“I’ve recently met with Shanghai Pierce. He told me about the Texas Western Railway Company. It’s a narrow gauge railroad, recently amended to change the name to Texas Western Narrow Gauge Railway Company. The amended charter also gave the company the right to build west, to cross the Rio Grande at, or near, Presidio del Norte and into Mexico. The plan is to eventually cross Mexico to Guaymas on the Gulf of California. It sounds feasible, since the charter grants authority to construct a branch line from the northwestern border of Texas up to connect with the Denver and Rio Grande Railway Company.”

“Right now, they’ve only got tracks laid between Houston and Pattison,” Steve said bluntly. “Not close enough to your mines to do you any good.”

Brandon’s brow rose. “Perhaps I’m not as worried about that as I once was. I applied for government funding to run tracks all the way across Copper Canyon eventually.”

“That will take more money and time than you can get, Senator.” Steve met his gaze calmly. “There are barrancas and arroyos there, hundreds of feet deep. Peaks are so high that even birds get dizzy. It’s not practical any time in the near future. Maybe not in our lifetime.”

“You need a grander vision, perhaps.”

“Senator, you’ll need financing. And you’ll need the Mexican government’s permission to lay your tracks. Even if I believed that’s what you intend to do, I wouldn’t advise it.”

“It’s comforting to know that you’re so worried about my investments, Steve.”

He stood up, a slight smile slanting his mouth. “If you’re planning on calling in Durant or Gould, you might want to be certain that President Díaz will allow you to continue mining ore, Senator.”

“I don’t think that’s going to be a big problem. I have become acquainted with Díaz, and I find him to be quite agreeable.”

“If he learns that you intend to remove silver and not pay him his share, he won’t be quite so agreeable, I can assure you of that. But take your own chances, Senator. You have been warned.”

“I trust you would do nothing to interfere, Morgan. I have told you that I knew nothing about your being at the Galena until I saw you that day.”

Steve recognized the angry frustration in Brandon’s eyes. He held up the unlit cigar he’d been given. “Thanks for the cigar, Senator. I’m leaving town tonight, but Ginny will be here for a while. I’m sure you’ll want to visit.”

He left, smiling when he heard Brandon cursing as the door slammed shut behind him. That should give him something to think about for a few days, Steve thought.

Within an hour, he and Paco left San Antonio.