Chasing the Pickup
It was nearly sundown when Zach and Matthew rode into Creede, but it looked to them like the activity was just getting started. Men milled everywhere, the streets were crowded, and signs promoted every kind of business along the main street crammed into the narrow valley. They rode through the raucous crowd, up to the hotel, tied up their horses, and went in to find a room.
“We need a room for a few nights,” Matthew said to the man behind the desk.
“You must be new in town.” The attendant shook his head. “You won’t find any rooms here or anywhere else either. If you’ve got a warm blanket, you’d better just find a spot and drop. Just make sure you drop on your valuables and sleep with one eye open. This here isn’t a very healthy place, if you know what I mean.”
Zach looked at Matthew and shrugged. They turned to walk out and Zach stopped, turned around, and asked. “Can you tell us of a good place to get a hot meal?”
“We have the hotel restaurant and there’s several eating places on down the street. My favorite is Sam’s Slop Shop. It don’t sound good, but it is. He’s the best cook in Creede.”
“Thanks,” Zach said. “Maybe sleeping on the cold ground won’t seem so objectionable once we get some food in our stomachs.”
At the café they sat at rough wood tables and ate family style the beef and potatoes the cook was serving that night. The two men listened as talk swirled around them. It seemed that the man at the hotel was right. The talk was mostly about the lack of lodging places.
“I got myself a piece of canvas and rigged up a platform and tent right over the creek outside of town,” one old man said.
The man sitting next to Zach leaned in close to Zach and Matthew. “I’m sleeping in a boxcar at the railroad tracks. There’s room for a couple more if you boys need a place.”
Zach looked at Matthew, who raised his eyebrows and nodded. “It’s the best offer we’ve had so far. I’d rather not climb out of my tent and fall in a creek.”
After finishing their dinner, they followed their new friend, Toby, to the railroad tracks and climbed up into the cold car and settled in for the night. “I guess it beats being out in the wind,” Zach said. He put his pack under his head and pulled his blanket over his shoulders. He fell asleep quickly and dreamed of silver.
The next morning, the men wandered the town looking for work. When they got to the new depot they could see construction was underway. “Do either of you know how to work a hammer?” the boss asked.
“Yes, sir,” they answered, almost in unison.
“Then you’re hired.”
Matthew grinned at Zach. “Makes me thankful my Pa made me learn it, even when I didn’t want to.”
They soon settled into their boxcar existence, cooking most of their meals over an open fire by the train tracks. They learned quickly whom they could trust and whom they couldn’t. Over the next couple of months, the young men took every opportunity to scout around through the mountains, looking for a prospective vein of mineral ore to mine.
: : : : :
Ike broke the anxious silence. “You know . . .” He scratched his head. “If those two were here during the rush, they were probably scouting around for silver. Most of the people who came here dreamed they would strike it rich.”
“And we know they found something,” said Carly. “Otherwise, why make a map? And why all the secrecy?”
“Yep,” agreed Ike. “If I were you I’d hustle on over to the courthouse before it closes and see if they have any old records of a claim made by Zach or Matthew. If you hurry you might get there before they close. Otherwise you’ll have to wait until Monday. It’s on Main Street; you can’t miss it.”
“Let’s go,” said Max. He whipped around and barged toward the door, crashing into Molly, who stood behind him. Both of them landed on the floor, Max sprawled across Molly.
“Ouch! Get off of me, Max!” Molly glared at Max.
Max jumped to his feet and stood over Molly. He reached his hand down and pulled her to her feet. “Are you okay, Molly? I’m sorry. I got so excited I guess I forgot to look where I was going.”
Molly brushed the tears from her eyes and rubbed her knee. “I think I’m all right. I kind of feel like Flat Stanley, but I think I’ll live.”
Grandma hugged the girl. “You’re brave. Max, you’re right. I think you did get a little excited. Sometimes you have to slow down a little.”
Grandpa nodded. “And Max is right in another way. We don’t have time to waste.” He stuck his hand out to shake Ike’s hand, then Earl’s. “We appreciate your help. We’ll be here in the morning and we’ll let you know if we discover anything new.”
Carly waved from the doorway. “Thanks for being so careful about not telling the stranger our business.”
“No kidding,” said Max. “That was awesome.”
“Why don’t you give them our cell phone number, Milton,” said Grandma. “Then if the man comes back or they think of anything else they can call us.”
“Here,” said Earl. He pushed a pad of scratch paper across the counter. “We’ll keep it behind the desk in case we need to call you.”
“Do you have a map of Creede?” asked Ike.
“No,” said Dorie. “I don’t think so.” She dug through her tote bag.
“Here.” Ike grabbed a white map. “I’ll mark the courthouse and put my phone number on here too, in case you think of another question.” He scribbled on the paper and handed it to Grandpa. “The courthouse closes at four, so you have about half an hour. Better get going.”
The group hurried out the door and across the park toward Main Street.
“Do we all need to go?” said Molly. “I’d like to wait here or do something else.”
Grandpa stopped in his tracks. “You know, that’s a great idea.”
“I want to go there.” Chad pointed behind the information center. “Candy Cane and Toy Town,” he read out loud from the sign over the door.
“I want to check out some of the stores downtown. . . .” said Dorie.
“Okay.” Grandpa talked fast. “You three go with Grandma and start here. Head up the street toward the courthouse. We’ll take the van and drive up to the courthouse. We’ll meet you there just after four.”
Grandma, Dorie, Molly, and Chad watched as the others made a dash for the van.
“I hope they discover something,” said Dorie.
“Me too.” Molly brushed a fly away. “It doesn’t seem like we’ve gotten very far yet.”
“Look, Grandma,” Chad said. “I want to buy this.” He held up a plastic gun with little pieces of candy in it. It was the third item he had picked up since entering the toy and candy store.
“How long do you think that will last, Chad?” Grandma put her hand on his shoulder. “How much money do you have? This costs three dollars.”
“I have ten dollars Aunt Susie sent me for my birthday last month,” Chad said.
“I have my ten dollars from Aunt Susie too,” said Molly.
Chad stared at Molly. “Your birthday is in January, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” said Molly. “I don’t want to spend it until I find what I really and truly want. Once I spend it then it’s gone.”
“But I do really want it.” Chad grabbed his grandma’s hand. “Please, Grandma!”
“Not yet, Chad,” Grandma said. “Put it back for now and remember it. I want you to wait until you’ve been to more stores before you pick. That’s a lot of money for what you get and then you’ll only have seven dollars.”
“Aw, Grandma. I really want it, really and truly—”
“Chad, I said no.”
Chad opened his mouth to say something. Then he looked at Grandma’s face, turned, and walked over to the shelf to return the candy.
Twenty minutes later they had explored several of the stores on Main Street.
Dorie stopped in front of another store and caught her breath as she spotted the lovely purple rocks displayed in the window. “Let’s go in here.” Dorie grabbed Molly’s hand. “Isn’t The Emporium a beautiful name? It looks like they have a lot of pretty things. Look at the jewelry in the window.”
“I don’t want to look at jewelry.” Chad stuck his lower lip out.
“They have candy too.” Dorie winked at Chad. “It’s not only jewelry; there’s a lot of different stuff. That’s what emporium means.”
“Fudge,” Molly said. “I think we should get some fudge for everybody.”
Ten minutes later they walked out of the store, fudge bag in hand. “There’s enough for all of us to have a piece.” Dorie held her hand up for a high-five from Molly. Molly smacked Dorie’s open hand and grinned. “None of us had to spend too much money, either.”
“I’m proud of you for all pitching in to get the candy,” said Grandma. “I know the others will like it too.”
“Hey, look!”
Startled, the girls and Grandma turned toward Chad, who had lagged behind. As they watched in shock, he sprinted down the sidewalk, dodging people who then turned to watch him as he flew back toward the museum.
“What on earth?” said Grandma. “Chad, stop!”
“It’s the blue pickup,” Dorie pointed down the street. “He’ll never catch up.”
As if he could hear her, Chad slowed then stopped. He stared after the pickup until it rounded a corner, out of sight. Then he turned around and jogged back to where the others stood.
“Sorry, Grandma. I thought maybe I could see the driver, but I couldn’t get close enough.”
“That was quick thinking, Chad.” Grandma shook her head. “One of these times we’ll see the person in the pickup, not just the pickup.”
“Grandma,” Dorie said. “It’s almost four. We better get to the courthouse.”
“You’re right,” Grandma said. “Let’s go.”
“I hope they found something,” said Molly.
“That was delicious,” said Brandon. “I was hungry.” The crowded trailer was bulging at the seams with bodies.
“Macaroni and cheese always is. It’s quick too,” said Grandma. “I think we’re all tired from our busy day.”
“But we didn’t learn much,” Max said. “We don’t know any more than we did this morning.” He folded his napkin in a tiny square, then opened it up and started folding again.
Carly sat cross-legged on the bed. “We know there are no land records since they all burned in the Creede fire.”
“And we know the blue pickup is still in town,” said Chad.
“But we still don’t know who the driver is.” Molly sighed. “There’s not much to go on. I think we should pray and ask God to help us. . . .”
Max tried to think of something to add to their list of findings but he couldn’t. Frustrated, he crumpled the napkin in his hand. The trailer was silent. That’s not good that none of us can think of anything, he thought. Not good at all.
Grandpa’s phone rang, breaking the silence.
“Ahh!” Brandon jumped.
“Yikes!” Dorie laughed. “That scared me.”
“Me too,” Grandpa answered the phone. “Hello.” The children sat in silence again, this time listening. “Yes, ma’am, it is. How are you?” He mouthed, “Miss Belle.”
Even without the speaker on, the children could hear an excited voice coming through the phone. Max leaned forward, his heart beginning to race.
“I think we could do that, ma’am,” said Grandpa. “Tomorrow? You think it’s important? Uh-huh!” he said and listened again. “Okay then. I’ll talk to the rest of them and we’ll figure out a plan. I’ll call you back in the morning and let you know what time to expect us.” Grandpa closed his phone and looked at Molly. “I think God heard you were going to pray and answered early.”
“What did she say?” Max asked.
“Miss Belle thinks she might have something that will help us.” A grin spread across Grandpa’s face.
“Help us? How?” Dorie said.
“She said she has an old diary—a journal she called it—that belonged to her grandmother. She said the journal might hold the clue to the mystery. She wants us to come tomorrow to pick it up.”
“Why didn’t she give it to us when we were there?” said Dorie. “That would have saved us time and the trip.”
“Well . . .” Grandpa rubbed his chin. He looked over at Slim. “She said she didn’t want to tell us in front of Dexter. And, she wanted to think about it a bit.”
“We can’t go tomorrow, Grandpa,” said Carly. “We have to go to the library. Miss Helen is coming in special to help us.”
Grandpa smacked his forehead. “I’d completely forgotten about that.”
“Maybe some of us could go to Salida,” said Brandon. “The others could go to the library.”
Carly nodded. “We need every clue we can get.”
“I could take the girls to the library,” said Grandma. “We could do the research while you guys go to see Miss Belle.”
“We’ll have to unhitch the pickup,” said Slim.
Chad sniffed the air. “I smell smoke. It smells like cigarettes.”
“I do too,” Molly said.
Slim shot up like a bullet from the couch and dove to the door. He slammed the door open and jumped out into the dusk. “Hey, stop!” His shout echoed through the campground.
“What on earth?” Grandma said.
“Stay here.” Grandpa followed Slim. They could hear pounding feet, an engine rev up, then silence.
Carly peeked out the window in the front of the camper. “It’s that blue pickup again,” she said. “Slim was chasing it, but he’s stopped now.”
Grandpa stuck his head back into the camper. “You can come out now.”
Outside the camper they surrounded Slim. He stood by the side window of the camper, his hands on his hips. On the ground were three cigarette butts.
“He stood here a while,” said Brandon. “He must have heard all our plans.”
“Or she . . .” said Molly.
“It’s a man,” said Slim. “And I think I know who it is.”
“Who?” asked Max.
“It’s Dexter.” Slim kicked at the butts. “And now he knows his aunt has the journal.”