Callahan's Gold (Southwest Desert Series Book 3) Read Online Free Page B
Author: Mary Tate Engels
ourselves. By searching for it."
"Let's continue with the will, folks," Cliff said. " This map contains instructions for finding the treasure. Those of you who travel the trail past where Coronado's Peak can be clearly seen will share the wealth. The greatest reward of all rests at Pyramid. And that's where I want my ashes tossed to the sun ." Cliff paused and looked up. "That's all, folks. The strange last words of Sharkey Carsen."
There was a moment of awkward silence, not particularly in reverence but from the tension created by the promise of Sharkey's will. Gold!
Cliff sighed. "I must admit, folks, I've drawn up some unusual wills in my time. But this one ranks right up there with the lady who left her fortune to a monkey and the bequeathed macaw nobody in the family wanted. I ended up selling the damned thing myself. People get the craziest notions when they start making out wills. Do you know that one time a woman by the name of Lizzie wanted her ashes enshrined right behind this bar in a tin can so folks who came to Tombstone could have a drink and say hello to Lizzie in a tin?" He laughed raucously. "The owner of the bar refused because her tin can might rust."
"Cliff, please . . ." Dodge said.
"Does anyone know what all that stuff about the sun and the pyramid means?" Rex asked with a sneer.
"Well," Dodge motioned with one hand, "Sharkey always called people who searched for gold like himself sun seekers. He said it was a touch of the sun buried in the earth. So seeking the sun is looking for gold. And Pyramid is the name of a lost gold mining town. Supposedly, gold was found there several times over the last hundred years or so, but the mine claims were wiped out by Apaches each time, and nobody ever found the actual town again. Or the gold."
"Do you think Sharkey really found it?" Ramona asked softly.
Dodge shrugged. "Don't know. We uncovered an occasional vein of placer gold, but no mother lode. I've heard legends about this lost town of Pyramid, but who knows if they're true? Of course, Sharkey spent a lot of time in the mountains without me. I just went along when I had time or he needed me for something physical."
"I think old Sharkey went crazy toward the end," Rex asserted. "I just can't believe he found gold and didn't tell us."
"Looks like we'll just have to follow the map and see for ourselves," Dodge proposed.
"That's ridiculous. A waste of time and money. Is that it, Cliff? If so, I'll take my lucky pick and go," Rex muttered sarcastically.
"One more thing," Cliff said. "A toast. Heck, set us up, in Sharkey's honor. And he'll pay, by the way. Left a few bills."
Tory watched as the hefty bartender hurried over and poured everyone a shooter of Scotch. The look on his face was pure delight. He'd been privy to a tale that would entertain tourists for years to come. He would say it was just like the old days when claims of gold flew fast and furious across the old saloon's mahogany bar and people went to their graves with knowledge of secret locations. Of gold mines yet to be mined.
"Sharkey wanted everyone to drink a toast to the fun and good times we all shared. Then, Dodge, you're in charge of the ashes until such time as they can be scattered properly." Cliff raised his glass to the decorated Indian pot in the center of the table containing Sharkey's remains. "Here's to Sharkey Carsen, my friend and the best damn poker player in Cochise County."
The toasts went around the table. Dodge raised his glass. "Here's to Sharkey, a good and trustworthy man who was forever seeking the sun."
Rex offered, "To Sharkey. And to finding the gold he left behind."
"To Sharkey," Ramona murmured softly, "my love."
They all looked at Tory, and she returned their glares with an upraised chin. Her sleek, L.A. hair curled at her forehead, while the back clung damply to her nape. At the moment, she was only aware that it was damned hot and she had wasted her time and much-needed money in coming all the way to
"Let's continue with the will, folks," Cliff said. " This map contains instructions for finding the treasure. Those of you who travel the trail past where Coronado's Peak can be clearly seen will share the wealth. The greatest reward of all rests at Pyramid. And that's where I want my ashes tossed to the sun ." Cliff paused and looked up. "That's all, folks. The strange last words of Sharkey Carsen."
There was a moment of awkward silence, not particularly in reverence but from the tension created by the promise of Sharkey's will. Gold!
Cliff sighed. "I must admit, folks, I've drawn up some unusual wills in my time. But this one ranks right up there with the lady who left her fortune to a monkey and the bequeathed macaw nobody in the family wanted. I ended up selling the damned thing myself. People get the craziest notions when they start making out wills. Do you know that one time a woman by the name of Lizzie wanted her ashes enshrined right behind this bar in a tin can so folks who came to Tombstone could have a drink and say hello to Lizzie in a tin?" He laughed raucously. "The owner of the bar refused because her tin can might rust."
"Cliff, please . . ." Dodge said.
"Does anyone know what all that stuff about the sun and the pyramid means?" Rex asked with a sneer.
"Well," Dodge motioned with one hand, "Sharkey always called people who searched for gold like himself sun seekers. He said it was a touch of the sun buried in the earth. So seeking the sun is looking for gold. And Pyramid is the name of a lost gold mining town. Supposedly, gold was found there several times over the last hundred years or so, but the mine claims were wiped out by Apaches each time, and nobody ever found the actual town again. Or the gold."
"Do you think Sharkey really found it?" Ramona asked softly.
Dodge shrugged. "Don't know. We uncovered an occasional vein of placer gold, but no mother lode. I've heard legends about this lost town of Pyramid, but who knows if they're true? Of course, Sharkey spent a lot of time in the mountains without me. I just went along when I had time or he needed me for something physical."
"I think old Sharkey went crazy toward the end," Rex asserted. "I just can't believe he found gold and didn't tell us."
"Looks like we'll just have to follow the map and see for ourselves," Dodge proposed.
"That's ridiculous. A waste of time and money. Is that it, Cliff? If so, I'll take my lucky pick and go," Rex muttered sarcastically.
"One more thing," Cliff said. "A toast. Heck, set us up, in Sharkey's honor. And he'll pay, by the way. Left a few bills."
Tory watched as the hefty bartender hurried over and poured everyone a shooter of Scotch. The look on his face was pure delight. He'd been privy to a tale that would entertain tourists for years to come. He would say it was just like the old days when claims of gold flew fast and furious across the old saloon's mahogany bar and people went to their graves with knowledge of secret locations. Of gold mines yet to be mined.
"Sharkey wanted everyone to drink a toast to the fun and good times we all shared. Then, Dodge, you're in charge of the ashes until such time as they can be scattered properly." Cliff raised his glass to the decorated Indian pot in the center of the table containing Sharkey's remains. "Here's to Sharkey Carsen, my friend and the best damn poker player in Cochise County."
The toasts went around the table. Dodge raised his glass. "Here's to Sharkey, a good and trustworthy man who was forever seeking the sun."
Rex offered, "To Sharkey. And to finding the gold he left behind."
"To Sharkey," Ramona murmured softly, "my love."
They all looked at Tory, and she returned their glares with an upraised chin. Her sleek, L.A. hair curled at her forehead, while the back clung damply to her nape. At the moment, she was only aware that it was damned hot and she had wasted her time and much-needed money in coming all the way to
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