see Caleb Thornâs eyes widen in surprise. ââYouâre assuminâ command?ââ the engineer asked.
ââThatâs right.ââ
ââWell, then, aye, aye, Capân Fargo!ââ
Fargo grunted. He had been called a lot of things in his life, but as far as he could recall, Captain Fargo hadnât been one of them until now.
But there was a first time for everything, even for the Trailsman.
2
Fargo whistled to the stallion, then moved to take the wheel. He spotted a rubber speaking tube hanging from the wheelhouse ceiling. He grabbed it, blew into it, and yelled, ââReverse one-quarter!ââ
The rumble of the engines grew louder, and the big paddle wheel at the stern began to turn, making slow revolutions in the opposite of its usual direction. As the paddles bit into the water of the bayou, the boat moved away from the bank. Fargo turned the wheel, adjusting the rudder so that as the boat backed up, it straightened its course as well.
ââAhead one-half!ââ Fargo called into the tube.
The paddle wheel slowed to a stop. Water sluiced off the paddles. Then it began to revolve in the other direction, forcing the vessel upstream against the sluggish current. The three boilers and the twin engines they powered were more than enough to overcome the current.
ââWell, weâre moving,ââ the young woman said. ââI just hope you know what youâre doing.ââ
Fargo smiled at her. ââYou and me both, miss.ââ
He had to keep his attention on the bayou in front of him, but in the brief glance he had just taken at her, he had noted that her eyes were a beautiful shade of blue. Her fair hair was thick and piled on top of her head in an elaborate arrangement of curls. The dress she wore was elegant rather than flashy, but its square-cut neckline was low enough to reveal the upper third or so of her breasts. The creamy, smooth-skinned swells were as lovely as the rest of her.
ââWhatâs your name?ââ Fargo asked.
ââShouldnât you be concentrating on piloting this boat?ââ
ââDonât worry. Iâm paying attention to where Iâm going,ââ Fargo assured her. He glanced over at the bank and saw the Ovaro moving along it, keeping pace with the riverboat.
Fargo went on. ââIdeally, weâd have a pilot who knows these waters here in the wheelhouse, and a boy up on the bow with a line and a plumb bob, marking the fathoms and calling them up to us. But weâll manage. Itâs not far to Jefferson.ââ
ââCaptain Russell managed to get the boat to shore before he passed out. I didnât realize he was wounded so badly until I saw all the blood.ââ A shudder ran through her at the memory.
ââHeâll be all right.ââ
ââYouâre awfully sure of yourself, Mr. . . . ?ââ
ââFargo,ââ he supplied his name. ââSkye Fargo.ââ
ââReally?ââ She sounded surprised. ââI think Iâve heard of you.ââ
ââYou didnât tell me your name,ââ Fargo reminded her.
ââItâs Isabel Sterling.ââ
ââPleased to meet you, Miss Sterling. Wish it had been under better circumstances. Like across a poker table.ââ
He heard her sharply indrawn breath. ââHow did you know Iâm a gambler?ââ
ââYour hands, mostly. They look like theyâd be good with cards. Youâre young and beautiful and well dressed, not your everyday riverboat passenger. I reckon maybe you could have a different profession, but you donât strike me as that type.ââ
She gave a short laugh. ââI suppose I should be grateful you donât think Iâm a harlot.ââ
ââSo
ââThatâs right.ââ
ââWell, then, aye, aye, Capân Fargo!ââ
Fargo grunted. He had been called a lot of things in his life, but as far as he could recall, Captain Fargo hadnât been one of them until now.
But there was a first time for everything, even for the Trailsman.
2
Fargo whistled to the stallion, then moved to take the wheel. He spotted a rubber speaking tube hanging from the wheelhouse ceiling. He grabbed it, blew into it, and yelled, ââReverse one-quarter!ââ
The rumble of the engines grew louder, and the big paddle wheel at the stern began to turn, making slow revolutions in the opposite of its usual direction. As the paddles bit into the water of the bayou, the boat moved away from the bank. Fargo turned the wheel, adjusting the rudder so that as the boat backed up, it straightened its course as well.
ââAhead one-half!ââ Fargo called into the tube.
The paddle wheel slowed to a stop. Water sluiced off the paddles. Then it began to revolve in the other direction, forcing the vessel upstream against the sluggish current. The three boilers and the twin engines they powered were more than enough to overcome the current.
ââWell, weâre moving,ââ the young woman said. ââI just hope you know what youâre doing.ââ
Fargo smiled at her. ââYou and me both, miss.ââ
He had to keep his attention on the bayou in front of him, but in the brief glance he had just taken at her, he had noted that her eyes were a beautiful shade of blue. Her fair hair was thick and piled on top of her head in an elaborate arrangement of curls. The dress she wore was elegant rather than flashy, but its square-cut neckline was low enough to reveal the upper third or so of her breasts. The creamy, smooth-skinned swells were as lovely as the rest of her.
ââWhatâs your name?ââ Fargo asked.
ââShouldnât you be concentrating on piloting this boat?ââ
ââDonât worry. Iâm paying attention to where Iâm going,ââ Fargo assured her. He glanced over at the bank and saw the Ovaro moving along it, keeping pace with the riverboat.
Fargo went on. ââIdeally, weâd have a pilot who knows these waters here in the wheelhouse, and a boy up on the bow with a line and a plumb bob, marking the fathoms and calling them up to us. But weâll manage. Itâs not far to Jefferson.ââ
ââCaptain Russell managed to get the boat to shore before he passed out. I didnât realize he was wounded so badly until I saw all the blood.ââ A shudder ran through her at the memory.
ââHeâll be all right.ââ
ââYouâre awfully sure of yourself, Mr. . . . ?ââ
ââFargo,ââ he supplied his name. ââSkye Fargo.ââ
ââReally?ââ She sounded surprised. ââI think Iâve heard of you.ââ
ââYou didnât tell me your name,ââ Fargo reminded her.
ââItâs Isabel Sterling.ââ
ââPleased to meet you, Miss Sterling. Wish it had been under better circumstances. Like across a poker table.ââ
He heard her sharply indrawn breath. ââHow did you know Iâm a gambler?ââ
ââYour hands, mostly. They look like theyâd be good with cards. Youâre young and beautiful and well dressed, not your everyday riverboat passenger. I reckon maybe you could have a different profession, but you donât strike me as that type.ââ
She gave a short laugh. ââI suppose I should be grateful you donât think Iâm a harlot.ââ
ââSo
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