Beneath a Dakota Cross Read Free

north country.”
    â€œI’m glad you’re going with my father, Mr. Big River Frank,” Dacee June said. “He’ll need someone to talk to.”
    â€œWell, he’s goin’ to have his pick.”
    â€œWhat do you mean by that?” Brazos quizzed.
    â€œGuess who I ran into down in Austin City last week?”
    â€œSanta Anna?”
    â€œGrass Edwards.”
    â€œGrass is in Austin City? I thought he was tryin’ a hand at prospectin’ out West.”
    â€œYep, he’s been in Nevada, but he’s back. I invited them both to go north with us,” Big River said.
    â€œBoth?” Brazos quizzed.
    â€œHe’s got a partner named Hook Reed. He knows minin’ claims like the back of his hand.”
    â€œMinin’ claims? Why do we need to know that? I’m lookin’ for a ranch, not minerals.”
    â€œUnless you inherited a bonanza I don’t know about, we need capital,” Big River reminded him. “If we’re goin’ to buy a place up north, we need money. We aren’t going to make a dime of profit drivin’ cattle for someone else. So I figured we’d find ourselves a gold claim and build up a little stake.”
    Brazos rubbed the sweat and grime off the back of his neck. “Where we goin’ to find gold? Every square inch of the West has been picked through.”
    â€œNot every place. This guy Hook Reed knows a man who was with General Custer last year in the Black Hills of Dakota. Said there was gold in the streams just waitin’ to be shoveled up and dumped into sacks.”
    â€œNothin’ is that easy.”
    â€œMaybe not, but this man, Hook Reed, has a map of the area and a gold strike marked right on it. It’s a sure thing.”
    â€œWhere’d he get such a map?”
    â€œWon it in a poker game down in Tucson.”
    Brazos rubbed his eyes, then stared across the light green hills. “I read in the newspaper that Custer said there wasn’t much gold in the Black Hills.”
    â€œWhat does the army know about prospectin’?”
    â€œWell, if you and I know about it, so do others. There won’t be any left on the ground when we get there.”
    â€œThat’s not true. Them hills is off-limits. It’s Sioux land. Most men are afraid to ride in there for fear of gettin’ scalped.”
    Brazos glanced down and could see worry in Dacee June’s eyes. “And just how are we goin’ to manage?” he probed.
    â€œOld Hook’s map shows a secret trail to get in followin’ draws and gulches without giving away our position.”
    â€œI’m not really lookin’ for a gold mine. I want a ranch,” Brazos reiterated.
    â€œWell, there ain’t no one in the world that is going to hand us one. We have to buy it, and we need money for that. So unless you plan on robbin’ banks, stages, or trains, we’re going to need a stake.”
    â€œNo bank robbin’ for me . . . one Fortune in that business is one too many.”
    â€œIs Sam still on the run up in Indian Territory?”
    â€œIf he hasn’t got himself killed.” Brazos glanced down at Dacee June’s wide eyes. “I didn’t mean that, darlin’. Your brother is too good with a gun to get himself killed.”
    Big River Frank yanked his pant leg up over his boot and scratched. “Are your other boys goin’ with us?”
    â€œNot this trip. Todd’s drivin’ cattle up to Dodge City for Ol’ Bill Wilson, and Robert is still in the cavalry, stationed at Fort Abraham Lincoln.”
    â€œWhere’s that?”
    â€œIn Dakota Territory, up on the Missouri River.”
    â€œWell, that settles it. We’ll look for gold, and you can visit your boy. That sounds like a nice summer.”
    â€œDaddy needs to find us a home!” Dacee June insisted. “He promised me that.”
    Big River Frank stared at her as he rode