Leo McLaren stepped through the door and looked across the baggage car at the soldier who lay wriggling on the floor. McLaren stiffly walked toward the younger man and kicked the gun from his hand.
Matt had heard the single report from within the car and calculated his move. He braced himself against the upright of the railing and with all his might kicked the door in. McLaren looked up with a slight hint of surprise on his face as Matt stepped through the door with his gun levelled, "Drop it," Matt ordered.
McLaren chuckled then squared himself to the marshal, "Wouldn't it just be my luck that there would be a federal lawman on board the very same train 'm trying to rob..." He smiled at Matt.
Matt did even blink, "I said drop it."
Leo glanced down at his gun and felt he still had a pretty good chance against the marshal from Dodge as they both had their guns drawn. McLaren smiled oddly which was a telltale sign that he was up to no good. Matt watched his every movement and knew that the man before him was just seconds away from pulling the trigger on his gun.
McLaren in turn studied the marshal and was also looking for the right sign. The soldier groan and McLaren's eyes shifted quickly to the money box and back to Matt. He was more determined than ever to get the money and complete his plan.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Dan grabbed the engineer by the throat but was surprised by the older man's grit as he swung his left hand across Dan's jaw sending his sprawling across the small floor in the cabin. The engineer quickly picked up an axe and waved it at dan who hovered in the corner rethinking his attack.
Slowly Dan stood and worked his way closer, "Get off my train!" the engineer bellowed.
"Not before you do," Dan said as he sprang forward knocking the axe from the older man's hands and pulling his gun on him.
Equally feisty, the engineer grabbed Dan's wrist and pounded his hand against a metal bar which caused Dan to lose hold of the weapon. The engineer kicked the gun hoping to send it off the train, but instead it slid into the fire box. Dan's mouth hung open as he watched the gun enter the fiery hole.
The engineer was equally surprised but he didn't let go of Dan's wrist. Instead he pushed the younger man hard into the metal panel hoping to knock him out. As Dan fought back they crashed into the brake-lever bending it slightly. Again the engineer heaved at Dan as they both tumbled out of the cab and into the river below. The train was now without a driver and about five miles from Dodge.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Matt's eyes were still glued to McLaren who inched only slightly further into the baggage car, "How many more times do I have to tell you to drop your gun?" Matt growled at the gunman.
McLaren's jaw muscles flexed as he thought about charging the marshal as he knew the timing was critical, however, he also noted that the train didn't seem to be slowing any. Leo looked over his shoulder and then back to Matt, "We seem to be going a little fast, wouldn't you say?" he smiled at the marshal.
Matt stood his ground, "I'm sure the engineer knows what he's doing."
"Or maybe not. You see, my man Dan is up in the cab, right now..." McLaren smiled wickedly.
Matt had not time to further play McLaren's sick game, "Drop the gun now!" he bellowed.
Leo was slightly startled at the marshal's explosive tone but didn't budge. Matt had no choice - he fired his gun sticking Leo McLaren in the upper chest. McLaren slowly dropped to his knees and then fell to his side; dead.
Matt swiftly moved across the baggage car and climbed up to the top of the wood hopper and looked down into the cab of the locomotive. His heart almost leaped from his mouth as he realized there was no engineer in sight and the train was only a mile outside of Dodge.
Matt looked over his shoulder wondering if he had enough time to get back to the passenger cars to warn the passengers and then get back to the engine to try and stop it, and in his mind the answer was no.
Matt scrambled down into the cab and pulled on the brake lever, but it wouldn't budge. Matt looked over his shoulder and could see the curve which lead into the station. Frantically he pulled at the lever which now gave only little, as he could feel the brakes working but the speed of the engine was too great to stop.
Matt pulled on the cord for the whistle and sounded it over and over.
The foreman at the station heard the whistle and looked up. He could see the locomotive moving at too great a speed and yelled for everyone to clear out of the station. Panic-stricken people fled as the locomotive raced toward the station.
Matt pulled again on the brake lever which finally took, but the engine's kinetic energy was too great to stop it in time. The marshal jumped free of the locomotive and tumble into the long grass just out side of the station. Before he could right himself, he heard the sickening sound of the engine crashing into the back of another train and sound of the cars if pulled behind buckling and twisting as the whole train came to a dead stop.
Matt slowly stood and looked over at the wreck and his heart sunk, he slowly placed one foot in front of the other to reach it wondering how Doc was, and the others on board.
Kitty, Sam and the others in the Long Branch heard the whistle but didn't know what was happening until they heard the horrible noise of the collision. Everyone moved to the door and then out to the street. Festus ran up Front Street from the jail, "What happened?" he looked at Kitty.
"I think the train just crashed," Kitty said in a hushed and sombre tone. If it had, she knew that Matt and Doc were aboard. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Wilbur Jonas. He stood in front of his store staring forward toward the direction of the train station. Kitty then remembered that Jonas' wife was also aboard the train.
"Sam, you better go and see what has happened," she looked at the barkeep who then dashed off into the night.
Kitty slowly walked toward Jonas, "Mr. Jonas, maybe you better come with me," she said as she pulled Jonas way from the front doors of his store. Thoughtfully she closed the doors and then guided Jonas to the Long Branch.
"My Ellen..." he stammered and began to move toward the train station but Kitty stopped him, "We'll go over in a bit..." she said with a soothing tone.
Jonas looked at the saloon owner, "In a bit..." he repeated as if he was in a daze.