Smoke believed him. He took the wallet.
“I told ... Frederick last night it was a stupid plan. That you would ... not fall for it. He slapped me. My wife ... laughed. They are perverted people. Twisted. I...”
Prince Hans Brodermann died surrounded by the magnificence of Yellowstone. Smoke reached out and closed his eyes. He found a shovel on one of the pack horses that had wandered back into camp and dug a deep hole. The earth claimed Prince Brodermann just as it eventually claims all, making no distinction of class.
Smoke piled rocks on the grave, picked up his rifle and gathered up a saddled horse and the two remaining pack horses. He rode slowly back to the rear entrance of the fort.
He told what happened while the others were going through the supplies.
“My God!” Blanche said. “Champagne and caviar.”
“I’d let it settle down some before I popped that cork,” Gilbert said. “The bouncing it’s taken, that stuff would go off like a shot.”
“What did you do with the other dead?” Thomas asked.
“Left them for the varmints,” Smoke said shortly. “Any activity out front after the fireworks started?”
“Yep,” Walt said. “They was men out there just like you suspected. But I don’t think they ever got in place. They pulled out. Angel climbed up yonder,” he pointed to a ledge off a-ways from the falls, “where the rocks wasn’t so wet he couldn’t get a hand-hold, and seen ‘em leave. Then we used field glasses and seen ’em way over yonder ridin’ hard.” He pointed. “They musta picketed their horses and walked in the last mile or so.”
“Pack it up,” Smoke said. “Now. And do it fast. We’re pulling out of here.”
“But ...” Carol said.
“No buts, lady. We’re moving. Now.”
“Yes,” Gilbert said. “I see the logic in that. Our horses are well-rested. We have regained our spirits and strength. So while the opposition is running chaotically, in total disarray, we make our final dash to freedom.”
Smoke smiled. “Took the words right out of my mouth, Gilbert.”
22
The final ride to park headquarters was uneventful. The acting park superintendent had already sent a messenger to the Army, advising them of the missing patrol, and a full mounted platoon was only a day away and riding hard.
The ladies immediately went off for a hot bath and a change of clothing. The small garrison of Army Engineers went on full alert. All six of them.
“They won’t come here,” Smoke calmed the acting superintendent down. “Once they see we made it, they’d be riding into a death trap, knowing we got word out. But let the Army stay on alert. It’ll be good for them.”
“Well, the law will now take care of this von Hausen and those hooligans with him.”
“No, sir, they won’t.”
“I beg your pardon, Mister Jensen?”
“I will,” Smoke said flatly.
The man took one look into Smoke’s hard eyes and backed up a step. “Yes, sir. I do believe you will.”
Smoke had told no one about Hans Brodermann’s money. That evening, after supper, he took Angel and Walt aside and told them. He gave them the money.
“My God, Smoke,” Walt said, after looking into the sacks and the wallet and finding his voice. “There must be four or five thousand dollars in here.”
“Probably more than that,” Smoke said. “There’s two thousand dollars in greenbacks and several thousand more in signed checks on Wells Fargo. That’s not counting the gold. Why don’t you two buy you a little spread somewhere and settle down?”
“That’s a good idea,” Angel said, looking at Walt. “How about it ... partner?”
The three men shook hands.
“Keep in touch,” Smoke told them. “I’ll be pulling out at first light.”
“You want some company?” Walt asked.
“No. This is something I have to do myself. You both understand that.”
They did.
When the others awakened the next morning, Smoke had already left. When questioned, not even the Army guard on the last duty watch had heard him leave.
“He’s going to track them all down, isn’t he?” Gilbert asked.
“Yep,” Walt said. “To the last person. They could have pulled out. Smoke gave them that option. But they turned their backs to it. And they messed up real bad when they done it. They made Smoke mad.”
“That is quite a man,” Carol said.
Walt glanced at her. “All man, lady. Some say he’s the last mountain man.”
“The lard’s done hit the hot skillet now,” Montana said, lingering over the last of the morning coffee. “And she’s a-bubblin’ and a-spittin’.”
