“The Last Great Train Robbers”
Part 1
by Louis Penn IV
The score of a life, they had finally done it. Joe and Earl smiled at each other—one more turn and the magic was back. This heist had been their hardest one to date, but the score was worth it. Joe turned the safe’s wheel and slowly opened its door. “Here it is Earl, all of our life in one robbery.”
Earl smiled, “Last job, Joe; now we retire.”
6 Months Earlier ~
Three weary men road into the ranch yard of the U-bar-U. They had just completed another day of hard work which went toward their thirty dollars a month as cowhands.
Joe was just a little in front, how he liked it. Earl and Smooth rode behind.
Joe was a lean 180 lb. with a scar over his right eye, sharp facial features and eyes that were sunken in just a little bit.
Earl was the portly, enjoyable one. He was always ready to smile with brilliant swiftness and strength of a man hidden behind it. Smooth got his name due to his smooth draw. Earl and Joe had only seen it twice, but both knew he was not a man to be messed with.
Joe and Earl were lifelong friends who really liked the younger Smooth. When they had taken the job for Mr. Upshaw they were both happy to have a young guy around.
____
Joe yawned, “Earl we ain’t as young as we used to be. I am sore and tuckered out.”
Earl laughed, “Joe since you were a kid you have always had an excuse why you didn’t like working. You remember that time at Aunt Sara’s berry field? You wanted to go see that girl, so you faked-”
Joe rolled his eyes, “Shut up, Earl. You talk too much.” Footsteps on the porch had Joe lifting his eyes to the ranch house door. “Evening Mr. Upshaw.”
Hawthorn Upshaw, stood on the front porch, his visage wearing a more serious look than normal. “Howdy boys, I got some bad news today. My family back in Boston needs me and I am selling the ranch to Ned Bartum.”
All three of the cowhands were shocked. They had really enjoyed the yankee being their boss for the past year.
Joe responded, “What about our jobs? You know Ned won’t let us work for him. That cranky banker has his own crew.”
“Plus,” Earl added, “He’s a low-down banker. They’re the worst ones to get wages from.”
Smooth was silent, just taking in the situation as his custom was.
Hawthorn sighed, “Sorry boys, but I did try to keep your jobs.”
The three cowhands turned on their horses at the sound of approaching hooves. They saw none other than Ned Bartum and his two strong men, Moe and Exil, galloping up the way.
“Morning, Hawthorn. I see you have not gotten rid of the trash yet.” Bartum sneered at the cowhands.
Earl, with fire in his eyes spoke quietly, “If’en you would like to take us out, Ned, then come off that horse and grab Iron.” Earl chuckled, “but you won’t without your two little show ponies.”
Mr. Upshaw spoke up before anything more could be said, “Hey boys I got your pay for the next six months so let’s go settle up and leave Mr. Bartum to his work.”
The cowhands dismounted and followed their boss through the door. Inside, the four men stared for a minute. Mr. Upshaw then got the money and gave the men their wages. “Hey boys, I heard that Frank Gray is taking on hands at the moment. Sorry this is where our roads part. Hope it all works out.”
Joe almost growled a, “Thank you, Mr. Upshaw.”
The three cowhands got their horses and quietly headed out. A couple miles down the road Smooth piped up, “Hey boys, where’re we headed anyway?”
Joe, replied stone faced, “Well, we might as well go see what is going on in Owl Creek tonight.”
____
The night was going as planned as the three cowhands sat in Sara’s Diner, listening to Jenny sing the old songs.
They saw Exil ride up and head for the saloon. Fifteen minutes later Mr. Upshaw came riding up the Main Street, leaning in the saddle. He dismounted and starting hollering, “Exil, you coward! Come face me like a man instead of shooting a man from behind!”
Exil had come out the back door of the saloon and now stood in the dark alley. “I’m here, Upshaw.” Exil announced himself and then fired.
Mr. Upshaw, still a tough customer even with two bullets in him, attempted to lift his gun, but two more bullets made sure that never happened.
Earl, Smooth and Joe burst out of Sara’s with their guns drawn.
Exil stooped to make sure the job was done. “That was murder!” Smooth burst out.
Exil lifted his hands and smiled wickedly, “He came in looking for trouble and was armed.” Exil grabbed his horse, slinking back to Ned.
The cowhands rushed to Upshaw, who was still trying to hold on. Joe bent over his boss just as Upshaw grasped for his last breath.
“Joe…Ned…was the one...who ordered it. He is...trying to…take the gold...stop him. Train in six mon…”
Upshaw passed and Joe held back the old rage that was boiling inside of him. Earl spat and Smooth just locked his jaw.
Doc came out and told them what they already knew. Upshaw had received a wound an hour or so before, but the final ones he had received had killed him. Their former boss was dead.
“Thanks Doc,” Joe mumbled. “How much to burry him, proper like?”
“For Upshaw, I will take on the cost. He was a great man.”
_____
The three cowhands shared a little rented room. They each were somberly lost in their own thoughts about their fallen boss when Earl spoke up. “Well Joe, what did he mean about the gold?”
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