Ironhorse

69

Sam stopped talking. She looked at Jenny and bit her lip. Then looked to the governor.

“That it?” Virgil said.

Sam shook her head.

“No, sir. Next up. Crystal Creek gang found the engine and first coach stalled out.”

Sam swallowed hard.

“Apparently, where the engine was stopped on the track just north of Crystal Creek, riders showed up.”

“Riders?” Virgil said.

“The pickup riders,” I said.

“No doubt,” Virgil said.

“Evidently, they stayed diligent heading north,” I said.

“Evidently, they did,” Virgil said. “Go on, Sam.”

“All this was a wire from Crystal Creek... which also said shots were fired and two women were pulled from the coach,” Sam said.

The governor looked out the window, then looked to the floor.

“Where’s the engine now?” I said.

“The section gang is removing the engine and coach from the main line to a set out on the wye track,” Sam said. “Never seen or heard nothin’ like this, ever.”

The governor remained looking at the floor.

“That it?” Virgil said.

“Yes,” Sam said. “Well, other than the scheduled South Express from Fort Smith had to stop in Division City and wait. Once the track is clear it will get on its way down. I figure them stranded passengers will board the Express when it’s up and runnin’ again.”

“Nothing else from Tall Water Falls’ section gang?” Virgil asked.

“Nothing,” Jenny said. “Just this, this telegram, but nothing else.”

Virgil looked to the governor and pointed to the telegram the governor was holding in his hand.

“Need to reply,” Virgil said.

The governor looked at the telegram and nodded.

The telegram was for certain cryptic but clear enough to understand.

Jenny pulled up the chair and sat at the desk in front of the key and readied herself. The governor looked to Virgil, thinking for a moment about what to say.

“Um... how about, ‘Compliance agreed... Describe how, when, and where you wish to proceed’?”

Jenny held a steady gaze on the governor before looking to Virgil.

Virgil looked to me.

“Sounds right,” I said.

Jenny got a nod from the governor and scribbled the message on a piece of paper.

“‘Compliance agreed,’” Jenny said as she wrote. “‘Describe how, when, and where you wish to proceed.’”

Jenny looked to Virgil and he glanced up to the clock.

“Yes,” the governor said as he slowly got to his feet. “Send that.”

Jenny quickly pounded out the message on the key. She sat back in her chair and looked up at the clock on the wall. The time was half past seven o’clock. Jenny turned her chair sideways at the desk. She looked to the governor and Virgil before turning her attention back to the sounder sitting on the desk. All of us in the room looked to the sounder and waited.