To Great Things

Playing the game had finally got them into Callahan’s good graces. During the meeting, Marcus offered Cody a partnership. Two ambitious criminals like themselves would benefit from an alliance, Callahan insisted. To work against each other would be their downfall. Before accepting the proposal, Cody insisted on getting a taste of Callahan’s operation style.

“I’ve been in the business of reselling valuable army merchandise for some time now,” Marcus bragged as he guided the men to his secluded office. “It’s a very profitable business.”

“And one I plan on exploring to its full potential,” Cody confided in the arrogant man. After entering the well furnished office, Cody glanced casually around the room. He took note of some papers scattered on the desk as well as a safe hidden in the corner. Jimmy also noticed the safe.

“You seem to have a good hold on this business,” Jimmy commented. “How is that? The law would have caught most men by now.”

“Very true James,” Marcus admitted, displaying a mannerism that reeked of arrogance. “But, you see, I have an ace in my pocket.”

“This ain’t a card game,” Jimmy pointed out. Callahan dismissed his comment with a smug laugh.

“No, it’s not,” he agreed. “It’s a matter of the heart.”

“Love and business mix about as well as oil and water,” Cody remarked. Callahan found his observation amusing as well. To offer a better explanation, Marcus pulled a letter out from the desk and handed it Cody. After reading it, Cody passed it on to Hickok.

“Claudia has proven to be a useful card to play,” Marcus informed his new business associates. “She makes me invincible!”

“How does she get access to such important information?” Cody demanded.

“Easily,” Callahan answered. “She’s a Lieutenant’s wife!” He pulled out a box of cigars, and offered them to his company. Both accepted the offer.

“Then why is she helping you?” Jimmy inquired before lighting the expensive cigar up.

“Well, I had an affair with Claudia a year after she married O’Malley,” Marcus proudly told the men. “We met in New Orleans. I believe she was visiting family.” He took a moment to savor the cigar’s sweet taste before taking a seat in the polished oak chair behind his desk. “She easily fell under my spell,” Marcus boasted.

“And now she’ll do anything for you,” Cody noted. “That’s very clever.” Curiously, he examined some of the documents scattered on the desk. All of them formerly belonged to the army. “I must say, I am very impressed with your accomplishments.”

Callahan brushed the complement off nonchalantly. “It’s what ambition has brought me.”

Cody nodded, acknowledging the man’s words. “What can your ambitions bring me?” he demanded.

“I like the way you think!” Callahan declared. “You’re shrewd and self centered!” He crossed the room and poured each man a glass of his most expensive scotch. “I can only offer you great things that come from our country’s misfortune,” he answered after distributing his gifts. “Immense wealth, women, power....”

Raising his glass, Cody toasted, “To great things!” Jimmy joined him in his toast. But for reasons Callahan was unaware of. The shrewd con man was falling deeper and deeper into their hands.

Confrontations

The saloon reeked of smoke, whiskey, and cheap perfume. Not unusual conditions and certainly not ones that bothered the customers. As long as there was booze, women, cards, and music, the men were content.

After searching the place, Louise finally located Mabel residing beside a well dress gambler. The bruises on her face, barely concealed by all the heavy powder she had used to improve her condition’s appearance. As Louise watched the young lady pretend to like the card shark, she began to second guess her actions. Seeking Mabel out could be very dangerous. Especially, if Mabel was using the Kid as bait in another one of Marcus’s traps.

Finally Louise gave into the temptation, and crossed the room to confront Mabel. As she ventured through the saloon, a table full of drunk cowboys whistled and hollered in regards to the lovely image she presented. Their rowdy behavior alerted Mabel of Lou’s presence. The battered woman frowned as Lou approached.

“I was wondering if we could talk?” Lou asked.

“There’s nothing to talk about,” Mabel stated coldly. She turned her attention back to the gambler, although his focus was now on Lou.

“I think there is,” Lou persisted. She smiled dutifully back at the man who was eyeing her. “Maybe we could go somewhere-”

“Didn’t you hear me?” Mabel snapped. “I don’t have anything more to say to you. Leave me alone!”

“Sorry,” Lou called before retreating. Mabel’s reaction left her puzzled. The woman’s behavior had changed drastically from this morning. The sudden change made Lou suspect that Mabel wasn’t completely on Callahan’s side anymore. She was just too afraid to leave him.

Was it fate, or just bad luck? That was the question that played through Ike’s mind as the posse stumbled upon him. The men looked to be tired and in very unpleasant moods. The apparent leader eyed Ike suspiciously.

“Hey boy,” Davis called from his strawberry roan horse. He left the group, and rode up next to Ike. “I’m the leader of this posse,” he stated, pointing to the tin star strapped on his faded coat. “We’re tracking three dangerous outlaws.” When Ike didn’t say anything, Davis continued. “Two young men, one’s a half breed. They’re traveling with an old coot. Don’t suppose you’ve seen ‘em?”

Ike shook his head, denying he had ever laid eyes on his friends.

“Are you sure?” Davis interrogated.

*Haven’t seen them* Ike signed.

“Can’t you talk, boy?” Davis demanded. Once again, Ike answered by shaking his head. Davis, annoyed by what little assistance Ike was, turned and rode back to his posse. Soon his angry voice filled the air. “I thought you had those tracks figured out?” He bellowed at the confused tracker. With a cruel blow, Davis sent the tracker crashing to the hard ground. “You’d better get it right this time!”

As Ike rode on to Needle Rock, he realized just how lucky he was. The posse didn’t even consider him a suspect. Through the encounter, he bought his friends some valuable time. The men now believed they were on the wrong trail. Hopefully he would be able to help the undercover riders as well. But that all depended on how well they played the dangerous game they were entangled in.

On to Chapter Eleven