Emmett and Marie stepped out into the street. They left Jonathan and Lottie in the hotel while they went to meet with the Auctioneer

“You weren’t wrong.” Marie said. “Lottie nearly blew a gasket.”

Emmett nodded and watched the cloaked figure in his peripheral vision.

They are watching the stable. Do they know who we are? Or just that there was a cart coming into town?

“We will go quickly. There and back, and then stock up and leave.” Emmett said.

They walked quickly up the street to the Grand hotel. Since it was mid-day, there weren’t any revelers about.

They are all sleeping in and nursing their heads. How many of them have completely forgotten last night? How many of them even care?

At the Grand, Emmett stayed out front again and Marie went inside.

This guy seems like the usual pricks the Auction house sends. Wait until he sees we have two loot crates. He will either pay triple, or try to rob us.

Emmett watched the blurry cloaked figure in the reflection of the barbershop across the road.

They definitely know we are interesting now. Nobody without money cares to get within spitting distance of the Grand hotel.

He was about to go introduce himself to their shadow when Marie returned on the arm of the Auctioneer.

“This is him then?” The Auctioneer said looking down his nose at Emmett’s dusty clothes.

“Captain Miller.” Marie said in her best dealmaking tone.

“Well met sir.” Emmett said and dusted off his hand on his denims before offering it to the man.

He shook it but immediately brought out a handkerchief to wash his hand.

“Emmett this is Auctioneer Castellanos.” She said with a winning smile.

“Well let’s go see what you found.”

-

“Well you certainly struck it rich here.” The Auctioneer said.

Jonathan clapped his hands together excitedly.

“Thank you sir.” Emmett said.

“And if your discovery leads to further crates then we will have a happy future together.” He continued.

“Well we certainly think so.” Johnathan said. “Lottie, we can head back strait away and continue our search.”

“Oh no, you need to bring these crates to New Amsterdam.”

“That’s not the deal.” Emmett growled.

Marie stepped in. “Won’t you take ownership of them? We can broker a deposit through you and then come to New Amsterdam for the rest of the payment.”

“That was the old way of doing things. But these last few months many of these crates and artifacts have been stolen. I cannot vary that kind of cash around. You lot will need to escort it to the auction house. The Castellanos cannot take the liability of transporting it so far.”

Damn him. That’s a week out of our way. There and back could be enough time for another scholar to get to the shaft and set up a claim.

“Perhaps we could split up.” Lottie said. “Marie and Emmett could travel to the city and complete the deal.”

Johnathan’s shoulders sagged.

“It’s too dangerous for the same reasons this boot shiner won’t take the risk.” Emmett grumbled. “And I wouldn’t trust you to Johnathan’s survival skills.”

“He’s right.” Marie said. “Johnathan needs a keeper.”

“Hey!” Johnathan cried. “My old mum, bless her soul, always said I was a keeper.”

The Actioneer wiped his hands off with his handkerchief again. He had chopped away at the stone loot crates for ten minutes. Until he was satisfied they were authentic and untampered with. He packed up his tools and made to leave.

“I’m heading back on the 2 pm train. That’s three quarters of an hour from now. Best be on it, it’s the last one heading north for a few days.” The Auctioneer said.

Marie stepped up to escort him out.

“We will be on it. You can count on us.” She said.

-

“Can we really swing this?” Johnathan asked.

“We have to.” Emmett said. “Lottie, while in New Amsterdam, could you present your certificate from the church to one of those scholars?”

“I could…” she replied. “That would put any associated scholarly endeavor under my name.”

She got excited then and grabbed Emmett’s hand.

“Then it wouldn’t matter if they sent a whole team of scholars out to the shaft. It would be my expedition officially!”

There’s the smile.

“Then that settles it.” Johnathan said. “Let’s pack up and get on that train. I love trains.”

“I’ll get our things.” Marie said.

“I’ll signal Hawk.” Emmett said and stepped to the stable door.

The shadow of two boots stretched under the door.

Small boots, and quiet feet in them.

Emmett drew his pistol and signaled to his crew to keep talking normally.

“I- uh, I wonder what the dinner will be on the train.” Johnathan said awkwardly.

“We will just have to find out. Don’t be a silly goose Johnny.”

Are they just eavesdropping? Or are they going to bust in with numbers?

“A good guess sister dear, perhaps it will be silly goose.” Johnathan said as he put on his gloves.

Mari moved and guided Lottie into a horse stall. She checked the back door, it was latched and barred. She returned with her carbine up and nodded to Emmett.

Low and slow.

Emmett braced himself to fling the door open but the boots ran off.

You aren’t getting away from me!

Emmett burst from the barn pistols first to find several men with bandanas over their faces and clubs in their hands. Two of them held a large net.

So it’s like that then.

Mari burst from the stable half a second later and pulled up her rifle.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

“Drop your guns. Both of you.” The overweight man in the middle said.

The ringleader of this rag tag group.

Emmett kept his guns low and ready.

I know him. He works down the street at the bakery.

He turned a skeptical eye to the man and then Marie.

“Well Captain?” She said. “Do we have something to say to these locals?”

Damn these civilians. They think they are hard enough to try me? They are so soft. And this town isn’t even that lean.

“I said drop the guns or we will beat them out of your hands!” The baker shouted.

The men around him took a step forwards.

Some of them can’t be old enough to taste whisky. No point in putting them in the ground if they just go.

Emmett holstered his guns.

“Good. Now stand aside and nobody gets-“ the baker said before Emmett interrupted him.

“Go home boys. You don’t want this trouble. Don’t test me today. I don’t need your blood on my hands too.”

A couple of the kids looked at each other, uncertain if they were staying.

“Maybe you can’t count hombre.” Another masked man said, stepping forwards. “You can see we have you out numbered.”

“Johnathan? Can you bring me my saber?” Emmett said.

“I’d rather not. Just send them away!” Johnathan said. “Ouch!”

Lottie must have hit him.

Johnathan was pushed out of the stable door with Emmett’s saber in his hands.

“Thank you.” Emmett said.

“Emmett you boys have this covered. I’ll get the wagon ready.” Marie said and disappeared back into to barn.

“It’s better she doesn’t see this.” The baker said confidently.

“There’s seven men over there.” Johnathan said tightening his gloves.

“I wouldn’t say that. Five dollars says those two over there haven’t got enough hair on their chins to shave.” Emmett said.

“I’ll take that bet, you can have the four on the left then.” Johnathan said.

Emmett unsheathed his saber and took a practice swing. He pointed the sheathe at the two guys with the net.

“One of you got a club too? You can go with the boys and gang up on my old pall Johnny boy there.”

The two men discussed it quietly and one dropped his part of the net in favor of his plank with a nail in it.

Weird guy, who brings a plank with a nail to the fight?

“Last chance cowboy!” The baker shouted but his confidence had left him.

Johnathan closed the distance to the boys with clubs in three strides. He ducked the first one’s club as the kid swung for his head.

“Up you go!” Johnathan said as he grabbed the boy’s wrist, turned about and threw him over his shoulder into the second boy.

The man with the plank swung for Johnathan’s body and he had to jump back to avoid the nail.

The baker and three other men rushed Emmett. He charged forwards to meet them halfway.

I can split the group.

The man with the net threw it too early and Emmett leaped to the side and rolled to avoid it.

Too soft.

Emmett sheathed the saber and blocked club after club, batting them aside. He pushed his attackers back until they stepped onto the net, tying up their feet.

“Behind you Captain!” Johnathan shouted.

Emmett turned and drew his saber to slice through the Baker’s club.

“I knew he was there!” Emmett shouted back.

Johnathan delivered a punch from his hip to his attacker’s face, blackening the man’s eye.

“Seemed like he was going to lay you out.” Johnathan said laughing.

One of the boys crawled free of his friend and grabbed onto Johnathan. The boy bit down hard on his leg. Johnathan yelled and tried to shake the boy off.

“Need a hand?” Emmett called over laughing.

He kicked the baker causing him to fall kettle over cauldron and turned to slice through another club before the three remaining guys could surround him.

Johnathan kicked the other boy hard in the side before he could get up. The kid yelped, losing his breathe.

Jonathan was slapping the biter but he still wouldn’t let go.

At this point the man with the plank took a swing at Jonathan, which he had to block with his forearm. He connected with the plank well inside of the weapon’s reach, avoiding the nail.

Marie and Lottie stepped out of the stable cautiously and avoided the brawl as they went into the hotel to grab their belongings.

“Don’t you boys take too long now, we have a train to catch.” Marie said laughing.

The men all took a few breaths.

“Not too late to pack up and go guys.” Emmett said. “No real harm done.”

The baker looked at his gang and thought it over.

“Emmett this kid bit my leg. That was harmful.” Johnathan said.

“Thats the deal Mr. baker. You and your boys walk away now. No harm no foul and Johnny boy gets to bite that kid.” Emmett said. “Seems fair to me.”

“My Jones! Don’t let him bite me!” The kid wailed and tried to scramble away, but Johnathan grabbed him by the back of his shirt and kneeled on him.

“Let’s see that chin of yours.” Jonathan said. He removed the boys bandana from his face and the kid had pouty lips.

Damn.

“You owe me five bucks Emmett.” Jonathan said proudly.

Emmett moved into striking range and held his saber in the ready position.

“What’s it going to be?” Emmett asked.

“Shit. Let’s go boys.” Mr. Jones said.

The men all dusted themselves off together on the other side of the street.

Emmett grabbed the plank with a nail in it from the man as he passed.

“Nasty weapon here.” Emmett said and before he could object, Emmett turned and tossed it up on the roof of the stable.

The man slumped his shoulders and hurried off up the street with the rest of the gang.

They turned into the alley behind the bakery and were out of sight.

“Got to love the local culture.”

-

“Yes I need these horses and this wagon on this train.” Jonathan was fuming.

“Why don’t you just ride the cart?” The railman asked with a heavy Spanish accent.

“I’ve told you.” Jonathan dragged his hands down his face. “We’ve been through this twice already.”

Emmett tied the horses tot he inside of the rail car. The railman who owned or leased the railcar specialized in moving cattle. He had 4 dairy cows in the car, with room to pick up 4 more again.

There was plenty of room for their 5 horses and the cart.

He checked the knots on the water barrels secretly containing their loot crates.

These aren’t going anywhere. I may as well ride back here and keep an eye on them.

“No I don’t want to rent the whole car. I just need to tie down these 5 horses and the cart until New Amsterdam!” Jonathan shouted.

The railman waived him off and responded in Spanish, his accent too thick for Emmett to understand.

“He can hear you just fine without the yelling.” Emmett said. “Just pay the man Jonathan.”

“He’s charging us for the whole car, when there is room for more cattle at any of the other stops.”

The man said something else in his heavy Spanish and Jonathan started putting on his gloves.

“Alright that’s enough. Just pay him and we can get underway.”

Emmett stepped out of the railcar and back onto the station platform.

Mari and Lottie were leaving the ticket office and pushing a luggage cart with the group’s bags.

The first time we will be traveling in such luxury in a long time.

A spot of light reflected off the ground and then up onto Emmett’s hand.

Thats Hawk’s signal he’s on the train.

Emmett followed the beam of light back to Hawk’s small mirror. The silent sniper was laying down on top of the train. He had belted himself to an air vent.

Hawk’s beam of light scrambled across the platform to chase after Mari and Lottie.

A cushy train ride out east. It’s going to make us soft. The west is the only place for tough folk like us.

“Hands up Miller!” A man in a dark riding coat shouted.

Emmett turned slowly to see Jamestown’s sheriff flashing his silver star badge with one hand and tracking Emmett’s movements with a scatter rifle with his other.

“You know there’s a warrant for your arrest?” The sheriff asked.

Dammit. This is going to complicate things.

“I suspected as much.” Emmett said. “Although I did not think word would spread so soon.”

Marie and Lottie handed their bags up to the porter and boarded the train.

They can all make it to New Amsterdam without me.

“Where’s your gang?” The sheriff asked.

“I ditched them back in town. They wanted to head east and I’m for the west.”

“Damn railway robbery is what it is.” Jonathan grumbled to himself before looking up and spotting the sheriff with his shotgun leveled at Emmett.

“What’s going on here sheriff?” Jonathan cried. “Are we in danger?”

“Stand down civilian!” The sheriff shouted. “This is Emmett Miller, a dangerous man. He’s wanted for his crimes in Skuduggery. Get back on the train.”

“Dear lord! I have never met someone so fearsome in my life. Thank you sheriff for apprehending him!” Jonathan cried.

He backed up into the cattle car and hid behind the sliding door.

I can’t tell which of them is the bigger idiot.

“Now make your choice. Come quietly or draw those guns Miller.” The sheriff said cooly.

If I give the signal Hawk will take him out. But that just raises my bounty.

Emmett gave Hawk the stand down signal.

Emmett stared at the sheriff’s eyes. They were red from the sun, wrinkled from the sand cut wind. The man wore a full mustache that commanded his upper lip. His eyes were fair, his hands wiry and strong. The muzzle of the man’s scatter rifle did not waver an inch.

Not sure how I’m going to get out of this one. At least the crew will get away okay.

The wind whistled down the platform and the station master called for everyone to board.

“Come along then cowboy.” The sheriff said.

Emmett’s hands knew exactly where his revolvers were. They could reach them and draw in a fraction of a second, just like the thousands after thousands of times they had done the trick already.

My guns are right there. Where they have always been. Trusted friends and task masters. The tools of my trade.

The sheriff got a panicked look in his eyes and tensed up.

He knows I could kill him where he stands.

Hawk’s mirror flashed and skittered up the sheriff’s chest then jumped to his eyes.

The sheriff pulled both triggers.

Emmett jumped to the side away from the scatter shot and nearly collided with a horse as it stomped its way out of the railcar.

“Oh no! He’s stolen a horse!” Jonathan wailed melodramatically.

Emmett drew his revolver with his left hand and destroyed the scatter rifle with two shots.

“See you at the next stop.” Emmett hissed to Jonathan as he threw himself up onto the horse.

Bareback? Did he take the saddle off just to chaff me?

Jonathan stumbled forwards and grabbed ahold of the sheriff. He was in a terrible emotional state.

“Sheriff! He’s stolen my horse!” He wailed and fumbled with the man’s coat preventing him from drawing his revolver.

Emmett didn’t hear the rest as he stole off down the platform.

Lottie stared wide eyed out the widow of her cabin. Emmett couldn’t help but give her a tip of his hat as he flew past.

“Let go of me you idiot!” The sheriff shouted throwing Jonathan down on the platform. “Now he’s gotten away! He will be out west by sundown and like to never come back here again.”

The sheriff stormed off down the platform and kicked a waste basket. Jonathan stood to dust himself off.

“What’s going on here?” The ticket master asked.

Jonathan presented his ticket and turned to look at the sheriff’s retreating back.

“Lovers quarrel. Nothing to worry about.” Jonathan said. “Are we set to go?”

-