Marshal keller: Adventures in Old Mexico: Marshal Keller Series

By Gary Wilson

Nine months after the showdown at Elephant Butte Lake, United States Marshal Jake Keller and Professor Kirby Higgstrom are invited to a feast in the Mexican village of San Ignacio after assisting the authorities in round up the region's most notorious outlaw, Juan Javier Lopez.  
 
They are drugged and end up in Mexico City, where they are charged with murdering the peasants of San Ignacio. 
 
They escape and end up in the village of Tlaxcala, where they team up with village matriarch, Doña Isabella Escobar Villalobos, her brothers and a mysterious vigilante named La Esperanza to clear their names. 
 
They uncover a vast conspiracy by Lopez and his brother, Mexican dictator Jose Alejandro Lopez, the surviving members of the Blackheart Gang, along with top officials in the New Mexico territorial government. 
 
Keller and Higgstrom also learn that Lionel Hayes and his rogue Riverton agents were a part of the conspiracy until Keller took them down in a shootout at Elephant Butte Lake. 
 
If the Lopez brothers and the Blackheart gang succeed, they will change the course of history for Mexico and the United States.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Nightstalker Press
• Release date: Aug 31, 2016
• ISBN: 9781536503265

Book preview

Introduction

Mexico – 1893

It’s been nearly nine months since the now famous standoff between the United States Marshals, led by Jake Keller and a collection of wanted outlaws at Elephant Butte Lake, near the New Mexico territorial town of Hot Springs.

Keller was framed for murder and the subject of a man hunt by Lionel Hayes, who blamed Keller and the town for the death of his son, Silas.

With the help of his friend and associate, Professor Kirby Higgs Higgstrom, Keller was able to elude capture, prove his innocence and stop Hayes and his thugs from destroying Hot Springs.

Keller was shot at by Hayes, but Frank Jordan, notorious outlaw and leader of the Blackheart gang, stepped in front of the bullet. Keller responded by killing Hayes.

News of the standoff and Keller taking down the Blackheart gang nearly single handed have spread throughout the New Mexico territory and ‘Old’ Mexico.

When Keller was seen entering San Ignacio, a small village east of Juarez, peasants and the local authorities immediately asked him and Higgstrom for their help.

The town is being harassed by banditos, the male peasants being robbed, beaten and killed on a regular basis, the women being kidnapped and sold into slavery or forced to work in the cantinas as prostitutes.

At first Keller was reluctant to get involved, because of the lingering tension between the United States and Mexico, with mutual hostility because of the Mexican – American War, which ended almost fifty years ago.

He was concerned that a US Marshal acting in Mexico could lead to further military action.

Keller changed his mind after he witnessed a group of banditos shoot up a cantina, killed the local comandante and violated a teen age girl.

He contacted Higgstrom, utilizing a magnaphone, a telephone which transmits magnetic sound waves, to bring the steam powered stage coach, which he dubbed the ‘war wagon’ to the south side of town while he began to track the outlaw’s movements, following the dozen sets of tracks that were left behind.

He also told Higgstrom to contact the provincial capital to alert the federales of the crime and that he would only track and contain the fugitives and allow the federal police to arrest the men and take credit for their capture.

He began to follow the tracks, taking note of the depth and direction they were riding, until he reached the edge of town and saw Higgstrom waiting for him.

He climbed aboard the war wagon and took over the driver’s side while Higgstrom put on a set of headphones and flipped a switch that activated a large dish on the top of the wagon, which picked up every sound within a mile of them.

They tracked the banditos to a deserted village, trapped them in a building when they stopped in front and threatened to use the six Gatling guns on the wagon.

The banditos threw out their weapons and all parties waited for the federales to appear, and then took the banditos into custody.

After this incident, the federales continued to ask for Keller’s assistance until the country’s president, Jose Alejandro Lopez felt the opposition may try to enlist Keller’s assistance in removing him from power.

Captain Jose Cortina relays his leader’s request for Keller and Higgstrom to return to the United States, also thanked them for their help in temporarily reducing the crime rate in a notoriously lawless town.

He has invited Keller and Higgstrom to a farewell fiesta in their honor this evening. They graciously accept and look forward to one last night of food, drink and the company of the town’s pretty senioritas.

CHAPTER 1

San Ignacio, Mexico – May 5, 1893

Captain Cortina, Keller and Higgstrom are seated at the table of honor and observe the people of the town serve a banquet not only in their honor, but to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, the Mexican Independence day, observed after the Mexican people defeated the French during the Battle of Puebla in 1862.

A young lady brings a bottle of tequila and shot glasses, places them in front of the guests of honor, smiles, bows her head and quietly slips away.

"Our senioritas are the most beautiful women in the world," Cortina says, with a hint of pride.

No argument there, Captain, Keller replies.

"Por favor, we are amigos, call me Jose, or Joe, if you please."

Only if you call me Jake, or Jacobo.

Fair enough. Professor, you are as much the reason for our success in cleaning up the town as Marshal Jake, I also wish to honor you as well.

Thank you, sir, your hospitality has been second to none, Higgstrom replies.

When are you planning to leave, Jake?

Tomorrow morning. I have ta be in Las Cruces by noon ta have the charges against me formally dropped.

"Your fight against that pendejo Lionel Hayes is already legendary, and we will also remember you assisting us in apprehending one of the most notorious outlaws in all of Mexico, Juan Javier Lopez."

His renegades were gonna attack an army garrison until we warned them. Lopez and his men retreated back here.

Yes, he was plenty angry and swore revenge on you.

My government wanted ta prosecute him, but I felt that to save face, as it were, your government should be the one to put Lopez on trial.

"Yes, El Presidente wants to use Lopez as an example that crime is no longer tolerated anywhere in Mexico."

Maybe it will also stop the skunks from my country from seekin’ refuge here.

"Yes, we have enough corruption with our own people, without the gringos robbing our people and violating our women."

It’s just as bad in the territories.

Actually, Jacob, since we stopped Lionel Hayes and his ruffians, Peter and Chad have reported that nearly all criminal activity between Santa Fe and El Paso have all but disappeared, Higgstrom replies.

When did ya talk ta Chad?

When they asked us to return to America. Mayor Brentwood and the Council have voted to rebuild the school and help replace all the equipment that was destroyed.

I’ll wire the bank in Denver an’ draft a note ta cover whatever ya need, Higgs.

Thank you, Jacob.

I know your President wants me ta leave. Handing him a magnaphone, he says If ya ever need my help, just call, the wagon can be here within a couple o’ hours.

"Muchas gracias, hermano (brother)."

Cortina opens the bottle of tequila, pours some for himself, Keller and Higgstrom.

Lifting his glass, Cortina says, Let me present a toast. To friendship and a long life, my friends.

The three bring up their glasses, toast each other and the people attending the fiesta and drink the tequila.

Keller, Cortina and Higgstrom each become dizzy and slump on the table unconscious.

CHAPTER 2

Prison cell – location unknown

Keller, Higgstrom and Cortina slowly become conscious, groan and shake their heads, trying to ‘clear the cobwebs’, each with the same question: What happened?

They get their answer as the most wanted man in Mexico, Juan Javier Lopez walks into the cellblock with Cortina’s second in command, Lieutenant Pablo Gallegos.

Gallegos, what is the meaning of this? Cortina demands.

"Captain, El Presidente feels you have become too friendly with the gringo Marshal and he is concerned that you would use his weapon to overthrow him and install yourself as ruler of Mexico," Gallegos replies.

"I have served El Presidente since he was my regiment commander; I have always been and remain to this day loyal to him."

"Your mistake, señor was allowing that cabrone to arrest me and undermine El Presidente’s plans to use my reign of terror to make an excuse to raise the taxes," Lopez tells Cortina.

"The peasants barely have money to survive and you want to bleed them dry?’

What else are peasants good for?

Shoulda plugged ya when I had the chance in New Mexico, Keller quips.

"It’s because of you, pendejo; I lost over twenty men on the Jornada coming back to Mexico."

Too bad you were too yella ta face me at Elephant Butte. I woulda taken care o’ you and the rest o’ your men.

Lopez walks to the bars, stares at Keller and says, "We

will see who has the last laugh when we line you up in front of a firing squad."

Killin’ a United States Marshal ain’t gonna score ya any points, might even get ya in hot water with your own government.

"We are not killing a United States Marshal. We are executing a mass murderer for killing everyone at a Cinco de Mayo Festival," Gallegos replies.

What the hell are you talkin’ about?

A badly wounded peasant flagged my patrol down and said you got drunk on tequila and killed everyone at the festival...

Horse bunk!

Our doctors confirmed that these poor, unfortunate people were killed by a thirty caliber bullet issued by the United States Army. I have orders to get a written confession that you were sent to start a war with us.

The Professor’s Gatling guns use a twenty-two caliber bullet that I designed, so there is no way that we did this.

Yes, too bad you will be executed and your war wagon destroyed to get rid of the evidence.

A soldier brings in a tray with stale tortillas and rancid water. He slides it under the bars.

Enjoy your meal, for it will be your last. You will all be executed at dawn, Gallegos tells him.

He laughs, and then leaves with Lopez and the soldier.

We’ve been set up, but how? What was the last thing you remember, Jose? Keller asks.

Presenting the toast and drinking...

The tequila, they say in unison."

Jacob, Captain. It appears that we are not in San Ignacio anymore, Higgstrom states.

Do you know where we are, Jose?

Cortina looks out of the cell block and says It looks like we are in the Capital.

Mexico City? That’s almost a two day ride from San Ignacio. How did they keep us out for that long?

Higgstrom suddenly sniffs around the collar of his shirt and says They must have used chloroform on us, Jacob.

Keller inspects the bars and the hinges on the door, then checks to see if there are any guards in the cell block.

Higgs, do you still have that portable plate ya use ta heat up the coffee?

Higgstrom checks the inner pockets of his trench coat and sees that none of his inventions have been confiscated. He pulls out a small, round metal plate hooked to a battery.

Brilliant. I can set it next to the hinge and it will soften the metal, so we can remove the door and escape.

Cortina asks Higgstrom, How long is this going to take, Professor?

I’m afraid it may be close to dawn before we would be able to make our escape.

Use the wagon’s remote to send it ta the south end o’ the prison. We’ll use the hot air balloon controls ta bring in the wagon an’ make our escape from there, Keller says.

Higgstrom goes to say something. Keller silences him and motions for him to put the plate next to the bottom hinge.

He complies and places the metal plate and hooks the wires to the battery terminal and the plate begins to heat up.

Keller goes to a bunk, lays on it and pulls the brim of his hat over his eyes, intending to get some sleep.

Jake, we have to plan our escape, Cortina states.

Ain’t much we can do until mornin’. Might as well get some rest so we’re fresh for our escape, Keller replies.

Cortina mutters in Spanish, then sits on a bunk, too wound up to sleep.

Higgstrom goes to the third bunk, notices that it is nothing more than a board with a thin, ratty blanket with no pillow. He sighs, then lies down and tries to get a few hours of sleep before the morning.

CHAPTER 3

Prison courtyard – May 8th - 7 AM

Keller, Higgstrom and Cortina quietly make their way across the courtyard, having escaped the prison cell after they successfully removed the door and knocked the guard out.

They are now making their way to the South wall, which is the lowest point of the prison.

Cortina whispers It was very clever using that ... what do you call it?

Hot plate, Higgstrom replies.

"Yes, hot plate. I will have to check prisoners from now on, if I can ever work as a federale again."

Come to New Mexico, Jose. I know they need a district Marshal. I can put in a good word for you, Keller tells him.

Thank you, Marshal, Cortina replies.

Higgstrom is a little puzzled as to why Cortina is suddenly so formal.

They reach the south wall. Keller pulls out a device.

What is that? Cortina asks.

It’s ta inflate the balloon an’ have the wagon fly over the wall so we can get out, Keller replies.

Cortina nods, impressed, at the same time giving a slight gesture with his right hand and discreetly draw a pistol he confiscated from the guards.

Hold it right there, Cortina says, aiming the pistol at Keller, at the same time a squad of federales, Gallegos and Lopez enter the courtyard and surround them.

He takes the device from Keller, goes to Lopez and hands it to him.

Keller checks his pocket watch and puts it away.

He is actually amused as he quips, "I figured ya woulda

waited a bit longer before skunkin’ us out."

Higgstrom is surprised and asks, You knew he was going to sell us out?

From the moment we came to, Higgs. Chloroform has a distinctive odor an’ I didn’t smell any on his clothin’.

"Very good, gringo. I was going to wait until you brought your wagon in before turning you in, but no matter. We have the device and you will be dead," Cortina says.

Gallegos orders the soldiers, "Colocarlos contra la pared. (Place them against the wall.)"

Two soldiers point their rifles at Keller and Higgstrom, bring them to the wall, tie their hands behind their back and then have them face forward.

Six soldiers line up forty feet away with their rifles at their sides.

Give the order, Captain, Lopez says.

"I leave that pleasure to you, amigo," Cortina replies.

No blindfold or cigar? Keller asks, disappointed.

"No cabrone. You killed a lot of my friends in that massacre, including Frank Jordan," Lopez snarls.

"Jordan died saving my life. Get your facts straight, imbécil (jackass)," Keller replies.

Lopez become furious, then says, "¡Atencion!"

Higgstrom discreetly slips his hand inside his coat and pulls out a small device, a mini Tesla coil.

"¡Prepararse! ¡Apuntar! ¡Fuego!" Lopez commands.

The soldiers fire just as Higgstrom flips a switch, which sends out a magnetic field emanating from the metal plates lining the inside of long coat and Keller’s vest. The bullets stop ten feet away from them, suspended in midair.

Lopez and the soldiers are stunned that the bullets didn’t kill them. He is about to order the soldiers to reload and shoot again, when the war wagon appears over the south wall, with a Gatling gun spinning, preparing to fire.

"¡Vámonos!" Cortina yells.

The Gatling gun fires a burst, causing them to run off in

different directions or diving for cover behind some barrels.

Keller slips a knife out of his sleeve, cuts the ropes, and then frees Higgstrom, who brings his left hand around and flips a switch, which opens the magnetic lock on the war wagon. They quickly get in and seal the door.

Get us out o’ here, Higgs!

Right away, Jacob.

Higgstrom takes control of the wagon’s control, flips a switch to increase their altitude to fly over the wall.

Lopez sees them escaping and yells Shoot them down!

Soldiers aim their rifles and fire at the wagon. The bullets bounce off a metal shield located below the balloon to prevent it from being hit.

A soldier on the wall aims his rifle and manages to hit the balloon just as the wagon gets out of range.

Jacob, we have been hit, Higgstrom says as they begin to lose altitude.

I’ll try an’ patch it, Keller replies as he opens the top of the wagon.

He climbs onto the top of the roof, curses to himself as he sees multiple holes in the fabric. He gets the emergency repair kit, grabs a belt and harnesses himself to the wagon and tries to patch the holes caused by the rifle shot.

He manages to patch most of the holes, although some of them are out of his reach, he feels that he has bought them some time and climbs back inside.

Well?

Won’t get us back ta the States, but will at least get us away from Mexico City. Try ta keep it inflated an’ use the engines ta get us as far away as possible.

Brilliant.

Higgstrom flips a switch, which activates the two steam engines on the side of the wagon, giving them an instant burst of speed and temporary altitude.

They are able to stay aloft for about an hour, until the balloon can no longer maintain altitude.

I am afraid we are going to crash, Jacob.

Find a clearing and set us down, we’ll have to find some place to fix it and get back to the states, Keller replies.

Higgstrom strains to steer the wagon and control their decent until they land, snapping an axle and jarring them to a halt.

Are you allright, Jacob?

I’m fine Higgs. Looks like we’re in some deep bunk.

Can’t we just make our way back by land?

"Higgs, we’re almost a thousand miles from Texas an’ we’re gonna have every Federale between here an’ the border lookin’ for us."

That does present a problem. Then I suggest that we head South.

Ya want us ta go deeper inta Mexico?

They will expect to, as you Americans say, make a run for the border. We would run into resistance getting across and possibly ignite a war.

That’s what they’re itchin’ ta do anyway. You heard, Lopez. They used an Army Gatling gun ta kill the people in San Ignacio an’ blamed me for it.

The Captain set us up?

Yeah. When they were bringin’ us ta Mexico City, they had us knocked out by chloroform. I came to sometime during the trip, and I saw Cortina talking to Lopez.

How did they get us here?

By train. They’ll have the railway guarded.

We better not waste any more time, Jacob.

Higgstrom starts the steam engine, and then pulls a lever to start the wheels moving.

The engine produces a loud grinding sound, followed by a whining noise, increasing in pitch.

Somethin’s wrong, shut it down, Keller shouts.

He gets out of the wagon, then goes to the back of the war wagon and sees that the rear axle is broken, and the engine itself has a crack from the force of their landing.

Higgstrom gets out, inspects the damage and says Oh, dear. Jacob, I fear we are stranded here.

Can ya fix it?

If we were back in Hot Springs, but I fear I lack the tools to make repairs.

We got ‘bout an hour head start on them. I’ll find a couple o’ horses and see if we can at least tow the wagon an’ find some place ta hide.

We shall have more than an hour, Jacob, Higgstrom says with a grin.

Keller eyes him and says You didn’t?

Yes, while you and the Captain were asleep. I even slipped a magnaphone inside Lopez’s desk.

Keller laughs, in spite of the current situation and slaps Higgstrom on the shoulder. He straps on his weapons, which were left in the wagon before the Cinco de Mayo celebration, grabs the magnaphone to keep