by Tell Cotten
“How long will it take us?” Lee asked.
“Three, four days.”
“All right,” Lee nodded. “We’ll follow you.”
“Now? I usually sleep at night,” Stew objected.
“We’ll put some distance between us and Midway first,” Lee replied.
Stew wanted to disagree, but instead he grinned sarcastically and kicked up his horse.
“You’re the boss,” he sneered.
Nobody replied as Stew took the lead, and Lee and Brian fell in behind him.
Chapter twenty-four
The town fought the fire deep into the night.
Several times the fire almost jumped to the nearest buildings. But the town, led by Sergeant Wagons, bravely contained the blaze. The barn had been lost, but that saved them the trouble of having to tear it down later.
Afterwards, everyone clapped Sergeant Wagons on the back and congratulated him on a job well done.
Sergeant Wagons had never received so much praise before, and he could barely contain his excitement.
Finally, the crowd broke up and everyone went home.
Sergeant Wagons shook a few more hands, and then he walked slowly towards the police headquarters. His thoughts returned to the fire and the brave deeds that he had just done.
He walked through the open door, and he didn’t even notice that the door to the back was open. He walked over to Yancy’s desk, opened the box, and grabbed a cigar. He bit off the end and lit it, and then he decided to check on the prisoner.
Seconds later, Sergeant Wagons stood in front of the open jail cell.
He stared in disbelief, and he looked around the rest of the jail in a panic.
Stew was gone.
Sergeant Wagons couldn’t believe his eyes. He stood there, completely frozen, for several minutes.
What will Yancy think? He trembled.
Suddenly, Sergeant Wagons was very tired. In a daze, he walked back to Yancy’s desk and sat down.
He had a stunned look as he sat there and smoked his cigar. He wanted to cry, and he almost did twice.
His cigar was only halfway smoked when he reached down and grabbed the spittoon. He brought it within inches of his face, and then he spit his cigar out.
Seconds later there was a loud explosion, and fire erupted from the spittoon and came up all around his face.
He screamed as his moustache caught on fire.
Chapter twenty-five
It was after midnight when Lee called out to Stew.
“I can barely keep my eyes open,” he admitted. “Let’s stop.”
Stew didn’t argue. They dismounted, picketed their horses, and pulled their bedrolls off their saddles.
“I’ll keep watch,” Lee offered.
“I thought you could barely keep your eyes open,” Stew grunted.
Lee ignored his comment and said, “Get some sleep. I’ll wake Brian in a bit.”
“I’ll take the last watch?” Stew asked.
“No, Brian and I will handle it.”
“You don’t trust me?”
“That is correct.”
Stew snorted and rolled out his bedroll.
Brian did the same, and it wasn’t long until they were both sound asleep.
A few hours passed, and Brian woke with a jolt. He glanced at Stew’s still form, and then he looked around for Lee.
“Lee?” He called out softly.
“Over here,” Lee’s voice was quiet.
Lee was amongst the horses. He was bent over, and he seemed to be doing something to the horses’ feet.
“What are you doing?”
“Nothing,” Lee said as he left the horses. “You ready to switch? I could sure sleep.”
“Sure. Go ahead.”
Lee nodded, and he rolled out his bedroll and crawled in. The noise woke Stew, but he went back to sleep as soon as it got quiet again.
Brian frowned thoughtfully. He walked over to the horses, and they were grazing peacefully. He studied them for a moment, and then he shrugged.
The rest of the night passed uneventfully.
Brian woke them at daylight. They ate some hardtack, and then they saddled up and rode out.
Lee looked pleased as they trotted along behind Stew.
Several times Brian gave him a questioning look, but Lee just shook his head.
It was midmorning when Brian’s horse started limping. They went a bit further, and Lee’s horse started limping too.
“Hold up,” Lee called out to Stew. “Something’s wrong.”
“What is it?” Stew asked as Lee and Brian dismounted.
“I lost a shoe,” Lee announced as he peered down.
“So have I!” Brian exclaimed as he picked up his horse’s foot.
“I’ve got some shoes in my saddlebags,” Lee offered.
“That’s good, ’cause I don’t,” Brian looked relieved.
“That’s careless,” Lee shook his head disapprovingly.
Brian frowned as Lee moved to his saddlebags. He rummaged through them, and a concerned look crossed his face.
“I can’t find them!” He said, and his voice sounded panicky.
“You lost them?” Brian looked displeased.
“I reckon I did.”
“Now that’s careless,” Brian scowled.
“At least I had some to begin with,” Lee said defensively.
Brian fired back a harsh reply, and the two started arguing.
Stew sat on his horse and watched them, and after a few moments he cleared his throat and got their attention.
“This changes things,” he said, and his voice was hard and cold.
Lee and Brian stopped arguing. They looked at Stew, and he had drawn his Colt and was covering them. There was also a triumphant smirk on his face.
“What are you doing?” Lee narrowed his eyes.
“I think I’ll just take all that money for myself,” Stew said smugly.
“But we had an agreement,” Lee objected.
“Not anymore.”
“What are you going to do?” Lee tried to look worried.
“I should kill you,” Stew declared. “But, seeing how you saved me from getting hung, I’m feeling generous. So, I’ll let you live.”
“Ain’t that nice of you.”
“I think it is,” Stew replied. “After all, you tried to kill me a few days ago.”
“You’re going to leave us?” Lee asked, and there was sarcasm in his voice. “In the middle of nowhere? With two crippled horses?”
“I sure am,” Stew scoffed, and then his face turned serious. “Now, I want both of you to turn around and hold your hands high. If either one of you move while I’m riding off, I’ll kill you both.”
“Do as he says, Brian,” Lee said.
Brian started to protest, but Lee shook his head, turned around, and held his hands up.
Brian studied Lee for a moment, and he sighed and did the same.
Stew smiled wolfishly as he backed his horse up.
“Thanks for breaking me out, boys,” he said, and he wheeled his horse around and took off in a lope.
Chapter twenty-six
Freshly shaved Sergeant Wagons rode out of Midway at first light.
He had swallowed a lot of pride when he announced to the town that Stew had escaped. But, he then declared that he was going after him, and the town erupted with cheers.
His face was sore, his eyebrows were gone, and his pride was bruised. However, he was determined to capture Stew and bring him back, dead or alive. He wasn’t sure how he’d do it, but he was determined nonetheless.
The thought occurred to him that he might enlist the help of the two territory marshals, but he couldn’t find them. He was disappointed, because they had seemed like very capable men.
So, Sergeant Wagons saddled his horse and stuffed his saddlebags with supplies. Then, looking confident and poised, he rode out while the entire town watched.
The confidence and poise left as soon as Se
rgeant Wagons got out of town. His mind raced as he tried to figure out how to go about the task at hand.
He wasn’t a good tracker, and he also didn’t have much sense of direction. However, he had been to the mountains in New Mexico once, and he figured a man on the run would probably head there.
Sergeant Wagons faced his horse to the west and took off in a brisk trot.
Chapter twenty-seven
Soon as Stew was gone, Brian lowered his hands and glared at Lee.
“Why’d you let him go?” He demanded to know. “I kept waiting for you to make a move.”
“Well, a plan occurred to me, so I decided not to,” Lee replied.
“You need to start filling me in on these plans of yours,” Brian grumbled. “Making us territory marshals, and now this!”
“I thought making us territory marshals was a brilliant move,” Lee replied defensively.
“It was, but you should have told me first.”
“Well, I’m sorry about that, Brian,” Lee said earnestly. “Next time, I’ll be sure and let you know.”
“I’d appreciate it,” Brian replied, and asked, “So, what’s your plan this time?”
“I can track a shadow in the dark. Wherever Stew goes, we’ll follow. Soon as he has the money, we’ll ride up and challenge him. Won’t be much of a problem with him shooting blanks.”
“His rifle ain’t shooting blanks,” Brian reminded.
“What’s life without a little risk?” Lee smiled.
“A little risk? Don’t you know how good Stew is with a rifle?”
“You worry too much,” Lee chuckled as he moved to his saddlebags and rummaged through them.
“What are you doing now?” Brian narrowed his eyes.
“Getting the horseshoes.”
“I thought you lost them.”
“I lied.”
“What?” Brian looked confused.
“Last night I rasped the nail heads off one of your shoes and one of mine,” Lee explained. “I knew with all this rock around that it wouldn’t take long for them to fall off. And, soon as Stew knew that our horses were tender-footed, I figured he’d double-cross us.”
“You figured right,” Brian said, and asked, “But why did you lie about the horseshoes?”
“I wanted Stew to think that we would be stranded,” Lee explained. “He won’t be worried ’bout us following him now.”
It fell silent as Brian thought things over. Meanwhile, Lee nailed a shoe back on his horse’s foot, and then he moved to Brian’s horse.
“I don’t like being left in the dark,” Brian finally said. “But, I reckon it’ll work.”
“I’m glad you approve.”
“Make sure and clinch those nails,” Brian said as he observed Lee’s work. “We don’t want those shoes falling off again.”
“Yes, sir,” Lee smiled.
Soon as Lee was done, they mounted up and took off. Lee took the lead, and they trotted along behind Stew’s tracks.
“Would you be mad if we lost the money?” Lee asked after a while.
“I don’t reckon I’d be happy about it.”
“You know what would bother me more?” Lee asked.
“What?”
“Breaking our word to Jessica.”
“Yeah,” Brian nodded thoughtfully. “Me too.”
Lee smiled as he thought on her.
“Jessica is an exceptional woman,” he said. “Irritating, but likable. You know what I mean?”
“Matter of fact, I do,” Brian smiled and looked at Lee. “Do you know who she reminds me of?”
“Who?”
“You.”
Chapter twenty-eight
Yancy and Rondo were up early.
They built a fire and drank some coffee, and then they saddled up and took out in a brisk trot.
It was mostly open country with long, gentle slopes. They could see a long ways, and this pleased them. It was always better to spot trouble from afar than up close.
They kept up the brisk pace all day, and they arrived at Landry about an hour before dark.
There was only one main street, and it was soggy and muddy. There was also a stink that seemed to rise up from the ground, and everything had a greasy look about it.
“We’ll stay at a livery stable,” Yancy said as they walked their horses down the street. “A feller named Kolorado owns it. And that’s Kolorado with a ‘K’.”
“How’s that?” Rondo looked startled.
“He’s an old-timer that’s a little peculiar,” Yancy explained, and he gestured down the street. “There he is.”
Kolorado was sitting on a bench in front of his livery stable. He was chewing tobacco, and between spits he was whittling on a stick.
He had on a sweat-stained shirt with long johns underneath. The long johns were white, but the sleeves and collar had a salty brown look. He also had a stringy, white moustache that was stained by tobacco juice.
They pulled their horses up, and Kolorado glanced up and grunted in surprise.
“Well! You’re back.”
“That’s right,” Yancy forced a smile.
“Who’s this?” Kolorado scowled at Rondo.
“Rondo Landon,” Yancy explained.
“Heard of you,” Kolorado said. “You have quite the reputation. Mostly bad.”
“Can’t help what you hear,” Rondo smiled.
Kolorado studied Rondo a moment more, and then he looked at Yancy.
“Where’s Cooper?”
“I’m not sure.”
“And the girl, Josie?”
“Not sure,” Yancy said again.
“You don’t talk much.”
“I don’t,” Yancy agreed, and he asked, “All right if we stay here?”
“Do you Landons have something against staying in hotels?”
“No,” Yancy replied. “We just like it better here.”
“I learned last time there’s no use arguing,” Kolorado muttered. “You Landons are a stubborn bunch.”
“But we pay,” Yancy added.
“You do,” Kolorado agreed as he stood. “Well, come on. Let’s get you settled.”
Yancy nodded, and they dismounted.
Rondo looked uncertain, but he still followed Yancy inside. They unsaddled their horses, put them in stalls, and fed them.
“Do you know where Pedro is?” Kolorado asked. “There’s another doc in town, and town council’s wondering if mebbe we shouldn’t try and talk him into staying.”
“Town council?” Yancy asked.
“We’ve got one now,” Kolorado announced, and he puffed his chest out. “I’m one of ’em too.”
“Town’s growing up,” Yancy smiled, and then his face turned dark. “You’d best talk to the doctor. Pedro’s dead.”
“What happened?”
Yancy explained about the trading post, and Kolorado frowned.
“That’s too bad. Pedro was a good feller.”
“Seemed like,” Yancy agreed, and he looked at Rondo. “Hungry?”
“Always,” Rondo smiled.
“I saw a café down the street,” Yancy suggested.
“Sounds good,” Rondo nodded, and they said goodbye to Kolorado and walked to the café.
The café wasn’t much.
The tables were dirty and grimy, and there were only two options on the menu. Mystery stew, or fried salt pork with pinto beans.
Yancy narrowed his eyes as he studied the mystery stew. He chose the pork, as did Rondo.
“How much further is it to this trading post?” Rondo asked while they ate.
“Day and a half,” Yancy replied. He took a bite of pork and washed it down with some coffee.
“Are you worried about Coop?”
“Sure,” Yancy admitted. “But, I try not to think about it. Worrying won’t do anybody any good.”
“We’ll find him.”
“If I know Coop,” Yancy forced a smile, “he’s probably having the time of his life, with no con
cern about us.”
“Yes, probably so,” Rondo smiled.
Part 3
“Hard Feelings”
New Mexico Territory
Three Days Later
Chapter twenty-nine
Despite being shot and having bruised ribs, I felt good. I had my gear back, I had my horses back, I even had ol’ Jug-head back. But most of all, I had my pelts back.
A look of relief crossed Josie’s face as I rode back from Wade’s camp.
“You live!”
“You seem surprised,” I smiled and handed her the reins of her horse. “Let’s go.”
Josie mounted, and we rode out.
Now, even though I felt good, I was still extremely sore, and a walk was all I could manage.
“There were no shots,” Josie said curiously.
“Seeing how I wasn’t armed, that was a good thing,” I said.
“Your hip,” Josie pointed. “It bleeds again.”
I looked down, and I was surprised to see a big stain on my pants. I could also feel blood trickling down my leg.
“When we stop, I fix,” Josie declared.
“No, no,” I said. “I fix this time. But not now. Right now we need to put some distance between us and them.”
“Riding makes it bleed again,” Josie pointed out.
“Yes, but it still beats walking.”
Josie nodded, and it fell silent as we traveled on.
We rode north a ways, and then I turned to the east. I found an old trail, and I allowed my dun horse to follow it.
“There’s a valley, with a creek,” Josie pointed in front of us. “It goes all the way down the mountain.”
“Sounds good,” I said.
A half hour later, we arrived at the entrance of the valley. The sides were steep, and the creek ran along the mile-wide bottom.
We dismounted and drank our fill from the creek.
I could barely walk, and Josie frowned as she watched me.
She helped me get back on my horse. I protested, but it was mainly just for show.
Josie climbed back on her horse, and we kicked up our horses and entered the valley.