Diving between the wheels of the train, Sean crawled quickly over the rocks and wood laid out between the iron rails. He could barely crawl under it on his arms, but he was slender enough to move quickly under the thick wheel axels around the handing metal gears. Counting the cars as he scurried between the open gaps, he reached the car that he had to detach. He'd never done this before, but Mark and Nathan had walked him through it enough that he hoped he had it down. Rolling onto his back, he looked over the set up. Each car had suspension buffers that allowed the cars to hit each other without damaging the train. Then two sets of towing chains that allowed the car ahead to pull the one behind should the main coupler failed. The main thick iron coupler looked like two holding hands but were connected by an iron pin and a lever that he had to turn over after removing the pin. Taking a deep shaky breath, Sean reached up and unhooked the chains first. They were easiest to do since there was no tension on them. Then taking a risk, he sat up between the buffer and coupler to find the pin.

At the center of the clasping iron hands, he found the long pin and quickly pulled it free. He just had to flip the lever and unclasp the hands now. Grabbing the lever that sat on one of the couplers, he tried to turn it over, but it wouldn't move. Gripping it with both hands, he put all his strength into it, but it wasn't budging. Had it rusted in place? Trying to remain calm, Sean kept trying to force the lever over, but he couldn't get it to budge even a little. Taking the coupler pin, he tried chiseling the rust away from the base and banging on it quietly to loosen it up. Still, he couldn't force it to budge. He wasn't sure that he had the strength needed for this. He told himself he had plenty of time and kept working on it, until the wheels of the steam train hissed loudly as it released pent up steam. From farther ahead, he heard a man call out. "That's good enough, boys! Let's get her moving!" Cursing, Sean put all his panic and adrenaline into the lever, and it started to move with a soft screech of resisting metal. Just as the lever got halfway, a gunman walked by the gap and Sean froze hoping that he hadn't seen him.

The gunman walked out of sight, then backed up a step or two to look right at him. Sean started to release the lever, but it started to fall back in place, and he didn't want to lose his progress. The gunman gawked at him, taking in the scene, before starting to yell out. "HEY! What do you think-?!" The train whistle blared, cutting him off as it snuffed all other noise. Sean tried to force the lever the rest of the way, but it was resisting him. Becoming harder as the train started moving, causing Sean to lose his footing. Yelping, Sean felt his legs start to go under the train and gripped the coupler lever in desperation now. The lever fell back down into position as Sean used it to keep himself from being pulled under the train. The hired gunman, yelped as the train moved on without him, but he easily ran to catch up. Grabbing the bar and pulling himself up onto the ledge. Sean had to focus on keeping his spurs from getting caught on the wooden rails as he tried to pull himself up onto the coupler. The gunman quickly pulled his gun off his shoulder and cocked the rifle before taking aim at Sean.

Sean winced but forced himself to lay over the couplers to at least keep his legs from getting mutilated. He'd have to take the bullet. He let out a soft scream as the 'BANG' rang out between the two cars, but he didn't feel pain. Glancing back at the gunman, he saw that he was no longer aiming at him but the top of the car in front of him. Sean gasped as he saw a figure slid off the rounded top of the train but grabbed the safety rail around the roof. Using the momentum of their fall, the figure swooped around the corner and kicked the gunman off the train upon his release to land on the ledge. Sean had never been so happy to see Mark. Removing his pistol, Mark leaned around the side of the train and fired a muffled shot as the train whistle blew again from farther in the long tunnel. Mark then turned to look at him, asking seriously. "What happened?!" Sean pointed at the lever, yelling out. "It's stuck!" Mark quickly kneeled down, gripping the lever and putting all his strength into pulling it toward him. Sean watched him fight with it with all his strength and then in frustration, kicked the lever just under Mark's hands.

The solid kick was just enough to force the lever over, sending Mark falling back into the car wall with a huff. The coupler under Sean unlatched, prompting Sean to yelp as the trains separated from each other with him on them! His legs fell back across the tracks, causing him to scream out in fright. "MARK!" Mark jumped to his feet, rushing to a wheel on his car and cranking it around quickly. Within seconds the brakes locked up on the car he was on, and he jumped to Sean's train car. He almost didn't make it, but he had better upper body strength than he did. Holding onto the railing, Mark reached out for him, yelling out. "Sean, your hand!" Sean shook his head, his grip slipping down the coupler as his feet hit every wooden rail violently. Mark adjusted on the safety rail around the car, getting as close as he could as he snapped out. "NOW SEAN!" Throwing his fear aside, Sean threw his hand out to try and grab Mark's, despite loosing his grip on the coupler when he did. Catching his wrist, Mark's fingers dug into his arm as he pulled him up to the rail with him. Sean clung to the rail, even as Mark looped an arm between him legs and flipped him over the railing.

Sean hit the ledge roughly as their car went into the pitch black tunnel. Mark sought him out, yanking him up to his feet and yelling out of the echoing chugging engine. "We gotta move! Nathan's gonna blow the tree behind us!" Sean shuddered, then yelled out. "What do we do?! Jump?!" Mark grabbed the front of Sean's shirt, snapping out. "Don't you dare! Follow me!" Lifting his elbow, Mark smashed the window to the car door with his elbow. Reaching in, he unlocked it and pulled Sean in. Together, they ran through the luggage car toward the next door. Reaching the door, Mark kicked it open, and Sean followed him through. Mark jumped to the next car, then reached back as he ordered him. "Jump!" Cursing, Sean dashed out and cleared the jump into Mark's arms. Mark then bashed the window to the next car out and barely got it open, before they exited the tunnel into blinding light. Mark started to pull Sean into the car, only to shout at a foul curse. Inside the car were gunman that looked at them with surprised faces. Quickly pushing Sean back out of the car, he grabbed Sean's leg and hefted him to got up onto the roof of the train.

The gunman started to rush for the door, but Mark held the door shut, until one pointed a gun out the broken window. Releasing the door, he kicked it in to knock them back, then jumped to grab the roof. Sean grabbed his arm to help pull him up, then they went running across the top of the train. The wind was intense as the train sounded its last whistle before starting to speed up. As the last car exited the tunnel, the thick tree exploded. A concussion blast rocked the train so hard that Sean stumbled and fell. Sliding to off the roof, but he managed to grab the safety rail, allowing him to hang off the windy train. A thick cloud of dirt and splinters filled the air. Some debris of wood shooting into the cars and impaling those inside or blinding others with the pelting clumps of dirt. Mark dropped low across the roof, leaning over the side to grab Sean's wrist. Gripping him tightly, Mark yelled out. "HANG ON!" Sean nervously looked to the end of the car, where gunman were now starting to climb up onto the roof. Mark was vulnerable like this. Mark glanced at the pursuing gunman, before quickly burying his head against his arm.

Sean didn't understand, until he saw the treetop falling toward the ground. The tree hadn't landed yet. The heavy tree hit the ground, sending another shockwave over the tracks. The train shook violently, causing the gunmen to lose their footing and fall off the train. Sean gripped Mark tightly, asking him with concern. "What do we do now?!" Mark lifted his head, about to answer when something caught his eye and made him smile. Following his eyes, Sean saw Wade riding his horse in their direction. His horse was pushing hard to keep up with the train, but Wade rode in close and called up to Sean. "I got ya, Jack!" Mark kept ahold of him until Wade was close enough, then told Sean how to jump down to Wade as he loosened his grip. Sean braced his foot on the side of the train and pushed off as Mark let go to jump onto the back of Wade's horse. It wasn't graceful and it hurt, but it was better than being dead. Wade whirled his horse around to ride back, leaving Mark on the train. Mark rolled to his side, gunning down the gunman that gathered their footing or climbed up to the roof.

Sean watched with worry, until he saw Bob riding past them to retrieve Mark. Adjusting on Wade's horse, Sean relaxed a little bit, until he saw Nathan standing on the top of the tunnel and firing down at the other side. Wade rode up a trail by the fallen tree to reach the top of the tunnel, where Sean leapt off and ran out to Nate. Nathan kneeled quickly, firing a few shots into a few gunmen that were trying to protect the stopped portion of the train. Upon seeing Sean, Nathan asked gruffly. "What the fuck happened?!" Sean blushed, mumbling out. "It was rusted. Are you alright?" Nathan reloaded his rifle, snapping out as he ducked wild gunfire that peppered the tunnel top. "Define alright! I'm getting shot at!" Sean withdrew his gun, firing a few shots to cover Nathan. Once Nathan reloaded, he told Sean nervously. "We're in trouble. I'm on my last bullets... Got a plan?!" Sean checked his own bullets and cringed; he was down to two shots. Glancing around, he spotted Wade who was securing his horse to a tree and got a crazy idea. Telling Nate to hang on a minute, he dashed off to wade and quickly wrapped up a bundle of thick sticks with a piece of leather.

Sticking a rope in the center, Sean rushed out with the bundle held high and lit up the end on the rope for them to see. The gunman gasped and Sean yelled down to them sternly. "Drop your weapons and line up over there! Or I toss this down and blow ya sky high! Makes no fucking difference to us!" Nathan blinked as he looked at the mess of jumped sticks that looked nothing like dynamite up close... but from a distance, it was the general appearance that mattered. The gunmen below glanced at each other, before tossing their weapons down and moving away. Sean smirked, telling them a little disappointed. "Awww... I was hoping you'd resist. Way to take all the fun out of it, guys..." Nathan snorted, gesturing Wade to follow him down. Wade quickly gathered up the guns, while Nathan kept his gun aimed on the row of men. Sean stayed where he was and kept an eye out for anyone sneaking around, until Mark and Bob arrived. Bob then took Sean's bundle away to let Sean tie up the gunman together. Wade took over watching them, while Mark helped Nathan unlock the cars with slaves that were being transported.

Most were terrified and fled, others weren't so sure they were free until Nathan scared them off. Making their way to the most lavish train car that Sean had ever seen, Mark called out darkly. "Mr. Danvers! I know you're in there. Come on out. Let's talk. Or do you want us to come in there and drag your ass out of that tin can?" The metal slatted windows rose a little, before a gruff voice called out in shock. "Sheriff Mark? Is that you? What is the meaning of this?! I'm a busy man!" Nathan's eyes narrowed on the window, when he practically growled out. "Get your ass out here and find out." Mark softly called Nathan's name in warning, while Mr. Danvers laughed out. "Here's an idea, boys. State your business or go away. Because when my guards come back, they will take their loss of pay that they were going to get from those slaves out on your asses! Those slaves weren't yours, after all. Or do you plan to pay me for them?" Mark glanced at Nate and Sean, before telling Mr. Danvers sternly. "People aren't property. Last warning, Mr. Danvers. Resisting could lose you much more than your money."

Mr. Danvers let out a huff, until Mark told Bob seriously. "Fetch me that dynamite, Bob. We'll blow the doors and windows off." Bob turned on his heel to allow the bluff some weight, prompting Mr. Danvers to shout out in distress. "Wait! Wait... I'll... Ugh." Mark raised his gun to aim at the door as Mr. Danvers unlocked multiple locks before pushing it open. Mark kept his gun aimed into the empty doorway, shouting out. "Get out here! NOW!" Muttering a slew of curses, Mr. Danvers slowly stepped out like an unafraid businessman and stepped out of his train car. Mark then gestured to Sean to tie him up and Nathan rushed into the train car to ransack it. Sean finished tying the knots, then stepped away quickly as Mr. Danvers blurted out to Mark sternly. "Is this about the shipment of pyrite that I sent to Iron Hills? Because I told the mayor what it was. It's not my fault if he wasn't listening." Mark glanced at Bob, before asking curiously. "What are you taking about?" Mr. Danvers rolled his eyes, snapping out dryly. "The pyrite shipment that I sent him in the trunk with his wife. You know, the stuff that the people in the big cities are calling fools gold? I told him the stuff is useless, but he was insistent that I transport him some. If you're here harassing me. I figured it is because he misheard me and thought it was real gold."

Mr. Danvers shrugged, addingout flatly. "I can't say I blame him.Most people can't tell the difference between the two. Heard of a few peopledown south even scamming banks with the stuff." Mark blinked, then looked to Bob as he asked softly. "What the hell is he doing collecting falsegold?" To Be Continued...