“The stage’s been robbed!” someone shouted.
Wyatt was on his feet in an instant, rushing over to the man.
“What happened?” he demanded.
“They shot Bud Philpot! Bob got the stage back, but Bud’s dead and one of the passengers was shot. They didn’t get the silver shipment.”
“I’m goin’ to need a posse!” Wyatt called out, quickly taking charge. “Lem, you run down and get Virg and Morg. Where’s Bob at?”
“He’s outside with the stage,” said the man who came running in with the news. “He got banged up some, but he’s okay.”
“You need some help. Marshal’” Neilson asked.
“I can use a good gun, Kid. Come along.”
“Marshal Earp!” said Lucas. “I’d like to ride along, if I
“A posse’s no place for a greenhorn, mister. No offense.”
“I can ride,” said Lucas. “I know how to shoot, too. I used to be a soldier. I’d like to help.”
“All right, if you feel you’re up to it, we’ll get you a rifle. Come along.”
Still no sign of recognition from Neilson, thought Lucas. All right, he’d wait and see. They went out into the street and hurried a short distance down the block, to where the stage had pulled up. Sheriff Behan was already there, along with several other men. A crowd was gathering rapidly. Wyatt pushed his way through to the man at the center of attention, the shotgun guard, Bob Paul. He was covered with dust and his clothing was disheveled
“What happened, Bob?” asked Wyatt.
“I was just akin’ him that,” said Sheriff Behan, irritably. Lucas noticed a look of dislike between the two men.
“They got us a short way out of Contention.” Paul said. “Bud was havin’ stomach cramps, so I told him I could drive for a bit till they eased up. We’d pulled over and traded places, but we hadn’t gotten more than a few miles north on the road to Benson when they hit us. We’d just gone across a dry wash and started up a hill when a masked man stepped out into the road and shouted. ‘Hold!’ Next thing we knew, there was a hunch of ’em around us, three, four, maybe more. I couldn’t tell, it all happened so fast. Bud went for the scattergun and they shot him. The horses-bolted and then they were all shootin”. I lost the reins and had to climb down to retrieve ’em. Almost fell off into the road,
They get the silver?” Behan asked.
“No. they didn’t get it. They didn’t have a chance ‘the horses ran off soon as they shot Bud. One of the passengers took a bullet, too. Name of Peter Roerig, was sittin’ in the dickey seat up back. He looked bad. They took him to the doc’s, but I don’t think he’s goin’ to make it.”
Virgil and Morgan had arrived. “We’re gettin’ up a posse.” Wyatt told them. “Outlaws just robbed the stage and killed Bud Philpot. If we get a move on, we might catch ’em.”
“Wait a minute. Wyatt,” Behan said. “I’m the sheriff. I’m takin’ this posse.”
“Fine, then, take it. But we’re comin’ along.”
Behan looked as if he was going to make an argument of it, then changed his mind.
“I’m goin’ too. Wyatt,” Paul said.
“You sure you’re up to it?”
They got Bud.” Paul said, with a hard edge to his voice.-I’m goin’.”
Within moments, the posse was organized and mounted, galloping out of town on the road to Contention, about eight miles northwest of Tombstone. Lucas found himself riding next to Neilson, but aside from a curious look, nothing else passed between them. Lucas wondered if Neilson was being watched by someone in the posse and was aware of it. He was playing it very cool. Until he had a chance to speak with him alone, he’d have to follow his lead. Neilson could have discovered more about what was going on here since the time he’d last made his report.
It was late by the time they reached the place where the robbery had occurred and the darkness slowed them down, making the trail hard to follow. They were still tracking the outlaws when daylight came.
“Looks like the trail’s leading to Len Redfield’s place,” said Virgil.
“Somehow I’m not surprised,” said Wyatt, dryly. “Len’s real friendly with Ike Clanton.”
The trail, as Virgil had predicted, led straight to the ranch, where they discovered several horses in the corral that had been ridden very hard.