“I’m afraid Miller had no say in the matter,” Ford said smugly.
“What do you mean he had no say in the matter?”
“We acquired his land by eminent domain.”
“In other words, the government stole Mr. Miller’s land,” Dorchester said.
“It’s not stolen. The land was acquired by a writ of eminent domain, with provisions, of course, for the landowners to apply for reimbursement.”
“To apply? You mean they aren’t automatically compensated?”
“No. But as I have explained to everyone whose land we have acquired, there are provisions in place for them to apply for, and receive, compensation. That is, if they meet the guidelines.”
“Oh? And what is the government paying for prime land?”
“A dollar an acre,” Ford replied.
“That is robbery.”
“No, that is democracy in action,” Addison Ford insisted.
“All right, so you have government authority to steal Miller’s land,” Dorchester said. He pointed to the dam. “Why in heavens name did you dam up Sugar Creek?”
“I’m sure you know how steam engines operate,” Ford replied patronizingly. “They require water to generate steam. If the railroad is to succeed, it will have to have a ready and plentiful source of water.”
“Why, you bloody rascal, you have not only stolen land, you have squeezed dry every drop of water from Sugar Creek! I have other sources of water, but those property owners below me are totally dependent upon Sugar Creek. What will happen to them?”
“I’m afraid that is really none of my concern,” Ford said. “I am acting on government orders. If you have a problem with it, take it up with the United States Land Management officer.”
“And who might that be?” Dorchester asked.
“Why, that would be Mr. White,” Ford said, pointing to his son-in-law and laughing out loud.
“You haven’t heard the last of this, you bloody bastard,” Dorchester said, wagging his finger in Ford’s face. “I don’t roll over that easily.”
“Gentlemen, I do believe I’m being threatened,” Ford said.
The two armed men reacted to Ford’s comment. The one with a rifle operated the lever, while the one who was holding the double-barreled shotgun came back on the hammers of both barrels.
“Luke Rawlings. What are you doing here guarding this dam?” Hawke asked. “I thought you had made a lot of money gold mining.”
“It ain’t none of your business what me ’n’ Percy’s doin’ here,” Luke replied. “The thing is, we are here, and we’re telling you to leave.”
“I don’t think we’re ready to leave yet.”
Luke pointed his shotgun at Dorchester.
Hawke drew his pistol then and pointed it at Luke.
“Luke, you want to ease those hammers back down before someone gets hurt?” he asked.
“What are you doin’ here, anyway? This is none of your affair,” Luke said.
“I just made it my affair.”
“Looks to me like you are a day late and a dollar short,” Luke said.
“Not really,” Hawke replied. “I have the advantage.”
“Yeah? How is that?”
“Neither of you are pointing a gun at me. On the other hand, I am pointing my gun at you.”
“Maybe not, but we are pointing them at your friend.”
“My friend isn’t armed—I am. And if you shoot him, I’ll kill you. In fact, I will kill all four of you.”
“What?” Ford suddenly shouted. “What are you talking about? You are going to shoot all four of us? Do you realize that you are threatening a representative of the United States government?”
“Mister, every man I killed during the war was a representative of the United States government in one way or another. Now, you tell your men there to lower their guns, or I’m going to start shooting.”
“You two men put your guns down,” Ford said in a frightened tone.
“I think he’s bluffing,” Luke said.
“I said put the guns down! Now!” Ford ordered, his voice nearly breaking.
The two men lay their weapons on the ground.
“Back away from them,” Hawke ordered.
When neither of the two men moved, Hawke shot at Luke’s foot, coming so close that he took a small nick from the sole of Luke’s boot.
“What the hell!” the man shouted in sudden fear, dancing back from the impact of the round. He looked down at his boot and saw the little nick. “You just barely missed blowing off my toe,” he said angrily.
“I didn’t miss,” Hawke said. “If I wanted to hit your toe, I would have. Now, back away, or the next one
The two men backed away. Hawke kept waving them back until they were at least twenty yards from the guns.
“Mr. Dorchester,” he said quietly. “Perhaps now would be a good time for us to leave.”
“Yes,” Dorchester said. “Yes, I do believe you are right.”
Just before they crossed back onto Dorchester’s land, a lone rider came out from behind a rock outcropping. He placed himself right in front of them.
“Father!” Pamela said with a gasp.
The rider was Ethan Dancer.
“You folks are trespassing on private property,” Dancer said in a low, evil, hissing voice.
“We were checking on why the water stopped flowing,” Dorchester replied.
“Next time you come onto this land, get permission,” Dancer said.
“And if we don’t?” Hawke asked, putting himself between Dancer and the others.
Dancer stared at Hawke for a moment. “You’re the one they call Hawke, aren’t you?”
“That would be Mr. Hawke to you,” Hawke replied.
He held Dancer in a gaze that was fully as intense as it had been in the mirror on their first encounter. Dancer’s face twitched a couple of times and he ran his finger across his scar. Why wasn’t this man afraid of him? he wondered. Who was he? Was this someone he should know?
“Who the hell are you?” Dancer asked.
“I thought we had settled that. I’m Mr. Hawke.”
“I wouldn’t get too smart…Mister…Hawke.”
“Yes, well, it’s not very likely that you would,” Hawke said.
Dancer’s eyes narrowed for a second. He had the idea that he’d just been insulted, but he wasn’t sure exactly how.
Despite the tension of the moment, Pamela couldn’t hold back a chuckle.
Dancer pointed at Hawke. “One of these days, you’re going to find yourself dancing with the demon.” Slapping his legs against the side of his horse, Dancer rode off quickly.
When he was gone, Pamela shuddered. “What do you suppose he meant by dancing with the demon?” she asked.
“I’ve heard tell that’s what he says to someone just a’fore he shoots ’em,” Willie said.
“Oh!” Pamela said, putting her hand to her mouth and looking at Hawke with fear in her eyes. “Hawke! He just said you were going to dance with the demon.”
“Ah, I wouldn’t worry about it.” He smiled. And to ease her fear, he joked, “My dance card is already full.”
Chapter 16
IT TOOK FOUR DAYS FOR JAY DUPREE AND HIS LITTLE wagon train to reach South Pass. Three of the
