Blood Bond 9

by William W. Johnstone

  Even in a short drive several head were generally lost in any case. Maybe he could “lose” a few of the Brown cattle along the way—that he could come back to later. There was a bull that the Browns owned that would be a good match for the cattle, and it would be enough to give him a start.

  It was a bold plan for Smiley, considering that he was working for a man who seemed to enjoy killing as much as drinking and eating. The only problem would be Ash Crawford. The other men probably couldn’t care less about the loss of a few head, but Crawford seemed to dog Smiley’s every move and threaten retaliation for a single misstep. He seemed to enjoy intimidation almost as much as King Petty.

  Somehow it just didn’t seem fair.

  Ash rode by, smiled an evil-looking grin, waved, and continued on.

  On the other hand, this wasn’t such a bad life. It was the best job he ever had. Maybe it was better not to rock the boat, after all. If he could keep from crossing Petty, he could continue to live the good life. After all, what could go wrong other than a storm, stampede, or other hazard inherent to the life of a cowboy?

  Smiley threw the dregs of the bitter coffee to the ground and went back to his job.

  Matt took the lead. He was not as good at tracking as Sam, but it didn’t take a Cheyenne scout to follow the trail, even though it was a few days old.

  “Up through here.” Matt gestured to some steep hills just ahead of the group. “That’s where they’re headed. Three men and a bunch of cattle.”

  Lester Brown pushed back his hat and scratched his bushy gray hair.

  “Are you sure of that, Matt?”

  “Positive. Why?”

  “I’ve rode this land for quite a few years, and don’t remember anyplace up there that would hold that many cattle.”

  “That’s where the tracks lead. Guess there’s only one way to find out.”

  “Lead on.”

  The group went slowly, carefully watching for any guards that might have been posted along the way. So far, they had seen none. It had been a clear trail with nobody trying to stop them. Matt figured that Petty and his men were so confident that they didn’t even consider the possibility of anybody crossing them.

  These hills were just a short distance outside of town and seemed to rise from the relatively flat land near the creek. Matt halted suddenly and stopped the group, gesturing for them to move off the main trail. Sam took off from the group to scout ahead.

  “There it is,” Matt said. “Looks like a good-sized hollow down there.”

  “And an entrance big enough for some livestock to pass through, but hidden from view otherwise,” Lester said. “How do you like that?”

  It was difficult to see much on the other side of the entry, though Matt could see the brown backs of a few cows wandering around.

  Sam returned in just a few minutes.

  “It’s a large area, surrounded by steep hills on three sides,” he reported. “The only way in is through the main opening, down there, or along the ledges overhead. Matt, you and I have climbed a lot worse places. I can’t speak for the rest of you.”

  “How do you feel about it, son?” Derrell asked Tommy. “I doubt if you’ve had much climbing experience on your homestead. You can stay here and watch the horses.”

  Tommy gritted his teeth and said, “I want to go.”

  Sam tied his horse deep in the brush where it could not be seen by anybody passing on the trail. “This way,” he said. “Let’s split up and meet on the other side. Tommy, you can go with Derrell. I don’t think they’ll be able to see us, but be careful, anyway. No use taking chances.”

  Maybe to Matt and Sam it was no great deal, but to a ten-year-old boy who had never climbed before, the trip into the valley was a scary feat.

  Tommy climbed quickly at first, keeping pace with Derrell, who seemed to move up the hill as if it were nothing out of the ordinary. The higher Tommy climbed, the steeper the hill got, and the boy found himself clutching at roots and branches to keep his balance.

  “Here’s where the fun really starts,” Derrell said. He was waiting for Tommy to catch up. Just on the other side of some bushes was a narrow dirt ledge that bordered a hundred-foot drop-off. Though it was only thirty feet long, it looked like a mile. And, worse, for that thirty feet they would be exposed to anybody glancing up from below.

  “This is the only way in?” Tommy asked.

  “It is for us. The paths the others are taking are even more difficult. You sure you want to try it?”

  “I’m not going to chicken out now.”

  “Good for you. Just follow my lead. Stay close to the hill. And don’t look down. It’ll go faster than you might think.”

  “Especially if we go down?”

  Derrell grinned. “I’m glad you can joke about it. Just stay calm. You’ll do fine.”

  Derrell stepped out on the ledge. He kept his feet wide apart and his hands on the hillside. Tommy noted that the ledge was wider than it first appeared—almost two feet at its widest spot. Derrell moved slowly but steadily, taking one small step at a time in smooth, sliding motions.

  In a minute, he was a third of the way across.

  “Come on,” Derrell whispered. “You can do it.”

  Tommy breathed deeply and took the first step.

  The breath seemed to catch in his throat, and he felt an emptiness in the pit of his stomach. He had a strong urge to dig his fingers into the hill and never let go. Instead, he took a very small step in the same way that he had seen Derrell do.

  “Good,” Derrell said. “You’ve got it started. Just come on.”

  Tommy took another step, and then another. Gradually, he stared to breathe more normally.

  “How am I doing?” he asked, surprised at how normal his voice sounded.

  “Great! Watch out for the next step. There’s some loose dirt and rocks there. Check your footing before you go any farther.”

  Tommy glanced down at the ledge, and for an instant caught a glimpse of empty space just a few inches away from his heels. He closed his eyes, shut them tightly, then started again. The dirt was a little slippery for the next few steps, but Tommy held more tightly to the hill and worked his way through the rocks. At one point he accidentally kicked off a loose stone. He froze, expecting a bullet to hit him in the back from below. When no shot came, he continued on.

  To his surprise, Derrell was already on the other side of the ledge waiting for him.

  “Two more steps, son. You can do it.”

  Tommy almost leaped to safety beside Derrell. They ducked into the brush, in case the rock that Tommy knocked loose had brought them any unwanted attention. Below them, however, were only cattle. If any of the rustlers had heard the stone falling, they hadn’t paid it any attention.

  Tommy rubbed his sweaty forehead with the back of his hand.

  “That had to be the longest walk I’ve ever had,” he said.

  “And it took all of three minutes,” Derrell said. “Told you it wouldn’t be long, once you get into it.”

  Tommy felt as proud as he ever had. His dad had praised him for building a good fence or doing a good job plowing the field. This achievement seemed different, more exciting, and he felt pleased at his accomplishment and at Derrell’s praise.

  “You did good,” he said. “Now let’s find Matt and the others and see what we do next.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  All of the small group—Matt, Sam, Lester and Derrell Brown, and Tommy—had made it safely into the valley. They had a clear view of the valley from where they were hidden behind the rock outcropping. Below them, the cattle moved slowly, munching on grass, while the rustlers watched over them.

  “This is a pretty place,” Derrell said. “Lucky for us that Sam found that entrance. I’ve been here all my life, and didn’t know about this valley. Even though that entrance is big enough for cattle to get through, it was sure hard to spot.”

  “And that climb was the scenic route for sure.” Matt laughed. “But we�
��re here now, and that’s the main thing.”

  “My daddy would never have let me make that climb,” Tommy said.

  Derrell put his hand on the boy’s shoulder and said, “It was a dangerous climb. You could have been killed. Your daddy would have looked out for you the best way he knew how.”

  “Yeah. I know. Sam told me something like that already.”

  “Sam was right. Your daddy was a good man. Now it’s your turn to do him proud. Just like you’re doing for all of us.”

  Matt looked at Sam, and they both smiled. The more they knew Derrell Brown, the better they liked him. He may not have been the best fighter or the smartest man the blood brothers had ever met, but he had a good heart and was proving himself to be a solid, dependable man. He was also quickly making a place in the hearts of Lilly and Tommy.

  “So what’s the plan now?” Lester asked.

  “I’ve been thinking about that,” Matt answered. “Seems to me like we need to accomplish two things. One is to get your cattle back. Along with the other ranchers’ in the area. The second thing is to beat King Petty at his own game. Look down there, and what do you see?”

  Smiley and his men were riding leisurely around the cattle, looking them over. The cattle were munching on grass or drinking from the stream. In the distance was the entrance to the valley between the rock outcroppings that was hidden from the outside.

  “I see some cattle. A few men. What else is there?”

  “I see only one way out of the valley. I see nobody guarding it, and the men down there for the most part are not gunfighters. The question is how to get the cattle with, hopefully, no bloodshed. I’d suggest a little stampede through the entrance.”

  “Hmm. Could work. Don’t think they have enough men down there to turn a stampede. Especially if it catches them by surprise.”

  “After they get back in the open, you can always cut out yours. Word will get to the others. And just let Petty try something. We’ll be waiting.”

  The others nodded in agreement.

  “My dad and I will go down and work with the cattle,” Derrell said. “I’d say we know cattle about as well as anybody here.”

  “I want to go with Derrell,” Tommy said.

  “No, it’d be too dangerous. Cattle can be pretty tricky sometimes. You need to learn a little more before you risk getting caught in the middle of a herd of crazed cows.”

  “Sam’s probably our best shot,” Matt continued. “He can stay up here and over us, in case something goes wrong. Tommy, you’d be safest up here with him.”

  “I’d rather be with Derrell . . .”

  “Tommy,” Derrell said. “You need to listen to Matt. He makes sense.”

  “All right. I’ll stay with Sam.”

  “I’ll go down with the Browns. If necessary, I can help take out the outlaws guarding the pass. We need to keep ourselves hidden, though, until we’re ready to make our move. It will mean another climb down.”

  Derrell looked down at the gradual slope and laughed softly.

  “Compared to the trip in, this will be a piece of cake,” he said.

  “Hell, this should be a lot of fun,” Lester said. “I’ve been waiting a long time to get back at King Petty.”

  “Once we’re down there, it should be easy to get the action going,” Derrell continued. “There’s one old gal in that bunch that kind of likes to take the lead, but she’s spooky as the dickens. Once she goes, the others will follow.”

  “Then let’s get to it. The party’s waiting!”

  Lilly looked around the empty room. Clarissa was in the front of the store with her husband, leaving her to herself and her thoughts. With Tommy gone, it seemed even more lonely than before. Lilly wasn’t sure why she had let the boy go with Sam, Matt, and the others. He was just a boy. It was dangerous. So why had she let him?

  He had wanted to go.

  That was a silly reason. And it wasn’t really a good reason, considering that he might be killed, just as Jack had been.

  Lilly touched the door frame and looked out at Henry and Clarissa, talking quietly between themselves as they worked in the store. She quietly envied them their marriage and their life. She’d had a good life with Jack, but now Jack was gone. As Clarissa said, Lilly still had her life in front of her. What would that bring? She wasn’t sure what she wanted anymore. She wasn’t sure she wanted to get married again, though it would be almost impossible for her to work the farm by herself, and Tommy needed a father.

  Outside the front store window, the sun was shining brightly. Spring was now in full bloom. The flowers in the front yard of her home had exploded in full color, and though she had been away only a few hours, she already missed them. She thought of Derrell Brown, and how she had once cared for him, and how he had been so kind to her. Since Jack’s death, she had been blessed with many persons helping her. Henry and Clarissa Ponder. Sam and Matt. Derrell Brown. But Derrell had been the most solid, the most dependable. Of all her friends, Derrell had made her feel the most secure and the most wanted.

  It was an unexpected feeling.

  Lilly missed her husband. Nobody could ever replace him. It would take a long time to get over the hurt. At the same time, as Clarissa had pointed out, Lilly was changing, and the changes were not all bad.

  The gun in her apron pocket was one example.

  When Jack was alive, she had never felt afraid. Lilly had always let him take care of things. She had never felt the need to do more than take care of the the house and her son. When Jack was alive, the thought of learning how to shoot, much less carrying a loaded revolver, would never have crossed her mind.

  Then, suddenly, Jack was gone and the world was a horrible place, full of terrors. She had to learn how to take care of herself, and quickly. She could no longer depend on somebody else to take care of her.

  The street outside the window seemed deserted. None of King Petty’s men had threatened her since she had helped to kill the outlaw the day before. She knew, however, that the danger was not past. Thanks to Matt’s and Derrell’s lessons in marksmanship she was better prepared than she had ever been before. She was learning to stand on her own.

  And that is also why she let Tommy goes with the others. Jack would never have allowed it. Tommy would have grown up with the same false sense of security that Lilly had. Though only a kid, this was a chance for Tommy to do something on his own. Lilly felt she could not deny him that.

  Lilly thought again about her husband, and almost felt his presence near her.

  “Jack, I know Tommy and I are doing lots of things you wouldn’t approve of,” she said softly, closing her eyes and remembering the way he used to stand with his arms around her as they looked out from the porch at their farm. “But things are different now. And there’ll be lots more changes. You did your best. You were a good man and I loved you. But I’m changing. Tommy’s changing. There’ll come a time when I will move on. I may even get married again. I hope you understand that. We used to talk about that, and we agreed that would be the best thing. Of course, we laughed. We never thought that day would come. I wish it would have been different.”

  She sat back down at the table and placed her head in her hands.

  “Jack, I know if you were alive you’d try to put a stop to all this. You’d say the best way to avoid trouble is to walk around it. But Petty brought the trouble to you, and to your family. It couldn’t be avoided. Now we’re bringing the fight back to him, with the help of some friends you never had the chance to know. There’s no stopping it now. I don’t know where it will end. All I know is that we’re in it until the end. I’m sorry it had to be this way. I really am.”

  The sound of a creaking door interrupted Lilly’s thoughts. She raised her head and opened her eyes and saw Clarissa looking at her thoughtfully.

  “Are you all right?” Clarissa asked.

  “I think I will be now,” Lilly said. “Like you said, it’ll just take some time.”

  Smiley rode leisurely
through the cattle, but something felt wrong. It was not something he could put his finger on. It was more like the vague feeling he got before a storm hit even though the sky remained clear. The fact that Ash Crawford watched his every move didn’t help.

  Ash rode his large horse toward Smiley. The cattle moved restlessly out of his way. Smiley let the other men catch up to him.

  “Just got back from town,” Ash said. “The picture there ain’t too pretty.”

  “What’s going on?”

  “While we’ve been out here with these damned cows, King’s been having himself some problems. A couple of strangers are in town, causing him some trouble.”

  “How come he hasn’t dealt with them like he has everybody else?”

  Ash leaned forward, putting his hands on the saddle horn.

  “I think these two have even King worried. They’ve been making chopped meat out of this guys. They even killed Hardesty and Cooper. And Holt’s disappeared from sight.”

  “You get any names?”

  “A couple of yahoos named Bodine and Two-Wolves.”

  Smiley stood straight up in the saddle, suddenly very nervous as he realized the storm that he had been worried about.

  “Did you say Bodine? Matt Bodine? And Sam Two-Wolves?”

  “Yeah.” Ash’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. “How’d you know that?”

  Smiley nudged his horse forward, to continue his circle around the cattle. He scanned the countryside, trying to spot anything out of the ordinary, but knew that if Bodine or Two-Wolves were in the area, chances of spotting them would be slim.