Ironhorse

47

We ate pork chops with pepper gravy, corn, and cat-head biscuits covered with molasses. The pretty whore with the straight back and pointed shoulders smiled at me as she picked up my empty plate. Virgil lit a fancy cigar Berkeley gave him, and we listened to Mr. Lassiter and Mr. Hobbs tell us about their account of the evening. With the exception of learning about the large dollar amount of money the governor was carrying, so far Lassiter and Hobbs’ story coincided with what Emma and Abigail told us. Hobbs was wiry and angular, with thin hair and muttonchops. Lassiter was taller and handsome, with intense eyes. They both had gray hair and appeared to be close to sixty.

“We were en route for a business endeavor in the Indian Territories before we were tossed from the train,” Lassiter said.

Hobbs twisted a napkin like he was trying to get water out of it.

“It was a grueling walk back here,” Hobbs said. “I can tell you that. God knows I’ve got the blisters to prove it.”

Lassiter scoffed a bit.

“If it weren’t for the mule team traveling down from the camps, we’d still be out there,” Lassiter said.

“Yes, and thank God in Heaven,” Hobbs said. “No telling what might have happened to us.”

“No sooner than we got back,” Lassiter said, “and I wired ahead, the governor and the others arrived. Just the goddamnedest thing.”

“And thank God,” Hobbs said. “But now the poor girls are missing. I pray for their safe return.”

“What did you wire ahead?” Virgil said.

“Well,” Lassiter said, “alerting the way stations of the situation, of course.”

“The situation being?”

“Well, that we were being robbed,” Lassiter said, “and to notify authorities.”

“A heinous test of mettle all around,” Hobbs said, “not to mention the extravagance of the robbery.”

Virgil sat back in his chair, puffing on his cigar. He moved around some crumbs of biscuit on the table.

“You said a half a million dollars,” Virgil said. “That is a lot of money.”

Lassiter let out a whistle between his teeth. “Indeed it is, Marshal Cole,” he said. “Indeed it is.”

“It was,” Hobbs said. “A business endeavor that simply went awry.”

“Awry in the worst of ways,” Lassiter said.

Hobbs bobbed his head, concurring with Lassiter.

“Hell of an ordeal,” Hobbs said. “Hell of an ordeal.”

“Was that the extent of your wire?” Virgil said.

Lassiter squinted at the question like he didn’t like it.

“It was,” Lassiter said.

Virgil took a pull on his cigar. He blew out the smoke, and it swirled under the lamp hanging over the table.

“You send a wire to anybody else?” Virgil said.

Lassiter looked at Hobbs and shook his head.

“Like who?” Lassiter said.

“Texas law officials?”

“Did not,” Lassiter said.

“How come?”

“What do you mean?” Lassiter said.

“Just that,” Virgil said.

Lassiter looked at Hobbs.

“Your governor was on the train. His life in danger,” I said. “Just curious why you did not contact Texas Rangers or military.”

“Or other members of the Texas government,” Virgil said.

“There was no reason to alarm anyone,” Lassiter said, “until we knew what we were dealing with.”

“And now you know?” I said.

“Well, to some degree we do,” Lassiter said. “Yes.”

Virgil took another pull from his cigar and blew another roll of smoke across the table.

“How did this conductor fellow come to target the governor; you, Mr. Lassiter; and you, Mr. Hobbs?” Virgil said.

“What do you mean?” Lassiter said.

“Just that,” Virgil said.

“He got into the Pullman with you,” I said, “and ordered you to get your luggage down?”

Lassiter and Hobbs looked at each other and nodded in tandem.

Hobbs said, “That’s right.”

“Why?” Virgil said.

“Why?” Lassiter said.

“How did he know the governor had that amount of money on him?” I said.

“Well, I don’t know,” Hobbs said. “We don’t actually know.”

Lassiter crossed his arms and frowned a bit.

“I suppose he did not know for certain,” Lassiter said. “I mean, how could he have known?”

“That’s what I’m trying to asscertin,” Virgil said, then shook his head. “That ain’t the word I meant. What is the word I’m looking for, Everett?”

“Ascertain.”

“That’s right,” Virgil said. “That’s what I’m trying to ascertain.”