They rode on together for a while in silence, each thankful for the new direction in their lives and the reconciliation they were experiencing.
At the front of the group James pointed toward a large outcrop of rock in the distance. “That there is what we call ‘the lookout,’ folks. You can see almost the whole ranch from up there. We’re gonna circle around behind it and then we’ll make our way up and I’ll show you the view.”
“It’s a fantastic view, Mama,” Georgia said. She had fallen in to ride beside her mother when David moved back to the rear of the party. “James and David often go up there to survey their operation. You can even see Sonora in the distance.”
Emilia looked at her daughter with a smile. “Do you two lovebirds go up there as well?”
“Yes, quite often too,” Georgia blushed a little and giggled.
“Good, I’m glad.”
Georgia was surprised by her remark. “You are, Mama?”
“Yes. You know at first I was skeptical that a ‘mail-order’ marriage could ever work out for you. I feared for the worst, my dear. I really did. But after meeting James and his wonderful family I’m so relieved and happy for you. It’s obvious how much you two are in love and how much James cares for you. You couldn’t have done better, Georgia.”
“Thanks, Mama. I really appreciate that, and I know you mean it. Is it possible the relief could have just a little to do with James and David bailing out the family as well?” She looked over at her mother mischievously.
Emilia chuckled. “Oh, I won’t deny that your father and I are very thankful to the McCloud family for their incredible generosity. They are simply amazing and may have saved your poor mother’s life,” she said, looking at Georgia seriously. “But beyond that, dear, I so appreciate their character and deep commitment to one another. And also – how did you put it? - their ‘spunk’! I think these people really know how to live life to the fullest.”
“Yes,” Georgia smiled, “they’re good people, Mama. I’m glad the way things have worked out too, glad I’ve... we’ve found this way of life.”
“It’s obviously a good fit for you, dear. Your father and I haven’t seen you so happy in years. Texas surely must have been your calling in life all along.”
The trail-ride party reached the base of the lookout and began a slow, unhurried ascent. They tethered their horses in the trees near the summit and James led them up the final few yards by foot. The panoramic view took the newcomers’ breath away.
“Holeee Moses!” William exclaimed. “You weren’t kidding. That’s a great view. I can see Sonora in the distance.”
“Yep,” James said, “not bad, eh?”
Georgia came up beside him and took his hand. “We come up here often to enjoy the sunset.”
“I’ll bet that’s not all you do,” Elias said to his sister with a wink. She stuck out her tongue with mock indignation at him and he laughed.
Charles surveyed the Golden Lane below with a bittersweet expression on his face. “I’m sure you’ll miss this spectacular view when you buy the new ranch, James and David.” Emilia gave him a sideways glance and took his hand in hers.
“Naw!” David said cheerfully. “No worries, Charles. Haven’t you heard, everybody? We’re expandin’ the business. Gonna buy a bigger spread!”
* * *
Shadow had grown impatient by the time the pigeon carrying the return message from Broken Head fluttered into the cave. He threw himself quickly to his feet and grabbed the bird in a tight grip. It wiggled and squirmed to get free as he tore the paper from its leg. Shadow doubted whether the white chief would meet the demand for payment but he wanted to read his words anyway. It would help spur him on to do what must be done.
He lit the oil lamp and held the paper close to it, his face inches away:
‘No pay until the job is done. Take the woman before September 13,
bring her to the cave and I will pay you right away.’
The renegade read it twice, then slowly pushed the paper inside the lantern glass and watched it burn. “It is enough now.” He grabbed the pigeon and threw it into the air, then drew his pistol and fired a shot to scare the creature away forever. The explosion echoed eerily among the caverns as the bird scrambled through the skylight in panic.
“Go now, be free!” the Indian shouted at it. “Go find your brothers and sisters, little one.”
He packed the remaining food supplies into a backpack, picked up his dart pipe and slung it over the shoulder that had not suffered a gunshot wound, then put on the backpack. After reloading his revolver, Shadow picked up the lantern and walked into a cave that led outside.
He moved quickly now, with no concern for falling onto the jagged rock spires that stuck up from the cave floor. The lamp shadows danced weirdly around him as the Comanche picked up speed until he was almost running for the outside world.
Shadow will do what must be done. He will not fall. He will not fail.
A strange knowledge and confidence somehow filled him that he would see Broken Head this day. Nothing would stop him. Whatever it was that must be done would be done.
“Farewell, spirits!” The Nokoni shouted as he ran through the caverns where his people feared to tread, the echoes of his voice bouncing around him in a hundred directions. “This day is the end of it!”
As daylight from the entrance filled the cave, Shadow stopped for a moment, breathing hard and smiling. He slowly put down the lantern. After he had gotten his wind again, he suddenly picked it up – and with a high-pitched scream smashed it violently on the rocks. The kerosene oil burst into flames as he ran to get his horse.
* * *
The next morning Sheriff McCloud felt restless as he and Leary sat at their desks in the office doing paperwork.
“You got a case of the pre-weddin’ jitters?” Ben asked with a grin. “Just a week now ‘til the big day. You all ready to be a married man again, Boss?”
“Any more ready and I couldn’t stand it!” James laughed. “No, it ain’t that, Ben. Just feelin’ restless... like something’s up.”
In five years of working with him, the deputy had seen this more than once. Some kind of a strange intuition brought restlessness to the sheriff that usually meant trouble was near. Leary had seen it prove true again and again, so he had learned to pay attention whenever it happened.
“I get nervous when you start feelin’ like this,” he said.
“That’s a good thing,” James answered. “I’d be worried if you started singin’ glory-hallelujah, Ben.”
The deputy sighed. “Well, at least we usually don’t have to wait long before we find out what it is.” They both went back to doing paperwork at their desks and tried to relax.
A half hour later the sound of a fast approaching horse caught their attention. James and Ben looked at each other with a ‘here we go’ expression and got up from their chairs. Before they had time to strap on their gun belts a sharp knock rattled the door.
“Sheriff! Deputy Leary!” a voice called urgently from outside. “You there?”
Ben opened the door. It was Bill Callahan, the man who had seen Blue Shadow with Arthur months before in Del Rio.
“What is it, Bill?” the deputy asked. “What happened?”
“I seen Shadow a few minutes ago!” Callahan said. “Just before the sun came up, he rode into the big oak grove west of town.”
“Keep your voice down, Bill! We don’t wanna start a general panic here. Was he alone?” Ben asked.
“Yes, sir. Slipped in there alone. I rode here soon as I seen him.”
“All right. Thanks, Bill,” James said as he stepped up to the doorway. “We got no time to round up the emergency deputies, Ben. Let’s get over there right away.” He turned toward Callahan. “Bill, will you go and notify the deputies that Shadow’s been seen and we’re heading over to the grove to find him? Tell ‘em to stay in town but keep alert for any sign of trouble. Like Ben says, we don’t want to start a general pani
c.”
“And for God’s sake, keep your voice down when you do it, Callahan!” Leary added.
“Yes, sir,” Callahan saluted, seeming excited to be a part of the action. As Ben went into the office to get their rifles, James told Bill the names of the emergency deputies and where to find them. After the desperado’s activities had ceased in recent weeks the deputies were dispersed but told to remain ready to be called into action at any time.
Callahan left with his orders and James hurried to the livery stable to get their horses. He mounted up and led Ben’s horse to the office just as the deputy came out carrying two Winchesters and a couple boxes of ammunition. He threw his boss a rifle and James slid it into the scabbard.
“Doggone it, McCloud! How come you always know it before the cow pie is gonna hit the fan?”
“Just a gift, I guess,” James said. But I sure hope this is the last time we’ll have to deal with Shadow. I’m gettin as tired of this merry-go-round as Ben is. Lord, protect our families and help us bring him to justice today.
“What’s the matter, Ben? You gettin’ skittish in your old age?”
“Old age? Naw. It’s just too early in the mornin’ for this stuff,” the deputy groaned as he swung into the saddle.
“That’s why we get the big bucks,” James chuckled as they spurred their horses into a trot.
“Yeah, sure. The big bucks,” Ben said with a grim look on his face. “Right, Boss.”
* * *
Deep in the oak grove, Blue Shadow tethered his horse and sat down with his back against a tree. He thought he had gotten close to Sonora unnoticed and didn’t know Bill Callahan had seen him. The Comanche closed his eyes to rest for a while before undertaking the next part of his plan and soon fell into a light sleep.
He came awake suddenly, alert and listening. There was no sound but the wind and the birds singing in the trees. Faint, everyday noises of the town life nearby drifted into the woods. He looked at his horse. It was staring to the right, ears moving, scanning like it had heard something unusual. Shadow picked up the dart pipe off the ground and slipped the safety-thong off the hammer of his Colt revolver. Looking in the direction of the horse’s stare he saw nothing unusual.
Then the animal snorted nervously and the voices of two men became audible.
“Maybe he saw Callahan earlier and lit out already,” a man’s voice said in a low, hushed tone.
“Yeah, could be, Ben,” said a second man, “let’s keep looking for a bit.”
Shadow realized he had been seen near the town. Normally that information would have caused him to flee and seek a future opportunity to fulfill his plans. But this time it was different. For some reason he was unconcerned and didn’t care about being discovered. The determination that had settled upon him would not be denied.
“This day will be the end of it,” he whispered, rising up slowly from the ground. He stood behind the tree and looked carefully again in the direction of the horse’s stare. No one was visible. The voices were farther away now and he could no longer make out the words.
Untethering his horse and speaking quietly to the animal to calm it down, the Comanche swung into the saddle. He started moving in the opposite direction of the voices when the horse reared up and let out a loud, frightened squeal. A rattlesnake was coiled up in the leaves of the forest floor. Shadow struggled to rein the animal in but it let out another squeal of terror and dashed away through the underbrush.
There was a yell of alarm from one of the men in the distance, and the renegade tried to steer the spooked horse away from them. Low-hanging branches and tree trunks flashed by as the animal ran as fast as it could, causing Shadow to duck and weave to avoid getting hit and knocked to the ground.
When they came into an area where the underbrush thinned out, he heard a voice shout “I see him, Boss! It’s Shadow.” The Indian turned his head and saw Ben Leary racing toward him in pursuit.
“Don’t shoot, Ben. I want him alive!” James called as his horse burst into the clearing. Soon the two lawmen were riding neck-and-neck at full gallop after their suspect.
Shadow saw a narrow opening in the woods at the side of the clearing. He slowed his horse, turned sharply, and dashed into it; letting out a high-pitched war cry of excitement. His horse – back under control of its rider – dashed expertly among the oak trees at the Comanche’s direction.
“Shoot!” Leary shouted, slowing his mount and making for the opening in the thicket. He was taller than Blue Shadow and not as experienced a horseman. His hat was knocked off by a twig and as the deputy turned to grab for the Stetson a thick branch struck him in the chest and swept him onto the ground. He landed with a thud and lay sprawled on his back, gasping for breath.
James’s horse plowed through the underbrush after him and almost trampled Ben in the dirt. James reined up and jumped out of the saddle to see if his partner was injured. “You okay, Ben?” he asked, kneeling beside him.
“Yeah...” he wheezed, “just got the wind knocked out of me.”
“Any broken ribs?”
“Naw. A little sore though.” James helped the deputy to his feet and picked up his Stetson for him. “Thanks,” Ben said, dusting off the hat and putting it back on. “Man, that Comanche can ride! He plumb left me in the dust.”
Up ahead, Blue Shadow realized that he had outrun the two white men. All sounds of pursuit had stopped. He listened for a moment to get his bearings then set out for Sonora at a slow pace, letting his horse catch its breath.
Five-year-old Comanche ride better than white man! he thought triumphantly. They think Shadow run away from town. I go straight into town. This day will be the end of it.
24
After the breakfast rush in the dining room, the owner of the Sutton County Hotel sat gloomily in his office doing paperwork. He had taken his suit jacket off because he liked to write in a shirt only. It freed up his arm movement for dramatic penmanship flourishes.
As he worked, Arthur also thought about what the day might bring. He was certain that Blue Shadow had received his message sent via carrier pigeon the night before. Their aviary messages always arrived within an hour or less and this system of communication had worked perfectly up to now. The question on Arthur’s mind was: when would the Comanche carry out his instructions? He had told him it must be before the wedding. Maybe it would be today?
“The sooner the better,” Richards mumbled to himself. He was anxious to finally show James McCloud the error of his ways. Yes, those two outlaws who died at the cabin had fumbled things badly...it was a terrible setback when the fools let David McCloud and Georgia Warton get away from them. The incompetent rubes! If it wasn’t for that, James might have already smartened up and come to his senses.
Arthur felt confident that when Shadow took Georgia to the cave she would not escape from him. Shadow would not let him down this time. Besides, the Comanche needed to finish the job to get paid. The woman would stay in the cave as long as it was needed – until his old friend did the right thing.
How he hoped that would be soon.
What will it take to bring the man to his senses? Why can’t he see what he is doing?
God, it made him angry. And melancholic. He could barely do his work anymore. The strain of carrying on as the happy hotelier was making him feel ill. How long could he keep up the charade? “But I must carry on...” Arthur said sadly. “She would want me to.” He began to weep loudly and put his forehead on the desk, burying his face in his hands.
Arthur did not hear the office door open. But when it closed with a soft click, he was startled and looked up. Shadow! The Comanche stared at him malevolently for a moment. Then he slowly walked over and stood in front of the desk.
“What are you doing here?” Arthur asked, the salt of his tears tasting bitter in his mouth. “I told you to never come here. Did you take her away yet?”
“Green Eyes stay with her man,” the Indian said quietly.
Arthur was confused. “Are
you saying you couldn’t take her from him? Did the old lady drive you away again? Don’t fail me now, Shadow.”
“No, Broken Head. Shadow no fail. He quit. This day is the end of it.”
“Impossible. You haven’t gotten your money yet,” Arthur said angrily, “and you will not get one cent until the job is done. Now get out of here and do what you need to do.”
“Shadow stays. You pay him now.”
Caught Between Love And Duty Page 21
