CHAPTER 01
Pounding hooves of horses galloping toward a town broke the morning silence. The morning stage was bringing passengers and a safe box with sacks of gold dust to the bank in Willow Ridge. The warm summer breeze swept over the driver, Carol, and shotgun, Ned. Carol wanted to get to the bank before they were held up. He was uneasy with the gold shipment. He knew it attracted outlaws. Ned was anxious about getting to the bank. Ned held a rifle in his hand to be ready for the outlaws who may try to rob them. Ned gave his stubbly chin a scratch as he thought about how the ride to Willow Ridge had been too easy.
“Carol, so far this run has been good. I wonder if trouble is going to be in town,” Ned cautiously said.
Carol scanned the road as the town became closer.
“We’re almost there. Don’t relax yet,” Carol dryly replied.
Carol started pulling back on the reins to slow the horses down. He wanted the horses at a trot to make it easier to stop at the stage depot.
Sheriff Milt Corby’s brawny build with a mustache paced in front of the stage depot. Deputy Sheriff Curtis Shaffer’s stocky build stood still as a statue holding a rifle. Deputy Sheriff Shaffer’s hazel eyes searched for any signs of strangers coming into town. A few people were at the feed store loading wagons with sacks of feed. They didn’t seem to notice the stage coming into town.
A group of riders on horseback was approaching the town. The group of riders brought their horses from gallop to a walk. They watched the stagecoach enter the town. The riders had their bandanas close to their face. They wore their hats low to shield their eyes from the morning sun. The riders noticed the town was coming to life with shopkeepers opening their doors for customers. One shopkeeper stepped out to sweep the entrance of the double doors to his shop.
Deputy Shaffer saw the riders coming up the street. His eyes fixated on the group of riders. He thought they were cowboys coming to look for work. Several local ranchers always needed hands for the Fall round-up.
I rode my horse into Willow Ridge. I stopped at the livery stable to rest my horse, Sugar Foot. He was a sixteen-hand chestnut quarter horse with a white blaze on his face. His favorite treats were sugar cubes and apples. An older man greeted me at the barn door. As I dismounted, I noticed the group of riders. The one rider looked my way. The cold dark eyes sent chills down my spine. I proceeded to tell the old man who introduced himself as Lewy to give Sugar Foot feed, water, and a rub down. After I paid the man two dollars, I walked toward the hotel.
The stagecoach stopped in front of the stage depot. Several passengers stepped down from the coach. Sheriff Corby and Deputy Shaffer assisted Ned with unloading the safe box. They carefully carried it to the bank.
The bank manager, Caleb Whitaker, and the teller Shawn Morris greeted them as they entered with the safe box. Caleb, an older gentleman, instructed them to set it on his desk. Shawn locked the door behind them as they left the bank. Next, Shawn pulled the shades down. He was taking cautionary measures to try to prevent them from being robbed. Caleb opened the safe’s door. He opened the safe box with the key given to him by Ned. Shawn opened the ledger book to record the gold dust weight and amount. The small sacks were heavy. Caleb removed one sack to put it on the weight scale.
The rider who looked at me gave the man loading the wagon a nod. The man returned the nod. When the man finished loading, he sat down in the wagon’s seat. He urged the team of horses into a trot. The man drove the wagon to the rear of the bank.
The group of riders met the wagon at the bank’s rear door. The riders dismounted. The one rider, a scruffy medium build man knocked on the door lightly.
“Who is it?” Caleb carefully asked.
“It’s the Deputy Sheriff making sure everything is fine,” the man answered.
When Caleb gave Shawn the nod to open the rear door, the man had his gun ready to point at him.
“Back up and don’t make a sound or I’ll drop you where you stand,” the grizzled older man growled.
They entered the bank quickly. They tied Caleb and Shawn together on the floor with bandanas around their mouths. Their feet were tied at the ankles and their wrists were tied. They worked swiftly to remove the sacks of gold. They didn’t take the safe box. The gold sacks were placed in a medium-sized wooden medium-size crate with rope handles. They carried the crate to the wagon. The crate was placed at the front of the wagon and hidden with feed sacks. Next, they mounted their horses after closing the rear door. The driver of the wagon urged the team into a trot. The group of riders followed the wagon as they rode out of town.
Customers started to come to the bank but were surprised to find the door still locked. The one lady knocked on the door. Upon not receiving a response, she walked to the Sheriff’s office.
When she explained to Sheriff Corby the bank was not open, he became concerned. They quickly walked to the bank. After Sheriff Corby pounded on the door and shouted for Caleb to open the door, still no response, he bumped the door open with his shoulder. Sheriff Corby saw Caleb and Shawn tied and gagged. Deputy Shaffer came running upon hearing a commotion at the bank. He immediately assisted Sheriff Corby to untie Caleb and Shawn. Sheriff Corby saw the gold dust sacks were gone. Caleb and Shawn stood up with the help of Deputy Shaffer. Sheriff Corby opened the rear door. He noticed the wagon and hoof tracks leading out of town.
“Caleb, how many, and could you describe them?” Sheriff Corby asked.
“They had bandanas over their faces and were about average build except for one who looked older than the other four. The face I saw above the bandana gave me the impression he was older. Four were riding on dark horses and there was one driving the wagon,” Caleb responded.
“How did they get in?” Deputy Shaffer asked.
“A knock was at the back door. A voice stated it was the Deputy Sheriff making sure everything was fine,” Shawn replied.
Caleb and Shawn were shaken by the ordeal. They sat down in the chairs next to the desk. They thought for a brief second, that they would be shot but were relieved they were only tied and gagged.
“I’ll form a posse and try to pick up their trail. Deputy Shaffer, stay here and see if anyone saw anything unusual,” Sheriff Corby responded.
Within minutes, Sheriff Corby had a posse tracking the outlaws.
Sheriff Corby and the posse followed the wagon tracks until they came upon a creek. The empty wagon was near the edge of the stream among trees. The team of horses pulling the wagon was gone. Sheriff Corby couldn’t tell which direction the outlaws took. They could have gone up the stream or down. There were no tracks to give him an idea. He decided to send a telegram to other Sheriffs and Marshals about the gold theft. Sheriff Corby and the posse returned to town.
When I checked into the hotel, I requested a bath. The hotel clerk told an employee to get the tub ready for me. I waited in my room until the employee came for me. She escorted me to a room. A towel and washcloth were on a stool next to the tub. After she left the room, I slipped off my pants and shirt. I stepped into the warm sudsy water. I gave myself a good scrubbing. It felt good to get the trail dirt off. Upon completion of my bath, I slipped on the bathrobe hanging on a hook by the door. I returned to my room to put on fresh pants and a shirt.
From the window, I heard Sheriff Corby and the posse returning. I gave my wet black hair a quick comb before putting my hat on. Next, I strapped on my Colt .45 around my waist. I quickly went downstairs. I wanted to learn more about the robbery I heard about from the hotel employee.
When I saw Sheriff Corby at the door of the Sheriff’s Office, I approached. We exchanged hellos. Sheriff Corby told me the trail for the outlaws went cold at the creek bank. I was questioned about my presence by Sheriff Corby. I told him I was interested because if I came across them in my travels, I would know who they were.
As I was walking across the street, I noticed my sister-in-law Bell was walking out of the dress shop. Her pink lips formed a smile upon seeing me. Bell’s auburn hair was in a bun. She eased her medium build into her surrey. She waited for me. I walked up to Bell’s surrey. After we exchanged hellos, she offered the reins to me. It was her way of hinting to talk to me. I climbed up into the surrey and took the reins. I nudged the reins for the horse to start trotting. Bell started to chat about the new spur line and the railroad buying the land from the ranch. She expressed her excitement about the railroad coming to Willow Ridge. She told me to stop at the café. We decided to have coffee and pie. After we finished eating, I returned to the hotel and Bell continued on her way home.
The land surveyor, Clay Palmer was driving his wagon to Willow Ridge. He enjoyed working for the railroad because he would see different places and beautiful scenery. An older gentleman with a talent for drawing. Clay’s talent allowed him to draw maps with better accuracy than most map makers. The two-horse team trotted along the road as Clay gazed at Willow Ridge. His hands of leather held the reins lightly. He could feel the stubbles on his tan face. Clay was looking forward to a bath and shave. As he was entering the town, Clay saw Willow Ridge Livery. He turned his team to go there. A young man working on a harness saw him approach. Clay brought the wagon to a stop.
As Clay stepped down from the wagon, “Is it alright to leave my wagon and team here?” Clay asked.
“Sure, I’ll put your wagon behind the barn and put the team in a stall. Two dollars a day that includes feed and rubbed down for your horses. I am Zeke, owner of this place. It was my grandpa’s, but he passed last winter. What is your name?” Zeke asked.
“I am Clay Palmer, land surveyor for the Express Railroad Company. Do you know where I can get a hot bath and shave? I like to get the trail dust off,” Clay replied.
“There is a barber and bathhouse across the street from here. The man running it is named Harlin. The best place to eat is Becky’s Café next to the stage depot and post office. If you need a place to stay, there is Clara’s Boarding House at the edge of town and Willow Ridge Hotel across from Silver Horse Saloon,” Zeke happily replied.
As Clay paid Zeke, “Thank you for the information,” he said as Zeke took the money.
Clay walked across the street to Barrett’s Barber Shop and Bath.
Harlin Barrett’s wiry build with thinning brown hair was shaving a man when Clay walked into the shop. Harlin glanced at Clay. Being Harlin was busy with a customer, Clay sat down in the chair next to the window to wait his turn.
After Clay finished his shave and bath, he proceeded to his wagon. He told Zeke he had to meet Jess Reed and Brent Madsen at the Diamond Rose Ranch. Zeke gave him the directions to the ranch.
Brent Madsen was at the Diamond Rose Ranch to purchase the property to put in the spur line. The new track will allow livestock to go to the market sooner and more easily. Brent’s stocky build stood before Melissa Reed in the parlor. He removed his hat. His graying hair was flattened down from the hat. Brent smiled at Melissa. Hue, the Mayor of Willow Ridge, entered the parlor upon hearing his grandmother, Melissa introducing herself. Jess entered the parlor next. Hue’s towering height stood next to Jess’s average build.
“I presume you’re the lady who pushed for the railroad to come,” Brent said.
“My name is Melissa Reed, my grandson and Mayor of Willow Ridge, Doctor Hue Reed, my son, and Hue’s father Jess, and I have a daughter Kali who is not present at the moment. I own Diamond Rose Ranch with my son, Jess. Hue is the local veterinarian, too,” Melissa said with a smile.
She was very proud of her family. Melissa’s sapphire eyes gleamed as she looked at Jess and Hue. Brent shook their hands. Brent was drawn to Melissa’s beauty. She was a petite build with golden curly hair that rested across her shoulders. Her soft red lips formed a smile at Brent as he offered his arm to her to walk outside. Clay stopped his wagon in front of the house. He saw Brent standing next to a lady. Brent introduced Clay to Melissa, Jess, and Hue. Jess told them he would be giving them a tour of the property Brent purchased for the spur line.
“The spur will be connected to the main track after it is complete. It will help this town. It’ll make getting the livestock to the market easier and receive supplies without too much delay,” He said.
“Clay will be surveying the land and creating a map for the railroad workers to lay the tracks. Railroad workers will arrive within a few days. A camp will be outside of town for the workers to stay,” Brent replied.
“It will certainly give this town a boost. It’ll bring people to visit and perhaps to stay,” Jess responded.
The ranch hand brought the surrey to the house. Brent noticed a Golden Palomino in the corral. He inquired about the horse.
“The Palomino was my last gift from my husband for our anniversary. Her name is Golden Rod. I call her Goldie for short. When you have free time, I’ll give you a grand tour of the ranch,” Melissa said.
“I look forward to the tour,” Brent happily replied.
Jess and Hue mounted their horses as Brent and Melissa stepped into the waiting surrey. They followed Jess to the west side of the ranch with Clay following behind the surrey.
