This Violent Land by William W. Johnstone Read Free Book Online Page A

anytime he ships more than one hundred dollars, he has to let me know. He hasn’t said anything to me about ten thousand dollars, so you better believe it wasn’t on this coach.”
    â€œDamn,” Fitzsimmons said. “Boss, you know what I think? I think that whoever did this must have heard the same information Sheriff Hector heard. They must have thought the bank was shipping a lot of money. Why else would they go to all this trouble and kill all these people?”
    â€œI guess you’re right.” Cooper raised the wooden pistol up to look at it. “I can’t believe anyone is mean enough to dynamite a man and his family. Especially a little kid.”
    â€œBoss, there are some mean people in the world. Me and you both know that,” Carl put in.
    * * *
    From the Rocky Mountain News, October 7, 1870:

    S CURRILOUS A TTACK ON S TAGECOACH
    A LL K ILLED
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    On the fifth, instant, a person or persons unknown planted dynamite in the road over which the Eureka-bound stagecoach of the Summit County Stage Line was required to travel. No doubt activated by some remote means, the dynamite exploded under the coach.
    Killed in the attack were the driver, Lloyd “Beans” Crabtree and the shotgun guard Gilbert Wyatt. The passengers, also killed, were George Thomas, his wife Edith, and their seven-year-old son Billy. Thomas was going to Eureka to take a job as a pharmacist for John Murphy, in the Murphy Apothecary of that city.
    The Summit County Stage Line lost four horses in the attack, two of which were killed in the explosion and two which sustained injuries so grievous that it was necessary for the poor creatures to be put down.
    What is not understood is why the perpetrator or perpetrators chose this particular coach to attack, as, according to the bank’s transfer records, it was carrying only eighty-seven dollars.
    Sheriff Jesse Hector of Breckenridge in Summit County, where the attack on the stagecoach took place, has stated that he is investigating the crime.

    â€œEighty-seven dollars? You come here with eighty-seven damn dollars?”
    â€œThat’s all the stagecoach was a-carryin’, I swear,” Pete said.
    â€œI know, I know. I read it in the papers. I don’t know what happened. I heard that it was going to be carrying a lot more money than that.”
    â€œI’m glad you read it in the paper, boss, and ain’t got the idea that maybe me and the others was tryin’ to cheat you out of your cut,” Merlin said.
    The outlaws’ employer snorted in contempt. “I don’t think any of you are dumb enough to try anything like that.”
    â€œHave you got any more jobs in mind for us?” Pete asked.
    â€œI don’t have anything yet, but I’ll keep my eyes peeled and my ears open, and when I come up with something else, I’ll let you know.”
    Â 
    Â 
    Denver
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    Janey stood on the platform waiting for her luggage to be brought to her. She had already hailed a cab. The driver, leaving his hack tied out front, was standing beside her, waiting to receive the luggage from the baggage claim so he could carry it to the cab.
    â€œDriver, wait here for me, will you? Here is my claim ticket for the luggage. I want to buy a newspaper,” Janey said.
    â€œYes, ma’am,” the driver replied.
    Richards had given her the five hundred dollars she had asked for, so she needed to plan her buying excursion, which she would take care of as soon as she had the paperwork signed. She figured to start her shopping spree by perusing all the ads in the paper.
    Standing nearby on the platform, Smoke watched the pretty woman walk away. For a fleeting moment, he thought there was something familiar about her, but it was for an instant only. He had seen, and met, a lot of women in the past several years.
    He stepped closer to the driver. “Is your cab for hire?”
    â€œNo, sir, I’m afraid not. I’ve been hired