Kisses With KC (Cowboys and Angels Book 11)(33)

The moon was waning, but it was still plenty light to see by with the angel’s wings glowing around him. MayBelle looked to be walking as close to the rocks as she could. There was a good six feet between her and the edge of the cliff.

“Don’t be so nervous, MayBelle. What is it you think is gonna happen, anyways?” the miner asked.

MayBelle snorted and shook her head.

“Yeah, I remember that one man who fell off the cliff. It weren’t this cliff.”

MayBelle trotted forward and made a trumpeting noise.

“I knowed he fell into a river, and his head got cut up a mite.” The old prospector filled in the rest of the story for KC. “He slept about a week, but then he woke up.”

MayBelle whinnied and kicked her feet.

“Well, I know he never could talk again, but he weren’t dead.”

KC couldn’t help thinking that maybe, just maybe, he’d drawn the short stick in the guardian angel lottery. He hoped he’d make it through this intact.

“Ha! You and me both.” The angel laughed, and MayBelle nickered.

They finally reached the opening into the abandoned mine KC had seen the other day. The old prospector pushed his finger into several round holes drilled near the opening and looked around.

“What are those?” KC asked as he watched the angel.

“Holes for blasting powder,” the old miner said. He shook his head. “And there’s a lot of them scattered here abouts.”

“You gonna tell me what their for?”

“Nope. It ain’t part of the choices you have to make.” Then without another word, he led KC down into the mine. MayBelle followed behind them. In the middle of a passageway not far from the opening, the angel stopped. “This here’s their final resting place.”

KC saw two bodies thrown in the pathway. “Baldwin and Alpin?” he asked.

“For certain sure.”

“I still don’t know who killed them. I would need witnesses.” KC took his hat off and held it on his heart for a silent moment. “Least now they can get a decent burial. I’ll bring the undertaker out to get them tomorrow.”

“Oh, tomorrow won’t be a good day for him to come.” The angel folded his arms. “The day after that would be much better.”

KC gave the miner a sideways look, and MayBelle began to nicker.

“She says that you should just trust me on that one.” The miner reached down and picked up a rock. “This here mine has a fair amount of silver still for the taking.” He handed KC the rock. “Put that in your pocket.” Then he began to lead him back out. “There’s some nice turquoise down the back, too. I reckon the people native to this place started this cave first. That stone’s right pretty.”

KC looked at the walls without noticing anything special. “Was this your mine?” he asked, walking beside him.

“It was in 1859. I had a little cabin over yonder.” The miner took on a sad expression and shook his head. “The silver I mined is still mostly here. I toiled many a day, stockpiling my findings. Never got to cash ’em in. You know how that goes—you can’t take it with you.” The prospector’s voice took on a reverent quality on the last words, then he added, “Silver rocks or golden wings? I got the better of that deal.”

Mr. Anders showed up at the Turleys’ home early the next morning to see KC. He wasn’t given a warm welcome unless the man liked looking into the business end of several gun barrels. “I have a private matter to talk over with Mr. Murray,” he told Mr. Turley, but none of the rifles lowered. Mr. Turley did ask the women to go upstairs.

“Go ahead and talk,” Ellis said as soon as they’d left.

Mr. Anders surveyed the room. KC thought if Mr. Anders had an inkling of what this particular group of homesteaders knew, he might have brought bodyguards with him that morning or not come at all. “I received a message that you’d like to sell me your newly acquired homestead. Is that right?”

KC knew the message he’d sent to the railroad had gone through, and Mr. Anders had taken the bait. The angel stood in the corner of the kitchen behind Mr. Anders and pointed to KC’s pocket, then he mimed pulling the rock out of it several times.

KC’s hand fisted around the rock. He’d put it back in his pocket this morning when he got dressed. He pulled his hand out and opened his palm wide. The egg-sized rock of pure silver sitting on it as if it had been plucked right from the middle of a fat vein.

Ellis blew a low whistle, and Mr. Turley leaned closer to get a good look. Mr. Anders’ eyes widened momentarily, and KC could nearly smell the reek of greed on the man. When Anders reached toward it, KC pulled his hand away.

“That’s a good bit of convincing you have there,” he said. “I’m a mining man, and you have my undivided attention.”

“I’d be willing to sell if the price is right. What are you willing to offer?”

“Not one thing.”

KC’s stomach dropped. He’d hoped he had a worthwhile bargaining chip.

“You don’t expect me to buy it sight unseen. I’d need to verify that there is silver on your land. If that rock came from it, then we’ll talk.”

The angel spoke to KC. “Take him to the mine. You’ll need lanterns, but there’s plenty of silver to see. The man might be willing to turn over evidence about his partners and the murders to get that mine.”