The morning sun had fully risen over the mountain peaks to the east. The early cool mist was burning away, and the dew covered grass was quickly losing its sheen as the moisture began to dry up. The sky above was clearing to a delicate blue texture, bringing the promise of a nice day ahead.
Manuel Gonzales and his men came roaring into the empty street of ghost town Porter City. They swooped in with shrill voices, cheering and shouting with glee. They fired pistols into the air, wantonly, in celebration of another adventure, another success and more money to be divided up among them. They were the victors, returning home with their spoils of war, having left a trainload of people stranded several miles to the west with what valuables they had been carrying; gone along with the contents of the express car.
There were about twenty in all, as they raced their horses into town; reining them down and sliding to a halt in front of the saloon. They were swarthy, unkempt, unshaved, and dangerous looking men; armed with rifles and side arms. Ammunition belts criss-crossed their backs and chests. Many carried sabers in scabbards attached to their saddles.
Although, Manuel had lost several men the day before, to the Wildcat Gang, he never seemed to lack for men. There were always willing replacements to draw from.
Dust from the already drying street, clouded up beneath the horses’ hooves as the army pulled up to a halt.
Rafe Price, Ace Dugan and Butch Lowry, stepped out onto the broken and cracked remnant of a board walk, before any of the visitors had a chance to step down from their saddles. The three Tyrene brothers had already been taken care of and were lying on the rock hard floor of the cave, with a bullet hole in each of their heads. Peso had hidden himself away until Manuel would leave. Explaining his presence would have been dangerous for all of them.
“Hello, Manuel,” Rafe greeted them first. “Glad to see you made it back.”
“Well, well,” The bandit general mused aloud. “If it isn’t my old friend; The Sonora Keed. Glad to see you too mi amigo.” Then to the two men standing with Rafe Price; The Sonora Kid. “It is also good to see you too, Senor Ace and Senor Butch.” Without a break in his speech, he said to Rafe, “Manuel always ‘make it’, as you say. Always I come back with more money in my pocket. More money for my men, and I cannot forget, more money for Senor Snake. Can I?”
“Manuel,” Rafe said, not wanting to put it off any longer than necessary, said. “I’m afraid I’ve got bad news for you. Snake Gunderson’s dead.”
Manuel jerked his body erect in the saddle with complete surprise. After a moment he relaxed and his broad beaming grin returned. “Oh, Senor Keed, that is sooo bad news. Now Manuel cannot share his good fortune with him.” The grin disappeared and his face turned grim. “Or is Manuel supposed to share with someone else.” He leaned forward in the saddle. There was menace in his tone. “Someone, like, maybe you?”
“No. No, Manuel. I’m riding on. What you do here from now on, is up to you.”
Manuel turned his attention to Ace and Butch. Butch got the meaning right off and said nervously. “We’re riding on too. Aren’t we Ace?”
Ace glared at him and started to say something. Butch was nodding his head up and down, telling his friend to agree. The smart thing. Agree. Don’t tangle with Manuel. Ace got it. Shook his head no. “That…..that’s right we’re moving on.”
Manuel put the smile on again. “So, Senores. Can you tell me what happened to Senor Gunderson?” There was no longer, his mocking ‘good friend’.
“The Wildcat Gang got him. Got Harvey too.”
“And, you just let them do that?”
“I wasn’t here at the time. Ace and Butch were here, but they were caught off guard. They had no chance to stop it.”
“Snake wasn’t worth dying for,” Butch put in.
Manuel smiled again. “You are not so dumb, after all Senor Butch. But, tell me why they let you live.”
“They didn’t want to kill us. They just wanted Snake’s stash. We let them have it. It wasn’t worth dying for either.”
“I am so sorry, Senor Butch. You are as dumb as I thought, after all.”
Then to Rafe, Manuel said, “You were all going to just ride away. You never thought, maybe you would go after The Wildcats and get the money back. Maybe, you weren’t going to tell your good friend, Manuel?”
“We waited for you, didn’t we?” Rafe said flatly.
Manuel thought it over for a moment, then nodded his head in acquiescence to himself. “You are right.” he said. “Now,” Manuel continued, “It is not that I don’t trust you Senor Keed, but I must make sure that what you say is true. I should like to see,....” He laughed and his rotund belly rippled. “....my good friend’s body. Pay my repects…” He continued to laugh.
“Sure, come inside,” Rafe said. “The bodies are right where they fell.”
Before Manuel’s arrival, they had dragged Snake’s and Harvey’s bodies out from behind the bar. The others had been removed and hidden in the cave. No explanations would be needed.
Manuel and one of his men went inside. Manuel only glanced at the body of Snake Gunderson, just to make sure he was dead. He didn’t concern himself with Harvey Coleman. What he was really concerned with was Snake Gunderson’s war-chest, that Manuel knew was hidden in the cellar, beneath the trap door. He never knew about the tunnel and the escape route.
Having satisfied himself, that the money and silver were gone, he and his men hurried out of the saloon and climbed into their saddles. “Do you know which way they went Keed?” Manuel asked as he settled himself.
“North,” Rafe said. “I heard them say something about Pop Dawson. That’s in Colorado. That’s north of here.”
“I have heard of this ‘Pop Dawson’,” Manuel said. “He has a hiding place for men like me. Well...maybe not quite like me, but maybe for those like The Cyclone Kid and his gang.”
Manuel lifted the reins to urge his horse away, but halted briefly. “If these Wildcats do not have my money when I catch up to them. I’ll be back for you.” He turned his horse and shouted, “Andole”
He kicked his mount into a gallop and rode out; his small army following leaving a cloud of dust and an echoing thunder of hooves in their wake
Peso Martin whipped up the team of horses, pulling the loaded ore wagon. Their riding horses had been tied on behind for future use. Rafe Price rode shotgun beside him. He gripped the Winchester tightly in his hands and scoured the countryside around them, ever alert for any trouble that could come their way.
They had left the mine entrance just minutes before. Lying next to the bodies of the three Tyrene brothers, lie the bodies of Ace Dugan and Butch Lowry. The plan had called for, and had been played, for two partners only.
****
Chapter Twenty Seven