“That I have, pilgrim.In summer and in winter, in sickness and in health…” He paused and chuckled.“Sounds a bit like a marriage, don’t you think?And in a way, I suppose it is a marriage of sorts.Like a husband to his wife, I made a commitment to my folk out here and?—”
“And there’s a good number of miners still working claims up here?”
“Not as many as there once was.A lot of the old mines are abandoned and the camps deserted.”Preacher helped himself to more coffee.“But there’s still a few hardy souls out there, sure that they’ll strike it rich as Croesus one day.”
Caleb realized that Zeke and Everett saw what he was trying to get at.As they listened, they just sat back, nursed their cups, and stared into the fire.
“Must be dangerous out here, though, traveling alone as you do.”
Preacher raised his bony shoulders.“From what I recollect, a man can get into a peck of trouble in the towns too.I know that was true for me, before I found my calling.Out here, there’s no laws to get a man’s back up.Except, of course, the laws in the Book I take to them.But when a man is digging for his fortune and minding his own business, those ten laws are not so tough to keep.”
Caleb frowned.“You know your flock, Preacher.But five fellas laid in wait here today.And I think them laws of yours say something about not killing.”
“As I said, friend, there are quite a few of the fallen out here as well.”
“Then you know that with all the deserted camps and the rugged lay of the land, more than a few outlaw gangs have taken to hiding out up here.”
Preacher fixed his gaze on Caleb’s face.“You a bounty hunter, pilgrim?”
He shook his head.“I ain’t.But I am looking for some road agents that have been helping themselves to every Wells Fargo stage they can lay their hands on.”
The minister said nothing for a moment.
“I believe one of them laws in your Book refers to stealing,” Caleb added, prompting him.
Preacher nodded.“I know who you mean.You’re talking about some fellows who waylay only Wells Fargo stagecoaches.”
“Those would be the fellas.”
“Well, as it happens, in my travels I’ve gotten to know those men somewhat.I’ve been to their camp a half dozen times.I’ve sat with them at their fire, just like this.I’ve broken bread with them.Even prayed with a couple of them.And I know a few other things about them.I’ll tell you one thing, these are good men.”
“Good men?”Caleb felt his temperature rising.“Do you also know that this gang killed the driver and the guard in a robbery a few days ago.And they may have a passenger they wounded, as well.But we can’t be sure, cuz he’s missing.”
“No, friend,” Preacher retorted adamantly.“These are not killers.They don’t go out hurting others.I know them.”
“You may think you do,” Caleb snapped.“But they also have a friend of mine, a doctor.And the chances are they killed a miner who helped them take Doc.”
Saying it aloud sharpened the fear he’d been carrying since Patterson’s office.Doc was a stubborn old cuss, but stubborn men could die same as anyone.Sometimes quicker.
He paused as that information sank in.
“So I would be much obliged if you could tell us exactly where these fellas are holed up.”
A troubled frown creased the minister’s face.“This must be someone else.Someone who is trying to drag down their name.It’s not them, I tell you.”
“And I’m telling you, it is.”
Preacher glanced at Zeke and Everett, but their hard faces offered no help.
“I want to know where this gang is holed up,” Caleb demanded.
The minister tossed the remainder of his coffee into the fire and chewed on those words for a bit.Putting his cup on the ground, he pulled at his goat beard, took off his hat, batted some dirt from it, and jammed it back on his balding pate.
“That is the one thing that I can’t tell you.”
“Why?”
“Two reasons, mainly,” he replied.
