The Rail Kings (Wells Fargo Trail Book #3)

By James Walker

They would pay any price and stop at nothing to win.As an undercover agent for Wells Fargo, Zac Cobb isn't the kind of man who goes out looking for trouble, but trouble seems to have a way of finding him. And he isn't the kind of man to run away from trouble, even if it means putting himself in harm's way.When Zac foils an attempt to kidnap the family of the oldest daughter of General Sydney Roberts, the President of the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad, he then must lead the threatened family to safety in Colorado despite the pursuit of a small army of hired gunmen. Once, there, Zac finds himself ensnared in the ongoing deadly railroad war between the Chicago Pacific and the Denver and Rio Grande Railroads. But when Elizabeth Robert decides she's in love with Zac, his personal danger is compounded.Powerful lords of the steam engine fight for control of the narrow passage through the Rockies. The railroads will pay any price and stop at nothing to win. It takes a man who can't be bought to restore right from wrong, and Zac Cobb is such a man.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
• Release date: Jun 1, 1995
• ISBN: 9781441261922

James Walker

James Walker graduated with a B.A. in Speech Education from the University of Washington. He later received an M.Div. from Talbot Theological Seminary. In earlier years, he found interesting work at Knotts Berry Farm in California where he was employed as a stagecoach driver and shotgun guard while attending school. Then, Walker was off to join the U.S. Air Force where he became the youngest Drill Sergeant in the history of the Air Force. Walker also worked as an Air Force Survival Training Instructor, which gave him the opportunity to teach pilots the art of wilderness survival. He specialized in the area of prisoner-of-war survival with an emphasis on escape and evasion. To add to the diversity, Walker has served in several ministry capacities. He served as Senior Pastor of the Evangelical Free Church in Laguna Hills, California as well ministering with the Navigators in both their Collegiate and Community ministries for over 15 years. In addition, Walker worked as a creative and leadership consultant for companies such as Hewlett Packer and Wells Fargo Bank. Currently, Walker is a member of the Western Writers of America, a group of writers who write the fiction and history of the West for publication, television and screen. He is also a member of the Western Lawman and Outlaw Associationa group of national writers who specialize in history of the Old West.

Book preview

37

PART 1

The Chase

Chapter 1

Standing between the cars of the rapidly moving train, the young detective was thinking about his future. It was the thing he did best and the thing he did worst. The wind whistling through the breezeway of the cars made the cold Kansas air even more rousing to his blood. He turned his collar up, then buried his left hand deep in his overcoat pocket. Sucking deeply on his cigarette, he gaped off at the prairie, the monotonous clicking of the rails lulling him deeper into thought. He barely acknowledged the man who came out to stand on the platform with him, a scruffy-looking sort he had seen in the car earlier.

The detective had thought he would be the only man lightheaded enough to stand in the wind to smoke. He always liked being alone. He especially liked the feeling of the prairie, the sense of being alone on the earth’s open sea of grass. His irritation grew as the stranger inched closer, standing far too close for Ed’s comfort. Refusing to acknowledge the intruder, he looked off into the grasslands. The brief lack of attention was costly. He didn’t see the knife.

The railcar was nearly empty. One of the two men who sat near the door had gone outside shortly after the young detective had left the car. The other man sat near the window, his hat pulled down over his eyes.

A small family huddled near the iron-grated stove, bracing themselves on the polished oak seats against the movement of the train. The young father held the little girl’s hands toward the flaming grate of the coal-burning stove. It’s warm, Nikki. He leaned down and spoke loudly into the girl’s ear. The fire is warm.

Warm. The little girl pressed her lips together and looked up toward her father’s face. Her eyes flashed. Warm, she said slowly and smiled. The fire is warm.

Yes, Nikki. The fire is warm. Her father spoke loudly and directly into her ear. His hands squeezed hers in approval and then held them once again toward the glowing stove.

Across from them, Sam Fisher, a large-framed, gray-haired man with a snow white walrus mustache, sat stone still, watching silently. His hands were pushed into the pockets of his black overcoat. His derby hat was pushed back, exposing his balding forehead. He clinched an unlit cigar between his teeth and chewed it ever so slightly.

The young father noticed Sam studying his daughter. She’s not feebleminded, he said. She’s blind, and she has a profound hearing loss, but she thinks well. Bruce Elliott was overprotective. At the college where he taught, their family was accepted and Nikki’s blindness was not an oddity, but in the community at large, he still felt the need to fight for a normal life for his daughter. She’s only five, however, he went on, and with the poor hearing, she needs practice.

The wind rattled the windows on the train and the swaying movement of the coach gently rocked the glowing green-shaded brass lamps. The movement of the train lent itself to sleep, and the lone man at the rear of the car seemed to be taking advantage of it. He had slumped his large frame in his seat with his head resting on the window. Sam watched as the man’s dingy companion reentered the car, closed the door, and seated himself on the opposite side of the aisle, lacing his legs across the narrow walkway. He pulled a dark plainsman hat down over his eyes.

Sam frowned. The man’s legs made it impossible for anyone to leave without waking him up. Not smart, Sam thought. He continued to look past the man and out at the small window that peered onto the platform. Ed ought to be back, he thought. How long can it take to smoke one cigarette?

The woman’s attention had been fixed on Sam. Her blue eyes twinkled as she scooted across and sat beside him. She reached out and patted his hand. It’s so good to see you again, Sam. I haven’t seen you since my wedding, and I’ve missed you. You always seemed more like an uncle to me, never like someone who just worked for my father.

Thank ya, Miss Irene. I’ve known your daddy a long time, served with the general all during the war, but I wouldn’t exactly call that working for him. I was working for the United States Army then.

Daddy always said you ran the outfit in anything that truly mattered. I’ve seen pictures of you in your Sergeant Major’s uniform. You were splendid!

His chest swelled and he sat straighter, lifting his chin.

Do you still enjoy building railroads, Sam?

Sort of, I suppose. He scratched the back of his head. The general builds the railroads. I’ve always been in the railroad detective side of things. I don’t know the first thing about surveying and my back’s too bad to drive spikes like a gandy dancer. He patted the revolver in the shoulder holster under his coat. I work with firearms and muscle.

And Daddy trusts you, he always has. She squeezed his arm. But tell me, why did he have to send you to bring us back to Colorado? If he wanted us to visit, why didn’t he just wire us and ask us to come?

I suppose he was just hoping that you’d trust me too, Miss Irene. He looked at the man and his daughter still warming their hands near the stove. You and your husband, that is. He don’t seem too partial to me.

Oh, don’t mind Bruce. He just hates to leave his work at the college. He’s quite taken with teaching, you know. He loves his study time and he loves his books.

I can believe that.

She laughed. That’s right, you handled the bags. Well, he does love them, and he loves our daughter, too. But you haven’t answered my question. Why send you, Sam? Is there some kind of trouble?

Miss Irene, he just wanted to be sure you came home, no matter what. The general wants you at the Red Rocks as quickly as I can get you there. I really can’t tell you much more than that.

He’s all right, isn’t he? I know Mother’s death was hard on him. I had hoped that his shopping trip in Europe with my sisters would bring him out of it, but I know he must be lonely there in the castle.

Well, he’s lonely on the inside, I s’pose. Got over seventy servants in that place, so he can’t be very lonely on the outside. Hell, I’m— He stopped midsentence. ’Scuse me, ma’am. My tongue gets away with me and I forget who I’m with.

She laughed. Thanks, Sam. It’s the army still in you.

Ought to know better anyway, the general being a Quaker and all, a body can’t use coarse language around him. Given all the time I spend round the man, you’d think I’da laid aside the habit afore now.

He shook his head and continued. Well, what I’m trying to say is, I’m bunkin’ in that there place myself lately. Hate it, too. Makes me feel like another blame suit of armor just standing around for decoration. Can’t get myself used to it, nohow. He curled his lip as he drawled out the phrase.

I thought you had a place of your own in Colorado Springs. What do they call it now, Little London?

Oh, I still got it. Downtown, by the tracks. All the travel I do in this job behooves me to live pretty near the rails.

He took the cigar out from his mouth and turned it over. Then replacing it under his mustache, he bit down. A grin came over his face. Yeah, you know how the general is so all-fired smitten with them English people and all their highfalutin, English ways. Never had much use for ’em my ownself. Thought it was good riddance when old Andy Jackson peppered their behinds down in New Orleans. I’da thunk that woulda been enough for ’em.

Daddy likes the culture found on the Continent.

Don’t know nothin’ ’bout culture, but with all of them hoity-toity types struttin’ around, I’d just as soon stay to my ownself and in my own place. He paused and, lifting the back of his derby, scratched his gray hair. It’s just that right now, I got to be up at the Red Rocks. The general’s done hired a right smart larger batch of new detectives and said with all them new faces around, he’d feel a lot better seein’ mine more often.

Why all the new men?

Sam looked toward the two sleeping men at the end of the car and frowned. He opened up the gold watch he carried on a chain attached to his pocket. He seemed distracted for a moment. How Ed can stand outside in that wind and smoke is beyond me. He didn’t want to offend you with the smoke, Miss Irene. I do fine just chewing on my cigar here, he took the soaked stub out of his mouth and held it out, then replaced it between his lips, but Ed needs to light up his makings.

Sam—she crossed her arms—you’re not answering me.

Sorry, didn’t want to worry you none. We’ve gotten ourselves into a patch of war with the Chicago Pacific. There ain’t but a few choke points outta them mountains and both the general and Jim Ruby want ’em.

Can’t Daddy work out some sort of compromise? Has he gone to the courts?

Humph. Compromises are for losers. We lost Raton Pass in the courts already. CP got there the night before our surveyors were due to arrive. I ’speck the way the courts see things, possession is—what do they say?—nine points of the law. Now the race is for the Royal Gorge and the general is determined he ain’t gonna lose again.

Irene shifted in her seat. Has there been trouble?

Yes’m, I’m afraid there has. We’ve had bridges blown up and track destroyed. He dropped his eyes slightly. Also, there’s been six men killed.

Sounds dangerous, she said. Why would Daddy send for us?

Sam glanced once again at the two sleeping men and lowered his voice. Well, Miss Irene, there’s been threats against the general’s family.

Irene quickly put her hand to her mouth.

Them threats is serious, Sam said. The general’s keeping your sisters at the Red Rocks and has guards all along Razorback Ridge. I guess he was kinda afraid that them boys from the Chicago Pacific might try to get his only grandchild. He glanced over at the girl. Even if—

Irene tightened her lips and finished his sentence. Even if she’s blind and feeble.

He hung his head. Yes, ma’am. The general sets a lot of store by the child, no matter what.

Irene sat tall in her seat and looked him in the eye. Sam, you’re a good friend. I know you have a soldierly disregard for weakness of any kind.

He looked at her and blinked. He had watched her grow up, ridden with her on the front of his saddle. Now he braced himself to take whatever medicine she was ready to deliver.

Sam, you need to understand, Nikki may not be strong, but she makes us strong. She has made Bruce and me stronger people for knowing her. God made her just like she is. Bruce and I would never change her, even if we could.

Irene looked at the little girl, laughing now in her father’s arms. She slipped her arm around the arm of the gruff detective and motioned with her chin toward the child. We might change her for her own sake and for her future but never for ours. Nikki brings out the best in us. She’s God’s special gift to us, to make us better people. We wouldn’t change her, Sam, and, she added, smiling, we’d never try to change you.

****

Miles away in a railroad restaurant, Zac pushed back the uneaten pie and wrapped his fingers around an empty coffee cup. An attractive dark-haired woman, coffeepot in hand, wove among the tables toward him, her starched white dress and apron rustling as she walked. With a bright smile, she poured more coffee into his cup. She moved away and stopped to pour coffee for other diners, but smiled warmly back at him.

The Harvey Houses had made quite a difference in the way people ate when they rode the Chicago Pacific Line. Zac remembered when a meal used to be a ten-minute stop, when people paid before they ate and left uneaten food for the next diner. The new eating places, however, served good fare, and the railroad allowed a stop that was long enough to eat one’s meal. A second cup of coffee was no longer an impossible luxury.

Zac kept the locked pouch next to him. He didn’t know what it contained, but he had a few guesses. Often companies in Chicago shipped jewelry west by special Wells Fargo courier, and Zac Cobb was a very special courier. He’d unload the shipment in Denver, pick up his pay, and make his way back to California. He missed Jenny and the boy something powerful. Meanwhile, he’d keep his eyes open.

He took out his pipe and thumbed his special whiskey-soaked mixture into the black briar’s bowl. Two men sitting beside the door had caught his attention. Each time he looked up from his coffee or from loading the pipe, he saw them watching him. One of the men was tall and wore a flat white hat. They leaned close and talked to each other when they spotted his glance, and he’d be willing to bet that he was the subject of their conversation.

Zac raked his match across the table and poked it into the bowl, puffing the pipe to life. He looked through the rising smoke and thought he recognized one of the men. Zac made it a point to recognize the known men in the territory, and he’d heard of the man with the flat white hat. If the man stood up and Zac could see where his pistols sat, he’d know his identity for sure.

The shorter of the two men rose from the table and made his way to the door while the man in the white hat kept his attention on Zac. After watching the shorter man pass by the front windows, Zac took out his pocket watch. His westbound train wasn’t due for another hour and fifteen minutes. Until then he’d have to content himself with his pipe and the small book of Tennyson’s poetry that he’d brought along to read.

More than a refill and a half later, Zac saw the man who had left return. He wasn’t alone, however. A thin man in a black suit stood with him, talking to the man in the white hat.

Suddenly the man with the white hat pushed back his chair and stood up. Now Zac knew it was Jake Rice. Rice always carried pearl-handled revolvers fixed for cross draw. The butts of the revolvers lay at a forty-five degree angle, pointing toward the man’s midsection. As the three men strutted toward Zac, he braced himself. He knew he had to be a very inhospitable man when carrying the company’s property.

The thin man in the black suit, flanked by the two gunmen, stopped in front of Zac. I say, pardon me, sir. My name is Peter Williams. I’m chief of detectives for the railroad. My companions here tell me that you are Mr. Zachary Cobb. Is that correct?

Zac dropped his left hand under the table to the butt of the sawed-off shotgun he liked to carry. It was a great equalizer. He eyeballed the three men and blew smoke from his pipe. Finally he spoke in a passive baritone. That’s right.

Well, I daresay, Mr. Cobb, after all I’ve heard about you, it’s a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance. The thin man stuck out his hand. Zac ignored it. Instead, he used his free right hand to pull the pipe out of his mouth.

The dark-suited man was persistent, however. He dropped his hand but smiled, showing a golden front tooth. Might we join you for tea, or whatever it is you are drinking?

You English? Zac asked.

Why, yes, Mr. Cobb, I am. I—let’s see, how do you say it?—hail from Manchester, England.

Well, Mr. Williams, I’m a little particular about the company I keep, and while I’m working I’m downright partial to my own company.

The man’s golden smile disappeared and he leaned forward toward Zac, placing his hands on the table. Mr. Cobb, you do appear somewhat unfriendly … to a man you do not even know.

I know of your friend here—Zac looked hard at the man in the white hat—by reputation. None of it good.

The man in the white hat stepped forward, but the dark-suited Englishman swept his right hand back to restrain him.

And I don’t know you, Mr. Williams, Zac went on, but I’ve seen your type before.

And what would my type be?

The type of man who leaves his own country when the law is onto him and plies his trade as a thief and a killer in another country.

The man’s jaws snapped shut. He spoke through his teeth. Mr. Cobb, your own reputation as a killer is well known.

Zac replaced the pipe in his mouth and picked up the book of poetry. I ain’t killed nobody that didn’t need killin’ real bad. Now, this conversation is beginning to bore me, so if you don’t mind, I’d like to get back to my friend Tennyson, one of the few Englishmen who prods my mind.

The man in the white hat placed his hands on the butts of his pistols. We ain’t here for no tea party, Cobb, he said. We got business. Now you get up from there and come with us.

Zac picked up a match and popped it to life on the edge of his thumbnail. He allowed it to burn above the bowl of his pipe before he spoke to the man. I’d ease your hands to your side if I was you. See, Rice, I know who you are and I only go up against gunslingers with an edge. I got myself a ten-gauge cocked under this table and one twitch of my finger will just about saw you in half.

Zac touched the match down into the pipe and watched the man freeze.

The third gunman spoke up. He’s bluffing, Jake. We can take him.

Chapter 2

Zac watched Jake Rice begin to sweat. The man’s posture stiffened and he seemed to search the air for Zac’s mind, trying to penetrate the blank expression that Zac had perfected for times such as these. Slowly, Rice dropped his hands back down to his side, away from the cross-draw, pearl-handled revolvers.

Williams smiled, breaking the tension. Once again, the Englishman’s tooth blinked in the sunlight. This is unnecessary, Mr. Cobb. These gentlemen informed the man I work for of your presence here today, and Mr. James Ruby, the railroad superintendent, asked me to invite you to his private car for a taste of his excellent liquor. He wants to speak to you about a business proposition that might interest you.

Leaving his left hand on the shotgun under the table, Zac took out his watch and snapped it open. All the interest shown in him made him curious—not tempted to take an offer, just curious. He puffed smoke at the men. All right, gentlemen, I’ve got fifty minutes I can give to your Mr. Ruby. I’ll go with you, but your guns stay right here.

We’re detectives for the CP, Mr. Cobb. Williams continued to smile. We’d feel naked without our side arms. You can trust us.

Zac pulled the shotgun up from under the table and puffed on his pipe. He looked the three men in the eye, one by one. Trust you? I wouldn’t trust you three to watch a mule of mine for five minutes. Your choice, Zac said. I go with you while them guns of yours stay here, or I just wait for my train and you can go back to Mr. Ruby alone. Wells Fargo pays me to be careful and to be very good at what I do, and right now I’m on Wells Fargo time.

****

The Elliott family walked the aisle toward the Pullman lounge. Sam Fisher walked in front of them and paused in front of the outstretched legs of the gangly man who had positioned himself across their passageway. ’Scuse me, he said.

Remaining outstretched, the man pushed his hat up. His craggy face was unshaven and a long scar meandered down the length of his left cheek. Dirt was caked beneath his long fingernails. You got yerself a difficulty? he asked.

No difficulty, Sam said. This family just wants by.

Well, pardon the fire outta me. The man sat up and put his legs under the seat in front of him.

Sam stepped forward and pushed open the connecting door to the next car. Irene walked by the men and Bruce followed with his hands on Nikki’s shoulders, guiding her up the aisle.

The man with the scar watched the little girl in her pretty blue dress. His gaze settled on the small, dark glasses that covered the girl’s eyes. Looky here, Wooley. The little girl’s blind.

Believe yer right, Renfro.

Bruce stopped as Renfro leaned into the face of the child. You blind, little girl?

Nikki stuttered a greeting. Hell … oo. She smiled.

Renfro looked up at Bruce. She don’t talk so good, either, for a gal as old as she is. What else’s wrong with her?

Bruce didn’t respond at first. He gently pushed Nikki toward Irene in the open door before pivoting to face the two men, still slouched in their seats. Bruce’s gaze pierced into Renfro’s bloodshot eyes.

Sir, you don’t—how did you put it?—talk so good, either. Your language and your manner I find offensive, and in the presence of a woman and child, I find them downright reprehensible.

Sam pushed Irene and Nikki through the connecting door of the car and watched the dirty man who had blocked their exit get to his feet. What’d ya call me? Rep—what?

Reprehensible, sir, and I didn’t call you that. I used the term to describe your language and your despicable behavior, a distinction which I’m sure you couldn’t possibly understand.

Renfro moved closer to Bruce, and Wooley, the larger man who had been seated across from him, rose to his feet. Where do you come off talking to me like that? You strut awful bold fer someone who sounds like a preacher.

Bruce stood ramrod straight. I am a Christian gentleman, but I am not a member of the clergy. I teach at a university, and my duties there include training and supervising the boxing team.

Renfro’s scar angled as he smiled, then he bent over and began to laugh. He slapped his knee. A fighter, that’s a hot one. You … a fighter.

He swiveled his head around. You hear that, Wooley? We done gone and riled up a mean fightin’ man.

With that, Renfro moved with great speed. He swerved on his heels and swung a roundhouse at Bruce, who was firmly planted in the center of the aisle. Bruce ducked under the would-be blow and came up into Renfro’s midsection with surprising force, stunning the man and knocking the wind out of him.

While Renfro held his stomach Bruce sent three rapid, left-handed jabs into his jaw. He then stepped forward and unleashed a final right to the tip of Renfro’s chin, one that sent him sprawling to the floor.

Wooley reached for his side arm, but Sam stepped forward, his own revolver leveled. He cocked the six-gun. I wouldn’t, he said. You just relax and let your friend here learn his lesson from the professor.

Both Sam and Bruce backed out of the car, closing the door. Bruce looked up at Sam. Unpleasant people, he said.

This is the Chicago Pacific Line. It’s full of what a body might call unpleasant people.

Sam and the Elliot family moved through the sleeping car and into the parlor where they all sat in the overstuffed sofas and sipped coffee. A waiter in a white waistcoat poured the coffee from a silver pot. We’ze gonna be in for a stop in little over an hour, I reckon, the waiter offered. There’s one a them Harvey Houses there. Serves good grub. We’ze only gonna stop fer ’bout half an hour, but that be plenty a time to eat, or to have ’em build ye a box lunch.

Thank you, Bruce said. I think we’ll do that. It’s getting warmer. It’s amazing the changes in prairie temperature when the sun gets high.

Yessir, it’ll shore be a gettin’ warm pretty directly now, I reckon.

The two ruffians entered the parlor car and cast glances in the direction of the family. Without saying a word, the man with the scar looked at his large companion and motioned him on. They both left through the opposite door in the direction of the second sleeping car.

Sam looked over at Irene. Don’t know where Ed went off to. I’da thought he’d have been here. He was looking kinda peeked, though. Maybe he went on back to the sleeping car to lie down.

Sam, she said, don’t trouble with those men. I don’t like them, don’t like them in the least.

Sam pushed his chair back. Oh, don’t worry about me, ma’am. I’ve had fellers like that for breakfast. Besides, that husband of yours—he pointed his chin at Bruce—has already taken more than a little starch out of them boys. I don’t ’speck we’ll see much of them two for quite a while.

He stood up and tipped his derby. If you’ll excuse me, I’m getting a little tired of chewing on this cigar. I think I’ll go out between the cars and light it up, then I’ll check on Ed.

Sam, Irene spoke up. You don’t have to worry about offending me with that cigar of yours. I’ve smelled plenty in my day.

Oh no, ma’am, I wasn’t worried about you. I figured the child might have a sensitive nose.

He produced a match from his vest pocket and got up from the couch to leave. Irene put her hand on his sleeve. Sam, please be careful. I’m feeling a little frightened. She paused. There, I’ve said it.

Miss Irene, from what I just saw of that man of yours, you’ve got nothing to worry about. He smiled at her. I know enough not to light these things up in the presence of women and children. I may have only been a noncommissioned officer, but that don’t mean I can’t be a gentleman. Congress don’t have to name you one to be one.

Sam’s frame filled the doorway as he left the car to stand in the vestibule between the parlor car and the sleeper. He put his back to the wind and struck the match. Cupping his hand over the end of his cigar, he sucked the flame into the tobacco and sent the smoke out into the prairie air.

Riding on the Chicago Pacific worried him a mite. He’d been careful with the tickets and tried to keep a low profile, but something told him that Jim Ruby knew exactly where they were and would pick his own time and place. He knew that if it came down to it, he’d be more than willing to put his own life on the line for Miss Irene and her family. He’d come close enough to dying before, and for things he cared about a lot less.

He puffed on the cigar. He suspected the general knew how he felt and that was the reason he’d sent him cross-country on this errand. Roberts could have picked a younger man, he knew that. He smiled and puffed another cloud of smoke. He could have sent a younger man, but not a better man.

He mashed out the fire on the end of the cigar and flicked it out onto the passing track. He had to look in on Ed. For all he knew, he’d probably find the dreamy-eyed fella buried in a book.

Shoving open the door to the sleeping car, he watched the curtains fly. The gust of wind from the open door pushed the heavy fabric out. The curtains hung back down when he closed the door. Ed. Sam croaked out the man’s name