Gold And Silver From The Dead

Gold and silver from the dead turn often into lead. - R. Buckminister Fuller

Eli Fletcher pulled open the door to the hotel and stepped inside, the morning sun illuminating the already bright room. He glanced back at Jason, “I still don’t know why you needed me for this particular outing. You and Cooper were more than capable of handling the wanna-be cattle rustlers.” He brushed the dust from his sleeve as he scanned the room for their quarry.

Jason Cavenaugh shrugged and pushed past him, allowing Cooper Patterson to enter the hotel lobby. “Yeah, but some reason, Mr. Tuttle likes you.” He started to move further into the room but Eli had gotten incredibly still. Jason followed Eli’s line of sight to find whatever had caused him to tense up. His eyes landed on a petite brunette sitting at a table in the back of the hotel’s restaurant area. Before he could ask what the problem was, Eli started moving towards the woman. He looked back at Cooper. “Find Mrs. Tuttle and tell her it’s safe to return home.” Following Eli he stopped behind him and watched the woman look up. He wasn’t sure what he had expected but panic wasn’t it. He looked over at Eli and saw an equally unexpected look.

“Eli…”. Her eyes darted over to the stairs and back to Eli. “You can’t be here. I’ve spent the last three years making sure you weren’t tied to this..making sure you were safe.”

Jason watched her eyes dart over to the stairs again. The original panic he had seen on her face had quickly been quickly replaced but now he watched it return. He glanced up at the stairs and saw two men appear at the top.

“Eli, you need to leave.” Her eyes moved back to Eli’s. “Please.” Realizing Eli wasn’t moving she turned to look at the man standing next to him. If he was who she thought he was maybe there was a chance of keeping Eli out of this. “Get him out of here.” She quickly glanced back over to the stairs before looking back at the man standing next to Eli. “Please.”

Jason pushed Eli past the table and towards the back room. He glanced back at Cooper who was leaning against the bar watching the scene unfold. Pushing open the door he shoved Eli inside. Leaving the door partially open, he positioned himself between it and Eli. “Who is she?” Jason studied Eli’s face. He had seen the man wear a multitude of masks but the one he wore now was full of pain and confusion.

Eli shifted to try to look through the glass pane of the door. “I haven’t seen her in three years.” A glimpse was all he wanted. He tamped down the desperation that was rising in his chest and pulled his eyes away to look over at Jason. “Her name is Maddie…Madeline Parker.” His eyes snapped back over to the door as it pushed open. Hoping for a glimpse, he frowned as Cooper’s frame filled the doorway.

“Jason, Ben’s looking for you. We have some visitors. Federal Marshals.” He glanced back at the table as Ben walked over and started talking to the two men and the woman. He looked back at Jason and Eli. “Why does Eli look like he’s seen a ghost?”

Jason set his jaw. “Because I think he has. Take him to the church and keep him out of sight.” Knowing his directions would be followed he walked through the half open door and made his way to the table.

The two men looked up as he approached. The taller one stood and reached out his hand. “You must be Jason Cavenaugh. Your young sheriff mentioned you were coming back into town this morning.”

“He’s not my Sheriff, he’s The Sheriff. What brings two Federal Marshall’s to town?” Ben Timmons was young and honestly the only one naive enough to put on the badge.

The taller man pulled a sheet of paper out of his jacket pocket and unfolded it before handing it to the man in front of him. He had heard about Jason Cavenaugh. It was one of the reasons Maddie convinced them to stop here. Cabanaugh had a reputation of dealing with problems efficiently. There was an added bonus that he was well thought of by the Circuit Judge. “We’ve tracked him all the way from the east coast.”

Jason looked down at the drawing and breathed an internal sigh of relief that it wasn’t Eli. “Haven’t seen him. What did he do that warrants two Marshall’s following him across the country?” He glanced down at the paper. “Theft and murder don’t exactly seem to be enough to devote that much time and effort.”

“He killed a judge when we got too close one time. Make no mistake, he’s dangerous and needs to be stopped.”

Jason glanced over at the other marshal that had spoken. He was stockier than the other one and had the looks of a man who had seen military service. Jason wasn’t sure exactly what it was but he could always tell. “Ok if I hold onto this?” Receiving a nod from the taller man, he stuffed the paper into his pocket.

The taller man smiled. “Forgive me. I should have made the introductions. I am Sam Langford. My partner is Curtis Shaw.” He glanced down and smiled. “And this is Maddie Parker. She is serving in a consultant capacity.”

Jason nodded and offered a half smile to the woman. He could figure out how a woman that Eli knew from his past was working with Federal Marshall’s later. Before he could ask what their plan was, Ben edged closer.

“Marshall Langford asked if I could accompany them over to Silver Creek to introduce them to the law over there and let them know to keep their eyes open. I told them we had enough people around to take care of the town in my absence. I need to check in with the sheriff over there anyway.” Ben looked at Jason with hope. He may be the sheriff but Jason had years of experience that he didn’t have and despite the older man constantly reminding him that he didn’t have to ask his permission, he did it anyway. It had been unbelievably boring lately. The only excitement had been the problem with the cattle rancher that Jason, Cooper, and Eli had taken care of yesterday. He was bored. A trip to Silver Creek was at least something.

Jason nodded. “I think it’s a good idea. Take Morgan with you.” He nodded and pulled Ben with him as he headed towards the door, stopping when they were out of earshot of the Marshalls. “Keep an eye on Ms. Parker.”

Ben nodded, then paused. “Keep an eye on? Like make sure she don’t get hurt?” He frowned as he added “or like ‘you don’t trust her’”

Jason glanced back at Maddie. “Both.” He clasped Ben on the shoulder as he pushed the door open with his other hand. “Just keep your ears open. And maybe don’t mention Eli. He knows her and until I can figure out how let’s keep that fact to ourselves.”

Ben adjusted his hat. It wasn’t often that Federal Marshall’s came to town. Usually the circuit judge would give them a heads up if something was happening so the fact that he didn’t struck Ben as odd. He slowed his horse’s pace to match Ms. Parker’s horse.“So why is a lady working with Federal Marshall’s?”

Maddie shrugged. “How did a young man from Massachusetts end up out here?”

Ben frowned. “How do you know I’m from Massachusetts?”

Maddie glanced over at Ben and smiled. “Your saddle. It’s a Cummings saddle. Made in Springfield. And your boots are definitely east coast.”

Ben looked down at his saddle and back at Maddie. “I’m not that young.”

Maddie shrugged. “Young enough not to have fought. Even though you try to hide it with the scruff, you haven’t baked in the sun like anyone who was in the cavalry would have…and you’re much too good of a rider not to have been assigned to a cavalry unit.”

Ben turned to look at Morgan Bailey when he chuckled. “I don’t know why you’re laughing.” He adjusted on his horse and looked back at Maddie. “Do him.”

Maddie glanced over. “Mr. Bailey is not from Massachusetts and unlike you he did serve in the military…”. She narrowed her focus and studied the older man, “…probably the northern side.” She looked back at Ben. “You’re a better rider. You enjoy being on a horse. Mr. Bailey sees his horse as a means to an end.”

Marshall Langford chuckled. “And that is one of the reasons she’s with us. Her ability to observe and extrapolate is quite amazing. Quite the strategic mind as well.”

Morgan studied Maddie. Her accent was stronger than Eli’s. She was definitely from the south. Eli had an odd mix that was almost southern influenced British. Jason had mentioned that they knew each other but there was definitely more to the story. She may be observant but he knew women, and she was definitely one that was hiding something and if he had to guess, it had to do with Eli. “So tell us about the man you’re looking for.”

Langford glanced over at his partner. “We have been tracking Darius Mead across the country for more than a couple years. He was involved in an altercation towards the end of the war. Because of some circumstances surrounding the event, he was pursued. We got close in Omaha and he took out a couple Marshalls and a Judge. It was decided at that point a smaller group might be more effective.” The scowl on Shaw’s face was not missed by Sam. Sam knew Curtis had his own personal agenda. So far Curtis’s agenda and the mission weren’t running against each other. He only hoped it continued. For all of their sakes this needed to end soon.

Morgan focused on Marshall Langford. “How are you tracking him?”

“He and his men like to beat up women.” Maddie knew her bluntness wouldn’t be taken well by Curtis but proceeded anyway. “He sticks to the brothels and opportunities that won’t draw a lot of attention. The problem is most of these people won’t talk to Federal Marshall’s so we’re stuck following the injured and dead.” She turned and glared at the scoff that came from Curtis’s direction.

Sensing an impending verbal argument, Morgan guided his horse to walk between Maddie and Curtis. He focused on Maddie. He had learned a long time ago how to diffuse situations. He didn’t aways employ what he knew but right now it seemed to be the right approach. “There are a couple of places around here and unlike Federal Marshall’s, they’ll talk to me. I’ll check on the closest one after we get back from Silver Creek.” He glanced back up to Langford. “How many men are we talking about?” He suspected it had to be more than just Mead. Word of one man taking out multiple Marshall’s and a federal judge and surviving would have traveled fast, even if it had taken place in Nebraska.

“It varies. His brother is traveling with him plus two others from his original gang. He picked up a couple others along the way. We think it could be as many as eight men.” Sam looked back at Morgan. “In all honesty, it’s one of the reasons why we came to your town. We’re as close as we’ve been…close enough where we have a chance. We might need some help. Your town’s reputation is fairly well known as is the reputation of the men who protect it.”

Morgan laughed. “Well, you’ve come to the right place. I imagine we can assist. Never did like a man that treats women poorly so it’ll be a genuine pleasure.”