Western Omelette

Harold

The two men had come into contact a few years before, during the fiery surrender of a gang called the Buffalo Boys. The four member gang had failed miserably in an awkwardly staged attempt to rob the bank in Buffalo Hump, leaving one teller dead and another wounded.

As it happened, Harold, with his photographer, were in town hoping to get a scoop on a story about the railroad building stockyards at the town limits. Moving cattle east by rail was growing fast as the business model for the cattle barons.

The fact that three Pinkerton detectives, one being Hoke, happened to be in town at the same time, instantly switched Harold's attention, and he eagerly followed their pursuit of the gang. The chase ended in a box canyon, with a violent shoot-out that left two of the gang members dead and the other two badly wounded.

While the detectives were loading the two dead outlaws onto their horses, one prisoner made a final desperate attempt to escape, snatching a horse and galloping off. Hoke was quickest to respond and took off after him.

Just outside the canyon, Harold Meeker and his cameraman from the newspaper, were setting up their position to take pictures, hoping for an interview right on location. None of his competitors ever thought to get up close and brash when covering stories – it was Harold's trademark - or at least, one he wanted to create.

He had just scrambled over to the narrow opening to the canyon to see if they were coming, when the prisoner burst out at speed, the horse suddenly shied at the appearance of the man, and veered away, rearing up and tossing the outlaw into a sprawling heap against the canyon entrance.

Hoke arrived seconds later in a cloud of dust, and leaped down to secure his dazed prisoner. The small explosive sound, and the puff of smoke had Hoke rolling away, gun out, and aiming at what turned out to be the stricken cameraman, who screamed for him not to shoot, and passed out.

****

Harold's story, and the eventual photos were a huge success, bringing attention to both Harold, and Hoke. They had maintained their acquaintance through correspondence, and the occasional exchange of information. So it was, that when Harold first stumbled on the idea for a story on Tom Horn, Hoke was the first to be contacted, and the plan to be devised.

****

"I don't understand why there was so much secrecy and deception." Alicia poked at a piece of fish, spearing it on her fork, and slipping it into her mouth. "I mean, why would Harold be afraid to tell me?" she asked, when she finished chewing.

He stared at her lips. "I think because choosing between your reaction, and his wantin' to send the story to Chicago--"

"But I know he reports for that paper – it's his job."

"It's the subject, Alicia. Tom Horn is an outlaw. Yes, he worked for the same agency as I do, but he chose not to bring the lawbreakers back as often as he should have – he shot them instead."

"So why do you think because he's in this area, my being here will help in any way? Does he even know me?"

"If he reads Harold's story he will."

The light went on suddenly and she put down her fork, staring at Hoke.

"I'm bait!" She looked at her fish dinner.

"That was Harold's idea I tried to explain to you upstairs. My agency has been after him for some time, but all we get is the latest story about his deeds. He's not really a good man, Alicia. He kills for hire for the big cattlemen."

"I'm bait for my own uncle!" She pushed the plate of fish away.

"I'm truly sorry you see it that way. I'druther you felt you'd be helpin' to serve justice."