The Scalp Hunters

by David Thompson

  “Do unto others, young lady. I have a daughter of my own.” Blunt gestured at the littered forms. “You only had to look at them to realize they were vile. For them to be after a white girl meant they had to be up to no good. So I trailed them to find out.”

  Evelyn impulsively gave him a hug. “We’re more grateful than we can say. My parents will want to thank you.”

  “No need,” Blunt declared. “By the way, I don’t believe I caught your name.”

  Evelyn introduced herself.

  “Well, Ms. King, you and your friends are welcome to come along with us to Bent’s Fort. There’s safety in numbers, and you will be decently treated. What do you say?”

  Evelyn King smiled. From Bent’s Fort it was only a ten-day ride to home. “I say yes.”

  Author’s Note

  I have been asked if the Jeremiah Blunt mentioned in Nate King’s journal is the same Jeremiah Blunt who for many years was involved in the freight trade in the Southwest.

  The answer is yes.

  Blunt was a remarkable man. A devout Christian, he treated the Indians fairly and was even held in respect by the Comanches.

  He was involved in several escapades that drew notice, foremost among them, perhaps, his rescue of Evelyn King.

  Reports have it that an eastern newspaper caught wind of the story and sent a reporter to interview Blunt. Blunt told the man that good deeds should be done in secret, and when the reporter still insisted on writing an account, Blunt held him upside down by his ankles until the reporter promised that the newspaper wouldn’t write a word.

  His story continues in Wilderness #62 : Tears of God, available in December.

  The Wilderness Series:

  #1: KING OF THE MOUNTAIN

  #2: LURE OF THE WILD

  #3: SAVAGE RENDEZVOUS

  #4: BLOOD FURY

  #5: TOMAHAWK REVENGE

  #6: BLACK POWDER JUSTICE

  #7: VENGEANCE TRAIL

  #8: DEATH HUNT

  #9: MOUNTAIN DEVIL HAWKEN FURY (Giant Edition)

  #10: BLACKFOOT MASSACRE

  #11: NORTHWEST PASSAGE

  #12: APACHE BLOOD

  #13: MOUNTAIN MANHUNT

  #14: TENDERFOOT

  #15: WINTERKILL

  #16: BLOOD TRUCE

  #17: TRAPPER’S BLOOD

  #18: MOUNTAIN CAT

  #19: IRON WARRIOR

  #20: WOLF PACK

  #21: BLACK POWDER

  #22: TRAIL’S END

  #23: THE LOST VALLEY

  #24: MOUNTAIN MADNESS

  #25: FRONTIER MAYHEM

  #26: BLOOD FEUD

  #27: GOLD RAGE

  #28: THE QUEST

  #29: MOUNTAIN NIGHTMARE

  #30: SAVAGES

  #31: BLOOD KIN

  #32: THE WESTWARD TIDE

  #33: FANG AND CLAW

  #34: TRACKDOWN

  #35: FRONTIER FURY

  #36: THE TEMPEST

  #37: PERILS OF THE WIND

  #38: MOUNTAIN MAN

  #39: FIREWATER

  #40: SCAR

  #41: BY DUTY BOUND

  #42: FLAMES OF JUSTICE

  #43: VENGEANCE

  #44: SHADOW REALMS

  #45: IN CRUEL CLUTCHES

  #46: UNTAMED COUNTRY

  #47: REAP THE WHIRLWIND

  #48: LORD GRIZZLY

  #49: WOLVERINE

  #50: PEOPLE OF THE FOREST (Giant Edition)

  #51: COMANCHE MOON

  #52: GLACIER TERROR

  #53: THE RISING STORM

  #54: PURE OF HEART

  #55: INTO THE UNKNOWN

  #56: IN DARKEST DEPTHS

  #57: FEAR WEAVER

  #58: CRY FREEDOM

  #59: ONLY THE STRONG

  #60: THE OUTCAST

  Copyright

  A LEISURE BOOK®

  September 2009

  Published by

  Dorchester Publishing Co., Inc.

  200 Madison Avenue

  New York, NY 10016

  Copyright © 2009 by David L. Robbins

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  E-ISBN: 978-1-4285-0735-7

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