Showdown: Golden West Trilogy Book 3: Golden West Trilogy, #3

By J.R. Murdock

It's not a gold mine!

Abigail has finally discovered the secret of the mine and the reason Mr. Huntington is desperate to get to the bottom of it. She is torn between doing what her heart wants her to do, and what she knows is the right thing to do.

This is the epic conclusion of this steampunk trilogy. Answers await those who dare.

• Language: English
• Publisher: J.R. Murdock
• Release date: Oct 7, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201550028

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

THE FIRST THING Mr. Huntington did when he landed in his dirigible was to fire both Abigail Champski as sheriff and Sandy Parks as deputy. Of course, he didn't do this personally but instead sent his assistant, Cory Millican. He reasoned that they were both too young to hold such positions and also far too female. Mayor Benny Chuffney had been allowed to hire his men to fill the positions. The mayor had chosen two men who'd hated Abigail's father, but who also hated her for shutting down the mine.

Bartholomew Scroble had been born in the mining camp and now that he was sixteen, younger than Abigail, he was allowed a gun and the ability to execute the law as he saw fit as sheriff. Abigail never pointed out the irony of her firing due to her age.

The other, Andrew Scribner, had been made deputy and was two years Bartholomew's senior which was still far younger than Sandy Parks. Again, the irony wasn't lost. Mr. Huntington had fired them because they were female, plain and simple.

Bart and Andy didn't so much uphold the law in the small mining town as see it as their right to terrorize the Chinese side of camp. The boys abused the position, and when pressed, they'd make an arrest. Anyone caught resisting was thoroughly beaten. Once their fun was done, the two could be found in the saloon and drunk shortly after sundown.

Those who had real crimes or complaints still secretly came to Abigail and Sandy for help. They only needed to make sure the two boys didn't notice. That was rarely an issue with how distracted the boys kept themselves.

As much as it hurt losing her father to a horrible mining accident in a machine of his own making, she was overjoyed at the crew Mr. Huntington had brought with him. He'd temporarily closed down his business in New York, and brought the entire crew to California. When she saw Lou Burton, the mountain of a man, get off the airship, she hugged him and burst into tears. She would have held on forever, but so many of the other men wanted to hug her as well. All expressed condolences about her father. Of the three airships, the crew had one to themselves. The first was solely for Mr. Huntington, which he never left, and the third had been loaded with equipment.

She knew she could never tell any of them about the ghosts in town. Not only Jess, Alister Limón, and the giant, Atham Gomun, but also her father. At least, she'd hoped her father was still around. She only heard his voice once since his death and it might have been her imagination or a trick of the wind. Being that they all were somehow trapped here in the mining town and inside the mine led her to believe that there was something deep inside the mine holding them here and not allowing them to leave. But what? And why?

How the ghosts were trapped in town was still a mystery she needed to figure out. It wasn't right that the spirits of the dead couldn't pass on to whatever afterlife held for them. She'd spent enough time mourning her father's death and once she finally figured out what was going on, she could go back to missing him. For now, there was work to do and just like her father had when Abigail's mother passed away, the best thing to do was to throw herself into her work.

You haven't touched your breakfast, dear, Cindy said.

Abigail had moved a bed into the house with Gile Ramsey and his wife, Lucinda Ramsey at their request. Her only belongings were in her small workroom out at her father's workshop. Even though it wasn't his anymore, she still thought of it as that. She had a bed out there also, but Gile did his best to keep her from staying out there.

I'm telling you, Cindy, she's got that look in her eye again. Either she's building something interesting, or she's knee-deep in an investigation. Spill. What do you have going on?

The truth was simple, her mind was wandering over the craziness of the past few months. As much as she loved and appreciated everyone in her life, having Lou and the rest of the New York crew here in California made her feel a little bit more at home. She didn't want to hurt anyone's feelings by saying that.

Abigail! Sandy Parks tried to stop herself and slid across the dusty cabin's stoop and fell.

She still hadn't slowed down and still insisted on running as fast as she could wherever she went as if she'd miss something by not getting there sooner. They lived in a mining town where little, if anything, ever happened. At least, that'd been true before her father had died. Abigail and Sandy had done plenty of investigation about the sabotage in her father's workshop. Now, if there was something to investigate, it was whose kid had swiped candy from the Brim and Pistol or who had let the livestock loose in the Slater farm's fields.

Abigail jumped up. Sandy? Are you alright?

I'm fine. Guess I was going a little faster than I thought, she said between puffs and pants.

Get over here, Sandy. Cindy cooked up a great breakfast. Gile pushed out a chair with his good leg.

His old, artificial leg, Charlie, had become possessed by Jess's ghost and destroyed. His new and improved leg he'd named Nathan and he loved to show it off if anyone asked about it. In between the time her father died and Mr. Huntington showed up, Gile created a masterwork of a leg with beautiful leather straps to secure it to his stump, brass gears, and shiny, steel poles. He truly had created a masterpiece.

I had a couple of apples and a couple of oranges already this morning, Sandy said.

Well, sit and have some coffee, Cindy offered, holding a cup out.

Sandy held out her hand to turn down the offer. I honestly don't like coffee but thank you. Abigail, there's something I think you need to look at. Right now.

What is it? she asked.

Sandy had always been a little frantic, but this morning she appeared on the verge of distraction. The only time Abigail had seen her slow down was when the woman had been around Abigail's father helping nurse him back to health.

It's hard for me to explain. Why don't you come with me, and I can show you? It'll be easier that way. That was Sandy's shorthand for I can't tell you what I need to tell you with present company around.

Let's go see what's got you all riled up. Abigail stood to leave, but Cindy grabbed her arm.

Dear, you didn't eat a bite.

I promise I'll eat a big lunch. I think what Sandy wants to show me is pretty important.

Gile shook his head. You'll never change. You'll always have that spark. Be careful out there.

The couple hadn't tried to replace her mother and father, but both could be overly protective. With everything she'd been through in the past year, she didn't need protection, but it made her happy the two cared so much about her well-being.

Abigail grabbed her hat, gave Cindy a quick hug, and kissed Gile on the top of his head. Aren't I always careful?

Gile shouted after her, No!

Even though Sandy was out of breath when she arrived at the Ramsey's house, the woman still pushed Abigail to nearly sprint to keep up.

Where are we going? Abigail asked.

There's something going on at the workshop. I thought you might like to see what they're doing.

Something different?

It'd only been two months since her father had died. Reginald Sneller had been her main suspect not just because he had a hideout in the woods on the hill overlooking her father's workshop where he and Jax had hidden, but also because he'd disappeared the evening her father died. Jax had told her a great many things about the man. She wouldn't allow him to go unpunished.

The path leading up the hill was now well worn. All the giants in town, also fired from their jobs of helping build machinery for the mine, had moved into the area. Even though they were peaceful, some of the townsfolk didn't trust them, much in the same way they didn't trust the Chinese. Everyone now had their own area away from each other.

Having nothing but time, the three giants, Dathany Squil, Lessun Bannte, and Jule Jolieoile, all lived on the hill with Jax. They'd cut down trees and build a large structure that gave them a perfect view of the workshop. Sandy and Abigail also spent a great deal of time atop the hill watching what was going on.

Abigail was the only one still allowed in the workshop. Mr. Huntington had tried to stop her from going, but Lou had insisted that her father's sacrifice be honored and she allowed to keep her little area in the back. Any who came into the work area had to sign a log of their entry time and sign again upon their leaving. Mr. Huntington claimed it was for keeping track of wages, but it was his way of controlling who came in and out.

Dathany had Jax up on his shoulders so the boy could pick apples from the highest branches. He tossed them down to Jule who sat on the ground and put them into barrels. Dathany's face lit up when he saw the two running up the hill.

Abigail! It's wonderful to see you today. How've you been?

As the giant set Jax down, she ran in and hugged him. I'm doing wonderful. I see you've been busy.

They had seven barrels full already and were working on their eighth. It was obvious that the giants could have done the work themselves and were allowing Jax to help so he'd feel useful.

Did you see me up there? I gots to tell you, those are some tall tree. I climbed 'em a lot, but it's different when someone is holding you up and you've got two hands free. Jax beamed.

She had spoken with Jax a lot since her father died. Jess had died a violent death when they'd first arrived in town, but had come back as a ghost much like Mr. Limón. Though since the accident in the mine, none of them had come around at all. In a way, she hoped that the accident had helped them all to move on. She couldn't bear the thought of her father being stuck here and not able to move on to the afterlife. Other times she wished he'd come back one time so she could say 'good-bye.'

Lessun poked his head out of the building. I thought I had a sweet voice out here. Did you bring us any news?

Abigail laughed. No, actually. Sandy brought me here to show me something.

Oh, that's right. You haven't seen what they've been up to down there. You need to come around more than once a week.

Be nice to the girl, Jule said. Don't you mind him. He's fussy early in the morning before he's had his breakfast. I swear he sleeps more than any giant in history.

That's not true at all. I remember my pa telling me stories about the great...

If you tell me that story one more time, I'll pack you full of apples myself. Jule tossed an apple at him.

While the giants argued, Jax grabbed Abigail's hand and led her around the giants' house. Come on, this is pretty cool. I didn't know they could do this.

Below, in the clearing, sat two airships. Strewn over the area where the third one had been was an assortment of engines, large steel constructs, and stacks upon stacks of crates.

Where's the other? she asked.

Jax pointed. It took them two days, but they finally disassembled one. Over there you can see all the parts and the canvass and all the things they pulled out of it. The airbags, or whatever they are, they put out behind the building. Some of the superstructure they added to the workshop to make it longer. See?

Indeed, she saw. They'd expanded and modified. So many improvements. Why had they put so much into this effort now? Before it'd been only her father sent here to help mine for gold. Mr. Limón had said that wasn't what they were there to accomplish but had never told them anymore. Why the sudden urgency to so greatly expand the mining operation?

You know you've got to go down there and see what's going on, right? Sandy asked.

She wanted to run down there and find out what was happening, but this didn't seem like the right time to do that. Do you think they're going to tear down the other two as well?

Hey, if you don't want to go, can I? I gots a path that leads through the woods way over there and I can come in behind and see what's going on. No one will ever see me. Come on, you gots to let me go.

Jax, I never said I wasn't going to go. I only asked if they're going to do something with the other airships.

Sandy smiled. You know there's only one way to find out, right?

Oh, she knew, all right, and it was up to her to find out to satisfy everyone's curiosity.

CHAPTER 2

STOCKIN CALIFORNIA WAS barely bigger than the Huntington mining town forty miles south, but it gave Reginald one thing he couldn't get down there; anonymity. No one knew anything about him. Once his arm and leg had healed after a stint in the local hospital, he'd set up a small shop fixing anything people would bring him. It'd taken him a month, but he had a steady income and a good clientele. Thankfully the building had been abandoned and no one hassled him for living there. He'd been able to barter his skills for food, tools, and materials. It wasn't the job he wanted. Sure, it kept him fed and put a little money in his pocket. He didn't waste any of it as the bars like most of the locals. He spent all of his time working, eating, or sleeping. The only thing he could think about was getting back down south and figure out what was going on and how he could get himself back there.

Jax had surely told the Champski brat everything including how they'd sabotaged the mining machine that'd killed Abigail's father. He probably told them about Jess's ghost they saw in the mines.

The mine. It weighed on him. There was something down there he couldn't explain. A feeling of power from somewhere. It called to him every day demanding he go back. The time wasn't right. He knew Mr. Huntington had flown in with three massive airships, but he'd also brought with him the entire New York crew. All thirty-seven men and their families. There wasn't a chance Reginald could waltz back into town and try to pick up where Cecil Champski had left off. No, he needed to think up a new plan of action.

He slammed his fist down on his workbench.

A short, squat lady cleared her throat. Excuse me. Are you even listening to a word I say?

With her voice almost as tiny as she was, he hadn't heard anything at all. My apologies, miss. My mind has a tendency to wander. What is it I can help you with?

You set up that wonderful windmill in my yard and it does a fantastic job pulling water from the well to keep my garden watered. I was curious if you could set up something similar for my house so I don't have to go out too well?

Are you asking if I'll help set up indoor plumbing for you? he asked.

What a wonderful idea. How soon can you do it? the woman smiled and opened her purse.

His mind wandered out again to the pipes he and Jax had run from their little shack down to the stream and the windmill they'd set up to bring water to them so they wouldn't have to fetch any. He missed having the kid around even if most of his answers were back talk.

The woman snapped her fingers. You were going to give me a date when you can start, and an estimate?

Reginald smiled. Allow me to come out to your farm later in the week and I'll look everything over. Once I've done a thorough review of your house and how everything is set up, I can provide a better consultation.

Very well. Good day, Mr. Smith. The petite woman left.

He hated the name he had to use, but it was common enough that no one questioned him. The only downside was when people would see him on the street and shout his name, he would either forget to turn around or assume they were calling out to someone else.

He busied himself looking through some of the scraps he had lying around. People would bring him things and tell him if he couldn't fix it, he could keep it. He'd been amazed at how quickly he accumulated a pile of junk inside his shop. The building wasn't large and half of it was filled with things that would never work again even if he pieced them all together as one large machine. He laughed as he thought of the pile of trash coming to life and walking off into the distance.

That was it. His way out of this little town. He needed to gather more things. Mainly he needed something he could build a motor from. He had plenty of salvageable materials, but not nearly the tools he needed to make anything of use. He'd need a forge, many more tools, and a helper. How could he get anything done without a helper? He couldn't take his mind off Jax and how useful the boy had been. If his brother, Jess, hadn't died trying to stop the explosion of the Champski's Horse vehicle, having the two of them working for him would have allowed him to get so much more done and far faster.

There was nothing he could do about Jess or Jax now. He was on his own.

A dog barked from the back door. The stray would come around begging for scraps of food. Rarely did he have anything to give it, but today he had a couple of rib bones. Still trying to figure out what to do about an assistant, he opened the back door and tossed the bones out. While they were still in midair, he tried to catch them. The dog caught one and scooped up the other before Reginald could stop it. Why had he thrown the bones? He could catch the dog and put it to work for him. It was some kind of mutt, but it was still at least eighty pounds. Large enough to pull things and help with maneuvering items around the shop. He would have to try and catch it when it came back again. Perhaps there was another unwatched stray he could catch and put into service. It wouldn't be the same as having an extra pair of hands and someone he could easily give instructions to, but it would still help.

No, dogs would never do. He needed a boy like Jax. St. Louis had been a large enough town to have an orphanage. Why couldn't Stockin be big enough? It wasn't even large enough to have less intelligent people he could easily manipulate. If only there were someone he could get to help him get back to the mine and figure out what it was down there Huntington wanted. If he could steal it before they could dig it out of the ground, he would be the one with all the power and could ask any price he wanted. If it wasn't important, Huntington wouldn't have brought his entire crew with him.

Reginald picked up a hammer and threw it across the room into his trash pile. It ricocheted off a metal plate and out the front window. That was his luck. He'd let his temper get the better of him and something bad would happen. If only he had enough money to go back to New York. That's where he truly belonged. Living in a city, not out in the dirt with savages for neighbors.

The door to his shop opened and a beautiful woman walked in. She wore a ruffled, red dress with brilliant white trim. His brown hair was up in a bun and she held a hammer in one hand.

I say, this came through your window. I thought I must step in and make sure you weren't injured. Is all well in here? She squinted trying to peer into the darkness.

I'm over here. Reginald approached the woman. It seemed to have...slipped from my grasp. I'm sorry if it caused you any inconvenience.

None whatsoever. I must ask, where are you from? That's a most peculiar accent.

He took the hammer from her. I'm originally from New York.

Land sakes. What's a city boy like you doing out here? It's dangerous to cross the country. You must be a very brave man. She playfully swatted his arm.

Well, I don't like to brag. It was quite a trek to get out here. I was down in the mining village to the south, but the mine was closed and I needed some work. That's when I came up here. There was no sense in telling her a truth she would never know. Things were going so well for me down there until the accident.

Oh, I heard. Some people died in the mine with some machine went haywire.

Sadly, yes. I was supposed to be the one working on it, but someone else took the job from me. He couldn't help himself, the lies continued to roll off his tongue.

She looked around the shop. It appears you're quite an industrious one. I should let you get back to your work.

No, she shouldn't. She should stay. He didn't want her to leave. This was the first conversation he'd had with anyone that wasn't concerning building something or coming to their farm and fixing something.

I'm afraid I didn't get your name. I'm Reginald Sneller. He held out his hand.

It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I'm Anna Belgrade.

He almost pulled his hand back before she took it and curtsied. There was no way she could be the governor's daughter. Why would she, of all people, be standing outside his workshop in some tiny town in the middle of nowhere.

Miss Belgrade? he asked as he took her hand and gave a slight bow.

Unfortunately, my name precedes me yet again. The way you speak my name means you know who my father is. Someday I'll be smart enough to use an alias.

He took his hand back and gripped his hammer with two hands. It's a beautiful name. Is your father with you?

Heavens, no. He went on ahead to meet with Collis.

Reginald coughed and had to turn away. This girl's father was on his way to meet with Mr. Huntington. The very man he needed to avoid until he could get into that mine.

Are you well? Did I misspeak? Anna asked.

No, no. I'm fine. Thank you. When you say 'Collis', you mean Mr. Huntington?

Her face lit up and she laughed. Oh, I've never called him that. Uncle Collis would never have me call him 'Mister'.

Uncle? Never had Reginald felt the desire to melt into the shadows so strongly. Why had this woman come into his life and how could he make her leave and forget she'd ever met him?

That's what I call him. He and my father have been friends for such a very long time.

That's all very nice. I think you should leave now. I was about to start a large, extremely dangerous experiment. You shouldn't be in here. Reginald took Anna by the arm and led her toward the door.

She resisted. "Experiment? Are you a