“Because I’m coming with you.”
Before Preacher could give her a “hell, no,” Lorenzo spoke up, saying, “I’m comin’, too. I always had me a hankerin’ to see some real mountains.”
“Now wait just a doggoned minute,” Preacher said. “What makes you think the Rockies are any place for a —”
“A whore?” Casey challenged him.
“And a nigger?” Lorenzo added.
Preacher scrubbed a hand over his face and heaved a weary sigh. “I was gonna say, a gal and a carriage driver. I don’t give a damn about them other things, and you two know it.”
“Yeah, I reckon,” Lorenzo said gruffly. “But I been around horses all my life. I’ll be all right on the frontier.”
“And I was raised on a farm, remember?” Casey put in. “I’m used to being outdoors. At least, there was a time I was, and I’d like to experience that again.”
“Well, if that don’t beat all.” Preacher turned to Jessie. “I suppose you want to come along and see the mountains, too.”
She smiled up at him from where she was frying some bacon over the fire and said, “Actually, no. It’s been too long since I lived on a farm. I’m afraid I’m a city girl now.”
Preacher frowned. “You can’t mean to go back to St. Louis. Too many folks there know you were plottin’ against Beaumont. Somebody’s gonna take over where he left off, you know, and whoever it is might consider you a threat.”
“That’s why I’m going to take one of those horses, ride
Preacher couldn’t help but laugh. “You know, I got a hunch you’re right about that.”
“And that way, Casey and Lorenzo can have two of the other horses, and you can use the fourth one as a pack animal. See how neatly that works out?”
Casey said, “Yes, but what will we do with the carriage? Just leave it here?”
Preacher’s eyes narrowed as he studied the slope leading down to the river. It was pretty steep, and the bank dropped off sharply to the water.
“I got me an idea . . .” he said.
The others agreed, and after breakfast, they unhitched the four horses that would now carry them their separate ways, Jessie to the south, Preacher, Casey, and Lorenzo to the west. The carriage was empty. Preacher took the brake off and got behind the vehicle. The others joined him.
“Put your shoulders in it,” he said.
They pushed, and after a moment the heavy carriage began to move, slowly at first and then faster as its weight began to work against it. Gravity took over, and the carriage started rolling down the hill. Preacher and his companions trotted after it for a second, keeping it going, then stopped and stepped back to watch as the vehicle’s momentum made it pick up speed as it headed for the river.
A moment later, the carriage went sailing off the bank to land with a huge splash in the Mississippi. Preacher let out a whoop, and Jessie and Casey clapped their hands. The carriage wound up on its side, floating slowly out of sight around a bend in the river.
“There goes the last of Shad Beaumont,” Jessie said.
Preacher grunted. “Good riddance.”
Casey said, “People in St. Louis are going to be mighty puzzled when they see it floating past, though.”
“It’ll make a good story,” Lorenzo said. “And folks do like a good story.”
Turn the page for an exciting preview of the next
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MATT JENSEN, THE LAST MOUNTAIN MAN:
SNAKE RIVER SLAUGHTER
On sale February 2010
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Chapter 1
The Baker brothers, Harry and Arnold, were outside by the barn when they saw Jules Pratt and his wife come out of the house. Scott and Lucy McDonald walked out onto the porch to tell the Pratts good-bye.
“You have been most generous,” Jules said as he climbed up into the surrey. “Speaking on behalf of the laity of the church, I can tell you that every time we hear the beautiful music of the new organ, we will be thinking of, and thanking you.”
“It was our pleasure,” Scott said. “The church means a great deal to us, more than we can say. And we are more than happy to do anything we can to help out.”
“We’ll see you Sunday,” Jules said, slapping the reins against the back of the team.
Lucy McDonald went back into the house but before Scott went back inside, he looked over toward the barn at the two brothers.
“How are you two boys comin’ on the wagon?” Scott called toward them.
“We’re workin’ on it,” Harry called back.
