Read Online Wild to the Bone by Peter Brandvold - Free Book Online

gang.”
    â€œHow many in the gang?” Haskell asked.
    â€œSix including the two female leaders. They all wear bandanas over their faces during the robberies, so their identities are unknown. They hit a stage in that country, on various routes, about twice a month. They take whatever strongbox the coach is carrying, and they rob the passengers of any and all valuables.
    â€œAnd as far as anyone can tell, they head up into either the Pumpkin Buttes or the Sage Brush Hills northwest of the buttes, although the Marshals scoured that country and couldn’t find much more than scrawny coyotes and a few abandoned ranches. Drought and low cattle prices have devastated that region.”
    â€œBig country,” Bear said, shaking his head and staring through his cigar smoke at the map. “Damn big country. Not much grows there but cow plops and rocks, a tuft of sage here and there. Floury-white country with buttes, rimrocks, bluffs, and dry creeks. Not much water.”
    â€œCertainly, there can’t be much wealth in the area.” Raven recrossed her legs. “Why do you suppose the gang is preying on a stage line serving such a remote and relatively poor region? Especially one going through hard economic times?”
    â€œAnd bein’ so determined about it,” Haskell added. “Quittin’ when the federal Marshals roll in and then, when the Marshals leave, startin’ up again. Killin’ local badge toters . . .”
    â€œThat’s the big question you two are going to have to find an answer for. We’ve been hired to figure the whole mess out, run that gang down, and arrest them. If the gang keeps running wild up there, the Hatch and Shirley line will soon have no passengers, and no mine will trust them with hauling scrip and specie. And Wells Fargo will stop insuring them. You should have some help in that regard.”
    Haskell frowned. “How’s that, boss?”
    Pinkerton said, “The U.S. Marshals office in Denver has sent two more deputies up there to investigate. They’re up there now. My contact in the Marshals office claims that all three are crack trackers. But apparently, Wells Fargo is hedging its bets. They want us to go up there and try to figure out who the robbers are, why they’re robbing a relatively poor stage line, and where they’re holing up between robberies.”
    He leveled a warning look at both Bear and Raven. “And to take the thieves down without getting yourselves killed.” He winced and clucked. “As you say, it’s big, empty country up there. Lots of places for a pair of detectives to disappear. So be careful, and don’t take any unnecessary chances.”
    Haskell said, “Where do we start when we get up there, boss?”
    â€œCheck in with the new marshal and the man who runs the stage line, Duke Shirley. I understand there is no more Hatch, just Shirley. They’ll inform you of any new developments. You’d best have a powwow with those deputy marshals, too, if you run into them. They might have found something out, and hell, they might even be willing to share. You know how territorial those fellows can be.”
    Pinkerton glanced at the clock on the wall above the fainting couch, carved in the shape of his native Scotland. “You’d best get a move on if you’re fixing to grab a bite to eat, Bear. I didn’t know if you’d make it here by now or not, but I had Miss Whitehurst check the schedule for the Cheyenne and Northern for today and tomorrow. The next flyer is heading north to Douglas in two hours. You’ll make it if you don’t dally. Pick up your ticket and expense vouchers from Miss Whitehurst on your way out.”
    â€œDon’t worry about a thing, Mr. Pinkerton,” Raven said with her customarily crisp confidence, rising from her chair and tossing her hair behind her shoulders. “Agent Haskell and I will find out who those