Chapter 11
The most dangerous part of a train robbery was the initial contact—boarding the train. No matter how well planned or how thorough the research, there were no guarantees on how the boarding would go. No one could predict how the men on the train would react. Heyes relaxed slightly, once they had the men in the engine covered, and the rest of the train checked for guards and passengers. They had found only three additional men and relocated them to the engine. Cole and Buck and been assigned to tie the men up and watch them until the safe had been successfully opened.
Ridley and Heyes waited impatiently, while Shorty placed a few sticks of dynamite under the lock on the freight train door and lit the fuse.
Cooper and Jackson were left to watch the horses and make sure none of them ran off when the dynamite blew.
Kid rode the length of the train and back again, keeping watch and looking for anything out of the ordinary. The only thing that was unusual was how deserted the train was. There were very few men on board and very little security. He marveled at White's ability to find a job like this, it would be the easiest job he'd ever pulled.
The dynamite blew, and when the smoke and debris settled, a neat hole in the car door was revealed, precisely where the latch and lock used to be.
"Cover me, Curry," Ridley ordered, as he pulled the door open.
Kid dismounted and followed Ridley to the car. He drew his gun and waited for the guard to show himself. When no one came out, he approached the opening, slowly, with his gun raised. As the afternoon sun poured in, the safe could be seen sitting against the back of the car. There was no guard in the car.
Heyes grinned, "Good work, Shorty, let's go take a look at that safe," he said, stepping toward the car.
"Hold on, Heyes, I'll open the safe," Ridley said, pushing in front of the older man and reaching to open the long sliding door.
Ridley pulled himself into the car and approached the safe. Heyes and Kid stood against the open door, watching Ridley, and also scanning the countryside for approaching riders. The outlaw leader settled down in front of the safe and pulled out the paper he'd been given by White. Heyes and Kid watched, silently, as Ridley turn the dial. First left, then right, counting off the numbers.
"What's this?" Ridley called out angrily, as he stood and stepped back from the safe. Heyes and Kid jumped into the car and peered into the safe. Shorty was at the car door in three long strides and joined the others in staring into the safe. It was empty, completely and utterly empty.
"I don't understand," Shorty complained. "Is there another safe?"
"Maybe," Heyes said with a scowl, "but this is the one White told us to open. The combination worked on this safe."
A dark look came over Ridley's face. "We've been set up," he stated flatly. "Get back to the horses and let's get out of here. Curry, go get rid of the witnesses."
"But what about the money? We can't leave without getting some money?" Shorty stared, dumbfounded, at the others.
Heyes and Kid exchanged a glance, and then jumped out of the car. "Shorty, somebody was expecting us to stop this train, and that means there will probably be a posse heading out here any minute," Heyes said.
"I'm not waiting around for a posse to show up," Kid stated, mounting his horse, as Heyes did the same.
As if on cue, they heard the thundering of hooves and saw a cloud of dust at the crest of the hill, only few hundred yards in front of the train. Ridley and Jackson rode off toward the other side of the valley. Cooper looked at the two remaining horses and then toward the front of the train, where he could now see Cole and Buck running in their direction.
"Don't—" Kid began, but Cooper had already grabbed the reins and was riding toward the men.
"Damn," Kid swore, following and drawing his gun.
"Too many to hold off!" Heyes yelled, as he watched with dismay. Then he too, followed and fired toward the approaching riders.
Cooper reached the two men and circled around them. Grabbing hold of the horses, they scrambled to mount them. Buck made it up and settled into the saddle. Cole struggled, as his horse reared, and he couldn't get his foot in the stirrup. Bullets were now flying close enough to reach their targets.
"Come on," Heyes yelled again, as a bullet nearly grazed him.
The four men on horseback rode away, while Cole continued to struggle to get control of his horse. Buck suddenly cried out, and slid from his horse. They could hear Cole firing his gun and shouting, then a cry and silence. Bullets were still flying around the riders. Kid felt a hot searing sting on his arm, but he kept riding, turning frequently, and firing back at the pursuers.
Ridley, Shorty, and Jackson spun their horses around and returned, as additional riders were spotted coming from the other side of the valley. Heyes and Kid veered left and headed up toward the foothills. Cooper and the others followed.
Ridley, now at the back of the group, suddenly jerked forward, but maintained his balance and continued riding. Then, without warning, Shorty's horse went down, leaving horse and rider sprawled across the trail. Two men were hit as the group converged on Shorty. The distraction slowed the pursuers and the outlaws urged their horses faster.
The outlaws managed to lose the posse shortly after dark. They made a hasty camp and surveyed the damage. Ridley was seriously wounded from a bullet that had entered his back. He lay on the ground now, moaning, and the others wondered how he had managed to stay on his horse. They all knew, without a doubt that he would not be able to get back on his horse, and probably would not make it through the night. Jackson had also taken a bullet in his leg. With a little care, he might survive. Curry had suffered only a graze on his arm, which Heyes wrapped tightly with rags torn from his shirt.
Cooper sat with Jackson and Ridley while Heyes and Kid walked away to talk.
"He's not gonna make it," Kid remarked, stating the obvious.
"I know," Heyes nodded.
"That posse wasn't planning on taking anyone alive—us included," Kid added.
"I know," Heyes said again.
"So now what?"
"I don't know," Heyes mumbled.
Kid glared at his partner. "So who set us up? White? His contact? Jennings and Blackburn?"
"Yeah," Heyes replied.
"Well, which one?" Curry demanded.
"I don't know," Heyes said again.
Kid let out a disgusted grunt and turned to head back to the others.
"Hey, what did you think you were doing back there?" Heyes called after him.
"What do ya mean?"
"Covering Cooper while he rode back to get Cole and Buck. Have you forgotten which side we're on?" Heyes exclaimed, frustrated.
"I know which side I'm on," Kid countered.
"Don't forget why we're here," Heyes warned.
"Don't worry," Kid said bitterly, "there's no chance of that."
"I have to talk to Ridley," Heyes said suddenly, and made his way back to the spot where the injured man was resting.
"How are you feeling," he asked, squatting down next Ridley.
"Not…too good…Heyes," Ridley replied, his breathing labored.
"You know it had to be White or his contact at the railroad that set us up," Heyes began slowly.
Ridley nodded and closed his eyes.
"Where is he?" Heyes pressed. "Where were you supposed to meet him?"
"John…son's…store," he forced out.
"Johnson's? The Mercantile next to the saloon? The place we stayed last night?" Heyes showed his surprise.
"Tha's right," Ridley choked and coughed.
Heyes and Kid exchanged a glance.
"No law…no tele…graph…" Ridley continued, his voice growing weaker.
Heyes and Kid stood and took a few steps away from the others.
"Do you think White's really at Johnson's?" Kid asked quietly.
"I don't know, but I'm going to find out," Heyes assured his friend.
"Kid!" Cooper called out. "I think he's dying."
Heyes and Kid looked back at the men huddled on the ground.
Ridley was silent and no longer struggling to breath.
"We should keep riding," Kid stated.
"Aren't we gonna bury him?" Cooper asked.
"We don't have any shovels and the ground is nearly all rock around here. We can pile some stones over him to keep the animals away. Can you ride?" Kid addressed Jackson.
"If I stay here, I'm a dead man. I'll get on my horse," he said simply.
"Alright, let's get to work," Heyes directed. Curry and Cooper found enough rocks to cover Ridley's body while Heyes broke camp and helped Johnson get settled on his horse.
Before they rode out, Kid pulled his partner aside. "It'll take us another day to circle back around to Johnson's," Kid observed. "We can move faster alone, we should split up—send them back to Devil's Hole."
"The law's going to want the whole gang. We should turn them in somewhere first," Heyes said quietly.
"Why? The leaders are all dead. All except for White."
"That doesn't matter. Those two still rode on those other jobs."
"Just how do you suggest we turn them in?" Kid growled, "If we even get close to the law now—they'll shoot and ask questions later."
Heyes nodded reluctantly.
"We're splitting up," he announced to the others. "The Kid and I are going to Johnson's, you two head back to the Hole from the north side of the mountains.
Cooper gave Heyes a disappointed look. "Can't we all go back to Johnson's together?" he asked.
"No," Heyes said, sharply, "We'll be able to slip into town easier if it's just the two of us. Besides, we all stand a better chance of keeping ahead of that posse if we're not leaving such a wide trail."
Cooper nodded reluctantly. "He needs a doctor, that bullet's still in his leg. I'm going to try and get him some help."
"Stay away from the big towns," Kid warned. "Doctors are suspicious of men with bullets in their legs." He smiled wryly and swung into the saddle.
The four riders parted company. Heyes and Kid rode on alone, hoping they were finally going to be able to finish their job.
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Heyes and Kid had ridden for a few miles when Heyes suddenly pulled his horse to a stop.
"What?" Kid gave his partner an anxious look.
"White's not going to be at Johnson's. He's not going to wait around in a little town like that. He's going to be waiting somewhere he can hear about what's going on. Besides, he doesn't have any reason to hide; no one can connect him to any of the robberies. When he hears how the train job went bad, he won't be expecting Ridley at Johnson's."
"So where then?" Kid asked, nodding as he followed Heyes' logic.
"Somewhere close," Heyes frowned, deep in thought. He looked around and then nodded. "Let's go," he said, with determination.
"Where? Kid repeated.
"Cross Creek," Heyes said simply.
"Cross Creek? Where we made our plans with Jennings and Blackburn?"
"That's the one," Heyes replied, grimly.
"You think they're part of this?" Kid asked, already coming to the same conclusion.
"They're either part of the robberies or they set us up to be killed along with the gang. Either way, my money's on those two for some answers."
