I know it has been a long time between chapters on this story. Real life played a key roll in that my mom had Renal Cancer and had to have a kidney removed thank goodnes for good doctors, they managed to get it all! Then I was off work for a week with shoulder problems and on the 8th of this month had surgery on my right shoulder. So now I have time to finish this story while I recover.
Hope you enjoy this chapter and I thank Nancy for all her pushing,lol.
Enjoy!
"I always knew you were part of it. Matt thought he had done a good job hiding that gold from me. When we get to Strawberry all you have to do is show me where the gold is and I will be a happy man. Maybe even happy enough to let you go. Then again, maybe not. I still owe you for Elizabeth." Heath didn't bother to look at the insane man. He just knew that he had to keep a level head and hope for a weakness, a moment when he could try to escape. He had to get back to the ranch and help his family, although he feared it might be too late. All he'd counted were two shots, and he hoped at least one belonged to Nick or Jarrod.
Doolin's insane laughter still rang in his head when he had asked what he had done to his family but his captor never answered the question.
The sound of an approaching horse made Heath look up, but he dropped his gaze when he realized that the rider wasn't either of his brothers.
"I told you that you didn't need to worry about any rescue attempt, didn't I?" Doolin looked at his partner with a smile, "You look mighty pleased Harris. You got to shed a bit of Barkley blood?"
Harris smiled and nodded, "I certainly did." He took a deep breath, "All these years...I didn't know how good it would feel."
Doolin liked this partner. Harris was willing to do whatever it took to get the job done, even kill a Barkley or two. He thought briefly he would do well to watch this man; he seemed to have enjoyed the bloodletting just a little too much. But then he smiled to himself, he could handle this man too.
In the Name of the Father
Chapter 25
Despite their leaving at first light, they had been delayed. The rain that had begun to fall the previous night had continued throughout the next day, forcing them to stop despite their protests. Nick's impatience and temper seemed to grow worse with each falling drop. It took both Jarrod and Fred to force him to be quiet. Now as he stood watching the continuing rain, Nick thought back to the events and conversations of the previous night.
Unknown to them, the ranch hands had been barricaded in the bunkhouse; it was discovered when they first heard shots coming from the house, and they tried to leave their quarters. They finally escaped by breaking out a window when they had no luck trying to get out the door. Duke was met half way across the yard by Audra. She had informed the foreman what had happened and that they needed someone to ride to Stockton for the doctor and sheriff, while the others set up a secure perimeter. The men moved quickly to obey her orders, conveyed through Duke.
Although neither of the Barkley men had been seriously injured, they both were aggravated just thinking of the time that was being wasted with the Doc fussing over them and with Fred's endless questioning. Victoria had already checked both right arms while waiting for Doctor Merar but would not let her sons move until they had been checked by the doctor. Now Jarrod and the sheriff stood in the library, where Jarrod was looking at the mine maps and the area around Strawberry while the sheriff voiced his concern.
"You should have told me Jarrod and maybe this wouldn't have happened."
"And what could you have done Fred? Sent men out here to protect us? We have thirty men in the bunkhouse and not a one of them was able to help us. Besides, if you had men posted here they may have been killed; what good would that has done anyone? No, I think we handled the situation the best way we could have. "
"You could have still informed me of what you had found out in Sacramento. "
"Everything would have been fine if I could have counted on Harris," Jarrod said as he reviewed another map, still wondering what had happened to change the man's mind. Greed he supposed, but that was not like Harris, not at all. There must have been something else, Jarrod thought; maybe it was jealousy. He turned his attention back to the maps.
"You do know your friend Harris brought in Anson Gregory?" Jarrod's head popped up at that news.
"He brought him in?" Jarrod asked, suddenly realizing that Harris hadn't sided with Doolin after all. But then, what had he been playing at, Jarrod wondered and it hit him that they now had two people to rescue.
"Yes. It was him who told me what's been going on, starting with Heath's kidnapping and your family and the Lancers going to get him from that prison in Nevada. He also told me how it had been the Knights of the Golden Circle who had blown the River Monarch up and stolen the gold shipment." Jarrod looked at Fred; he had never seen the mild mannered sheriff as angry at anyone as he was at this moment, "Why do you Barkleys have to be so pig headed?"
"It was an inherited trait from our father," replied Jarrod returning his gaze back to the maps. "I'm just not certain in which mine Heath's uncle hid the wagon with the gold."
Fred humped, "Depends on when he hid it, doesn't it?" Jarrod looked quizzically at him. Fred sighed, and then continued, "When gold was first discovered in that area the town of Strawberry sprung up practically overnight. Then, as the mines played out the town slowly died. So if you know about when his uncle hid the gold I could tell you what mine had played out by that time. It should help."
"1863 maybe 1864."
"By that time there were only two mines that had closed. The Hard Luck mine closed first, followed by the Morning Star. That's the one your father had been a part owner in."
"Fred, you're a saint!" said Jarrod as he rounded the desk heading back to the parlor. Victoria looked up when he entered from where she stood next to the doctor who had just finished stitching Nick's arm.
"It's about time Jarrod, we need to get on the trail!" growled Nick as he watched Victoria bandaging his arm.
"I think you boys had better wait until daylight," jumped in Fred. He quickly raised his hand when Nick started to protest, "It's too dark out there and the rain has made the roads dangerous. Now I know that you both want to go after Heath but you won't be any good to him if either one of you fall over from exhaustion. Besides, you don't think Doolin and Harris would be fool enough to keep riding through this, do you? They had to stop somewhere tonight too, so you can wait until morning."
Nick looked at his brother for some help then reluctantly nodded his head, "But we leave here first light, rain or no rain!"
None of the family slept well that night. The family in the house worried about what was going on with their missing brother and son, and the anxiety to go after his captors was foremost in each man's mind. Meanwhile, Heath tried to find a way out of the ropes that bound him to a post of the bed in which the men took turns sleeping. Harris took the first watch, and Heath tried to find out what he'd done at the house, to explain the gunshots. All Harris would say was that he hoped Heath wasn't as foolish as his brothers had been. Doolin listened contentedly from the bed, realizing again just how lucky he'd been to find Asel Harris. The Barkley family owed him and they would pay dearly for the sins of the old man. Doolin knew he could count on Harris to obey any orders he gave, he'd shown that back at the house. Harris wanted revenge on the Barkleys almost as bad as Doolin did. Once this whelp led them to the gold, he'd have his payback for what had happened to Elizabeth. He closed his eyes, thinking of the revenge he'd have on Heath for her death.
Harris for his part knew Doolin was still watching them and no matter how he wished he could reassure the younger man before him that his family was fine, that they'd catch up with Doolin in short time, he couldn't find an opening. It was a risk he couldn't take. When he heard Doolin start to snore, he made a point of checking the ropes that held Heath tightly to the post. He said loudly enough for Doolin to hear if he was indeed still awake, "Don't worry, boy, this'll all soon be over. Once we have the gold you can go back to your precious family. I'm sure they'll still have a place for you." Heath puzzled at his choice of words, and realized that what Harris said meant his family was still alive.
But the hope that began to grow died quickly when the sun rose. Doolin wasted no time in asking Harris which members of the family he'd shot, as they'd only heard a few shots. Was anyone still alive? Harris replied that men wouldn't be going anywhere, and since the women would be occupied with taking care of their bodies, Doolin didn't have to worry. Harris finished by saying that it had felt good to finally have his revenge on Jarrod Barkley, Esq.
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Hard packed dirt roads which were now rain soaked and slippery made the roads nearly impassable. Mud sucked shoes off more than one horse's hooves, slowing them over and over as they had to stop and tack the shoes back on. Two of the posse had to turn back after their horses slipped in the mud and became lame. Nick and Jarrod tried to keep their patience in check with each delay without much success.
The posse slowly made their way down the winding road that leads into Strawberry. The first board and batten buildings they rode past were empty shells of what once were houses, now minus windows and doors and sitting on crumbling foundations. They stood as haunting reminders that Strawberry had become a ghost town in comparison to the busy years of several thousand inhabitants. The posse crossed the swiftly running creek to pull up in front of what had once been a hotel
"No one is in the town."
"So where is this mine that Father owned?" asked Nick.
"We follow this road a few more miles outside of town. Father had invested in the Morning Star," Jarrod replied, recalling the map he'd seen the night before.
"Then what're we waiting for?" Nick replied as he began to turn his horse's head in the correct direction.
Fred looked with concern at the two injured men, "Are you sure you two are going to be alright?"
"Fred we're wasting more time just sitting here in the rain. We'll be fine," replied Nick with impatience. "Let's move."
"Not so fast Nick, there are four mines here in different spots. We have to determine how we're going to approach them. We can't just ride up to each of them. If Doolin has Heath inside one of them, it could be deadly for Heath."
The direction was decided, and the posse moved slowly through town keeping a wary eye on the old buildings in case the men they were looking for were hiding in one of them.
Having never been to Strawberry or the old Barkley mine Jarrod tried to recall the details on the old mining maps. The mines were scattered all around the town, which had built up in the middle of the mines according to the map of the area. Jarrod recalled there being at least four mines supported the town. The first two mines they rode past. The trails leading to them were showing no sign of any recent activity.
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After a quick meal of jerky and lukewarm coffee in the damp hotel room of the once prominent Strawberry Hotel, Doolin was ready to head out to the mine. Scraping his chair back he stood and walked over to the old stove in the hotel kitchen. He threw the dregs of his coffee into the fire then turned to eye Harris who was still nursing his coffee.
"By this time tomorrow we will be in plush accommodations, eating at the best restaurant and sipping the finest wines in California."
"We Doolin?" said Harris with a laugh. "I plan on leaving this state after we split the money. I hear there is a chain of islands off the California coast that is paradise. That's where I am going."
"Hum going into the wilds more like it," said Doolin looking out the broken window. "If you are done, let's get the whelp and get to our gold."
"We going to feed him?" asked Harris.
"I think he can wait. It gives him something to work for." While Doolin's back was to him Harris quickly stuffed a biscuit into his pocket hoping to give it to Heath later, and then followed Doolin up a flight of rickety stairs to the first room. Heath Barkley sat on the floor tied to the bedpost. Harris thought the man looked exhausted. Doolin pulled his gun and waited while Harris untied their prisoner and helped him to his feet. Harris then retied Heath's hands in front and pushed him out of the room. Being back in the old hotel again brought back memories that made Heath shiver. They made their way down to the lobby; Harris pushed Heath into a chair.
"While you get the horses saddled I will find out which mine our gold is in," said Doolin with a smirk. Doolin waited until Harris was gone to begin his interrogation.
"Do you want to volunteer the information or are you going to let me have some fun and beat it out of you?" Doolin smiled when he seen the spark of fire come from Heath's eyes, "Oh I see I get to have some fun then." He followed his comment with a slap across the face. Heath said nothing, just gave Doolin a half smile. Doolin was inclined to hit him again and raised his hand; when Heath flinched Doolin laughed and put his hand down. Heath knew he needed to by sometime, he was fully aware that if he gave up easily it would only quicken his own death.
"I'll take you to the mine," whispered Heath as he held his tied hands to his bleeding lip. "But not until you tell me what happen to my family." Doolin pulled him out of the chair, his face inches from Heath's, "I just slowed them down some." Doolin's smile was enough to sicken Heath as he was pushed towards the hotel doors.
After a quiet start Doolin began talking to Harris, "Aren't you even going to ask me?"
"Ask you what?"
"Why I hate the Barkleys so much?" Doolin stared at Heath then continued, "Tom Barkley and I came to this valley at the same time. He hardly had two coins to rub together and I had my family's inheritance. Yet it seemed that no matter what he did it always paid off; everything I did went nowhere. Tom Barkley gained wealth while I lost it. I tried to get him to invest in the paper. In truth I was offering him a chance to join the Knights of the Golden Circle. Do you know what he said? He was willing to take out advertisements but could see no reason to invest. A fellow southern born was refusing to join his fellow brother to support the southern cause. Tom Barkley had it all: a wonderful wife, kids and lots of land. If Barkley had invested in my paper I wouldn't be here now."
Harris could only stare at the deranged man. Doolin's jealousy towards Tom Barkley was so great that it was consuming the man alive and any reasoning was not going to be possible.
"Is that how you got mixed up with Lucian?" Heath asked knowing he was adding fuel to a fire. He needed to buy time. Doolin turned in his saddle to look at Heath.
"It worked out. Lucian was getting bad publicity from the other papers. His one stipulation when he invested in my paper was no bad publicity. He wanted to redeem himself in the public eye." Settling back in his saddle Doolin smiled, "Then I meet Elizabeth," Doolin sighed. "She could charm the socks off of a snake. She definitely charmed me. One thing about me Barkley I like to know who I am doing business with. Lucian had a lot of secrets, things that if they got out would destroy him. He and Elizabeth shared a secret, one that I was going to use to get her to be my wife."
"Elizabeth isn't the marrying type Doolin," replied Heath.
"She may not have been but she would have married me. But that is gone too."
"Why is that?"
"She's dead, Barkley, she's dead, because of you and your family. Someone's going to pay for that death."
When they arrived at the mine Doolin dismounted then reached up and pulled Heath off his horse. Taken by surprise Heath lost his footing and fell to his knees.
Pressing the barrel of his gun alongside Heath's head, Doolin leaned over the fallen man, "Give me one reason I shouldn't finish you off right now." Fisting Heath's shirt with one hand Doolin pulled the younger man to his feet pushing him toward the mouth of the mine.
The mine entrance was not what one would have expected. In order to get to the gold the mine had been blasted and the entrance looked more like the mouth of a cave instead of a mine. Having thought ahead Harris lit two lanterns and held one out to Doolin who shook his head, "Give it to Barkley." Doing as he was told he gave the lantern to Heath. Heath gazed at his possible weapon until Doolin snarled, "Try it and you'll be dead and I will still have the gold." Waving his gun Heath led them into the mine.
The darkness was damp and the sound of dripping water echoed through the tunnel. Occasionally the mine would moan and the timbers used to hold lanterns almost visibly shifted. A chill ran down Heath's back, he tried to hold back the tidal wave of fear he felt going into the cavern. They followed the main tunnel about two hundred yards where there was another shaft running off to the right. Heath held up his lantern and walked into the shaft until he halted with Doolin and Harris on either side of him. Before them was a broken down wagon. The bed of the wagon was covered with a tarp. Doolin moved forward eager to collect the gold. Heath stood planted not wanting to go any farther, knowing that besides the gold his Aunt Martha also laid under the tarp. Harris nudged him forward. Doolin was at the back of the wagon lifting the rotting tarp. He looked at Heath and Harris as he threw the tarp back and smiled, "Well I wondered what had happen to you, partner." hissed Doolin. Looking at Heath he smiled, "I guess Matt did love the ole' biddy. I wondered what had happen to him! Well, Barkley I guess this you have got to see for yourself." Doolin had moved from the back of the wagon to stand in front of Heath. He grabbed Heath by the arm and dragging him to the back of the wagon forcing his head to look under the tarp. Lying in a bed of gold bars, with his arms wrapped around the skeletal remains of Martha lay Matt Simmons.
Doolin walked back around the wagon smiling, "This is all too good to be true! It's all mine! Anson Gregory is in jail. Matt Simmons is dead. Cyrus Deland is in an asylum!"
"I think you are forgetting something Doolin." Harris's voice was soft, but could be heard in the quiet of the mine tunnel.
"Yes, I will need to see that poor Gregory loses his memory." Doolin turned pointing his gun at Harris, "I haven't forgotten you, partner, I don't need you anymore."
"You can't cut me out now Doolin!"
"Do I need to remind you that I know who I am doing business with? Harris you are a former Pinkerton who has branched out on your own. You come from a wealthy family with political connections. You don't need this anymore than the Barkleys do." Doolin squeezed off a shot that struck the wagon next to Harris, "This will be like shooting ducks in a barrel!" cried Doolin as he fired off another shot.