Free Devlin's Curse by Lady Brenda Page A

cigars.
    Esmeralda waved Jamie over to her table. She folded the hand she was playing and motioned for another dealer to take over. The noise and talk made by her patrons almost drowned out their voices. “Jamie I want you to get some men together and give them whatever they need to help those men down at the mine. A cave in is tragic business.”
    Jamie nodded. “Yes ma’am, right away”
    “And Jamie, wait a moment, who is the owner of the Gilded Bird mine?”
    Jamie shrugged his shoulders. “It’s that gambler, what’s come to town. Devlin Winter. He won the mine from John Anderson.”
    Esmeralda swayed and caught the back of a chair to steady herself.
    “You alright Ma’am?” Jamie asked.
    She nodded her head. “Yes.” Inside she felt as if the ground had shifted beneath her. Devlin! Could he be hurt from this or even killed? She handed her table to another dealer. “Belle, take over my table. I am going down to help with the cave in.”
    Esmeralda hurried out of the room and up the stairs. She needed to change into some more practical clothes. She removed her gown and replaced it with a plain cotton dress and then filled a carpetbag with medicines, bandages and whiskey. She’d already instructed Jamie to go into the kitchen with a large basket to gather up some food and water.
    Soon, laden with supplies, they walked down to C Street to the livery stable to find a wagon to take them to the Gilded Bird mine.
     
    When the dust settled, the Gilded Bird was plunged into the pitch black of a sepulchral tomb. Luckily, Devlin and Walking Ghost had nearly reached the entrance before the mine caved in. Heavy timbers used to brace the mineshafts had partially shielded them from being crushed alive. Their lanterns had all been shattered but Walking Ghost had fortunately brought along a couple of tommy sticks – candlesticks mounted on thin pointed spikes. He now fumbled in his pack for a candle stub and matches and lit them. When the feeble light flared, they looked around to see themselves surrounded by dirt, rocks and timber. They were walled in on all sides. The support timbers creaked ominously, pebbles dropped steadily down on them and there was scarcely enough room to turn around.
    Devlin was furious. He peered through the dust and gloom looking for Walking Ghost. When he appeared by his side he could see that his friend was pretty scraped up. Devlin himself was unhurt.
    “Are you alright?” Devlin asked.
    Walking Ghost rubbed the dirt from his eyes and nodded.
    “This has got to be a planned ambush. A situation that is almost funny my friend for what better way for an immortal to die than be buried alive” Devlin continued, “I blame myself for not seeing it beforehand.
    “They think we’re dead but we’re stronger that that. When we get out of here we will have to kill them.” Walking Ghost replied.
    Devlin nodded grimly. “I agree. Luckily, we were almost to the entrance when it caved in on us. We may be able to dig our way out. Big Jim and his hired guns had better pray for death, for death will be their reward when we get through with them.”
    Walking Ghost coughed. “ Death might not be enough if we are to fight against this new enemy, much like before”
    “ If it has a head it may be parted from it’s body, then sent back to Hell”
    Devlin said as he caressed the cold steel of his sword, and coddled it with a promise of fresh blood.
    His need for vengeance expanded like a flame inside of him one that he was sure would burn through the confines of the collapsed mine.
    Esmeralda’s face floated towards him in his minds eye. He could feel her thoughts piercing him like glass.  As Walking Ghost might say they were caught between the buffalo and the lance, powerless, waiting for a rescue that may or may not ever come.
    Something he refused to believe.
     
      Above ground, miners and engineers gathered around the collapsed entrance to the mine. A doctor and an undertaker were among the first