King of the Gun Trail: A Frontier G-Man Novel Read online

A week later, Jack Clayton was on his way to King City, Texas.

  After his foray in the river, Jack had climbed out of the river, found Regret and rode back to Kansas City. Here he telegraphed ahead to Bannock City to stop the train when it came through. Too late. It had already passed through and didn’t stop. Jack then telegraphed ahead to Prairie Junction but the train never arrived there. Most of the cars were found parked on a secluded spur siding, but the rest of the train was lost without a trace. Authorities were contacted and a search was conducted to no avail. The train with its deadly cargo had vanished.

  Jack had returned to Randolph House much chagrined and with little to go on. Only the distinctive brand on the big man’s horse; the Crown 7. Randolph had made a check of brands and found a Crown 7 registered to an Alexander "Lucky" King. The man was somewhat of a cattle baron and had considerable influence in southern Texas. Not only did he have a considerable spread of 225,000 acres, but he was the leading owner of mining operations in the area. The town of Dusty Flats had grown considerably over the years and three years ago, the town had been named King City after its leading citizen.

  Newspaper search into King’s background found that he was a man of honorable repute and had distinguished military service in the recent war between the states, in which he had risen to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Union Army. His picture showed him to be a tall, powerfully built man. His thick hair grayed at the temples and his eyes were large and alert. Other pictures showed him with the territorial governor, with other dignitaries, and often with attractive women. Most notably was a picture that revealed another man in the background. Jack recognized this man as the man posing as Captain Rafe McLeod and who had been referred to by his associate as Corbin. Without haste, the G-man had saddled up Regret and headed out to King City.

  Regret jaunted along with a steady gait. Jack was lost in reverie, paying little attention to the terrain as Regret picked his way through the brush covered countryside. Jack had deliberately stayed off the main trails on his way to King City. He brought his thoughts to a close for the time being as he squinted up at the noonday sun. He pulled his neckerchief off and wiped the sweat off his brow. Then he tied it loosely back around his neck. He had been traveling steadily, making good time, he thought. Should be in King City in another couple of hours. He would have to ride out of the rough now and follow the main trail the rest of the way into King City. The main trail ran though Easy Canyon and there wasn’t much passable terrain on either side to avoid it.

  Jack nudged Regret slightly and raised the reins loosely, guiding him up the hillside. The main trail lie and the other side. They were just nearing the top of the ridge, when he pulled up sharply. The sound of gunfire broke the stillness of the day just beyond the ridge. Upon reaching the crest of the ridge, Clayton gazed at the scene on the trail below.

  Off to his left an open buggy, pulled by a swift gray mare, clamored around a bend in the trail. They gray’s tail streaming out behind her, galloped with frenzy, the buggy wheels slewing around the turn, churning dust into the eyes of the slight, red haired woman whipping the reins frantically, driving the mare recklessly onward.

  Behind her, a masked rider, bandanna across the bottom half of his face raced his mount after the buggy. He fired his pistol again and the buggy slewed to the left and then back to the center of the trail. She whipped at the mare again.

  The rider was gaining on her now, he fired twice more. Shooting from a moving horse at a moving target was almost impossible. A hit would be luck.

  Jack Clayton hardly needed to urge Regret into action. Jack pulled his six gun as they trekked down the slope toward the trail. Without slackening speed, he threw two quick shots of warning at the masked man. The distance was too far to hope for a hit.

  The man pulled his horse up short, threw a quick shot at Clayton, then pulled his horse around, and retreated, drumming his boot heels into his mount’s sides, vacating the area as quickly as possible.

  The woman in the carriage had passed by as Jack rode into the play. She was already far down the road sliding around a hairpin turn. She screeched with terror as the buggy half turned sideways. She had lost her grip on the reins and they now dragged beneath the horse that now seemed to be running away down the dusty trail.

  Jack holstered his pistol and let the fleeting man ride on. A word to Regret and they galloped off down the road after carriage.

  Regret quickly cut the distance down, gaining steadily on the careening vehicle. Dust swirled around the G-man as his mount’s shod hooves churned up the dry trail. The whirling wheels of the carriage spewed another cloud of dust behind it, enveloping Jack in its haze. Closer and closer horse and rider began to overtake the runaway buggy. Emerging from the cloud of dust to pass the carriage on the left, Clayton could hear the screaming woman and could see the look of panic in her face. She gripped both side rails of the carriage seat in a death grip, swaying back and forth almost drunkenly, totally out of control of all balance, feeling every bump and twist of the trail.

  Jack, on the big black stallion, pulled alongside not slackening pace a bit. They passed the buggy, came alongside the gray mare. She was tiring and she began to falter.

  As he came close, Clayton reached out, grasped the Mare’s bridle and pulled back, at the same time bringing his own reins up sharply, pulling Regret into a halt. A few sliding slowing strides and the mare and carriage rolled to a stop.

  Jack leaped from the saddle and ran to the side of the carriage. "Are you all right, Ma’am.?" The question was automatic, but he could see that she was sobbing and distraught. She didn’t answer at first. Then catching herself and her breath, she pulled herself erect, smoothed out her gingham gown, dabbed at her eyes with a finger, wiping away the tears

  "Ma’am." Jack repeated.

  "Yes, yes," she began to blurt. "It was awful. That man…" adding "Why?"

  "Just try to relax Ma’am, "Jack said with a calming reassuring tone. "It’s all over now. Everything is all right. If you like I can drive you on into town."

  She nodded. "Would you?" You’re so very kind"

  "Glad to, "Jack said, tipping his black Stetson. "I’ll just tie my horse in the back and be right with you."

  The woman’s sobbing seemed to subside as Jack led Regret to the rear of the carriage and tied him securely. He strode back to the carriage, placed his hands on the sides of the seat, lifted his right leg to step on the running board and started to push himself upward, becoming a bit off balance when surprise struck.

  The woman’s head came erect. There was no longer fear in her face. Sharp fiery green eyes blazed out from under the red shocks of flowing long red hair. For the first time, Jack could see the full view of her face and would have found her extremely attractive if it weren’t for the malice in her stare, the threat in her voice and the Colt. 45 held firmly in her hand. "Hold it right there, Galahad," she warned, the large black muzzle yawning at Clayton. "Don’t move a hair. Just keep that position like it is."

  Jack forced a wry grin. Duped again. "I suppose this was just a setup and I fell for it. Your mistake lady. I haven’t got anything worth stealing."

  "Shut up. Now very carefully release your left hand and slide your guns out and toss them on the seat next to me."

  The G-Man complied. Silently, without a word and keeping his eyes on her, he slipped his sidearm free from his hip and let it fall onto the cushion.

  "The other one, "She demanded sternly, letting the barrel of her pistol waver toward Clayton’s left shoulder.

  Clayton pursed his lips in disgust and keeping a wary eye on her, he reluctantly extracted the pistol from his shoulder harness hidden beneath his leather vest and dropped it on the cushion also.

  "Now. Keep your hands high and step back," she ordered.

  Clayton released his hold on the step and stood up on both feet. "Go on! Step back," she repeated.

  He did so. "Keep stepping back." She jerked the muzzle upward threateningly. With out a word, h
e did so.

  "All right, stop!" She demanded. "Now turn around and start moving back the way you came." Jack hesitated, glancing back down the trail, then up at the sun, and then back to his captor.

  "You going to leave me out here on foot?"

  She didn’t answer. She just motioned with her pistol. "Move, I said. Or I’ll leave you out here on your stomach, oozing your guts out."

  "I believe you would, "Jack chided,. sighed and turned to face the trail from which he had come from. Then he glanced at Regret tied firmly to the carriage." So long old pal."Jack nodded to the big black then glared back at the woman. "Sorry Ma’am," he said calmly. "I’m afraid you’re going to Regret this." Then with a sigh, the G-Man began to walk down the trail, his arms still held high.

  He had walked about a hundred feet, when he heard the crack of the buggy whip and the rolling of the wheels as the carriage continued on. He stopped, lowered his arms, and stood there watching the woman travel on. A wry grin began to form on his face as he watched and waited. "Just about now, anytime now, Regret." he thought to himself. "Do your stuff."

  With a sudden digging in of his hooves, Regret virtually set the brakes. He began to slide on his hooves, as he pulled back violently and rearing upward as far as he could, coming back down and pulling again.

  The mare felt the sudden drag and began to bolt. The woman lashed the buggy whip outward and stung the mare’s left flank. This only added to the mare’s confusion. She was already tired and her strength was ebbing rapidly trying to overcome the anchoring weight dragging behind.

  Jack chuckled to himself and strode back down the trail toward the carriage.

  By the time he reached the buggy, it had come to a complete stop. Regret was now sitting back on his haunches holding the carriage in its place. Jack laughed to himself. He could imagine the amusement Regret himself was feeling.

  Jack strode back to the carriage. "Having problems, Lady?" He taunted with amusement.

  She turned in her seat and glared at him, fire in her face. "I told you to get out of here," She blustered.

  "Now, now don’t be hasty. I can help you. But if you don’t want my help, "He lifted his arms, palms up, shrugged his shoulders, twisted his mouth sideways in a half grin. "That, "he said, pointing at Regret. "is the stubbornest animal I ever saw." He turned and started to walk away.

  "Wait a minute! Come back here!" She shouted, defeat in her voice.

  He stopped, waited a moment, turned and grinned with self satisfaction." I wish you’d make up your mind, Lady. What is it with you anyhow?" I save you from that bandit and then you turn on me. I even offered to drive you into town. I don’t get it."

  "How did I know I could trust you?" What if you tried to take advantage?"

  "Don’t flatter yourself, Lady, "Jack sneered. "I’d just as soon have a rattle snake. At least they’re predictable."

  "Why you.." She gritted her teeth. "I should have shot you in the first place."

  "Go ahead. Then you deal with that big overgrown jack ass."

  Regret snorted as if he understood the insult.

  "Look, " Jack said. "We’re both going into town, so let me drive you in." He grinned. "You can keep my guns until then." Then he added, "I’ll probably regret that. Then we can go our separate ways."

  She considered it a moment." All right. But don’t try anything."

  "I wouldn’t dream of it." He started to climb aboard, before she could change her mind.

  She slid to the right side of seat, scooped up the guns and place them in the lap folds of her skirt. She kept her pistol in her hand, trained on Jack.

  "Just be careful with that thing." Jack pleaded. "It can be a bumpy trail. I wouldn’t want it going off accidental like."

  "If it goes off, it will be no accident." She warned.

  Jack grinned wryly and spoke over his shoulder. "O.K pal, rest time is over. Let’s go."

  Regret whinnied, pushed himself to his feet and shook himself all over. Jack clucked to the mare and the carriage began to roll on. Regret lumbered on willingly.

  Neither driver nor passenger spoke for several minutes as the carriage rolled on down the canyon trail. Finally, Jack broke the silence. "What were you doing out here and why was that man after you?"

  "Don’t ask questions, Mister." She stated flatly.

  "It’s Jack, "He said. "Jack Clayton." He waited for her to reciprocate. She didn’t.

  "Well, "Jack said. "You got a name?"

  "Of course, I’ve got a name," she snapped. "But, you don’t need to know."

  "All right, Miss But you don’t need to know. I must say that is a mighty unusual name."

  She glared at him with exasperation. They were well into the canyon by now. ."Look, I’m tired of this. Just shut up and drive. "Nervousness trembled in her voice and she glanced upward at the sides of the canyon. Her green eyes glanced back and forth with apprehension.

  Jack sensed there was something more than just her irritation with him. "O.k., o.k., "he conceded and fell silent, feeling the girl’s increasing uneasiness. The hackles on the back of his neck began to bristle and he felt the chill of danger.

  Nonchalantly, Clayton glanced furtively up the canyon walls, trying not to show he had noticed his companion’s uneasiness.

  This would be a good place for an ambush, he thought. Had he been duped again?" Was this all a set up?" He would have to be ready. He snapped up the reins and urged the mare a little faster, but not fast enough to show concern. He would be glad to get through this canyon and hopefully alive.

  The G-Man’s suspicions were well founded. On the rims of the canyon, a man was stationed on one side and two men were stationed on the other, hidden by large boulders. They each had a rifle resting across a rock for support and a clear view of the trail was below them.

  "Something’s wrong here." Gar Corbin growled, watching the scene unfolding as Regret held up the carriage and Clayton striding back to climb into the buggy. He muttered to Bart Sprague beside him. Then he gasped and uttered a string of obscenities.

  "What the hell is she doing?" Anger rose ."She’s got Clayton in the carriage with her. That’s not the plan."

  "So, what?" Sprague grinned. "We shoot them both. Simple."

  "Yeah, well the boss wouldn’t like that." Corbin growled.

  "I would, "Sprague chuckled.

  Of course he would, Corbin thought. Sprague liked killing. He glared at Sprague, tried to hide his own fear of the killer. "Something went wrong. We let them pass. The boss will have to think of another way."

  The carriage rolled through. No action was taken by Corbin and Sprague, so Shep Palmer on the opposite rim followed suit. His orders had been to open up only when Corbin and Sprague started to fire. Besides, the carriage was to pass first, then Clayton on foot and unarmed would have been the target. Palmer knew the plan had gone awry. As the buggy passed on out of sight. Shep Palmer moved back from the rocks, mounted his horse and set out to rendezvous with his cohorts.

  Jack tried not to show his relief as they emerged out of the canyon and he noticed a relaxation on the part of his companion. She lowered her pistol to the fold of her skirt and place it with the others. Jack noticed and kept a smile to himself. Things seemed to be melting. He clucked to the mare and they continued on down the trail to King City.

  *****

  Chapter Ten

  A Change of Plans