by Neil Hunter
They had already killed Joseph Calvin and wounded Rankin. It wouldn’t end there if the Monks had their way.
One way or another blood was going to be spilled before the affair was settled. Brand realized getting off the mountain was not going to be easy with the Monk clan on their tails, so two guns were going to be better than one.
He soaked his neckerchief in the stream and ran it over his face. He caught Adam watching him. A swell of pride rose as he caught the boy’s gaze. As much as he wanted to be angry he couldn’t help admire the younger man’s courage. Riding all the way on his father’s trail and facing up to what had happened to him.
Just what you would have done yourself, he had to admit. A foolish maneuver but what the hell.
‘Looks like we’re together on this, Bodie,’ he said.
The bounty hunter simply nodded. He crossed to his horse and slid the Winchester from the scabbard, checking it thoroughly.
The man was nothing but professional, Brand thought. He knew Bodie by reputation. The manhunter had few equals. When he went after a wanted man it was a done deal. The Stalker had earned his title and Brand could not fault him. Bounty hunters in general had a raw deal. They were often despised. Looked on as scavengers. Men who hunted and killed for money. But the men they went after were not choir boys. For the most part they were killers. Lowest of the low, and would shoot a man in the back for the dollars in his pocket. Brand had done his share of bounty work. Following his dismissal from the US Marshal ranks he had hired out his gun on a few occasions before signing on with Frank McCord. Even then he was still hunting men and getting paid for it. The only real distinction was he did it with official sanction.
There was a fine line between the two profession and Jason Brand wasn’t going to make any judgment where Bodie was concerned. In the past Bodie, himself, had worn a badge until personal events had turned him away from that life. He had used his learned skills in his new profession and disregarding the way some felt about bounty hunters Bodie had become the best at what he did.
They mounted up and Brand led the way back to where he had left Rankin and Joanne. It took Brand no more than a few minutes to explain about Bodie and Adam. Rankin, still severely weakened, agreed that they needed to move quickly and they made their preparations.
It was Bodie who offered a destination. A town closer than Santa Fe. It had a telegraph facility and more importantly a resident doctor. It offered sanctuary. A place for them to organize themselves and maybe get the help they needed.
Chapter Nineteen
‘Town of Wishbone,’ Bodie said. ‘West of here. Take us around four, maybe five hours speed we’ll be travelling. I met the local law when I came through lookin’ for Thad Monk. Name of Dan Conway. He put me on to where I could find the Monk outfit.’
‘Has to be the place,’ Joanne said, ‘Hec needs seeing too fast as possible.’
‘That’s where we’ll head for then,’ Brand said. He glanced at Bodie. ‘You riding with us then?’
The manhunter took a moment before he spoke. ‘Seems likely,’ he said. ‘Hell, I can’t let you tenderfoots go wandering around by yourselves.’
‘Thank you, Mr. Bodie,’ Joanne said.
‘Always willing to help a lady in distress,’ Bodie said.
They prepared themselves for the ride ahead. Checked what supplies they had. Made sure all their weapons were fully loaded. By the time they were ready it was full dark.
Brand noticed Adam staying in the background. Saying little. He looked subdued, almost reluctant to be there. Brand crossed to his son.
‘Got a job for you, boy,’ he said. ‘Something needs doing. You up to it?’
‘You not feared I’ll mess it up?’
Brand failed to hold back a grin. ‘Still feeling sorry for yourself?’
‘I made a mess of everything. Coming out here. Could have caused more trouble for you.’
‘Can’t deny that. But you had your reasons. I’ve been thinking on that. Might have been a foolish move but I can understand why. Promise me you won’t don’t do anything like that again and we’ll let it go. Agreed?’ Adam nodded. Brand said, ‘When we move out I want you to stay at Joanne’s side like a burr under a saddle. She’s going to have enough on her hands keeping Hec in place. You be her eyes and ears. Watch and listen. Keep that rifle close. I’m depending on you.’
‘I won’t let you down.’
‘Never even thought you would. Listen good. Either me or Bodie tells you to do something, do it fast. No questions. Last thing I need to be doing is digging out any more lead from anyone. You hear?’
‘I understand, pa.’
‘How’s the head?
Joanne had tended the gash, cleaning it and wrapping a cloth bandage around Adam’s head.
‘I’ll be fine now the dizziness has gone.’
Brand touched the boy’s shoulder. ‘No more falling off your horse, boy.’
‘Nice family moment,’ Bodie said dryly. ‘Now let’s light out before the Monks show up.’
Brand fashioned a thick blanket pad for Joanne to sit on behind Rankin. Once she was mounted behind the drowsy lawman Brand handed her the reins.
‘You going to be all right?’
She smiled down at him. ‘We’ll be fine.’
‘Adam’s going to be alongside. He stays with you all the way.’
Joanne glanced at Adam. ‘Things are getting better all the time. Now my own good looking escort.’
‘He gets that from me,’ Brand said.
Bodie reined in alongside. ‘You want me to take the lead? I know the trail to Wishbone from here.’
‘Do it,’ Brand said. ‘I’ll ride drag. Watch our back trail.’
~*~
They fell into line, Bodie leading them away from the cluster of buildings and into the shadowed tree line. There was enough light from the stars to at least allow them some guidance across the rough terrain.
They kept sound down a minimum, aware that noise would travel far in the mountain stillness. There was little talk. Only the occasional sound from Rankin when a jolt sent pain through his shoulder. With the soft covering of fallen leaves and brush on the ground their passage through the trees was virtually silent.
Brand maintained a silent vigil on their back trail as they moved further and further away from the derelict buildings. Even as time passed and there were no signs of pursuit he still held the feeling they hadn’t seen the last of Nathanial Monk and his kin. Sooner or later they were going to pick up the trail that would lead them to the deserted camp and once that happened they would find the evidence that would show what had happened there. Spilt blood. Soaked rags. It wouldn’t take them long to figure out what had happened. And then they would search out the trail left by four horses as they took to the forested slopes and set out for Wishbone.
The Monks knew the mountains and they would figure Wishbone as the closest place where a hurt man could be taken for treatment. Once they were on the trail time would start to run out for Brand and company.
Brand understood the situation. He also understood there was little or no alternative. Santa Fe was too far away. Rankin needed medical help. The choice was made for him. For all of them.
Wishbone offered them relief from their current situation.
Problem was it might also become a trap for them if the Monks showed up. The moment he had that thought Brand corrected himself.
Not if—when—the Monks showed up.
Too much had already taken place.
The Monks had suffered casualties. That was something they wouldn’t forget. And Brand had engineered the escape of the captives they had been holding. Knowledge of what had been going on went with the escapees and Nathanial Monk was not the kind to let that happen. He would want to keep the secret of the gold find just that—a secret. From what Brand had learned the Monks would have no problem with carrying out more killing.
When the Monks came they would be on a blood hunt.
Nothin
g less.
Brand could make out the figure of his son riding just ahead of him. He made a silent promise nothing would happen to the boy. He had just found the boy and determined that nothing—nobody—would change that.
~*~
They stopped a couple of times to let Rankin have a break. He was determined not to hold them up but he was still weak and it took both Joanne and Adam to regularly help him to stay upright.
It was well after midnight and into the early hours when Bodie called a final halt. They were on a high ridge that overlooked the wide basin that held the town of Wishbone. Bodie hunched forward, studying the distant, dark township. The place was quite, with very few lights showing. He was feeling the beginning of an odd suspicion. About things not being as easy as they first seemed.
Bodie always trusted his feelings. In his profession, hunting men who would kill a man as soon as look at him, Bodie had developed keen senses. Inner warnings that made him think long and hard before committing himself to any course of action. He would be the first to hold up his hands and admit to not always going that route. Sometimes he simply went into a situation all guns blazing—often literally—and made the best of it. Right now there was something holding him back. That was warning him to walk soft around Wishbone.
When Brand eased his horse alongside he watched the way Bodie was studying the town below the ridge.
‘You figure we’ve got trouble ahead?’
‘What do you see down there?’
‘Sleeping town. Nobody moving around. Looks peaceful enough. And that worries you?’
Bodie’s slight shrug meant a great deal. ‘If I had a middle name most likely it would be suspicious.’
‘Suspicious or not,’ Joanne said, ‘we can’t wait much longer. Hec’s wound has started to bleed again. He needs that doctor right now.’
Barely above a whisper, Rankin said, ‘Don’t take risks just for me.’
‘Oh, hush,’ Joanne said. ‘We haven’t come all this way for you to die so close to help, Hec Rankin.’
‘One way or t’other,’ Brand said, ‘we need to do something.’
‘Seems to me we don’t have much of a choice,’ Bodie said.
‘What if the Monks are waiting for us?’ Adam said.
Brand glanced across at him. ‘Where did that come from?’
‘Well, they know the territory and if they figure where we’ve been heading it could be they know a faster way to reach Wishbone. All they have to do is look at our tracks to work it out.’
‘Boy has a good notion’ there,’ Rankin managed, his voice even weaker than earlier.
Bodie sighed in frustration. ‘Hell, then, there’s on’y one way to find out.’
He slid his Winchester free and checked the action.
‘If I had a gun I could wave it at them in a threatening manner,’ Rankin whispered.
‘Enough of that kind of nonsense,’ Joanne said. ‘You just make sure you stay alive.’
‘Yes’m.’
‘All this damn talk,’ Bodie said, ‘is wasting time. ‘Fore we know it’ll be dawn. We need to reach town before it gets too light.’
‘Town’s lawman and doctor,’ Brand said. ‘That’s who we need to reach.’
Rankin slumped forward and it took all of Joanne’s strength to prevent him slipping from the saddle. Adam leaned across and got his arms around the lawman and between them they helped Rankin stay on the horse.
‘Couldn’t we stop talking and just do something,’ Joanne said.
‘Let’s go,’ Bodie said and eased his horse forward.
They had to make their own trail through the trees and scrub, Bodie choosing the path they rode and his sharp eyes maneuvered them down the undulating slopes. They moved slowly. Not wanting to risk any mishaps as they negotiated the deep shadows. The chill of the night air penetrated their clothing, cold on their exposed skin. Adam slipped off his coat and handed it to Joanne. She made an initial protest, but eventually slipped into the garment. That prompted Bodie to pass over his blanket roll and Joanne draped the cover across Hec Rankin’s hunched shoulders.
They traveled steadily over the next few hours, moving ever lower down the angled slopes. The tree line thinned out and they found themselves crossing wide stretches of open ground. The distant town of Wishbone disappeared from sight as they hit deep falls in the land, only to come back into view when they crested higher ground.
Brand fell back a few times, turning to check out the back trail. The darkness made it hard to distinguish anything that might have been out of place. He stayed where he was for some time, checking and rechecking.
Saw nothing.
Heard nothing.
He eased his horse back on the trail, riding easy, but never once allowing his caution to slip away. It only took a moment to miss something, and Brand had the unerring feeling that if any of the Monks spotted them there wasn’t going to be any hesitation on their part.
He didn’t like the situation. But there wasn’t a thing he could about it. It was what it was. He had ridden up into the mountains on assignment, looking for a pair of missing men. He’d found them, under difficult circumstances, and like it or not, he had been forced to take on added responsibility.
The wounded Rankin.
Joanne.
And he wasn’t forgetting his son.
Adam had made his own decision to come looking for Brand. Brand hadn’t expected him to show up. It had caught him off guard at first. Accepting it had been the only option. All he could now was concentrate his efforts on making sure the boy remained unharmed. Yet even as he thought it Brand knew much of the situation was out of his hands. It only took a single bullet to make a difference. He didn’t even want to consider that. Yet it remained in his thoughts. There was no way he could banish it.
Damn and blast.
He needed to concentrate on the current situation. Which was proving difficult.
Bodie called a halt, easing his horse alongside Brand. Faint streaks of light were starting to dissipate the darkness. Creeping in from the east, the pale luminescence forcing its way across the shadowed landscape.
‘Going to be a close one,’ Bodie said.
Below them the last distance before they reached Wishbone. The main street stretched away, terminating where it merged with the tracks of the spur line. The railhead was surrounded by cattle pens and corrals. Stables and storage sheds. Wishbone was a gathering place for outlying cattle and horse outfits. The town itself offered the backup for the stockyards. All that was required by ranches and the men who worked for them. It could be a busy place, yet at this early hour it was quiet, deserted, save for lamplight in a few buildings. Smoke rising from chimneys as early fires were started.
‘Spur runs all the way to Santa Fe. Wishbone’s no more than a cow town but she does good business from what I hear,’ Bodie said. He eased in the creaking saddle. ‘You set?’
‘As I ever will be.’
‘Let’s do it.’
‘Keep on the lookout, people’ Brand said. ‘This where it might get busy.’
They put their horses down the final stretch. Picking up a well used trail below that would lead them into town.
Chapter Twenty
Bodie led them along the hard baked, rutted street at a steady walk. Fine dust, disturbed by their passing, hung in their wake. He was heading for the doctor’s office first. From his previous visit to Wishbone he knew its location. It was halfway along the main street, between a hardware store and a clockmaker’s establishment. As they drew rein Brand stepped out of his saddle and mounted the boardwalk. The surgery door was flanked by blacked out windows. A sign on the timber wall to one side of the door proclaimed—Elliot Kasner, Medical Practitioner. Brand knocked, waited a reasonable time and knocked again.
Brand and Adam helped the semi-conscious Hec Rankin off the horse, with Joanne monitoring every move. They moved Rankin onto the boardwalk as the unlocking of the door told them the doctor was awake.
The
man who opened the door was tall, tending to extreme leanness. His thick dark hair tousled. He stared at them, taking in their general disheveled appearance. Then his gaze settled on Rankin and his blood-soaked shoulder. To his credit the doctor wasted no time on questions.
‘Bring him in,’ he said. ‘Go right through to the surgery in back.’
The doctor closed the door and followed them.
‘Bullet wound in his shoulder,’ Joanne said. ‘He’s lost a great deal of blood.’
Between them Bodie and Adam stretched Rankin down on the long leather couch. The doctor immediately worked on removing the stained covering, saying little until he had exposed the wound. He bent over it and examined the raw gash in Rankin’s shoulder.
‘I’ll go find the local law,’ Bodie said.
He turned and left.
‘What happened here?’ Kasner asked, staring at the ragged hole in Rankin’s shoulder.
‘Took the slug out,’ Brand said.
Kasner glanced up at him. ‘What with? A broken bottle?’
‘We weren’t in a position to perform ideal surgery,’ Brand pointed out.
‘All we had was a knife and a jug of liquor to clean it,’ Joanne said sharply. ‘It was something that needed to be done quickly.’
Kasner took another look at the wound. ‘Have to admit it looks as if you’ve prevented infection setting in.’
Joanne said, ‘Praise indeed, doctor.’
The medic managed a smile at her remark. ‘If I caused offence, I apologize. ‘
‘Doc, we’ve had a long ride down off the mountain,’ Brand said. ‘We’re not at our best right now.’
‘Sounds as if you’ve got problems.’
‘Does men with guns following us count as problems?’ Joanne said.
‘You ever heard of the Monks?’ Brand said.
‘Some. They live way up high,’ Kasner said. ‘All I do know is they’re not the most hospitable sort.’