by Neil Hunter
‘I hope the Marshal’s department pays you enough for what you have to do.’
LeRoy’s smile was mirthless. ‘Hell, Bernie, don’t you know I only do it out of love for the job.’
He heard the rattle of dusty grit blown against the building as the wind lifted it. When he glanced out the window, he saw a fine gray mist swirling beyond the glass. That was all he needed. A dust storm. Looking at from a different angle maybe it wouldn’t be so bad. A storm could offer him cover when he rode away from Landiss.
Eight
With Statler on his way LeRoy took two sets of manacles from his possibles bag and laid them out on the man’s desk. The manacles had an extra few links that would be locked around the saddle horns to prevent the prisoners doing anything reckless. LeRoy accepted they might not be foolproof, but any man attempting to escape would be hampered by the fact he was linked to his saddle.
LeRoy crossed to the cell block door and went through, the manacles dangling from his left hand.
‘On your feet, boys, we got places to go.’
‘Damn you, LeRoy, I don’t figure to leave town chained up,’ Teague said.
‘You can do this easy or hard, makes no difference to me. Sit a saddle or go belly down over it, but you wear those manacles. Do not push me on this. I deliver you to Yuma alive that’s all I got to say.’
LeRoy dropped a set of manacles through the bars of each cell. Hobbs picked up his set and pushed his wrists into the metal. He thrust his hands through the bars and LeRoy used his key to secure the bracelets.
‘Damned if I’m going to wear those things,’ Teague said.
‘You want me to bend a gun barrel over your head? I can still fit you with those manacles even if you’re cold out on the floor.’
Teague held his stare for a while before he followed his partner’s actions. He made no more comment as LeRoy fit the manacles to his wrists.
‘Soon as Statler brings the horses round back we move out.’
‘LeRoy, you seen the dust out there?’ Teague said. ‘It’s blowin’ up something fierce...’
‘It should keep people off the streets. Cover for us when we leave.’
‘The hell you say. How’d you figure to ride through it and not get lost?’
‘Chance I’m willing to take.’
‘Maybe we ain’t willin’,’ Hobbs said.
LeRoy didn’t respond. He returned to the office, leaving the door to the cell block open.
He watched the dust clouds moving along the street. Beyond town the sky had darkened. There was every sign the storm might settle in for a long blow. Not the most favorable conditions to ride out. He weighed the odds. Against staying put or risking travelling. Either option put him up against it. LeRoy figured leaving town would distance him from the possibility of being trapped in the jail if the threats of action against Teague and Hobbs increased. There were too many drawbacks within the confines of Landiss. There was an aggressive mood in town, not helped by Lafe Munro and his eagerness to go against the law. Enough aggravation could inflame the situation. The thought of being holed up in the jail was not something LeRoy favored. That left him with the alternative. Taking his prisoners out of town and head out across country. If the dust storm lingered it might dissuade many from following.
LeRoy figured the odds were slightly in his favor. At least enough for him to risk leaving. Not the best hand he had ever been dealt, he decided, but there wasn’t much else left.
Stay or go he was caught on the edge.
The door rattled as Statler came inside.
‘She’s settin’ herself for a good blow.’ The Marshal pushed the door shut. ‘Horses are tied to the snubbin’ post back of the jail. You ready?’
LeRoy picked up part of the gear and headed for the back door. Behind him Statler collected what remained and followed him. Between them they loaded the horses, shoulders hunched against the buffeting wind.
‘Regular trail should keep you moving steady,’ Statler said.
‘Not going that way.’
Statler stared at LeRoy like he’d just sprouted a second head.
‘Son of a bitch,’ he said. ‘I knew it. You’re cutting across country. Damnit, LeRoy, you mean to go by the desert.’
LeRoy led the way back inside.
‘Don’t let that pair know. They’re kicking up enough already.’
Statler knew enough to keep his mouth closed.
‘We’ll bring Teague out first,’ LeRoy said.
Teague, under Statler’s shotgun was led outside. He grumbled constantly as he was forced to mount his horse. When LeRoy locked the cuff around the saddle horn, he expressed his feelings even more.
‘LeRoy, if I fall out the saddle, I’m goin’ to be hung up on this damn thing.’
‘Easy answer to that. Don’t let go.’
‘You’re a hard man, LeRoy.’
‘And you keep that in mind.’
With Statler standing watch over Teague, LeRoy went back inside to bring Hobbs. He made similar complaints over the way LeRoy had him secured. When he was settled LeRoy took his own reins and climbed into the saddle.
‘Bernie, you make sure you keep both doors locked, and your eyes open.’
‘Teaching me how to suck eggs?’
LeRoy smiled. ‘Just reminding you to stay loose.’
‘Ain’t me goin’ out there, son.’
‘You pair ride ahead,’ LeRoy said. ‘Nice and steady. Just remember I’m keeping my rifle handy. I have to deliver you to Yuma but there’s nothing to say I can’t play rough if you act foolish.’
Bernie Statler watched in silence as the three rode away from the jail. Teague and Hobbs were yet to find out the way they were going. When they found out it wasn’t about to get any easier for LeRoy. As they faded into the drifting dust, he shook his head in resignation.
‘LeRoy,’ he said, ‘you ride easy feller. Luck to you ’cause you’ll surely need it.’
He turned at movement behind him. It was Carrick, still shuffling around with his broom. The bristles made soft scratching sounds as Carrick swept.
‘Vern, quit that sweeping. You’re making more dust in here than the damn blow outside. Go home now. See you in the morning.’
Nine
Clearing the edge of town LeRoy felt the strength of the rising wind. It brought more dust, swirling around in pale eddies, and when he looked over his shoulder Landiss was already hidden from sight.
‘This is foolishness,’ Teague said. He hunched around in the saddle. ‘We could get pure lost in this storm.’
‘Not going to happen.’
‘The hell you say,’ Hobbs said.
‘Trust me, boys, I’m a US Marshal. We don’t get lost.’
‘Only thing worse than a damn US Marshal is one with a funny streak,’ Hobbs said.
Little was said after that for some while. Teague and Hobbs might have been resigning themselves to the ride ahead and saw little benefit in wasting words on LeRoy.
The landscape, already mostly flat and featureless, with a sparse scattering of brush and the odd, misshapen cactus, took on an even more desolate aspect under the continuing dust storm. Even the horses were affected by the wind and dust, moving with heads down, their nervous mood showing in the way they acted. LeRoy kept a firm hand on his own animal, while watching the actions of the riders ahead of him.
He wasn’t about to offer his prisoners any chance of breaking away though he doubted even Teague and Hobbs would make any reckless moves. Shackled and with the added link to their saddle horns, any attempt to break away would only leave them at a disadvantage. Even so LeRoy stayed alert. Previous experience involving men sentenced to prison terms warned him
A man on the way to having his freedom taken away, especially with that incarceration being at Yuma Penitentiary, could be counted on to show resentment. A desire to stay free. From their history Teague and Hobbs were law breakers who were unable to change their habits. Whatever else they might do it was certain t
hey were not about to allow LeRoy an easy ride.
‘Hey, LeRoy, we’re moving away from the trail,’ Teague said.
He twisted in his saddle, peering at LeRoy through the drifting dust. LeRoy didn’t speak. Simply raised his rifle and let it cover Teague.
Teague took a long look around and muttered as he realized what was happing.
‘Sonofabitch is taking us across the desert.’
Ten
‘He can’t do that,’ Hobbs said. ‘We could die of thirst. Or burn to a crisp.’
‘Look at the man, Rubin. He’s crazy enough to try it.’
‘No way he can make us go. He has to deliver us alive. Damnit, he’s the law.’
‘LeRoy makes his own law. Hell, you’ve heard how he does things. Don’t matter to him how we end up. He’ll deliver us to Yuma sitting our saddles or hung over ’em.’
‘This just ain’t right. No damn way.’
‘Man has the will and the guns. Right or wrong it’s the way it is.’
LeRoy let them spend their words. It made little difference to him. He had his job to do and no amount of complaining from Teague and Hobbs would affect that.
He laid his rifle across his thighs and unfurled the bandanna from his neck. Took one of his canteens and soaked the cloth before tying it in place over his mouth. When Teague and Hobbs saw what he was doing, with their words spent, they did the same. It was a temporary measure. The moisture would soon evaporate but for a while the dampness would help to filter some of the sour dust taste.
‘Let’s move,’ LeRoy said. ‘We can cover a few more miles before it gets too dark.’
They rode until the shadows began to lengthen. The day’s heat would soon dissipate once darkness fell. LeRoy understood desert conditions. A hot day would be followed by the chill of night.
One consolation would be the wind drifting away any tracks they left behind. Unless it died away before that happened.
And if they were being trailed. There had been that faint unease at the back of LeRoy’s mind. The possibility that someone might track them.
The unrest over Teague and Hobbs had been palpable in town. The disfavor at their sentencing and the transporting the prisoners to Yuma. Top of the list was Lafe Munro and his two partners. The anger the man had shown told LeRoy he was determined to get to the prisoners and exact his personal justice on them. That anger might easily push Munro into following LeRoy. Along with his partners that added up to a risible threat.
And there was also Lawrence Machin. Out to make Teague and Hobbs pay for what they had done to his brother. LeRoy could understand Machin’s feelings. The crippling of his brother would be hard for the man to come to terms with. Exacting his own vengeance, believing the sentences Teague and Hobbs had received were in no way severe enough.
LeRoy had to consider what Machin might do.
Send out men to hunt Teague and Hobbs down?
To kill them?
Take them back to the Rocking-M ranch to confront his brother?
Any number of resolutions that were about to make LeRoy’s job that much harder. But he was committed now. He had made his decision and he would stay with it.
Yuma was his destination. A simple enough decision. But complicated by the possible interference offered by the men who might want to prevent him carrying out his intentions.
LeRoy allowed a moment of anger with his reasoning. And it was no more than a moment. Over and done within the time it took to form. He couldn’t allow his clear thinking to be muddied by anger. He needed to stay in control. Not let his actions be dictated by unreasonable emotions.
He had his prisoners. He would take them to the prison and hand them over. They would carp. They would protest. And they would do everything they could to make the journey difficult. It would make no difference as far as he was concerned. If Teague and Hobbs had prior knowledge about LeRoy, they would know he never gave up his charges and would ride them to the gates of Hell if need be.
Eleven
In the hour before full dark LeRoy spotted a clustered rock formation that would provide a degree of protection from the dust and wind. He eased their line of travel and took them into the wind scoured enclave. Once inside the rocks the bite of the wind dropped considerably. At one side of the rocks a thin grove of cottonwoods gave the hint there might be water close by. LeRoy didn’t give too much credence to the possibility but given the chance he would check. He drew rein and watched close as Teague and Hobbs followed his instructions to dismounts.
‘You keepin’ us shackled to these damn saddles?’ Hobbs said.
‘Yeah. Just loosen the cinch and pull them off.’
‘We’ll need to haul ’em with us when we move.’
‘That’s his idea,’ Teague said. ‘Keeps us from runnin’ off.’
Hobbs scowled as realization set in.
By the time his prisoners had managed to free their saddles LeRoy had his own on the ground and was standing watching them. Hobbs was red faced, making a great play of humping his saddle, and it was almost too late when LeRoy realized he was moving too close.
Twelve
‘The hell with you, lawdog,’ Hobbs said.
He threw himself at LeRoy, using the saddle to add weight to his attack. LeRoy turned aside to try and avoid the saddle. It slammed into him with Hobbs’s bulk adding to the blow. LeRoy lost his balance, dropping to his knees as the saddle smashed into him, Hobbs yelling for his partner. Out the corner of his eye LeRoy saw Teague moving in to join Hobbs, swinging his own saddle at him.
‘Get him,’ Hobbs said. ‘Kill the son of a bitch.’
Teague braced himself against the heavy saddle and aimed it directly at LeRoy. The impact of both saddles was enough to drive LeRoy backwards. He let himself fall and giving himself a few seconds of breathing space as Teague and Hobbs balanced the cumbersome saddles ready for another strike.
Encumbered by the unwieldy weight of the rigs the shackled pair were restricted from moving too fast and LeRoy used that to haul himself upright. He rolled aside, pushing to his feet and drove a clenched fist at Hobbs. The blow rocked Hobbs back, blood streaming from the opened gash in his cheek. Following through LeRoy punched his fist at Teague and felt the man’s lips tear as it landed. Not giving the pair any leeway LeRoy snatched at his holstered pistol. Clearing leather, he dogged the hammer back and fired a single shot into the ground just ahead of the prisoners. The blast of sound pulled them up hard and they found themselves under LeRoy’s gun.
The standoff lasted only a short time. It was then LeRoy felt the warm run of blood down the left side of his face. It was followed by the sharp sting of what turned out to be a gash over his eye where metalwork from Hobbs’s saddle had struck.
‘We feel better for the exercise?’ LeRoy said.
‘This ain’t over,’ Hobbs said. ‘Next time I’ll kill you. Getting me to Yuma ain’t going to happen.’
‘We getting back to that dead or alive thing again? Hobbs, that is your choice.’
Hobbs held his gaze, eyes suddenly hard and empty of any expression.
‘While you think about that,’ LeRoy said, ‘go sit down over there.’
Teague sleeved blood from his chin and nudged his partner with his own saddle and they tramped across to the hump and sat down. Hobbs’ face held a dark flush as he watched every move LeRoy made.
Taking his time LeRoy took hobbles from the bag hanging from his horse and secured all three animals. Then he removed a single set of shackles and fastened them to the prisoner’s ankles.
‘Wouldn’t want you boys wandering off in the dark,’ he said.
‘You’re piling up the grief,’ Teague said, spitting blood.
‘You think so?’
LeRoy used a wad of cloth from his saddlebags, soaked with water to do what he could about the gash Hobbs had caused. It stung but at least had stopped bleeding.
He stepped back and began to gather wood from around the trees to make a fire. He had to walk a distance to g
ather enough, keeping Teague and Hobbs in sight at all times. By the time he got back to the site Teague had tilted his hat over his face while Hobbs continued to glare at LeRoy.
After getting a fire going LeRoy produced a coffee pot and tin mugs from his possibles bag. He filled the pot with water and added crushed coffee beans.
‘We getting some of that?’ Teague said, still with his hat tilted over his face.
‘Maybe.’
‘If we promise not to do anything foolish again?’
‘I don’t rate your strength of character being able to hold that promise.’
‘I’d be surprised if you imagined we would.’ Teague shifted his hat. ‘I guess we are what we are, LeRoy. But I still crave a taste of that coffee.’
Once the coffee had boiled LeRoy took the pot off the flames and set it aside, using a wadded cloth against the heat of the metal handle. The smell of the brew drew even Hobbs’ attention.
‘Hope you don’t mind it neat,’ LeRoy said. ‘I don’t have any sugar.’
‘Hell,’ Teague said, ‘long as it’s hot and strong.’
LeRoy filled the three tin cups.
‘Any ideas of splashing that coffee in my face better stay as ideas. I have to take my gun out again this time I won’t be shootin’ at the ground.’
‘Marshal, that would be a pure shame. Wastin’ good coffee like that,’ Teague said.
Even so LeRoy kept his right hand free as he passed over the filled cups. Teague took a tentative sip, sucking the coffee over his tender lips. It took longer for his partner to taste his, peering into the cup as if he could see something that shouldn’t have been there.
‘Drink the damn stuff,’ Teague said. ‘Ain’t as if LeRoy tipped poison in the pot.’
‘Wouldn’t surprise me.’
‘I declare, Rubin, you are the most suspicious soul I ever knowed. Times are I get to wondering what I ever saw in you.’