Chapter Forty-four
Night had overtaken Dallas Steele and the Dromore riders and so had a sense of frustration.
“Those mules we found running all over God’s creation mean only one thing,” Steele said.
“That Condor has stashed the gold somewhere,” Shawn O’Brien said.
“Exactly. But where?” Steele said.
Shawn shrugged off Steele’s question.
“We could search, I suppose,” Shamus said.
“This is a big territory, Colonel,” Luther Ironside said. “Where would we start?”
“That answer to that, Luther, is that I don’t know,” Shamus said.
“There’s one thing,” Jacob said. “If he stashed the gold, Condor has to come back for it. That’s when we might nail him to the barn door.”
“Pat, you know these things,” Ironside said, looking around him into darkness. “Just where the hell are we at?”
“If I remember my maps correctly, we’re just east of the Continental Divide and about twenty miles due south of Silver City.”
“In a mountain wilderness that looks like it goes on forever in every direction,” Steele said.
“I can’t argue with that,” Patrick said.
The mesquite fire burned without smoke, casting a rippling scarlet light as Shawn intently sliced bacon into a skillet. He looked up and said, “My guess, Condor is in Silver City, making arrangements to exchange folding money for his gold or a good chunk of it.”
“Jacob, you, and Patrick could ride up there in the morning while the rest of us stay here and watch for Condor if he heads back this way,” Shamus said.
“It’s as good a plan as any,” Jacob allowed. “But it’s not easy to find one man in a town that big.”
“I’ll go with Jacob and Pat,” Steele said. “An extra pair of eyes could make the difference.”
“If you see Condor, go to the law,” Shamus said. “Don’t try to take him by yourselves.”
“The colonel is speaking to you, Jake,” Ironside said.
“If I see Condor a-strolling down the street on a morning promenade, I’ll set the law on him, Luther, I promise.”
“I found that less than convincing, Luther. Did you?” Shamus said.
“Jake’s a heller, Colonel,” Ironside said.
“If that’s the case, I’d rather have a live son than a dead heller,” Shamus said.
“Damn right.” Ironside winked at Jacob.
The moon had spiked itself on a pine and the darkness was shot through with tarnished silver. Coyotes yipped close by, drawn by the smell of frying bacon. The air was cool and crisp, fragile as spun glass.
Scout and Hyde suddenly appeared just beyond the rim of the firelight. Ironside holstered his gun and yelled, “Damn it! Don’t you boys know better than to walk into a man’s camp without a howdy-do? I could’ve dropped you both.”
The Navajo smiled. “What is it white men say, Ironside? Ah yes, that you’re a nervous nelly.”
Ironside drew himself up to his full height, outraged. “And right about now you’re mighty lucky you ain’t a dead Injun.”
“Luther, sit down and behave yourself,” Shamus said. “And remember that Scout’s ways are not ours.”
Ironside took his place by the fire with ill grace, muttering under his breath about redskins in general and Injun-lovers in particular.
“What did you say, Luther?” Shamus demanded.
“Nothing, Colonel. I didn’t say nothing.”
“I should hope not. Many a time a man’s mouth broke his nose.” Shamus’s back pained him. Reluctant to stand, he looked up at the visitors. “There’s coffee in the pot and bacon in the pan.”
“Coffee is good,” Scout said, “but no food. We killed earlier today.”
After he and Hyde had taken a seat by the fire, Scout said, “Condor is in Silver City.”
“We figured that much,” Jacob said.
“He talked with a man named Silas Strangewayes and then left his place of business. That is all I know.”
“Did you find out where he is now?” Steele said. “The name of a hotel?”
“No. Mr. Hyde and I left the city then, because we must return home. We’ve already been gone too long.”
“Scout, do you have any idea where Condor hid the gold?” Shamus asked.
The Navajo shook his head. “None. It is hidden from me.”
“And us,” Patrick said.
Scout rose to his feet. “We will go now.”
“I must pay you for your efforts, Scout,” Shamus said. “You’ve been a great help to us.”
“No, Sheriff Clitherow will pay me. That was our agreement.” Scout stepped away from the fire and he and Hyde disappeared into the darkness.
“Right strange fellers, them two,” Ironside said.
“I can’t disagree with you there,” Steele said.
Jacob bent over and grabbed the knife from Shawn’s hand and speared himself a slice of bacon. “Hot, hot, hot,” he said as he chewed open-mouthed.
“Hell, Jake, you could’ve waited,” Shawn said.
“No time for that,” Jacob said, swallowing. “Condor is in Silver City and I don’t plan to lose him. Dallas, Pat, are you ready to ride?”
“Night riding. Haven’t we had enough of that?” Patrick said, but he smiled and looked eager to go.
“How do we find him, Jake?” Steele asked.
“We have the name of a resident, Silas Strangewayes. Find him and we can find Condor.”
“Then let’s do it.”
“Be careful, all of you,” Shamus said. “I’ll say a rosary for you before I seek my blankets.”
Jacob nodded, seeming to make up his mind about something. “Pat, you stay here. You’ve got Abby to see after and if Condor gives us the slip, the Colonel could use another gun.”
“I’d rather go with you and Dallas, if it’s all the same to Pa.”
Shamus thought about that. “Your brother is right, Patrick. The girl doesn’t trust anyone but you . . . and I’d rather you stay.”
“Pat, if this all goes bad and Nate Condor comes this way, the Colonel is going to need you,” Jacob said.
Patrick understood the logic of that. Nate Condor was no ordinary man and he’d be a handful. Finally, Patrick said, “Well, I guess I’ll stick.”
“Jake, you sure you don’t want Shawn and me along?” Ironside asked. “Suppose you get in a shooting scrape?”
“No, Luther. I want both your guns here. There’s a good chance we’ll miss Condor in Silver City.”
“We’ll be on the scout for him. You can depend on us.”
Jacob nodded. “I know I can.”
Steele put his hand on Ironside’s shoulder. “Luther, I want you to know that I consider you one of the best and bravest fighting men I’ve ever met.”
“Damn right,” Ironside said, his words broken. He turned away quickly so no one could see his face.