DISCLAIMER: I STILL do not own any of the characters except Danielle and the assorted add ons. Still got Artie on my wish list though!
AN: Many thanks to Apple for her prodding, needling and reading and helping me stay on track. Thanks tons lady!
The Night Of The Encumbering Snows
The temperature inside the train felt like it was twenty degrees colder than the single digits swirling around outside, despite the roaring fire in the fireplace. Artemus Gordon, Secret Service Agent on assignment to President Grant, sat staring blankly at the newspaper he held in his hands. He had been on the same page for the last fifteen minutes but hadn't taken in a single word.
If Artemus Gordon was anything he was a forgiving man. But this past month had taken its toll on his emotions. He and Danielle had somehow managed to carry on an argument over the telegraph wires. She was attending her formal winter ball without him and he was entertaining Senator's daughters.
But this time his partner, James West, had pushed him too far. Just because he was a few minutes late trudging through the snow from the meeting with Colonel Richmond, a meeting Jim had somehow managed to miss yet again, that was NO reason to take Linda Chaffee to dinner in his place. That was the third time this month. He had been looking forward to a relaxing dinner instead of all the stuffy meetings he had been enduring. And note from his partner or no note Artie was just not in the mood to join him this time.
The telegraph clicked to life and he rose and crossed the parlor car to the desk and pushed the telegraph key out through the false books. He quickly tapped out the acknowledgement and waited for the message to come in. He spoke the telegram as he copied it down, as was his custom.
"Heavy snowstorm, President Grant delayed at Fort Collins, Colorado. Request agents Gordon and West meet him there as soon as possible," He tossed the pencil onto the desk and leaned back in his chair.
"What a night to have to ride out to the Fort. Jim's not coming back until tomorrow and I sure as hell am not riding into town to get him then turn around and ride all the way back to the Fort! That's got to be a five mile ride just to the Fort and in this weather yet."
Artie rose and sighed as he grabbed his jacket from the coat rack and headed to his room to gather some things he might need. As he pulled the parlor car door closed behind him the copy of the telegram and the note he left for his partner slipped off the desk and fluttered to the floor.
Sometime later, Artie headed toward the stable car and saddled his horse. He lowered the ramp and pulled his steed out into the blowing snow. He slammed the ramp back into place and mounted his trusty steed.
"Not a fit night out for man nor beast, Mesa my dear, but it's apparently a perfect night out for a Secret Service Agent," Artie grumped as he pulled his jacket tighter around him as he and Mesa plodded on.
Five miles away, in the City of Fort Collins, Jim and Linda danced to the five- piece orchestra. Too bad Artie was late he'd love this place, Jim thought as he twirled the lovely lady named Linda around the dance floor. When the music ended they clapped and returned to their table.
"James, when do you think Artemus will be able to join us?" The lady asked as Jim pulled out her chair for her.
"Oh, not tonight, I'm sure. The weather's gotten pretty bad out there. I've already gotten a room here for the night. I left Artie a note everything'll be okay."
"You aren't worried about him?" She eyed him curiously.
"Artie's a big boy he can take care of himself," Jim told her with more confidence than he felt. He wondered why his partner had not shown up in town to claim his evening.
WWWWWWWWWW
As he prodded his steed to continue plodding though the ever deepening snow, Artie began to grumble. Miserable…insufferable…disgusting mess to be out in! Suddenly Mesa reared and it was all he could do to stay in the saddle. When he finally got his horse calmed down he looked ahead to see what was spooking her. He got down from his horse and walked to the edge of the road.
There, lying under a coating of new fallen snow, lay a man. Artie rushed toward him to check on him when the man sprang up leveling a gun at him. Artie backed away, his hands in the air. Another figure came out from behind a nearby tree pointing a rifle at him.
"Something I can help you with friend?" Artie asked hesitantly.
"Yeah, our horse done broke its leg…you can give us yours," the man grinned evilly.
"Now, I'd be glad to help in any way I can, gentlemen, but I have to get to Fort Collins on urgent business…" Artie stepped backward when the one by the tree cocked his rifle.
"My friend wasn't asking you mister…he was telling you."
"Well now you see," Artie began as he tugged at his ear and withdrew a small silver ball from a hidden pocket.
Artie threw the ball and it hit the man in front of him, exploding into a plume of cherry red smoke. The man staggered back toward his friend and he fell unconscious to the ground. The other man bellowed a curse as he pulled the trigger then collapsed in a heap by the tree. Artie had covered his face with his coat and as the smoke dissipated, he lowered his coat and checked on the fallen men.
"Amateur mistake boys," he said as he checked the first man, "one must always frisk one's opponent or suffer the consequences," Artie grinned at the fallen men then froze when he heard footsteps crunching in the snow behind him.
"And you, friend, forgot to check and see if they had company." The newcomer said sternly.
"Now, turn around…slowly…" Artie did as he was told and found himself face to face with the biggest man he had ever seen.
"As I was telling your friends here…" Artie smiled and began to talk only to be cut off.
"I know what you were telling them. Now let me tell you something…" he poked Artie in the chest with the muzzle of his rifle.
"I'm fixing to make you take your horse and hitch her up to our wagon so's I can pull my friends out of here and you won't do anything to stop me. None of them fancy tricks you used on them," the man regarded him sternly.
The man prodded Artie toward Mesa and he waited for his opening. He hitched Mesa up to their wagon and was ordered to throw the saddle into the back. Artie made a pretense of slipping in order to get at a secret pocket in his saddlebag. He pulled a pouch out and turned around to see the muzzle of the rifle inches from his face.
"Now just what do you think you were going to do with that?" the man glared at him.
"Nothing, friend it's just tobacco, that's all," Artie showed him his 'special' blend.
"Let me see that…" the man grabbed the bag from him.
Artie lit a match and held it close to the pouch and caught one of the drawstrings on fire. The string sparked and the fire greedily gulped its way up the string. Once it reached the top of the pouch Artie backed as far away from him as the wagon would allow. The pouch became a fireball in the man's hand as it exploded with the force of a volcano.
Angry, the man wildly fired his rifle, cursing and trying to stomp the fire out. He glared and was about to advance on Artie when he watched as the agent stared at him, his mouth slightly open, then, wordlessly, crumpled to the ground. He went over and pushed the agent with his rifle, watching as he flopped over in the snow, a steadily increasing patch of red growing on his right shoulder.
Not caring whether or not he would live the man went over to his friends and dragged them to the wagon and tossed them in. He took Artie's hat and tossed it on him as he drove the wagon past him.
Artie woke to find he had been covered with snow and it was still coming down. He knew he had to get to shelter and get the bullet removed from his shoulder. He gingerly sat up, wincing at the pain in his extremity. Pulling his right arm over his chest he shakily stood and bent over and grabbed his hat.
"Well, Artemus, you've really done it this time," he scolded himself.
"You've got at least a three mile walk to the Fort where the President no doubt has a doctor…or you can turn around and walk two miles back to the train. The EMPTY train…because my partner is out eating MY dinner!" Artie growled.
"All right the Fort it is!" Artie turned and headed toward the Fort, "After all, it's only three miles I can walk that in a little while."
WWWWWWWWWW
"James, are you all right? You seem a bit distracted." Linda said to him.
"What? No, I'm fine," Jim replied, "I was just thinking about Artie. Maybe I should go send him a wire." Jim was about to get up when a passing waiter stopped him.
"You can't do that, sir. All the telegraph lines are out. In fact you can't even get out of the hotel. The sheriff just informed us they locked down the city at least until tomorrow when the storm lets up."
"Well, that settles that, then," Jim thanked the waiter and turned his attention back to Linda.
"Looks like I'm stuck here," he smiled.
"Would you care to escort a lady to her room, Mr. West?"
Jim saw Linda to her room and went to his. Removing his supper jacket and placing it on the chair he sat on the bed to take his boots off and couldn't help thinking about his partner. Artie's gonna think I stole his fun away from work evening again. I really should make this up to him. Jim thought as he removed his other boot. Jim undressed and climbed into bed knowing the sooner he fell asleep the sooner morning would come and he could get back to the train.
WWWWWWWWWW
Artie stopped and sat on a snow covered rock, breathing heavily. He had been walking for the better part of an hour and he was exhausted. His shoulder throbbed and his head and body ached. Fever. He could feel it starting…it must be all of 5 degrees out here! He thought as he gently moved his coat aside to look at his wound. Artie pulled his jacket tighter around himself.
"Still bleeding…huh…in this weather you'd think it would have stopped by now," he winced as he pulled his jacket closed.
Artie tiredly pulled himself up and trudged on not noticing he was headed in the wrong direction. James, I hope you find that note I left you. It's freezing out here! I wouldn't say no to a ride the rest of the way to the Fort. He sighed and kept moving.
WWWWWWWWWW
Morning dawned cold, crisp and overcast. Snow laden clouds hung heavy in the sky, waiting to unload another burden of white fury on the town. Jim rose and pulled his supper jacket on and donned his cape. Not wanting to waste time on breakfast he paid his bill and was informed that if he wanted to get out of town now would be his only chance.
He stopped off in the restaurant when saw Linda sitting there. He told her he was going to head back to the train and asked if there was any message for Artemus. She smiled sweetly and told him she hoped he was well and that she was sorry she had not had the chance to meet him, if he was anything near as charming as West was. Jim smiled, promised to deliver the message and headed out, anxious to get back to the train.
He approached the train and thought it strange there was no smoke coming from the chimney in the parlor car. He unsaddled his horse, noticing that Artie's horse was missing. He went to the parlor car expecting to find a note from his wayward partner. He checked the sideboard and the desk but saw nothing. Checking the fireplace it became apparent his partner had left the train some time ago.
Confused, Jim turned to head toward the lab when the telegraph clicked to life, startling him. He sent an acknowledgement and grabbed paper and pencil waiting for the reply. He quickly jotted down the message and his concern and confusion grew. The President wanted to know why Artie had sent an acknowledgement telling him he would leave for Fort Collins the previous night but he hadn't reported in yet.
Jim sent a reply back that he had just returned himself and he would immediately go out in search of his missing partner. Another answer came back telling him a detachment from the Fort would meet him. Jim acknowledged and went to saddle his horse.
"What have you gotten into this time, partner?" Jim wondered as he headed out.