“If you don’t agree, you will be killed, and your Horse will be forced to give up his secrets. He will be dismantled. He won’t survive.”
Jed closed his eyes, defeated.
If he gave his assent, at least he’d be with Horse throughout the old man’s meddling. And, he would also be around to find out more about what was going on.
He looked at the old man. He nodded.
“You’re going to have to speak up, son,” the old man revealed gums lined with teeth that were decades younger than he was.
Before Jed could say a word, they were interrupted by the arrival of the blonde woman. She kept her back to the gunslinger but didn’t bother to lower her voice.
“Gramps, we got word from the city.” She showed him a telegram. “We got trouble.”
The old man glanced at the paper and then steered the blonde woman from the room, leaving Jed to look around, wondering how he might escape without putting Horse in more danger. He slumped in his chair, realising it was impossible. Damn it; he should have considered the dampening field. He should have guessed it would work against Horse and trap it.
Jed reddened with anger at himself when it occurred to him that he was nothing but a fool, a fool who had been used as bait.
***
The old man returned several minutes later. The look of amusement was gone and his face was heavy with concern. He looked Jed squarely in the eye and let out a long, rasping breath that told Jed old Gramps might be in the market for a new pair of lungs.
“Change of plan,” he announced. “You will recall my other companion from our first encounter. Young woman about yea high. A redhead.”
He paused for Jed to respond. The gunslinger flicked his eyes upwards very slightly: he remembered.
“She went up to the capital on business, we’ll call it, but she’s gone and wound herself up in a mess of trouble.”
“What kind of trouble?”
“Belle will explain on the way.”
Jed assumed that the blonde woman was Belle but something else wasn’t clear.
“On the way to where?”
The old man put his hands together. It might have been a gesture of supplication if he wasn’t the captor and Jed the captive.
“I’ll make a deal with you, son,” Gramps eyes were wet and he was struggling to keep his voice from cracking. “You will go up to Wheelhub and you will extricate Lilimae from the trouble she’s gotten herself into. Belle will go along with you for the ride and to keep an eye on you. Make sure you don’t abscond.”
“And my Horse?”
“He’ll stay here as an insurance policy. When you bring me Lilimae you’ll get your Horse back.”
“And while I’m gone?”
The old man raised his hands in surrender.
“No one will touch him while you’re gone. Of course, if it should turn out that you don’t come back, he will become mine to do with as I see fit.”
The blonde - Belle - came in but stayed at the door. She had swapped her skirts and petticoats for some leather pants and a black shirt. A red neckerchief was bright at her throat and her hair was pinned back.
“Ready for the off, Gramps,” she announced. She cast a quick glance at Jed, still tied to his chair. “Is there a problem?”
“I believe our friend was just about to come on board.” Gramps raised a bushy white eyebrow at the gunslinger. Jed made a grunt of resignation. Belle walked towards him. The heels of her black boots clicked on the floor.
“I don’t need him, I tell you,” she hissed at her grandfather. “I can do this myself.”
“I see you talking but it’s your sister I can hear,” the old man countered. “And look where her mulishness has landed her. Leave the rescue mission to the professional. I need you to go along to keep an eye. And Lilimae will be tickled to see you.”
Belle seemed unconvinced.
“And if we fail?”
“You won’t fail. Our friend here will make sure of that.”
He pulled out a scalpel and cut Jed free. Jed stood up and rubbed his wrists.
“Your guns will work again as soon as you’re free of the field,” the old man steered him towards the exit. “But something else will come into force at the same moment.”
Out in the yard, two basic Horses were waiting, laden with provisions. They couldn’t hold a candle to Horse, Jed saw right away. Hell, they couldn’t even light a match. Jed just hoped they’d make the journey.
“Once you get going, these two fine critters will be linked by a signal. Sort of like the telegraph offices are linked by wire. Separate them and they will explode. So don’t go riding off on your lonesome. Either of you.”
“Gramps!” Belle looked appalled.
“Don’t worry, my sweet,” he patted her small hand with his dry, spotted one. “The critters are calibrated to recognise their rider. They’ll know which one has you on it and which one the gunslinger. So even if he thinks of swapping and making his getaway, only his Horse will detonate. I promise you.”
“I don’t like this, Gramps. Why can’t we just tether them with rope?”
“Rope can be cut, Missy.”
Jed, already in the saddle of the black Horse, spat on the ground.
“Thought you folks were in a hurry to see Miss Lilimae?”
The old man smiled and his new teeth caught the sun.
“Quite so! Go on, my dear. The sooner you go...”
“I know, I know; the sooner I’ll be back.” She leant down and planted a kiss on the furrows of her grandfather’s forehead. She walked around to the chestnut Horse and climbed into the saddle in one fluid motion.
The old man watched them as they rode across the yard. At his signal, the sentries opened the north gates.
Jed’s neck prickled as they rode out into the scrubland. All eyes were on him; he could feel it. He almost asked the Horse its opinion but realised at the last second, this Horse was not his.
The gates closed behind them. Jed’s pistols hummed into life. He was surprised to find this didn’t make him feel any easier.
“How long?” Belle had to repeat her question before Jed realised he was being addressed. “How long until we get to Wheelhub?”
Jed thought about it.
“At this rate, best part of a fortnight.” He saw she was both surprised and dismayed by this response. “I mean, if we just trot along like donkeys giving rides to babies at the county fair. What say we see what these nags are capable of? We got the road to ourselves and I don’t know about you, I don’t want to spend more time in open country than is strictly necessary.”
Belle’s eyebrows flew upwards. She glanced around the plain that stretched as far as she could see in all directions.
“Bandits,” Jed explained. “They won’t give a hoot about your rescue mission.”
“Then what do you suggest, Mister - uh?”
“I suggest we kick these beasts into overdrive and see what they can do.”
Belle nodded. The fort was a receding dark spot on the landscape.
They spurred their Horses on. The critters became more alert. Within seconds they were pelting across the scrub at full gallop. Both riders found this exhilarating.
Jed looked across at the blonde woman whose ponytail was flapping behind her like a pennant.
“The name’s Jed,” he called out over the sound of thundering hoofs.
She nodded.
“I’m Belle!” she replied, gasping as the speed took her breath away.
They rode for several miles at this speed in what was almost companionable silence.
***
They slowed their pace in order to descend into a valley. Belle seemed to relax now they were off the open plain, grateful for the steep walls of rock t
hat became more sheer the further in they progressed. Jed decided against pointing out that such places afforded countless ideal places for ambushes. They picked their way along a narrow creek that bubbled and bounced beside them like an enthusiastic puppy trying to keep up.
Jed kept a wary eye on the crests of the cliffs for movement. The sudden burst of a flock of birds made him tense. One hand tightened his grip on the reins; the other grabbed the butt of one of the pistols resting against his hips.
“You’re awful quiet,” Belle observed a couple of miles in.
“Yes, ma’m.”
“I mean, I know this ain’t a social outing but there ain’t no reason we cain’t be civil to each other.”
“Have I been uncivil to you, ma’m?”
“Well, no... No, you haven’t. But I think the ride might pass a lot more pleasantly if we made conversation.”
Jed didn’t reply.
Another silent mile passed under their hoofs.
“We going to stop for a comfort break any time soon?”
“Do you need a comfort break, ma’m?”
“Well, yes, I do, as a matter of fact. And I’m sure the Horses could do with topping up.”
“Be dark soon,” Jed indicated the sliver of sky above. It was changing from blue to pink and yellow. “Get all the rest you want afore long.”
He cast about for a suitable spot to make camp. There was a clump of rocks not far ahead. They shielded a recess in the cliff wall. A dense growth of chaparral masked the gap from above. Good enough.
He insisted they tend to the Horses first. He had to show her how to attach the fodder tubes, attaching the saddlebags directly into the critters’ bellies.
“Weird,” she screwed up her nose. “The way they eat.”
“It ain’t eating,” Jed said patiently. “They don’t eat. Not like we do or other horses do. The upside is there ain’t no -“ He paused to find a word suitable for female ears. “There ain’t no droppings.”
“No, I suppose not.”
It was clear to Jed this was the first time Belle had ever considered such things. It added to his misgivings about the entire enterprise. The girl was a greenhorn, unused to Horses and their ways. This made them both more vulnerable - and Jed hated being vulnerable.
He made a show of polishing the Horses’ coats, more than was necessary but she failed to take the hint. In the end, he jerked his head towards a couple of boulders that would afford her some privacy. She blushed and then hurried away.
She returned to find him crouched over the makings of a fire. She watched, marvelling at his application to an arrangement of twigs and dry grass. After a couple of minutes, a wisp of smoke arose from his labours and the grass flared into flame.
“Why don’t you just use your blasters?” she asked. “Be done in seconds.”
Again, Jed was called upon to be patient.
“In this confined space, a blast from my pistol would bring half the cliff down on top of us. Or at least would attract the attention of whoever’s around these parts. And we don’t want anybody’s attention. We’ll keep the fire going long enough to warm through some vittles so’s you can have a warm drink to get you through the night, but that’s all I’m willing to risk.”
“Ah. So no late night stories around the ole camp fire then, huh?”
“Not tonight, no.”
He poured some water into a tin cup and added a pinch of aromatic tea leaves. A couple of minutes later he handed her the beverage. She sniffed at it and took a sip. She made sounds of approval. Jed heated through some dried goods in a pot of water and they shared a thin but warming broth.
Jed stamped out the fire and pulled his bedroll from the saddle. He became aware that Belle was watching him. He pulled her bedroll from her saddle and threw it at her head.
“I ain’t here to be your maid, ma’m,” he grumbled.
This outburst seemed to amuse her. She sorted out her bedding and sat on it, smirking.
“Please stop calling me ma’m,” she told him. “I told you the name’s Belle. Please call me Belle. I won’t think you too familiar.”
Jed said nothing. Fully clothed, he got inside the bedding.
“Jed...” Belle began, just when he was settled. “I’m not sleepy. Can we talk for a while?”
Jed exhaled. It was dark in their recess, darker than the night sky. Belle didn’t need to see his expression to know his opinion but she pressed on nevertheless.
“Where are you from, Jed? You’re a dark horse.”
She heard air being expelled from Jed’s nostrils but to her surprise he answered.
“Truth is, ma’m - Belle - I don’t know. I’ve been roaming Vultures’ Moon so long it’s all I can remember.”
“Do you have family? A home?”
“Nope.”
“Just you and your Horse, right?” She meant it as a joke but he agreed.
Belle thought for a few minutes then began again.
“What was it like, do you think? Vultures’ Moon, I mean. Before the Pioneers came.”
“Now, how in Hell would I know that?”
“I’m asking for an opinion not a factual account.”
“Sheesh. All right.” She heard the sounds of him sitting up. She imagined she could see his eyes shine in the starlight.
“I reckon this place was close to perfect,” he said in a whisper but his enthusiasm was clear enough. “I reckon whoever was here before the Pioneers came had it made. I reckon the Pioneers brought all the troubles with them. That’s what I reckon.”
“So... who was here before then?”
“Again, I can’t rightly say. But whoever it was, the Pioneers did wrong by them or else they’d still be here now.”
“Oh...”
She heard the rustle of his blankets as he lay down again.
“Jed...”
“Whut?”
“You don’t get to talk much, do you?”
“Unlike some folks, I guess not.”
“Your Horse ain’t given to conversation?”
“Hardly. Well, no. It’s different with a Horse. There’s a...connection there. We don’t need to chitter-chat.”
“Have you ever connected with anybody, Jed? I mean, have you ever -“
He cut her short.
“You better get some sleep, ma’m. Long ride ahead of us come the morning.”
Belle lay back, amused by the terseness behind his good manners. She listened as his breathing became more regular. She found the sound rather comforting and before long she too was given over to sleep.
***
Belle woke the next morning to find Jed had already packed up their belongings. A dish of trail mix was to be her breakfast.
“Morning,” she said, rubbing her eyes.
“Morning,” he echoed, cinching the saddle to his Horse. Then he saw what Belle was doing and darted over to stop her.
“What, what?” she gasped when he snatched the boot from her hand.
“You don’t put your boots on without shaking them out first!”
“What? Why?”
She watched as he upended both her boots and shook them by their heels away from their campsite. A silver snake dropped out of one of them and slithered away, rattling its tail angrily.
Belle’s mouth hung open. He gave her boots back.
“Oh,” she said. “Thanks.”
“You’ll know next time,” he said gruffly, implying he wouldn’t be performing that service again.
He waited patiently while she ate the trail mix and disappeared behind the boulders. The time she took was a test of Jed’s patience and when she emerged he saw that she had brushed and retied her hair. She stood so he could look at her and seemed to be expecting a comment.
“Time to go,” was all she got.
***
As they followed the creek, which widened and grew louder, the cliffs flanking the valley decreased in height and steepness, but there were still enough plants and trees to provide cover. Pessimistically, Jed considered there was more than adequate cover for attackers but he didn’t mention it to his travelling companion. She was quiet at the moment and Jed knew better than to poke a sleeping bear.
The peace did not last long.
“Beautiful morning,” Belle observed. She took a swig from her canteen. Jed nodded without turning around. He waited for the sequel to this observation. He didn’t have to wait long.
“Do you think it was always like this around here, or did the Pioneers change it in some way?”
“In what way?”
“I don’t know. Brought something here. Took something away. This creek: did it used to be a raging river?”
Jed glanced around.
“I reckon so. Look at how the rocks were cut away. The creek did that, long time ago when it was younger and more powerful. But it would have done that with or without the Pioneers’ intervention.”
Belle looked at the receding cliffs and tried to imagine the valley flooded with fast-moving water.
“Golly,” she concluded.
She allowed Jed a few minutes of silence before she resumed.
“Do you think they rode through here? The first ones, I mean. The natives,”
“Maybe.”
Belle waited for him to expand on this but his tight lips signalled that he wouldn’t.
“And what -”
He silenced her with a raised hand.
“We got company,” he whispered. He pointed at a clump of trees looming ahead. Their path would take them through it. There was no other way.
“Who?” Belle whispered back. Her chestnut got a little closer to his black Horse.
“I’ve a feeling they’ll introduce themselves afore long,” said Jed.
Company!
The bandits met Jed and Belle at the edge of the grove. They were on foot and spread themselves with the easy assurance of border guards, as if robbery and possibly murder were mere formalities in their working day. They were all armed; excessively so, one might say.
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