In The Beginning by Gail Daley (top 100 books of all time checklist .TXT) 📕

glared sullenly at Franks. "Where have you been these last few weeks?"

Franks shrugged. "I've been busy. I hear Emory is dead. Sorry about that. I guess Sam is all you have left."

"Samuel is gone. He deserted his family."

"I know where to find him. If you aren't interested though..."

Johnson eyed him owlishly. "How do you know where my son is?"

Franks went over to the table and poured himself a drink, unasked. He sat down in a chair beside the fire and crossed one ankle over his knee.

"I saw him getting on a train in Junction City a few weeks back."

Johnson went into the suite's bathroom and Franks heard him pumping water into the sink and splashing it on his face.

When he came back out, he looked more alert. "Did you hear the destination?"

"I did." Franks waited, watching his prey.

Johnson nodded. "How much do you want for this information, Franks?"

"How much is it worth to you?"

Johnson went over to the safe he had added to the suite, opened it and took out a bag of chips. He tossed the bag to Franks who caught it deftly. "Five pounds of Silver Chips."

Smiling, Franks rose and pocketed the bag. "He bought tickets to Azure City under the name of Clancy."

"Tickets? Was he alone?"

"Nope. His new wife got on the train with him."

"His new wife," Johnson repeated slowly. "Her maiden name wouldn't be Jeanne St. Vyr, would it?"

Franks downed the rest of his drink. "Yes, I believe it was."

He turned to leave but paused at the door. "Any of the boys around?"

Johnson shrugged, his mind already on other plans. "Maybe. A lot of them got killed when they attacked Madonna and two of St. Vyr's men up in the hills. Sykes is dead too."

"Too bad. I could have used him," Franks murmured, closing the door behind himself.

With money in his pocket, it was easy for Franks to find several out of work toughs willing to follow him up to the Lucky Strike for the promise of the easy money he told them Carlos kept in his office.

The railroad ran three daily trains, the early one Iris and Carlos had ridden returning workers to the mines after two days off, and two ore trains. The ore trains went up the mountain empty and returned full of product from the mines, so it was easy for Franks and his crew to sneak aboard an empty ore car for the ride up the hill.

Train Whistle Blues

EARLIER IN THE MORNING, the rising sun had turned the Black River into a sheet of glass as the ferry sluggishly moved from one side of the river to the other. Iris and Carlos had to cross into Minerstown to catch the steam train carrying mine workers up into the mountains. Iris had never been to Minerstown, so she looked around fascinated. At this hour, there wasn't much to see. The streets were empty except for a few store and café owners sweeping the walkways. The noisy saloons and pleasure houses were dark, their patrons sleeping off the night's debaucheries. Unlike River Crossing where the town paid a crew to keep the streets clear, the business and sidewalks were littered with debris, broken bottles, scraps of soiled clothing and used paper.

The train depot was a small, one room building. Groups of men in rough work clothes and helmets, some carrying duffle bags, waited to board the train. Steam puffed from the engine in the front.

Men from several of the groups eyed her curiously as she walked by with Carlos. He stopped in front of a group of about twenty workers.

"Men, this is Iris Madonna, my wife. She is going to be riding up with us," Carlos said. "I know I can depend on you to help me look out for her."

Several of the men nodded at her, and there was a chorus of "Pleased to meet you ma'am."

"We got car number three as usual, boss," said a short, thickset older man.

"Thanks, Jim," Carlos responded.

Iris looked curiously at her husband. "What does he mean?"

"There are several mines along the route. We drop off workers from each mine as we go along. To make loading and unloading faster, each mine crew rides in the same car. When the train starts back down, it's done in reverse. The Lucky Strike is the third stop on the route. Come on, lets get you seated."

Carlos used a rag to wipe off the seat in the front of the car before he let Iris sit down. Years of grime from carrying hardworking miners had left layers of dirt on the seats and along the walls. A faint odor of sweat permeated the car. Seeing Iris struggling to open the window, Carlos reached across her and forced it down. A breeze carrying the stale odor of liquor and other less appetizing smells drifted in.

Iris waved her hand in front of her nose. "Whew! I thought having the window down would clear the air. I'm not sure which is worse the town or the car."

Carlos laughed at her. "The smell will get better when the train starts up the mountain."

He set the duffel carrying their clothes under the seat and sat down as they waited for the rest of the train to load.

"Tell me about the mine," Iris asked. "Surely this isn't all our workers?"

"No, this is just the men who were off on rotation. To make sure the mine keeps operating full time, we rotate the men's days off. Everyone gets two days off each week to rest. A different crew will take the train down this evening. The men who are traveling with us will have today to get their stuff settled into the bunkhouses and cabins. They will start work tomorrow morning."

"Where will we be staying?"

"I have my own cabin," Carlos replied, "but I generally eat in the mess with the men. It's pretty much a bachelor set up; I'm sure you will want to make changes so it will be more comfortable. That is, if you