I reckoned it was the blood that drew the wolves. They normally don’t fool around with men, but with the blood scent in the air they figure there are weak or dead folk around.  Winter time, and they’re just looking for an easy meal; kinda like a boarder waiting for his hash in one of them boarding houses.
    “Lucas, why don’t you go with Charlie and round up some buckets.  I’m goin’ for a meander in the woods,” I suggested to him as his eyes were still wide with fright every time one of those wolves would send up a howl.  From the sound there must be more than a half dozen.  He and Lucas headed on up to the car looking first there and then on to the caboose.
    “Theo, I’m goin’ straight out, and then veer to the right.  Did Charlie tell you his horse was shot?” I asked.
    He looked shocked.  “After the explosion?”
    “Right after the explosion and he made sure that Marta was alive, he came out of the car to survey the damage.  Someone took a shot at him,” I gazed around and pointed, “most likely from over in that bunch of rocks.  I’m goin’ there to take a look.”
    “Be careful; I’ll go check on those inside the canvased-off area.  See if they have enough fuel for the night; get some of the men to go out and gather,” he paused, then continued.  “It’s gonna be cold since the snow stopped.  Reckon it’ll get close to zero or below.”
    “Better make sure they go in twos and carry weapons; those wolves are gettin’ right friendly.  You might consider putting fires in four corners and the people inside them.  It’ll keep them warmer, but it will take a bunch of wood.  Also might keep the wolves at bay.”
    I moved slowly toward the rocks that was probably a little over fifty yards away.  I doubted if I would see any tracks since the snow, but a person never knows what might pop up.  Theo was right about one thing; it was cold.  I knew I could count on him; he was an old-timer who’d seen his share of troubles.
    Going to the rocks I tried to picture myself in a position to fire on the train.  I went to different places in the rocks.  I would get myself in position and try to imagine what happened.  There was one spot where a person had a clear view of the last door on the passenger car and the baggage car.  It made me think that he could have been the one to detonate the dynamite at this spot.  As I pulled myself up two unexpected things happened.  I looked down and there was a spent .44-40 cartridge and then I got a whiff of smoke.
    Following my inclinations I tried to figure on where the smoke might be coming from and headed off in that direction.  I walked careful and easy.  It was so cold that the snow was crunching under my feet.  I didn’t want to go too far, but when I picked up another nose-full I kept going.  I had walked maybe a half-mile and then I saw it, down in a little cleft between rocks was a fire.  I couldn’t see the flames as the rocks were covered with a canvas, but the glow was showing.  
    It was getting on toward dark, and I didn’t want to be out here in the dark, plus the fact that my toes were getting cold.  I waited and then I heard a howl off to my right and a commotion.  A man was running–chased by a wolf.  I watched him getting closer to the fire and then he stumbled and fell.  The wolf was upon him, tearing at him.  I was taking aim at the wolf when from the far side another joined in the fray.  He was screamed as the wolves were ripping at his flesh, trying to get at the soft underparts where the body organs lay.  
    I fired, hitting one of the wolves and it fell off whimpering.  The other wolf sorta jumped, but then went back after the man.  Then a shot came my direction from the campsite.  Turning my attention in that direction I unleased several shots, and heard a grunt.  Slowly I moved toward the fire; I heard nothing from the man who had been attacked, only the snarling of the wolf and ripping of flesh.
    “Comin’ in!” I hollered.  “Any movement and I’ll start shootin’ again.”  All I heard was a groan.
    As I entered the little canvas lean-to I saw a man laying on the ground, bleeding from where my bullet had found his stomach.  There was fear in his eyes.  “Don’t let those wolves have me, please.  I know I’m dyin’, but I don’t want to be torn apart.”
    “Start talkin’.  Got a name?”
    “Clem Ebert, the fella out there is my brother, Silas,” he moaned, in pain and in fear.  “They got him, didn’t they?”
    I nodded and said, “Yep, I tried to help, but you started shooting at me and made me take my attention from him.”
    His eyes widened.  “I killed my brother,” he started crying.  “You won’t leave me to the wolves?  You’ll bury me!”
    “I’ll stay until you’re dead.  Tough life, livin’ on this side of the law.  Tell me, Merker behind this?”
    “Yes,” he groaned.  “I’m thirsty.”
    “You better be makin’ your peace with the Almighty.”
    His eyes widened further, “Too late.”  He clutched at his stomach.
    “Never too late until your dead,” I urged.  Then came the sounds of the wolves, howling and I could hear them outside the canvas…

Boy, you’d just be a tasty morsel for them wolves,” joked Burnett as Lucas stepped up on the train.
    His eyes widened and he jumped the last two steps into the car.
    “Miles, what’s wrong with him?” asked Burnett as Molly stepped aboard.  “I was only joshin’ him.”
    “For some reason he’s deathly scared of wolves.  Take it easy on him,” I replied.
    Theo clasped me on the back.  “Sure didn’t mean to be upsettin’ him.”
    As I entered the car Lucas was kneeling on a seat, looking out the windows.  Molly was moving through the car looking for Charlie and Marta.
    “Lucas,” I said standing behind him.  “Marshal Burnett was just kiddin’ with you.”
    “Miles,” came the voice of Molly.  “Back here.”
    I hustled on back toward the end of the car.  There were some hurt folk in there, maybe a dozen.  It made me wonder how many were killed in the explosion.
    Molly was stooped down and bent over Marta.  “Hey there, Miles,” Charlie said softly.  
    Reaching over I touched the side of his face where he had a nice gash.  “You need to get this sewed up Charlie.  Hurt anywhere else?”
    He stood up while Molly was checking Marta.  “Here,” he pointed to his side.  “I was shot.”
    “Shot!” I exclaimed.  “I thought it was an explosion.”
    “Someone was out there waiting,” uttered Charlie.  “They seemed to know who I was.”
    I looked down at Marta.  “How’s she doin’?”
    “Not sure; we need a doctor,” he paused, then sighed.  “I don’t even know if one’s on the way or not.”
    Molly stood up next to me as Theo also came up bringing Lucas with him.  He nodded at me to reassure me that everything was all right between him and Lucas.
    “Theo, do you know Sheriff Gold?”  
    “I know him now; didn’t know he was a sheriff though,” replied Theo.
    Molly interrupted my introductions.  “Her pulse is strong, but she’s hurt.”
    “The explosion was a couple of seats in front of us.  It threw her up over me.  I think she hit her head on one of the seats behind us,” he answered nervously.  “I can’t seem to keep her conscious.”
    “She must have what Doc Jones is callin’ a concussion,” I offered.  “Is she sick to her stomach?”
    Molly grabbed hold of Charlie’s hand.  “Her arm is for sure broken, and maybe a couple of ribs.  I…I don’t know if there are any internal injuries.  Has she regained consciousness at all?”
    “Now and then.  I try to get her to drink some but water is scarce,” he said.  “There is water down the ravine in a creek, but it’s quite a haul.  I thought about going down, but I don’t want to leave her.”
    “Charlie, I’m going to see if I can round up some buckets.  Since Molly’s here now, we can make a trip to the creek.  I imagine there’s others thirsty.”
    “I will help!” Lucas informed us.  Just as he said that, a wolf let loose with a howl.”  Lucas cringed, but stood firm with a fierce look in his eyes.
    Turning to Theo I asked, “How many dead?”
    “Five, they were sitting right over the blast.  Miles, I just can’t figure it.  There was nothing on this train worth taking,” he answered shaking his head.
    “I don’t understand it either, but I think it was to get revenge on me.”
    “You!” he exclaimed, “why you weren’t even on the train.”
    Pointing at Charlie then to Marta, “But a couple of close friends were.  Theo, did you know that Charlie was shot?”
    He jerked his head and roared, “I had no idea!  Do you think they’re still lurking?”
    Shrugging my shoulders I suggested, “Theo, see if you can find some buckets and we’ll make a trip to the creek before dark.  While you’re a-doin’ that I’m gonna take a look-see out there.  Lucas, you stay here with Charlie until I get back.
    “Miles,” said Molly grasping my coat.  “You be careful!”
    Givin’ her one of my winsome smiles, “Aren’t I always?”
    The wolves began to howl as I turned to walk out of the car…

They’re still following us,” cried Lucas.
    He was speaking of the wolves.  Since the day we left camp after the storm, the wolves had stayed on our trail.  I caught a glimpse of them a time or two, but they kept their distance and didn’t try to come into camp at night.  I thought we might be getting a blizzard, but it snowed only a few inches and the wind had dropped.  It was cold, most definitely around zero, and once in a while there would be a little flurry.
    “Are they after us?” he said again, worried.
    “Don’t be worryin’ about them wolves.  They are just followin’ us ’cause they know that where men go there might be food of some sort.  They aren’t anxious to be takin’ on our guns.  Now, if we were to leave one of the horses to fend for himself, there would be a fight.  The horse might win, but that would depend on how many wolves there were.”
    “I’m sorry, Senor Miles, I know it is not right to be scared,” he whimpered, looking in all directions.
    “Who told you that?” I asked.  I kept my gaze forward.  It was white everywhere and we were following the rails.  We were moving slow as I didn’t want any of the horses to misstep on a rail or one of the ties.  
    I turned my face toward Lucas to answer him.  “Lucas, my boy, there’s been plenty of times that I’ve been scared.  A few times scared out of my wits.”
    “You’ve been afraid?” he asked astonished.
    “Many times, but a man has to keep goin’.  He has to take action, depend upon his skill, and the hand of the Lord.”
    “Miles!” Molly exclaimed interrupting us.  “There is the train.”
    The wreck was visible across the ravine.  We would have to stay on the tracks so it was about twice as far as it looked.  We should be there in about twenty minutes.  “Ride easy, we’ll get there.  No need to hurt the horses here at the end because we got in a hurry.”
    Now I became more wary.  There may be another type of wolves hanging hereabouts.  As we approached, the engine and wood car were on this side of the destroyed rails.  One of the passenger cars was about half destroyed.  The other was unharmed.  It was fortunate that the train wasn’t thrown over into the ravine.  It wasn’t steep, but it would have made it much worse.
    As we approached there was some activity and then a man started walking toward us.  It was Theo Burnett, U.S. Marshal from the Santa Fe area.  I had met him a couple of times, but didn’t really know him.
    We had to dismount to lead the horses the horses across where the explosion took place.  As we got on the other side, Burnett said, “Well, Marshal Forrest, I’m surprised to see you here.”
    “Looking for a friend,” I replied.  “He was supposed to be on this train coming home from his honeymoon.”
    He let his head drop a little; not a good sign.  “We have the dead back in the baggage car along with the severely wounded.  There are some wounded in the passenger car,” pausing he turned and pointed toward a tent.  “It’s been really cold.  There’s a little stove in the baggage car, one in the caboose and we kept a fire going in the tent.”
    “Theo,” I interrupted, “you didn’t tell me where my friends are.”
    “Follow me,” he said and started walking back.  Past the wreck, past the passenger car, and then he tapped on the baggage car.
    The door slid open wide enough for a person to get in or out.  Burnett grabbed my arm, “They’re alive and in there,” he paused looked at Molly and Lucas.  “She’s in bad shape.”
    At that time, up above us in the heavier timber came a mournful howl.  “The wolves!” Lucas exclaimed.

Lucas and Molly met me at Foster’s store where I purchased supplies for the trek.  I was able to rent a pack mule from Clem Vexler who said it was a dependable animal.  It was about a week’s trip, but I could get supplies along the way if needed.  What I had to carry with me was something in case the weather turned bad which it could easily do this time of year.  
    I stopped by the telegraph office to talk with Stan one more time before heading out.  He had received more information.  The rails had been blown just north of Chama and about twenty miles west of Conejos.  The train itself had blown just east of Cumbres Pass.  
    We were making good time.  I resupplied food in Pagosa Springs, and went to see if there was an update.  Nothing else had been reported so we didn’t stay around town, though I was tempted to stay at a hotel there.  Molly was hanging in there good, but Lucas seemed tired.  It was probably due to his youth and the stress he was feeling about his sister.  It’s strange how the unknown plays on one’s mind.  If they made it through the explosion I wasn’t worried that Charlie couldn’t take care of the situation, for he was a capable man.  I was just praying that they were alive and had no serious injuries.  
    That night we camped just south of the Rio Blanco River.  I noticed during the day that the clouds were building up.  It was beginning to concern me that we might get one of those snows that come up from the south.  They were unusual, but when they did come they tended to dump plenty of snow.  We would come out of the timber above a little village called Chromo which I figured was about twelve miles from camp.
    Lucas had the fire going, so I put the coffeepot on to boil.  I didn’t get in the way of Molly fixing up supper.  While she was doing that I rigged up a tarp I had purchased in Durango for the evening.  It had been cold the past couple of nights, but clear.  Tonight I wasn’t so sure.  I sent Lucas out to gather plenty of firewood and told him to place it under a large blue spruce.
    How she does it, I don’t know.  We had stew, biscuits and she had hidden away some canned cherries with which she made some fried pies.  
    “They sure sound mournful,” stated Molly in regard to the sound of the coyotes.  “Makes me shiver.  Why did you put up the tarp tonight, Miles?”
    “Just bein’ careful,” I replied.
    “Snow?” she questioned with concerned.  “That’s why you had Lucas gather more wood.”
    “Not concerned with snow.  But it’s so still now; kinda like the calm before the storm.  What I don’t want to hit is a full-fledged blizzard.”
    The howling continued.  “Those coyotes,” she said with a chuckle.
    “Not coyotes this time–wolves,” I interjected.
    Lucas’ eyes widened and he exclaimed, “Wolves!”
    “We’ll be okay, don’t you be worryin’,” I assured him.
    He got up to look around, then timidly began to clean up the area.  “Why don’t you go gather some more wood, just in case it does come a good snow,” I urged.
    Looking at me, he hesitated.  He looked all around the camp, and then sputtered, “But there are wolves out there.”
    “Lucas,” said Molly sternly, “this is not like you.”
    I could see he felt shame, but also seemed genuinely scared.  “Let me finish my coffee and I’ll go with you.  We’ll see if there isn’t a tree down that we can pull to camp.”
    That seemed to satisfy him.  Reaching for my cup I said, “Did I ever tell you of my experiences with wolves?  It happened about six years ago, if I remember right.  Remind me, and I’ll tell you how they attacked me.”
    Well, that was the wrong thing to say.  “Attacked you?”
    “So, what about Marta and Charlie?” interjected Molly quickly changing the subject.
    I poured another cup of coffee, emptying the pot.  “I want to make another one to keep one warm during the night.  They’re alright,” I said assuredly.  “The Lord has His hands on them, but I’m sort of ashamed of myself.”
    “Miles,” she said with concern.
    “All I’ve done is think about Charlie and Marta.  What about others that were on the train?  Others that were maimed or killed because of…of Merker.”
    The snow began to fall as I thought of Merker…in the distance the howl of a wolf began.