The Night Of The Sasquatch
"Lighten up, Artie. At least we aren't getting sent to Alaska." James West, Secret Service agent, chuckled, trying to lighten the mood.
"That's easy for you to say…you get to stay here in Portland sitting in the lap of luxury for another week or so doing next to nothing. I on the other hand have to RIDE all the way to Yakima! And you know how well I love spending extended hours in the saddle." Artie harrumphed at his partner as he chose some items for his field disguise kit and shoved them into the kit.
"I'll be there the end of next week, Artie, making the same ride as you. Besides, you know you're the one for disguises. Look, I promise if Lola asks about you I'll tell her you were called away on business." At this comment Artemus Gordon looked his partner in the eye glaring.
"I just bet you will…right after supper and the theater." Artie snapped his carpet bag closed and hefted the bag as he brushed past his partner.
"Cheer up, pal. There is a bright side to all of this." Jim told him as he followed Artie from his room toward the stable car.
"Oh this oughta be good. Do tell James." Artie retorted as he dropped the carpetbag and picked up the saddle.
"You're getting there before me. You'll have time to scope out all the pretty ladies." Jim tried his best smile.
"My disguise when I arrive is supposed to be a grizzled old fur trader or have you forgotten?" Artie slapped the saddle's fender over the blevins and into place with more force than was probably necessary, making a popping sound.
"If they think you've struck it rich when you ride in with this bunch of pelts I bet they'll be all over you like flies on honey." Jim commented as he tapped the pile of pelts tied to Artie's saddle, trying to lighten the sulky atmosphere.
"Say…you didn't 'help' me come up with that disguise on purpose did you?" Artie eyed his partner warily and Jim tried to hide his grin behind Artie's horse.
"James West, if I didn't know better I would think you are afraid I'll take the prettiest lady before you get there and sweep her off her feet." One corner of Artie's mouth turned up and his eyes twinkled.
"Awww come on, Artie…"
"Bet ya wish you were the one heading in first now don't you?" Artie flashed his partner a grin as he led his horse out of the stall and toward the ramp.
"It's not like I'll be sitting around doing nothing." Jim tried to sound hurt. "I'm not the one running away from all those meetings with the Colonel."
"Touché, James. You will take good notes for me won't you?" Artie looked at him and chuckled.
Jim handed him the carpet bag, studying his partner as he did so. He knew Artie was less than thrilled with the almost 200 mile trek on horseback but the railroad hadn't yet been completed through the harsh mountain terrain. At a gallop it should take him only about two or three days, Jim thought, at least it's spring…he could be going in the dead of winter. Jim lowered the ramp and watched as his partner pulled Mesa down the ramp behind him.
Artie mounted his steed and touched the brim of his hat in salute to his partner, muttering something about beating his partner to all the pretty ladies. Jim chuckled as he brought the ramp back up. Sighing and shaking his head Jim headed back toward his room to get ready for the day ahead.
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Jim was checking his stack of notes for the tenth time that morning when there was a knock at the door. He looked up as Colonel Richmond entered the train, a stack of folders under one arm. Artie, I hope all the women you meet have warts on their faces, Jim thought to himself. Artie was usually the one to handle most of the paperwork leaving Jim free to handle some of the more physical aspects of their missions. This was something Jim hated before they even started.
"Did Artemus get under way all right?" Richmond asked not seeing the look of disdain on Jim's features.
"Yes, sir, he left this morning. If all goes well, Artie will be in Yakima sometime the day after tomorrow." Jim reached for the stack of folders Richmond had placed on the table.
"I'd feel better with both of you there right now. Artemus is heading into a pretty volatile situation."
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It was late afternoon on his first day of solo travel and Artemus sighed with relief when he finally caught sight of the Stark Street Ferry Station. He dismounted Mesa and stretched his back, taking in his surroundings. No one knew of their mission so he hadn't yet changed into his disguise…that could wait until he was closer to Yakima. Artie looked around and asked a passing citizen if there was a saloon nearby. The man smiled and jerked his thumb pointing behind him as he continued on his way.
Artie entered the saloon and made his way to the bar. Procuring a beer, he sat down at a nearby table. With a couple of hours to kill before the ferry departed Artie was glad this little whistle stop of a town even had a saloon. He sipped his beer and looked around the rustic establishment. A conversation taking place at the next table snagged his interest and he sat contemplating his beer as he listened.
"You shoulda seen it! Footprints THIS big I tell ya!" The man dressed in the gear of a logger was telling his companion, making wild gestures with his hands. "I ain't never seen footprints so big in my life. They looked like a man's bare footprint."
"I heard that thing looks like one of them gorilla monsters. Over near Yakima that thing took a whole cow and ate it. Left nothing but the bones." Artie froze…his beer mug in mid air.
"That's nuthin…I heard even the Indians won't go looking for it. They call it Sassasquatch or somethin. Whatever they call it I hope I never come any closer to findin one than them prints I saw. Them savages is so afraid of it they made it a sacred monster." Artie rose and motioned to the bartender for more drinks as he headed toward their table.
"Excuse me gentlemen…I couldn't help overhearing your conversation. I was wondering if I might join you." Artie asked as the barkeep brought a fresh round of beers. The men saw the free drinks and eagerly accepted him to their table.
"Sure, buddy, have a seat. I'm Len and this here's Jake." Artie shook their offered hands.
"I'm headed to Yakima…what's this about a monster?" Artie asked as he leaned forward.
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Jim leaned back and stretched, popping his back. He tossed the pencil he had been working with onto the table and sighed. FINALLY they had finished getting everything ready for his journey to Yakima. Every last detail had been attended to, all the t's crossed and the i's dotted. Jim disliked going into Yakima knowing they would have to rely only on themselves. They couldn't be sure just how deep the corruption ran and the town didn't have a telegraph yet, it was in the works but the terrain was rugged and the progress was slow.
"I know this is a less than ideal situation for you two, James, but we have no choice. We have to find out who is sabotaging the telegraph there. That territory may be wild and untamed but we need that area. The Cascades are nothing to sneeze at…we need every advantage we can get when it comes to getting telegraph wires over them." Richmond stated the government's case as Jim nodded.
"Yes, sir, I can see how this town is vital to the telegraph lines. I just can't see why anyone wouldn't want it to go through." Jim reached forward and poured himself some more coffee.
"That's why we are sending you and Mr. Gordon in. We need someone who can get to the bottom of this without anyone knowing the government is looking into it. Whoever is behind this seems pretty well connected in the area."
"I just hope the intelligence we sent Artie in with will be enough." Jim sighed.
"It was the best we had at the time. When the last agents we sent didn't report back that threw a wrench into the works." Jim nodded as he drank his coffee.
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Artie was thankful for the quick and uneventful ferry ride. He still had an hour or more of daylight left and he decided to forego staying in a hotel. He wanted to get to Yakima as soon as possible and every hour in the saddle would take him one hour closer. Being in unfamiliar territory Artie didn't push Mesa, instead he set the pace to a brisk walk. This also gave Artie a chance to survey his surroundings a little.
Mile after mile of trees and brush…is there anything else out here? Artie wondered as he looked ahead and only saw more of the same as well as the mountain pass he would have to traverse. Shaking his head and sighing Artie looked for a place to make camp.
Finding a small clearing just off what passed for a small road, Artie dismounted and tied Mesa to a low hanging branch of a nearby tree. Removing her saddle and blanket, he tossed them to one side of the clearing. A rustling noise in the brush made him look up from the campfire he was building. Hearing nothing more and seeing nothing he turned his attention back to the fire he wanted to build before dark.
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I'm going to have a nice long talk with Artie when I see him, Jim thought as he watched the other couples on the dance floor. He had taken his companion out for an evening of dining and dancing at one of the more exclusive clubs in Portland but neither of them was having a very good time. His companion sensed Jim's attentions were elsewhere and it showed. She had refused to dance with him and Jim had finally stopped asking. He watched as his date was twirled around the floor by another man. Shaking his head Jim turned back to the table and puffed on his cigar.
"I'm gonna get you for this, Artie." Jim whispered.
"Who is Artie and what are you going to get him for?" Jim's date had returned to the table.
"It's nothing really, just my partner. I'm a little worried about him." Jim muttered.
"James, you told me what little you could about the assignment and I'm surprised you wanted to keep our date. Your mind is where it should be…on your partner and the mission. I've read the accounts of the goings on up in Yakima…why they would send your partner in alone, I just don't understand."
"He won't be totally alone. The Colonel and I discussed it and he's sending in a couple more agents from another direction. By the time they get there Artie should already be in place." Jim looked at his date and their eyes locked.
"Besides, Artie's a big boy he can take care of himself." Jim smiled at her. "Dance with me?" This time the lady accepted and they made their way through the tables toward the dancing area.
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