“Whooee!” Arapahoe Brown exclaimed as they all entered the dining room. “I ain’t never seen nothin’ like this before. “Imagine eatin’ and ridin’ at the same time, and I don’t even have to ride backward or forward. I can even sleep in a real indoor bed while I ride. Man, this is really somethin’.”
Some time ago Rap had shared with Kitty about his unhappy childhood and how he had never had anything; not even a family.
As she watched the delight dance in his eyes at the first glimpse of the least little things that most people took for granted, she felt so happy for him and sorry at the same time. He was just like a kid seeing the world and all its wonders for the very first time. The riverboat was a dazzling delight; the likes of which he could never have dreamed of.
After the aborted stage holdup, not wanting to get involved with any other law and having to explain what had happened The Wildcats had left the wounded outlaws where they had attempted the robbery. They had loaded the driver’s body on the roof of the coach. Jeremy was an accomplished driver and took over handling the teams.
When they reached the outskirts of Hayes City, Kansas they abandoned the coach and hoped that it would be found with its shipment intact.
The hundred thousand dollars falling into their laps was tempting. Even though they were known as outlaws, this was not the kind of money The Wildcats would take. They just were not that kind of outlaw.
Having left the coach behind, The Wildcats had trudged on, once again on foot, through the city streets of Hayes. Rap still carried three bags while the other men only carried one. He still didn’t wonder why?
Here they boarded another stage and continued on to Kansas City.
Kansas City was another thriving metropolis with the modern world encroaching. Jeremy was excited to see the sights. Chief Henry and Kitty had been to cities before and pretty much took everything for granted. Cyclone was nervous and looking out for trouble on every street and corner.
Rap was in awe of everything. And just as Dandy Jim Butler had predicted, there were those scary tin horses running every which way on all the streets.
When they had reached the docks and first laid eyes on the Delta Queen riverboat, Rap was practically beside himself.
“You mean to tell me that big thing stays on top of the water? You sure it won’t just sink to the bottom of the river?” He was starting to be afraid.
“No. It won’t, Rap,” Kitty said. “I promise.”
“I don’t know, Kitty. But if you say so, all right. But I’ll keep my eyes shut.”
Once aboard, Rap could not keep his eyes shut. Everything he saw was a wonder.
The Delta Queen would leave Kansas City and travel along the Missouri River, transporting The Wildcats the rest of the way to Saint Louis.
When Rap saw the state room that he, Chief Henry and Jeremy were going to share with real beds, he couldn’t believe it and he was thrilled. Cyclone and Kitty had the room adjoining.
They had put their luggage away in their rooms and had gone up on deck to watch as the Delta Queen pulled out from the dock. The engine had revved to a whine. The big paddle wheel began to turn. The whistle blew as the craft began to float out from the dock. Rap felt the sudden tug and the movement beneath his feet. He gripped the rail in front of him and braced himself. Fear spread over his big, long face.
Kitty gave him a reassuring smile and he began to relax.
Now, after traveling on the river for a half an hour, they had gone exploring everything the Delta Queen had to offer them. Rap was now comfortable with the trip and was marveling at everything he saw.
They had passed by the dining room and looked into the passenger lounge. There was a bar at the far side of the lounge and the room was filled with tables as well as gaming tables.
A roulette wheel was positioned over one of the gaming tables, but was not in use at the moment. There were two tables with card games in progress.
It was Cyclone who was surprised and not surprised when his eyes drifted to the farthest away game. “I shoulda knowed it,” he said, exasperated and turning to Kitty.
“I suppose you knew all along, that he was comin’ with us?” He fumed.
“No, Grampa,” she said earnestly. “I didn’t”
There were four men at the table Cyclone had referred to. Two of them were scruffy looking hard-cases, one of them was a baldheaded banker type and the other one was dressed like a dandy; Dandy Jim Butler.
When Dandy Jim saw Kitty and the others approaching, he smiled at them, then tossed his cards into the center of the table. “If you’ll excuse me, Gentlemen,” he said to the other players. “I have other business to tend to right now.”
“You quittin’ afore we can get even?” One of the two scruffy men said accusingly.”
“I’m sorry, gentlemen,” Dandy Jim said. “Perhaps later, we can have another go at it.”
He had scooped up his chips and hurried across the room to meet Kitty and the others.
“What are you doing here?” Kitty asked as they met in the middle of the room and embraced.
Cyclone turned away with a shrug. “I knowed it all the time,” he muttered to himself.
“I’ve been working my way down river. Figured I’d pick up a Mississippi boat and go on down to New Orleans,” Dandy Jim said in answer to Kitty’s question.
“When I saw the Delta Queen, I remembered you saying that was the boat you’d be taking. I guess, I sort of hoped I would get the trip you’d be on. Looks like my luck held.”
“Luck my foot,” Cyclone grumbled beneath his breath.
Jim heard the comment, but didn’t let on. He continued. “I’ve been worried about you, carrying all that money. I hope you haven’t had any trouble.”
“Trouble!” Rap bellowed. “We ain’t had nothin’ but trouble. But we still got our money.”
The three other players and the ones at the other table looked in their direction at Rap’s outburst.”
“Shhhhhh! You durn fool,” Cyclone said, slapping a big hand over Rap’s mouth. He looked about the room and saw people looking their way. “You want to let the whole world know we got money?”
“No,” Rap said simply. “It ain’t the whole world’s business.”
“Just shut up!” Cyclone ordered in a loud whisper.
“Are you mad at me, Cy?” Rap’s eyes turned sad.
Cyclone checked himself. He’d done it again. His damn temper. He put a big hand on Rap’s shoulder, looked him straight in the eye and said calmly. “No, Rap. I ain’t mad at you.”
Rap smiled. “Gee, thanks Cy.”
No one, except Kitty, was paying any attention to Dandy Jim. He had put his hand out to shake, but the men all ignored it.
“I see they all still like me,” Jim said with a smile. Kitty looked around at her companions. She giggled. “Don’t worry. You’re growing on them. They just don’t want you to know it.”
Jim laughed with her, then said, “I really would like to know what’s been happening. We can’t talk here. Let’s find someplace where we can.”
“We can talk back at our cabin. Come on, we’ll show you the way,” Kitty said.
They took a leisurely walk to the upper deck, making small talk along the way, not daring to talk about anything that had happened on the trip.
As they walked back, Jim pointed out the cabin he was occupying. It was three doors down and on the other side of the aisle way from Kitty’s and the others’ rooms. It was next to the stairway they had just climbed.
“Ain’t that just ducky and convenient,” Cyclone groaned under his breath, but Kitty knew exactly what he was angry at.
They all gathered in Kitty’s and Cyclone’s room. It was a bit cramped, but they all managed to get somewhat comfortable, at least for a while.
After an hour, Rap was missing his afternoon tonic, as he called it, and he wanted to stretch out on his bunk. He, Jeremy and Henry decided to go to their own room, next door.
They left the others, stepped into the h
allway, and turned to their own door. Jeremy worked his key in the lock and just as he opened the door, he glanced up and to his left. The two scruffy looking men that had been at the poker table with Dandy Jim Butler, were at the end of the hall. They turned quickly and hurried for the stairway. Their boots clanged on the metal steps as they descended the stairs.
****
Chapter Six