Wilderness Double Edition 27

by David Robbins

  ‘You have no right to judge me,’ Mandingo said. ‘You are young yet. You know nothing of the world.’

  ‘I may be young. But my folks have taught me well. I know you blame what you do on the hate whites have for you, but deep down you like it. Deep down you are scum.’

  Mandingo balled a fist. ‘You talk too much, girl. Keep it up and we will see how much talking you do without teeth.’

  ‘Brave man,’ Evelyn taunted. ‘Do you go around scaring babies, too?’

  ‘Enough of your sass,’ Mandingo said, and took a step.

  It was what Evelyn was waiting for. She kicked him in the knee and was rewarded with a yelp. Mandingo staggered back, limping. In a bound Evelyn reached the sorrel. She would rather take Buttercup, but Buttercup’s reins were tied and she would squander precious seconds untying them. Gripping the sorrel’s saddle, she went to swing up.

  Behind her the thicket crackled and out hurtled Bodin astride his mount. He did not slow but galloped right at her, forcing Evelyn to let go of the saddle and leap back or be run down. As he swept past, she sprang for the sorrel again. This time she had one foot in a stirrup and was swinging her other leg up when iron arms wrapped around her waist and she was flung bodily to the ground. She rolled over, and froze. A rifle muzzle was inches from her face.

  ‘You’re a regular wildcat,’ Mandingo spat. ‘But kick me again and you’ll be a dead one.’

  Bodin had reined around and brought his horse to a stop next to them. ‘I thought I heard voices,’ he said, climbing down.

  ‘I caught her,’ Mandingo said.

  ‘I wouldn’t brag, were I you. Not unless you can explain how she got hold of your animal.’

  ‘She’s tricky, this one.’

  ‘Or you’re getting soft,’ Bodin said. ‘A slip of a girl, and she steals your horse, and now she nearly gets away from you a second time. I expect better of those who ride with me.’

  ‘Damn it, Bodin,’ Mandingo said. ‘She’s not like other girls. She’s not timid or weak.’

  ‘Next you will tell me you’re scared of her,’ Bodin said. He turned to Evelyn. ‘You gave us quite a run, but it’s over. You are mine now, to do with as I want. The sooner you get that through your head, the less I will have to beat on you.’

  ‘If you’re smart, you will let me go,’ Evelyn said. ‘My father and my brother are looking for me.’

  ‘No parent would let their daughter traipse over these mountains with an Injun for company,’ Bodin said. ‘It was just you and him and now it is just you.’ He roughly hauled her to her feet. ‘No more of your shenanigans, hear? The next time I’ll shoot you in the leg.’

  ‘You and your friends sure like to bluster,’ Evelyn said. But she did not resist as he shoved her toward Buttercup.

  ‘Climb on. Try to ride off on us and I’ll shoot your horse. If you think that’s bluster, test me.’

  Again the thicket rustled, and out came Graf. ‘You caught her!’ he crowed. ‘And found Mandingo, too.’

  ‘Took you long enough,’ Bodin said sharply. ‘Do you think the two of you can hold on to her now, or should I tie her?’ He swung onto his horse. ‘Let’s light a shuck. I don’t like leaving Teak alone too long with those furs.’

  ‘You think he might take them for himself?’ Graf asked.

  ‘He wouldn’t be that stupid,’ Mandingo said. ‘He knows we’d hunt him down.’

  ‘Never underestimate greed,’ Bodin said.

  Evelyn held her head high. She refused to show how scared she was, refused to show weakness. Graf was on one side of her, Mandingo on the other. Breaking away was out of the question.

  Bodin looked over his shoulder. ‘Where did your Injun friend get to, anyway, girl?’

  ‘The flash flood,’ Evelyn said sorrowfully.

  ‘He drowned? That’s too bad. I would have liked to whittle on him some. I make a game of it. I see how much they can take before they scream.’

  ‘I hope I live to watch my pa and brother kill you.’

  Bodin, surprisingly, laughed. ‘You never give up, do you? But I wasn’t born yesterday. Now hush until we reach our camp.’

  Her despair deepening, Evelyn did something she had not done in a long time; she prayed.

  The sun slowly dipped toward the horizon. In a couple of hours night would fall.

  Evelyn suspected that was when they would attempt to have their way with her. She would not let them. As a last resort she intended to snatch a knife and plunge it in her heart.

  Eventually they came to the clearing. Teak had a fire going and was lounging on a saddle, drinking coffee. He did not rise to greet them. ‘There you are. It took you nearly all damn day.’

  ‘You couldn’t have done any better,’ Graf said.

  Bodin reined up and alighted. ‘We’re not back two seconds and already you two are bickering. I’m sick of it.’

  Graf began to dismount, asking, ‘Do we tie the girl?’

  ‘What do you think?’ Bodin snapped.

  Evelyn swung a leg as if to climb down, then suddenly jabbed her heels against Buttercup harder than she had ever jabbed them before. Buttercup responded by racing straight at Bodin. He cursed and jumped out of her way. She was past him in a twinkling, and for a second she thought she would make good her escape. But Mandingo was still on his horse, and he was beside her before Buttercup could take another bound. Fingers locked in her hair. She tried to pull loose, but he was stronger. She cried out as she was wrenched into the air. It felt like her neck would snap. Then she was slammed to the ground with such force, she lay stunned, unable to move.

  Bodin reached her first. ‘You little bitch.’ He rolled her over. ‘I should knock some sense into you, but I doubt it would do any good. Mandingo was right. You are a tricky little hellion.’

  Evelyn feebly resisted when Graf started to bind her wrists in front of her, but he slapped her cheek, making her ears ring, and she desisted. He dragged her near to the fire and left her lying on her side.

  Teak had not moved the whole time. Taking a loud sip of coffee, he grinned at her. ‘Having a bad day, are we?’

  ‘It could be better,’ Evelyn allowed.

  ‘Look at the bright side,’ Teak said. ‘By tomorrow the worst will be over. You’ll be dead.’

  Evelyn repressed a shudder. She had until dark, she imagined, until they were ready to indulge themselves.

  ‘You are a feisty one,’ Teak said. ‘And you’re a mess. Bodin, what do you say to letting her wash up?’

  ‘Why should I?’ was the gruff rejoinder.

  ‘She’s not much to look at with all that mud on her,’ Teak responded. ‘Don’t you want her pretty for the festivities?’

  ‘I do,’ Mandingo said. ‘I like ’em pretty.’

  ‘All right,’ Bodin said. ‘But she stays tied and one of you stays close to her. If she gets away, I take it out of your hides.’

  Teak set down his cup and stood. ‘Come on, girl. The stream is just a little ways. For your own sake, don’t try anything.’

  Evelyn slowly rose. She was stiff and sore and hurt worse than ever. Wearily, she shuffled in the direction Teak pointed, and he fell into step behind her, his rifle in the crook of his arm.

  ‘Don’t look so sad, girl. It’s not as if any of this is your fault. You were just in the wrong place at the wrong time and ran into the wrong people. A lot of others have done the same and are worm food.’

  ‘You say it as if you are proud of being a killer.’

  ‘As a matter of fact, I like the stealing more than the rest of it. I’m a natural born thief. I would steal money from my folks when I was five or six.’

  ‘You were a fine son,’ Evelyn said.

  ‘If you’re trying to get my goat, you can stop. I won’t let you make me so angry that I let down my guard, if that’s your aim.’

  It was, but Evelyn did not admit it. ‘I’ll tell you what I told the others. My pa or my brother or both will show up soon, and I would not want to be you when they do
.’

  ‘It won’t work. You can’t scare me, either.’

  ‘You’ve never heard of Nate or Zach King?’

  ‘Can’t say as I have, no,’ Teak said. ‘And even if I had, it wouldn’t make a difference. Mandingo and the others want you, and they won’t be denied. I would be a fool to go against them on your behalf.’

  ‘Then you are as despicable as they are, and I have nothing else to say to you.’

  Teak laughed. ‘You have grit, I will say that. I admit I feel sorry for what you will go through, but that is as far as I will go.’ He paused. ‘I have seen how Mandingo likes to hurt them when he does it. He is an animal, that one.’

  The stream was before them. Evelyn sank to her knees in the grass, cupped her hands, and dipped them in the water. She raised her palms to her lips and gratefully drank.

  ‘You are here to wash up,’ Teak reminded her. ‘I wouldn’t take too long at it, either, or Bodin is liable to be mad.’

  ‘You are afraid of him, aren’t you?’

  ‘I am afraid of no man,’ Teak said, his voice belying his boast. ‘But he’s fond of spilling blood, that one. He likes to kill, likes it more than anything.’

  ‘Even those who ride with him?’

  ‘Anyone. Anywhere. Anytime.’ Teak glanced toward the camp. ‘I’ve been thinking of going my own way, but I must wait for the right moment. Otherwise, I’ll be the one who’s worm food.’

  Evelyn splashed water on her face. It felt good. She splashed some on her hair, but the mud was so thick, she could not remove it. Her only recourse was to plunge her whole head in and get her hair good and wet. It took several soakings before the mud loosened. Sitting back, she wrung her hair as she would a wash cloth. The water that dripped down her arms was brown. ‘This will take forever,’ she remarked.

  ‘You’re starting to look halfway human again,’ Teak noted.

  Evelyn was in no hurry to return to the clearing. Holding her breath, she dipped her head in yet again and vigorously rubbed her hair. When she unfurled, water ran down her back and her front. She broke out in goose bumps.

  ‘Another minute and we’ll have to go back. If there is more you want to do, get it done quick.’

  ‘Yes, you’re definitely scared of him,’ Evelyn said. ‘Maybe you should steal a backbone.’

  ‘Saucy little snip,’ Teak said. ‘I’ve treated you nice and all you do is insult me.’

  ‘If I had a weapon I would do a lot more than that.’

  ‘Enough.’ Teak wagged his rifle. ‘On your feet.’ A thought seemed to strike him. ‘Say, whatever happened to that Indian you were with?’

  A lump formed in Evelyn’s throat. ‘I wish I knew,’ she said softly. She imagined Dega dead, encased in a coffin of mud.

  Teak poked her with the rifle. ‘On your feet, I said. You can mope over him later.’

  Evelyn began to rise. She was thinking of how much she had liked Dega. She envisioned him standing just a few feet away, and her sorrow deepened. Then the figment of her imagination raised his lance.

  ‘Turn, white man, and die.’

  Fifteen

  Teak whirled and tried to bring up his rifle, but Degamawaku sprang forward and, using both hands, thrust his lance into Teak’s stomach. Speared it in and up so that it sheared clear through and burst out Teak’s back near his spine.

  Teak stiffened and his mouth gaped wide, but the only sound that came out was a gurgle. Spittle dribbled over his lower lip, followed by a red gout. He looked at Dega in astonishment, then down at the spear embedded in his body. Mewing like a kitten, he sank to his knees, gasped, and died.

  Dega pushed the body over, placed his foot on Teak’s chest, and wrenched out his spear. It was covered with gore and blood, which he wiped off on the dead man’s shirt.

  Evelyn had been too stunned to move or speak. But now she found her voice, and with a glance through the trees toward the camp, she rose and whispered, ‘We have to get out of here before the others spot us.’ She held out her bound wrists. ‘Quick. Cut me free.’

  ‘I lose knife in flood,’ Dega said.

  Evelyn hunkered next to Teak. In a sheath on his left hip was a hunting knife. Grasping it, she reversed her grip and cut at the rope.

  ‘Let me,’ Dega said.

  Within moments the rope was in pieces on the ground and Evelyn was helping herself to Teak’s rifle and pistols. She also took his powder-horn in case the powder in her own horn was damp. She’d never had the opportunity to check.

  Dega’s buckskins were more brown than green, and he had mud all over his face and hair. ‘We kill other whites?’

  ‘We run.’ Evelyn waded the stream, which only came halfway to her knees, and plunged into the vegetation on the other side. She had no doubt that within minutes Bodin and the others would be after them. ‘How did you find me?’

  Loping at her side, Dega smiled. ‘I look and look after flood. Then I hear horses. I see you with those men.’

  ‘You followed us all the way here? You must be about done in.’

  ‘I tired,’ Dega admitted. He placed a hand on her shoulder. ‘I much happy you safe.’

  ‘We’re not out of the woods yet,’ Evelyn reminded him. ‘Those three will not stop until they catch us or kill us.’

  ‘I not let them hurt you.’

  Evelyn looked at him and grew all tingly. Tearing her gaze away, she focused on running. They had to put distance between themselves and the killers. ‘We need to find high ground,’ she said. It would give them an edge, however slight.

  ‘High like tree?’ Dega said.

  The trees. It gave Evelyn an idea. She was a fair shot. If she could climb a tree high enough, she might be able to pick off one or two of their pursuers. The only problem was, if she missed they might close in before she could climb down, putting her at their mercy.

  ‘Hear that?’ Dega said.

  Evelyn cocked her head. Hooves drummed from the direction of the stream, along with angry shouts. ‘They’re after us!’ She ran harder. There would not be time to climb a tree now.

  Dega stayed even with her despite a growing pain in his side. He was bone weary and in great pain. He had not said anything to her, but when they were caught in the flood, a boulder had struck him on the side as he tumbled out of control. A few of his ribs were either cracked or broken. It hurt to breathe. It hurt worse to run.

  Dega remembered lying in the mud after the flood had spent itself. Barely conscious, his chest on fire, he had tried to rise to find Evelyn. Again and again he made it to his hands and knees, only to collapse. He thought he might die, so excruciating was his torment. But after a long while he made it onto his knees, then gained his feet. Walking had taken all he had. Every step provoked more agony. But he had gritted his teeth and kept going. Evelyn needed him; he would not give up this side of the grave.

  Much of his search he spent in a haze of pain. He stumbled along, fading in and nearly out of consciousness, his body mechanically performing the motions his numb brain willed. It was a long time before the pain subsided enough for him to feel halfway himself again.

  Dega had about despaired of finding her when he heard horses. Hoping against hope, he had hurried toward them. His eyes had filled with tears when he saw that she was alive. But his joy was short-lived. To keep her in sight he had to follow them, and that meant pushing his battered body, which in turn brought more pain.

  Somehow Dega did it. Somehow he had stayed with them. It helped that they rode at a walk. He could not move much faster than that. His ribs would not let him.

  But now, with the renegades hard after them, Dega would not let his condition slow him. He would keep up with Evelyn, ribs or no ribs, pain or no pain. Still, he could not help wincing now and again.

  ‘What is the matter with you?’

  Dega smiled at her. ‘I be fine.’

  ‘Fibber.’ Evelyn had not noticed it until now, but he was extremely pale and slick with sweat. Every so often he would press his right arm to
his side and grimace. ‘Tell me the truth.’

  ‘It nothing,’ Dega insisted.

  ‘Then why do you look like you are ready to keel over?’ Slowing, Evelyn gripped his arm. ‘You’re hurt, aren’t you?’

  Dega was thinking of the three men after them and their guns. ‘Please,’ he urged. ‘We talk later.’

  ‘Now,’ Evelyn insisted, coming to a stop. ‘Or so help me, I will not take another step.’

  Dega could not understand why she was making such an issue of it. Their lives were at stake. ‘I hurt in flood. Happy now?’

  ‘How bad?’

  ‘Only little hurt,’ Dega said.

  ‘Is that so?’ Evelyn pressed her hand to his side. Instantly, he doubled over in anguish. ‘I’m sorry!’ she said, awash in worry. ‘I didn’t mean to do that.’

  ‘We go,’ Dega said, and did so. She tugged at his sleeve, but he shrugged her off. He would not be to blame for getting them caught.

  ‘You must rest,’ Evelyn urged.

  ‘No.’

  ‘You are only making yourself worse. Please.’ Evelyn grabbed his arm and dug in her heels. He took a few more steps, then stopped, panting. She put her hand to his forehead. ‘Good Lord. You are burning with fever. You must be busted up inside. If you don’t rest you could die.’

  ‘They come,’ Dega said.

  Evelyn heard them then, heard the brush break and snap. She spun. A vague shape was coming through a belt of spruce directly behind them. The other two had spread out to each side. ‘Get down!’ she whispered.

  Dega’s ribs would not be denied. He did as she wanted, but he was mad at himself. He was prepared to give his life, if he had to, to safeguard hers. ‘Evelyn?’ he whispered.

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘I like you.’

  ‘I like you, too.’

  Dega had more to say. But just then Graf appeared. He was coining toward them, the stock of his rifle resting on his leg.

  Evelyn flattened, wedged Teak’s rifle to her shoulder, and fixed a bead on Graf’s chest. She did not want to kill him. She would as soon go her way in peace. But they would not relent. They would hunt her, however long it took, and do things to her, despicable things. She thumbed back the hammer and held her breath to steady her aim as her father had taught her.