Chapter 6

“What the hell . . . ?” Riley blurted, and walked to the edge of the firelight to get a better look at the figure approaching from the upstream end of their camp. “Now, what the hell does he want?”

“It’s the Indian who gave us the fish,” Ruthie said when she turned to see what had caught Riley’s attention. Her comment caused Elvira to pause over the coffeepot before filling her cup. Like Riley, she wondered what the Indian had in mind.

Hearing the comments, Joel, kneeling on one knee while tying his bedroll in preparation to ride, announced dryly, “That’s just Red Shirt. He’s goin’ with us to Silver City.”

He had not bothered to tell them earlier. He wanted to see if the Bannock actually showed up, unaware that Red Shirt had been watching them for most of the night. An awkward silence followed as Riley and the girls stared in jaw-dropping astonishment at the news of another member joining the party.

“You got a cup?” Joel asked, and Red Shirt nodded. “Well, pour yourself a cup of coffee, and then we’ll fix you up with a horse.”

Red Shirt smiled graciously, dug his hand inside a deerskin parfleche he carried, and came out with a cup.

Riley was burning inside, but holding his tongue, waiting for the opportunity to talk to Joel alone. Elvira, on the other hand, could hold her silence no longer. She picked up the coffeepot again, walked over to meet Red Shirt, and motioned for him to hold his cup out. While she poured, she expressed her curiosity.

“You know, I wasn’t payin’ much attention to the conversation that went on last night at supper. I ate too damn much, and when my stomach gets full like that, I sometimes miss half of what everybody’s talkin’ about. I musta been more flighty-headed than I realized, ’cause I swear I missed the part when we was talkin’ about this young feller joinin’ our party.”

“I reckon I did, too,” Riley said, “come to think of it.”

Not certain how to interpret the remarks, Red Shirt took a step backward, his face a picture of confusion. Seeing his reaction, Joel couldn’t help being amused, but he figured it was time to explain the arrangement he had agreed to while the three of them were sleeping.

“I suppose I shoulda told you last night, but I didn’t wanna disturb your sleep. Me and Red Shirt made a trade last night. I swapped him a horse in exchange for him guidin’ us to Silver City.”

“You did?” Riley exclaimed. “I thought you and me was partners, and we split everything fifty-fifty.”

“We do,” Joel replied. “I’m tradin’ him a horse outta my half of the stock, so you’ll own one more of ’em than me. Red Shirt says he knows the mountains all around here, so he can take us to Silver City a lot quicker than if we have to keep followin’ the settlers’ trail to find the cutoff that leads back into the town. Like I said, it’s my deal, but you folks are welcome to follow Red Shirt and me, and no extra charge.” He looked at Ruthie and grinned. “And maybe he’ll show you how to catch fish with a spear.”

Riley, although still skeptical, shook his head and chuckled. “Hell, I reckon it’s all right with me. Welcome, Red Shirt.” He then cocked a wary eye at the confused Indian. “What if we get attacked by a Shoshoni war party? Whose side you gonna fight on?”

Red Shirt shrugged and declared humbly, “I not fight against you.”

“That’s good to know,” Riley said.

Elvira was not yet ready to give up all her caution. “I suppose we’ll all get along just fine,” she said, directing her words toward Red Shirt, “just as long as you don’t behave like a wild savage and get to thinkin’ you wanna scalp somebody.” The perplexed Indian simply stared in disbelief at the formidable woman confronting him for no reason he could think of. He was further mystified when she did an apparent about-face and asked, “Are you hungry? There’s some bacon left that nobody’s et yet.”

He shook his head, then turned to face a smiling Joel. “Come on, then, and we’ll pick out a horse for you,” Joel said. “I noticed you took a likin’ to that little paint last night, but that one belongs to Riley. There’s some good horses in that bunch, though.” He motioned for Red Shirt to follow him, and started walking toward the small herd.

Red Shirt was very pleased with his selection of a broad-chested bay horse from the small herd by the stream. Joel expressed his regrets for not having saved the Indian saddle the horse was wearing when they had captured it. “No matter,” Red Shirt said. “I make saddle.”

When the camp was packed up and ready to get started, Joel turned to Red Shirt and said, “We’re ready to ride, so lead us out.” The Indian nodded and jumped on the bay’s back, then led them back to the Oregon road by the river.

Once they struck the trail again, and turned to follow it west, Riley couldn’t help remarking to Joel. “Well, back on the old wagon trail, same as we was before. Hell, I told you there’s got to be a pretty plain road to Silver City, what with all the folks has gone there lookin’ for gold. I believe you mighta cost yourself a horse just to find out there ain’t no other way to that town.”

Since they were close enough to their guide for him to hear Riley’s comments, Red Shirt reined the bay back to answer Riley. “We follow wagon trail along river till we get to place wagons cross. Then we leave trail, stay on this side of river, head into mountains—wild country. Without Red Shirt, you get lost. Get to Silver City quicker.”

“I wouldn’t stay lost for long,” Riley responded indignantly. “I can always find my way outta the mountains. I got us this far without no guide.”

Joel gave a chuckle. “That you did, partner, and I know you’da got us to Silver City, but ol’ Red Shirt was born in these mountains, so he’s gonna show us a shortcut.”

Red Shirt nodded. “I show you shortcut—get there quicker.” He nudged the bay forward.

Riley reined back to let the Indian get a little ahead. When he felt sure Red Shirt was out of earshot, he complained to Joel. “I don’t know, partner. I don’t see what the hell we need a guide for. Sure, we may get to Silver City a day or two quicker, but then what the hell are we gonna do with him?”

Joel shrugged. “I didn’t make any deal with him except to lead us to Silver City. That’s all. He can go his own way from there.”

“Uh-huh,” Riley grunted sarcastically. “It was a helluva deal for him—a horse, just for takin’ a few days’ ride.”

Joel decided there was no sense in telling Riley that the Indian was going to steal the horse if he hadn’t been awake. At least this way they’d get something for the horse, even if it was just a shortcut to Silver City.

“Accordin’ to what he told me,” Joel replied to Riley’s comment, “it’s liable to be more like six or seven days, and that’s providin’ the weather holds.”

Joel estimated they had traveled about fifteen miles when they decided it best to rest the horses. The place they selected was at a bend of the river just before an area of strong rapids. Always looking for an opportunity to vary their diet from the salt pork that served as the standard, Elvira remarked that it would be nice if they could catch fish to cook again.

“I catch you fish,” Red Shirt immediately said. “Salmon running now.”

“How come you know so much about catchin’ fish?” Riley asked. “Most Injuns I ever run into don’t know nothin’ about fishin’.”

As they had already come to expect, Red Shirt shrugged before answering, “I born here. I am Agai-deka Bannock warrior. This is what they call my people.”

“Agai-deka?” Joel asked. “What’s that mean in white man talk?”

“Salmon eater,” Red Shirt replied with a grin.

Riley laughed. “Well, let’s go fishin’. Sounds to me like you oughta be an expert. Elvira, better get your skillet ready, ’cause the man’s guaranteed fish for dinner.”

Riley’s remarks were meant to be chiding, but Red Shirt lived up to the reputation he claimed. There was salmon enough to sate everyone’s appetite in short order, much to the amusement of their Bannock fisherman.

•   •   •

After a couple of days following the river, the trail veered away from it to skirt around a deep gorge where the mighty river carved a trough through steep canyon walls. They would travel for most of a day before coming back to it at Three Island Crossing.

“This is where we crossed!” Riley exclaimed upon approaching the most dangerous river crossing on the entire Oregon Trail. “Ben Plummer lost his wagon and everything he owned when his team got skittish and caused it to roll over out there in the deep part. My pa knew what to do. He had me ride beside our lead horse, and I held him by the bridle all the way across. I’ll never forget that day. But, hell, you had to cross. If you didn’t, it was a hard, dry route to take on this side. All the water and decent grazin’ is on the north side.”

“We not cross river,” Red Shirt said. “We go that way.” He turned and pointed toward the rough, rocky ground on the south side of the river.

“Damn, that’s right toward the mountains,” Elvira said, and she stood looking toward the towering peaks, which appeared to be stacked one behind the other forever. “How are we gonna find our way through all those mountains?”

“That’s what we got a guide for,” Joel told her. He looked at Red Shirt then. “Ain’t that right, Red Shirt?”

The somber Indian shrugged. Joel turned back to Elvira and shrugged as well, imitating Red Shirt. Then, chuckling, he said, “Let’s get started.”

There were only a few hours of daylight left, so Red Shirt led them on a track that generally followed the river, advising Joel that he thought it best not to push into the mountains until the next day. That was agreeable to all because the waiting mountains looked to be a formidable challenge. They made their camp by a steady stream that fed into the Snake. The men tended the horses while Elvira and Ruthie prepared supper. Since she had a little more time than usual, Elvira decided to use some of her flour and lard and bake some biscuits. They made the dull repast of beans and bacon seem like a banquet, especially when washed down with strong black coffee.

•   •   •

They set out at first light in the morning, Joel and Riley having decided it best to ride for a spell, then stopping to rest the horses and eat breakfast. Red Shirt told them it was best to stay close to the Snake because of the dry country south of the river.

“Maybe two, three hours’ ride, come to creek. Stop there to rest and eat.”

So they did as he suggested and came to the creek in a little over two hours. After resting the horses there, they set out again, still following the river. At the end of the day, they found themselves crossing a sandy desert area that made them wonder if they were going the right way.

The days that followed were enough to convince the travelers that the dangerous crossing back at Three Islands was by far the proper choice for the Oregon Trail riders. By the time they reached the high mountains, everyone was happy to see pine and spruce partially covering the slopes towering high above their heads.

Red Shirt led them through narrow mountain passes that appeared to go nowhere, following game trails that somehow found passage from one mountain to the next. By this time, there was no choice other than to trust the stoic Bannock guide completely, for none of his white companions were sure they could find their way back to civilization. Joel suspected they were getting close to their destination when they came across several mining claims.

“Looks like they didn’t have much luck in this hole,” Riley commented when they stopped to water the horses at one of the abandoned claims. Looking around him at the camp, he concluded, “They didn’t stay here long, from the looks of their leavin’s.” Farther down the slope, they found another site, similar to the one above. “I’ll bet it was the same ones that worked that claim above. I reckon they finally gave up on the whole stream and lit out for some other spot.”

“My brother said the gold strike brought prospectors in from everywhere,” Joel said. “He said a lot of those folks who passed through this country, lookin’ for gold in California, came back here when they heard about the strike.” He looked at Red Shirt then and asked, “How much farther is Silver City from here?”

Red Shirt shrugged, then pointed to a tall mountain slope several miles distant. “Other side that mountain, down in valley.”

His words caused everyone to perk up a little. “I swear,” Elvira proclaimed. “I don’t believe it. You mean there really is a place called Silver City? I was beginnin’ to think it was just someplace Joel and Riley dreamed up one night in a saloon.”

The word saloon triggered Riley’s thirst, for it had been a while. “Hell, maybe we oughta quit pokin’ along, and we might be able to get to that town before nightfall.”

“There ain’t enough daylight to get to that mountain he pointed to, let alone go down to the valley on the other side,” Joel said.

“We at least oughta give it a try,” Riley insisted. He looked at Red Shirt for support. “Whaddaya think, Red Shirt? We can make it, can’t we?”

“No,” was the Indian’s simple answer. “We be there tomorrow.”

“There, you see,” Elvira injected. “That’s your official answer from our guide, you damn drunk. We’d be stumblin’ around these mountains in the dark, break a leg on one of the horses. Then where would you be?”

“If I had a drink of likker, I wouldn’t give a damn,” Riley answered.

Joel winked at Ruthie before commenting, “You know, you two have got to jawin’ at each other like an old married couple. Ain’t that right, Ruthie?”

“Yes,” Ruthie giggled.

“Married couple!” Elvira exclaimed. “Why, I’d sooner be married to that horse standin’ over there.”

“Now, watch your tongue,” Riley responded. “You wanna go and spook the horses?”

“I’ll spook you in a minute,” Elvira came back, causing Ruthie to giggle again, and drawing a hearty chuckle from Joel.

In another minute, they were all laughing, with the exception of Red Shirt, who was somewhat astonished, unable to understand their mirth. Joel, on the other hand, understood the sudden release of tension that had built up over the last several days of hard travel through some rugged country, and the feeling that this town they sought was never going to be found. He was glad to see them laughing. Tomorrow, they would reach Silver City. Then someone could tell him how to find his brother.

It was going to be great seeing Boone again after so long a time. He wondered if his elder brother had changed much since he last saw him. The war changed a lot of men, himself included. Of course, the obvious change in Boone would be his crippled leg. Joel hadn’t seen him since that happened, but he knew his brother’s resolve when facing any problem was to go right on in spite of the obstacles.

Joel was eager to know the situation Boone was involved in, and what he and Riley could contribute to expand the venture. He had spent many an evening speculating about the future and what he wanted to make of it. Boone had a mining claim, but he had also claimed a parcel of mountain land that would be suitable for raising horses and cattle. And Joel had to admit that was something he was more interested in than panning for gold. In his letter, Boone said there were already several sizable mining companies working the hills around Silver City, and the town itself had attracted the usual flock of prospectors as well as merchants, saloons, and bawdy houses. It seemed to Joel that somebody was going to have to feed all these people, and that’s where he hoped he and Boone would come in.

We’ll find out tomorrow, he thought. “I expect we’d best get mounted,” he sang out. “We’ve still got a few hours of daylight left.”

•   •   •

It was a little bigger than he expected. From Boone’s letter, he had gotten the impression that the town was little more than a few rough buildings and a row of tents. He had to assume that the row of buildings on two sides of one main road were a testament to how rapidly the town was growing. He turned to speak to Riley when he rode over the crest of the hill to join him and Red Shirt.

“Well, there she is, Silver City. Whaddaya think of her?”

Riley didn’t answer at once, but took a moment to scan the rough buildings. His eyes stopped on one that had a sign over the door, proclaiming it to be a saloon.

“Looks fine to me,” he said then. “Seems to have everything a man could need.”

Knowing well what his partner meant, Joel, however, was of a different mind. He looked over the slope behind the stores for a suitable place to put the horses while he was seeking information about his brother. The grassy spot behind what appeared to be a blacksmith’s looked to be the best.

“We’ll bunch the stock over behind that forge,” he told Red Shirt. “That look okay to you, Riley?” Riley said it did, so Joel turned to talk to Elvira. “Soon as the horses are took care of, I’m goin’ to see if anybody knows where my brother’s place is. What do you wanna do?”

“That looks like a general store next to the saloon,” she said. “I think I’ll go in and look around, see if there’s anything I need. It’s handy to the saloon, so me and Ruthie can help pick Riley up out of the street when they throw him out.” She chuckled then and waited for his response. It wasn’t long in coming.

“They’re more likely to elect me as mayor, once they see what a fine gentleman I am when I’ve had a decent drink of likker,” he said.

“I stay with horses,” Red Shirt said.

“If we’re lucky, we’ll be ready to ride out pretty quick,” Joel said, making sure Riley and Elvira remembered that he planned to find Boone’s place before dark. He pulled the gray around to get in behind the horses again, and he and Red Shirt, with Elvira’s help, drove them down into Silver City while Riley rode straight to the saloon.

•   •   •

Toby Bryan looked up from his bench when he heard horses filing in behind his shop. Surprised, he got up and went to the back of his forge to see four riders, one of them an Indian, and one that looked to be a young girl. The girl and one that could be a woman each led a packhorse. They drove about a dozen horses into the field behind his small corral and dismounted. Seeing no one he recognized, Toby stood watching them. After a minute or two, they parted in several different directions. One, a tall man, dressed in buckskins, headed directly toward him.

“Mornin’,” Joel called out as he skirted the small corral and entered the back of the shop.

“Mornin’,” Toby returned. “Somethin’ I can do for you?”

“Is it all right if I leave those horses there for a little while, till I get some information?” Joel asked.

“It’s all right with me,” Toby said. “I don’t own that piece of land.”

“I’ll need to have four of those horses shod, but I might wait till I find out where I’m headin’ from here. Maybe you can help me find a fellow who has a claim around here somewhere.”

“Oh?” Toby replied. “Who are you lookin’ for?”

“Boone McAllister. You know him?”

“McAllister?” Toby repeated, raising one eyebrow. “Yeah, I know him.”

“Can you tell me where to find him?”

“Out at his place, I reckon.”

“And where might that be?” Joel was beginning to wonder if he was going to have to prod the man with a stick to get the information he wanted. Maybe it had been his luck to pick the town’s idiot for directions.

Instead of answering Joel’s question, the blacksmith asked one of his own. “Are you one of Beauchamp’s new crew?”

“No,” Joel answered. “I don’t know any Beauchamp. I’m just tryin’ to find Boone McAllister’s claim. I reckon I’ll just go ask in the saloon. Maybe somebody there can tell me how to find Boone.” He turned to leave, but Toby stopped him.

“Hold on, mister,” he said. “If you ain’t workin’ for Beauchamp, are you a friend of McAllister’s?”

Impatient now, Joel answered, “I’m his brother.”

“Oh,” Toby responded, and paused before continuing. “In that case, I’m pleased to meet you.” He extended his hand. “My name’s Toby Bryan.”

“Joel McAllister,” Joel said, and shook his hand.

“The best way to get to your brother’s place is to follow the creek north outta town.” He took a few steps over to the back of the forge and pointed. “That’s Reynolds Creek. Just follow the trail beside it for about eight miles till you come to another trail that leads up the mountain. It’s marked by a little pile of rocks with a tree limb that looks like a cross stickin’ up in the middle of it. McAllister’s cabin is about halfway up that mountain. That trail will take you straight to it.”

“Well, that sounds easy enough,” Joel said. “Much obliged. I’ll bring those horses in to get new shoes in a day or two.” He turned to leave, then stopped at the edge of the corral to ask one more question. “Who’s Beauchamp?”

“Ronald Beauchamp,” Toby replied. “He owns Beauchamp Number Two, one of the three biggest mines in Silver City.” He paused a moment before adding, “And he owns Blackjack Mountain, just north of your brother’s property.” He looked as if about to say more but thought better of it.

“Well, nice to meet you, Toby,” Joel said in parting. “I’ll be seein’ you later on, I reckon.”

“Same here,” Toby said. “I know your brother will be glad to see you.” Again he paused. “Good luck to you.”

Strange man, Joel thought as he walked back to tell Red Shirt that he was going to round up Riley and the ladies and get started on finding Boone’s cabin. He figured it a good time to talk to Red Shirt, now that they had reached Silver City, and let him know that he didn’t expect anything further from him.

“I help with horses till we find your brother,” Red Shirt said when Joel told him that he had completed his side of the bargain.

“That’ll be fine, if that’s what you wanna do,” Joel said. “You brought us to Silver City, just like you said you would. So I just wanted to let you know you earned your horse, and you don’t owe me a thing.”

He shrugged. “I help with horses.”

“Suit yourself,” Joel said. “I’ll go see if I can round up the rest of our party.”

It seemed he was facing the same situation with Red Shirt that he had with Elvira and Ruthie. Everybody wants to stay with me and Riley, he thought.

His first stop was the saloon, because he figured it would take a little time to wrench Riley away from the bar. A couple of miners sat on the one step in front of the building advertising itself as the Silver Dollar Saloon. They barely leaned aside to give him room to enter the building. Inside, he paused at the door to look the room over, his carbine hanging casually in one hand. He failed to see Riley at first, but on a closer look, he spotted his stubby partner seated at a back table. Two men sat with him, and there was a bottle of whiskey in the middle of the table.

“Joel!” Riley yelled when he spotted his young partner in the doorway. “Come on over and have a drink!”

Uh-oh, Joel thought. Ain’t been in here thirty minutes and already drunk. He walked over to the table.

“Kinda early in the day for heavy drinkin’, ain’t it, boys?”

“Yeah, mister,” one of the men said, “set down and have a drink.”

“Thank you just the same,” Joel said, “but I expect me and Riley here best be gettin’ along. Ain’t that right, Riley?”

Riley favored his drinking companions with a wide grin, tossed the rest of his drink down, and got immediately to his feet.

“Well, you heard the boss, fellers. I reckon I’ve got to go, but I wanna thank you for your hospitality. It’s a friendly little town you’ve got here.” He turned to Joel and said, “It’s a right friendly little town, Joel, I swear.” Turning back to his drinking companions then, he said, “I’d like to stay a little longer and talk some more about that mine, but the man says I gotta go.”

Joel wasn’t sure just what was going on, but Riley was up to something. And one thing was sure, he wasn’t as drunk as he had first thought, for he strode as soberly as usual on those short, bowed legs as he headed for the door. “Come on, Joel,” he called back over his shoulder.

“What the hell . . . ?” One of the men at the table jumped to his feet. “You can’t just walk outta here! You drank a helluva lot of whiskey.”

“That I did,” Riley called back. “And I enjoyed every drop of it.” He paused just before going out the door. “Did I remember to thank you for it?”

The man on his feet took a long look at the formidable figure in the buckskins who was still standing between him and Riley. Not quite sure what Joel would do if he decided to go after Riley, he hesitated to make the move. He glanced at his partner, who was still seated, and seemed satisfied to stay there. So it would be him alone against a man standing a head taller and a helluva lot more sober. But he couldn’t let Riley get away with it without at least complaining.

“That friend of your’n drank up half a bottle of rye whiskey and he ain’t paid a damn cent for it. He owes me money.”

“I’d just let it go, if I was you, mister,” Joel told him. He didn’t know what kind of game Riley had been playing, but he knew his former sergeant would stand behind any promises he made. “I’d advise you not to buy Riley any more whiskey. I don’t know what was goin’ on here, but I’m thinkin’ you boys mighta learned a lesson today.”

“Is that so?” the man shot back. “Maybe I ain’t the one gettin’ the lesson. We got a way of handlin’ smart alecks around here. Ain’t that right, Sid?” Sid simply nodded in reply, having already decided not to test the man with the carbine.

“What does that mean?” Joel responded soberly.

“It means it’d be a good idea for you and your friend to get the hell outta Silver City before you have an accident.”

Joel locked his eyes on those of the man threatening him for a long moment before replying, “Mister, if you’ve got something in mind, you’d best get about doin’ it, ’cause I plan to be in town for a while.” He continued to stare into the man’s eyes for what seemed like a long time, but the man made no response.

He’ll wait till I turn my back if he’s going to make a move, Joel thought. Then he couldn’t help wondering how Riley could get two strangers so riled up in such a short time.

When his antagonist remained silent, showing no indication of taking it further, Joel said, “All right, then. Good day to you, gentlemen.”

When he turned to leave, the man reached for the .44 he wore at his side. Expecting just such a move, Joel swung his rifle around in one quick move, catching the man on the side of his head with the barrel of the carbine with enough force to lay him out cold. The crack of the gun barrel against his cheekbone made a sound almost like that of a rifle shot.

Joel turned his gaze upon Sid, who showed no indication of interfering. To the contrary, his wide-open eyes and worried look were evidence enough that he had no interest in backing up his partner. To make certain Joel understood that, he held up his hands in surrender and announced, “I got no part in this fight.”

Joel nodded and backed slowly toward the bar, keeping an eye on both Sid and the bartender, who had made no move to take any action. When he was close to the door, he stopped to ask the bartender, “Does my partner owe you any money?”

“Nope,” Jake Tully answered. “Sid and Leon bought the bottle. Your friend didn’t buy anything.” He smiled then and added, “Includin’ what they were sellin’.”

“Good,” Joel said. “We wouldn’t wanna start off on the wrong foot here in your town.”

Jake laughed. “I reckon you got off to a good start, tanglin’ with two of Boss Beauchamp’s boys. Let me welcome you to Silver City, young feller. What’s your name?”

“Joel McAllister.”

“McAllister?” The bartender reacted much the same as the blacksmith had. “Well, now, that makes it more interestin’ by the second.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Joel asked.

“I’ll just give you a friendly little piece of advice,” Jake said. “Watch your back. There’s a lot of decent folks around Silver City, but there’s enough of the other kind to make it smart for fellers like you to keep a sharp eye.” He was about to say more, but Riley stuck his head in the door at that moment.

“Come on, Joel. What the hell are you doin’? If I’da known you were gonna hang around in the saloon, I’da come back to join you.” He looked over at the bartender and said, “See you later, Jake.”

“Maybe, maybe not,” Jake mumbled to himself.

“What the hell were you doin’ with those two in there?” Joel asked when they were outside.

Riley chuckled, satisfied with himself. “Those two boys were nice enough to stand for the drinks while they were tellin’ me about this minin’ claim that was startin’ to pay off big. Only problem was they had too much luck with their other claim and they couldn’t work both of ’em. So they were gonna sell that claim to me for a helluva good price.” He paused to have another good chuckle. “Why? Was there any problem?”

“No, but you’d best be careful where you do your drinkin’ from now on. I don’t think you made too many friends in the Silver Dollar.”

“I figured as much,” Riley said, still enjoying the thought of all the free whiskey he had downed. “Elvira and Ruthie have gone back to the horses. They came outta the store while you were wastin’ time in the saloon.”

“Glad to hear it,” Joel said. “I think we might as well get on our way.” He shot a quick glance toward the door of the saloon to make sure Riley’s drinking companions didn’t suddenly appear.

“I was gonna ask ol’ Sid and Leon back there if they knew where your brother’s mine was,” Riley said. “But I figured it’s just as well they didn’t know where we were headed.”

“I expect so,” Joel replied with a smirk of amusement. “No matter, I know how to get there.”