No Less Than the Journey (26 page)

CHAPTER 10

As Aaron had predicted, Anabelita was overjoyed to know that Wes would be remaining in Denver for the foreseeable future, but she could not allow her feelings to show immediately because the gaming saloon was filling up and she was dealing blackjack. Nevertheless, she determined that Wes would be left in no doubt of her delight when they were alone later that night.

In the meantime, Wes and Aaron joined Pat Rafferty on the stage of the Thespian Club where he sat with a rifle resting on his lap, keeping a watchful eye on the players.

They were here when Vic Walsh entered the room. Looking about him, the owner of the Palace waved when he saw Aaron and Wes and made his way towards them.

Raising a hand in salutation to Wes, he greeted Aaron enthusiastically. ‘I heard you were back, Marshal. I thought I’d come across and make sure you were all in one piece.’

Looking puzzled, Aaron asked, ‘Is there any
particular
reason why I might not be?’

‘Well, in a job like yours you go out looking for trouble and
never know when you’re likely to find it – especially when it concerns the Denton gang. Did you find any of them?’

‘Neither hair nor hide,’ Aaron said easily, ‘They’ve made such a good job of disappearing it’s almost as though they know I’m looking for them.’

‘How about this man, Gottland … any sign of him?’

Aaron shook his head, ‘Not a thing. He’s probably long gone.’

‘Well, like you said, perhaps they’ve got wind that you’re after them. You know better than I do that we don’t need a telegraph out here for news to travel fast.’

‘Some news does, but some don’t’ Aaron replied, ‘Take Wes, here. He’s been trying to trace the whereabouts of a kinsman who came out here mining. He’s searched for him from Missouri to Denver and had me asking after him up in the mining camps in the Rockies, but he’s proving as elusive to him as the Denton gang is to me. I’m having a poster printed and put up in here. We wondered whether you’d do the same in the Palace?’

‘Of course I will,’ Walsh said, effusively, ‘Wes mentioned his uncle to me when he was in my place a few days ago and I’ve already been asking around, but with no success so far … but, much as I’d like to, I can’t stop here talking, I’ve got staff problems in the Palace, but when I heard you were back I wanted to make sure you were all right. I’ll just say “Hello” to the girls, then get back. Why don’t you both come over for a drink a little later?’

When Walsh was talking to Anabelita, Pat left the stage to talk to a punter who seemed uncertain what he was expected to do in a gaming saloon. With no one else within hearing distance, Aaron said to Wes, ‘I gather you’ve already made the acquaintance of your fellow Cornishman, what do you make of him?’

When Wes hesitated, Aaron said, ‘I’d value your opinion, Wes, it could be important.’

Aware from Aaron’s manner that this was more than a casual question, Wes thought carefully before replying. ‘In all honesty, I’d be hard put to find a reason for not liking the man, but the truth is … I don’t.’

‘That’s exactly the way I feel …’ Aaron broke off to wave at Walsh who had left the table where Anabelita was dealing and turned at the doorway to look back before leaving the gaming room. ‘… Did he give you any details of what he did in Cornwall, or why he left?’

‘None. He asked where
I
came from and when I told him, he said his family were farmers from a part of Cornwall I know nothing about. Similarly, he seemed to know little about Bodmin Moor and nothing at all about mining. That’s not particularly significant, of course, not everyone in Cornwall is involved in mining, but he seemed to be avoiding saying anything about his life before he came to Denver … in fact, before he came to America.’

Then, aware that he really knew nothing about either Walsh’s character or history, Wes added, ‘I’m probably maligning the man. It could simply be that he prefers to keep his personal life private.’

‘Perhaps … but I don’t think so, Wes – and neither do you. You have a good law-man’s mind, you really should be wearing a marshal’s badge!’

During the next two weeks Wes became familiar with Denver, occasionally hiring a horse and buggy and taking Anabelita with him to explore the surrounding countryside.

One day, when he had the buggy he organised a surprise picnic for her. They went a couple of miles from the town, choosing a quiet spot beside a stream to stop. There had once
been a wooden shack here and the outline of a small garden could still be traced.

Wes laid out the cloth for the picnic and produced an appetising array of food prepared specially for them in the Thespian Club’s kitchen.

Anabelita tried to appear enthusiastic but she ate so little that a disappointed Wes eventually asked her whether she felt ill.

‘No, I’m not ill, Wes, I’m just not feeling particularly hungry … but don’t let it spoil the day, I really am enjoying being out here with you and don’t let me stop you from eating, you’ve produced a wonderful spread. I’m really sorry I can’t do justice to it, but I’m happy enough … truly.’

Wes felt guilty to be eating when Anabelita was having nothing, but he said, ‘It’s probably the result of spending so many hours in that smoky gaming-room, it can’t be good for you.’

‘I’m used to it by now, Wes. After all, I’ve spent most of my life in smoky gaming-rooms.’

‘Then what is it, Anabelita? … No, don’t tell me it’s nothing, I’ve been watching you for days, that’s partly why I planned this picnic today, to get you out in the fresh air for a while. Sometimes you’re as pale as a ghost and when you came back from the wash-room yesterday I could tell you’d been sick, even though you assured me you hadn’t. Is there something wrong with you that you’re not telling me about? Are you ill? Have you seen a doctor?’

‘There’s no need to see a doctor … and I am not ill.’

There was a long silence between them, during which Anabelita realized she would be unable to keep her secret for very much longer – and she might never have another opportunity like this to reveal the truth to Wes.

Making up her mind, she met his concerned gaze with a
direct look and said simply, ‘I’m pregnant, Wes. I’m expecting your baby.’

‘You’re WHAT!?’ Her statement shook him to the core and he looked at her with an expression of total disbelief before asking, ‘Are you
sure
?’

‘I wish I wasn’t, Wes … but there can be no doubt about it.’

Still thoroughly bemused, Wes asked, ‘How long have you known?’

‘I suspected it soon after leaving the
Missouri Belle
and it became certain as the weeks passed.’

Gathering his senses together, Wes queried, ‘When do you think it happened?’

‘I couldn’t say for certain, but I think it might have been on that very first night we spent together on the
Missouri Belle
.’

‘Then there certainly can’t be any doubt by now … does anyone else know?’

‘Only Lola, but Aaron will have to be told soon, it’s only fair to him after he brought me all this way to work in his gambling saloon.’

‘It will certainly upset his plans,’ Wes said, ‘but that’s not the most important thing right now. You are.’

The silence that followed was broken by an unhappy Anabelita, ‘I really am sorry, Wes, I should have tried to stop it happening.’

‘You can’t take all the blame …’ Wes succeeded in giving her a weak smile, ‘After all, I had something to do with what’s happened. The question is, what do we do now?’

Anabelita was more heartened by the ‘we’ in Wes’s question than he would ever know but much as she loved him – and she knew she really
did
love him – she had given the future a great deal of thought since her condition had become a certainty and had made up her mind about her future – hers and the baby’s.

‘You don’t need to do anything about it, Wes. I have enough
money put by to keep me and the baby for at least a year. By then I’ll be able to work again and I think Aaron will take me back in the Thespian Club.’

‘You’d go back to gambling? What will happen to the baby while you’re working?’

‘I’ve thought of that too. I’ll bring in a young Mexican girl to act as a nurse-maid, there are many of them in New Mexico and Texas who are desperate for such work. They are cheap and reliable and, of course, it helps that I also speak Mexican….’

Glancing beyond Wes as she was speaking, she suddenly broke off to say, ‘There are two riders heading this way.’

Turning around, Wes saw two horsemen approaching at a slow trot from the direction of the mountains. As they drew closer Wes could see that both were dressed in the manner of cowboys – and each carried a holstered revolver.

‘Stay close to the buggy,’ Wes said to Anabelita. ‘I’ll be on the other side with the rifle to hand.’

The riders slowed when they neared the picnickers and it was apparent to Wes that they were commenting on the presence of Anabelita.

He felt uneasy at their appearance. Unshaven and unkempt, their clothes were stained and dusty and he hoped that when they neared the picnic spot they would remain downwind.

The two men rode up to the buggy and stopped, taking in the scene without dismounting before one addressed Anabelita, saying, ‘Well now, ain’t this cosy. Is it a private party, ma’am, or can two hungry travellers join in?’

‘It’s private, friend,’ Wes said, ‘and we’re not looking for company.’

The two men had given Wes only a casual glance when they arrived, focussing their attention upon Anabelita. Now the one who had spoken to her looked at him dismissively, ‘I don’t
remember asking you … “friend”. I was speaking to the lady … although I don’t know many ladies who’d risk any reputation they might have by riding out so far from other folk with a man.’

‘No,’ agreed Wes, aware that the cowboy was deliberately goading him, ‘I don’t suppose you do … but then, you won’t have met many real ladies.’

The cowboy frowned, not certain whether or not Wes had intended an insult. He decided he
had
. ‘I don’t think you and me are going to get along with each other,’ he said, edging his horse closer to the buggy.

‘Then I suggest you go on your way and find someone more understanding,’ Wes said, bringing up the rifle which had been hidden in the buggy and at the same time levering a cartridge into the breech.

The cowboy pulled his horse to a halt and Wes tensed, anticipating a move towards the gun at his belt, but his companion said, ‘There ain’t no need for that, mister, Jericho don’t mean no harm. He’s just not used to being around folk. Besides, neither of us has eaten for two days. I guess the sight of all your food’s made him a mite mean.’

‘Then I suggest you ride on to Denver and find yourselves a meal,’ Wes said, the Winchester pointing unwaveringly at ‘Jericho’s’ midriff, ‘but I wouldn’t turn a hungry man away when we have more than we can eat. Anabelita, hand them up a couple of sandwiches – but don’t get between them and my gun.’

Listening to the conversation, Anabelita had been prepared at any moment to reach beneath her skirt for the small-bore pistol she kept there. Now she snatched up a couple of sandwiches and passed them up to the cowboy closest to Wes.

Taking them from her, he said to Wes, ‘We have some unfinished business to settle if ever we meet up again.’

Before turning his horse away, he said to Anabelita, ‘You heard my name. If ever you feel like doing something more exciting than sitting in the middle of nowhere, eating sandwiches, just ask after me in Vic Walsh’s Palace, in Denver. He’ll know where you can find me.’

With the Winchester held ready for use, Wes watched as the two cowboys rode away, but neither turned around and whether or not their talk of having nothing to eat for two days had been the truth, they made short work of the sandwiches.

When they had passed from view, Wes and Anabelita packed up the remains of their food and left the picnic spot, following the same route as that taken by the two intruders.

He and Anabelita had much they should have been talking about, but Wes was on edge, especially whenever they approached any spot where the men might be waiting in ambush for them.

As a result, nothing had been resolved by the time they reached Denver and the house behind the Thespian Club.

CHAPTER 11

That evening when Anabelita and Lola had left for work at the club, Wes was telling Aaron of he and Anabelita’s encounter with the two cowboys. When he mentioned that the one referred to as Jericho had told Anabelita he could be contacted through Vic Walsh at the Palace, Aaron suddenly became very interested.

‘This Jericho … did you get a surname for him?’

Wes shook his head, ‘No, it was sheer luck that we got a first name. I thought our meeting was going to end in a shoot-out. Why do you ask?’

‘Jericho is an unusual enough name to stick in the mind and I believe I’ve seen it on one of the Wanted posters piled up in my office. Let’s go there and see if we can find it.’

On the way to the United States Marshal’s office, Aaron explained why he was particularly interested in the man who had been instrumental in bringing Wes and Anabelita’s picnic to a premature end.

‘It’s the fact that this Jericho knows Walsh,’ he said. ‘You and I both believe the image Walsh is working so hard to project of himself is too good to be true.’

When Wes agreed, Aaron explained, ‘I’ve made a few enquiries about our Mr Walsh – but it wasn’t easy. He’s remarkably vague about what he was doing before he came to Denver but when he was in my office one day I found some old posters advertising a well-known singer who had appeared at the Thespian Club when it was a theatre. Forgetting his usual caution, Walsh mentioned that he’d seen her on stage on a number of occasions … in Chicago. From that scrap of information I deduced he’d probably lived in that city for some time, so I wrote to the United States Marshal there, sending a photograph of Walsh and asking what, if anything, he knew about him. I had a reply today.’

‘You managed to get hold of a photograph of Walsh?’ Wes was genuinely surprised. He felt a man with something to hide would have been very careful not to have a photograph taken of himself.

‘It was taken when the Palace had its official opening. Walsh was photographed with a group of the dignitaries who attended the ceremony.’

‘Has the Marshal in Chicago recognized him?’

Showing a rare moment of excitement, Aaron replied, ‘Yes – but not as Vic Walsh. He said he was known in Chicago as Victor
Walsingham
, a downtown jeweller from Cornwall, who sold up and left the city more than a year ago – after suspicion had fallen on him of receiving stolen jewellery. Nothing was ever proved and Walsingham – or Walsh – is known to have made a couple of return visits to Chicago since then. Another most intriguing piece of news the Chicago Marshal gave me is that the Pinkerton Detective Agency is also interested in Walsh – and has been for some time. They are awaiting information from the police in England about him.’

‘Why should a private detective agency be interested in him?’ Wes queried.

Aaron shrugged, ‘It’s an internationally recognized agency. He’s probably come to their notice as a result of some inquiry they are carrying out. What is certain is that they’ll be able to learn far more about Walsh than I ever could, so I’ve got in touch with them and asked to be kept informed of anything they learn.’

‘Talking of being kept informed of things …’

Before beginning work that evening, Anabelita and Wes had returned to the subject of her pregnancy. She was not yet ready to discuss the future with Wes but had agreed that should an opportunity arise he might tell Aaron of her condition. Aaron had just given him such an opportunity and he proceeded to tell him now of the conversation that had taken place between him and Anabelita on their eventful picnic.

Aaron was not as surprised as he might have been, saying, ‘I’ve thought for a while now that she hasn’t been her usual self and suspected it probably had something to do with you.’

‘It has everything to do with me,’ Wes admitted, ‘and now I need to get it sorted out.’

‘That shouldn’t be too difficult,’ Aaron said, ‘You’re both free to do whatever you decide. Have the pair of you discussed it at any length?’

‘Anabelita had only just told me about it when Jericho and his fellow gunman appeared on the scene,’ Wes explained, ‘The thought that they might be hiding behind a bush waiting to jump out at us dominated both our thoughts on the way back to Denver. We haven’t had much time to talk about it since then, but from what she said when she gave me the news, she plans on getting a nursemaid to look after the baby and coming back to work for you.’

‘Is that what you want?’

‘It’s too soon to know exactly what it is I want,’ Wes
admitted, ‘It still hasn’t properly sunk in – but marrying Anabelita and having a family is an idea that could grow on me – although I’m not sure it’s what she wants. Besides, as I think I’ve mentioned before, I can’t see her settling down to life as a miner’s wife.’

‘I think that would depend very much on who the miner happened to be,’ Aaron pointed out, ‘Although I can understand any reasonable woman thinking twice about such a life. Quite apart from the filth and squalor of a mining camp, you can find your way to any one of them by stopping and listening for the sound of miners coughing their lungs up – those who’ve managed to survive roof falls and blasting accidents. I swear there wasn’t a day passed while I was up there when I didn’t need to take my hat off in a mark of respect for at least one funeral cortège. Besides, you haven’t been down a mine for many months now and have had a chance to see what else the world can offer you – and a wife and family. I’m not in the habit of giving unasked advice, but I’m giving it now. Don’t put your work before the chance of happiness with a good woman and a family. It’s one of the most important things in life, Wes, take it from me.’

Wes was going to question whether it was a lesson that Aaron had learned the hard way, but something in his friend’s expression stopped him.

Instead, he said, ‘You might be able to sell the idea to me, Aaron – but I’m not sure Anabelita thinks the same way.’