OT - i Ain't Seen Nothing Like This Since The War - fiction

[Doc Hudson]

I ain’t seen noting like this
since The War

The following morning, Frank bought my breakfast and continued to urge me to wait another day or two before heading East. He didn’t much appreciate it when I accused him of acting like an old lady. We walked down to the SP Depot with Frank still trying to change my mind.

“Dammit Evan!” he said. “That Bailey rascal really has it in for you. Chip said he spent half the night grumbling about “that darned interfering bastard” that had cold cocked him. He means you no good.”

“Frank, I’m a big boy and I ain’t scared of any tinhorn gambler on the face of the earth. I doubt if Bailey has enough guts to face me anyway. And if he does, I’ll dent his hat again.” I replied.

“It ain’t him facing you I’m worried about! I figure he’d be more likely to face your back! So if you won’t use good sense, at least be cautious.” Frank snorted.

“Yes ma’am,” I said with a grin. “I’ll be most careful Momma dear.” I hastily ducked a swing from Frank’s beefy right arm as I said that.

Frank and I arrived at the depot a few minutes ahead of the 9:45 East-bound. As the train arrived, we saw Bailey arrive escorted by two of Frank’s deputies. We sauntered over to join them as the Chief Conductor headed toward the group. One of the deputies gave the Conductor Bailey’s guns, and Frank instructed him not to return the guns to Bailey until after the next stop. The deputies escorted Bailey aboard and departed just as the Conductor was sounding his last “All Aboard!!”

I swung aboard as the train started to pull out of the depot and yelled back to Frank wishing him good luck and telling him to take good care of Beau.

I made my way through the club car and found myself a comfortable seat about half way down the train and pulled a book out of my saddlebags. As a parting gift, Frank had given me a copy of Scottish Chiefs by Miss Jane Porter. I figured a rousing tale of Sir William Wallace should make the miles pass pleasantly. I didn’t see Bailey, but I did keep half an eye on the folks around me.

The trip was uneventful until we reached Bowie. There we had a half hour layover to await a connecting train on the GVG&NRR (Gila Valley, Globe & Northern RR). There I spotted Bailey disembarking and heading toward the Western Union office. He was in there several minutes before I saw him exit. Being of a suspicious nature, I figured the tinhorn was up to no good. I’d just started toward the Western Union Office when the whistle blew and the Conductor started yelling “All Aboard.” I hurried back aboard the train, but I really wished I’d had a chance to talk to that telegrapher. The rest of the trip was much less relaxed, and Miss Porter had trouble keeping my attention.

I saw Bailey two or three more times before we reached El Paso, but we were never close enough to speak. We arrived in El Paso just after 9:00 p.m. There was only a twenty-minute stop so I didn’t bother leaving the train. I figured I’d buy a sandwich from one of the hawkers who boarded to sell food to the passengers. I did notice Bailey get off the train and scan the crowd as if watching for someone. After a few minutes, he was joined by three men, two of them looked like gamblers from their fancy duds, but the third man looked like a real hardcase hombre. I didn’t like the looks of this at all.

Just after Bailey and his new companions boarded two cars ahead of me, I spotted a knot of men approaching the train at a brisk pace. I noticed the glint of silver badges on the chest of all four men. As they approached the train, two appeared to be making farewells to the other two. Something about the shorter of the two travelers tickled my memory. As they got closer, I recognized him as an old companion from Ranger days, Dan Staley. As Dan and his companion mounted the rear of my car, I slumped in my seat with my hat tilted over my eyes and my boots in the facing seat.

As Dan and his tall skinny companion made their way past me, I drawled, “Since when have they let darned Hoosiers ride trains in Texas?”

Dan spun around with his gingery moustache bristling until he saw me. Then he barked, “Since the time some Tennessee hillbillies learned to wear shoes!” Dan laughed and came toward me with an out stretched hand. His companion wore a confused look as we gave each other an abrazzo and pounded each other on the back while both of us talked at once.

“What the hell are you doing here? They finally wise up and run you out of Colorado?” Dan asked with a grin. “By the way, this is my partner, Bony Tucker.” He said pointing to the tall gangly fellow accompanying him.

“Glad to meet you Bony,” I said as I extended a hand to the man. “Has this varmint been dragging you into trouble in various dens of iniquity?”

Bony grinned as Dan punched my shoulder and remonstrated, “Dammit Evan, don’t even be joking about that! You know darned good and well I’ve married and settled down since the old days.”

“I knew Renita had finally managed to rope you, but I didn’t know if she’d been able to break you to harness yet.” Pointing to the fairly new 5½ inch Colt Peacemaker in a nicely carved Mexican loop holster, I commented, “I notice she did finally make you retire that old cap-and-ball Colt you carried for so many years.”


“Shoot Evan, I couldn’t part with that old six-gun! It got me out of too many bad scrapes. I just had it converted to .38 Colt and cut the barrel off to pocket sized. I use it the same way you do that old Merwin Hulbert. But don’t try changing the subject. What are you doing on this train? You working for Southern Pacific now?”

“I’m traveling for pleasure as well as business. I’m going to New Orleans to see a man about a business proposition. What about yourself? Last I heard, you and Renita had settled in Fort Worth.” I said.

“We are still in Fort Worth.” Dan said, “Bony and I work for the Fort Worth Police Department. We came over here to pick up a man wanted for a killing.”

“Then where is your prisoner?” I asked. “Bony is tall enough to put him in a pocket, but he ain’t big enough for the bulge not to show, and you ain’t tall enough to put much of a prisoner in your pockets.”

“We didn’t get here quick enough.” Said Bony with a sheepish expression.

“Yeah,” said Dan, “before we could get here to take him into custody, a lynch mob hung him from a railroad trestle. So we are going back empty-handed.”

“Y’all are headed back to Fort Worth, right?” I asked puzzled. They nodded and I continued, “Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad to see you and I’ll enjoy your company, but why are you on this train? We won’t be going through Fort Worth. Why ain’t you taking a T&P (Texas & Pacific RR) train?”

“Blame the weather,” said Dan.

“Yeah,” said Bony. “There was some trestles washed out and Dan was too impatient to wait for the T&P to get ‘em replaced. We’re taking this train to San Antone and then changing to a Miss Katy (Missouri, Kansas & Texas RR) train to Fort Worth.”

“You know me Evan, if I can be doing, I ain’t gonna be waiting,” said Dan.

“Then I guess it’s a good thing I have my cribbage board and a deck of cards in my saddle bags to help you pass the time. “


“You’d better watch ‘im Bony!” exclaimed Dan. “This old buzzard is a natural shark when it comes to cribbage. You’d better make him play poker or gin, then you’ll have a chance of being able to turn in some travel money when we get back to Fort Worth.”

As the train pulled out of the station, Dan and I were deep in remembrance of good times we’d had as rangers and regaling Bony with humorous stories of our misadventures. Half an hour later, I was making Dan blush furiously and Bony hold his sides with laughter as I related the story of how Dan and I had been forced to beat an undignified retreat by the drunken madam of a sporting house in Del
Rio. I’d just reached to part where she’d knocked me down with a chamber pot and had blinded Dan with a jar of face powder, when I looked up into the smirking face of the gambler Bailey. His three companions were behind him.

I stopped talking in mid-sentence and looked Bailey in the eye. Dan and Bony instantly became tense and alert.

I gave Bailey a level stare and said, “Good Evening, anything I can do for you?”

“Why Mr. Williams, aren’t you going to introduce me to your companions?” Bailey said with a sneering expression.

“Considering the fact that we are not what you’d call well acquainted, I’d not planned to do so,” I responded coldly. Dan and Bony were a little surprised by my cold behavior, but Dan trusted me, and Bony trusted Dan. Both prepared to back my play in the event of trouble.

“In that case, I will do the honors myself,” he said jeeringly. Turning to Dan and Bony, he bowed and said, “Allow me to introduce myself gentlemen, I’m Lawrence Bailey, and these gentlemen are my associates, Mr. Brian Thomas, Mr. Nelson Pyles, and Mr. Gordon Parker. Mr. Williams and I had a brief acquaintance in Tucson. I trust we will be better able to discuss our business in greater detail in the near future.” Neither Dan nor Bony made any effort to shake the proffered hand, nor to return the introductions.

“Good Evening Gentlemen, until later.” With that, Bailey and his sidekicks went on down the aisle and out the rear door of the car.

As the door closed behind them, Bony went, “Whew!” and withdrew his right hand from under his coat.

Dan removed his hand from his coat pocket, I noticed his old cut down Colt Navy Revolver was still in his hand, and said, “Just what the hell was that all about? I got a feeling that greasy bastard wants your scalp bad.”

“I’m starting to think you might be right,” I said. “You remember Frank Mason don’t you Dan? He’s City Marshal in Tucson. I helped him slap Bailey in jail after he’d been caught cheating. In fact, I put a pretty good dent in his hat in the process. I guess I’ll have to wire Frank that he owes me an ‘I told you so!’ next time we meet. Frank was of the opinion that Bailey intends to get even for the lump; he even wanted me to delay my trip. It is starting to look like Frank was right. I sure hope I don’t drag you and Bony into my troubles, but it looks like Bailey and his sidekicks figure on including y’all in whatever trouble they plan for me. I’m mighty sorry about that. Looks like it might be a good idea for you boys to get off at the next stop and wait for the next train.”

“Dammit Evan!! You keep talking like that, I’ll kick your butt!” snapped Dan. “I ain’t never been in the habit of walking away from friends in trouble and I ain’t starting now. And I know darned good and well that Bony ain’t one to run from a fight. Right, Bony?”

“Fer a fact Dan. Them fellers just naturally look like the sort of folks that would take unfair advantage of a feller. I don’t cotton to that. Besides, anybody Dan thinks as highly of as he does you, I count as a friend, and I don’t abandon friends either,” said Bony with grim determination.

I had expected as much from Dan, we’d ridden together through some tough times and I knew him to be a staunch friend. But the warmth with which both he and Bony had refused a chance to back out of my fight warmed my heart and made it hard to speak for a moment or two.

After I’d swallowed the lump in my throat, I said, “Boys, I can’t tell you how much I appreciate that. I don’t know what sort of mischief Bailey and those other hombres have in mind, but I figure we’ve got ‘em outnumbered. Let’s take a stroll up to the club car and see what else we can see.”

“Sure,” said Dan. “And when we get there, you can buy me and Bony a drink. Right Bony?”

“That sounds fine with me,” said Bony with a grin. “I’d be most appreciative of a snort of tonsil paint. That little visit from those varmints left a bad taste in my mouth.”

“Well come on ye derned freeloaders!” I said with a smile. “Let’s scout out this train and then drinks are on me.”

We made our way forward thorough the three cars between the club car and us. As we made the trip, we all compared the faces we saw with mental wanted posters. When we reached the club car, we ordered drinks and sat down to compare notes.

“Either of you spot anybody with posters on them?” I asked. “ I only spotted a couple of gamblers I’ve seen around Colorado and New Mexico over the years, no real hardcases.”

“Same here,” said Bony. “ I recognize a couple of gamblers we’ve run out of Fort Worth but no body I figure for a serious outlaw.”

“Well I saw one old boy I tried to get sent up for attempted murder a few years ago. He tried to kill his business partner. He beat the charge and then took off before his partner could return the favor. I don’t know if he’s going straight or riding the outlaw trail now,” said Dan. “In any event, that feller is more likely to steal with a ledger and pen than with a gun and mask. He even tried to make the murder attempt look like an accident.”

“Which one was he?” I asked.

“He was the mousy looking feller wearing the loud checked suit in the last car. He was about the middle of the car on the right,” said Dan.

“I’ve spotted one flaw in our little scouting trip,” said Bony. “There are four more cars between where we started and the caboose. What sort of excuse are we gonna have for scouting through them?”

“He’s got a point Evan,” said Dan. “Got any ideas?”

I thought hard for a moment and then said, “Next stop, we get off the train. We act like we are involved in something and nearly miss the train. Then we hustle up and jump on board the last car as the train starts to pull out. Then we make our way right back up here to the club car and we’ve had a good look at every face on the train and two good looks at most of them.”

“That sounds good to me,” said Dan. “In the mean time, let’s stay here and keep our eyes and ears open.”

Grinning, I said, “And if I know you, your mouth will be getting dry from the breeze running though your open eyes and ears. I guess I’d better order another round of drinks.”

Both Dan and Bony thought that was a good idea. So we had a few more drinks and speculated about what manner of trouble Bailey had planned.

At Sierra Blanca, there was a scheduled half hour layover. The three of us detrained as planned. We went to an all night diner next to the depot and ordered breakfast. We hurriedly wolfed down the meal of greasy eggs and greasier home fries. We didn’t have to act when we hurried to board the last car as the train started to pull away from the platform.

Once again, we scanned the faces of all the passengers as we made our way to the club car. Our only surprise was not seeing Bailey and his friends as we made our way from car to car. We found them seated in the front end of the club car as we entered from the rear.

Instead of ordering whiskey, we ordered coffee and sat at the rear end of the car. When we finished our coffee, we returned to our seats in our passenger car. There, we continued our speculation.

“Dammit all! Something fishy is going on here!” declared Dan. “And you are only a small part of it Evan. These yahoos are up to something seriously wrong!”

“Yeah,” said Bony. “If they just wanted a fight with us, they’d never get a better chance than the one we gave them at Sierra Blanca. They could have left the train and had a shootout with us and got back on the train, if they’d won. I think they are going to try to rob the train.”

After giving Bony’s words some thought, I said, “Though it wounds my vanity to admit I might be of only secondary importance, I think Bony has figured it out. Is there a big payroll or money shipment on the train?”

Dan slapped his forehead with the heel of his hand as Bony and I looked on curiously.

“I should have thought of this before, and Frank Mason should have told you before you boarded!” Dan exclaimed. “This train took on over a ton of silver in Tucson for the New Orleans Mint. I heard some of the El Paso deputies talking about it.”

“I guess Frank was just observing normal security by not telling any unnecessary people about a big shipment of silver,” I said defensively.

“Maybe so,” said Dan, “but when this is over, I’m gonna give Frank a good cussin’. At least I will if we survive.”

“Calm down Dan,” said Bony in an exasperated tone. “There will be time for cussin’ later. Right now we’ve got to figure out what is going on and how to stop it. Reckon we ought to go back to the club car and arrest all four of those fellers?”

“We can’t do that,” I said, “both of you boys are outside your jurisdiction, and I ain’t even wearing a badge now. We’ll have to wait until they act, and then counter-attack, hard, fast, and decisively.”

“That’s fine to say you silly-assed Rebel, but just in case you ain’t noticed, they out number us at least four to three!” said Dan.

“Yeah,” I snorted, “and you darned bluebellies outnumbered us a right smart more than four to three at Bryce Crossroads and we still sent your BUTTS packing. As a matter of fact, I can remember a certain young Hoosier corporal who ended up escaping that little dustup just because one soft-hearted Reb didn’t want to bother taking another prisoner and didn’t feel like shooting a wounded man.”

“Yeah. I guess you’re right,” said Dan sheepishly. “Any ideas General Forrest?”

Bony chuckled and I said, “The General always said, “Hit the enemy where he ain’t.’”

“And just what does that mean?” asked Dan.

“We play cat and mouse,” I said. “We keep moving around. We don’t let Bailey and his pals get the drop on us. We move from car to car, and if necessary, we move across the tops of the cars. We keep especially alert at all the water stops. We never allow Bailey and his pals to get any of us alone, and if we can, we will separate them and face them with a numerical superiority. We whip them piecemeal if we can. And if we have to sleep, we do it by turns, always at least two of us awake, and never for more than an hour at a time. Now look to your guns and if you have spare guns or ammo in your rucksacks, get it. I just wish toting my Greener around wouldn’t excite too much attention.”

Bony said in a plaintive voice, “Wouldn’t it be easier to warn the conductor and the Express Company Guards and join them in the Express Car?”

“Maybe,” said Dan, “but what is there to make them believe we are not part of the robbery plan? It wouldn’t be the first time train robbers have imitated lawmen to get inside the express car. Let’s try it Evan’s way and if he gets us killed, we can kick his butt.”


By the time we had retrieved spare guns from our war bags, I started to have my doubts about walking the roofs of railcars in the dark. Dan added another 4 ¾” .45 Long Colt Peacemaker, and tucked another cut down Navy Colt in his left hand coat pocket. Bony rummaged about and produced a 7 ½” M-1872 Colt Open-Top revolver in .44 Colt, a Number 3 Colt Derringer, and a wicked looking Arkansas Tooth-pick. I managed to drag out my spare .44-40 Peacemaker, the fancy engraved .45 Long Colt Peacemaker given to me by the Union Pacific, and a .41 RF Remington Derringer. I also got out my bowie knife and a trim little throwing knife with a razor edge. I’d have added my Greener 10 gauge if it was not for upsetting the other passengers. Every pocket bulged with spare ammo and I think we all clanked a little when we walked.

We started our roving by heading toward the club car. Two cars forward, we passed Bailey and his pals sitting at their ease. Bailey grinned and spoke as we passed. We simply nodded coldly and went on our way. When we reached the club car, we found it deserted other than the bartender and waiter. We ordered coffee and sat at the front end of the car.

“Instead of all this roaming about, why don’t we stay here?” asked Bony. “We are ‘tween Bailey’s bunch and the express car. They can’t get there without passing us.”

“Bony does have a point Evan,” said Dan. “In fact, when the robbery starts, we can barricade that door and hold them away from the Express Car altogether.”

“What you say is true, and if y’all really think we should, we will do it that way. But what about the other passengers, are we going to leave them at the mercy of Bailey and his pals? They could rob and hurt a lot of folks and being forted up in this car, there’d be nothing we could do about it. And what about Bailey’s friends on the outside? You know there have to be others involved that are not on the train. These four could never tote off a ton of silver alone. If nothing else, there has to be some confederates waiting with packhorses or a couple of wagons. How can we hold this car against Bailey and still help the Express Guards fight off the outside attack as well. And on top of that, do you think the three of us could hold this car against an attack from Bailey’s bunch and an unknown number of outside confederates?” I looked the in the eyes as I added, “Now what do y’all think?”

Both Dan and Bony gave my comments serious consideration for a minute or so before Dan spoke.

“I guess Evan’s right,” said Dan. “We can do more good mobile than we can stuck in one spot. When we were in the Rangers, we’d usually meet enemies that outnumbered us on horseback if we couldn’t ambush them. I guess we’re better off if Bailey has to hunt us rather than have us penned up in this car. What do you think Bony.”

“Makes sense to me. Where are we going first?” asked Bony.

“I think it’s time we headed back to the Caboose to talk to the Conductor. It won’t hurt to warn him so he can have the train crew on the alert,” I said. “Let’s get moving.”

We moved slowly toward the rear of the train. Twice, we sat in different cars for various lengths of time. When we passed the spot where we’d last seen Bailey, the seats were empty. We found them seated across the aisle from our empty seats. Two of them were asleep while Bailey and another played cards on the side of a valise. As we passed, Bailey smiled and gave me a look as if to say, “I’ve got you running scared haven’t I?” I wanted to dent his hat again.

When we finally reached the Caboose, we found the door locked. It took a minute of two of knocking to arouse a groggy conductor. When we filled him in on our suspicions he became wide-awake. Whether due our persuasiveness or the conductor’s gullibility, we easily convinced him that we were on the law’s side, and not involved in the robbery. In a few minutes, the conductor had agreed to pass our warning to the Express Guards, and to warn the brakemen to be alert for outlaws. We also let him know there would be a possibility that we would be using the roof walks ourselves.

While the conductor and his assistants were warning the Express Guards and the brakemen, we took a short rest. Bony napped as Dan and I made more plans over cups of strong coffee.

The Conductor returned to warn us that Bailey and his pals were sitting in the next car and facing the door we’d enter.

“OK General Forrest,” started Dan. “How are we going to avoid walking right into those guns?”

“Easy,” I said, “We go over them.” And we did.

We exited the rear of the caboose and climbed the ladder to the top of the speeding, swaying car. As Bony reached the top of the ladder he said in a frightened voice, “You sure this is the best way to do this?”

“It’s the only way Bony, come on amigo.” I said encouragingly.

When it came time to cross from the caboose to the passenger car, we almost lost Bony again. Only with me on the passenger car reaching for one hand while Dan held the other did we get Bony across the gap. At the front end of the car, we let him climb down while Dan and I jumped to the next car. Bony gave us time to reach the front end before he entered the rear door at the same time we entered the front door. We got a few odd glances from some of the other passengers, but Bailey and company were nowhere in sight.

About twenty minutes later, a conductor passed through the car and quietly informed us that Bailey and company were still in the rear car. We thanked him for the information and warned him that there was a strong likelihood that Bailey would try to force his way into the caboose when the trouble started. We neglected another possibility.

We maintained our watch on the rear door, but did not neglect the front door. A short time later, the conductor returned. He informed us that we were about twenty minutes from the water stop at Devil’s River. He told us he’d see us again about five minutes before we reached Devil’s River.

We couldn’t help but wonder if Devil’s River would be the place. It was located just a short distance from a good crossing of the Rio Grande. Most of the passengers would be asleep, as would the village of Devil’s River. We were still discussing the possibilities when the locomotive whistle started to blow the signal for a stop,

“I wonder what’s keeping our conductor?” asked Bony

“Yeah, he should have been back by now,” Dan said.

“Get ready boys, I think the party is about to start,” I said as I loosened my gun in its holster.

A few minutes later, Bailey and two of his friends entered the rear door with drawn guns. I glanced at Dan to see a wolfish grin that reflected my own thoughts, “We’ve got them outnumbered!”

Bailey’s shouted, “Nobody move, this is a…. holdup!” strangled as he saw Dan, Bony and I facing them with drawn guns in each hand.

“How’d you get here?” He croaked split seconds before we opened fire.

I made Bailey my personal target while Dan and Bony each brought down one of the henchmen. We thought the whole thing was over before Bailey and company got off more than a couple of wild shots that came no where near us.

Before we had a chance to congratulate ourselves, another shot rang out and Bony yelped with pain from a wound in his left arm. Dan quickly returned fire at the cowboy near the rear of the car who had fired the shot. The next instant, shots began coming through the rear door. We beat a hasty retreat toward the front door of the car, and three more bandits burst through the back door. As we went through the rear door of the next car, we were met with gunfire from two bandits holding the passengers at bay. Dan returned fire and dropped one of the bandits. We slammed the door and took time to assess our situation. In a very short time, we realized we were in deep trouble.

“Which way now General Forrest?” snapped Dan.

“Up and over,” I said.

“You can’t be serious,” gasped Bony.

When bullets started ripping through both doors, I said, “Anyone have a better idea?” and started climbing. Dan and Bony followed close behind.

This time, the roof walking was much easier. The train was slowing for the Devil’s River water tower. When I reached to top of the car, I looked back and saw the caboose was missing. Apparently, the bandits had cut the caboose loose after the conductor passed through the last time.

While Bony and Dan were clambering to the roof of the car, I looked ahead and saw a small knot of men and some wagons clustered around the Devil’s River water tank.

We stood undecided for a moment trying to decide whether to head toward the front of the train, or attempt to clear the train from the rear forward. Then shots started coming through the roof in our general vicinity. We headed toward the front of the train at a trot. When we reached the front of the car, Bony lead the way leaping to the next car. We continued running the length of that car and climbed down to the vestibule between cars.

Dan looked a question to me and I said, “Lead the way Ole Dan, one way is as good as the other.”

Instantly, Dan kicked open the door of the car we had just crossed. He immediately opened fire on the two bandits in the center of the car.

I roared, “Watch our backs Bony!” and charged in with both Colts roaring.

Dan’s initial charge had brought down both of the bandits, but I entered the fray just as three more entered the rear of the car. Two went down before my guns, but the third fled to the rear. We were in control of the car and again had to decide whether to work forward or to the rear.

The train finally came to a stop and firing erupted from the vicinity of the engine and Express Car. We knew our roof walking was at an end. From this point onward, it would be head-on meetings.

Initially, both Dan and Bony were in favor of clearing the rear of the train and working forward. Then I reminded them, “I’ve got a Winchester and a 10 gauge double-barrel in my dunnage. Both will be useful.” We decided to head forward.

We posted Bony on the vestibule to guard our backs and again Dan burst through the door with guns blazing and me immediately behind him. I could have stayed behind and kept Bony company. The one surviving bandit in that car died before he knew Dan had entered the car. The other bandit lay dead with a knife in his chest and one of the passengers laying dead atop him.

I ran to our seats and started ripping open my baggage to retrieve my rifle and shotgun. I called to Bony and handed him the rifle. I kept the shotgun and told Dan, “Next car, I’ll show you how we did it on the UP line.”

“Bony,” I barked. “How is the last car? Do we have to worry about our rear?”

“Not much,” Bony grinned. “I left the passengers organized with half a dozen guns to watch our backs. I figure there are at least that many men with sand in this car.”

“Good,” I said. “You and Dan let me know when y’all are loaded. I want you to keep covering our backs Bony. When y’all are ready, give me the word, I’m gonna show Dan the finer points of shotgunning.”

“Quit running your mouth Reb and let’s get this show on the road,” Dan snapped.

With a Rebel Yell, I kicked open the door of the next car forward and cut loose with the right barrel of my Greener. One bandit fell dead, his chest mangled by the majority of the charge of buckshot. A second bandit fell, slightly wounded by a few stray pellets. As he scrambled around on the floor attempting to bring his pistol to bear, the left barrel shredded his head. Yet a third bandit stood empty-handed reaching for the ceiling. I advanced quickly and knocked him out with a blow from the shotgun butt.

As I advanced toward the forward door, I roared, “Bony! Either hog tie this bastard or cut his throat, I don’t care which! Just be ready to watch our backs when we head for the next car.”

“Well, what did you think Dan?” I asked.

“Not too shabby. It’s shame it took you two shots though.” He said with an evil grin. Dan always did get a little bloodthirsty when the fight was joined.


Just as I prepared to kick open the door of the next car, a spate of gunfire broke out, accompanied with the noise of a scuffle and blows landing heavily on flesh. I kicked open the door to find two bandits being subdued by the passengers. The doors between the two leading cars were open and it was clear that the front car was free of live bandits, though some large bloodstains in the aisle made it clear that bandits had attempted to gain control.

“Anybody in charge here?” I asked.

“I reckon I am,” said a large, rough looking older man wearing a battered black hat and calf-hide vest. “I’m Big Steve Kimbrell. Who are you boys?”

“These fellers are Dan Staley and Bony Tucker, they are Fort Worth peace officers. I’m Evan Williams, and I’m between jobs so to speak.”

“I’ve met you when you were a lawman in Dodge City. You boys got any idea what’s going on?” asked Kimbrell.

“There is a big silver shipment in the Express Car. We’ve managed to thin out the bandits on the train, but there is a bunch here at Devil’s River that are attacking now. I guess they have control of the engine or we’d have pulled away from the fight. Any idea if anyone is in the Club Car?”

“Ain’t nobody in the Club Car. In fact, the bartender and waiter came barging into our car and created enough distraction I managed to shoot one of the fellers trying to hold our car and Pete, over there, nailed the other one. Then we decided to try clearing this car and get enough folks to help fight off the bandits attacking the Express Car,” said Kimbrell. “What do we do now?”

Raising my voice, I asked, “Anybody in here have a rifle or shotgun in their baggage? And how many of y’all have guns of any sort? Bony, go check the cars behind us to see how many guns we have to back us.”

Over a dozen indicated they had guns, most turned out to be pocket pistols of various sorts, only a few besides Big Steve and his partner Pete were packing serious six-guns, and no one had a long gun of any sort. Bony returned to tell us that more than twenty men had handguns and one more had a rifle and a shotgun in his baggage, but none of them have much in the way of spare ammunition.

“Alright Bony, go back and organize a strong rear guard in the first car we cleared. Bring the rest of the armed men back here. And hurry. Looks like the gunfire from the Express Car is slacking off. I reckon they are running out of ammunition or are getting picked off. We need to take some of the pressure off them quickly,” I said.

Bony hurried off to carry out my instructions.

“What you got in mind Mr. Williams?” asked Big Steve’s deep voice.

“I figure to get most of the armed men up here in these front three cars to start firing on the bandits. Then my friends and I are going to leave the train and take the fight to the robbers.” I said with determination. “You have a better idea?”

“Yep,” said Big Steve. “I do, let me, Pete, and Marty join y’all. Six men have a better chance of turning their flank than three. I also think it’d be a good idea to send my other three boys around the other side of the train to take their other flank.”

Uncertain, I looked to Dan for his opinion. He merely shrugged and said, “Why not?”

“You know there is a good chance your boys and us might get shot by the Express Guards, and we might even manage to shoot each other in the confusion.” I said.

“That’s a chance. And they might get shot through one of those windows or rundown by a streetcar in San Antone. They’ll take the chance.” said Kimbrell.

“In that case, send your three boys around front. Tell them not to engage until we hit them on this side,” I ordered. “When they hear us open fire, have them retake the engine and open fire on the bandits left flank

“Yessir,” Big Steve snapped and turned away shouting, “Paco, Terry, Kevin, Pete, Marty come with me!”

Big Steve lead his men toward the front of the car as armed men began to trickle forward from Bony’s efforts.

Paco, Terry, and Kevin left the car and started to make their way toward the engine as Big Steve and his two men came to the rear of the car to join Dan and I.

“As soon as Bony comes back, we’ll move out. Your boys know what the plan is?” I asked.

“Yep,” said Big Steve. “They ain’t exactly strangers to fighting off banditos, are you boys?” Pete and Marty both grinned. They looked to be tough competent Border cowmen.

When Bony returned, we completed checking our weapons and ammunition. I tugged my hat snug and said, “If you girls are ready to dance, follow me.

I stormed through the door and out onto the platform with a Rebel Yell loud enough to drown out the sound of my Greener belching a load of buckshot at a knot of bandits sheltering behind a stack of barrels. I could hear the shrill yips of the cowboys and the deep bellow of Big Steve’s bass joining the cacophony. From a slight distance, I could hear gunfire erupting around the far side of the engine and saw Big Steve’s hands mounting the engine and tender as they engaged the bandit’s other flank.

As I dropped my shotgun, I took time to take a quick glance at the Express Car. There were several bodies sprawled near the door, and the car appeared to be riddled with bullet holes. I was surprised the bandits had not resorted to dynamite.

With a six-gun in each hand, I charged toward the stack of barrels that had recently sheltered the bandits. Our sudden counter-attack disconcerted the bandits and they attempted to disengage and retreat. I suppose we were all in the grip of some sort of blood lust or joy of battle, but none of us would relent. We continued to press our attack. Paco, Terry, and Kevin alit from the engine to apply even more pressure on the bandit’s left flank, while I started working forward and to my left in an effort to cut the bandits off from their horses and the wagons. Dan, and Big Steve came with me while Bony, Pete and Marty continued to advance on the right flank. At the same time, firing from the Express Car increased.

This was too much for the bandits. Suddenly, they gave up all semblance of an orderly withdrawal and began to flee. Paco, Terry, Kevin, Bony, Pete and Marty followed in close pursuit, they were the hammers, Dan, Big Steve and I were the anvil. The fight degenerated into a confused melee of gunfire, swinging fists, and flashing weapons.

One bandit tried to dart past Big Steve. A ham like hand darted out and grabbed the bandit by the scruff of the neck and another huge fist pounded him into a bloody pulp.

Another bandit smashed into Dan and bore him to the ground. He and Dan were struggling fiercely. Then I saw the knife in the bandit’s hand. Dan was holding the hand away, but the issue was still in doubt. I tried to snap a shot at the bandit with both my right and left hand pistols, but both were empty. Immediately, I pulled my throwing knife and threw it with all my might. The knife sunk to its hilt in the bandit’s right shoulder. As he screeched with pain, Dan turned the man’s own knife and drove it deep into his chest.

Suddenly, there were no more sounds of gunfire and fighting. Over the muted groans of the wounded, I could hear the puff of the steam valves on the locomotive. I looked over the scene of carnage and simply shook my head in disbelief. I’d not seen so many dead and wounded at one time since the end of the war. There must have been at least thirty or forty bandits involved in the robbery, nearly all of them were dead or wounded.

“Big Steve, are you hurt?” I called.

“Ma knuckles are a little barked, but other than that I’m fine.” as he nudged the bandit he’d beaten senseless, he said, “I ain’t so shore I can say the same fer this feller. I might have gotten a little carried away thumping him.”

“Check your men while I check on Dan and Bony,” I ordered.

I found Dan rolling the bandit he’d stabbed off of himself. Dan was covered with blood and I was a little concerned. “Any of that blood yours?” I asked nonchalantly.

“Yeah, a little of it is,” Dan grumbled. “I managed to slice my hand pretty good when I got in a hurry and tried fanning my pistol. I should have known better than to try that bare handed.” I chuckled and walked away as Dan started reloading his pistols and wiping off the bowie knife he’d used on the last bandit.

I found Bony sitting and leaning against a stack of crates. Bony was softly swearing as Pete wrapped a bandana around Bony’s left leg, just above the knee.

“Are you hurt bad?” I asked.

“Not bad, I was lucky,” Bony said, wincing as Pete pulled the bandana tight. “The bullet didn’t hit bone and it didn’t cut that big artery either. Just a straight through and through wound, it ought to be fine in a couple of weeks.”

By then, Big Steve and Dan joined us. “How are your boys Steve?”

“Everybody’s fine except for an ankle Terry sprained jumping down from the locomotive. We was mighty lucky. We hit ‘em hard enough to knock them off balance and they was more interested in gettin’ away than shootin’ straight.”

Dan and I both nodded, and I said, “You are right on all counts, we were mighty lucky. I figured we’d get them shook up, but I didn’t expect them to panic and try to skeedaddle so quickly. I guess we’d better go see how the Express Guards made out.”

Dan, Big Steve, and I slowly and cautiously approached the Express car. All of us were ready to dive for cover if gun muzzles started to point in our directions. I guess we were all a little nervous about how the Express Guards would receive us.

We stopped about fifteen feet away from the car and I shouted, “Hello in there! This is Evan Williams, and Constable Dan Staley, can we offer any assistance?”

A port about six inches square swung open and the barrel of a Winchester stuck out of it. A voice from inside called, “Come closer so I can see you better. What happened to the robbers?”

“I think I recognize that voice,” said Big Steve. “Brad Fowler!” he shouted, “Is that you in the Express Car? This is Big Steve Kimbrell, open that door, nobody but friends out here. All the banditos are dead or run off.”

“You ain’t foolin’ with me are you Steve?” said a voice from inside the Express Car.

“Open the door boy! You know I might skin you in a horse trade, but you know darned good and well I wouldn’t rob nobody,” snapped Big Steve.

Big Steve walked toward the door of the Express Car with Dan and I close behind. The door slid open and a tall young fellow with a rifle in his hands stepped out to meet us.

“Are you all right Brad,” asked Big Steve with concern plain on his face. “You got anybody in there hurt?”

“We’re alright,” Said Brad with a grin. “Silver bars make pretty good armor. We had the crates of silver bars stacked along the walls, we hid behind them and didn’t have much to worry about from bullets, though we did catch a few splinters.”

We stood there amid the carnage of the failed robbery and calmly chatted about various things while Big Steve’s cowboys went from body to body gathering weapons and personal papers.

Suddenly, from the corner of my eye, I caught sight of movement of one of the “dead bodies.” I started to turn toward the now lively “deadman” and reached for my pistol. I could see the man’s pistol coming up and pointing at my chest. I could even see the cylinder turn as he thumbed back the hammer. My gun had not yet cleared my holster and I knew I was most likely a dead man if that bandit could shoot worth a hoot.

Suddenly, from my right came the thunder of a shot. The bandit humped his shoulders forward and let his gun hand begin to droop. A second shot from my right plowed into the bandit’s chest about the same time I fired. The force of the two shots slammed the bandit backward and flat on his back.

I turned toward Dan. He was blowing down the barrel of his pistol and smiling a hard smile of satisfaction.

“I’m mighty glad Renita hasn’t completely civilized you. You certainly saved my hide that time,” I said as I clapped his shoulder and sighed with relief.

Dan laughed and said, “That just makes us even for that time up in Waco.”

“Not hardly,” I said. “We’ve saved each other’s bacon too often to keep count. Let’s just say I owe you another one. I don’t know about you, but I’m getting too darned old to keep doin’ stuff like this. There’s got to be an easier way to make a living.”

[Doc Hudson]

This is the last completed chapter. There won't be any more until I get off my lazy butt and get back to writing.

What do y'all really think of the story. Constuctive criisim is invited. This is really only a rough draft, I've spent very litle time editing or rewriting. hell i don't even have a working title for it. To start with, i called it "Matabele Gold" but i didn't really like it. Any sugestions will be considered.

[iceman]

All I can say is GREAT READ!! I guess you better get off your butt and finish this one off. You have an exceptional talent don't let it go to waste. I expect the next chapter shortly.

[RustyJr]

Another great one sir. I will be anxiously awaiting the next chapter. Thanks again Doc.

RustyJr

[kimwcook]

Ah, come on, Doc. You're killing me here. You've got me sucked in tighter than a tick on a dog's back. Can't wait for the following chapters.

[1894cfan]

I concur, GREAT READ!!! Keep 'em coming!!