Jolene

Chapter 10 Black Pedro

"I've taken precautions and hired three outriders. We have a large family in the first couch and a group of six young ladies in the second."

"Them ain't ladies," Bruce, one of outriders said, "I know them to be working girls."

"Either way our job is to get them safely through the territory," the station manager said.

"Can we sample their wares first," Bruce continued smirking.

"Look carefully at this poster," the station manager continued ignoring Bruce, "this is Black Pedro. One thousand gold Imperials is the current bounty dead or alive." Edward looked closely at the poster. "His actual name is Peter Black, he was a station manager for Yellow Coach before beginning his career as a murderer and thief. He has particular knowledge of company procedure and routs. Do not underestimate him. Bruce you and Stan stay close in, Ed you hold back and keep your eyes open."

"Do you think he will target us?" Edward asked.

"Our guest family is part of a large family of merchants. They are traveling with three young girls and a boy. They could bring a fortune in ransoms but I doubt any sigh of them would ever be found. Each of you are to carry two guns. Now let us greet our guests."

Edward stood by the group of travelers at the loading dock as the two coaches pulled up. He lowered the steps and assisted the children and merchant's wife aboard and greeted the merchant. Then he walked to the second wagon. Bruce and Stan were simply standing watching the women. "Ladies," Edward greeted them and lowered the steps and assisted them. The young women smiled at him and once in the coach and the door closed had an animated conversation how cute he was. Edward laughed quietly as he walked to his horse and mounted it. He waited until the coaches were well underway and followed behind. They stopped for a change of horses and lunch at the station. Edward sat alone eating and observing the travelers. The merchant's young daughters and son were the first to approach with questions about his long brown oil cloth duster he was wearing.

"It keeps my clothes clean and dry, and hides all my guns."

"Could we see your guns?" the boy asked and was whisked away by his parents before Edward could refuse the request. Then three of the young women travelers asked if they could sit with him. He smiled and nodded in response and was immediately surrounded by all six. He enjoyed having conversation with them, they were animated and intelligent. They were also flirting and Edward enjoyed the attention. His mentioning of his engagement did little to discourage the flirting. The young women told him they worked as sales clerks at the mercantile the family owned. The family was opening a new store and they had all transferred to the newer store. They were excited for the opportunity to work and hopeful of finding husbands working in the new store as it was in a much larger city.

Bruce and Stan also sat alone but received no attention. The call to board the coaches was made and everyone began moving to the coaches. The regional manager, who was acting as one of the drivers approached Edward. "You seem to garner a lot of female attention."

"I have no idea why, most people find me boring."

"If we get hit it will happen soon. We have two wide bends to negotiate. Stay in the rear but not too far this time." Edward nodded. The area they were now traversing was wooded and the trail twisting. He closed the gap between himself of the wagons and witnessed Bruce shoot Stan off his horse and turn his second gun on the driver. The driver used his whip to capture Bruce's arm and pulled him off his horse. Bruce stood to shoot but Edward had spurred his horse forward running Bruce down. He spun the horse around and fired a shot into Bruce's head. By then several bandits were upon them. Edward fired seven more shots taking out two more men then fired the load of shot into another man's face. He retrieved a second gun firing rapidly taking out three more men and the rest fleeing. The wagons had stopped, the only sound the children crying. The passengers stepped out of the wagons.

"It's not over!" the station manager shouted, "Please remain in the wagons."

"You've been hit Ed!" one of the young women gasped.

"What?" Edward said, then looking down seeing his torn pants and bleeding thigh. Then he felt a burning pain and saw several holes in his duster. Apparently he had been fired at. One of the young women tore a strip from her petticoat and with the help of two others and more strips of petticoat improvised a bandage as Edward sat on the ground.

"Looks like a through and through shot, your quite lucky," the merchant said.

"Everyone gather the guns. Anyone that wishes take one. I'll load them with buck and ball," Edward said taking charge.

"I've never shot a gun!" the merchant said. "Do we need to fight, perhaps we could reason with them."

"What would you offer them," Edward sneered, "your wife, your daughters, perhaps your son?"

"We have other's they might be satisfied with, no one of real consequence."

"I'll take one of the guns!" one of the young women said as she glared into her employers eyes and took a gun. The others following her lead also taking a gun.

"Keep your guns hidden. When a rider is so close you can almost touch him just point and shoot. Aim for the torso, and pray."

The merchant also took a gun while his wife huddled on the floor of the coach holding her children close.

"OK, let's move out!" Edward shouted.

They were on the road for less than an hour when the second attack came. This time they were under attack by a large number of horsemen. Edward raced forward firing his pistol. Four horsemen pulled close to the second wagon two on either side when six guns suddenly pointed at them through the windows and fired. All four men fell. Edward raced to the first wagon as it failed to defend itself and shot two more men dead. Then wheeled his horse around to see Black Pedro racing toward him with a gun in both hands screaming in rage. Edward remained still and flipping the guns hammer in preparation to discharge the barrel filled with shot. He waited, each second an eternity, then fired the gun point blank. He saw the shots hit Pedro's chest and the splattering of blood. Then calmly, he flipped the hammer to the regular position and shot twice more as Pedro fell from his horse. The young women were out of the wagon in moments.

"Is it over?" one of them whispered.

Edward walked to each of the fallen men and put a bullet in the head of any that seemed still alive. "Did you have to do that?" the merchant said in disgust while his wife watch horrified still clutching her terrified weeping children.

"Yes," Edward said softly, "They would have been crucified if caught. A bullet in the head is an act of kindness."

The coaches stopped for dinner and were again on the way. They pushed on through the night covering one hundred and twenty miles when they reached their destination. The merchant notified the girls they were being let go without compensation for their violent behavior on the coach and leaving them stranded and penniless at the inn. They were sitting together left destitute by their former employer and terrified over their prospects. The station manager approached and sat with them.

"We can't pay you," one of the young women whispered.

"Are you aware of the reward for the capture of Black Pedro?"

"One thousand gold, I believe."

"Plus almost an additional amount for others in the gang...Well you are very wealthy women then, aren't you?"

"That reward should be Mr. Edward, shouldn't it?"

"He declined it. Took only ten Stirling and three mules and left for the frontier."

"We didn't have a chance to thank him."

"Well he found a way to thank you for your bravery. What are your plans?"

"Let's open our own store!" one of the young women said.

"And put Mr. Penny-pincher out of business!"

Edward rode the white mule named Molly and lead Brownie and Sarah. Sarah carried his tent and supplies. His plan was to rotate what each mule carried having one rest at any given time. Mules were stronger and more sure footed than horses and very soon he would cross the rocky narrow Pipsqueak's pass with a very precious cargo. He was seven days from the Frontier Inn.