “Looks like you're fixin' to start a war somewhere.”

Joel smiled. “We just had an opportunity to help ourselves to some firearms. I figured they'd be handy for trade goods.”

“You might be glad you brought 'em,” Boone said. “You just mighta rode right into a war that's already started.” Thinking of Riley and Red Shirt in particular, he said, “You might not want to hang around.”