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  “I don’t know about this,” Preston said. “We’ve already invested more money than I had planned, and now he wants another fifty thousand dollars? Maybe I should take a trip out there just to see what is going on.”

  “Oh, I wouldn’t do that, sir,” Jamison said.

  “Why not? We’re bleeding money here. It can’t just go on unchecked.”

  “Mr. Poindexter, you have sent Jake out there to get some experience. You say yourself that, someday, he will be running the company. If you go out there to check up on what he’s doing, you will totally destroy his confidence.”

  “I don’t know,” Preston said.

  “Think about it, sir. We can keep an eye on it from here. Soon, I think, we can start selling off the land that we have already acquired from the government. And once the railroad is built and in operation, why, you’ll recover this money in no time.”

  “I suppose you’re right.” Preston chuckled. “But that boy has to learn that the secret to running a successful business is that you take in more money than you spend.”

  Jamison chuckled as well. “I think the time will come, and soon, when Jake realizes that so far all the money has gone out, and none has come in. That will be a lesson that he’ll learn, painfully perhaps, but he will learn it.”

  “I hope you’re right.”

  “Of course I’m right. He’s your son, isn’t he? That means he has come from good stock.”

  “I guess I’m not really that worried about it,” Pete said. “You’re still young enough so that when the time does come for Jake to take over the company, you’ll be around to advise him. I’ll be counting on you, Norman.”

  “I won’t let you down, sir. I’ll do everything I can to keep him on the right track.”

  “Norman, hiring you is one of the most intelligent things I have ever done since I started the company.”

  “I much appreciate the compliment, sir.”

  “How much track have we laid, so far?”

  “According to the latest report, we have acquired the connection rights from the Union Pacific and have laid enough track to get us ten and one quarter miles north of Cheyenne,” Norman said.

  “Ten and one quarter miles,” Pete said with a smile. “By damn, maybe Jake is going to work out all right. Ten and a quarter miles. I like it, not only that we have advanced that far, but also because his reports have all been so detailed.”

  “Indeed, sir,” Norman agreed.

  “I think we could drink a glass of wine in toast, don’t you?” Pete asked.

  “Oh, I think it would be perfectly fitting to do so,” Jamison agreed with a willing smile.

  Chapter Twelve

  Chugwater

  When Duff stepped into the Bank of Chugwater to withdraw some money, he was greeted by the teller, Otto Hirsh.

  “Good afternoon, Mr. MacCallister.”

  “Hello, Otto, ’n would you be for telling me how Mary and your two daughters are doing?”

  “They’re doing quite well. Thank you for asking. Your usual one hundred dollars, I suppose?”

  “Better make it two hundred dollars. I’ve some purchases to make today.” Duff replied as he handed the teller his bank draft.

  “Two hundred it is, sir,” Otto said as he began counting out the money.

  “Duff, could you come in here to visit me for a moment?” The call came from Bob Dempster, who had stepped from the door of his office.

  “Aye, Bob, I’ll be right there,” Duff replied.

  He stepped into the office a moment later as Dempster was pouring two cups of coffee. He held out a cup to Duff, then made a motion for him to sit down.

  “I just got a wire transfer for another fifty thousand dollars to be deposited to the railroad account this morning,” Dempster said. “That gives them a working account of over a hundred thousand dollars. Of course, only about twenty thousand is present in actual cash, but they have access to the entire amount.”

  “That’s a lot of money,” Duff said.

  “Yes, it is.”

  “’Tis to be hoped that with that much money, they be for startin’ the building of the railroad soon, ’n quit with their takin’ land from the ranchers.”

  “Yes, I’m hoping they get started soon. If they do, I think it might stop some of the grumbling and dissatisfaction that’s beginning to grow.”

  * * *

  Duff, who had an appreciation for Chinese cuisine, had agreed to have lunch with Wang at Lu Win’s Restaurant. Stepping into the restaurant, Duff was assailed by the piquant aroma of Chinese cooking. He was looking forward to the meal when he saw Wang and Lu Win’s very pretty daughter, Mae, speaking with a Chinese man he had never seen before.

  “Xinshng MacCallister, this is Cong Sing,” Wang said.

  “He’s with the construction party you told me about?”

  “Shi. He is troubled because there is no work for them to do.”

  “Well, I don’t see how there can be any work yet, seeing as they have nae even surveyed the route.” Duff smiled. “Mr. Sing and the others can just enjoy a paid vacation while they wait.”

  “They are not being paid,” Wang said. “And they are running out of food. Xiansheng, may I make a request?”

  “Aye, Wang, of course you can.”

  “I would wish to bring them out to Sky Meadow. Perhaps we can find work for them to do until they begin to build the railroad.”

  Duff reached out to put his hand on Wang’s shoulder. “Of course we can, Wang. Tell Mr. Sing and his friends they are welcome and we will pay them and provide food.”

  Wang turned to speak to Sing.

  “Nín hé qít rén knéng huì y wmen yq shnghuó hé gngzuò. MacCallister Xinshng shì ygè ficháng ho de rén.”

  Sing smiled, then, putting his hands together, made a slight bow toward Duff.

  Duff chuckled. “I take it that you told him he could come to Sky Meadow?”

  “He also told him that you are a very good man,” Mae Win said. “And I agree.”

  “Wang, didn’t you tell me that they have no horses?”

  “That is true. They have no horses.”

  “Then we’ll take some wagons from Sky Meadow to pick them up.”

  Again, Wang spoke to Sing, and again Sing smiled, and bobbed his head toward Duff.

  “Oh, and before you go, ask Mr. Sing to stay and have a meal. I will pay for it.”

  After another exchange of words, Wang turned back to Duff.

  “He will not eat.”

  “Oh? Why will he nae eat?”

  “He says he cannot eat while the others remain hungry.”

  “How many others are there?”

  “There are seventeen others. In addition to Cong Sing, there are eleven men and six women.”

  Duff turned to Mae Win. “Miss Win, prepare lunch for eighteen. Wang, you and Mr. Sing go bring them in. We can bring the wagons into town for them after they have eaten.”

  Wang told Sing what Duff said, then Sing’s eyes opened wide in pleasant surprise.

  “W zho bù dào gèng ho de nánrén,” Sing said.

  Again Mae interpreted Sing’s words.

  “Mr. Sing, speaking of you, said that he has found no better man.”

  “N bù huì, ynwèi méiyu b MacCallister xinshng gèng ho de rénle,” Wang replied.

  “And Wang said that he will never find such a person for there is no better man to be found than you.”

  “Och, and now I am embarrassed by the flattery, even though it be in Chinese. Wang, you go help Mr. Sing bring his people in. I’ll ride out to the ranch ’n have Jones ’n Wallace bring in the wagons.”

  * * *

  Clete Dixon and Pogue Flannigan were just coming out of the Wild Hog Saloon when they saw Wang and Sing coming into town, followed by every member of the construction group, men and women. They were carrying all of their belongings with them.

  “What the hell, Pogue? Ain’t that them Chinamen that Collins hired to work on the railroad?
” Dixon asked.

  “Yeah, it sure looks like ’em. ’Course, all Chinamen look alike,” Flannigan added with a little laugh.

  “Wasn’t they s’posed to stay outta town?”

  “Yeah, I think that’s what Collins said.”

  “Then what do you think they’re a-doin’ here?”

  “I don’t know. Why don’t you ask ’em?”

  “Yeah, I think I will. Hey!” Dixon shouted at them as they came by. “What the hell are you Chinamen doin’ comin’ inter town? Wasn’t you all told to stay where you was till we said we was ready for you?”

  “Who are you?” Wang asked.

  “It ain’t none o’ your business who I am,” Dixon said. “You just answer my question. You was told to stay outta town till we need you, ’n I know for certain we don’t need you yet.” Dixon pointed back in the direction from which the caravan had come. “Now get your yellow asses back where you belong.”

  “You have not paid them, and you have not given them food. They have come to town to eat.”

  “Yeah? Well how is it they plan to eat, iffen they ain’t got no money?”

  “Duff MacCallister is paying for their food.”

  “That ain’t good, Clete, MacCallister payin’ for ’em like that,” Flannigan said. “If he buys ’em food ’n it comes down to who they are goin’ to be loyal to, why it’s liable to wind up bein’ MacCallister instead of us.”

  “Yeah, you’re right,” Dixon replied. “You, Chinaman,” he said to the one he had been talking to. “What is your name?”

  “I am Wang Chow.”

  “Well, Wang Chow, seein’ as you can speak their lingo, I want you to tell all these heathens to get the hell back to where they was ’n to wait for us there. We’ll come for ’em when we’re ready for them.”

  “They have no food.”

  “Yeah, you already told me that, but what the hell has that got to do with anything? Tell ’em to kill a rabbit or somethin’. Feedin’ ’em ain’t our problem till they actual start workin’ for us.”

  “They will eat here.”

  “The hell they will,” Dixon said, pulling his pistol.

  Seeing Dixon pull his pistol, Flannigan did as well.

  “Now the only reason I ain’t goin’ to shoot you is ’cause I want you to see us when we commence to shootin’ Chinamen. Oh, did I say Chinamen? I see some women in that group, ’n I expect I’ll start shootin’ them first. Then, after I’ve kilt a few of ’em, I’m goin’ to kill you. Now, are you goin’ to tell ’em what I’m sayin’, or—”

  That was as far as Dixon got. Moving so fast that neither Dixon nor Flannigan were aware of what was happening, Wang snatched both of their pistols away from them. Then, as they were still trying to figure out what had just happened, Wang took Dixon down with a kick to the side of his head, and Flannigan with a blow to his chin from the heel of Wang’s hand.

  There were exclamations of surprise and appreciation from nearly all of the Chinese workers, as well as from several citizens of the town who, because of Dixon’s loud talk and their proximity, had been witnesses to the event.

  As Both Dixon and Flannigan lay on the ground, Wang, who had dropped their pistols when he attacked them, picked the guns back up and removed the cylinders. Thus disarmed, he slipped the pistols back into the holsters of the two unconscious men.

  “We will eat now,” he said to Sing.

  The construction party had not been able to understand what was said in the confrontation but they were aware that Wang had just saved their lives. At Wang’s invitation, they filed into Lu Win’s Restaurant, where the plates, chopsticks, and food had already been laid out for them. With a happy shout, everyone rushed to the tables.

  * * *

  “How come you reckon the railroad hired them, but ain’t give none of ’em any money yet, ’n ain’t feedin’ ’em neither?” Elmer asked Duff as they rode back into town alongside the two wagons driven by J.C. Jones and Larry Wallace.

  “’Tis nae a question that I can answer, Elmer, but it does seem a bit of a queer way to be doin’ business.”

  “Hell, Duff, there ain’t nothin’ these people has done yet that don’t seem a queer way of doin’ business if you ask me.”

  When they arrived in town they parked the wagons of front of Lu Win’s then went inside, where Duff, Elmer, Jones, and Wallace joined the others for a meal.

  It was Mae Win who told Duff about the incident between Wang and two of the railroad police. “All the Chinese people now know what I know,” Mae said with a proud smile. “Wang is a hero.”

  “Aye, Wang is indeed a hero.”

  “Wang says that you are a hero,” Mae said with a big smile.

  “Yeah, well, that heathen ain’t always right, but I reckon he’s right about this,” Elmer teased.

  Wang held his hand out toward Duff, and when he opened it, Duff saw two revolver cylinders.

  Duff chuckled. “Poindexter is in his office. I’ll take these to him. I expect his men will be wanting them back.”

  * * *

  Of the two bunkhouses at Sky Meadow, the smaller one was occupied by J. C. Jones, Larry Wallace, and Bill Lewis, the permanent hands. The other, much larger, was for the temporary hands. The Chinese construction workers moved into this structure, and though there was no way of providing privacy for the women, that didn’t become a problem. The new guests were happy to have a place to stay and a means of earning their keep.

  Over the next few days Duff’s eleemosynary gesture actually turned into a boon for him as his new temporary employees had many useful skills, from carpentry to blacksmithing, to gardening. They also cooked their own food.

  “How long do you think it’ll be a-fore they start in on buildin’ the railroad?” Elmer asked.

  “And ’tis it that you are anxious to be rid of them, Elmer?”

  “What? No, far as I’m concerned they can stay as long as they want. We’re gettin’ jobs done that’s been goin’ a-wantin’ for a long time now.”

  “I cannae tell you how long it will be before construction begins, or even if it will begin,” Duff said.

  “What do you mean, if it will begin? Are you sayin’ you don’t think they are goin’ to build the railroad?”

  “Nae, I’m just sayin’ there’s somethin’ mighty peculiar about it all.”

  “Yeah, well now, that’s somethin’ that you ’n me both agree on.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  So far the only land that had been acquired was the free rangeland that had been part of the government land grant. There had been no purchases by right of eminent domain, but that was about to change when four riders representing the C&FL rode up the JP Ranch road leading to the house that belonged to Jonas Perkins. Their knock on the door was answered by Jonas’s wife, Eunice.

  “You, you’re Jake Poindexter, aren’t you?” Eunice asked. “I remember you from the reception.”

  “Yes, ma’am, I am. Would Mr. Perkins be in, by chance?”

  “No, he’s down on the creek bottom. Some beavers are building a dam, and he and one of our hands have gone down there to tear it down.” She smiled. “I hate it that we have to undo all the work the beavers have done. Bless their little hearts, they do work so hard at it. But when they dam up the creek it stops the flow and keeps the water from going on downstream to Mr. Goodman.”

  “Yes, I can see how that might be a problem. Thank you, we’ll go down to the creek to see him.”

  * * *

  Jonas Perkins was standing knee deep in the water and his arms were submerged to the elbows as he was working to take apart the dam. The beaver construction wasn’t that hard to dismantle, because they had found it right away. A couple of beavers were watching him from the creek bank and they were whining their disapproval at him.

  Perkins looked over at the protesting beavers. “I’m sorry, fellers, but you’re just going to have to find some other place to build your dam.”

  “Mr. Perkins, they’s some riders a-
comin’ this way.” Kistner was sixteen, was the youngest of all the cowboys who rode for the JP brand.

  “Some of our boys?”

  “No, sir, ’n they ain’t none of ’em from Mountain Shadow neither. I don’t have no idea who they are.”

  Mountain Shadow was the neighboring ranch.

  “I wonder who they are and what they—” Perkins stopped in midsentence as he recognized the four approaching riders. He climbed up out of the creek then stood there with his legs wet from the knees down and with wet forearms and muddy hands. “Never mind. I know who they are. They are from the railroad that’s goin’ to be built.”

  “What is it you reckon they want?” Kistner asked.

  “I don’t know exactly, but I have a feelin’ this is goin’ to be trouble.” Perkins waited until the riders were right upon him. “What can I do for you, Poindexter?”

  “Well, for one thing you can stop tearing down that beaver dam.”

  “We have to tear it down.” Perkins chuckled. “I know it might look like a bother to someone who ain’t used to ranchin’, but we have to do this. If we don’t take it down, it’ll stop the flow of the creek.”

  “Whether or not it stops the flow of the creek is no longer your problem, Mr. Perkins.”

  “What do you mean, it’s no longer my problem?”

  “We are taking eight hundred acres of your land, and all of it is adjacent to the creek.”

  “Oh, yeah, I’ve heard how you have took land from Allen, Lewis, and a couple others. But this here land you’re a-talkin’ about now ain’t free rangeland. This here is my land, ’n I have the title, free and clear.”

  “Yes, this isn’t like our other land acquisitions. The government can’t give this land to us, because, as you said, you own it. That’s why we’ll be buyin’ the land from you.”

  “Well, I appreciate your offer to buy, Mr. Poindexter, but I couldn’t hardly sell this land. If I was to sell it, I couldn’t keep on ranchin’, seein’ as this here creek provides most o’ the water that I need for my cows.”

  “Mr. Perkins, I believe you might remember the discussion we had at the reception you and your friends were so generous to provide for us. I told you then that we would be acquiring land for the railroad.”