Double-crossed at Cactus Flats: An Up2U Western Adventure
All morning it has felt as if someone was after us Archer said I haven’t seen anyone but I think someone wants to do us in Bull nodded Lots of men would want to he said Any prospector would give his right arm to find what we did at our claim And many of them wouldn’t think twice about killing us for it Archer looked back again Can we eat when we get to town he asked Only if you can find a way to eat for free Bull replied I don’t have a dollar in my pocket yet but I’ve got a million in my heart This silver will make us rich How can you be sure Archer asked These hills are studded with gold and silver Why would the mining company pay you to find it for them Bull reached into his pocket and pulled out a round nugget of silver ore He held it up
between the thumb and a finger of his non injured hand Then he closed one eye This is the purest ore I’ve ever seen Bull said With most ore you get a 1,000 worth of silver from a ton Maybe 2,000 if you’re lucky Bull nodded to Archer He put the silver nugget back in his pocket then he smiled I’d stake my life that this here ore is worth 15,000 a ton Maybe more That would buy a lot of food And much much more Archer scanned the desert The dusty hills had a purple tint Mesquite bushes and sage plants dotted the landscape Not far off the adobe buildings of Cactus Flats shined in the sun That spot was empty just three years ago Bull said Nothing but desert Nothing Now
there’s a hundred buildings and more being built All because of the gold and silver Archer nodded He’d never been to Cactus Flats He hadn’t seen a town that big since leaving home A smart man can get very rich out here Bull said But if he’s not careful he can soon be very dead He laughed We’re the smart ones Let’s go get rich Suddenly Bull stopped smiling He turned and scanned the hills behind them Then he spurred his horse and took off Let’s go boy he shouted Archer spurred Shadow What is it he called We’re not alone after all Bull yelled Don’t you slow down until we reach Cactus Flats
NO CREDIT Archer hopped off his horse outside the Cactus Flats Mining Company The office was on the street level of one of the few two-story buildings in town It was between the Golden Eagle Cafe and the sheriff’s office The street wasn’t busy Most of the men were working in the mines at this hour And there weren’t many women or children in Cactus Flats Do you think someone’s onto us Archer whispered Bull spit a big wad of goo into the dusty street Looks like that might be possible he said I finally caught sight of a couple of outlaws back there It might have been a coincidence that they were nearby But maybe not
