CHAPTER 8 

Clara was taken onto a train leaving Redstone.

Caleb rode after it.

Doc joined him.

Samuel stayed behind to gather the townspeople.

The train moved through the desert.

Caleb climbed aboard.

He found Clara.

Alive.

But guarded.

Pike was there.

He smiled.

“You’re becoming predictable.”

Caleb raised his gun.

“You took the wrong woman.”

Pike laughed.

“She’s leverage.”

“Against me?”

“Against everyone.”

Pike revealed the truth.

The railroad wanted the land.

But underneath Redstone was a military supply tunnel.

Gold had been stored there during the Civil War.

Pike had found records proving it.

The railroad wasn’t building a route through town.

It was building a tunnel into the treasure.

Clara stared.

“How many people did you kill for gold?”

Pike looked at her.

“Gold is only useful if nobody knows where it came from.”

Caleb said:

“You’re finished.”

Pike smiled.

“No.”

The train began slowing.

“We’re going to the tunnel.”

Pike stepped backward.

Then disappeared.

Caleb freed Clara.

But the train was heading toward a dead-end canyon.

Doc looked outside.

“We need to jump.”

Caleb stared.

“You’re enjoying this.”

Doc coughed.

“More than you.”