The Tylers 2

by Neil Hunter

  Hannah asked: ‘What about me?’

  Jacob didn’t answer. There was no need to. They both knew the answer. Hannah had chosen her side, had shown herself against Will, so she was marked as he was.

  ‘Let’s get the hell out of here,’ he said.

  They mounted up and rode out, angling south now. Hannah wasn’t sure where they were going.

  They reached a stand of trees above the station. Jacob drew rein, holding onto his saddle horn to keep himself upright. Hannah edged her horse closer to him, worry showing on her face.

  ‘I want you away from Will,’ Jacob said, ‘but I ain’t going to get far like this, Hannah.’

  She dismounted quickly, freeing his coiled rope from his saddle. Working calmly she tied Jacob to his saddle. As she remounted she noticed that Jacob seemed to have lost consciousness. He’d rolled forward against the ropes that Hannah had tied round him. Hannah took hold of the reins of his horse and rode up the slope beyond the trees.

  In her mind was only one thought: to get herself and Jacob away from here, somewhere, anywhere away from Will and his gang. And to Hannah that meant only one place in the near territory.

  She put the horses up the wet slopes, heading for a distant place where the trees and grass gave way to a sprawling rock-field where their passing would leave no tracks. And beyond there, in amongst the criss-cross canyons and ravines she knew a place where they could hole up; Will and his gang would never find them there Hannah knew. It was a deep hidden place known only to her father and herself. Years back, when he’d first come to this country her father had come upon this hidden canyon while searching for a wanted man. There was grass and water, a natural refuge from the elements and man. Close by a stand of trees was a small cabin, built maybe thirty years back by some long-dead loner. Here, Hannah decided, she and Jacob could hide.

  It was well into the afternoon when they reached the narrow fissure of rock that marked the entrance to Hannah’s canyon; to anyone not having knowledge of its existence there would be little chance of them spotting it, for by the very nature of the rock face, the creases and breaks, the fissure blended in as to be practically invisible.

  Far, far below them Will and his bunch rode back and forth across the wide rock-field. Hannah had seen them hours back and she’d been able to hide herself and Jacob before they’d been spotted. Now, up here, there was little chance of anyone seeing them, and once they were in the canyon danger was completely past for the present.

  She took the horses into the canyon. After the first few hundred yards it widened out. At the far end, some two miles away, the canyon spread to its widest. Here it spanned a good mile, ringed on all sides by high cliff walls.

  Hannah was deeply worried about Jacob now. He’d come round once or twice, his face creased with pain, glistening with sweat, and she knew he was in fever again. She’d noticed that blood was soaking through the thick coat he wore. The bullet needed to come out of him quickly. Infection might have set in already. As she led the horses into the canyon Jacob lay forward across his saddle, silent and motionless; his only words during the whole ride had been some mumbled words about a town called Hope and someone called Brigham.

  She saw the cabin ahead of her through the drizzle. Reaching it she got down and pushed open the door, then went back and took down the blanket-rolls from both horses. Taking them inside the cabin she laid them on the low cot that stood against one wall. Outside again she untied the rope and dragged Jacob down off his horse. His weight was almost too much for her, but she struggled against it and dragged his limp form across the ground and into the cabin, rolling him face down on to the cot. Leaving him she went outside again and brought in their gear and supplies off the horses. She shut the door, crossed to the fireplace and set to making a fire.

  While water boiled on the fire Hannah cut away Jacob’s shirt after she’d pulled his coat off. She was barely able to suppress her shock as she exposed the wound; it was a swollen and discoloured mass of flesh, oozing festered matter. She fought back the panic that began to rise, knowing that she needed steady nerves and a steadier hand; she’d never taken a bullet out of anyone, but she’d seen it done a number of times.

  In Jacob’s saddlebags she’d found a slim, keen-bladed knife. She heated the blade in the flames to clean it, noticing that her hands were surprisingly steady. Behind her she heard Jacob groan and she prayed that she wasn’t too late.

  Will Retford had won this round. Hannah hoped that Jacob’s struggle hadn’t been in vain. He deserved another chance to put things to rights. If things turned out right here, then maybe he’d get it.

  Hannah picked up the boiled water and went back to the cot. She sat down on the edge, the knife held in her hand.

  She noticed the stillness that had come over Jacob and alarm grew in her. Bending over him she finally detected his shallow breathing. He was worse than she had realised. Hannah sleeved sweat from her face. She took a firm grip on the knife in her hand and leaned over Jacob, hoping and praying that she was still going to be in time.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Seth Tyler glanced up as a shadow fell across his desk. He narrowed his eyes against the bright sunlight gleaming through the open door of the jail, and saw the tall, lean figure stepping into the office.

  He recognised the dark-suited, taut-featured man at first glance, and knew that U.S. Marshal Alvin LeRoy could only mean trouble.

  ‘Mind if I step inside?’ LeRoy asked.

  Seth leaned back in his seat. He watched LeRoy cross the jail and sit down on a chair facing the desk.

  ‘Heard from your brother lately?’ LeRoy asked.

  ‘Jacob?’ Seth shook his head. ‘Not for a couple of months. You lost track of him, Marshal?’

  ‘I have information as to his whereabouts. Somewhere in Wyoming. Up in the Tetons.’

  ‘Why are you telling me, LeRoy?’

  LeRoy sat forward. ‘He may be heading this way. No telling he won’t get by me and trail in here. If he does it’s up to you to keep him ‘til I get back.’

  ‘You serious, LeRoy?’ Seth asked.

  ‘That badge on your shirt don’t say Ladies Sewing Circle.’ LeRoy stood up, anger paling his face. ‘You got a special set of laws for your own?’

  ‘LeRoy, you may figure yourself a big man behind that fancy title, but you been pushing this thing for a long time. Maybe it’s right you should stop and think before you go any further.’

  ‘You figure your brother’s innocent. I expect that. But I was there when it happened, and Virgil Boone was dead. And your brother ran. Not the way of a man who hasn’t done anything.’

  ‘Hell, LeRoy, is that all it takes for you to want to hang a man? What about the dead girl? You think Jacob killed her too?’

  ‘That part I’m not clear on. But I know there was something between Boone and your brother, something that led to Boone dying.’

  ‘What about Will Retford? You still saying he doesn’t exist?’

  ‘You tell me. I didn’t see him. You didn’t.’ LeRoy reached into his coat and took out a folded paper. He opened it and laid it on Seth’s desk. ‘I work on facts, Tyler. Facts like this poster.’

  Seth found himself reading a ‘Wanted’ poster. The man’s description and the sketch described Jacob. The poster said that Jacob was wanted for robbery and murder, and it had been issued by the marshal of a town in Wyoming, a town called Bannock.

  ‘Seems your brother’s branching out,’ LeRoy said.

  ‘I don’t believe a word of it,’ Seth said. He thrust up out of his seat. ‘LeRoy, if I hear you’re railroading Jacob, the whole damn U.S. marshal’s office won’t be big enough to stop me finding you!’

  ‘I’m riding up to Bannock,’ LeRoy said. ‘I’ll decide what the truth is. If your brother’s not guilty I’ll not let him carry the blame. But if he is, Tyler, then he’s a dead man already!’

  LeRoy turned and left the jail. Seth stood in the doorway and watched the man cross the street and push his
way through the crowds of men outside one of Hope’s saloons. For a time he stood in the doorway, his mind busy with thoughts of Jacob. It seemed that there was always some problem arising, hardly giving a man time to breathe, and today’s was Marshal Alvin LeRoy bringing grim news concerning Jacob.

  Seth turned back into the office. He strapped on his gun, picked up his hat and rifle and strode out onto the street. He wanted to find Jules, his deputy, and to see his girl, Beth. He had some riding to do and he wanted to get started. It was a long ride up to Wyoming, and when he got there he still had to find Jacob.

  At the end of the first week Jacob was able to take a walk outside the cabin unaided. It felt good to be out in the open air again, to feel the warm sun on his face. He walked as far as the small stream that ran nearby and knelt down, scooping up handfuls of the cool, fresh water to rinse his face. He was able to stand and look up at the blue sky beyond the trees and the high canyon wall.

  He heard sound behind him and turned. It was Hannah. She had his soap and razor in her hands, and a pan of hot water. ‘There’s a handy rock behind you,’ she said. ‘Sit down.’

  Jacob sat, watching her as she set the things out on the ground. He put a hand to his face and felt the thick beard that had grown.

  ‘I must look like hell on a rough Sunday,’ he said.

  ‘Not to me,’ was her reply, looking him straight in the eye. ‘Sit still!’

  Jacob sat motionless while she soaped and shaved him. Afterwards she washed off the remaining lather and dried his face with a towel she’d brought.

  ‘Feels better,’ he said approvingly.

  Hannah laughed softly, and then suddenly she stepped up to him and kissed him, her soft lips closing fully on his own. Jacob reached out and held her, not wanting to release her, his senses reacting to her womanly shape.

  ‘Hey!’ Hannah eased herself out of his grip, her cheeks flushing hotly. ‘You are still weak.’

  ‘You sure?’ Jacob asked; but he knew the answer. He was still weak. Even now, after only a short time outside, he was beginning to feel tired. The bullet he’d carried, and the infection it had left him with, had robbed him of a great amount of blood and a lot of strength, and it was all taking a deal of regaining.

  They returned to the cabin and Hannah poured out some coffee. They sat in silence for a time. Then Hannah said: ‘We need more food, Jacob. You could do with some meat.’

  ‘We won’t get it round here.’

  ‘But I could get it from Holland,’ Hannah said.

  ‘Where’s that?’

  ‘Town about a half-day’s ride south. Not a big place, but it has a couple of stores. I could pick up pretty well everything we need. Food, extra clothing.’

  ‘Let you go on your own?’ Jacob shook his head. ‘I won’t let you, Hannah!’

  She put a hand on his. ‘Be practical, Jacob. We need the stuff. You can’t go. Your poster’s plastered all over the county by now. And you’re in no fit state to ride yet. You need a few more days, and you also need some good food inside you.’

  Jacob knew she was right. He had to give her that. Hannah had been right all the way along the line since they’d come here. She’d chosen a good place for them to hide. She’d taken out the bullet in his shoulder, cleaning up the poisoned wound, sitting with him day and night while his body had burned with fever. He had a lot to thank her for, and the way things were he was going to have to thank her again.

  ‘When would you go?’ he asked.

  ‘First light,’ she said. ‘I can be back by evening!’

  Next morning she was up before it was light. She lit the fire and made them breakfast and coffee. Afterwards she got herself ready for the ride to Holland, went outside and saddled her horse.

  Jacob handed her a fold of banknotes. ‘Get whatever we need,’ he said. ‘And go careful. Will and his boys may still be around.’

  ‘Oh, I’m very careful,’ she said.

  Jacob smiled at her. He reached out and took her in his arms, kissing her long and hard. It was actually their first physical contact since coming to the canyon; there had been little time before; most of the time Jacob had been sleeping or in the grip of fever; but here, now, there was no concealing the feelings he had for Hannah, and to his delight she responded eagerly.

  ‘No more, Jacob,’ she said. ‘Not now. Else I never will get to Holland!’

  He watched her go until she was out of sight, then went back inside the cabin. He stared around the small room, seeing nothing that he might pass the time with. Restlessly Jacob paced the cabin. It was going to be a long, long day, he realised, and he was going to miss that girl!

  Hannah was back well before he’d expected her; as she flung herself down out of the saddle he noticed that her horse was bathed in sweat and was breathing hard.

  ‘We’ve got to move,’ she said. ‘Jacob, I’m certain I’ve been followed back from Holland.’

  ‘Will’s boys?’

  She shook her head. ‘Worse. Benteen and Hinds. They’re bounty-hunters, Jacob, the worst kind. Animals on two legs. My father had more than one run-in with them while he wore the badge in Bannock.’

  ‘What happened?’

  ‘I was just leaving Holland and they rode right by me. I knew they’d recognised me. As soon as I was out of town I rode hard, but I spotted a pair of riders following my trail when I started up into the hills.’

  Jacob strapped on his gun and began to gather up their gear.

  ‘You think they could find this place?’

  Hannah nodded. ‘If anybody could it’s that pair.’

  Mounting up they headed down the canyon, making for the narrow entrance that would take them out onto the side of the mountain. It would be dark in a couple of hours Jacob realised. Darkness might give them some cover, give them a chance to slip away; it depended on how good Benteen and Hinds were. If they knew the country well escape from them might prove a sight more difficult than he might think. But whatever happened they would have to act on the moment, planning as they went.

  They broke out of the canyon, riding slowly along the narrow ledge that bordered the hidden mouth of the canyon. Taking their horses on to level ground they reined in for a moment.

  ‘Where do we go, Jacob?’ Hannah asked. ‘I’ve nowhere else to suggest.’

  ‘We head south,’ he told her. ‘For Colorado. Before I do anything else I want you out of harm’s way. I’m taking you to my brother Brigham’s ranch outside Hope. You’ll be safe there. Seth will be on hand too.’

  ‘I’ve become a burden to you, Jacob,’ Hannah said.

  He leaned across and touched her face. ‘You can quit that kind of talk right now. If it hadn’t been for you I’d be dead, and that means a lot, Hannah.’

  They turned their horses, setting themselves along the trail. Jacob led, Hannah following a few yards behind. Easing down the slopes they made for the tree line that ran below them.

  The two riders broke out of the trees while they were still a fair distance off. Jacob pulled his horse round, reaching for his sheathed rifle.

  ‘It’s them,’ Hannah yelled. ‘Benteen and Hinds!’

  ‘Head for that ridge,’ Jacob said, pointing to the place that lay off to their right.

  Hannah spurred her horse forward. In that instant a rifle cracked harshly, the bullet kicking up dirt ahead of her.

  ‘Keep going,’ Jacob yelled. He turned in his saddle, bringing up his rifle. He squeezed the trigger, sending a bullet close to one of the bounty-hunters. The lead man hauled in on his reins, his startled horse rearing wildly, spilling him from the saddle. His partner, coming close on his heels, only just avoided trampling him.

  Jacob, by this time, had turned his horse and was riding after Hannah, and they were up and over the ridge without another shot being fired. Beyond the ridge they hit a stretch of rocky country, a place where they would be able to reach the trees without breaking out of cover. It was only a brief spell of comparative safety before Benteen and Hinds rode af
ter them. Jacob hoped they could build up a good lead before darkness fell. The more distance he put between Hannah and himself, and the bounty-hunters, the better he would feel.

  They rode throughout the night, taking more chances than Jacob would have done at any other time. But he wanted to lose Benteen and Hinds if he possibly could, though he began to have doubts that he would.

  Jacob found he was tiring very quickly; he realised that Hannah had been right — he still needed rest — but he knew that there was no chance of that now. They had to keep moving, try to reach Hope.

  As dawn broke they were riding down through the foothills. Light flooded the dark land, pushing back the shadows, and when Jacob drew rein, looking back up into the hills they’d just descended, he could see the distant figures of the two bounty-hunters.

  Hannah had seen them too. ‘They’ve been known to dog a man until he just ups and quits. And then they’ll ride in and finish him off!’

  ‘Not this one,’ Jacob said.

  They rode on, into a day that promised to be a hot one. They were both hungry, but they contented themselves with water from their canteens and chunks of cheese, which they ate as they rode.

  As their horses crested a long slope, taking them to the fringe of a dense thicket, there was a sudden flurry of movement off to one side. A horse and rider burst into view, right in their path.

  And Jacob found himself staring into the muzzle of a sawn-off shotgun held in the hands of U.S. marshal Alvin LeRoy.

  ‘Don’t make me use it, Tyler,’ LeRoy snapped. ‘At this range I couldn’t help but hit the lady as well!’

  Jacob slumped forward in his saddle, his weariness suddenly catching up on him; if he’d been alone he might have chanced something, but he knew that with Hannah by his side there was no chance at all.

  ‘Hands away from your sides,’ LeRoy said. ‘Both of you. Until I know just how deep you’re in this, ma’am I’m taking no chances.’