The last Ride of Hairlip Green

The Plan

When she awoke, the night had given way to dawn, the sky slowly brightening with shades of orange and pink as the first light crept over the horizon. The camp was still, save for the quiet stirring of the men. Neil, who had taken over the final watch hours before, stretched and yawned, bleary-eyed, before reaching into his saddlebag for the coffee bag and percolator. Using the hot embers left from the night's fire, he began brewing coffee, the rich aroma filling the cool morning air and rousing the others from their sleep.

One by one, the others began to stir from their slumber. Montana was the first to rise, stretching out his long legs before stumbling toward the fire. Lyin' rubbed his eyes and sat up, his duster wrapping around his thin frame, the cold morning air biting at his exposed skin. Green and Belle, too, awoke, stretching stiff limbs as the world around them slowly lit up.

Neil poured the freshly brewed coffee into tin cups, the steam rising in soft curls. He handed out the cups, nodding toward Green as he took a long sip.

Green leaned forward, his face lit by the glow of the fire as he began to speak. "We're hitting a train coming into Animas Forks." His voice was steady, but the weight of the plan hung in the air. "It's carrying payroll for the miners, and there's a small contingent of military in the town. I've been keeping my eye on it for a while now." He paused, eyes flicking to the faces of the men around him. "The train comes in one week. It's hardly guarded on its way into town. But once it hits the station, the local military comes in to move the payroll to the bank. So we hit it before it gets to the town."

Lyin' stood up, pulling his heavy duster tighter around him to block out the chill of the morning breeze. His thin, ragged frame looked even more weathered in the early light. He tipped his hat back, squinting at Green. "Sounds good so far. But what about my role in this?" His voice had a rasp to it, as though he hadn't spoken much lately.

Belle sat back on her heels, a thoughtful look on her face. Her reputation as a horse thief had preceded her, but she wasn't as familiar with this kind of heist. "What's my part in all this?" she asked, her tone serious but laced with concern. Stealing horses was one thing, but a train robbery was a whole different beast.

Green glanced over at her, his expression serious but understanding. "You're a pretty face, Belle," he said, a slight grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. Belle raised an eyebrow but didn't respond. "The payroll is guarded by two men while it's on the train. We need you to distract them. Keep their eyes on you while we ride up and hop onto the train."

Neil let out a raspy cough, and Green glanced at him before continuing. "Montana will get to the engine and stop the train. While me and Neil board the car with the money." Green paused, then looked around at each of the men, gauging their reactions. "That's the plan."

Lyin' adjusted his duster, looking more serious now. "You're gonna have to make sure the guards don't see me coming."

Green nodded. "That's why we need the distraction. Once you've got their attention, we'll make our move."

Belle tilted her head, still processing the plan. "And how do we get to the train before it gets to Animas Forks?"

Green exhaled a cloud of smoke from his cigarette, his eyes narrowing slightly as he surveyed the group. "You and Montana will get on the train at Durango, the stop just before Animas Forks. The train's slow through there. It's the perfect place to make our move."

Neil leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, his eyes focused intently on the fire. "We'll be ready," he rasped, his voice a mix of gravel and authority. "Just gotta be fast and precise. Once we have the payroll, we're outta there before the military can even blink."

The others nodded, each of them processing the details of the plan. The air around them felt charged, the tension palpable. They had a week to prepare, but there was no time to waste.