Ironhorse

71

The governor rushed back to the depot with Hobbs, and Jenny read the telegram:

“Rouncey?” Hobbs said, interrupting Jenny. “What in God’s name is he talking about?”

“Rouncey,” Berkeley said, “is a horse. He’s talking about a horse.”

“There’s more,” Jenny said.

“Go on, Jenny, please,” the governor said.

Jenny nodded and continued:

Jenny looked up at us.

“That’s it,” Jenny said. “No sine on this, either, but this note was pounded by Ernest C. from Tall Water Falls for sure.”

“Richard the Third. Levity. Good Lord,” Hobbs said. “Expiration of merchandise. A mule? My God. Absolute madness.”

“Hell, that’s at least sixty miles from here,” Berkeley said. “He’s giving you what is left of today and all day tomorrow to travel sixty miles up rough country. Be hard pressed to get there by nightfall tomorrow if you left right now.”

“That’s true,” Sam said. “The pass he’s talking about is five and a half miles past Crystal Creek. Ten miles this side of Tall Water Falls.”

“From what we’ve seen of this line, most likely not an easy ride, either,” I said.

“I’d say not,” Sam said.

“Hell, no, that is what I am saying,” Berkeley said. “It is not.”

“It’s rough, rocky,” Sam said.

“Especially if you follow the tracks all the way up,” Berkeley said.

“There is a trail that is straighter, but that’s rough, too,” Sam said. “Not really traveled much anymore, not since the rail.”

“The last section was where Mr. Hobbs and Lassiter picked up the ride from the teamster coming down from the Half Moon mining camps to get here. That is a straight shot,” Berkeley said, “but above that, going north, it’s just hell, bad road.”

“What is the terrain up there?” Virgil asked.

“At the pass?” Sam said.

“Yes,” Virgil said.

“Steep up on both sides,” Sam said. “Damn near straight up.”

“A mule?” Hobbs said. “What in God’s name is this man thinking?”

“Smart,” I said.

“Is,” Virgil said.

“Like a homing pigeon,” Berkeley said.

“Yep,” Virgil said.

“And in this case, most likely just as hard to follow,” Berkeley said. “Not to mention it’ll be dark.”

“I don’t understand,” Hobbs said.

“Mules are used like that,” I said. “We used mules in the service to carry mail and supplies. It’s common. Mule can cover rough terrain, too. Most likely, like Sam is saying here, what we are dealing with is straight up. That’s what he means by ‘levity.’ He thinks it’d be humorous for us to try and follow a sure-footed mule. Unless a horse has been raised in rough country, they can’t do it. Best of riders, best of horses, couldn’t follow.”

“You know any outfits up there with working mules? Mining, farming, timber, cattle?” Virgil said, looking between Berkeley and Sam. “Know anyone up there?”

“Don’t,” Sam said.

Berkeley shook his head.

“No, can’t say I do, either,” Berkeley said.

“There were mines up there,” Sam said, “but no more.”

“Except for the depot towns, it’s sparse country up through there,” Berkeley said.

“Maybe there is no mule,” the governor said. “Or muleteer. Might it not be a ploy with an ambush intended?”

“Could,” Virgil said, “but doubtful.”

“Why?” the governor said.

“No reason to concoct it,” Virgil said.

Jenny raised her hand politely.

“Yes, Jenny,” Virgil said.

“Something was different,” Jenny said as she looked at the sounder sitting on the desk.

“What’s different?” Sam said.

“The attracting and releasing armature on the upper and lower stops was weak.”

“Weak?” Virgil said.

“The signal’s weak?” Sam asked.

“Um, yes. Odd, though,” Jenny said. “The first wire we got from Ernest C. was, as I said, from the Tall Water Falls depot, but this wire signal is weaker than the signal I normally get from Tall Water Falls.”

“What are you saying, Jenny?” the governor said.

“I think Ernest C. is someplace else, at another location now.”