Chapter 20
The train rolled up to the platform amid great huffs of steam, stopping with the mail car next to the parked stagecoach. The passengers began to disembark. As the platform cleared, I spotted our two prospective passengers.
Sweeping down the steps from the compartment car in her colorful finery, as fresh as when she embarked on this journey, surrounded by men vying to carry her bag and steamer truck, laughing gaily, was Jacinthe.
Further down the platform, stumbling out of her day car, dressed in her shapeless gray frock with soot stains now marring it, was our Beatrice, ignored to the point of invisibility. Exhausted after being kept awake by a continuous poker game across the narrow aisle from her straight-backed seat, Beatrice was attempting to drag her trunk bumping along the platform.
Gabrielle and Hannah went at a run to greet their sisters. Sergeant Smith sent troopers to gather their luggage. In the midst of this swirling activity, I stood apart watching the watchers – observing our spectators. Unfortunately, no one wore a sign saying ‘I’m the spy for the robbers,’ so my efforts were less than fruitful.
By this time, Gaby had shooed away Jacinthe’s admirers, bringing her to meet me. Jacinthe was the younger sister who, except for her black hair, looked enough like Gaby to be her twin. She was dressed in luxuriant purple, with a matching hat and parasol. Her pale breasts were framed as an invitation to every man. At her throat was a white cameo brooch, with its black rose matching Gaby’s.
Without preliminary, Jacinthe threw her arms around me, pulling me into an open mouthed kiss while she molded her lush body tightly to me. After I got my breath back, I welcomed her to Cheyenne.
She replied, “You are my brave hero who saved my sister and protects me. You will receive a hero’s reward from us where we express our gratefulness. Nothing will be withheld, your requests will be granted instantly without reservation.”
The she leaned into another kiss She paused, and with an impish look, kissed her sister with flashing tongue, while her free hand fondled Gaby’s breast. Jacinthe said, “I missed her so much. You really do have our eternal gratitude for reuniting us.”
Gaby took pity on me, untangling her sister, leading her to our coach then the station. Hannah led Beatrice to me. Beatrice was the older by less than a year. Without her bonnet, her long blonde hair matched her sister’s, and even her shapeless sack dress could not conceal her full breasts, even larger than Hannah’s.
Hannah pushed Beatrice into my arms. I held her in a gentle hug, kissing her soft lips when her head lifted; then said quietly, “Welcome to Cheyenne, Beatrice.”
I kissed her again. As she responded, I said, “See, it’s better when you help.”
Beatrice giggled. She said, “I can understand why Hannah loves you. Thank you for protecting my dear sister. Will you also rescue us from poppa? “
Now she looked serious as she continued, “Poppa never holds us; he takes his pleasure without regard for our feelings. I hope you will allow us to live with you.”
I replied, “Beatrice, I live at Miss Emma’s Sporting House.”
She smiled as she answered, “I am just returned from New York where I trained to be a nurse and midwife. I have seen much during my stay there. I am a very different girl then the one who left Deadwood. I would join you at your sporting house if you would have me.”
Then she laughed delightedly. Hannah took her hand; they walked into the station so that Beatrice could freshen up. Captain Lyre, joined me, handing me a box of cigars saying, “Here. It’s a long ride back to Deadwood.”
I thanked him. He gestured to his troops, saying, “My mess sergeant is quite taken with your companions. He sent along this box of food that he prepared for your journey.”
We loaded that into the coach and he asked if we needed anything further. I gestured to Earl to join us. I asked, “Do we need anything further from the Army?”
Earl shook his head.
“Are we ready to go?”
Earl nodded; then he frowned, saying, “Passengers.”
Lyre looked confused. I said, “When the passengers are settled in the coach, we can leave.”
Earl nodded and spit a huge wad of tobacco hitting a station cat that was sitting on a baggage cart on top of the head. The cat’s outraged yowl faded as it escaped from view. Earl looked at me. I said simply, “Mount up.”
Earl smiled as he walked back to check his team, and clamber up into the driver’s box. I stuck my head in the door of the train station, whistled loudly and yelled, “Stage is LEAVING.”
ALL of our ladies came out of one of the waiting rooms, now dressed in jeans, cotton shirts and boots. Gaby, Hannah and Mei were wearing their sheepskin jackets. Jacinthe and Beatrice were each carrying a sheepskin jacket.
I held the door, shepherding them to the stagecoach. Jacinthe managed to be last in line, and it was obvious that she had somehow forgotten to button her shirt! Her teasing could give a marble statue a hard on, and given that I was NOT such a statue, the outcome was a forgone conclusion.
I handed the five into the coach, then climbed up to join Earl, giving him a cigar. He took a healthy bite and began chewing contentedly. I picked my Winchester, rapping the butt on the coach roof. Gaby’s head appeared. “We’re ready in here.”
She blew me a kiss just before she disappeared. Earl picked up his ribbons and whip as I took a firm hold on my skimmer. I nodded.
Earl stood up with a yell cracking his whip and spanking with his lines. The team leapt into a run, with the stage swaying wildly as he took the narrow Cheyenne corners at a full gallop.
We ran past the Nine Lives, Mary and Sally standing in front of the entrance. Earl gave a loud rebel yell cracking his whip as we passed. His two companions waved their handkerchiefs in farewell. We were quickly out of town on the road to Chugwater.
Earl settled the team into a trot. I left the box, joining the ladies in the coach. Everyone was in a good mood, with sisters catching up on news. Gaby and Hannah made sure that ALL the sisters mutually got along. They also made sure that Mei was accepted, making my life easier.
Hannah and Gaby were back wearing their holsters, with their carbines and shotguns close at hand. Hannah said, “Bea and Jaci need to learn how to defend themselves.”
I nodded, saying, “If not while we’re traveling, certainly back in Deadwood.”
Hannah smiled happily as she kissed me. Then Gaby kissed me and Mei and…you get the idea. It was a pleasant interlude I was smiling when I rejoined Earl. We rode in companionable silence into Chugwater.
We quickly changed horses, visited the outhouses, and generally took care of business before we remounted. Earl stood, sipping water out of the tin cup chained to the well, as the ladies returned to our coach.
We left Chugwater, heading for Hawk Springs. The character of the land was different; high buttes, and table lands of red rocks stacked up above us in layers were on both sides of the trail. I tapped on the coach, telling them to stay alert.
I climbed up on the roof of the coach, sitting with my modern Swarovski EL 10x42 WB binoculars. I began to glass the hillsides. We rounded a curve and a deserted ridge was suddenly not deserted. I said, “Jesus OH Fuck”
The mile long ridge was now an unbroken line of Indians on horseback. I heard a loud gasp from inside the coach. Earl spat. I clambered down next to him, saying, “Good knowing you, Earl.”
He nodded, saying, “You.”
I looked through my binoculars to see an astonishing array of chiefs festooned in eagle feathers, holding their decorated lances and ceremonial shields flanked by medicine men in masks, buffalo and bear headdresses each surrounded by their own Dog soldiers most of whom had fresh scalps hanging from their horses’ bridles.
I stood up holding on to the metal railing, displaying my rifle. It was a faint hope. Earl kept the horses at the same pace, as we waited for the inevitable charge that would certainly quickly overwhelm us.
I was standing, with my rifle butt resting on my hip, as we continued running east; the Indians unmoving on that ridge. We were almost out of sight when a loud cry erupting from the center of line jolted us. The Indians wheeled in one motion and rode off the ridge and out of sight.
I said, “Good Golly, Miss Molly.”
Earl looked over at me. After a few moments the coach windows were filled with female faces.
I said, “Don’t look at me. I haven’t a fucking clue. Right now Earl and I should be scalps decorating some dog soldier. You girls should be captives or worse. This stage should be in flames.”
Earl nodded at my assessment. The ladies all looked somber as they also agreed. Our good mood evaporated; silently, watchfully we rode into Hawk Springs to change teams.
The stableman probably did not understand our need to hug and kiss each other as the teams were being changed. He looked askance as I hugged Earl. Earl laughed. “Kiss me and I beat you with a Hame.”
Instead each of the girls hugged and kissed him. We were swiftly on the trail to Lingle as the sun set. Earl lit our coach lights as we pressed on. We changed at Lingle, then again at Jay Em, heading for Lusk.
Earl slowed the horses on the long upgrade to Lusk uphill all the way from Hawk Springs. We stopped to give the horses a blow near a small stream. As Hannah and Beatrice set up their cooking utensils, I chopped some deadfall with my Bowie that Mei took back to build a small fire on the roads verge. Jaci and Gaby carried over the chest with food as the fire caught.
Hannah quickly made a trailside feast. We sat in the grass, eating and drinking in the early morning darkness. The girls picked up and cleaned up. I took the canvas bucket and drowned the fire. We mounted up refreshed.
With our slow pace, it was mid morning before we reached Lusk. Earl let us dismount at the Widow Johnson’s Boarding House; after that, he headed for the barn.
When Earl was back, we had our meal. The dollars this time, and the memory of the dollars last time, resulted in another tasty, filling meal. We decided to take a rest. The boarding house was empty. I paid for all the rooms.
Earl and the widow disappeared together into the back of the house. I walked up the stairs to an airy second floor room. I didn’t bother to undress. Shedding jacket, boots and guns, I crawled into the big bed. Mei followed me, crawling into bed also still dressed, cuddling with me. In my exhaustion, I barely kissed her before sleep overtook me.
I awakened to soft kisses. Opening my eyes, I found Jaci leaning over me. She softly crooned, “Wake up.”
When she saw I was awake, her tongue was quickly playing in my mouth. I heard Mei giggle. I looked over, to see that Gaby was waking her with kisses. They helped us up. I stomped into my boots and headed down the steps, carrying my jacket and guns.
Earl brought the stage, with its fresh team, up from the barn. Widow Johnson fixed us a meal of cold cuts, and refilled our larder chest. It was time to go. We mounted up, and Earl took us out of town at a gallop, headed toward Mule Creek.
We weren’t on the road for very long and thunderheads started to build around us. As the drizzle began, Earl stopped the stage. I lowered the coach side curtains, tying them securely. Earl lit our coach lamps. Earl and I put on our India Rubber mackinaws. We set off again.
The rain intensified as we rode north. Streams were running faster, and crossings were soon hub deep. Even with the macs, it was miserable in the driver box as the wind drove the rain into every possible seam. The repeated lightning helped us stay on a trail frequently covered by puddles.
When we reached Old Woman Creek, Earl was forced to halt. The creek was far wider and deeper. We needed to know if the road was good or if it had washed away. I had already handed my guns into the coach. Now I just stood in the cold rain and stripped to my jeans. My boots were already soaked, so I left them on. I cut a substantial wood staff with my Bowie. I stepped into the lariat loop, while Earl retrieved a coach light for us.
All five ladies joined us in the driving rainstorm. They held the rope while I walked out into the current. This was a serious business; even in modern days, plenty of people drowned doing just what I was trying to do. If I went down, they would have to get me back to the stream bank before I swallowed too much water.
I fell down when I reached the ‘normal’ stream bank. The girls screamed. The current was swift. I drove my Bowie into the mud, holding myself in place; then, using my staff, I regained my feet.
The water depth was also significant concern for our crossing, as soon as the water went over the axles; the next step was the current pressing on the coach body. That would push us downstream, with little Earl could do to prevent disaster, except try to whip the horses to pull harder.
Earl watched carefully as I walked the roadbed. Then we talked it through. Finally, with Hannah on the box with Earl, and the rest holding my tether rope from inside the coach I led off into the water with the coach light held over my head.
The roadbed seemed solid with no washout even where the road forded the ‘normal’ streambed.
Once Earl committed, we had to keep moving or the stage could be pulled sideways or tipped by the current. Earl talked the horses through it. Sending them into the water at a brisk walk toward my light in the center of the roadway. I kept moving, with the horses pulling the coach strongly.
When we reached the original streambed, the coach dropped with a lurch until the coach body splashed in the water. Earl stood up, and called his horses by name to pull against the sideways current. All six leaned into their harness, straightening the stage as they pulled it up the bank into the overflow water. Earl kept calling to them as they followed me out on to the dry land beyond.
The girls leapt out of the coach to grab me, as soon as we were completely across. Mei looked at me critically, saying softly, “Hypothermia, man we gotta get you warm.”
She yelled out, “He’s fucking freezing here. Need someplace warm and dry immediately!”
Hannah said to Earl, “We need to be at 3-BAR right now!”
Mei pulled me into the coach. Gaby and Jaci huddled on each side of me, with Mei sitting on my lap.
Earl had the team at a run, far faster than the conditions or trail warranted. Hannah sat in the box with him, trying to see the trail or 3BAR headquarters. She pulled her pistol and began firing into the air -- pairs of shots at regular cadence.
Suddenly answering shots surprised them. Riders from 3-BAR rode out to meet us, leading the stage back to their headquarters at a gallop.
Clara stood on the porch, supervising our rescue. I was deeply in the throes of hypothermia by this time, and only vaguely remember our arrival.
Clara had the facing fireplaces in their great room roaring at full fire. She quickly had all of us in the room. Her children were stripping us, pulling off our sodden clothes, and then rubbing us with heavy wool blankets.
In my case, Abigail stripped me naked before she climbed in my lap, naked, hugging me to her big soft breasts. After that, she wrapped us both in that heavy blanket.
Abigail jacked me until I was hard; then her sister, Annabelle, held my cock, burying it in her sister Abigail’s hot cunt. Abigail began to rise and fall on me until I was sweating. As I started to come out of my hypothermic daze, I realized my cock was deep in Abigail.
As I looked around, I realized that every Stauffer was fucking or being fucked!
Five of the sons were on top of our five female passengers, fucking them enthusiastically. Another daughter was under Earl. Clara was under her youngest son, while Emit was on top of his youngest daughter. Another son and daughter were coupled near the fireplace, with Annabelle kneeling between my legs, licking her sister and my cock.
I regained consciousness just in time for the ‘first’ switch. Abigail lifted off me, allowing Annabelle to settle on my dick while she licked us. Now the other Stauffer children began to trade partners as the rain continued to pound with its continuous thunder and lightning.
At some point in the night, every man and woman at 3-BAR was joined with every other. The sex continued in these many combinations until another gray chilly dawn broke.
Clara finally called halt. The morning chores had to be done.
I was sprawled on a thick rug in front of the fireplace, with Abigail lying on my chest. She kissed me, saying simply, “Chickens.”
As she rose gracefully to her feet and left the room, Mei crawled over, taking her place. She said, “I was worried about you. How do you feel now?”
I replied, “I’m fine. How does a California girl know about the cold, anyway?”
She laughed as she said, “Camping and ski trips. I spent my winters in Vail, Breckenridge and Eagle.”
I nodded. Then we were kissing. Now in full daylight, Hannah walked around, getting us on our feet. I was rewarded with a kiss from her when I was upright.
Wrapped in a wool horse blanket, I stood on the porch, sipping my coffee, staring at the rain. Earl was already at the barn, checking the stage. Hannah and Gabrielle were standing with me. Hannah broke the silence. “What do you think?”
I shrugged; then I said, “I’d like to borrow a horse and check the road toward Four Corners.”
She giggled as she said, “We could stay another night.”
Gaby was laughing as I said, “Nope, I’m exhausted. Totally fucked out. We have to get back on the trail so I can rest.”
Gaby said, “Don’t let my sister hear you say that. She’ll take it as a challenge. I think your hostess, Abigail, might as well.”
Annabelle joined us on the porch, with a full coffee pot and a kiss. Both were welcome. Clara called out the door, to tell us our clothes were dry and breakfast was ready.
We sat among the entire Stauffer family, as we ate a vast family-style meal. I was again served a massive steak. This time there were no complaints about our ‘special’ meals.
Jaci told us that she had ‘helped’ with chores. To the evident amusement of our hosts, she described the chickens, pigs and other livestock that she helped to feed and water. I said, “It would lose its novelty over time, love, I’d say about mid-January when you have to tie a line between buildings so you don’t get lost in a blizzard.”
There were nods of agreement around the table. When the meal was over, I took over the table to clean Hannah’s gun, and the others that had gotten soaked. I disassembled the guns, using my essential gunsmith tools from my saddlebag. I cleaned and dried them, then oiled them up. Then I took a few moments to form the wet leather holsters around the pistols.
As I finished, Emit, the family patriarch sat across from me. He said, “It’s still raining. I had to open my dam; the mill pool was getting too full. Do you want to wait it out? You are welcome to stay as long as it takes.”
I asked, “Could I borrow a horse and check the trail north?”
He nodded. “Certainly. Three Sisters Creek borders the road north of here. If it goes over the banks, you could be here a while.”
I smiled as I said, “Not a completely bad thing. I would like to be home, though.”
He nodded in understanding. I distributed the now-clean firearms. We walked out to the barn, where Earl told us the stage and contents made it through last night’s storm unscathed.
Emit ordered up a horse. Quickly, Abigail, Hannah, and Gaby requested mounts as well. The four of us rode out the gate, heading north in the gray morning drizzle.
Abigail led the way at a canter, with the three of us following, splashing through puddles. She led us up several hills, overlooking the trail. I used my binoculars to check conditions. Even at Three Sisters, there was no water over the road. They looked at me expectantly as I lowered the binoculars. I said, “It looks OK to me. I say we mount up.”
We headed back to 3-BAR, where I announced, “Mount up,” as I rode into the barn.
Earl spat out into a large puddle as he pulled on his mac and prepared to climb up on his perch. Jaci, Bea, and Mei were already in the barn, checking and repacking cargo. We began saying goodbye and climbing aboard. Clara delivered sandwiches wrapped in oilcloth, with a last cup of hot coffee. We got in our last hugs and kisses. Abigail kissed me goodbye, while holding my hand under her shirt, cupping her breast. I finally pulled my hand out of her shirt; then she kissed the palm.
Finally, everybody was aboard. I climbed up in the box. Given the low visibility, I carried a Burgess shotgun with a pocket full of buckshot and slugs up in the box today. My mac shielded the action as much as possible.
The barn door and gate were wide open. I held my skimmer as I nodded to Earl. He yelled to his team as he spanked them with his lines. They ran out of 3-BAR, heading to Buckhorn.
The horses were running cool and strong in the drizzle as we raced along. I kept my head up watching carefully. No highwayman was going to take advantage of conditions to ‘sneak’ up on us.
As we closed on Four Corners, the land changed, with the trees growing closer together and tighter to the trail. The Black Hills were called that because the pine trees were so thick the hills were ‘black with them.’
Earl took us past the Four Corners at a gallop, on our way to Buckhorn and the change of teams. It was a wet, miserable ride into Buckhorn. I stood in the trail with my shotgun as Earl and the stableman switched horses. I stayed up on my toes, as I tried to watch and listen. The heavy atmosphere dampened any sounds.
Earl whistled as he climbed in the box, and I quickly clambered aboard. Earl started the run up to O’Neil pass. This ascent was steeper. Soon the horses were walking. Shortly, we were too.
We walked along behind the coach, as the horses labored up the hill. The girls were in good spirits, laughing about the mud instead of complaining. We finally topped out. Earl decided to give the horses a breather. As he stepped out of the box and we caught up, Hannah asked, “Who wants coffee and a sandwich?”
Earl nodded. I chopped some deadfall, piling the wood in a teepee on a ‘dry’ part of the road. I took down a coach light, dumping some kerosene on the wood, followed by a match.
The moisture steamed and bubbled out of the wood as the kero burned off and the wood caught hold. Hannah hung the coffee pot as we stood around it, grateful for even an approximation of warmth.
Hannah served the coffee, while Mei and Gaby unwrapped sandwiches. We stood in the hardly waterproof shelter of the tall pine trees, eating our cold, soggy sandwiches and drinking hot coffee in tin cups. All things considered, it was one of the best meals of my life!
Earl looked around our circle as he said, “Now, home.”
I nodded as I softly said, “Mount up, loves.”
It was quick work to snuff the fire and climb aboard our coach. Earl let out a wild rebel yell that echoed through the trees as he cracked his whip over the team. They were at a dead run instantly.
Earl let them have their head as we raced downhill, through Cheyenne Crossing. We rolled into Lead. Now Earl’s whip was in the air crackling constantly, as the team ran like the wind through Plume. Earl stood up in the box. With more yelling and his whip singing, our coach entered Deadwood at a flat out dash.
Earl looked over at me with a shit eating grin and said, “Let’em know we’re here.”
I pointed my shotgun up in the air, pulling the trigger. Then I said, “Fuck it.” I pounded five more straight up as fast as I could shoot. Now that was an attention getter, even in Deadwood. Every town dog was quickly following barking and raising hell. Men on foot and horseback led and followed.
With another wild yell Earl pulled up the lathering team in front of the stage office. We were quickly surrounded by a huge mob. A huge FRIENDLY mob. I yelled, “Let the postmaster through, then we can get down.”
A spring wagon pulled up next to us. Earl and I tossed down the numerous mail sacks. The crowd cheered loudly when they saw their mail. As the mail wagon pulled away all of us disembarked.
I was no sooner on the ground, than I looked up, and saw Duke charging through the crowd. Duke buried his front hoofs with his legs straight, lowered his butt and skidded to a halt. Krista vaulted over his head, running toward me, tackling me at a run. I kinda lost track of things for a bit as our lips and bodies reacquainted.
By the time I was back…Emma, Dan and Jan arrived in her horse drawn limousine. Loud squeals let me know that Gaby and Emma found each other in the crowd. Jacinthe was with Gaby and Emma. Beatrice and Hannah were chatting with their family. Mei stood next to the stage, looking lost.
K looked over my shoulder as she said, “I’m pretty sure I know everybody on the stage except HER.”
I grinned saying, “Her would be Mei Bao Ling. Her would be from Stanford Masters Program.”
K cocked an eyebrow. “Leland Stanford just drove the golden stake. There aint a ‘Stanford’ or Masters Program.”
I nodded. “Yet.”
She calmly said, “No shit. Does she…”
I answered, “Suspects. I’m a bit too PC for the frontier, I guess.”
She giggled. “You’re actually a total pig, but you’re my little oinker!”
I laughed. “I’m gonna spank your ass for that. I got a Hame strap that’s PERFECT!”
Now she was laughing. “And exactly how do you know that this Hame strap is so perfect?”
I replied, “Testing. Rigorous and repeated testing.”
K kissed me some more, then she made eye contact as she said, “When we go back to Emma’s, you bring along all your little playmates and show me this ‘testing’. Then when I’m good and excited, I want you fuck me. I want you to keep fucking me. You keep fucking until I tell you to stop or it’s spring, whichever comes first!”
She looked over my shoulder. “Is that Hannah? What happened to the awful sack? Good God she has tits.”
K looked at me. “Don’t tell me she’s one of your playmates. You have had an interesting trip, my love.”
I looked at her carefully as I asked with some trepidation, “You’re not mad, are you, love?”
She leaned forward, kissing the tip of my nose. “I’m not mad. Really! I’m surprised that you melted the ice bitch, is all.”
I nodded as I said, “I needed to know. Long story for later. Preacher Daddy has a harem.”
Shocked, she let out, “No fucking shit?”
I asked again carefully, “Now I gotta know if you’re pissed because the punch line is that she wants away from Daddy.”
K grinning looked me in the eye, saying, “By God, William, I may just have to hear about the trip before you fuck me. Any other strays happen to follow you home?”
I nodded as I said, “Gaby and Jaci you knew. Hannah and her sister Beatrice. Mei Bao. That ‘s about it. Well except, perhaps later, Tasha in Cheyenne and Abigail at the 3-BAR.”
By the end of my pokerfaced delivery, Krista was laughing so hard that she had to hold on to me to stand up. She finally calmed down to say, “Yeah. Bring them ALL home. I’ve always wanted a big family. “
She poked me in the chest with her finger, serious now. “You and I need some quality time with your little cardinal girl. I want to know all about her. Soon!”
She smiled, saying, “Now introduce us. You are a lousy fucking host. She’s totally lost here.”
I nodded. “Yes, dear.”
She laughed. “And don’t you forget it.”
Continued in Chapter 21
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