by Ralph Cotton
’’Don’t worry about me," said Sonny, ’’I’ve been practicing killing them in my mind so long I know it by heart." Behind them the woman rode in silence.
Over his shoulder, Hatch said to the woman, ’’You keep quiet, just like you have been. As soon as we’ve done our killing, we’ll see to it Madsen lets you in with us."
’’Yeah," said Sonny, ’’we’ll tell him what a crazy, killing, cutthroat whore you are. How could he say no?" Looking back, he gave her a grin and a wink.
’’Hola, Morgan. Hola, Sonny," said Hewes, racing in close, then sliding his horse sideways to a halt a few yards away. He looked surprised to see them. ’’We heard you fellows got yourselves shot to pieces."
’’Hola yourself, Filo," Hatch called out. ’’As you can see, your information was wrong." Beside him, Sonny just touched the brim of his battered Stetson and nodded courteously.
’’I’m damn glad to see you both still aboveground. Who’s the woman?" Hewes asked, looking Juanita up and down, noting the dried blood on her bosom.
’’Just call her Whore," said Engles before Hatch could answer.
’’Hola, Whore, ma’am," Hewes said hesitantly, uncertain how to address the woman.
’’Her real name is Juanita," Hatch said to Hewes, ’’if you’d prefer calling her something a little more civil." He gave Engles a cross look.
’’Begging your pardon, ma’am," said Hewes. ’’Juanita it is, then."
Engles only chuckled.
’’Where’s ole Wild Dick Bernie?" Hewes asked, looking all around as if Wild Dick might pop up out of the sand. ’’You three always stick together."
’’Wild Dick is dead," Engles said flatly. ’’That much of what you heard is true. We shot it out with a border law posse back in Julimez. Wild Dick took on some bad wounds and didn’t make it."
’’Damn, I hate to hear it," said Hewes. ’’We’ve lost some good men here too."
’’Is Deacon, Bone and Blackie still in town, or did they just pass through last night?" Hatch asked, as if not hearing what Hewes said about losing some men. He gazed ahead toward the streets of Zarco.
’’Yep, they’re all three still here," said Hewes. ’’Why would they ride on?"
’’No reason, Filo," Hatch said, dismissing the question out of hand.
’’Fact is, it looks like Deacon’s going to be running this bunch from now on," Hewes added.
Sonny and Hatch glanced at each other. ’’Oh yeah, why’s that?" Sonny asked.
’’One of the men we’ve lost here is Madsen himself," said Hewes.
’’Quinn Madsen is dead?" Sonny asked in surprise.
’’He’s deader than hell," said Hewes. ’’He caught himself on fire and ran off into the desert before anybody could put him out. Turner and the boys dragged his remains back to town. I’ll tell you it was a terrible sight, a man roasted alive like that."
Staring toward Zarco, Hatch said, ’’But Deacon was more than willing to take over and start running things before Madsen even stopped sizzling?"
’’Deacon wasn’t here when it happened. Turner was second in command," said Hewes. ’’But as soon as Deacon rode in he commenced telling us all how things are going to be from now on."
’’I just damn well bet he did," said Sonny, also staring toward Zarco.
’’Tell us, Filo," said Hatch, ’’did Deacon know you were riding out to meet us?"
’’I never asked," said Filo. ’’I always ride out any time I see more of our men showing up." He shrugged. ’’I never thought to ask, now that he’s taking over." He looked back and forth between them. ’’I hope I haven’t gone and done the wrong thing, riding out here. I already got off wrong with Deacon last night over something I said in fun."
’’Naw, you did the right thing. Why wouldn’t it be all right with Deacon?" Hatch said, nudging his horse forward at a walk, Sonny right beside him, the woman following in silence.
’’Here’s something else," said Hewes, seeming to feel as though it was his duty to catch the two gunmen up on things. ’’Fast Larry Shaw rode into Zarco the other day. I expect you’ve heard of him?"
’’Man, I’ll say!" said Engles. ’’He’s the one who killed Barton Talbert, Blue Snake Terril ..." He stopped as his mind came up with too many names to mention. ’’Hell, he’s killed more men than the plague!"
’’Well, you can add three more to that long list," said Hewes. ’’He shot Bo Phelps no sooner than he rode in, before he’d even finished watering his horse!"
’’Damn!" said Engles, looking impressed. Bedside him Hatch just shook his head, unable to tell whether Sonny was serious or mocking Hewes.
’’That ain’t all," said Hewes. ’’He hadn’t been here an hour, he killed Cero Stewart and Tommy Layton!"
’’Nobody held him to account for it?" Hatch asked. ’’Quinn Madsen just let it happen, never said a word?"
’’Madsen said they all three started the fight," Hewes explained. ’’All Shaw did was stop it. Madsen called it all self-defense."
’’If he called it self-defense, there was no more to say on the matter." Hatch spat and gazed ahead.
’’Besides," said Hewes, ’’Madsen was trying to get Shaw to ride with us. Seems a big gun like Shaw gets job offers the rest of us has to bow and scrape for."
’’Did you see us bow or scrape?" asked Engles, his voice turning cold all of a sudden.
’’I didn’t mean you, Sonny," said Hewes. ’’I was just using all the rest of us as an example—"
’’What about Deacon Lucas?" Hatch asked, cutting off Engles and Hewes. ’’Is he trying to get Shaw to ride with us?" As he asked he gave Engles a look.
’’They were talking in the street when I rode out here," said Hewes, ’’but I can’t say what about."
Hatch nodded. Then, to get rid of Hewes for a few minutes, he said, ’’Why don’t you do us all a favor and ride back and check our back trail for a mile or so? We’ve had four lawdogs on our trail since Julimez. Can’t shake them loose in this blasted sand. We’d be obliged."
’’Sure thing, Morgan," said Hewes. Before turning his horse and riding away, he cautioned them both. ’’Walk easy around Deacon. He’s had some bark on all morning. He’s tight as a fox squirrel for some reason or another."
’’Thanks for the warning, Filo," said Hatch. ’’We’ll be on our best game."
As Hewes rode off on the trail behind them, the two stared toward Zarco with bitter expressions. ’’How about these jackpotting sons a’ bitches?" Hatch said. ’’We come to kill them, and damned if Deacon hasn’t managed to take charge of all the border raiders."
’’He can still die," said Sonny. ’’Can’t he?" he asked as if having to make certain.
’’Oh yeah, we came to kill him, and we’ll get it done," said Hatch. ’’But we’re going to be a couple of cool, calm hombres about everything, until we find ourselves the right time and place to do it."
’’You hearing all this, Whore?" Sonny asked, tossing a glance over his shoulder.
’’Sí, I hear it," the woman said, speaking to Sonny for the first time after a long period of silence.
’’Don’t get any ideas about putting yourself in good with Deacon Leeman by telling him what we’ve got in mind. We’re the ones who brought you here. We’re the ones who can stop you. Don’t forget where your loyalty lies."
’’My loyalty will lie with the one who crosses my hand with the most gold," she said calmly.
’’Damn, Whore." Sonny chuckled aloud. ’’It sounds like you’ve been studying our ways for a long time."
She only smiled thinly and fell silent, riding along behind them.
When Towan Bartley had announced the three riders coming in off the sand flats, Deacon Leeman had quickly gathered Charlie Bone and Blackie Waite to one side and given them both a nod, letting them know to be ready for anything.
Shaw had been watching ever since he’d seen the strange look come over Deacon’s fac
e when he’d heard the two men were riding into Zarco. It wasn’t hard to see that something was at work here, he thought, watching Deacon from a spot he’d taken in the shade out in front of the cantina.
As the three riders approached Zarco, Bert Sibott sidled up to Shaw and said between the two of them, ’’I want you to know I wasn’t taking Deacon’s side a while ago."
’’I’m obliged, Sibott," Shaw said, looking the big fighter up and down. ’’How’s the burns and bruises coming along?"
’’I’m still sore as hell," said Sibott. He managed a stiff grin. ’’But it’s nothing a few slugs of tequila and smoking some strong Mexican dope can’t handle." He patted his bulging shirt pocket. ’’If you want some for any pains you might have, just let me know." He gave a wide, crooked grin. ’’You don’t even have to have any pain, you might want some just to keep any pain away."
’’No, thanks, but it’s most kind of you to offer," said Shaw, keeping an eye toward the coming riders as he spoke to the big Frenchman.
’’Don’t mention it, Shaw. I owe it to you," said Sibott. ’’I’m not forgetting what you did for me." He rounded his big shoulders and added, ’’I know if you hadn’t got me out of that chimney and poured water on me, I’d be looking the same as Madsen over there."
He nodded across the dirt at the twisted, lumpy pile of charred substance that had been Quinn Madsen. A skinny dog had ventured forward, stuck its nose close to the brittle, blackened remains, then sneezed and gagged and backed away, as if in disgust.
’’I’m glad that didn’t have to happen to you," Shaw remarked, seeing Deacon, Bone and Waite talking quietly among themselves, every now and then casting a glance toward him. ’’Who are these riders coming? Why is Deacon Leeman so concerned about them?" he asked as if just out of curiosity.
’’I can’t say why he’s so concerned about them," Sibott said, gazing toward Hatch and Engles. ’’But Morgan Hatch, Sonny Engles, and Wild Dick Bernie have ridden with some of the toughest gangs in the frontier territories. They are not men I would want to cross and have them looking to kill me." He paused. ’’I’m surprised you haven’t heard of them."
’’I’ve been away from the territories for a while," Shaw said, watching the three riders draw closer.
When Deacon stepped away from Bone and Waite and walked toward Shaw, Sibott said, ’’I best make myself scarce. It looks like Deacon is wanting to have a word with you." As he turned to walk away he added in a whisper, ’’Keep an eye on him. Don’t turn your back."
’’Obliged, I’ll remember that," Shaw replied.
Hurrying his pace a little, Deacon Leeman walked up to Shaw, this time without his swallow-tailed coat pulled back behind his Colt—this time by himself. Bone and Waite walked closer and lingered a few yards away, watching the three riders enter the far end of the dirt street.
’’Fast Larry Shaw," said Leeman, his voice still a little harsh, but trying to sound more sociable than before, ’’you and I got off on the wrong foot a while ago. I was just tired and edgy from too long on the trail."
Here it comes.... The voice inside Shaw’s head spoke quietly to him. ’’I understand," he said, making no attempt at offering an apology in return.
’’I just learned that Quinn Madsen and you had been talking some about you riding with us. Is that right?"
’’Yep," said Shaw, offering nothing more, watching out the corner of his eye as the three riders drew closer down the dirt street.
’’Well, I don’t know what he offered you, but whatever it was, that offer still stands," said Leeman. ’’I trust Quinn Madsen’s judgment enough to know that he was right in wanting a big-name gunman like yourself riding at his side." He paused, expecting Shaw to say something. When Shaw didn’t, he cleared his throat and said, ’’So what say you? Can you ride with a bunch like the border raiders? I have to warn you these men are tough, bold and dangerous."
’’I know," Shaw said flatly, ’’I’ve killed three of these tough, dangerous men."
Deacon didn’t pursue the matter of Shaw having killed three of the raiders. He gave a sidelong glance toward the three riders, then said, ’’What’s it going to be? I need to hear something from you. We’ve got posse men and U.S. Marshals on our trail. I don’t have time to fool around."
U.S. Marshals ... ? Shaw’s interest was piqued.
Leeman saw the slight change in Shaw’s expression and seized upon it. ’’I know you rode as a deputy marshal. The men told me about it last night. Said you still carry the badge as a keepsake. But that don’t bother me. Clell Butterfield rides with us. He used to be a Montana lawman. I say a man’s past is his own business." He took another nervous glance at the three riders as they drew nearer.
’’Who are these U.S. Marshals hounding you?" Shaw asked, taking his time, knowing that Leeman was feeling pressured by his putting him off. A bead of sweat broke free on Leeman’s forehead and rolled down into the thick beard stubble on his cheek.
’’Marshal Crayton Dawson," said Leeman. ’’Him and his deputy, a fellow named Caldwell, used to be an undertaker, I heard."
’’Yeah, that’s right, he did," said Shaw.
Leeman eyed him closely. ’’So you know Dawson and his deputy?" he asked, getting more and more edgy as the three riders reined their horses down to a slow deliberate walk down the middle of the dirt street.
’’Yeah, I know them," Shaw said, not looking at Leeman now, but rather staring toward the approaching riders.
’’Well, like I said, I don’t hold that against you," Leeman said. ’’I know you’ve had plenty of time to think it over, so what do you say? Are you going to ride with us?"
Shaw shrugged and said, ’’I’m not doing anything. Sure, why not?"
Leeman looked relieved.
’’But give me a couple days before I start," Shaw said, still staring at the riders. ’’I’ve got something I need to do first." He wasn’t about to ride with Deacon Lucas Leeman and this bunch of thieves and murderers. But this wasn’t the time to turn him down. First chance he got, Shaw’s plan was to ride out and not look back on Zarco. Now that Paco had taken the woman and her child safely away, there was nothing to keep him here. Now that my angel work is done, Shaw told himself, thinking fondly of Francisca and the wide-eyed innocent way she’d adored him.
Chapter 18
Shaw and Deacon Leeman watched the three riders enter Zarco and stop ten yards away in the middle of the dirt street. Charlie Bone and Blackie Waite stood a few feet apart. They made an attempt at hiding the fact that they were expecting a fight. In a narrow alleyway Sandy Kerns stood out of sight with a rifle ready and poised, its barrel resting on a pile of building planks.
’’Hola, Deacon Leeman!" Morgan Hatch called out from his saddle.
Leeman stepped sidelong into the street facing him. ’’Here I am, Hatch," he said. ’’You two step down and make whatever move suits you." He had shoved his coat back behind his Colt again, and stood ready.
’’Whatever suits us?" Hatch looked all around with a thin, bemused smile. ’’Hell, Deacon, you don’t seem at all happy to see us."
Deacon paused for a second, then said, ’’I know your blood’s up over what happened in Julimez. I’m not going to deny we left the four of you in a bad spot. If you’ve got something to settle, let’s get to it."
Hatch shrugged. ’’You and Bone and Waite managed to get out. Me and my pards didn’t. That’s the bad breaks of this business. I’ve got nothing to settle, have you, Sonny?" He looked sidelong at Engles.
’’Naw, not me," Sonny said. ’’All in a day’s work, far as I’m concerned." As he spoke to Deacon Leeman, he looked Shaw up and down.
Leeman didn’t trust them, but he went on to ask, ’’Where’s Wild Dick and Orville, both dead, I suppose?"
’’Yep, you suppose right," said Hatch. ’’The posse killed Orville before he got his trousers up. Dick took some bullets in his lungs and wasn’t able to ride past Arajo. We left him there wi
th this woman." He nodded at Juanita, who sat listening in silence.
’’And the posse stuck on your tails?" Deacon asked, wanting to know as much as he could.
’’Naw, we killed off that posse," Hatch replied matter-of-factly.
’’You killed the whole posse?" Leeman asked in stunned disbelief.
’’Killed them dead, and got away," said Hatch. ’’So you see, we’ve got ill feelings. We made out all right. Found some water canteens the posse had with them," he lied. ’’We cut straight for Arajo, took on fresh water and come all the way here."
’’The lawmen who’s been dogging us all the way here is Dawson and Caldwell," said Sonny. ’’There was two more with them, but the whore here cut one’s throat and left him bleeding to death."
’’She’s the meanest whore ever thrown out of hell," Hatch cut in. ’’We left her to take care of Wild Dick. When he died, she killed the lawman and got clean out of there—took a bullet but never slowed down."
Leeman looked the woman up and down. ’’Well, well, you three have had a hell of a ride," he said, feeling more at ease now. They hadn’t mentioned seeing where he’d shot holes in the water bags at the supply wagon and left them stuck with no water to cross the desert to Zarco. ’’Hell, get down out of them saddles, get something to drink, get the woman looked after."
’’Obliged," said Hatch. The three stepped down and walked their horses to a hitch rail near the spot where Shaw stood watching.
’’I bet you’re Fast Larry Shaw," Sonny said, appraising Shaw, his frayed poncho, his broad, battered sombrero, his overall demeanor.
’’I am," was Shaw’s only reply.
’’Shaw’s one of many good new men who’ll be riding with us," said Leeman, cutting in. He spoke not only to Hatch and Sonny, but to the entire gang—some twenty-odd men, Shaw had estimated, spread out all around the dirt street.
’’Is that a fact?" Engles replied. He kept his eyes on Shaw, sizing him up.
Shaw knew that look. He’d seen it in the eyes of many gunmen who upon meeting him for the first time began to question whether or not they could kill him. Shaw returned the look, answering the gunman’s question with a single stare—it would cost no less than his life to find out.