- 8 - Emmett Miller

Emmett and Mari sat at a back table in the saloon. Emmett was brooding under his hat and Mari was drafting her telegraph.

Damn dusty town doesn’t even have a telegraph operator.

Mari wrote in small capital letters. Once the form was filled out she would take it to the telegraph machine and it would produce a punch card with her message on it.

Machines like this are taking over the world soon the only thing men will be good for is killing.

Lottie and Jonathan returned from the rooms upstairs. She had changed into a layered cotton dress with a petticoat. Jonathan was in white cotton slacks and a blue military cut vest.

“Emmett!” Jonathan waved, but got no response. “They have a snooker table!”

The two siblings ordered drinks at the bar and brought a bottle of whiskey and 4 glasses to Emmett's table. Emmett stood to help Lottie find a chair.

“You’ll have to shower Emmett. The water was hot!” Jonathan said. He placed the bottle down and poured Mari and Lottie each a glass, then poured himself one and threw it down his throat.

Hot water makes you soft.

“Gah! Shat’s rough stuff.” Jonathan said wiping his eyes. “Lottie wait a moment and let that breathe, I’ll get you a chaser.”

He plays the fool well.

Emmett took half his whiskey. It was under proof and dry.

Jonathan returned with a bottle of soda for his sister and poured himself another glass.

Mari downed her glass, grimaced and stood to leave.

“I’ll be a minute at the telegraph office. Then I’ll be upstairs for the rest of the evening,” Mari said.

The men in the room watched her leave. She swayed in the hips and her rifle hung past her slender waist. Emmett watched the men.

“Lottie, you and I will need to go to write a telegraph soon.” Emmett said. “This town doesn't have an operator.”

“Oh I can write it myself Emmett.” She said, the whiskey was working its magic on her.

“You certainly can, but a town like this, you have to assume it’s not friendly.” Emmett said. “Where are we at with the horses Johnathan?”

“I rented us out the whole stable. A stall for our gear too.” Jonathan said, he held up a key on a leather string. “Locked it up with old Gertrude.”

"Sounds expensive." Emmett said. "We don't want to make too big of a footprint here."

“The general store was over priced.” Lottie said. “But I managed to purchase rations.”

“The water and dried tack seemed fresh.” Jonathan said.

“Do you think we could buy a wagon here? It would make the leg to Jamestown quicker.” Emmett asked.

“Haven’t seen one for sale but I can ask.” Jonathan said.

“Alright, ask around. This is a lean town, they may be one for sale.” Emmett said. “You might meet two old timers, Scott and Guss. They will snooker you out of your cash if you aren’t careful.”

“They can certainly try.” Jonathan said and downed his next glass of whiskey.

Floorboards creaked and Emmett checked the room.

Nobody moved. Exits are clear. Not much wind outside.

-

“I’ve got it.” Lottie said. “Your fingers are too big for this.”

Lottie was leaning over the desk, her hair hanging down waving gently as she worked.

Emmett put his hands up over his head and let the woman do what she wanted. Lottie could get focused, and she had a stubborn streak.

Stubborn isn’t bad, it can lead to a hardness, or it can break you.

“Big fingers can be good for somethings.” Mari said.

“Well punch cards and machine forms aren’t one of them.” Lottie said.

Lottie had filled three pages of her sketchbook with drafts before she started filling out the form. Emmett had started to transcribe it for her but his handwriting wasn’t good enough for the scholar.

“Well I’m done with the telegraph, I’m in for a quick bath and a soft bed for the night.” Mari said.

She checked her rifle and left them alone. The telegraph office was quiet enough for Emmett to hear Lottie mumbling to herself. She filled out two punch cards. She beamed when she showed them to Emmett. Holding them up like they were a diploma.

“You expect to end up in the paper? You nearly wrote a whole article.” Emmett said with a rare smile.

He took the punch cards and entered the address for the university in to the machine. It whirred to life and sent an encoded signal down the line to establish a connection.

“Its a fantastic discovery. They may very well send out an expedition to explore further immediately.” Lottie said. “I included all of the relevant information.”

A bell on the machine dinged, signaling that the connection to the machine at the university was successful. Emmett fed the punch cards into the machine one after the other. The system ate them up and typed out the message in dots and dashes. The punch cards were stamped with the date and time and registration code of this particular machine and spat back out. Emmett gave them back to Lottie and she folded them and tucked them into her purse.

“We will wait a minute for a response.” Emmett said.

Lottie nodded but she wasn't listening as she made notes in her sketchbook.

What else can I talk about? I'm a ghost of a man.

“We will leave tomorrow with or without a response. We can check for a message in Jamestown.” He said.

Best made plans change overnight.

“We will buy a wagon and leave tomorrow.” He said.

“Couldn’t we split up?” Lottie asked. “You and Jonathan could head to Jamestown with the wagon and the rest of us could return to the shaft.”

“The shaft will wait. It’s been there for a thousand years and it won’t wander off.”

“What if someone else discovers it?”

Dwarves may discover our trespassing.

“We closed the doors. Nobody else can figure out the trick to open them.” Emmett said. “We stick together. To Jamestown. Meet your university folks, head back together.” Emmett said.

Easy as it sounds. Until something goes awry.

“But the-“

“Lets go check on that brother of yours. I have a feeling he’s bleeding money at the snooker table by now.” Emmett said.

-

Balls slapped together with a crash.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

“Nice pocket action young fella.” Said Scott.

“I’m an old hand at this.” Jonathan said, leaning over the table. He balanced himself, lifting his leg out and to the side to get the correct angle.

Guss changed positions to stay out of the way.

“You can work a stick too.” He said.

Jonathan gripped the stick firmly and slid it over his palm smoothly, taking his time. Getting the feeling for the stroke just right. Then he took his shot. With a bang, another snooker ball went into the pocket.

“Well damn boy, I haven't seen balls worked so well since Guss here was young.” Scott said laughing.

“Your sister worked the balls and the stick just fine!” Guss said.

“You shut your damn mouth about my sister. I still haven't forgotten about you standing her up.”

“It was all fair game. She had me standing up, sitting down, laying down a plenty!” Guss bent over laughing.

Jonathan took another shot and the ball ricocheted twice and bounced off the side pocket fender without going in. The two old timers got serious as Guss circled the table like a carrion bird, looking for his shot.

“Tough luck young fella, looks like you’ll have to hold your stick for a while, I’ll be finishing first.” He said as he ran the last 5 balls off the table in under a minute.

“That’s how an old fart does it!" Scott said.

“Quick as a whistle with no foreplay.” Jonathan said downing his drink.

“Oh ho! A fast toungue on this boy! How about another game, against Scott this time?” Guss said.

“Only if we double the bet.” Jonathan replied. "I got to make up my losses."

Lottie entered with Emmett behind her. She went to the bar, and he made a beeline for the stairs.

“Emmett will join us and we can play doubles.” Jonathan said. “Emmett!”

Emmett did not slowdown.

“Seems like he has his own idea of a good time.” Said Scott. “A little snooker upstairs with your lady friend perhaps.”

“Oh Mari? I doubt it, there’s not a sensual bone in her body.” Jonathan said

“Would she like one?” Guss asked waggling his eyebrows suggestively.

The three men laughed and racked their balls.

-

Its quiet up here. Too quiet.

Emmett checked his room, he would be sharing with Jonathan, then checked the room next door that Lottie and Mari would be sharing.

He left the all clear mark on each door.

He passed the washroom and noticed that Mari had hung her scarf on the door.

All clear here too then.

A clash and laughter from downstairs caught his attention.

“Jonathan. You will be the death of me.”

Emmett descended the stairs to find the room peaceful. Jonathan was playing a competitive game of snooker in the corner against the two old timers from the beach. Lottie was at the bar with another whiskey and a soda. The town’s sheriff was leaning against the bar chatting with her. He raised his hand to the bartender and ordered two more whiskeys, one for Lottie.

“Lottie! There you are!” Emmett was at the bar in two seconds and picked up the new glass of whiskey, downing it.

“Thank you Sherrriff.” Emmett said holding out his hand.

Strong whiskey, not the watered swill we’ve been drinking.

“We haven’t been properly introduced. Emmett Miller, Delver.”

“Pleasure to meet you. A Delver in our town, that’s quite exciting.” He said taking Emmett’s hand. “Sheriff Hansom, but you can call me Finn.”

Handsome indeed. Trouble is what that is.

“I hope everything is alright, we won’t be staying long but I know my people can cause a stir.” Emmett said.

“Oh no, we appreciate the fresh faces and of course the shopkeeps love the infusion of cash.” He replied. “Have you been to our general store?”

“Oh yes, we found everything we need.” Lottie said.

“Heading west?” He asked casually.

“Oh no, we are headed for Jamestown.” Lottie said.

“Fine town, that, not a dried up one like ours.” Finn said.

“We are looking to apply for a new claim on some shafts further north. We’ve struck out at the ones around here.” Emmett said.

If Jonathan’s idiocy doesn’t kill me, Lottie’s honesty will.

“Cheater!” Shouted one of the old timers.

Emmett turned to see the two old men holding Johnathan by his fancy vest.

“Dammit Jonathan!” he shouted. Before he could take two steps a deputy entered to his right with two men in long coats holding scatter rifles beside him.

Low and forward.

Emmet stood his ground, hands low and ready. The wind blew harder outside.

I know those scatter rifles. They’ve been into our gear. Old Gertrude is getting too loose.

“Now Emmett, stay calm. No need to be so rash.” Sheriff Hansom said calmly.

“I didn’t cheat Emmett, not this time.” Jonathan said before Guss slapped him across the face.

“Jonathan!” Lottie said. She rushed to him but the sheriff grabbed her wrist and held her fast.

“Now I said wait.” He said. “Amos, the lady needs a chair.”

The deputy, Amos, dragged a chair and table over for Lottie to sit at.

“Now Emmett, We aren't in the west. I have a couple questions for you. Will you respect the law in my town?”

“I will.” Emmett replied.

“Good. Now I know you see those two scatter rifles. Yes?”

“I do.”

“Don’t shoot us. We don’t want any trouble.” Jonathan shouted.

Does he never shut up?

“They were discovered amongst your gear. How long have you had them?” The sheriff asked.

What’s his game? Is he trying to settle me? He’ll find the truth in my bullets.

“Only a short while.” Emmett said honestly.

“I thought so, you see a short while ago a gentleman rode through town and hired on those two guns. And two brothers to carry them. Those men were the son’s of the two men standing there beside my deputy.”

“We found them. Never saw nobody holding them.” Jonathan shouted. He slowly pulled out a couple leather gloves from his vest pocket and slipped them on.

Scott pulled a short knife and threatened Jonathan with it.

“When I need your help I’ll ask for it Jonathan.” Emmett growled.

“Does he speak true? Or did you kill for these guns?” The sheriff asked. “They were good lads, old fashioned boys. Would have served in the war if they had been of age.”

The floorboards creaked and the bartender stooped to grab a rifle from under the bar and bring it up to his shoulder.

Things are heating up in here. Damn these lean towns.

“Never saw them.” Jonathan said. We were up north and came south to get previsions.” Jonathan said.

“Long way to go for water.” The deputy said.

The other deputy rushed down from upstairs.

“Finn, the tall man and the woman are not upstairs.” He said.

“The woman is right here.” Said Mari from behind the men in the doorway.

Mari stood there in her towel and undergarments, rifle ready at her shoulder, bayonet set. The flowers from her soap wafted in the air, mixing with the sweat of fear and imminent bloodshed.

“Mari! You are an angel! They got Gertrude.” Jonathan said. Scott brandished the knife at him and he took a step back.

“Now hold on here. Lets not let our emotions get out of hand.” The sheriff said.

We might have made it out okay if Mari stayed out of it. But he had to go bringing emotions into things.

“Emotions?” Mari said. She pushed the two men further into the saloon with the tip of her bayonet.

“Do I seem emotional to you?” She asked, stepping to the side clearing the doorway. She turned her rifle towards the sheriff.

“Well, I…” he managed before the look in her eyes silenced him.

The sheriff wore a single revolver high on his left him. He would have to draw across his body before firing.

One of the men with scatter guns fell down with a hole in his knee, the sound of a rifle echoed immediately after.

Emmett drew with both hands and winged the deputy and the other man in the doorway. They dropped their guns. He kept one gun trained on the bartender and the other on the men at the door.

“Nobody move!” He shouted.

Before the sheriff could draw, Mari rushed him and struck him across his nose with the butt of her rifle. He fell at her feet bleeding profusely and she held her towel on at her throat with one hand.

Jonathan grabbed Guss, twisted and threw him over his shoulder. He blocked the knife thrust from Scott and stepped inside the old timer’s reach. He punched him twice in the chest before dropping low to sweep the man’s legs out from under him with a kick. Scott fell hard and stayed down.

Lottie popped up from behind an over turned table, her hands over her ears. Jonathan shooed her quietly and she ducked back down.

“Put down the rifle barkeep.” Emmett said. “I said drop it!”

Emmett had to ask twice because the bartender was staring at Mari’s state of undress.

“Mari, Thank you. Now go get dressed. Take Lottie and get our things packed. We are leaving.” Emmett said.

Mari gave the sheriff a kick to the stomach.

“Lets go Lottie.” She said.

-

After the two ladies took the stairs Emmett took in the room again.

“Jonathan, grab the barkeep’s gun.” He said.

“Captain, you know I won’t shoot anyone. Not ever again.” Jonathan said.

“I’m not asking you to shoot anyone dammit. Just bring all the guns over here.”

Emmett kept his revolvers on the men at the door and the barkeep.

If the barkeep had one gun, he may have another.

“Now Sheriff. Do you still want to talk?” Emmett asked.

The man groaned and stayed down.

“Deputy. You are temporarily promoted.” Emmett said.

“Yes sir.”

“Keep the scatter rifles. The men that came with them are dead, as is the gentleman that hired them. He meant to rob us and carried a false claim on a shaft we were delving. Got it?” Emmett said and the deputy nodded.

Jonathan carried the bartender’s rifle over and set it down at Emmett’s feet. He then went to the door and picked up the two scatter rifles and checked the second deputy for a weapon.

“Hand it over. Slowly now.” Jonathan said and the deputy gave him his revolver from the holster in his armpit.

“Nobody here broke the law.” Emmett said. “Nobody needs to die today.”

“You shot the sheriff.” Jonathan said.

“I did not shoot the sheriff, I shot the deputy.” Emmett said.

“Well he’s temporarily promoted right now, he is the sheriff.” Jonathan said.

“You punched an old man until he died.” Emmett said.

The two old timers groaned on the ground by the Snooker table.

“See he’s fine.” Jonathan said.

“You two are insane.” The Deputy said. “There will be a warrant our for you.”

Lottie and Mari returned carrying all of their bags.

“We could have had a nice soft bed to rest in. Damn this dusty town.” Mari said and spit on the floor.

“We are leaving. Clear your man from the door and do not follow us.” Emmett said.

Jonathan hurried to his sister, took the bags she was carrying and rushed out the door.

“Emmett, how are we going to get word to the auction house now?” Lottie asked.

Two doors down Emmett stopped in his tracks. Jonathan rolled up with a small wagon led by a mule.

“You did not steal that wagon from those old timers.” He said.

“Of course not. I won it off them playing snooker.” Jonathan said.

“So you cheated.” Mari said.

She tossed her saddle bag into the wagon. She kept her rifle up and covered their retreat as the group made their way around the building to the stables next door.

“You would believe their word over mine then.” Jonathan said.

Emmett peaked into the stable and cleared it of threats.

“We need the wagon so we are taking it. Leave the mule. Saddle up Jonathan, I’ll hitch up one of our spare horses to the wagon.” He said.

Motion from the saloon caught Emmett's attention. The Deputy ran out into the street and made for the telegraph office.

Emmett drew and shot the telegraph wire. Disconnecting the town from the network.

“You are a wanted man Emmett Miller!” The deputy shouted.

I just saved that man’s life and he will never know it. Hawk would have put him down in another second.

“Back inside Deputy!” He shouted. “If I see you peaking out you’ll lose the eye.”

“We leave in 5 minutes. Mari is on watch.”