They lead to an abandoned Fort, or that is what he’s expecting. Instead, he finds a bustling building site. Blood Eagle stops some distance away using his binoculars to watch. Soldiers? No, civilians from the looks of it. They unload building supplies, and the train is refueled.
Low split rail fencing surrounds the old fort, with Gatling guns set at each corner. He counts, eighteen men guarding the area. Four Gatling guns that he can see, and each has two men posted against what enemy?
A frown of concern has him sitting back. He turns to look, and the wolf is gone. Once the sun sets, he will move closer and have a discussion with one of them. From his vantage point he wonders what they are building. Whatever it is, they are worried about protecting it. His questions will be answered one way or another he settles down to watch and wait for nightfall.
As the sun sets most of the soldiers retreat to the sleeping quarters, leaving only the gun crews to guard into the night. Blood Eagle slips his binoculars back into his saddlebags. “Time to go get some answers.” He’s planning on taking a soldier and questioning him.
A sound has him whipping around with his pistols drawn. The wolf is glaring at him with golden eyes and tosses an unconscious man at his feet with a thud and groan. Blood Eagle grins and points the pistol at the stunned soldier.
“You just saved me some work, thank you, Ban-chu,” he nods and returns to his saddlebag drawing out his blade and rope. He ropes the man’s feet and hands together before gagging him. Then tosses him over the back of his horse. “I need to move to the tree line back a few miles,” He leaps on the horse and kicks him into a trot. Privacy is essential when questioning a prisoner.
A moan of pain escapes him as his brown eyes open, the Soldier struggles to break free of the ropes. After a few minutes of thrashing, he glares at Blood Eagle sitting near a small fire in the center of thick trees. Dangling from a tree branch by his arms and his feet tied to stakes he realizes that he is in trouble.
Blood Eagle watches and carves a piece of dried meat off with his bowie knife.
“I’d be careful, you look like a fish on a hook. What if my friend decides he likes fish?” Blood Eagle points his knife at the massive wolf sitting near the fire. A low growl rumbles from his chest.
His brown eyes fly open wide, and his pulse starts pounding erratically. The wolf leaps to his feet and trots over to the man, stopping just a hair away from him and stares into his eyes. He snarls, and the man pisses his pants. The beast snorts in disgust and steps over to the fire to settle back down.
“I have questions that need to be answered.” Blood Eagle rises and strides over to the man. “If you cooperate, I will set you free. If you don’t, I will carve you up and feed you to my friend, one piece at a time.” His eyes promise what he’s saying is the truth, and the man nods quickly.
“Good, I need to be moving on, but first I have questions.” He slices the gag free and steps back.
The man coughs and says in a hoarse voice, “What do you need to know?”
“What are you building? I thought this Fort was abandoned.” Blood Eagle steps close to hear.
“Cut me down, and I’ll tell you,” he groans. “My arms are…”
Blood Eagle reaches up and slices through the ropes holding his hands. The wolf rises to his feet with a snarl, and his head drops low when the man crumples to the ground.
“Thank you,” he moans, “I think.” He sits up and slowly shoves back against the tree. His arms start burning as the blood rushes into them.
“What name do you go by?”
“Ben,” he nervously watches the large beast pacing behind the Indian.
“Ben, start talking, or Ban-chu here will begin,” Blood Eagles snaps.
He gulps, “We are building an oil refinery.”
Blood Eagle stops moving and glares, “On whose order?”
“General Barclay. He is using the trains to deliver supplies.”
What the hell is going on? “The General found oil?”
“Not exactly. The oil has always been there, they just weren’t looking for it. Only Gold or Silver. Barclay is using the Army to clear his land and building refineries on it.”
“His land?”
“Yes,” the man looks nervously at the wolf who is pacing near him.
“He’s using the army to clear it of the Indians?” Blood Eagle asks.
“Exactly, and then he buys the land at low prices. No one wants to buy land that isn’t safe to live on.”
Rage flickers to life in his soul. “All of this for oil?”
“Not oil, money!” The man’s voice grows excited as he explains the possibilities of oil. “I can get you a share of the refinery, for a low buy-in, of course,” he offers nervously.
Blood Eagle glares at the man who is just a young kid. Once, he would have killed him without a thought, but those days are behind him now. “I’ll think about it, Ben. Thank you for the information.” He reaches down and cuts his legs free.
“That’s it?”
“Yes. I have no further business here.” Blood Eagle kicks dirt over the fire, returning them to darkness.
“But, the wolf?” the kid’s voice asks.
“What wolf?” Blood Eagle laughs as he jumps on his horse and trots away leaving him to find his own way back to the Fort.
It only takes a few minutes
