Snow Banked
Just as the doctor had predicted, heavy snow began falling during the night and by morning, the streets of Reno were well over a foot deep in snow with no sign of an end to the blizzard conditions.
"Well?' Kid asked as Heyes walked into the room early in the morning after having trudged on foot through the deep snow to the train station at the far end of town.
Heyes shook the accumulated snow from his coat and stomped his boots on the floor.
"Well they ain't canceled the eastbound leaving tomorrow, at least not yet. The fella at the ticket booth said if the snow stops by noon, they'll send one or two plow engines out to cleat the tract."
"And if it don't stop by then?"
"They'll likely cancel."
"When's the next train east after tomorrow?"
Heyes sighed as he pulled off his coat. "Monday."
"Ah Heyes, that means we'll be stuck here, cause it ain't safe to ride horses in this weather even when I got two good arms."
"It's still early, Kid, not even eight o'clock yet. Maybe we'll catch a break. In the mean time, let's just go downstairs and get some breakfast."
"Three dollars a night plus overpriced meals, we're gonna be broke in no time."
"Look on the bright side Kid. How much trouble can we get into staying right here in our room all day and just coming out for meals?"
"That's the best you can do for a bright side?"
Kid carefully slid the sling off his left arm and Heyes walked over to help him slide his arm into his shirt sleeve, then helped him reapply the sling before Heyes buttoned Kid's shirt for him.
"Soft bed, warm meals, and a bath available whenever you want it," Heyes added, hoping to improve Kid's vision of a bright side.
Kid just snorted as he sat down on the bed and reached for his boots.
"Heyes, what do we do about my testifying at that trial? I already lied about my name."
Heyes shook his head. "Well, the Sheriff ain't asked you about how to get in touch with you after we leave here. If we can get outta town before he does, I guess the problem takes care of itself. If he does ask, and he likely will, I 'spose the best thing to do would be to tell him to get in touch with Lom when we get back to Wyoming. Maybe the Governor and do something about that."
"You think he would?"
Heyes shook his head again. "We might have to talk to a lawyer cause I really don't have a clue, Kid."
"Suppose they could tack on the lying under oath charge to the amnesty?"
Heyes grinned and shrugged his shoulders. "Worth a try. Come on, let's go get some breakfast."
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While the snow continue well into the afternoon, the amount of accumulation had dropped considerably and both Heyes and Curry were relieved to hear the sounds of the engine whistles as the plow engines set out to clear the tracks. Merchants began clearing the walks in front of their stores and a few brave souls began to venture out and about town. Occasionally a sleigh could be seen being driven down the street, which helped to pack the snow and enable pedestrians and horses to get about with a bit more ease as well.
Late that evening Heyes made a second trip to the train station to verify that the morning eastbound departure had not been canceled.
"Plow trains got back about an hour ago. Tracks are clear enough for travel to Fernley, don't know about anything beyond that,' the Ticket Agent told him. "Likely won't have anything new to tell you before tomorrow morning."
"What happens if the train were to get stuck in the snow?" Heyes asked.
"This kind of weather, we give trains a fair amount of delay time, likely an hour or two and if the train ain't reached the next stop in that amount of time, the Railroad sends out the plow engines. If the train pulls out of here in the morning, you folks won't go getting stranded."
Heyes nodded skeptically. "Nothing can go wrong, uh?"
"Well now, I didn't say that, but the Railroad takes good care of its passengers."
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By seven-thirty the next morning all the passengers traveling that day had arrived and boarding began fifteen minutes later. Out of habit Heyes and Curry took seats next to the door that provided them with a view of all the other passengers.
The other passengers included a young woman with two small children who sat at nearly the opposite end of the car from Heyes and Kid, three well dressed businessmen who did not appear to be together and took individual seats relatively far apart, two ladies who were traveling together sat near the middle of the car. The older of these two ladies, a woman in her early forties and expensively dressed looked vaguely familiar to Heyes. Her traveling companion, a woman some years younger than the first was neatly but more plainly dressed. Neither woman paid any attention to the other passengers and seldom spoke even among themselves. An older couple, perhaps in their late sixties or early seventies sat near the front, across the aisle but one seat back from the woman with the two children.
"Kid, does that well dressed lady look at all familiar to you?" Heyes asked as he studied the back of the woman's head.
"Can't say I paid much attention to her," Kid replied.
Heyes looked at Kid and grinned. "That don't sound much like you, Kid."
"Well, got a glimpse of them fancy clothes and figured she was outta my reach."
The conductor entered the car before it left the station, which was not the common practice. But he wanted to ease everyone's minds and provide the passengers with some safety instructions.
"Ladies, gentlemen, as you know we will be traveling through some heavy snow country. The railroad ran a plow train over this route yesterday but of course, there has been some minor snow accumulation since then. Not to worry. The engine and these cars all weigh several tons and can cross snow covered rail with ease. There are Pullman blankets on each of the seats and additional blankets in the overhead compartments and feel free to use these for your own comfort. This is a short route, not more than four hours on a good day and we don't usually carry a dining car. But we are today in the event that we have any major delays. The dining car will be open throughout the trip. If we was to have any problems due to the snow, we do have extra shovels on the train and would likely be calling upon you men to help shovel out whatever is necessary. And of course I am available throughout the trip to answer any questions."
Neither Kid nor Heyes had ever heard such instructions from a Conductor before and looked at each other skeptically, wondering if perhaps they should have waited for the Monday departure. But the train whistle blew its customary signals and the train began its journey with a jolt that thrust everyone forward and forced the Conductor to perform a likely often rehearsed dance to maintain his balance.
The train did move along at nearly half its typical speed and the views from the windows were of endless fields of white that met an endless gray sky at the horizon that offered an ominous threat of more snowfall. But inside the passenger car it was warm and comfortable.
Still tired from his injury, Kid settled into the corner of his seat, rested his head on the wall, and pulled his hat down over his eyes. Heyes spread one of the blankets over Kid's legs and chest.
An hour into the trip, with Kid now lightly snoring, Heyes decided to venture to the dining car for some coffee. Making his way down the aisle, Heyes stopped next to the woman with the two small children who were also now quietly sleeping.
"Excuse me Ma'am. I don't mean to bother you," he said quietly so as not to waken the children. "I'm going for some coffee. Would you like me to bring you anything?"
"She smiled at his courtesy. "Coffee would be very nice, thank you," she said and reached for her purse."
"Oh, no Ma'am. My pleasure."
With that he moved further down the aisle and stopped next to the elderly couple.
"I'm on my way for some coffee. Can I bring you anything?" he asked.
The woman smiled but shook her head.
"I could do with some coffee," the old man replied.
Heyes stood and smiled. "Be back n a minute," he told them.
Heyes backtracked down the aisle and stopped near the well dressed woman. "I'm going for coffee. Would either of you ladies like some?"
The younger woman looked at the well dressed woman, but she paid no attention, choosing to look straight ahead rather than to acknowledge the intrusion. The younger woman turned to Heyes and smiled politely. "None for either of us. Thank you."
Heyes looked down the aisle at the three man seated randomly. "Would any of you gentlemen like some coffee?"
None responded with anything more than a shake of the head.
As Heyes moved from the passenger car to the dining car he could see that the snow had picked up again and was falling at a heavy and steady rate and a cold wind blew blustery gusts of snow in his face.
The dining car was empty except for the two workers and the Conductor who sat at the bar and chatted with the dining car workers.
"Three coffees," Heyes said as he approached the bar. "Snow's picking up again," Heyes said to the Conductor.
"I saw that. There's a wide long bend about an hour from here with nearly vertical rock. Snow can't settle on the rock and it slides down and sometimes covers the tracks. We're keeping our fingers crossed we get through that before too much snow piles up."
"I thought it felt like the train had picked up a bit of speed," Heyes replied.
"Picking up speed when they can. Won't last long. It'll be slow traveling around that bend between Sparks and Lockwood. If we do get stuck there, Lockwood will send a plow engine out but it'll likely be a single engine so it'll take a while to get to us. "
"Why a single engine?"
"Because we've got an engine heading in the right direction. We'll actually oust their fire when they get to us and our engine will push that engine backwards back to Lockwood. That means even slower travel cause we'll be pushing ten tons of steel. If we're lucky, they'll send two engines, one facing us and one facing Lockwood."
"Might have been better to cancel this train and start out Monday."
"Easier maybe, but we're carrying a shipment that has to get to Lockwood today. There's no way this train was going to be canceled."
The waiter brought Heyes the three mugs of coffee but when Heyes reached into his pocket, the waiter waived him off. "No charge for coffee on a day like this, Sir."
"Well thank you, we appreciate that," Heyes replied.
"It's not without an ulterior motive," the Conductor said with a smile. "Want to keep the men wide awake for shoveling if we need em."
"Speaking of that, my partner just had surgery on his shoulder not three days ago. He won't be able to shovel if we need to."
"His other arm good?" the Conductor asked and Heyes nodded.
"If it comes to that, he can keep the fire stoked with wood and I'll put the Fireman to work with a shovel."
"That'll be fine. Thanks," Heyes said and juggled the three mugs of coffee in his hands and headed back to the passenger car.
Heyes handed out the two cups of coffee and returned to his seat. The jostling about of the train, as well as the smell of coffee woke his partner.
"You bring me some?" Kid asked groggily as he sat up in his seat.
Heyes handed Kid his mug. "We'll hafta share."
"Where are we?' Kid asked as he took a warming sip of the steaming coffee.
"We're just passing Sparks now. Conductor said it will be slow traveling as soon as we near the bend."
Kid looked out the window and saw the snow falling once again.
"Yeah, it's snowing again and blowing quite a bit, too," Heyes said. "Conductor said if we're going to have trouble, it will be near this bend we're coming up to."
Kid took another sip of the coffee and handed the mug back to Heyes. "I wish Soapy's birthday was in July, Heyes. It sure would make traveling easier. This time of year in these mountains just ain't a good idea."
Heyes smiled. "Maybe next year we'll just plan on spending the winter in San Francisco."
"You know Heyes, that really might not be a bad idea," Kid said and shifted his left arm and adjusted the sling.
"How's it feel?"
"Remarkably, not too bad. Nothing a shot of whiskey wouldn't take care of."
Heyes smiled and reached for his saddle bags and pulled out the now almost empty bottle they had purchased yesterday morning. He handed the bottle to Kid who smiled and uncorked the bottle and raised his eyes to see if anyone was watching. Then he raised the bottle and took a hefty gulp.
"That should take care of it," he replied and handed the bottle and then the cork back to Heyes who corked the bottle and returned it to his saddle bags.
"I swear I have seen that lady before," Heyes mused aloud.
"Well, she looks rich, Heyes. Ain't likely the two of you have ever met."
"Yeah, I suppose not."
They felt a slight jerk as the train suddenly began to slow. It was enough to waken the two small children and the youngest, no more than two years old began to cry loudly. The mother picked the child up and began rocking the child while she whispered soothingly in the child's ear.
"Must be nearing the bend," Heyes remarked.
The train continued to slow down until is was barely creeping along the rails. Kid looked out the window but the warmth inside the car had fogged the window preventing him from seeing anything but a dull gray light outside. He started to raise his arm to wipe the window with his sleeve, but suddenly a heavy jolt was felt, strong enough to nearly throw passengers from their seats, followed by a complete standstill of the train. A low murmur spread throughout the passenger car as people speculated as to what had just occurred. Within minutes the door to the passenger car opened and the Conductor walked in.
"Well, I'm sorry to tell you this folks but the engine just hit a snow bank . The good news is that we won't be needing to shovel out much snow, just enough to connect up with the plow engines."
"Engines?" one of the suited men asked.
"Lockwood sent two engines, one facing us that will clear the track, and a second one to pull us to Lockwood. They're en route to us now."
"How long will this take?" one of the well dressed men asked.
"That I can't tell you at this point."
Again a low murmur spread throughout the car but everyone remained cooperative. Even the crying child had begun to settle.
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Two hours passed and still no word about the rescue engine. The two children were again growing both restless and noisy.
"Let's go see if we can't help that woman with those kids," Heyes suggested.
"Heyes, we're a couple of strangers. You'll likely scare her by offering to watch her children for her."
Heyes shook his head. "We can offer to just move em across the aisle where she can keep an eye them and us, but get a little rest. Bet she's exhausted by now."
Kid sighed doubtfully but followed Heyes down the aisle.
"Ma'am, I don't know if I introduced myself earlier, but my name is Joshua Smith and this is my friend Thaddeus Jones. We was just saying this must be a pretty grueling trip for you and the children and we thought, if your comfortable with this, Thaddeus and I could move the children right here across the aisle where you could keep an eye on them, but we could read to em or tell em some stories so you could get a little rest."
The woman smiled nervously. "I appreciate the offer but..."
"We're right here too dear," the older lady sitting with her husband told the mother. "We'll keep an eye on them too. You need some rest."
"Well... if you really don't mind..."
They had no sooner gotten the children settled in the seats directly across from the mother when the two waiters walked into the passenger car carrying trays of sandwiches and coffee that they passed out among the passengers. They had also fixed some oatmeal with warm milk for the children.
"No news?" Heyes asked one of the waiters."
"Not yet, Sir. But I'm sure we'll be hearing soon.
"It stop snowing yet?" Kid asked.
"Yes Sir, about an hour ago."
Once the children had eaten, Heyes picked up the youngest and plopped the child into Kid's lap. Then Heyes sat down in the seat across from his partner and picked up the other child.
"Would you two like to hear a story?' Heye asked
"Hansel and Gretel" the child replied.
Heyes smiled and glanced at Kid who gave him a slight shrug.
"Well, it's been a long time since I've heard that story myself. Not sure I remember all of it, so I might need a little help with the details. Would you do that?' Heyes asked and the child smiled and nodded eagerly.
Heyes glanced over at the mother who was smiling gratefully.
"Alright then. Once upon a time..."
Twenty minutes later, and not quite to the end of the story, both children were fast asleep.
"Would you like me to hold the child?" the older woman asked Kid. "I really wouldn't mind and that can't feel comfortable with your arm in a sling."
Kid smiled gratefully and carefully rose from his seat to move toward the woman sitting behind him. He very gently place the sleeping child in the woman's arms.
"Thank you, Ma'am."
"Oh, thank you," the woman said smiling and stroking the child's hair.
"Looks like it ain't snowing," Kid said while looking out the window. "I'll go see if I can get any news," he whispered to Heyes and headed out of the passenger car.
Kid stepped into the dining car and was nearly accosted by the Conductor.
"I was just headed in to let people know the plow engines are about a half an hour away. We should be on our way again in about an hour."
"I can save you a few steps and let them all know," Kid said. "Anything any of us can do to move things along?"
"No. Lockwood station sent two engines out so we'll just connect up with those engines and their lead engine will get us to Lockwood. It'll be slow going. That engine will be pulling two other engines in addition to these few cars, but we'll make it alright."
"My partner says you're carrying some shipment to Lockwood that can't be delayed?" Kid asked.
The Conductor sighed heavily. "Well, the powers that be have determined the shipment can't be delayed. I have a differing opinion myself."
"Got anything to do with them two ladies and those three businessmen?"
Kid asked.
The Conductor gave him a look of surprise that he quickly tried to conceal. "Now why would you say that?" he asked.
Kid shrugged. They've just kept very much to themselves. Ain't talked to no one, not even each other. Don't appear to be the least bit concerned with the delay. Just don't seem... natural."
"Well, even if I knew the answer to that, I wouldn't be at liberty to say anything."
"You mean you can't tell me who they are?"
The Conductor shook his head and smiled. "Sorry."
"How about that older couple?
The Conductor leafed through the papers on his clipboard for the passenger roster. "That's Mr. and Mrs. Rawlings."
"Rawlings," Kid repeated. "Nice couple."
Kid returned to the passenger car and briefly announced the information the Conductor had given him. Then he slipped back into his seat.
"Well, you might be right about the rich lady, Heyes. She might just be somebody important."
"Why do you say that?"
"Conductor wouldn't tell me nothing about her, not even her name."
"Maybe he don't know her name."
Kid shook his head. "Got the names of all the passengers down on a piece of paper. The couple behind you is named Rawlings."
Heyes casually turned his head to give the two woman a glance, then turned back to Kid. "She does look familiar."
"Maybe she's famous, you know, some high society lady or something. Though I still don't know why you would know her."
Twenty minutes later the Conductor again walked into the passenger car to update the passengers.
"The plow train has arrived and we are in the process of connecting cars. You'll likely be feeling a jolt or two but it's nothing to worry about. We'll be on our way again in about half an hour. Should be in Lockwood about an hour after we start out again. Those of you going on to Fernley should know the stop in Lockwood will likely be as much as a hour while we disconnect from the plow engines and stock up on wood and water, and that engineer gets the those two engines moved to another track, " The Conductor explained.
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Two hours later the train pulled into the Lockwood station. The three men in business suits, as well as the well dressed woman and her companion all disembarked. Heyes returned the two children to their mother and he and Kid moved back to their seats in the back of the train.
Heyes sat looking out the window watching the well dressed woman and her companion walking down the boardwalk. At the entrance to the train station the women were greeted by several well dressed men.
Heyes snapped his fingers. "Kid, I know who she is," he exclaimed.
Kid had already pulled his hat over his eyes to settle in for a nap. "Who?" he asked halfheartedly.
"That's Carlotta Crabtree!"
Kid pushed his head back and sat up with a start and gazed out the window. "You know, I think you're right," he replied.
"Now that's a story to tell your grand kids, rode a train and got snowbound with the most famous entertainer in the world."
"Ain't that a bit of a stretch, Heyes?"
"It's a story for your grand kids. Those are always a stretch," Heyes said with a laugh as the train slowly pulled out of the station.
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Author's note: Carlotta "Lotta" Crabtree was a famous singer of the time. She invested her money in real estate and, at the time of her death, was one of the wealthiest women in the field of entertainment.