Marshal Keller and the Blackheart Gang: Marshal Keller Series, #1

By Gary Wilson

A ruthless outlaw- Frank “Black heart” Jordan is holding the town of Hot Spring New Mexico hostage, requiring a monthly “protection” payment to keep them safe from other outlaws. They seek help from former US Marsh Jake Keller and his assistant, the brilliant, but eccentric inventor, Professor Kirby “Higgs” Higgstrom. Will technology save the day or will Hot Springs burn?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Gary Wilson
• Release date: Feb 16, 2014
• ISBN: 9781497742758

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

Hot Springs Town Bank

A recent strike in the town’s silver mine has caused quite a stir in the normally sleepy town of Hot Springs. The town bank is bustling with activity: Miners trading silver for currency to buy more equipment at the general store or to buy whiskey at the Black Opal Saloon, which also provides working girls to entertain the gruff miners, who spend days or even weeks at a time underground.

The silver in turn is available for townspeople to invest in shares of the mine, buy bars of silver or buy the unprocessed silver to turn into jewelry.

The bank’s lobby is full of townspeople waiting to make their transactions, when three men wearing bandannas and holding .44 caliber pistols, enter the bank.

One of the men fires a round in the air and says This is a hold up! Everyone on the ground! If you cooperate, you might live. Now, empty your pockets and place everything in front of you. Move!

People quickly do as the Robber says. There are women crying and pleading not to be hurt.

A second robber collects the items the bank patrons put on the ground, while the third robber goes to the window, puts a saddlebag on the ledge near the window, and sticks his revolver in the bank teller’s face, demanding that he give him all the money and silver in the bank.

The Teller complies and starts taking money out of the drawer and putting them in the saddle bag.

The three outlaws finish robbing the bank and the patrons. They are about to leave, when six men, also carrying weapons appear at the front door.

Drop your weapons and put your hands in the air, Jimmy Omaha Tyndall, leader of the posse, commands.

The first Robber grabs a female, puts a pistol to her head and replies Back off, law man, or she gets it.

Go ahead. You picked the wrong bank to rob.

The Robber is stunned and before he can react, the six men open fire on the robbers, killing them, the female hostage and a couple of bystanders.

The gun men enter, pick up the bag, hand it to the clerk and Omaha says Make sure everyone gets their items back.

Yes, sir, the Teller replies. He begins handing items back to the customers.

Omaha motions to one of the men who goes over to Darren Prescott, the Bank President and hands him a bag.

Prescott sighs, then goes into his office and walks to a small safe. He opens the safe, takes the money out and places it in the bag, then walks back and hands it to Omaha.

He hefts the bag, wrinkles his eyebrows and says You’re a little short this month.

M...Mr. Omaha, our arrangement is for the end of the month. Today is only the twenty-fourth.

Fortunately for you, we were here or else the bank would have been completely cleaned out.

Yes, and for that we are grateful.

Omaha hesitates, hands the bag to one of his men, then says to Prescott in no uncertain terms You have a week to come up with the rest of the five thousand or the deals off.

Our deal is for two thousand.

Plus three thousand for our protection services.

Prescott hesitates, and then agrees. I’ll let the Mayor and Council know.

I have you at your word. I won’t mention this to Mr. Jordan, unless you decide to back out of our deal.

We have lived up to our end of the bargain for the past five years. In return you have allowed our town to go about our business. We want to maintain the status quo.

Thought you’d see it my way. Omaha sees a young woman and grabs her by the arm. She cries and struggles.

She cries and struggles. He smacks her across the face.

Shut it! Omaha turns to the people in the bank. Fair compensation for saving your hides.

The rest of Omaha’s men laugh and two of the men grab the girl, who is crying and attempting to break free.

The bank guards drag the dead robbers out of the bank. The girl’s father, Paddy O’Reilly goes to Prescott.

He says in a thick Irish brogue They took me Maggie. Our bargain neigh included this. We gotta do somethin’.

I promise you Paddy, I’ll talk to the Mayor and we’ll do everything we can to get her back.

If they don’t, I’m gonna fill that blackhearted bastard with buckshot.

Now, now, Paddy. Let us do our job. After all, they have protected us for the past five years. I’m sure they can work things out and bring your Maggie back safe. Will you at least let us try?

Aye. For now.

O’Reilly leaves the bank.

Prescott tells the customers, I’m sorry, the bank is closed.

The people grumble, and then slowly make their way out of the bank, shocked about the first bit of violence since the arrangement between the town and the Blackheart gang.

Prescott orders the bank doors close, and then leaves out of the rear entrance to notify the mayor, council and the local authorities of the day’s events and the possibility of another show down with Jordan’s gang.

Town Hall building

Hot Springs Mayor Dirk Brentwood and City Council President Silas Hayes have been informed about the attempted bank robbery and the abduction of O’Reilley’s daughter by one of Jordan’s ‘lieutenants’.

I was able to convince Paddy to let us handle it, but I’m not sure how long he’ll stand by while they’re doing God knows what to his daughter.

And you think Jordan isn’t behind this?

Omaha even warned us not to say anything.

Brentwood turns to Sheriff Nicholas Kendall.

How do ya think we should handle this, Nick?

Kendall sighs. We know what we get with Jordan; he’s as savage as they get, but he has always kept his word. With this Omaha character, there’s no telling. A wire from the Nebraska Rivertons say he got into a shootout with the law in Omaha killed the town marshal and deputy at the same time. There have been rumblings that he may challenge Jordan for the leadership of the gang and if he does, all bets are off. More than likely he didn’t take the girl back to the main hang out, plus I think he’s trying to raise some cash to bribe enough of Jordan’s men to turn against him.

How do we rescue Paddy’s daughter?

To be honest, I think we’re gonna recover her body.

If that’s the case, O’Reilley and his family will go after Jordan and we’ll have another bloodbath on our hands.

Then the only thing we can do is lock up him and the rest of the family until we resolve this.

You cannot lock up a law abiding citizen without cause, Council President Silas Hayes says, with an eastern accent.

Then what do ya suggest we do?

Sheriff? a young boy says.

Kendall and the others turn and see a boy, about ten years old holding a note. He walks over to the boy and takes the note.

Where did you get this?

A man with a funny accent gave it to me.

Kendall opens the note and reads it aloud.

I have been monitoring the situation and I am aware of the abduction of one of your residents. My associate and I will rescue the girl.

Who is this from? Brentwood asks.

Kendall replies Ain’t signed.

Do you think it is from this Omaha chap? Hayes asks.

You mean a ransom? There ain’t no demand for money, just says he’ll rescue the girl.

Two men against a half dozen. Omaha and his men will cut them to ribbons, then us.

Do we trust this man?

Do we have a choice? Hayes asks.

Brentwood and Kendall reluctantly agree with Hayes and decide to leave the fate of Megan O’Reilly to a stranger.

CHAPTER 2

Omaha Tyndall’s camp

The gang is sitting around the camp fire, passing around a bottle of whiskey, getting drunk and preparing themselves for the ‘main event’: Megan O’Reilly, who is tied up in a tent, crying and hysterical, but otherwise unharmed.

Hey, Omaha, why didn’t we just take the rest of their money? one of the gang members ask.

We’re not strong enough to take on Jordan yet. If we make our move now, him and McNulty will have us shot, making reference to Jordan’s second in command, Dirk McNulty, an outlaw with a record almost as long as Jordan’s.

No offense, Boss, but we’ve been livin’ good fer the past five years, plus he’s kept the law off our backs. How come ya want ta get rid of him? a second member asks.

Jordan’s made us weak and we’re only taking a couple o’ thousand a month, when it’s divided it don’t come out to squat. Ya know that he’s keeping most of the money, judging by the place he lives in.

The others grumble in agreement, having visited Jordan’s quarters, which have been decorated with the spoils of their raids on stage coaches that are travelling in the region.

Ya know he ain’t gonna like that we grabbed the girl and broke the deal he had.

Good! Someone has to let Jordan know it’s time to stop appeasing these people and take what is rightfully ours.

The others cheer in agreement and pass the bottle around to ‘seal the deal’.

Camp site – two miles from Omaha’s camp

A group of United States Marshals sit around a subdued campfire, drinking coffee.

One of the Marshals, Walter Pierson, shakes his head and says to the Senior Marshal, Chad Baxter, Chad, we tracked them to where they’re holding the girl, why don’t we go in and make the arrest?

Tyndall and his men would not hesitate to shoot the girl.

And kill their hostage?

She ain’t a hostage, she’s a prize. Besides he thinks that him and the Brit can get her out without any shooting.

Pierson looks at a telegraph machine. This thing actually works without being hooked to the telegraph lines?

Yep. They demonstrated it from ten miles out, so we’re in range, just waiting for their cue.

Which is?

You’ll know it when you hear it.

Hilltop near Omaha’s camp

A silhouetted figure stands at the top of the hill, watching the gang members laughing and getting drunk.

He reaches into his long coat, pulls out a device and says with a gruff, mid-western accent They’re in position, Higgs. Flip the switch an’ let’s see what happens.

A voice with a British accent replies, We shall give it a go then, Jacob.

A few seconds later, a buzzing sound is heard, then a blinding flash of light and electrical sparks shoot straight up in the air, surrounding the gang members, trapping them inside of an electrical fence.

The silhouetted man then walks into the camp, goes to the tent where Megan O’Reilly is being held, frees her and they leave.

Omaha and his men begin yelling at him, try to draw their weapons, but yelp in pain and drop their revolvers, which is conducting the electrical charges around them.

Come back here! Ya can’t do this ta me!

The mysterious stranger turns to Omaha and simply says Just did.

Omaha recognizes the stranger as former United States Marshal Jacob Keller.

He stammers and says Keller?! You’re supposed to be dead.

Guess you were captured by a ghost.

Keller and Megan walk to the top of a hill to a Conestoga wagon that is self-propelled.

Megan hugs Keller and says Thank you.

Jest doin’ my job, Ma’am.

He opens the door, helps her get inside, then closes it and walks over to the other side of the wagon.

He sees that the gang members are still trapped.

He opens the door and says to his partner Higgs, Let Baxter know that we have six men wanted for numerous crimes ready to be taken into custody.

Shouldn’t we have the local authorities do it? Professor Kirby Higgs Higgstrom replies.

They’re members of Jordan’s gang. If they get involved, he’ll go in an’ slaughter everyone there.

Good point.

I’ll make sure Jordan knows it was me.

Is that wise, Jacob? The last time you met, he...

I know what he did, Higgs. He looks at his left arm and replies Every time it rains.

You have just now recovered from the last encounter; do you think it is wise to engage him so soon?

Higgs now is the perfect time, there’s unrest among his men and if we draw him out, we’ll be able to take him down without the casualties.

The portable telegraph machine inside the wagon begins clicking. They listen to the message being sent.

Marshal Baxter and his deputies will be here shortly to take them into custody. Jacob, do you think it was wise to use the telegraph to notify the Marshal’s office. Jordan has men that monitor the line and intercept messages.

That’s what I’m countin’ on.

Ten minutes later a dozen men on horseback show up on a hill across the way. Keller waves at them, and at the same time walks toward the campfire where Omaha and his men are still being held.

Baxter and his deputies walk to where Keller is standing.

He shakes Keller’s hand and says It’s been awhile, Jake. He then asks How’s the arm?

I can use it again, thanks to the Professor.

Still working with that nutty Brit?

His invention is what trapped Tyndall and his men.

Baxter nods, acknowledging that Keller’s eccentric partner is a genius when it comes to steam and electrical mechanics and some of the professor’s inventions are used by the local law enforcement and military outposts.

A horse drawn prison wagon arrives and pulls up to where Baxter and Keller are standing.

Keller turns toward Higgstrom. You can turn off the electrical fence, Higgs.

The electrical field is shut off. Omaha and his men stagger, then see Keller and Baxter. They reach for their weapons, but over a dozen revolvers being pointed at them makes them re-think their decision.

They put their hands in the air and walk towards the prison wagon.

Omaha says to Keller You know Jordan won’t let this stand.

I think he will, once he hears this, Keller replies.

He walks to a nearby log and lifts it. The log is hollowed out and it’s hiding an Edison cylindrical voice recorder.

He flips a switch and it plays back the recoding made by Omaha plotting to take over the Blackheart gang.

He glares at Keller and gets in the wagon.

You’re actually siding with Jordan? Baxter asks.

Just causin’ a little unrest. Plus, Jordan ain’t gonna help someone who is gonna stab him in the back.

Good point. We’ll take these yahoos back to Hillsboro and let Judge Kirwin know you caught one of the Most Wanted on the Marshal’s list.

You can take the credit, Chad. I’m a private citizen an’ I don’t wanna make you guys look bad.

Thanks, Jake. Wish you would consider taking up the badge again.

Jordan is my only priority and I may hafta sink to his level to either bring him or take him out.

You were never here.

Keller laughs, shakes Baxter’s hand, and then Baxter mounts his horse, followed by the deputies. They take up positions surrounding the wagon, ready to defend in the event of an attack by Jordan to rescue members of his gang.

Keller walks to the other wagon, gets in the passenger side, and then says to Higgstrom Let’s take her back to her family, then I want to make a special delivery to Jordan.

Higgstrom replies If you insist, Jacob.

He starts a steam engine, which begins to build pressure, until steam escapes and propels the wagon toward Hot Springs to return the kidnapping victim alive and unharmed.

Paddy O’Reilly’s farm – twenty minutes later

O’Reilly, his sons, and kinsmen are loading their shot guns to raid Jordan’s hang out and rescue his daughter.

Treaty be damned, that miserable lout will not be gettin’ away with hurtin’ our kin, O’Reilly says, which gets rousing approval from the rest of the clan.

They start towards the front door, when Megan opens the door, runs to her father and hugs him, crying.

Me blessed angel. He looks at her and says Did those bastards hurt you?

No, da. A man rescued me.

Who.

Megan pauses and says I think his name was Marshal Jacob Keller.

Keller was killed six months ago by Jordan and his men. Saints be praised, he came back from the grave and saved you, me darlin’.

No, da. He is very much alive. Mr. Jordan had nothing to do with this. It was one of his men tryin’ to stir up trouble an’ have us pick a fight. They have arrested Mr. Tyndall and the ones responsible. Please, father, put away the shot guns.

O’Reilly sighs and tells the others Ya heard her, put ‘em down, boys.

The rest of the clan reluctantly agree, put their weapons away, then welcome Megan back and express their relief that she was returned unharmed.

I would like ta thank the Marshal.

He left me at the front gate. He was drivin’ a wagon that didn’t use a horse.

That is not possible, child.

Megan, O’Reilly and the clan leave the house just as Keller’s wagon drives out of sight without being pulled by horses.

Holy mother of God, O’Reilly says as he makes the sign of the cross, along with the rest of the clan. He shakes his head and says That is not natural. We say nary a word, people will think we’re daft.

The rest of the clan agrees, after which they