Chapter Twenty

Adam and Hoss rode across the south side of the lake without seeing much. They stopped at Yank's Station, the only way station in the basin, but a wagon hadn't stopped. Riding past Johnson's Cutoff toward Hope Valley, they stopped at a homestead to ask if a wagon had gone by. The owners there had not seen a wagon. They doubled back, picking up Johnson's Cutoff and following it over the summit. It was the only other road the men they were following could have taken a wagon.

They stopped and asked the station manager at the top, whose sole purpose was to pull stagecoaches and wagons up the grade, if he had seen the wagon and men. "Yep, they came by here yesterday evening, just before dark. Had to pull the wagon up the grade. Funny, when I asked him how many people were in the wagon, he said not to worry with it. Everyone in the wagon was staying in the wagon."

"Mister, did he say how many were in the wagon?" asked Hoss.

"No, not to me. But, I overheard 'em talkin' about the ladies in the wagon. Made it sound like there was more'n one. And there was a fella…had long blonde hair coming out of his hat…him and the head man was arguin'. The blonde fella was talking about asking for money, but the head man told him they were doing it his way so they could disappear. They got pretty loud."

"Did he say which way they was headed?" Hoss asked as he watched Adam from the door of the little station.

"Nope. Didn't say much to me at all. I just pulled 'em up, and they were on their way."

"Much obliged, Mister," said Hoss, nodding. He walked over to Adam who was standing by his horse. "I make it they're about half a day ahead. Sounds like there's more women in that wagon than just Rebecca. I wonder why we ain't seen anyone else lookin' for it." Adam didn't say anything and mounted his horse. "Well, at least we don't have to worry about the right direction until we get down to Silver Fork. That's the first place they'll be able to leave Johnson's Cutoff."

The two Cartwrights rode quickly to Silver Fork and stopped at the station there. The wagon had, indeed, come through several hours before and continued on down Johnson's Cutoff. "Three women…all of 'em walkin' like they'd been drinking…got out. Some of them men helped 'em over to the privy. I thought they must'a been their wives 'cause they was treating 'em real good. Didn't hit 'em or nothing and didn't yell at 'em."

Adam stepped forward. "Was one of the women wearing riding clothes…a woman with long blonde hair?"

"Well Mister, they all had long blonde hair, but yep, one of 'em looked like she was ready to go ridin'. The others was wearing dresses."

Adam nodded at Hoss who thanked the station master. "Placerville's the next place they can change their route," said Hoss. "We ain't gonna make it tonight, though."

Adam mounted. "Let's go."

As they rode, Hoss thought their options. Five or six against two…not good odds. "Hey Adam. What do you plan to do if we catch up to that wagon?"

Adam continued to look ahead. "Haven't really thought about it."

"Well, don't ya think ya oughta?"

Adam stopped his horse and looked over at Hoss. "I guess I'll have to wait and see where we catch up. If we're in Placerville, I'll go for the sheriff. If not…" he shrugged and nudged his horse into a walk. "The station master at Silver Fork said it looked like she was drunk. You know as well as I do that she'd get sick before she got enough whiskey in her to get drunk. And she'd be fighting them all the way if she could." He looked ahead again and winced. "They're giving them something to keep them in control."

"Like what?"

"I don't know. Maybe laudanum. If they're giving them enough, they'd sleep through most of this." Adam didn't say anything else until they stopped to make camp.