the other end, coming up behind their victims.” He glanced at the sheriff. “Which in this case will be me and Dan.”
“Sounds about right,” the sheriff said. He studied the ravine, his gaze moving slowly from one end to the other.
“You’ll reach this ravine by midmorning?” Ben Singletree, one of the sheriff’s deputies asked.
“As is our habit, aye.” Daniel also surveyed the area. “Let’s see where the six of you might hide. I believe it would be best to walk here from town so the horses don’t give you away.”
“I agree.” John Arbuckle, the town’s blacksmith approached. “This is about halfway from your claim and town. Won’t take us more ’an fifteen or twenty minutes to get here on foot. The landscape is rocky enough that we can keep out of sight.”
Anthony Graham, another prospector who was well known and trusted by all, continued to pace the length of the ravine. Although he didn’t know it, Anthony had much to gain by helping to stop the thieves. Daniel remembered him as a ghost in the future. Frederick Klein had also joined the posse, as had widow Hague’s oldest son, Nathaniel. He recalled Nathaniel’s father as a phantom from the future as well. Daniel couldn’t help but wonder if this entire situation wasn’t somehow a form of reparation granted to them by the Almighty or fate.
Frederick took off his hat and turned it around in his hands. “The trick is to be well-hidden before the thieves get here.”
“Couldn’t you stop them before they actually ambush Charles and Daniel?” Oliver asked. “Wouldn’t that be safer?”
“And charge them with what? Walking down the road? Hiding behind rocks?” Anthony called out as he walked to the end of the ravine to scan their surroundings. “We have to catch them in the act if we’re going to stop them for good.”
Oliver’s eyes widened. “Oh, right, right.”
“Gather ’round, men,” the sheriff called to those who had wandered off. They finalized their plans, staked out where each of them would hide, and who would do what. The deputy would hide a short distance away at one end, just far enough away to avoid detection. The sheriff would occupy the other end in the same manner. As soon as the outlaws were fully inside the ravines, the two would leave their hiding places and cover both exits.
The rest of the posse would hide at the top of the ravine, two on either side. They’d be out of sight of the thieves, aiming their weapons down upon the scene of the crime without risking injury should guns be fired. Once the thieves made their appearance, Daniel and Charles were to dive under their wagon so everyone else had a clear shot at the outlaws.
“Shortly after dawn Monday morning, then,” Nathaniel said once they’d settled upon their roles, hiding places, and came together again as a group. “It’s settled.”
“Aye. Bring a canteen and something to eat. I suspect you’ll be biding here a good long while before the outlaws arrive,” Charles admonished.
The sheriff and his deputy remained as the four volunteers split up to make their way back into town from different routes. Two of them had arrived on horseback, and the other two had walked.
“How’re you two holding up?” the sheriff asked as he scrutinized Daniel and then Charles.
“Fine,” Charles replied. “It’s the waiting that works on a man’s nerves.”
“I agree.” Daniel nodded. “That and worry. I hope like hell things go as planned and nobody gets hurt”.
“Agreed. Well, I’d better get back to town,” the sheriff said, setting out for his horse. “See you Monday.”
Ben waited until the sheriff left before turning to Daniel and Charles. “Heard you two might be looking to hire a crew to expand your mining enterprise. That true?”
“It is,” Daniel said. “Why do you ask?”
The deputy cleared his throat. “If you’re looking for a foreman to manage the crew, I’d be interested. I’ve been a deputy for two years now. It’s a good job, but it’s not … There’s no future for me here. I’d have to go someplace else if I wanted to move up the ladder in law enforcement, which I don’t.” He shifted on his feet.
“I have experience managing unruly men, and I possess other valuable skills as well. My family owns a few retail businesses in Chicago. I grew up learning how to keep the books, invest the profits, and how to manage a business. I could be of help to you.”