by Tell Cotten
Cooper glanced at Yancy. He noticed his yearning look, but he didn’t say anything.
Yet.
Chapter forty-five
Climbing out of the gully proved to be a difficult task.
The mesquite roots offered them something to cling to, and they managed to pull themselves along.
Everybody’s muscles ached in protest as they reached the top. They dusted themselves off, and then they glanced up at the mountainside looming beside them.
“We’ve got to climb that?” Lee scowled.
“Yep,” Winchester replied.
The way to the top was bare, rocky, wind blown, and sun baked.
“Not much cover,” Lee observed.
“Nope,” Winchester agreed, and added, “Let’s get to it.”
Lee looked disgruntled, but he didn’t say anything. Winchester led the way, followed by Rondo, Brian, Jeremiah, and then Lee.
They were careful not to follow too close as they trudged upwards. Once Jeremiah slipped, but he managed to catch himself.
“You all right?” Lee asked from behind.
“Sure,” Jeremiah replied, and added, “How ’bout you?”
“Never better,” he grunted.
A few seconds passed, and Jeremiah said, “Been thinking.”
“What about?”
“April.”
“Really? So have I.”
“I had a talk with Yancy, and he explained a few things,” Jeremiah said. “He actually made sense.”
Lee scowled at that.
“When did Yancy become such an expert?”
“We both want her to be happy,” Jeremiah continued. “Am I correct?”
“You could say that.”
“But, the decision is hers, not ours,” Jeremiah said. “If we all get out of this alive, I suggest we let her choose, and that’ll be that.”
“Sounds simple enough.”
“So we agree?”
Lee thought for a moment.
“I think we do.”
“Back in the old days, we would have probably shot each other,” Jeremiah smiled.
“It’s probable,” Lee smiled with him.
“I’m glad we’re mature enough to avoid trouble,” Jeremiah said.
“Depends,” Lee replied.
“On what?”
“Who she chooses.”
Jeremiah chuckled. It was quiet for a moment, and he added, “There’s something else to discuss.”
“And what’s that.”
“The hotel.”
“Yes, we should discuss that.”
“It wouldn’t be wise for us to work together. Might end up killing each other.”
“Could be difficult,” Lee agreed.
“I have a suggestion that will solve everything.”
“Let’s hear it.”
“Whoever April chooses, gets the hotel,” Jeremiah declared.
“Interesting concept,” Lee replied as he thought on it.
“Is it a bet?”
“A bet?”
“Sure. We both bet on April, and the winner gets everything.”
“What does the loser get?”
“Health,” Jeremiah replied. “And, a fresh start elsewhere.”
Lee frowned but didn’t reply.
“That’s the only way April can be happy,” Jeremiah pointed out. “We both can’t be in her life.”
Lee nodded slowly in agreement.
“All right,” he decided. “It’s a bet.”
“May the best man win,” Jeremiah said, and it almost sounded like a prayer.
Chapter forty-six
Even Winchester felt a bit winded when they finally reached the top. He could feel the drag of exhaustion in his legs, and they trembled slightly.
The top of the pass was surprisingly narrow. The terrain was rocky and bare, except for some huge, round stones scattered about.
Brian was having the hardest time of them all. His face was drenched in sweat, and he was out of breath. A knifing pain from an old injury ripped at his side, and he limped noticeably.
Using his shirtsleeve, he wiped sweat and grime from his brow. He leaned against one of the stones, pulled the stopper from his canteen, and drank deeply.
“Oh man,” he grumbled as water dribbled down his stubbled jaw. “This is rough country.”
“And it gets rougher,” Winchester informed.
Brian scowled at that. He took another swig, and then glanced around.
“I wonder how these big stones got up here,” he said.
“Well, I was on one side-,” Lee quipped.
“Sure you was,” Brian said wryly.
“Look at that,” Rondo suddenly said, and he gestured to the west.
Thunderheads boiled up high into the sky. It was dark blue underneath, and occasional lightning flashed.
They could also feel a slight, cool breeze. Hot as it was, it was welcome.
“I thought it didn’t rain in these parts,” Lee shot Winchester a dark look.
“Doesn’t much,” Winchester replied as he studied the clouds. “But, when it does, it pours.”
“Wish I’d known that earlier,” Lee muttered.
“Didn’t think it mattered,” Winchester shrugged.
“We left our horses down there in a hole,” Lee reminded. “It wouldn’t take much rain to flood that gully.”
“It wouldn’t,” Winchester agreed, and added, “Those clouds are coming this way too.”
“So now what?” Lee asked.
It was silent as everybody thought on that, and Rondo finally cleared his throat.
“I suggest Brian goes back,” he said. “He can lead the horses out if need be.”
“What about us?” Jeremiah spoke up.
“We’ll catch up eventually,” Rondo reasoned.
Jeremiah didn’t look convinced, but he remained silent.
“Makes sense,” Winchester said, and Lee nodded his agreement.
They looked at Brian, but he just glared at them.
“I have to go back?” He asked, displeasure in his voice.
“Can’t lose the horses,” Winchester pointed out.
“So I just climbed all the way up here for nothing?”
“Least it’ll be easier going back down,” Winchester tried to be helpful.
Brian’s glare deepened, and he didn’t reply.
Meanwhile, Lee walked over to the edge and looked down into the pass.
Just as Winchester had said, the pass was narrow and rocky. The walls were mostly all rock, and they were almost straight up and down.
“We have to go down that?” He objected.
“And back up again,” Winchester added.
Lee looked doubtful, but he didn’t say anything. Instead, he asked, “Where’s that underground spring?”
“Back to the east,” Winchester pointed.
“How far?”
“’Bout a mile, give or take.”
“And that’s where those Injuns should be camped.”
“That’s the hope.”
“What if they aren’t there?”
“Then we’ll come up with another plan,” Winchester replied, and he glanced at the sky. “Not much daylight left. It’d be best if we reached the bottom before dark.”
Everybody nodded and moved to the edge. It was silent as they all looked down at the sharp descent.
“Oh, boy,” Rondo finally said. “This should be fun.”
Chapter forty-seven
“How are we supposed to get down there?” Jeremiah asked with a scowl.
“You’ll see,” Winchester replied, and added, “I’ll need everybody’s ropes.”
Winchester was good with knots. He skillfully tied all the ropes together, and the end result was one, long rope.
He eyed a smaller, round rock that was near the edge. He put his shoulder against it and pushed mightily, but he couldn’t budge it.
“It’ll do,” he said, satisfied.
He shook out a loop,
tossed it around the rock, and pulled the loop tight. Then, he tossed the slack below.
To his satisfaction, the other end of the rope just reached the bottom.
“All set,” he announced. He glanced at everyone and asked, “Who’s first?”
“I can’t hold onto the rope and my rifle,” Rondo replied.
“I’ll pass it down as soon as you reach the bottom,” Winchester replied.
Rondo nodded somberly. He spat in his hands and rubbed them in some dirt. Then, he grabbed the rope and started down.
It would have been a nearly impossible task without the rope. However, Rondo was able to lean heavily against it, and it allowed him to keep his balance as he worked his way down.
It only took him a minute or two to reach the bottom. He quickly inspected the area, and then he waved up at Winchester.
Winchester signaled back and pulled up the rope.
“Give me your rifles,” he told everyone.
There were four rifles, and Winchester tied them together skillfully. He grunted in satisfaction as he tightened the last knot.
Being as careful as he could, he lowered the rifles down to Rondo. Only once did the rifles scrape up against the side, and Lee and Jeremiah winced.
Rondo untied the rifles and waved, and Winchester turned to Jeremiah.
“Your turn,” he said.
Jeremiah had no problems reaching the bottom, and neither did Lee.
Winchester was the last to go. He grabbed the rope and glanced at Brian.
“We’ll be right back,” he said.
“Good luck,” Brian replied.
Winchester grinned recklessly as he started his descent.
Chapter forty-eight
“Did you know, it’s almost impossible for moccasins to rub blisters?” Cooper asked as they walked along.
“You don’t say.”
“Boots can rub blisters in a hurry. Especially if you have to walk a long ways in sandy, desert country.”
“Uh-huh.”
“But not moccasins. I could go all day and not rub even one little blister.”
“You go ahead and do that.”
Cooper chuckled, and it was silent for a bit.
They had been walking for an hour. It was now completely dark, and the temperature had cooled considerably.
Even though it was dark, Cooper had no difficulties seeing the way to go. The thunderstorm in the mountains flashed lightning every few moments, and it lit up the ground for a split second each time.
They went southwest a ways, and then Cooper headed straight for the mountains.
Another hour passed, and Cooper stopped to get his bearings. Each time lightning flashed, he took a quick look around.
“How far you reckon we’ve gone?” He asked.
“I figured we would have hit the ocean by now,” Yancy gasped as he caught his breath.
Cooper smiled faintly and said, “Reckon we’ve traveled two miles?”
“At least.”
“Well,” Cooper looked considerate. “If we’ve gone that far, we should have passed that hill by now. We need to cut back to the north and come in behind them.”
Yancy nodded, and they trudged along.
“This desert country looks all the same to me,” Yancy commented as he looked around.
“Does.”
“I hope you know where you’re going.”
“I think I do.”
“It’ll be embarrassing if we walk back up to our horses in a while.”
Cooper smiled in the darkness.
“I won’t tell anybody if you don’t,” he said.
Yancy grunted, and it fell silent as they ambled on.
Chapter forty-nine
They worked their way down the pass with care and patience.
Winchester went first, followed by Rondo. Lee and Jeremiah lagged behind, and they kept a keen eye on their back trail.
It was now dark, and the air was remarkably cool. There was also a rumble in the clouds, and they could feel moisture in the air. Occasional lighting struck the ground behind them, and the flashes lit up the pass for a split second each time.
Winchester stopped abruptly, and Rondo almost bumped into him.
“Look,” he said softly as Lee and Jeremiah came up beside them.
Down in the pass, they could see the flickering of campfires. The flames reflected off the steep walls, and it resembled a fiery bowl.
“Well,” Winchester said, his voice flat. “There they are.”
“Let’s go,” Rondo urged.
“Easy now,” Winchester cautioned.
Rondo nodded, and Winchester led out.
They moved at an even slower pace.
The ground was mainly open, but Winchester managed to take advantage of what little cover the pass offered. He moved from rock to rock, tree to tree, and the others followed close behind him.
As they got closer, Winchester spotted a big, flat rock just above the Indian’s camp that was nestled against the wall. It offered a good vantage point, and Winchester worked his way to the backside of it.
They were so close they could hear the murmur of the Apache’s conversation, and everybody’s face was tense with anticipation.
Winchester planned on scouting the camp alone, but Rondo pulled himself up on the rock before Winchester could tell everyone.
Winchester scowled. He motioned for Lee and Jeremiah to wait, and he crawled after Rondo.
Pressing himself as flat as possible, Rondo inched forward until he could see their camp. He felt some movement, and Winchester crawled up beside him.
There were four campfires spread about in front of them, and Indians were gathered around three of them. A carcass of a horse was on the other side of camp, and they could smell meat cooking.
The empty campfire was the closest.
At first glance it looked like there was nobody there, but then Winchester caught a glimpse of Rachel and April.
They sat on the ground beside each other, their backs toward them. Their heads were close together, and it looked like they were talking.
Rondo spotted them a split second later, and Winchester felt his body jerk and flinch beside him.
Winchester laid a comforting and restraining hand on his shoulder. Rondo didn’t look at him, but Winchester could tell that he relaxed a bit.
Suddenly, as if Rachel knew they were there, she turned and looked in their direction. Her face had a yearning look, and Winchester felt Rondo’s muscles grow rigid.
“Easy now,” Winchester whispered softly.
Rondo didn’t reply, and he kept his eyes fastened to Rachel.
Winchester heard a noise. Some Indians were walking up from the other side of camp, and Winchester and Rondo ducked.
The Indians carried branches and brush, and they piled it up against the wall of the pass.
Winchester watched them work, and he figured they were making a lean-to of some sort, getting prepared for the rain.
Winchester had seen enough. He tugged on Rondo’s shoulder, and then he pushed himself backwards. Rondo followed, and they joined the others behind the rock.
Big, wet raindrops started to fall as Winchester motioned everybody close.
He spoke in a soft, hushed voice, and Lee and Jeremiah’s eyes lit up when he told them how close Rachel and April were.
“Those Injuns are settling in, getting ready for the rain,” Winchester continued. “They ain’t as watchful as they’d normally be.”
“What’s the plan?” Rondo hissed.
Winchester studied his eager face for a moment.
“You reckon you could sneak up behind Rachel and April?” He asked.
“Without being seen?”
“Be helpful,” Winchester replied. “If not, Lee, Jeremiah, and I will be up on that rock, ready to cover you. Soon as you’re spotted, we’ll open up. It’ll be up to you to get Rachel and April out of there.”
Rondo was quiet as he thought on that, and then he nodded.
&
nbsp; “I can do it.”
“Good boy,” Winchester said. “Wait until we’re in position, and then go for it.”
Rondo nodded again, and Winchester climbed the rock again and inched forward. Jeremiah followed, but Lee held back.
“Luck, Button,” Lee said softly.
Rondo grinned briefly.
“Thanks.”
Lee nodded. He patted Rondo on the shoulder encouragingly, and then he crawled up after the others.
The rock wasn’t very wide, and Lee had to wiggle up between Jeremiah and Winchester.
All three held their rifles, and they eased back the hammers, careful not to make much noise. Then, they waited for Rondo to make his move.
Chapter fifty
Brian was exhausted, and he saw no need to hurry.
After the others left, he sat and leaned against a big rock. He decided he’d catch his breath, and then climb back down to the horses.
He flexed his cramped muscles while he rested.
“I’m getting too old for this,” he said out loud.
He leaned his head back and closed his eyes. He could feel sweat trickling down his back, and his side continued to throb.
“Just a few minutes more,” he told himself.
The next thing he knew, he bolted awake as lightning struck nearby. Seconds later, a deep rumble came from the clouds.
It was raining big drops, and his shirt was already damp. He scowled and scrambled to his feet.
Brian had no idea how much time had passed, and he was furious with himself for falling asleep. However, dwelling on it wouldn’t do any good, so he focused on the task at hand.
He grabbed his rifle and took out. The lightning was very close, and he wanted off the high ground as fast as possible.
He was halfway down when the rain became a torrid downpour. It felt like buckets of water being poured on his head, and Brian was soaked within seconds.
Vision became horrible. The ground was slick, and Brian had a hard time keeping his balance. Several times he lost his footing, and he hit the ground on his backside and slid several feet.
Brian finally reached the bottom, and he was surprised at how deep the running water already was. He made his way over to the edge of the gully and looked down.