Strong Convictions: An Emmett Strong Western (Emmett Strong Westerns Book 1)

by GP Hutchinson

  Emmett followed her gaze to the reverend.

  “I’ll go ask a few men,” Pine said, nodding. “I can’t presume to speak for any of them. But I’ll see what I can do. Discreetly, of course.”

  “Much appreciated,” Emmett said. “Would it help for us to come along?”

  The minister shook his head. “Best to keep this very quiet. I’ll do what I can, then meet you at American Flats at five tomorrow morning—with or without additional help.”

  “You own a rifle?”

  “I do.”

  “I still hope it doesn’t come down to shooting.”

  “Knowing who we’re dealing with, we’d better plan for the worst.”

  “That’s a fact. McIntosh won’t be bringing along any choirboys.” Emmett set down his coffee cup, wiped his mouth, and stood. “The coffee was delicious, Mrs. Pine.”

  The preacher’s wife wiped her hands on her apron. “It’s a noble deed you’re doing, gentlemen. And you’ll need all the help the Almighty can give you. You can count on my prayers, feeble though they may be.”

  CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

  Emmett checked his pocket watch. Eleven forty-four. He unbuckled his gun belt—long-barreled Colt still in its slim-jim holster—and handed it to Juanito.

  “I hate to see you giving this up,” his brother-in-law said. “Especially knowing that Seth Blaylock won’t do the same.”

  Emmett stared hard at Charlie Blaylock. Without the slightest waver, he said, “Sikes, if this goes wrong, put the first round from that Sharps Little Fifty through this man right here.” He stabbed a finger at his brother’s murderer. He hoped by saying as much aloud that Charlie might intervene should Seth attempt a flimflam.

  Sikes conspicuously examined a two-inch-long cartridge before slipping it into the buffalo rifle. “Reserved for Mr. Charlie Blaylock, should he or his brother choose to play dirty.”

  Under the warm sun, Emmett surveyed his backup. Yong Xu had brought along nine of the men who had fought so valiantly the night they’d rescued the other young women. They wouldn’t be much good at long range, but once they got the girls back, they’d defend them or die trying.

  And then there was Reverend Pine. Much to Emmett’s surprise, the preacher wore a gun belt. And it wasn’t borrowed. It didn’t strike him as unusual that a minister would own a Henry. Lots of folks in the West had rifles for protection. Wild animals wandered into towns from time to time. And there were still great stretches of the country with no law other than the kind with a trigger. Even a man of peace might need a rifle to protect his home and family. But a pastor with a gun belt and a pistolo—that was noteworthy.

  It pleased Emmett that the preacher had scared up three other volunteers, including the Storey County sheriff, Bob Morrison. Sheriff Morrison had made it clear that they were operating in another jurisdiction out here and that he wouldn’t take an active part until they’d crossed the line back into his county. On the upside, he’d also said he’d be glad to take the witness stand if the matter were brought before a judge. Not that Emmett believed for a moment that any of this would ever make it to a courtroom.

  Emmett pivoted at the sound of gravel crunching behind him—Yong Xu leading horses up the slope. It was time. Emmett stepped up into his saddle.

  Sikes tossed him a coiled rope and said, “I agree with Juanito. I think you’re making a big mistake abiding by McIntosh’s terms. You ought to slip your revolver into the back of your waistband.” He peered at their prisoner. “I can take out old Charlie here. But that won’t bring you back from the dead if Seth shoots first.”

  At that, Charlie snapped, “To hell with you, you English bastard!”

  Sikes marched to within inches of the outlaw. “I’d backhand you in a heartbeat if it wouldn’t leave you dribbling blood and give your brother half a reason to back out of the exchange. So shut your filthy mouth!”

  Charlie reddened.

  “Same reason I’m leaving my gun here,” Emmett said. “Plain and simple, I don’t wanna give Seth any excuse to back out. So go on and check Charlie’s wrists, and let’s get him into the saddle.”

  Once they had Blaylock on horseback, Emmett tossed a lasso around his arms and pulled the loop tight.

  “Charlie, you’re gonna lead,” he said. “And believe me, if you try anything at all, I’ll yank you off that horse and drag you through the grit and gravel all the way back to Virginia City. Buzzards’ll starve to death trying to find a scrap of you big enough to fill their gullets.”

  Charlie glared back at him.

  “Now move on up to the top of that ridge and stop there until I tell you to ride on.”

  Yong Xu brought Emmett the two spare horses and handed him the lead ropes.

  From the crest of the rise, Emmett looked out past the patches of burned grass that marked where the battle had taken place the other night. A good hundred yards beyond that, he spied a man sitting saddle and two figures on foot. His heart leapt and thumped away anxiously.

  “He’s making the girls walk out.”

  Sikes took up a spot nearby. “And you’re surprised by that?”

  “Guess not.” He panned the horizon. “Anybody see anything else I should pay special attention to?”

  Cradling a Winchester in his arm, Juanito said, “Just because we don’t see it doesn’t mean the danger’s not there.”

  “Don’t I know that,” Emmett said.

  “Hope he hits you right smack ’tween the eyes,” Charlie said, letting out a cackle.

  Emmett gave the lasso a sharp snap. “You want me to start dragging you now?”

  “You wouldn’t dare.”

  Emmett gave another tug, and Charlie teetered in the saddle.

  “It’s noon, Emmett,” Reverend Pine said.

  Emmett nodded. He glanced at Sikes. “If it comes down to it, make the first shot count.”

  Then to Charlie he said, “OK, murderer, move out nice and easy.”

  Charlie chortled again, gripped the saddle horn, and flicked his heels.

  As they descended the slope, Emmett kept an eye on Seth. Since Ping and Li Xu were walking, their advance was slow.

  Emmett slowed as well. He didn’t want to end up beyond the reach of Sikes’s buffalo gun yet within range of McIntosh’s rifles. As a consequence the ride out to the middle seemed to take all day.

  He strained to see Li’s face, to read her expression. Whatever her appearance might tell him, he knew he had to keep a cool head. The girls’ lives depended on it.

  Seth would goad him. Of that he was sure. And so would Charlie, threats to drag his carcass through the chaparral notwithstanding.

  At last, perhaps ten yards apart, both parties halted and stared one another down.

  Emmett glanced at Ping. Tears trailed down her cheeks, and her nose was runny from crying. Her narrow shoulders shook beneath the baggy crimson-and-gold Chinese smock.

  When his eyes met Li’s, he nearly lost his composure. Though her hands were bound, she stood there with amazing courage. Tears on her eyelashes glistened in the midday sunlight. But she held her chin high and kept looking from Emmett to Charlie to Seth and back again. Emmett dug deep down inside, determined for all the world to appear completely in control. He wouldn’t let Seth Blaylock rob him of Li Xu the way Victorio Sanchez had robbed him of Gabriela.

  He drew a breath and kept his voice low and calm. “You ladies OK?”

  Li scowled up at Seth and said, “Yes, once—”

  “Let’s get this over with,” Seth interrupted.

  “Once I’m free from him,” Li said, finishing her sentence.

  As his gaze returned to Seth, Emmett’s eyes narrowed. He studied the slaver for any signs of hidden weapons.

  Then he said, “Charlie, get off my horse.”

  Charlie peered back at him. “What?”

 
“I said get off my horse and walk over to your brother.”

  Charlie’s lip curled. “You ain’t even gonna give me a horse to ride outta here on?”

  “You can have the one Seth gave these young ladies.”

  Charlie muttered as he dismounted.

  “Come on over here, brother,” Seth said, producing a bone-handled knife from behind him.

  Emmett locked eyes with Seth. “That’d better be for cutting rope. Nothing more.”

  Seth sneered.

  “Li, Ping,” Emmett said coolly, “walk on over here and stand on the other side of the horses.”

  The girls began to trudge through the dry grass. They’d gone no more than three steps when Seth cocked his knife arm. The blade in his gloved fingertips flashed in the sunlight.

  “Get down!” Emmett yelled.

  Ping crumpled in place and let out a shrill scream. Li dove on top of her friend and shielded her with her own body. Her black-and-gold smock draped over both of them, almost hiding Ping from sight.

  Charlie dashed to the other side of his brother’s horse.

  Seth burst out laughing. He lowered the knife hand slowly and covered his mouth with the back of the other hand. “I was just testin’ you. To see whether you were heeled.” A grin peeked out from behind his fist.

  His chest pounding, Emmett said, “Testing, or baiting?” His gaze darted here and there, searching for McIntosh’s boys with their buffalo rifles. Slowly he walked his horse forward, stopping close enough to reach out and cuff Seth.

  “If you’d have thrown that,” he said, “it would have been the last act of your senseless life.”

  “Whoa,” Seth said, still smirking, eyes widened in mock fear.

  “Go on,” Emmett said through clenched teeth. “Your head’ll explode like a watermelon if I so much as raise my right hand. Comprende, amigo?”

  Seth snickered again.

  Emmett, on the verge of waving for Sikes to open fire, heard Ping whimper. He got a grip on himself.

  “You take your brother and ride on now,” Emmett said. “We’re done dealing.”

  Seth tucked away the knife and held out a hand to Charlie, his defiant gaze still locked on Emmett. Once he had pulled his brother up behind the cantle, he wheeled and set off for those waiting for him beyond the clearing. For a number of yards, he and Charlie both kept watching Emmett and the girls, laughing openly as they went.

  Judging that they had finally moved away in earnest, Emmett swung out of the saddle and sprinted for the girls. He half expected lead to fly, but none came.

  Li Xu rose and ran to meet him. She clutched him tightly and buried her face in his chest. Only then did she too let her tears flow freely.

  He held her a long time. Maybe too long under the circumstances. But this moment had taken too long in arriving.

  Ping stood a few feet away still sniffling. He held out an arm, hoping that with an embrace he might comfort and reassure her as well. She approached shyly and timidly accepted his hug.

  “It’s OK now,” he murmured. “You’re both gonna be OK.”

  When Emmett released the girls, Li lingered, holding to him a little longer.

  Much as he wanted to savor the moment, he took her gently by the shoulders, eased her back enough to look into her eyes, and said, “Let’s go home, Li.”

  She wiped her eyes with the heels of her hands and nodded.

  He motioned toward the spare horses. “I need each of you girls to take a lead rope. You can hold each other’s hand. Just lead a horse beside you with your free hand.”

  They both looked at him questioningly.

  “See your friends up there on the ridge?” He pointed in that direction. “Each of you walk a horse up to them, OK?”

  Li nodded and took a lead rope in her left hand. Ping grabbed one in her right. As the girls began the long walk back, Emmett fell in behind them, leading the other two horses. Although he knew everyone at the top of the ridge had him and the girls covered, he couldn’t help taking an occasional glance back toward the Blaylocks and the invisible McIntosh men.

  CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

  On the other side of the crest, a mood of restrained celebration prevailed.

  A teary-eyed Yong Xu ran to Li and caught her up in his arms. As he walked her down the back slope, quiet words in Chinese punctuated their soft sniffling. Ping’s father simply stood there holding his daughter tightly, letting her release all her pent-up fear. Tears traced down his cheeks.

  Sikes clapped Emmett on the back. “I came a hair from pulling the trigger when I saw the girls hit the ground.”

  Emmett breathed a sigh of relief. “Glad you exercised some that British discipline instead.”

  Sikes gave a wry grin.

  “You did well, hermano,” Juanito said, clutching Emmett in a hearty bear hug,

  “Yeah, well, the job’s not altogether finished yet.” The tightness that had gripped his chest for the past half hour was giving way to a pressing sense of urgency.

  While he longed to take over where Yong Xu left off and cradle Li in his arms, he was sure McIntosh and Blaylock were already hurrying their band of gunslicks southward, riding hard to recover their losses and exact revenge.

  “I hate to break this up,” Emmett said to all, “but we need to move. We won’t be safe till we’re back in Virginia City.” He motioned for Juanito to hand him his gun belt.

  Sheriff Morrison lowered the field glasses he’d been using and turned to Emmett. “We both know they’re going to try to cut us off on our way back home. In my judgment, the safest route back is Mound House. About twelve miles thataway.” He pointed. “That’ll keep us moving away from Reno.”

  Emmett cast a questioning glance at Juanito and Sikes as he seated his gun leather the way he liked it.

  Juanito shrugged.

  “From Mound House we can take the train back up to Virginia City,” the sheriff said.

  Reverend Pine stepped in, shaking his head. “I disagree, Sheriff. That route will take us dangerously close to Carson City and to more of McIntosh’s men.”

  “But Thaddeus McIntosh is dead,” Sikes said, “With him out of the picture, the Carson City McIntoshes should be a bit disorganized.”

  “Or set on revenge,” Emmett said.

  The sheriff pulled on his leather gloves. “OK, if passing that close to Carson City seems too risky, then the most direct route back is the same way we got here—the pass between Mount Bullion and Mount Scott.”

  “If we go that way, you realize we’ll be out in the open for a while,” Juanito said. “McIntosh will see exactly where we’re heading.”

  “True,” the reverend said. “While we cross the valley floor, anyone within a good five or six miles will see our dust.”

  “Then it’s a horserace to get to the pass before McIntosh and Blaylock can get there,” Emmett said. “The clock’s ticking.”

  Sikes shook his head. “What if he’s already got men stashed in the hills, waiting? They’ll rain down death on us.”

  “What do you like better then, Sikes?” Emmett asked. “’Cause I don’t think we can hold a lead twelve miles to Mound House. Not with a dozen unseasoned Chinese riders in tow.”

  “I just don’t like running up into that pass. It’s a natural choke point. But if that’s what you choose…” He folded his arms and cocked his hip.

  Emmett blew out a stream of air and dug his heel into the gritty earth. “Any way we go has risks. Knew that before we rode out. But we’re closer to the pass than the Blaylocks are. We just need to ride like death itself is nipping at our backsides. Not give up our lead. So if it’s OK with you gents, we’d better cut dirt.”

  CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

  It had been a chore keeping the inexperienced Chinese riders moving at a good lope across the valley floor. The whole way, the McIntosh gang�
�s dust trail had been drawing ever closer. Lucian’s men had been distinguishable dots on the horizon just before Emmett and his friends entered the ravine.

  Now within the confines of the gorge, ascending through the pass, the column slowed to a walk. Emmett, Sheriff Morrison, and Reverend Pine led. The Chinese were clustered together in the middle. Sikes, Juanito, and the other two from the reverend’s congregation brought up the rear.

  Emmett couldn’t recall ever having been so distracted in the middle of such a dangerous situation. He needed to keep his eyes moving, constantly scouring the hills and mountains ahead. Yet he couldn’t stop stealing glances at Li Xu.

  Every time he looked back, Li’s eyes were waiting for him. Sometimes their gazes remained fixed on one another. Sometimes she looked away quickly—usually when her father or a Chinese neighbor spoke.

  “This is about where I start to get worried,” Sheriff Morrison said. “If McIntosh did stash any gunhands up here, those rocks just ahead are a prime spot for lying in wait.”

  Clusters of stubby cedars dotted the brown grass that covered the mountainside. Emmett peered from one cluster to another, then to the rock formations the sheriff had indicated. “If we had more men like you, we could’ve left a few up there ourselves, to hold the high ground for us.”

  “Yeah, well, if frogs had wings…”

  Other than the restrained noises of their own party—horse hooves, saddle leather, and the occasional few murmured words—all was quiet in the pass. Emmett carried his Winchester across his lap, hand in the lever, ready to go.

  Emmett. It was Li’s voice—in his mind. Not a good time for his attention to be divided. Even so, he snatched a quick glance over his shoulder and found her gaze waiting for his yet again. Her father said something in Chinese, and she broke eye contact.

  From somewhere above and to the right, a few rocks tumbled and clattered down the slope. Emmett spun around and hoisted his rifle, tracing a line from the falling rocks up the hillside—boulders, bushes, clumps of taller grass. Nothing out of the ordinary.

  “Now I’ve gone and gotten you all skittish,” the sheriff said, his voice low.