Read Online Luke's Gold by Charles G. West - Free Book Online

“Snider, I remember you. That was a long time ago. You wasn’t much more than a kid back then.” He gave him a long hard look. “I didn’t recognize you right off with all that brush on your face.”
    â€œIt has been a while,” Snider allowed. Then with a fleeting glance at Cade, he asked, “Who’s your friend?”
    â€œThis is Cade Hunter,” Luke said. “He’s my partner.”
    â€œPartner in what?” Snider wanted to know.
    â€œWell, nothin’ much right now, I reckon,” Luke replied.
    It was obvious to Cade that, for whatever reason, Luke was not enjoying this chance reunion with an old army comrade. He seemed guarded and unusually reserved for one who could talk a gopher out of his hole. As far as Cade was concerned, he didn’t like the looks of Lem Snider. He had the gaze of a man who might be measuring you for a coffin, and there was something about him that didn’t seem right. It took Cade a couple of minutes to figure it out, and then it struck him. The man’s right ear was missing the very top part. Just a little piece was missing, like maybe someone had bitten it off in a fight.
    â€œA lot of the boys back in C Company wondered what in hell happened to you,” Snider said. “You were on that escort that lost the gold shipment over near the Gallatin. I rode on the patrol that was sent over to pick up the bodies.” Snider shook his head slowly as if recalling the scene. “That was a shameful sight, all them dead boys layin’ around in the sun.” He glanced at Cade to see if he was listening. “Ever’ last soul rubbed out, all except two. We found all the bodies but yours and Adams’. Then we found Adams’ body across the river. We wondered what happened to you. Some got to thinkin’ that maybe you was in on the ambush.” He paused then and watched for Luke’s reaction.
    â€œOh, they did, did they?” Luke responded. “Well, I got away, all right, with a rifle ball in my leg for my trouble. I made it on up to the East Gallatin where we was supposed to pass the shipment off to a cavalry unit. They ordered me on to Fort Lincoln with them. I wound up in Virginia by the time the war was over.”
    Snider didn’t say anything for a few moments while he considered Luke’s explanation, a hint of a smile on his face. “Well, that explains it, don’t it?” he finally said, although without conviction. “And them Rebs got away with all that gold.” He paused again, watching Luke’s face closely. After a moment, he said, “You ain’t said what you’re doin’ back in this part of the country again”—he shifted his gaze to Cade for a second—“you and your partner.”
    â€œLike I said,” Luke replied, “we’re just headin’ west, lookin’ for opportunity, I reckon. How ’bout yourself? What are you doin’ back in these parts?”
    Snider grinned. “Hell, I never left. Me and my partners are in business together.” He turned to signal his friends. “Come on over, boys.” The two picked up their glasses and the half-empty bottle, and moved up the bar to join them. “Luke Tucker, meet Bob Dawson and Curly Jenkins,” Snider said. “I already forgot your partner’s name,” he added with a wide grin. Cade didn’t bother to remind him. Dawson and Jenkins didn’t say anything, just contented themselves to stand leering like two surly yard dogs.
    â€œWhat kind of business are you in?” Luke asked Snider.
    His question brought a sly grin to Snider’s face. “Just business, any kind of business, sometimes cattle, sometimes gold.” He paused and looked at his partners and winked. “Sometimes even hides,” he said, causing a gruff snort of a chuckle from the man introduced as Curly, the remark obviously recalling some incident they