Outlaw Badge V

By Michael J Bryant

The old wooden sailing ships were quickly disappearing in the 1800’s and being replaced by the new iron hulled steamships for traveling by sea, carrying mail and passengers. Many of these new steamships featured grand saloons,beautiful cabins,fine food, drinking and gambling.
Because of two lawmen’s curiosity and interest in a poker game on a very fine luxurious steamship, Marshal Michael Creek and his deputy find themselves in a situation where they can get paid to enjoy a cruise. But it soon becomes apparent that it could also cost them their lives.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Feb 11, 2018
• ISBN: 9781387588503

Book preview

Outlaw Badge V

Outlaw Badge V

By

Michael J Bryant                                                                     

Copyright, 2017 Lulu Author, Michael J Bryant

ISBN 978-1-387-58850-3

All rights reserved

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form of, or by any means of electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written permission of the author.

This is a work of fiction. All characters, names, places and events portrayed in this book are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblances to actual events, or locations, or persons living or dead, is entirely coincidental. All contents herein, ideas, fictional events, characters, story lines, and anything else pertaining to this story of Outlaw Badge V, belongs to the author Michael J Bryant, exclusively written and designed for this book alone

Written By: Michael J Bryant   

Copyright By: Michael J Bryant

Copyright June 27, 2017. All rights reserved

US Copyright Office Washington, DC

Content:

1. SS California

2. California Club

3. The Bath

4. Banditos

5. Trespassing

6. Setting Sail

7. The Stockade

8. A storm is Brewing

9. Murder in the Bath

10. Unstoppable Fire

11. under Fire

12. The Train to Tehachapi

Introduction

Sailing ships with all of their masts and sails were quickly disappearing in the 1800’s. They were being replaced by the new steamships for traveling by sea, carrying mail and passengers. The old wooden hulls were soon replaced with iron for more strength and durability. Many steamships of the day either had side or rear paddlewheels for propulsion while others were beginning to use steam driven props. Along with the development of passenger travel by sea, many of the steamships featured grand saloons, elegant heavy wooden furniture and beautiful cabins. For those who could afford it, there were private cabins and special accommodations on the upper decks. The steamships accommodated passengers on long and short cruises, providing many things for the passenger’s enjoyment including, drinking and gambling.

Because of two lawmen’s curiosity and interest in a poker game on a very fine luxurious steamship, Marshal Michael Creek and his deputy find themselves in a situation where they can get paid to enjoy a cruise. But it soon becomes apparent that it could also cost them their lives.

Dedication

This is my fourteenth novel, and book #5 of my western series called Outlaw Badge, and I would like to dedicate this novel to all of my family and friends who inspire my writing, but most of all to my grandchildren who bring me great love and happiness, Jordyn, Kaylen, Jacob, Clayton, Rori, Mckenzie, Zoey, Myles, Caleigh and Maikah.

SS California                          Chapter 1

The steamship SS California was in the process of arriving in San Francisco after a long voyage from the Alaskan territories. She was built and launched May 19th, 1848 for the Pacific Mail Steamship Company for transporting mail, passengers and freight. The twenty one year old steamship was still in very good shape even though the company was replacing it. The SS California was even credited for being the very first steamship to steam in the Pacific Ocean and the first steamship to travel from Central America to North America.

The great steamer started blowing its steam horn, announcing the arrival into port. Marshal Michael Creek was watching off the portside as the steamship maneuvered itself in to line up with the docks. He looked nice, dressed in a dark suit with matching boots and cowboy hat. His white shirt was nice and bright under his black vest and overcoat. Still wearing his sidearm, the US Marshals badge was pinned to his inside vest. He appeared to be a very well dressed business man even though he wasn’t a business man at all.

The marshal could see many people standing along the dock, probably in anticipation of greeting passengers and family members returning home. All along the portside of the ship were many passengers waving down to the crowds standing on the docks below. Marshal Creek had always been good at playing poker and he managed to win several poker hands below deck during the voyage. Now thinking about what he wanted to do in San Francisco, he thought about having a few drinks and then get a hotel room for the night. At this point, he didn’t really have any plans and could travel at will. He had also heard rumors which interested him like a place called Tehachapi, California. It was said that the Tehachapi Mountain area was in need of a lawman. Still, he would give it more thought over the next several days as to what his next move might be but for now he wanted a whiskey.

San Francisco Bay, he marveled to himself, never seeing San Francisco before.   

Being used to the old dirt road western towns where there was no water, let alone docks or ships, the marshal had never seen a city so massive. He observed big tall buildings as far as the eye could see. When the SS California came up alongside the dock, he watched several deck hands tying off the 203 foot steamship. The one thing that seemed the strangest to him was spotting several men who appeared to be uniformed officers in the crowd below. They were dressed in long grey coats, wearing hats, badges and carrying Billy-clubs. Times sure are changing, he thought to himself.

It was the end of the spring season in 1869, he was thinking to himself when someone suddenly spoke up distracting the marshal’s attention, commenting, You look lost friend.

Marshal Creek eyed the nicely dressed man and then turning his attention back to the noisy docks below as he replied, Maybe so?

Is this your first time in San Francisco? the stranger asked.

Could be? The marshal answered as he then asked, Why?"

The city is so large, it can be overwhelming at times, the man replied, San Francisco has a lot to offer and you can find just about anything a man can imagine, money, business adventures, gambling, women and a lot of booze too.

With a grin and a wink, the man added, It has grown to be called Sin City, if you know what I mean?

Finally looking back at the gentleman, Marshal Creek asked, Just about anything is legal, huh? Sounds like my kind of place.

Tell me what your interests are and perhaps I can direct you to the right places? the man suggested.

Oh, are you going to be my official tour guide? the marshal asked.

I really don’t have anything better to do at the moment, he cheerfully replied.

Well I do happen to have a lot of interests, the marshal admitted, but for now, a nice saloon and a hotel room is what I am in need of.

Well there are many saloons and bars and hotels like the Occidental, the Palace and Niantic, which are actually located right down here on the water front. Then there is also the area known as the Barbary Coast where you can find all of the gambling games, prostitutes, all night drinking and partying but you have to be careful in that area.

Why would I need to be more careful there? Marshal Creek wanted to know.

The gentleman explained, It is a high crime area at times and you just have to be careful down there, especially on Pacific Street between Kearny and Montgomery Streets.

Couldn’t be any worse than the streets of Carson City, Marshal Creek commented with a slight chuckle.

Worse than where? the man wanted to know.

Marshal Creek was starting fresh and no longer wanted any ties with his past history when he just commented, Oh, nothing.

After the SS California was tied securely to the docks and the passenger ramps were extended, the passengers began flooding off the steamer. Marshal Creek worked his way in the lines leaving the ship while the gentleman that had been speaking to him, followed directly behind. The steamers’ whistle sounded off loudly once again and a crew bell could also be heard sounding off while one of the crew members shouted, Watch your steps folks and follow everyone on down to the horsecars. There are folks down there that will be glad to take you anywhere you desire to go.

The marshal knew that the friendly stranger was still tagging closely behind when he asked, A horsecar? What exactly is that?

The man laughed when he replied, I can surely tell you aren’t from around here.

While the passengers filed off the ramps, the stranger explained that the horsecars were much like a train car only drawn by horses to transport residents and tourists around town. The horsecars have roofing for the rainy seasons and contain many seats. He said tramrails, much like railroad tracks, were installed throughout the many streets of the city and people could use the horsecars for transportation to just about anywhere around town.

Sounds interesting, Marshal Creek had to admit, wanting to see this new invention.

The two men were now down on the main dock where a line of these horsecars were located. While many passengers were climbing into these cars, others took off walking to where ever they may be going. The dock was very busy with people shuffling about and while one or two boats were leaving the docks, others were just arriving. Indeed, this was a very busy city.

Where would you like to go first? the gentleman asked the marshal while the marshal was really looking over this thing called a horsecar.

Looking a little overwhelmed at the many people and the huge crowded city, Marshal Creek suggested, You seem to know your way around here a lot better than I do so maybe we should go see this Barbary Coast area first while it’s still daylight and then I can also get a drink and a room?

The gentleman laughed again as he commented, Sounds like a great plan to me.

Picking up their luggage and climbing onto an awaiting horsecar, the stranger shouted to the driver, The California Club on Pacific, please, while the two men sat next to one another on a cushioned bench.

California Club                       Chapter 2

Now full of passengers, the horsecar began moving when the gentleman spoke up saying, I am Kenneth Brandon, gambler and businessman, he told the marshal, And who are you my friend? he asked.

Who are you, was a great question but Marshal Creek just didn’t have an answer as of yet. For the longest time he had been wanting to return to the rightful name of Mike Dalton. Nevada Mike