The Whippoorwill Trilogy - Sharon Sala Page 0,235

the end of town, then look to your right. You’ll see it there.”

“How much do we owe you?” Letty asked.

He pointed to the bit that he’d used for testing.

“That will do me just fine,” he said.

Letty headed for the door. She reached for the doorknob, then stopped and turned around.

“You’re sure… about this being good, I mean?”

“As sure as my name is Edward White.”

“Then, Mr. White, I thank you.”

He followed her to the door. “Tell your man to be careful when he brings the ore into town. There are people here who’d kill you without a second thought, just for what you got in that bag.”

“Then they’d have themselves a real heart attack if they knew what was in our wagon, wouldn’t they?”

Edward White frowned. “What do you mean?”

“The wagon is full of ore.”

He looked past her, saw Eulis sitting in the seat with a rifle across his lap, and then stared at her in disbelief.

“You brought it with you… in that wagon… loose?”

“Yes.”

“Lord have mercy.”

“Oh, He already has,” Letty said. “Thank you for your help. I’m sure we’ll be seeing you around.”

Eulis saw her coming, and he knew before she said it, that the ore was good.

“Are we rich yet?” he asked.

“Yep,” Letty said. “Only we got to take this to a smelter.”

Eulis nodded. “I know.”

Letty sniffed. “Well, I didn’t. Edward says that Brian Moody is an honest man.”

Eulis frowned. “Who’s Edward?”

“Edward White. He’s the assayer.”

“And who is this Brian Moody?”

“The owner of the smelter.”

Eulis tried not to feel jealous, but he was beginning to think he should have been the one to take the ore into the assayer after all.

“Do we know where this smelter is?”

“Follow the road through town, then look to the right.”

“All right, then,” he said, and handed her the rifle. “I reckon we’d better get on down there before someone figures out what we’re hauling.”

She laughed.

“What’s so funny?” he asked.

“Us. We look like the tail end of hard times, and we’re hauling enough gold to set the whole town into a riot.”

He clucked his tongue as he flipped the reins across Rosy and Blackie’s backs.

“Just a little bit farther and then it’s oats and water for the both of you.”

Rosy’s ears twitched as the wagon rolled on through town. Lots of people saw the bedraggled looking pair, but paid them no attention. It would be the last anonymous day of their lives.

Brian Moody was working on a cigar when he saw a team and wagon pulling up to the smelter. He took a last puff, laid the cigar in the ashtray, and brushed the ashes off his vest. Being one of two smelters in a town when only one would have served, he didn’t want to miss any business. He smoothed his hands over his head, straightened his suit coat, and then hurried outside.

“Hello, to you, Sir,” he called, and then hurried down the steps. “I’m Brian Moody. How can I help you?”

Eulis nodded to the man.

“I’m Eulis Potter… this is my wife, Letty. We got some ore for you.”

Moody glanced toward the wagon and saw elk skins and bedrolls, as well as cooking pans, and imagined a sack or so of ore to be had. It probably wouldn’t amount to much, but it was why he was here.

“All right then,” he said. “Glad to be of service.”

Eulis got down and began untying the ropes. Letty followed, with the rifle at the ready.

Moody nodded politely to Letty.

“Ma’am, there’s a chair in my office if you’d care to wait there while we carry in your ore.”

“Thank you just the same, but I think I’ll stand guard,” Letty said.

Brian stifled a grin and tried not to stare at their ragged appearance.

“I doubt that’s necessary, ma’am.”

“Sir. I assure you, it is,” she said, and pointed to the wagon just as Eulis was tossing the elk hides and the last of their belongings to the ground.

Moody grinned as he peered into the bed, and then he actually grunted out loud.

“Good God, man! What have you done?”

Eulis pointed. “My wife hit pay dirt. I reckon we’re rich.”

Moody looked up, struggling to find the words to speak.

“Is this all of it?” he asked.

“Shoot no,” Eulis said.

Brian Moody stared at the both of them as if they’d suddenly grown horns, then he started to grin. He slapped his leg, whooped and hollered out loud, then shook Eulis’s hand and tipped his hat to Letty.

“Ma’am… Sir… it’s gonna be a pleasure to do business with you.”

Eulis nodded. “What do we do first?”

“Come