unsuccessfully to tell the truth about the shooting. From his perspective right now, the future looked pretty bleak.
“Train’s a’comin’,” someone shouted, though as the engineer had blown the whistle at almost the same moment, no announcement was necessary. Those who were waiting for the train got up and started toward the door.
“Don’t be gettin’ anxious now, Killer,” Hayes said even though Matt had made no effort to move. “We’ll let the decent folks on first.”
The floor began to shake under Matt’s feet as the heavy train rolled into the station with its bell ringing and steam spewing from the cylinders.
“All right, Killer, on your feet now. Let’s go,” Hayes said after the train came to a complete stop and everyone else had left the building.
Stepping outside onto the wide wooden boarding platform, Matt saw that the sliding door on the side of the express car was open, and that the express man inside the car was squatting down to talk to the station agent. Both the express man and the station agent glanced over toward Matt and Deputy Hayes, so Matt knew they were talking about him. After a moment, the agent made a waving motion to them.
“All right, looks like Randall has it worked out for us,” Hayes said. “Come on, let’s go.”
With Hayes’s hand on Matt’s elbow, the two men walked over to the express car. As it was the first car after the coal tender, it was close enough to the engine to hear the rhythmic venting of the steam relief valve, sounding as if the engine were some steel beast of burden, breathing hard from its labors.
The engineer was leaning on the windowsill of the engine cab, enjoying a moment of rest. There was no such rest for the fireman, who, even though the train was motionless, was shoveling coal into the furnace to keep the steam pressure up. Glistening coals fell from the firebox to the rock ballast between the tracks. There, they glowed for a moment, then went dark.
The engineer looked at Matt, and Matt met his glance with a steady gaze of his own. The engineer nodded a greeting at him, which, under the circumstances, Matt greatly appreciated.
“All right, Killer, you get on first,” Hayes said.
“It’s not going to be easy with these chains,” Matt said.
“Yeah? Well, I’m not about to pick you up and throw you on, so I suggest you get on the best way you can. Try.”
Matt put his hands on the edge of the car, then vaulted up easily.
“Well, now,” Hayes said with a little chuckle. “I’m real impressed. You done that just real good. You, express man,” Hayes called.
“The name is Kingsley,” the express agent replied. “Lon Kingsley.”
“All right, Kingsley.” Hayes gave the express man his gun. “Keep him covered till I get up there. He’s a killer.”
“A killer?” Kingsley replied, obviously disturbed by the fact.
“Yeah, so be careful with him.”
Nervously holding the gun, Kingsley stepped back away from Matt. “D-don’t you try nothin’ now,” he ordered.
“Easy, mister,” Matt said. “I don’t intend to try anything.”
With some effort, Hayes managed to climb up into the express car. He reached out for his pistol. “I’ll take that back now,” he said.
Kingsley handed the pistol back to Hayes, who put it in his holster.
“Aren’t you going to keep him covered?” Kingsley asked.
“Why?” Hayes replied. “He’s in chains. It’s for sure he’s not goin’ anywhere.”
“I guess not.”
“Don’t worry, we won’t be that much of an inconvenience to you,” Hayes promised.
“I reckon you two can ride with me as long as you stay out of my way. I’ll be processin’ mail along the way.”
“We won’t be no bother,” Hayes promised. He pointed to the end of the car where there was one chair. “Sit there,” he said.
When Matt started to sit on the chair, Hayes called out to him.
“Huh-uh, not on the chair, the chair is mine. You’ll be sitting on the floor, so you may as well sit there now and make yourself comfortable.”
As instructed, Matt sat down on the floor, leaned his head back against the wall, and closed his eyes. He and Hayes no sooner got settled than the engineer blew his whistle, then opened the throttle. The train started forward with a series of jerks, then smoothed out as it gradually began gaining speed.
Chapter Six
Shortly after the train left the depot, Cummins held a meeting of all his deputies.
“All right, boys, it’s time to go to work. You fellas know what stores, businesses, and homes you are responsible for. Get started, then bring it all to the saloon.”
“Marshal, maybe we had better ease up a bit,” one of the deputies suggested.
“Ease up a bit?” Cummins said. “What do you mean by that, Crack?”
