The Bandits of Bonanza Flats: Farr and Fat Jack, #5

By Kendall Hanson

After bandits rob a Burns & Sadler stagecoach, Farr and Fat Jack volunteer to protect the next valuable shipment for a chance to confront the outlaw Dave Campey.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kendall Hanson
• Release date: Jul 15, 2016
• ISBN: 9781929516377

Book preview

1

The stagecoach had come down the long hill winding past the trail to the old Indian pueblo, and with the horses rested a bit from the easy passage, the driver let them build speed on the flat bottom before they had to tackle the long slope ahead that he called Four-Mile Hill.

The morning sun had taken the leftover chill away for the run, signaling that the worst of winter was over. Just a week before the road had been coated with thin mud but now it ran dry and almost smooth except for patches of winter thaw that had rippled the road bed to make a man’s teeth chatter as the stage drove over them.

The image of flapping teeth on the foppish young man in the coach made the driver grin. The dandy had begun ordering him around almost as soon as he had pulled the coach up to the boarding spot in front of the hotel. Apparently the dude was pure greenhorn and didn’t understand that a whip like himself didn’t bother with the luggage of the passengers. The hotel had folks for that, or the dandy could load it himself if he wanted to take so much luggage along.

Most folks did with a single case or even a cloth bag of some kind. This feller insisted on a trunk that fit awkwardly in the boot, and then he had two carpet bags that had to be thrown on top.

The young feller was nicely dressed, though. The whip figured he was a banker or one of the men employed by the railroad to go up to the capitol and tease out concessions from the Governor so that the new railroad wouldn’t have any more difficulties with land rights or intrusive Indians.

Fine by him. If the railroad wanted to bypass the state’s capitol, then it gave his partner and him an opportunity to extend the stage line and get enough revenue in to keep going. Burns was always going on about costs and how the numbers weren’t adding up, but the whip didn’t understand much about numbers. He knew stock and how to drive, and a bit about how to shoot, crack a whip and get from one place to another in this arid land. Burns could watch the books; he preferred to run the operation.

The company could certainly use the extra cash the new run would add. No disputing that. Just last week he found he would need to close one of the way stations even with the increased revenue.

The simplest answer was closing the one just south of Santa Fe, even though it made the last leg into that town run a little long coming from Albuquerque, and it meant he would have to make a slower pace on the return trip. The farmer who ran the station understood, but his wife hadn’t taken kindly to the dismissal at all.

Mr. Sadler, she said as she glared at him, you know we are the only stop where you can water horses for ten miles in either direction. It don’t make sense to drop our contract, and we need that extra to make ends meet.

She was right, but he had already calculated he could make a stop at the creek two miles ahead of that station. Had to ford the damn thing anyway, so might as well let his team have a drink while they were there.

As the safest section of the run, he had decided he could afford the slower pace. With just fifteen miles left to Santa Fe, he knew it was safer here than anywhere on the sixty-mile run.

The hill they were climbing was his biggest concern. When the team ascended the long slope, he had to keep up the speed even though the road wasn’t straight. This section always made him nervous, especially when he had the government strong box and the mail bag in the front boot under his feet, because the chance of having an accident from a broken wheel of a busted tree on the winding road meant he had to have some caution.

The last section of the hill’s S-curve bothered him the most. It passed along a low bluff, and he constantly imagined that outlaws would find that a convenient place to make a play for the stage.

Keep your eyes open, Jud, he said to the shotgun messenger beside him.

You expecting trouble today, Stretch?

I always expect trouble on this hill.

Naw, it’s too pretty a day for trouble.

That’s what is bothering me.

He snicked the reins to urge his team to get more speed to pull up the hill. If he hadn’t been carrying the strong box and bag, he probably would have let them set their own pace up the incline.

What’s that dust up there? Jud said as he shifted position to bring his shotgun up from its scabbard in the boot.

Guess we’ll find out in a bit, he said. The cloud of dust near the top of the hill was still too far away to make out distinctly, and now the coach headed into a section where the curve made it impossible to see.

As they came out of the curve, he could see a small herd of cattle being driven on the road by four cowboys who had pulled up their bandanas to shield their faces from the dust.

You gonna drive through that? Jud asked.

You know of any ranches nearby?

Nope.

Me either. Don’t know why there would be any cattle on this road.

Them boys ain’t doing nothing to move that herd out of the way, Jud said. They must see us coming.

Stretch set his jaw. Jud, I think they mean to have us stop and take our cargo. Make sure your shotgun is loaded, and your pistol too.

Hell, we’ll have to stop. Why don’t I just start shooting when we get close? Might spook them cows enough to move.

Do that. I’m driving right on through. I’m not stopping.

Damn it’s hot out here, Jud said and took his bowler off for a moment to wipe his brow. I’m sweating like a pig in heat.

Stretch moved all the reins to one hand so that he could quickly check his pistol. He usually kept it loaded except for the round at the barrel. He clicked the trigger now so that a live round would come into position.

The coach cleared the last broad turn of the S and now the herd was scarcely a hundred yards ahead. The four cowboys turned at the sound of the horses pounding the road, but none of them made a move to push the herd along.

Stretch fired in the air, hoping the blast of the shot might excite the herd and scare them into moving. It did, but then he noticed the cowboys were urging the cows into the gap below the bluff.

We’ve got to drive through them, he shouted to Jud.

We’ll crash if you do that, Jud cried back, his voice now pinched with alarm.

They’re trying to stop us!

He snapped the reins as hard as he could with one hand. The horses wanted to obey, but they weren’t as daring as their driver. As the team neared the back of the herd, the team leads began to slow. He whipped the reins again and yelled for Jud to fire his shotgun.

The cowboys were riding toward them now, two from each side. Their guns were out. It’s a holdup, Jud. Shoot the bastards.

Too late he saw a man with a rifle jumping up from the ground on the bluff. Jud fired his shotgun at the riders heading for him, but the man with the rifle fired from the bluff and Stretch felt Jud lurch beside him.

I’m hit, Jud called. Oh sweet Jesus I’m hit.

Stretch thought he had no choice and tried again to drive the horses into the back of the herd, but it was no use. He started to turn his pistol on the riders who were coming from his right when he heard a popping sound from inside the coach. Don’t!" he yelled as he realized one of the passengers must have started shooting.

The next second the riders had opened fire as they rode, and even though their aim wasn’t precise, rounds began to hit that coach and splinter the wood.

Stretch felt his arm go on fire and then go numb, and he found he couldn’t hold on to the pistol. As though it had a mind of its own, it left his hand and fell in the dirt beside the now stopped stage.

Knowing he was defeated, he weakly raised his hands, the reins still in his left. The nearest cowboy pointed his pistol and said, Strongbox and mail bag. Throw them down.

Stretch’s right arm was numb. Jud leaned against him, eyes closed, and moaned as he fought to breathe. A hole in his chest was bubbling blood with every movement. Don’t rightly think I can, Stretch said to the outlaw. Don’t have no strength right now.

Guess I’ll have to finish you, then, the outlaw said.

2

Kate watched as Farr Gunn checked the two cards on the table in front of him. He had an ace and a five showing, a total of sixteen, and she knew her cards totaled seventeen. Stand or go, she said, you’re holding up the others.

Go, he said without looking at her.

She flipped a card to him so that it landed upright with the others. Three for nineteen, she said and turned her cards over. Dealer has seventeen. Your pot.

Farr pushed his hat back as she shoved the coins toward him. Without looking at him she repeated the same process with the other two men at the table. Both took an extra card, and both lost their bets.

Gentlemen, she said. As I told you, that was the last hand for tonight. I’m very tired and ready to retire. Harry, I trust you’ll be in again tomorrow?

The man to her right grinned and nodded. Got to win back what I lost tonight, don’t I?

Indeed. I’ll save you a chair.

Thankee, Kate. I’ll be here.

The men pushed their chairs back and stood up while Kate gathered the loose cards and put them back into the deck. While the two others wandered toward the door, Farr stood at the table watching the woman stack her money and begin to count. Feel like having one more drink? he asked.

Thank you, no, Kate said without looking up. I’m going to finish counting and go up to bed.

Let her be tonight, boy, said the man sitting at the next table. His broad-brimmed hat was pulled over his face, but he looked up at Farr and then took up the crutch that leaned against the table. Using it, he wrenched himself from the chair and swayed for a moment before gaining his balance. The left leg of his pants was folded up to just below the knee and pinned to keep it in place. Don’t worry. I won’t be walking her upstairs, he said.

Go on, Farr, Kate said to the young man. Julian wants to get closed up here and I’ve had a long night.

Might see you tomorrow night, Farr said and nodded to the man. I’m ready to go after your brother when you’re a mind to.

I told you, he’s long gone to Arizona. You want to go after him, that’s your business, but I still work for the Sheriff, and he isn’t going to let me go chasing anyone in another territory. The man looked down at the folded trousers. It’s not like I can ride just yet anyhow.

How long are you going to use that as an excuse?

The man looked up sharply. You saved my life, boy, but I’m only going to tolerate your lip for so long. You want to go running after my brother, that’s your business.

He’s the one did this to you, Deputy. You going to just let it go?

When I’m ready, I’ll go after him. I have some more healing to do first. You want to go chasing around after him on your own.…… the man shrugged and leaned back in the chair.

Time to close, Farr, Kate said again.

She busied herself with the cards while Farr found his way to the door. She could sense the Deputy staring at her, but knew he would say whatever he wanted when he was ready.

You shouldn’t keep encouraging him, the man said finally. You let him win.

No. but I don’t let him lose too much. He doesn’t make a lot of money at the stage line.

He makes enough if he doesn’t try to gamble it away in here.

He’s playing so he can see me, Kate said as she looked up at the Deputy. You know that as well as I do, Simon.

You sure you don’t want him in here? I saw you throw that three from the bottom, Kate. You don’t want to be doing that too often. Mr. Soderstrom might not understand.

She sighed. If he minds, then we shall just see if the arrangement can be changed.

What does that mean?

It means … it means that some of the men in this town are getting a little too possessive for my tastes.

May be you’re a little too independent sometimes. You and Soderstrom have a deal.

I’ve made him a considerable sum of money in the last few months. As far as I’m concerned, we should be square.

That’s something you’ll have to take up with him, I reckon. I’m only paid to make sure you stay safe of an evening.

You don’t seem to mind, Simon.

No, the Deputy said. I don’t mind at all.

* * *

You keep coming in late like this, you’re going to fall asleep midday, Jack Craft said from his cot as Farr came in the door of the tack room at the Burns & Sadler stables.

Won some money, Farr said as he threw himself on the small bed he had set up next to the tool boxes. It’s my business anyway.

It is that. But mooning over that woman isn’t helping your disposition any.

My disposition is just fine.

Yep. I can tell you are one happy feller.

She’s not … I’m not thinking on her as much as you think I am.

Something’s bothering you, and she’s a bothersome woman.

Not her. Campey.

The deputy?

Dave Campey. You he took off for Arizona territory?

Go after him if you want. There’s nothing to hold you here. Or are we back to Kate again?

I don’t believe he left. I expect he’s holed up around here. What do you think?

I think you’re doing a bunch of speculating without knowing anything for a fact. You talked to Simon about it? What’s he think about it? Hell, you see him most every night. His brother, after all.

He thinks his brother took off. He won’t go after him if he’s in Arizona. Fact is, he only sits there watching Kate play. Farr took a deep breath and pulled the blanket over him. You suppose … maybe … he has feelings …… for Kate I mean.

Jack chuckled. Got some jealousy going on? You see any looks pass between them?

Can’t say I have. But he never takes his eyes off her that I can see.

Must be hard, losing a leg like that, Jack said. Must make him feel like he can’t do everything he once could. Be hard to live with that.

I’ve seen him up on a horse. And he’s still packing that big Colt.

I wasn’t talking about that. I was talking about the flowering of his manhood. Might be a mite harder to enjoy the delights of female company if you believe they’re just laying there thinking about your missing leg all the time.

Hmm. Never thought of that.

I’m sure he has. Maybe that’s why he’s staring at Kate.

She ain’t whoring any more. Gambling suits her fine.

Jack pushed himself up on his elbow and looked around at his friend. Don’t mean she doesn’t consider the feel of a man up against her from time to time. You really don’t know much about women. I’m surprised the two of you ever managed to get together.

She’s made it plain enough it won’t happen again.

But you still go to the saloon most every night to play cards. But you never want to else. You imagine she’ll eventually change her mind as long as you keep showing up? I’ll tell you what it’ll do. It’ll make you look like the love-struck fool you are, and it will make her think less of you, not more.

Jack laid back and put his hands behind his head. You swept her off her feet once. You might have to do it again.

How?

If you really need to, you’ll figure it out. But see, I think she’s the real problem and not Dave Campey.

No, I want him. I want him too much, could be. Besides, all I’m doing around here is shoveling manure. Might as well be on the trail.

I thought Sadler was going to have you driving.

I thought so to, but Henry says he heard him and Burns talking about hiring a driver from up north.

Didn’t you drive part of a run for him?

Farr nodded. I guess it showed him up a bit. He’s too rough with the reins and he’s not good with his hands.

Did you ask him? About driving I mean.

Said I’m still too young and inexperienced. I think it’s an excuse. He wants to be the only driver.

It’s his company.

"And Burns. He was mad I showed Burns how he was damaging the