1 Chapter 1

With the horses all loaded in and seen to, there was nothing to do but wait for the train’s departure. Levi Branton leaned against the car, hat tipped against the sun, working on his second smoke as he sized up his fellow passengers. He couldn’t be too careful, not with the worth of this new breed. He’d sunk everything he could into this new stock, a hefty gamble, but then Levi wasn’t one to say no to a gamble if it meant he had a chance at a thing he wanted.

A skittish group of women huddled on the platform, talking amongst themselves and avoiding eye contact, apparently wary of boarding for no reason Levi cared to think about. There was a boy of about twelve, white and smartly dressed, looking self-important as he stared the length of the steam train and clutched some parcel to his side. If Levi was a thief, he’d certainly go for whatever was in that parcel. But he was more interested in the other men at the station.

There were several Native Americans waiting patiently, most too old for him, but there was one man who looked about his age. Most of the other passengers were white, though, and stood apart, reading newspapers or checking their expensive watches or boarding early. Levi casually took stock of them all, filing them away as either potential trouble or potential interest.

Movement caught his eye and he followed it, a man bobbing around behind the crates and passengers, looking suspicious as hell. He was thin and white without even a tan. He wore dusty work clothes and his dark hair looked like it hadn’t seen a comb anytime recently, but Levi knew he couldn’t be a farmhand, not with skin that white. Still, Levi watched him as he ducked around the station, and before too long Levi saw that the man was trying to evade three others. These were tough-looking tanned men, glaring around them as they searched. The group of women moved around them and decided to board.

Levi finished his smoke and watched as the thin man dashed around the side of the station, tight pants providing a nice view of the shape of his ass as he retreated. He had better have another look at his horses before the train left.

His new stock were doing well enough considering their cramped cars. Levi examined them all again, six new animals, all the finest looking he could get his hands on. They had cost a pretty penny, but soon as he bred them he’d have all that back and twice over. Cauldewell Cogs were the new prized breed, and though he normally raised cattle, Levi was looking to branch out.

He ran his brown hand down a mare’s coat. One stud, five mares, and a new direction for his ranch. Cauldewell Cogs had a distinctive pattern croup to flank, spots reminiscent of gears. The novelty was what brought in the money, and Levi was fine with selling novelty. Provided he could transport these horses back to Kettlespur Ranch with no issue.

A whistle was all the warning he got before the train lurched forward, billowing steam. Levi caught himself on the metal wall, gave the mare a reassuring pat, and made his way up the line of cars to his own compartment. Shockingly he found it deserted but he wouldn’t complain; if the train wasn’t full it just meant more privacy for him. He stretched out his boots onto the adjacent seat and took in the dusty scenery out the window.

As the train picked up speed the final buildings of the town fell away into golden fields and endless sky. Levi didn’t feel safe enough to nap, and though anyone would be stupid to try to take his horses while the train was running, he did not put it down to no chance that someone might try something crazy for that much wealth. He’d heard tales of missing cars before, detached and disappeared, and wasn’t going to let anyone past his compartment.

A shadow was approaching out the window; it caught his eye as it neared. Levi leaned forward to squint at it, removing boots from the seat, standing immediately upon seeing it was a man on a horse, three others not far behind him. Thoughts of highwaymen tumbled through Levi’s mind and he left his compartment, pulling his pistol as he went. He made his way through the cars, jaw set. If anyone was coming to unhitch his cars and make off with a small fortune in Cauldewell Cogs, they were making a big mistake.

At the door he recognized the rider, the slinking white man from the station. He had a bandana over his mouth to guard against dust and grit, but his eyes shone. He was urging his horse toward the train, not yet at full speed, his intentions clear enough.