Thomas sat forward and stared at Cory.
“Ralph,” he said, “You gotta tell me now if you’re gonna be able to use your gun when the time comes. I’ve gotta know if you’re gonna be able to cover my back.”
“Thomas,” Cory said, “I’ll cover your back better than anyone you know, but I don’t know what’s gonna happen after that.”
Thomas knew he should be concerned with the man’s well-being, but he was more concerned with catching these men after tracking them for weeks. Maybe there’d be more guilt for him when this was all over, but he’d have to deal with it then. There was a lot to be settled when this hunt was all over, so how could it hurt to have one more?
He sat back against his saddle and said, “Okay, then.”
“Okay,” Cory said. “You want first watch, or should I take it?”
“Who’s gonna come up on us from behind?” Thomas asked. “Or from this mountain?”
“Thomas,” Cory said, “we’ve gotten into the habit of settin’ watches. That’s not a habit you want to break right now.”
“You’re right,” Thomas said. “I’ll take the first watch. I’m not ready to sleep yet.”
“That’s because you’re young,” Cory said. “I’m ready to sleep for days.”
“Good,” Thomas said. “I’ll wake you in four hours.”
61
Cardwell and Jacks entered the lobby of the Columbian Hotel in Trinidad, Colorado. The lobby was busy, but there was no sign of Bart Durant.
“Where is he?”
“Relax,” Cardwell said, hefting his saddlebags up on his shoulder. “He’ll be here. Let’s get a room.”
“Rooms,” Jacks said, tapping his own saddlebags. “I want my own this time.”
“Fine.”
They walked to the front desk, where the clerk gave them a dubious look. They were covered with trail dust from days in the saddle and sleeping on the ground.
“Can I help you?”
“Two rooms,” Cardwell said.
“And baths?” the man asked.
“What are you, a wise—” Jacks started, but Cardwell put his hand on his colleague’s arm.
“Sure,” he said, “we’ll want baths. After all, I’m sure we look terrible.”
“Well,” the clerk said, relenting, “I’m sure you’ve been traveling for quite some time.”
He turned the register around so they could each sign in, then handed them keys to rooms that were right across from each other.
“I’ll have your baths drawn,” he added.
“Thank you.”
Cardwell led Jacks to the stairs.
“Why the hell did you let him talk down to us like that?” Jacks demanded.
“We don’t want to attract any attention, Simon,” Cardwell said. “And baths are a good idea. We stink.”
Jacks lifted his sleeve and sniffed himself, then made a face. “Yeah, I guess you’re right.”
They went up the stairs and stopped outside their rooms.
“You go for your bath first,” Cardwell said, “and I’ll find Durant.”
“Why don’t I go with you?”
“Because you guys might slap leather as soon as you see each other,” Cardwell said. “I need to talk to him first.”
“You got a point there.”
They unlocked their doors, but before entering the room, Cardwell looked up and down the hallway and said, “Hey.”
“What?”
“Don’t take your saddlebags down to your bath.”
“I ain’t leavin’ them—”
“Hey,” Cardwell said, “how’s it gonna look if you take saddlebags with you to take a bath?”
“Like I want to keep them near me.”
“Yeah,” Cardwell said, “like you got somethin’ in them that’s worth a lot of money.”
“Like I got a lot of money in them.”
“Exactly,” Cardwell said. “You might as well tell everyone what you’re carrying.”
“So what do you expect me to do?”
“Leave it in your room.”
“Wha—”
Cardwell closed the door to his room, stepped across the hall and pushed Jacks into his room, closing the door behind them.
“Nobody knows what we have,” he said urgently. “We can both leave our bags in our rooms while we take baths and talk to Durant.”
“You’re gonna leave yours in your room?” Jacks asked.
“Yes.”
“I don’t believe it.”
“I tell you what,” Cardwell said, slinging his bags off his shoulder, “I’ll leave them in your room.”
“What?”
“Sure, why not?” Cardwell asked. “You hold onto all the money.”
Jacks narrowed his eyes. “Why would you trust me?”
“Because there’s a lot more money waitin’ for us,” Cardwell said, “and I don’t think you want to miss out on it…do you?”
“No, I don’t, but…”
“But what?”
Cardwell held his saddlebags out to Jacks, who finally reached out and took them.
“Stick them under the bed,” he suggested. “That’s probably as safe a place as any. We’ll only be overnight, nobody’s gonna steal anythin’ from us.”
Cardwell opened the door. “I’m just gonna wash my face and hands in my room, and then go look for Durant.”
“I’ll take my bath,” Jacks said, “and then come right back up here.”
“Good,” Cardwell said, “then I’ll meet you back here.”
After Cardwell left, Simon Jacks put both sets of saddlebags on the bed and opened Cardwell’s. Sure enough, it was stuffed with money. He’d thought maybe Cardwell had taken the money out and replaced it with something else, but apparently the man actually was trusting him with all the money.
That was extremely out of character for him.
62
Cardwell waited until Jacks had gone down to take his bath before leaving his room and going downstairs. He went across the lobby and into the saloon adjoining it. There he found Bart Durant, whom he’d telegraphed from Bene Mesa, sitting at a table with a beer. Cardwell walked over and sat across from him.
“Where is he?” Durant asked.
“Takin’ a bath.”
“Does he have his gun with him?”
“Of course.”
“And the money?”
“In his room.”
“Your share and his?”
“Yes.”
Durant sat back in his chair. He was a morose-looking man in his forties who had been making his way with his gun for more than half his life. He and Simon Jacks had hated each other for a long time. Ben Cardwell didn’t know why, and he didn’t care. He was simply prepared to use that hatred to his advantage.
“I get his share,” Durant said.
“That’s right.”
“And I’m in on the big job?”
“That’s right,” Cardwell said. “All you have to do is meet me there…after.”
“And the money?”
“It’ll be in his room,” Cardwell said, “under the bed.”
Durant studied Cardwell for a few moments, then said, “Okay.”
“Just give me time to retrieve my share, get on my horse, and ride out,” Cardwell said, “then he’s all yours.”
Cardwell stood up.
“You really think the money’s gonna be there?” Durant asked.
“Mine, or yours?”
“Oh,” Durant said, “mine better be there.”
“It’ll be there, Durant,” Cardwell said. “You just better take care of Jacks.”
“I’ve been waitin’ to take care of Simon Jacks for years,” Durant said. “I ain’t about to miss my chance.”
“Then I’ll see you soon,” Cardwell said.
Durant nodded and lifted his beer mug. Cardwell turned and left the saloon. He went upstairs, forced the door on Jacks’s room, retrieved his saddlebags from beneath the bed, went outside, mounted his horse, and rode out of town.