CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO – The Mine
Pete had managed to get at least a half hour head start on the posse, and had previously checked out the mine location. He hadn't gone much beyond the entrance, as a cave-in had blocked much of the opening, but once he and Megan arrived, he thrust her limp body into the adit and, using his bulk, rolled a stone to block her way out.
She had done her best to scratch, bite, and otherwise free herself of Pete, attempting to fling herself from the horse when they slowed down, until finally he had sworn at her and used his big fist to knock her out. For a man of his size and strength her light weight was nothing, and he had tucked her against him for the remainder of the ride.
Having rid himself of his burden for the time being, he drew his horse out of sight and proceeded to get above the mine in order to have an overview of the location. He was cursing his impulse to snatch her as he climbed.
In the mine, Megan gradually came to. Her head hurt abominably and her jaw was bruised, and her hand wouldn't open completely and seem to have a dead animal in it. Forcing her eyes to focus, she stared at the mass in her hand and tried to open her fingers wider. As she did so the mass of fur reshaped itself into Pete's mustache, sticky from the spirit gum he used to keep it on his lip. Well that would explain why he was yelling. It must have hurt to have it ripped off like that. She slipped the mustache into her pocket and surveyed her surroundings.
She appeared to be in a cave. Maybe the mine? Pain in her head stabbed at her but she managed to stand. Holding onto the wall she closed her eyes and breathed deeply a few times. Opening them again, she was pleased to note the dizziness had passed.
Light filtered around the rock blocking her exit. She tried, in vain, to move it, then began looking for another escape route.
Off to the side were some boxes that appeared to be neatly stored, awaiting future use. Among them she found several lanterns, a box of matches, and a pick and shovel, Lighting one of the lanterns, she raised it above her head and started moving deeper into the cave, where she could see marks on the walls where the opening had been enlarged. The way was now partially blocked, however, by fallen rock and debris.
Some of the rocks gleamed in the light from her lantern but she kept moving, searching for a way out. Ahead she spotted a patch of blue that looked like cloth. As she got closer, she realized it was the edge of a trouser leg. A large rock trapped the cloth, but she was able to pull some of the smaller stones aside to confirm what she’d feared: she had found a body.
Holding the lantern up, she could see where the roof had collapsed onto the person below, but there did not appear to be enough space at the top for her to crawl through. The thought passed through her mind that she should be screaming and panicking, or even fainting, were she any type of proper maiden.
And then she grinned, thinking to herself that no, she was a happily married woman now. And, with that thought, knowing her husband would have come after her, she headed back to the entrance of the mine.
If she had to, she would use the pick and dig herself out. But as she approached the entrance she could hear noises in the background, including shots and cries. Perhaps she had better wait to start digging. The last thing she wanted to do was catch a bullet on her way out.
Well, perhaps she could start with the small stones, though. And she did. As soon as she had pulled enough away to have a small opening, she crouched down to see if she could actually view any of the action.
~~~
Led by Randy, the four men had approached the mine, but dismounted well away from the clearing and, picketing their horses, crept up to check out the site. Off to the right they spotted Pete’s mare grazing.
Randy studied the adit and gestured with his head for the others to follow him deeper into the cover.
“I mentioned to you there’d been a cave-in but that rock in front has been moved.”
“Well, his horse is here so he’s in the area. I just pray Megan is unharmed,” Ted murmured.
“I thought I saw some movement up the cliff,” said Moses. Making eye contact with Steve, he tilted his head upward with a question in his eyes. Steve nodded, and the two of them crept back to scope out a way up where they could remain out of sight. But there was no way to approach the front without being in the open.
From where they were, Ted and Randy had a good view of Moses and Steve’s ascent. Randy nudged Ted when he spotted a figure almost directly over the mine entrance. Suddenly a gun appeared in Ted’s hand. It would probably be useless at this distance he thought, but it might be a distraction, if needed.
Like most men out west, Steve, Moses and Randy were each wearing gun belts. Generally the firearms were only necessary against wildlife—there were a lot of dangerous critters who resented man’s incursion into their wilderness. But Ted was sporting “country clothes,” à la Philadelphia, rather than the rough-woven or canvas trousers of most of the other men locally, and eschewed a gun belt. If you’d asked him, he might have laughed and said he didn’t want to spoil the drape of his clothes.
But just because he didn’t display it, didn’t mean he didn’t carry protection within
