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In Close Pursuit

Page 8

by Colleen French


  He pushed back his plate. "Call me Shiner. I ain't Mr. to nobody no more."

  "All right, Shiner. I need your help." She looked at Adam. "We both need your help. This Larry Caine and his men killed my brother during a train robbery."

  Shiner shook his head. "I knew it was Larry the minute I started hearin' 'bout those train robberies. It's just like him to ride the train and let the boys do the work. Larry always did have a lazy streak in him."

  "Shiner. Do you know where he might be? Do you know where we could find him?"

  Shiner pushed back in his chair and thrust a toothpick between his teeth. "You aim to go after him?"

  "I've been sent to bring him back to Salt Lake City to stand trial," Adam answered.

  Jessica glanced at Adam, wondering if he realized she had no intentions of letting Larry Caine live long enough to stand trial.

  "I got a few ideas where he might be." Shiner reached for his beer. "I could take you."

  Jessica shook her head. "That's not necessary, Shiner. Just tell us. There's no need for you to risk your own life."

  Shiner slapped his palm on the table. "Missy, that man took my wife, raped her, let the boys have a go at her, then slit her throat. They found her a few days after they found me." Tears rose in his eyes. "Larry took my pride, then my wife, then my dignity. You think my life means anything to me?"

  Jessica turned her gaze to Adam and he nodded slightly. He held her in his power for a moment and she remembered his tenderness after Mark's funeral. She looked back at Shiner. "If we get you a horse, can you be ready to ride by morning?"

  "Tonight," Adam corrected. "We ride tonight."

  Shiner wiped at his tears, feeling foolish. "I can ride tonight. I know two places right off hand. I was through these parts with Larry six, seven, years back."

  Adam stood. "I'll take care of the horse, you just see that you don't get drunk before sunset."

  Shiner looked up at the half-breed deputy. "I give you my word, as a Texas Ranger."

  Jessica slid out of her seat and followed Adam. "You think we can trust Shiner?" she asked at the door.

  Adam nodded. "I don't know why I didn't chase him down three months ago when I heard about him. Everyone told me he was a liar, I assumed they were right. But that man"—he shook his finger—"his pain is real. He's telling the truth all right."

  She folded her arms over her chest, looking back at the old Texas Ranger. She liked talking like this to Adam . . . as an equal. It was comfortable, like a worn saddle. "I thought the same. I just didn't know if taking him with us was a good idea."

  "Directions can be a funny thing out here. If the man's willing to take us, we'd be fools not to accept." Adam's hand fell to his pistol and he absently stroked its onyx handle. "Look, Jess. I thought maybe you could just stay put tonight. No sense in you losing sleep. Even if we're lucky it'll be days before we catch up with them."

  Jessica smiled. "Oh, no you don't. I stay here, you take Shiner, and that'll be the last I see of Adam Sern. You think I'm stupid? I'm going with you."

  He studied his boots, then lifted his gaze to take in her lovely face. "I'm having second thoughts Taking a woman—"

  She cut him off before he could finish. "Adam, you're not responsible for me. This is my decision. I'm going after Larry Caine with or without your help. If you're so concerned, you'll keep me beside you"—she grinned—"where you can keep an eye on me."

  On impulse Adam reached out and caught a lock of her hair that had come loose from the braid she wore down her back. She watched him, wondering if he would try to kiss her again . . . half hoping.

  Suddenly, Adam released her hair and spun on his heels. "Be mounted at sunset," he said and then walked out the door.

  Adam, Jessica, and Elmo Shine rode out of Sharpston, Utah, at sunset and headed west toward the Wasatch range of mountains. They rode side by side, talking little. Occasionally the two men dismounted and studied "the signs." Jessica couldn't understand how they could possibly gather any information from tracks in the dirt, but she kept silent. The terrain grew steeper and they began to climb, riding old paths cut through the wooded mountains.

  Jessica rubbed her neck, shifting in her saddle. The summer night air grew cool and she shrugged on the short wool jacket she'd bought at the general store. The excitement of setting out in search of Larry Caine and his outfit had worn off and now she was just plain tired. Hera's gait was so rhythmic and steady that several times she found herself drifting to sleep. Each time, she shook the cobwebs from her head, mentally chastising herself. If she wanted to ride with Adam she knew she had to stay alert. With Shiner at his side, she wouldn't put it past Adam to leave her behind.

  The waning moon rose high in the sky and began to fall, and still they rode on. Shiner's first guess had led to nothing but an empty log cabin so they moved on, riding up through the mountains. Despite the chill, Jessica had to fight hard to stay awake. How far were they riding? The sky was already turning pink in the east. The sun would soon be up.

  Suddenly Jessica realized someone was pulling her out of her saddle. Startled, her eyes flew open and she met Adam's gaze. He pressed a finger to his lips and then pointed. In the dim morning light she could make out a column of smoke rising above the trees in the distance.

  Adam brought his lips to her ear. "An abandoned logging camp," he whispered. "Shiner says it's probably them."

  She nodded. His warm breath in her ear made her feel dizzy. "So what do we do? Ride in now before it gets light out?"

  He smiled, keeping his hand on the small of her back to steady her. "You've been reading too many newspapers. We don't do anything now but wait. We don't know who it is or how many there are."

  "Where's Shiner?" she whispered.

  Adam's arm fell comfortably on her shoulder as he leaned to speak again. "Gone to take a look. Why don't you lay out your bedroll and get a little sleep. It's going to be a long day."

  After a short nap, Jessica sat in the brush, watching the smoke, wondering if Larry Caine was at the bottom of the hill. Again and again she checked her derringer. All day Shiner and Adam took turns sneaking through the woods, down the side of the mountain the three-quarters of a mile to where the logging camp stood. By midmorning Shiner had identified three of the men in the cabin as men who rode with the Black Bandit, but there was still no sign of Larry Caine. Finally Jessica got a chance to go down and have a look with Adam late in the afternoon.

  For a long time she crouched in the green foliage beside him, watching in silence. Laughter and an occasional shout came from the cabin. Twice, men wandered out into the yard to walk to the outhouse or simply relieve himself in the grass.

  Adam only chuckled. "You stay put and I'll send Shiner down. I think I'll circle around back and give my legs a stretch—see what I can see from that angle."

  Jessica impulsively reached out and touched his arm. "Be careful," she warned.

  He smiled and nodded. "You just stay where you are and if any shooting starts, you go back to the horses and wait. You know the way back to Sharpston."

  She gave a half laugh. "I'm not going anywhere without you."

  "I mean if we're killed, Jess," he said softly.

  She nodded, trying to hide her fear at the thought of something happening to Adam. "I can find my way back."

  He squeezed her hand and then took his rifle and slipped through the brush. A few minutes later, Shiner appeared.

  "Seen anything, girl?"

  Jessica shook her head. "No sign of him yet."

  "Yeah, well, he's a sly dog, that one." Shiner removed a small flask from his coat and took a sip. He offered the bottle to Jessica, but she refused.

  "If he's here, why haven't we seen him?" she asked impatiently.

  "Maybe he ain't here. Maybe he went into some town to celebrate, to deposit money even. They say he's got accounts in half the banks in these parts. Course maybe"—Shiner returned his flask to his coat pocket—"just maybe the bird ain't got out of the sack yet."


  Jessica pushed her hat off her head and wiped her brow. She was hot and tired and her legs were beginning to ache. Carefully she eased herself to a sitting position. "Do you see Adam?"

  "No, but he's out there. Them Injuns, they can slip right under your nose and ya never see 'em 'til it's too late."

  Jessica smiled. "He's the first one I've ever met, even seen up close. A girl over in Loco said he was just a half-breed, but I don't know."

  Suddenly Shiner rose to his feet.

  "What? What is it?" She tugged on his coat.

  Shiner crooked his finger, breaking into a broken-toothed grin.

  Jessica stood and looked down the mountain through the trees. Her breath caught in her throat. It was him! The Black Bandit!

  "That's him, isn't it?" she whispered.

  "Doggoned if it ain't, the son of a bitch!" Shiner cocked his rifle.

  "Wait." Jessica laid her hand on Shiner's barrel. "We have to wait for Adam to come back. We have to have a plan."

  "Plan!" Shiner gave a snort. "I thought I'd just save the deputy marshal the trouble of haulin' Mr. Larry Caine all the way back to Salt Lake City. Thought I'd just kill him myself."

  Jessica watched her brother's murderer hang a piece of mirror from a tree branch and wet his face with water from a basin. "Not if I can get to him first, Shiner."

  The old Texas Ranger glanced at her. "Got a vicious streak in you, don't you, girlie?"

  She pulled her pistol from her belt and spun the cylinder to be certain every chamber was loaded. "The man murdered my little brother and took every possession I owned. I can't get Mark back, but I can get my carpetbag."

  "Well, if he's still got that bag of yours, you just leave it to Elmo Shine. I'll get her back." He started down the mountain.

  "Wait! Where're you going?" she whispered.

  "Down to get a closer look-see."

  "We should wait for Adam." She watched Caine lather his face with soap and reach for a straight-edged razor.

  "I just wanna be sure it's him. My eyes ain't as good as they once was."

  Jessica started to go with him, but then crouched in the cover of the trees. Instinct told her to wait for Adam. She watched Shiner make his descent, carefully picking his way down the slippery bank.

  Then, all at once, Shiner's feet went out from under him and he went sliding down the side of the mountain.

  Larry Caine jumped up and reached for a rifle that leaned against a tree. "Boys!" He ran for the cover of the cabin as men spilled out, rifles aimed.

  "Up there!" Larry shouted, his voice echoing in the treetops.

  Shiner scrambled to his feet and opened fire. A bare-chested man fell immediately.

  "How many?" one of the men shouted.

  "Can't tell," another answered, diving for the cover of a rain barrel.

  Someone came running up behind Jessica and she whirled around, her pistol aimed. It was Adam.

  "What the hell happened?" he demanded, slinging a belt of ammunition over his shoulder.

  "I told Shiner to wait, but he wanted to have a look. Caine's down there, I saw him."

  "Where? Which one is he?"

  Jessica parted some branches. "He's gone. Inside, I guess. He was wearing dark pants and that red shirt of his. Brown hair."

  Adam caught Jessica's shoulder. "You stay here. I get into trouble and you ride like thunder out of here, you understand me?"

  But Jessica was already running behind him. "I'm not staying out here by myself!"

  The moment Adam was in range he began to fire. Caine's men had taken refuge behind a turned-over wagon and a few outbuildings. Shiner fired and reloaded his ancient Henry rifle as fast as he could.

  Jessica watched the confusion, no longer flinching with each rifle shot. She held her pistol tightly in her hand, watching the door to the cabin, waiting for the Black Bandit.

  Jessica heard Adam's cry before she saw him fall. Before it registered that he had been hit, he was already rolling down the side of the mountain into the line of fire.

  "Adam!" she screamed.

  "Run, Jess! Run!" he managed and he rolled over and over again leaving a trail of blood in the pine needles.

  Jessica scrambled down the mountain after him.

  Chapter Eight

  When Jessica reached Adam he was laying with his face on the ground, his rifle pinned beneath him. "Adam!" She rolled him over, keeping low in the brush. The outlaws were still firing. Bullets whizzed over her head, ricocheting off the tree trunks. "Adam!" She grabbed his shoulders and shook him. There was so much blood on his shirt that she couldn't tell where he'd been hit.

  Shiner kept up the gunfire as he crossed toward Adam and Jessica. "He hit bad?" The Texas Ranger reloaded his rifle rapidly.

  "I don't know!" she answered, amazed at how calm she remained. She tucked her pistol into her belt and took Adam's face between her palms. "Adam, can you hear me?" She shook him again. "Adam, for God's sake, answer me!"

  His eyelids fluttered. "Jess?"

  "Yes, yes, I'm here."

  "Damn! I've been shot," he said weakly. "Must be losing my touch." He tried to laugh.

  "You've got to get up, Adam. We can't stay here." She took his hands. "You've got to get to the horses. We stay here and they'll kill us all."

  Adam pulled himself to a seated position. He pressed his hand to his left shoulder. "It's not that bad. Just give me a second. I can still shoot." His speech was slightly slurred as if he'd been drinking.

  "You're bleeding like a stuck pig." She let go of his hands, and steadied him with her knee as she picked up his rifle. "How're you going to shoot if you can't walk?" She offered her hand. "Come on, Adam, for me. On your feet."

  Shiner kept up the fire, but the outlaws were beginning to move closer, realizing there was only one rifleman in the trees. "You two best git while the gittin's good," Shiner flung over his shoulder.

  "We're not leaving you here," Jessica protested, helping Adam to stand. "We'll take care of Adam, then we'll come back in a day or two."

  "We won't all get out of here," Shiner answered. "There's too many of 'em."

  "I can't leave you here!"

  Adam leaned heavily on her, his arm wrapped around her shoulder. "He's right, Jess." His breath was slow and labored. "We won't all make it out. I'll stay."

  "Hell, you will!" Shiner reloaded his Henry. "Miss Landon, you just get the deputy marshal up to them horses and ride like hell. I'll take care of this bunch. Seems I owe 'em one."

  "You'll just hold them back until we get mounted, won't you? You'll be right behind us, won't you?"

  The Texas Ranger grinned. "Right behind you, girlie." Then he took off, with a war whoop, racing straight down the mountain toward the outlaws.

  Jessica and Adam stumbled up the side of the steeply overgrown bank. Twice they both fell, and once Jessica dropped Adam's rifle, but somehow they managed to reach the horses. Adam slumped to the ground.

  "Oh no, you don't." She grabbed him beneath the armpits and pulled with all her might. "You've got to get on Zeus. I can't lift you."

  On the second try Adam mounted the horse. He hung onto the pummel, his head sagging.

  Jessica mounted. "Do we go or wait on Shiner?" She rested her hand on Adam's thigh, afraid he was going to fall off his horse.

  "He said he'd catch up," Adam answered, trying to sit upright.

  The sound of crashing underbrush caught Jessica's attention. "Here he comes!"

  Out of the bushes came Shiner. "Run! Run!" he cried.

  To Jessica's horror he was soaked in blood, his rifle was gone, but he was still running.

  Someone was coming up the mountain after him. The hidden outlaw fired and Shiner went down. The outlaw burst through the underbrush and before Jessica could think, she swung her rifle onto her shoulder and beaded in on the murderer. She recognized him as one of the bandits who had been on the train the day of the robbery.

  The outlaw shot, and Zeus shied, racing up the mountain, with Ad
am clinging to his back. Jessica pulled her trigger and the outlaw stumbled backward under the impact of the bullet.

  Jessica wheeled Hera around and rode up beside Shiner. There was no breath left in his body. Up close she could count four wounds. A tear trickled down her cheek.

  The sound of gunfire drawing closer warned her of the approaching men. "I hate to leave you here," she whispered.

  "Jessica!" Adam cried weakly.

  She gazed up to see him fifty yards ahead of her. "He's dead."

  "Come on, sweetheart. He didn't mean to make it back."

  Jessica glanced down at the Texas Ranger again.

  "Damn it!" Adam cried. "Let's move!"

  Wiping her tears with the back of her hand, Jessica caught Shiner's horse's reins and rode after Adam.

  Jessica rode behind Adam, praying he didn't pass out and fall off his horse. If he fell, she would never get him astride again. They rode as hard as they could through the dense mountain overgrowth. In the time that it took for the outlaws to return to camp and mount their horses, Jessica and Adam had turned off the path and cut north along a ridge, hoping to lose them.

  Finally Adam and Jessica slowed their horses to a walk to give them a breather. She rode up beside him, resting her hand on his arm. His handsome bronze face was pallid and drawn, his eyes half closed. There was a sheen of fever-induced perspiration across his forehead.

  "Adam?"

  His dark eyes met hers. "I'm all right."

  "We need to stop and let me get a look at that shoulder."

  He tried to moisten his parched lips with the tip of his tongue, but his mouth was too dry. "We move on."

  She unscrewed the lid from her canteen and brought the water to his mouth. She watched him drink thirstily. "You're burning up with fever. If your shoulder turns green you'll lose the arm, maybe your life."

  "They could still be following us." He wiped his mouth on his sleeve. The simple motion set him off balance and he began to slide off the saddle.

  Jessica steadied him. "They're not following us. Too drunk. You said so yourself. We've made ten turns since we left them. How can they know where we are if we don't know where we are?"

  Adam closed his eyes, trying to muster some strength. "We keep moving."

 

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