Synopsis

In Spring 1874, the American economy is descending into a depression, following the collapse of Jay Cooke’s financial empire. Amid the chain of bank and business failures set off by Cooke’s bankruptcy, Jubilee Walker struggles to keep Warner and Walker Outfitters solvent.

Jubil’s grand plans for developing Yellowstone National Park into a popular tourist destination were dashed when Cooke’s business plan failed, but he is still determined to fulfill the park’s potential—not to mention his promise to his friend White Dog to end the corruption affecting the well-being of the people living on the Crow reservation.

When Jubil solicits support from the highest levels of government, he sets off a chain of events that puts not only him but the ones he loves most in grave danger. What is the nature of the secret Jubil’s nemesis is hiding? And how far will he go to protect it? Book four in the Jubilee Walker series is loosely based on historical events.

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Excerpt

CHAPTER 1

On the first day of spring in 1874, Jubilee Walker stepped out of the stagecoach in front of the Metropolitan Hotel in Bozeman, Montana Territory. He disliked travel by stagecoach, but it was faster than horseback, and he was pressed for time. The weather was dry and the temperature above freezing, but Jubil turned the collar up on his parka and pulled his hat down to his eyes—not for warmth but for privacy. He was on a reconnaissance mission and wanted to go unnoticed, if possible.

He stood by as two other passengers exited the stagecoach and the driver began unloading baggage from the boot. Jubil leaned his Henry rifle against the wheel of the stage as the driver handed him his trapper’s pack. He slipped his arms into the straps and settled the pack on his back, then picked up his rifle. He hoped to be here no longer than a few days, but he was carrying everything he needed to survive indefinitely.

He had hardly spoken a word to the driver or his fellow travelers, which went against his nature. It took a good amount of discipline now to turn away without saying goodbye to them, but he managed to do it. He set out toward the livery, where he was relieved to find an unfamiliar man working, so he was able to hire a horse without interacting with the livery owner, whom he knew well. He would be out of town and on his way before anyone recognized him.

He chose a young chestnut stallion that reminded him of his own horse, Star. As he saddled the horse and strapped the pack across his haunches, Jubil talked to him to calm him, as was his habit with all horses. “We’re hardly going to be together long enough for me to name you,” he said. “How about No Name? Would you answer to that?” Jubil rubbed and patted the horse’s neck, smiling at his own joke. The name was not as meaningless as it might sound. It had been the name of one of the boats in which he had ridden the Colorado River through the length of the Grand Canyon with Major John Wesley Powell in 1869. The boat had ended up broken in half on the rocks, and he had nearly drowned in the incident. He hoped to avoid such drama on this trip.

He rode south through town and then turned east. In less than an hour, he was passing a group of white buildings to the north—Fort Ellis. He would stop there on the way back from the Crow reservation, which was near the Yellowstone River, about thirty miles away.

Once past the fort, he was able to breathe easy and stop looking over his shoulder. He settled into the ride. The aroma of pine needles filled the air as the trail followed the East Gallatin River over hilly country covered with pine timber on the northern slopes. The ravines and small valleys were still filled with snow, and the icy streams sparkled in the sun. It felt good to be out here on his own in a place that meant so much to him.

Six miles from Fort Ellis, he crossed the Bozeman Pass, a notch in the Gallatin Range forming the apex of two watersheds, one that sloped to the Gallatin River, the other to the Yellowstone. When he reached the top of the pass, he paused to take in the beloved vista of Paradise Valley. All the way to the southern horizon, the Yellowstone River meandered through a valley several miles wide and bounded by snow-capped mountains on either side. Spread across the floor of the valley were thousands of grassy acres dotted with the habitations of settlers. Further south lay the wonderland of Yellowstone National Park.

For a moment, Jubil longed for the incredulous awe he had experienced the first time he had seen the geysers, the falls, the mud pots, and hot springs—and for the innocence and simplicity of his life back then. A lot had happened in the four years since he had first traveled this way. Those four years had been filled with life lessons and increasing responsibility.

Last year, he had barely escaped the loss of his outfitting business and his farm to financier Jay Cooke. He was forced to admit to his wife, Nelly, and his surrogate parents and senior business partners, Abe and Lily Warner, that he had been rash in his involvement with Cooke. They were gracious enough to accept his apologies.

About the Author

Tim Piper is retired from a long career in Information Technology and has been a lifelong hobbyist musician. In his earlier days, he was an avid hiker and backcountry camper, but his adventures these days are less strenuous and more comfortable. He lives in Bloomington, Illinois, with his cat, Maggie, who is no help with his writing but is a stellar companion. He began his education at Illinois State University as an English major, but life circumstances put him on a more pragmatic path, and he graduated with a BS in Business Admin, a degree he finds appropriately named.

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