LITTLE CREEK DISPATCH April 1880 EXTRA! EXTRA! Read All About It!

Town almost flooded. USGS Came to Town to Shoot Water Tower and Tie Long Saddle Shoppe Moved and Buck Board on the way

Howdy folks, I hope y’all dried right nice following the unseasonably heavy spring rains that been fallin in Little Creek and the surround’n areas and none of yer live stock was washed away.  I tell ya, a few a my chickens thought they was ducks for awhile there but the Oasis has recovered and the chicken coop is mostly dry now.  That little creek that runs through town swelled to be a BIG creek and darn near washed the town away.  I was think’n we might need to change the name of the town to Middle of da Creek or Down the Creek on a count’a I thought the town was a go’n down the creek.  Fortunately the town is still a stand’n right where it was the last time you saw it and most all that water is gone just leaving a little mud behind and a whole lotta green grass and happy cows.  About the worst thing that come of it was the practice shoot scheduled for the 4th Saturday of March was cancelled, remember now, Little Creek is open for practice shoot’n every 4th Saturday of the month with the big club shoot on the second Saturday.  Fact is any Coyote Valley Cowboy or SASS Cowboy can come practice any time Coyote Valley is open.  If there are three or more of ya, yer gonna need an RO1 witch ya.  If you don’t got an RO1 of your own, one can be provided with a little advanced notice.

Like I said, none of da town washed away but a few things did git moved.  Ol’ Sherriff Bad Eye got a wild hair and called in some favors.  He had town’s members pick up and move that old water tower and Tie Long’s Saddle Shoppe too.  No one really knows why Bad Eye wanted that stuff moved, just that he told people to move it and they did.  Nobody dares cross’n Ol’ Bad Eye.  I guess Mayor Tom was fine with it cuz I saw him in town Saturday and he didn’t look none too upset.  No sooner had Bad Eye moved that stuff when in come a whole bunch a Uncle Sam‘s Geological Surveyors and they thought that hole in the middle of town between the Bank and the Saloon would be great place to deposit lead.  I guess they had no gold to deposit in the Bank.  Town folks say once they started shoot’n they didn’t stop for 5 whole days.  They shot so long and so hard they left 4 or 5 big scars right there in the side of the hill behind main street.  No one knows what those boys got so upset about but Bad Eye finally run ‘em off and Mayor Tom don’t spect to see them back for another whole year.  Guess word is out, if’ns ya need to do some shoot’n, the Town of Little Creek in the Coyote Valley is the place to come, just talk to Mayor Tom first.

Town filled up again this past Saturday and Bad Eye was form’n posses.  The Stage show’d up jus on time as usual and every one checked in at the sheriff’s office as they should.  On my way over to check in I tripped on some fence rails that were delivered fer those corrals that still need build’n.  I guess Jose ain’t found no post holes fer sale yet, least not none he wants to buy.  I reckon them corrals will git put up sooner or later, I just don’t recommend hold’n yer breath or y’all might turn blue.

Two posses formed up right quick and Bad Eye called a meet’n by 9:15 am.  Some 37 cowboys and cowgirls showed up to shoot and shoot we did.  I’s was feel’n like a ceeelebrity cuz Tie Long asked me to lead one of them posses while he lead the other.  The Missus, Texas Gunshow, stayed home with the young’ns this month on a count’a the boy is playing that new pastime they call baseball so I’s free to work fer the Sheriff.  We all shot four stages and if’ns things went real bad fer ya on one stage or another, the town folks were good enough ta give ya a do-over.  There must have been some sort of other ceeelebrity there named Mr. Mulligan cuz everybody kept say’n his name.  Seems like they would call him by name when things didn’t go too well when they was shoot’n.  I think his brother or cousin was there too cuz I heard some people call’n fer Moe Betta Mulligan.  I’ll have ta ask da Sheriff bout these Mulligan fellas next time I see him.  I’ll git back ta ya on that.  There was a lotta new shooters there just a shoot’n right alongside the rest of us.  Sure is a friendly place.  It was a beautiful day for throwing lead and each target rang out loud and clear when ya hit it.  I don’t know where they kept come’n from but every time someone would walk through Levi’s Livery a pigeon would fly outta da loft almost on command.

If’ns ya got a spare buck board or something of the sort, let Ol’ Bad Eye know cuz he’s a look’n fer something to fill that hole he made on Main Street before someone else comes along and thinks it’s a good place to start shoot’n.

‘Til next month Pards just remember Ta Keep Yer Powder Dry, specially wit all that rain!

Bobcat Brian-D

HOWL AT THE MOON — Chapter 4 DEFENDING THE GOLD AND LITTLE CREEK

When Bobcat got home he filled the family in on what was taking place in Little Creek. Twister got so excited he grabbed his shoot'n irons, saddled his horse and was ready to go. Bobcat told him it would be a few hours before they headed back to town and that he should take a nap, it would pay off later. Twister couldn't sleep, not with the potential of being on a posse protecting Little Creek from villains such as Frisco Bob. Twister had never met Frisco Bob but his Pa and Jack Rojas had talked about him around campfires where Twister had listened with big eyes.

Bobcat Brian rode back into Little Creek at daybreak with Texas Twister in tow. Twister was only ten years old. He wasn't accustomed yet to riding all night and had not learned how to take cat naps while trusting his horse to take him where he needed to go. Instead he fought falling asleep as long as he could until he fell, humped over the saddle horn, fast asleep. It had been the longest night of his life.

"Let me take the horses to Levi's Livery and get them settled. Why don't you take the boy in the mine and let him sleep, he's about had it." Bobcat said as he rode up to Coyote Mann who was nervously standing in front of the bank waiting for Bobcat to return.

"Where's Crap Shoot, is he coming?" Coyote Mann questioned anxiously.

"He'll be along, Coyote Mann, don't worry. Just lay the boy down, he's had a hard night." Bobcat spoke slowly and calmly now as he does when trying to ease a colt under saddle for the first few rides.

After dropping the horses at Levi's Livery Bobcat walked back to the bank. Crap Shoot was there now along with Springfield Slim. "Where's Filthy Phil?" Bobcat questioned.

"He's waiting in the Mine." replied Coyote Mann, "We should get in there too and fill everyone in on what's happened."

"What about the sheriff?" Bobcat asked directly. Now he was going through a checklist in his mind.

"He's more nervous than I am! He's in the Mine also waiting to deputize us." Coyote man commented while lifting his signature hat to wipe his brow with a well worn bandana.

"Well, let's git going then.", Bobcat urged them all as he put his hand on Coyote's shoulder to help him understand that everything will work itself.
The four men headed to the mine where Sheriff Bad Eye Bobolu nervously waited with the remainder of the forming posse. Once everyone was inside, Bad Eye started by introducing himself as the Sheriff.

"We know you're the Sheriff Bad Eye." explained Springfield, "Can you please get to the details of why we are forming this posse?"

Bad Eye explained all about the good fortune Coyote Mann had found in the very hole they were now meeting in. He told them about the San Francisco Mint and how U.S. Grant himself was coming to deliver the gold. Then he cautiously revealed that Frisco Bob was most likely headed their way with two hired guns and intentions to take the gold no matter what. With that Bad Eye deputized the five men and one boy and christened them the Coyote Pack Posse. Next he instructed El Vaquero to hand out the badges. El Vaquero handed Coyote Valley Cowboys badge #6 to Coyote Mann, #12 to Bobcat Brian, #13 to Texas Twister, #60 to Filthy Phil and so on down the line until each man, now deputized by Sheriff Bob Eye Bobolu, wore the shiny silver star of the Valley of the Coyotes.

With nothing left to say, the sheriff and his deputy left the Mine, mounted up and headed south to rendezvous with the General and his Garrison.

Bobcat stepped into the doorway of the mine and faced the posse. With the now bright sunlight pouring in through the doorway, Bobcat appeared as just a dark silhouette facing the posse.

"Things will probably be quiet for awhile," Bobcat started, "I imagine Frisco Bob will make his move Friday night. I've never met Frisco Bob, but my cousin Jack Rojas has. Jack done run him outta Jim Town, but not before he heisted the Bank of Sonora and fleeced the gold fields of Columbia before that. It's been quite some time since that all went down and I'll bet Frisco Bob needs a new grubstake. I'm sure he's thinkin this is going to be an easy heist with the sheriff gone and just a few town folk left to defend the gold, but he's got another thing coming. Let's keep a low profile and not stir up the town. I imagine he'll make his move after the sun goes down so everybody be ready when night falls."

Wednesday and Thursday passed quietly without incident and the posse grew by two more members. Coyote Mann's son, Yoke, arrived Thursday afternoon along with his buddy Chaos Kid. The posse was more than happy to take on two new members as trusted as Yoke and Kayos. The posse members took turns sleeping during the day and all stayed awake at night. Friday mid-day Springfield Slim spotted a man with a white shirt, red vest and black coat make his way down Main Street. Behind him followed two rugged looking gunmen. All three eyeballed the bank pretty heavily as they rode past. Springfield Slim was on the porch of the Sheriff's office right across the street from the Bank. "Mornin Gents." he offered as they rode past. "Can I help ya find something or someone?"

"No thank you, Deputy," Frisco Bob offered back, "we's just passin through and thought we might spend a night of rest in this fine, quaint little town of yours. It looks like some thunder heads are buildin up and it might be nice to have a roof over our heads if they decide to open up."

"The saloon is right there next to the bank, they have some rooms upstairs." Slim commented. Filthy Phil had been inside the Sheriff's Office and saw Slim approach the strangers. He stepped out onto the boardwalk with his shotgun cradled in the crook of his right arm.

"Right next to the bank, that's nice Deputy, I think we will give it a go." Frisco Bob replied cordially.

"It's also right across the street from the sheriff's office, Frisco Bob." Slim's words cut like a knife. The three strangers had their backs towards the Deputy when the comment was made and the men just froze in place. Filthy Phil reached up with his left hand and cocked the mule ears of his shotgun slowly so no one could hear the clicks of the triggers setting.

Frisco Bob could sense the hairs standing up on the necks of Terrible Ted and Jail Bird Jay, even under their neckerchiefs. Both of his new outlaw partners seemed to stiffen as they had done that night on the Barbary Coast just before they drew those horse pistols. Frisco had too much riding on this job though and decided it would be best to act before they did.

"Deputy, I'm afraid you have me mistaken for someone else," Frisco Bob replied, " but I do believe we'll take your advice on the saloon across the street from the Sheriff's Office. Good day Deputy, don't let the rain get you." With that Frisco Bob nodded his head slightly to the left and down in a sign of "thank you" for the directions before all three rode on again.

Frisco Bob, Terrible Ted and Jail Bird Jay tied their horses up outside the saloon and went in for a drink. Springfield sat on the porch for awhile so as to not look too anxious. Filthy Phil stood behind him leaning against the wall still clenching his double barrel. Both Filthy Phil and Springfield Slim knew they had to let the rest of the posse know that Frisco Bob had made it to town and was now in the saloon with two additional gunmen. After about an hour, Springfield stood up and stretched, then slowly turned and walked into the sheriff's office followed by Phil. They woke Texas Twister up and told him to sneak out the back and make his way to the Coyote Den Mine where the rest of the posse was resting and let them know Frisco Bob and his two gunmen were in the saloon. Twister jumped up and did as he was told. He went out the back door and all the way down and around the Oak Coralls and back up to the Mine where he woke his Pa and the rest of the posse.

By this time the sky had grown dark with the thunder heads that Frisco Bob pointed out to Springfield. Soon the rain started to fall and the streets became muddy. This was odd weather for spring time in Alta California, it took Bobcat back to the time he had spent in Texas and up in the Rockies. It kind of gave everyone an odd feeling in the bottom of their gut.

"We need to get to Springfield and set up a plan." Crap Shoot said to break the silence.

"If it is all the same to you, I think I'd like to stay in this mine with the gold that's here." Coyote Mann replied.

"Chaos Kid and I will stay here with my father." Yoke added.

"That's good," Bobcat concluded, "Crap Shoot, Texas Twister and I will head to the Sheriff's Office and sit there with Springfield and Filthy Phil. We can keep a good watch on the bank and you three can protect the gold in the mine."

"How will we know if something starts to happen?" questioned Chaos Kid. As Chaos glanced over at Bobcat he could swear that he saw Bobcat's eyes light up.

"Don't worry, you'll know by the fire and smoke." he replied with a wry smile.

With that, the skies opened up and the rain fall hard. It came down in sheets with lightening flashing across the sky showing it's wicked, boney hands and thunder rolled through town shaking buildings and rattling the glass windows in the few stores. Crap Shoot, Bobcat and Twister used the rain as cover to make their way to the Sheriff's Office undetected by Frisco Bob and his crew.

So much rain fell, the little creek next to Main Street swelled until it overflowed and began to run right down the middle of town. Springfield was glad to see the other posse members. He wanted to know what the plan was and what to do next. Crap Shoot pointed out that the three gunmen had not broken any laws yet and nothing could be done until they did.

"Coyote Mann, Yoke and Chaos Kid have the mine covered and we can watch the bank from here." Crap Shoot explained. "Let's just sit tight and see what happens; the sun will go down soon."

Filthy Phil was worried about his friend, Coyote Mann, and the gold in the Mine. "The Gold in the Mine isn't even in a safe." Filthy Phil blirted out in a concerned voice. "I think I better go back to the Mine and help them protect that stash."

"That sounds fine. Why don't you stop by the saloon on your way and let them boys know you still have the scatter gun with ya." Bobcat replied. "That way they will think there's only Springfield left in this office."

Filthy Phil pulled on his slicker and headed across the street with the mule eared coach gun setting in his arms in the same manner as it did earlier in the evening. The rain was still coming down and the street was more like a river than a the middle of town. He walked in the saloon and made eye contact with each of the three strangers. Once again the tension grew and Frisco stepped in to avoid a gunfight before he could get his loot. "Evenin Deputy, we're glad we took your friends advice on the saloon." Frisco offered to ease the room. "Did ya git wet come'n over ta see us?"

The conversation was making Filthy Phil sick to his stomach so he decided to leave before he did something he regretted. He left through the front door, nodded towards the Sheriff's Office and headed to the Mine to help Coyote Mann protect his stash.

Shortly before sunset, the rain slowed then stopped, leaving the town with a fresh rinse and a muddy street. As the sky darkened, Frisco Bob, Terrible Ted and Jail Bird Jay made their move. They slid out the back of the saloon and made their way behind Spitfire Sam's vegetable cart between the buildings and all the way up to the side of the bank undetected.

El Vaquero built the bank with no back door so no thieves could slip in or out the back. This forced Frisco and his men to come out to the street and enter through the front door. Even though the sun had set and the light was fading, the Coyote Pack Posse could see the would-be thieves making their way to the front of the bank.

Springfield grabbed his 66 with its long octagonal barrel and said, "Now they're breaking the law." And he headed across the street shooting twice at the last two men as they scurried through the broken in front door of the bank.

He ran to the doorway firing in two shot bursts. When his rifle was empty, he turned and Crap Shoot tossed him a side by side. Springfield gave each man a double burst from the big shotgun in his hands. Springfield put so much lead into the bank it literally blew a hole in the back wall big enough for Frisco and his gang to escape the bank. After tossing the shotgun to Springfield, Crap Shoot freed his pistols from their holsters and fired double shots through the window at Frisco Bob and his gang.

Filthy Phil and Coyote Mann heard the ruckus and headed out of the Mine to get some of the action. They met Frisco Bob, Terrible Ted and Jail Bird as they rolled out of the back of the bank empty handed. Coyote and Phil rewarded the thieves with yet more gunfire as they hit the dirt behind the bank. Not knowing exactly where all the gunfire was coming from Frisco and his men drew their weapons and started firing crazily in all direction as they took off back towards the saloon thoroughly confused and bewildered. A wild ricochets caught Filthy Phil in the left arm. Unable to fire his long arms, Filthy Phil resorted to shooting his handguns with his right hand only.

A cloud of smoke engulfed the terrified, fleeing men as they headed towards the saloon hoping to find their horses and make an escape. Half way between the bank and the saloon Bobcat was waiting for them at the vegetable cart with his shotgun, rifle and pistols laid out in front of him loaded. There was so much smoke in the air that Bobcat couldn't actually see the men, it was just a cloud slowly moving towards him. When he heard one of the men call out, "Can ya see the horses yet?" Bobcat yelled back, "No horses for you, DAMMIT!" and proceeded to empty all of his weapons into the cloud as fast as he could shoot.

Frisco Bob, Terrible Ted and Jail Bird Jay realized they were out-gunned by this sleepy little town and decided to cut and run. The Coyote Pack reformed with all its members on Main Street. Choking from the smoke of the gunfight, Bobcat asked the posse if they had any ammo left. He instructed them to load any gun they could find and help him give Frisco Bob and his hired guns a DAMMIT send off. Each posse member loaded his rifle, pistols or shogun and lined up in front of the bank. With a nod from Bobcat they unloaded all at once at the fleeing thieves and gave them a resounding, "DAMMIT!"

With the immediate threat run out of town, Bobcat lead the posse back into the saloon where Coyote Mann bought several rounds of whiskey and beer for the Pack. The clinking of the piano keys could be heard up and down Main Street as Danville Dove sang everyone's favorite ballads throughout the night.
Frisco Bob and his henchmen had been run out of town and the gold was safe......for now, DAMMIT!

HOWL AT THE MOON — Chapter 3 A POSSE IS FORMED

Bobcat Brian settled with his wife and three kids on a small ranch and vineyard a half a day's ride southeast of Little Creek. They came to town weekly for Sunday Worship, to lay in supplies from one of the local mercantiles and to generally catch up on the goings on. With so much happening so fast in this little town, Bobcat founded the "Little Creek Dispatch" in order to chronicle the fast paced growth of Little Creek and the general good nature of its inhabitants. As with any small town paper, its publishing was not that regular.

Bobcat and Coyote Mann met one fall years earlier when they camped next to each other while hunting south of Coyote Valley. They enjoyed each other's company and remained good friends ever since. When Bobcat made it into town he would always take time to check in with Coyote Mann to see how things were going. If Coyote Mann was not in his blacksmith shop, Bobcat would walk on into the Coyote Den Mine looking for him. Most people stayed away from the mine on account of the gruff response Coyote Mann always gave when asked about his diggings.

One week Bobcat came into town on a Tuesday to fetch some flour and coffee from the General Store. After placing his order he had a few hours to kill so he swung by the Sheriff's office to say hi to Sheriff Bad Eye but he wasn't there, neither was Deputy El Vaquero. Bobcat checked his pocket watch to make sure it wasn't supper time yet. Finding it a little odd that the sheriff and the deputy were both gone in the middle of the day he headed over to see what Coyote Mann was up to. Coyote Mann wasn't in his shop either so Bobcat headed to the Mine next. The Mine was open so Bobcat walked on in. It had been quite some time since he had been inside the Mine and he was surprised at how deep it had gotten. He heard voices up ahead and could tell there was a lantern burning around the corner so he kept going. When Bobcat came around the large timber at a corner in the tunnel he ran into the back of Coyote Mann who dropped a cloth bag. When the bag hit the ground the side split open and gold dust spilled from it. The light of the lantern hit the gold and caused it to sparkle brilliantly. There was no mistaking what it was. Shocked to see the gold, Bobcat stood beside Coyote Mann speechless. "What's the matter wit you? Ain't ya seen gold before? And what the hell ya doing sneaking up behind me like that?" Coyote Mann barked as he recovered from the surprise of being run into.

Bobcat had to stop himself from instinctively drawing his sixgun down on the old trapper. Any other time on the frontier the use of such a tone would force him to use his guns to regain the proper respect but he could tell that Coyote Mann was nervous 'bout the Dust from the look on his face. "I ain't seen that much all in one place! I thought this old hole was worthless like most of the others." Bobcat said apologetically.

"You thought wrong, I guess." Coyote man snapped back.

Sheriff Bad Eye and Deputy El Vaquero appeared out of the shadows deeper in the mine. Trying to take it all in Bobcat questioned the three men in the mine, "Are y'all having a town meet'n in here?"
The Sheriff, El Vaquero and Coyote Mann all knew and trusted Bobcat but no one knew what to say next as the first sign of gold fever became apparent. Bad Eye and El Vaquero were relieved when Coyote Mann broke the silence.

"Let me explain Bobcat. I started this hole cause I was kind'a bored. I wasn't expecting to strike it big, but I guess I did. I wasn't more than 20 feet inta the hillside when I found color." he tried to explain through a dry mouth. "I been mining like the devil every night since. I just kept following the vein of gold and before I knew it I had enough to make me a bit nervous about get'n robbed. You know how this town has changed since the gold was first found down in the creek. Anyhow, RW Sloan's been let'n me cache my roadstake in the bank safe and I got quite a pile of it in there now. The vein seems to have run out now, but I got all this gold. I told the Sheriff 'bout it and he has arranged for the San Francisco Mint to take it. The problem is get'n it up there."

"Wow," Bobcat exclaimed as he continued to stare at the spilled gold dust, "what is your plan for get'n it all the way to San Francisco? There's a whole lotta trail twixt here and there, and gold is pretty damned heavy."

"I've been working with the Mint for the last few months trying to figure this out." the Sheriff offered. "They didn't take me seriously until I rode up there last month with a small sack of the find. I tell ya what, that sure got their attention. They contacted the US army and are sending General U.S. Grant and some of his troops to escort the gold all the way to San Francisco."

"U. S. Grant is coming here, ta Little Creek?" Bobcat sounded surprised. Unknown to these men Bobcat was a member of the Dammit Gang and the previous year he had answered the call of the Chip and rode down to Arizona Territory. Together with the rest of the Gang he helped run the Dooley Gang back to Texas. U.S. Grant was commanding the Arizona Rough Riders during that campaign and was in the Valley of the Sun at the same time as Bobcat Brian but Bobcat never had the chance to meet the famous soldier.

"Yes he is. He wants to see what all the fuss is about and see that the gold is delivered safely." replied the Sheriff.

"When's he coming?" asked Bobcat

"He arrives in Monterey, Thursday morning by rail. El Vaquero and I are riding out tomorrow morning to rendezvous with him and bring him to town."

With that, El Vaquero broke in, "I got a ranch about a day's ride south of here. Grant and his men are going to be pretty weary after all the distance they've come from Camp Founders Ranch in New Mexico. I figure we can make it to the ranch by Thursday night. We can muster a camp there and give the men a good meal and good night's rest. If we get back on the trail Friday morning we will be in Little Creek some time Friday night or worst case at first light Saturday morning. The problem is, who is going to protect the town with both me and the Sheriff gone?"

"Aw hell, I sure wish y'all had told me earlier about the bind you was in. I could have sent a wire to my cousin. I could have thrown down the chip and collected a hand full of DAMMITs to protect the town." Bobcat was still trying to collect his thoughts and put it all together.

"I don't want you to think I didn't trust ya, Bobcat, I just didn't want to tell anyone I didn't hafta. I ain't never had so much before so I never had so much to lose." Coyote Mann offered after thinking on his actions.

"Don't worried about it Coyote Mann, I ain't mad at ya, I'm just trying to figure out what we need to do next. How much gold is there?"

"Remember that safe I built fer RW Sloan? It's full!"

"It's FULL?" Bobcat exclaimed as he put a hand on each side of his face in disbelief.

"It's full and I got a small pile of it stored in the back of the mine." Coyote Mann continued, "I was showing Bad Eye and El Vaquero how much is in here when you found us."

Bobcat removed his hat and sat on piece of timber on the ground next to the earthen wall of the mine shaft. "Here's what we're going to do." Bobcat started, "We need to form a posse, but we need to do it quietly so's no one gets an idea of what's going on. I will send a wire to my cousin, Jack Rojas. He might be able to come down with some of the Hog Mountain Riders."

"Didn't you tell me you used to ride with them?" questioned Coyote Mann.

"I still do when they need me." Bobcat decided to clear the air. "You see, we all wear the DAMMIT Gang chip. Once you shoot with the DAMMITs after the sun has gone down and you swear to help whenever a DAMMIT throws down the chip, you are a DAMMIT. Jack and I shot with the DAMMITs for the first time over in Crumville clearing out Robbers Roost a few years back. I tell you what, I saw fire and smoke come outta guns like you never seen. Last year we lit up the night sky with our shoot'n irons with them DAMMITs again at Winter Range down in the Valley of the Sun and shot a tribute to our fallen leader, Lay Low Curly, God rest his soul." With that Bobcat bowed his head and tipped his Stetson briefly.

"Now I'll throw the chip down and send the wire to try and get some help. My only concern is that time is short. Jack Rojas and whomever he can find might not be able to get here before Friday night, maybe even Saturday morning. I'll also send a wire up to Shaniko Jack. I'm bettin he can muster a small posse of Sunnyvale Regulators to ride down." Bobcat was feeling better now that his mind was wrapping itself around the problem at hand, "Coyote Mann, you can trust Filthy Phil, can't ya? Let's bring him in. Who else do we trust?"

"Yeah, you're right Bobcat, we can trust Filthy Phil. Springfield Slim is another good man, I'd trust him with my life. I'm sure he will posse up for us. I can send word to my son, Yoke, it will take him a day or two to get here but he will come." Coyote Mann started to feel a little better now realizing he was not in this alone.

"El Vaquero, you and Bad Eye get ready for your ride, me and Coyote Mann will figure up a posse to stand guard in your absence." Bobcat then turned his attention towards the Sheriff. "Bad Eye, you can deputize us in the morning before you ride out. I promise you, we'll have enough guns with shooters behind them to run anyone outta this town who even thinks about goin near the bank or the mine. We'll drive them out with HELL's fire and smoke if nothing else.

"Alright Coyote Mann, I need to ride home and let Texas Gunshow know what's happening." Bobcat was now feeling the urge to get a move on. "At the very least I'll bring my boy back with me, Texas Twister. He wears the DAMMIT chip also. I think I can swing by Crap Shoot's place and get him to join us, and Kayos Kid also. I'll even try and get word to Draw Dead Dan but I am not sure if he is down here or up in the mountains."

"There's one more thing you need to know Bobcat," Bad Eye started with a concerned look on his face. "The folks at the Mint think word of the shipment has leaked out. One of the guards tied one on pretty good a couple of weeks ago and he was shoot'n his mouth off in the saloon about the General coming to bring a shipment of gold from some little valley to the south. They don't really know what sort of details were given but any are bad."

"Yeah, I'd say that's real bad!" Bobcat grew a bit concerned.

"There's more," Bad Eye continued. "Frisco Bob shot up a saloon on the Barbary coast along with two other fellows last Friday night. They've been seen headed south."

"All the more reason to contact Shaniko Jack, maybe he and the Regulators can cut them off on their way down if they haven't already passed through." Bobcat concluded.

From the mine Bobcat went straight to the telegraph office to get the right people coming. "I need to send a telegraph, NOW DAMMIT!" he said as he slammed his hand down on the counter with the DAMMIT chip in it.

Z-Shooter was the telegraph operator that day. She had never actually seen a DAMMIT chip before but she had heard of them. "Is that what I think it is?" she questioned.

"You're DAMM straight it is. You know about the chip?" Bobcat demanded.

"I've seen wires come through make'n mention of that chip. I-I wasn't sure they really existed?" the nervousness in Z-Shooter's voice was obvious.

"Well they do, and that's one. Now let's send a wire to Jim Town."

"JACK ROJAS STOP"

"JIM TOWN STOP"

"I'M THROW'N DOWN THE CHIP STOP"

"NEED HELP, BRING GUNS STOP"

"SEND HOGMOUNTAIN RIDERS STOP"

"LITTLE CREEK, COYOTE VALLEY STOP"

"BOBCAT BRIAN - DAMMIT STOP"

"I need to send one more wire, this one is going to Shaniko Jack in South San Francisco." Bobcat directed.

"SHANIKO JACK STOP"

"SOUTH CITY STOP"

"FRISCO BOB IS HEADING TO COYOTE VALLEY STOP"

"HE MEANS TO DO HARM STOP"

"HE'S TRAVELING WITH 2 HIRED GUNS STOP"

"STOP THEM IF YOU CAN STOP"

"ALSO, ASSEMBLING A POSSE IN LITTLE CREEK STOP"

"SEND GUNS TO HELP PROTECT LITTLE CREEK STOP"

"BOBCAT BRIAN STOP"

To be continued. . .