Road To Virginia City

Henry DeQuille made his way into the lobby of the Lake House. He untied his kerchief and wiped the grime from his neck, sweaty from spending hours in the hot sun, surveying lots along the Truckee the railroad was offering for sale. Boom times were expected for Reno and people began to clamor for land.

“Telegram for you, Mr. DeQuille.” The hotel clerk held out the yellow sheet as Henry made his way to the desk. “It's from Carson City.”

“Thanks, Joe.” He took the telegram from the clerk's ink stained hand, fished a nickel out of his vest for a tip, and wandered over to a red tufted settee wrapped around a column. He flopped down on it, a cloud of dust billowed from the settee, a fine layer settling on an older gentleman seated next to him, reading a newspaper.

The man started coughing. “Hmph.” He snapped the paper, stood up, and stalked to another seat.

“Sorry,” Henry mumbled. He sank down into the seat to avoid any interaction with other patrons and scanned the telegram. He sighed as he read the sender's name. It was from Orland, his boss. Henry, proceed post haste to Virginia City, STOP Boundary dispute between two mines, STOP Verify correct boundaries, STOP Big money for company, STOP Don't mess this one up, STOP.

That big error almost cost Henry his job last year. He crumpled up the telegram and launched it into the nearest spittoon. “Hey, Joe,” he called as he rose from the settee and headed to the desk. “When does the next stage for Virginia City leave?”

Joe glanced at the wall clock behind him. “It left about five minutes ago, Mr. DeQuille. Last one of the day too. You in a hurry?”

Henry frowned. “Sorta, boss wants a survey up there quick.”

“Livery down the street might have a horse for you.”

“Thanks, Joe. I'll check into it.” Henry turned and climbed the stairs to his room. He grabbed some clothes for a couple of days along with his shaving kit, then returned to the lobby. “Back soon, Joe. Keep the room for me.” He flipped a five dollar piece to the clerk.

“Will do, Mr. DeQuille. Have a safe trip.”

Henry walked the three blocks to the livery stable and found a lone buckboard outside blocking the entrance. Two long wooden boxes were sticking over the open rear of the wagon, peeking out from a canvas tarp thrown over them. One box was made of fresh pine boards, the second was weathered, with a name and a picture of a beer mug carved into it. “Must be equipment for the saloons.” He circled around the front of it and entered the stable. He found the proprietor haggling with a shriveled old man wearing dirty, worn clothing.

“I'll take that mare, Mr. Haas, but I ain't a gonna pay more than twenty dollars.” The man pulled a roll of bills out of his pocket and began to count out the money.

“Huh, ain't taking twenty fer her, Fritz. I done tol' ya, she's twenny five.” Haas spit on the ground and placed his hands on his hips. “You don't fool me with them dirty rags, you make plenty of money supplying those fellers at Ophir. She's twenny five, not a penny less.” He glanced over at Henry. “Be with you in a minute, mister. Soon as we finish our palaverin'.”

Henry nodded and watched as Fritz grimaced and took five dollars more from his roll and tossed the bills in the stable owner's face.

“Here's yer five dollars for that old swayback. Now gimme a bill of sale.” Haas stood at his desk and scribbled on a piece of paper. Fritz snatched it out of his hands, squinted, held it close to his face and silently mouthed the words on the paper.

“Now, what kin I do fer you, mister?”

“I need to get to Virginia City quick, Mr. Haas. Do you have a carriage I can rent?”

Haas shook his head. “Nope, sorry mister, all my rentals are out, and Fritz here just bought my last horse. Can you wait til tomorrow?”

“Afraid not, I need to get to Virginia City right away.”

Fritz finished reading the bill of sale and slipped it into his pocket. He eyed Henry. “I might could use help with the load to Virginny, if you don't mind puttin's some work in.” His eyes crinkled as he looked at Haas. “You never know, this old swayback might not be able to pull the load over Geiger.” Haas glared at Fritz.

Henry shifted back and forth on his feet, weighing his options. He sighed, “I guess I have no choice. I'll ride with you, Mr. Fritz. When can we leave?”

“Soon as you hitch up this old mare, young feller.” Fritz grinned.

Once in harness, the mare quickly pulled the wagon out into the desert, making for the Geiger road. The eastern slope of the Sierras rose up in front of them as they approached the entrance to the toll road. They were greeted by an attendant as they stopped. He looked at Henry.

“The toll is two...oh, it's you, Fritz.”

“Yep, takin' another load to Virginny.” He tossed two silver eagles to the attendant, then snapped the reins. “I'll give you yer cut on the way back.”

The attendant waved as the wagon began to climb the grade and shook his head. “Poor young fella.”

Geiger road twisted between the boulders and scrub. Their pace slowed as the mare struggled to pull the load up the steep grade.

“Might have to get out here, young feller, and do some pushing. Knew this old swayback wouldn't make it. She's ain't even worth twenty.”

Fritz and Henry climbed out of the buckboard and began to push from behind. Fritz moved to the front and snapped the reins to keep the mare moving. The boxes began to slide towards the back of the wagon as the grade increased. They teetered on the edge as Fritz urged the mare on.

Sweat began to stain Henry's shirt as he pushed the wagon uphill. “Hey, Fritz, can we stop a minute? It looks like we need to tie these boxes to the wagon, they're about to slide out.”

“I reckon so, young feller.” Fritz pulled on the reins and the mare halted. He rummaged around under the seat of the wagon and withdrew a length of rope. “This should do it.”

Henry wiped his face with a kerchief then pushed the first box back up to the front, while Fritz secured it to the seat. The second box was rather heavy and Henry grunted as he wrestled it into position. “What's in here, Fritz, gold bars?” Henry fanned himself with his hat as he leaned against the wagon, while Fritz secured the second box. He began to lift the lid to peek inside. Fritz slammed it shut and smiled. Henry pulled back his hands, just avoiding smashed fingertips.

“Hee hee. That's the personal property of Dr. F Rankin of Virginny City. Don't be lookin' in there.” He grinned as the covered the box with the tarp and secured it to the seat as well. Fritz shielded his eyes as he looked towards the horizon. “Oughta get going if we're gonna make Virginny before dark.”

Henry had barely regained his seat when Fritz snapped the reins. The wagon lurched forward and he lurched backwards, landing on the board with a thud. Fritz snickered as the mare strained at the load once more. The pair rode in silence for two miles, then Fritz brought the wagon to a halt just before a hairpin turn. He stood up, scanned the road and whistled. Henry turned left and right, searching for whatever it was Fritz was looking for.

“You know this area, Fritz? Have you hauled on this road much?”

Fritz sat back down and took a chaw of tobacco from his pocket and bit off a chunk. He offered some to Henry, who waved it off. “I worked for a couple of lines before running the Virginny City route. Got a little hot around here, so I started doing private work for Dr. Rankin.”

“Hot?” Henry wiped his neck. “Well, it's a desert --”

Laughter echoed from the rocks as Fritz grinned at Henry. “I mean t' other kind of hot. You know why we're sittin' here?”

Henry shook his head.

“We're coming up on Robbers Roost. I sit here so they can see it's me. Got held up once hauling for the Doc, but they didn't like what I was carrying.” Fritz laughed to himself at the memory. “They don't bother me anymore. Doc's stuff ain't of value to them, so they let me pass unmolested.” A long whistle floated down from the rocks. “We can go now.” He snapped the reins. The road winded up the grade for a while more. They reached the summit as the sun began to set. About a mile from their destination, Fritz pulled off the road.

“Why are we stopping here, Fritz?” Henry fanned himself. “I can see Virginia City's lights from here.” He looked around as the shadows lengthened. “Don't know as I'd like to stumble around out here in the dark. One wrong step and who knows what could happen.” He shivered as he peered over the side of the road into a chasm several hundred feet deep.

“Resting the old swayback. She's done tuckered out” He spat tobacco at a bug sitting on a rock. “Missed,” he snorted. “Need to re-adjust the load.”

Fritz climbed in the back of the wagon and untied the first box. He set the lid aside as Henry watched. It was empty. “Gonna need your help with the items in Doc's box, young feller. Climb back here and give me a hand.” Henry entered the back of the wagon, intent on satisfying his curiosity concerning the contents of the box, as Fritz reached under the seat.

Henry bent down and lifted the lid off the box, looked inside and shot up straight. “What the--” A crowbar came down on Henry's head, and he fell over in a heap on top of Dr. Rankin's box.

Fritz rolled Henry into the open box and secured the lid. He replaced the lid on Dr. Rankin's box, and covered both with the tarp. He climbed into the seat and snapped the reins. “Looks like curiosity got the cat again.” He snickered as the mare began the final descent to town.

Darkness enveloped the desert as the wagon rolled up to a lonely house nestled in the rocks just outside of town. Fritz jumped from the wagon and tapped on the door. A light appeared in the window a few seconds later, then the door creaked open.

“Ah, Fritzie, you haf somezing for me, ja?”

“Sure do, Doc. There's a fresh one in the left box and a not so fresh one in the right. Thought you'd might like both.”

The two men carried the boxes from the wagon and placed them inside the house in a back room. The doctor reached into his pocket and pulled out some coins, dropping them into Fritz's hand. “This is so much easier than in the old country. I can engage in experiments here without interference. Are you having any trouble supplying my needs?”

“Nah, Doc. I can always dig up something somewhere.”