by Neil Hunter
‘Because I got your back. Allus got your back when times get hard, an’ don’t you forget it. Grieves me to hear you say otherwise.’
LeRoy closed his ears to the bantering. He took out a frying pan and cut thick slices of bacon from the piece he had added to his supplies. When it was cooked, he speared the bacon with his knife and sandwiched it between biscuits and handed them to Teague and Hobbs. It was no banquet, but it partially filled their stomachs. The three of them washed the food down with more coffee.
Leaving his prisoners LeRoy crossed to the horses and gave each animal a portion of water and fed them some of the grain he had brought along. He was hoping the ride to Yuma would take no more than a couple of days so the supplies he had assembled should have been enough.
Cutting across the wasteland was a way of shortening the trip. LeRoy wasn’t discounting the possibility of delay if any kind of interference raised itself. He had not forgotten about Lafe Munro. If the man and his friends decided to follow LeRoy the inclement weather was not going to be the only difficulty he would need to face.
It turned out to be just exactly that.
Thirteen
‘At least we know where LeRoy’s heading,’ Riggs said.
‘Ol’ dumbass Vern come across with what we needed to know. All it cost was a few dollars an’ he went away happy,’ Tannen said.
‘An’ mebbe Vern ain’t as dumb as he plays,’ Riggs said.
Munro shifted in his saddle. ‘Got to hand it to LeRoy. Riding out in the middle of a dust storm. Gave him plenty of cover.’
‘But we know which way he went now,’ Don Riggs said.
‘He’s still got the advantage,’ Munro said. ‘Cutting across the desert means he’ll cover the distance to Yuma a damn sight faster.’
‘Ain’t going to be easy picking’ up his trail,’ Tannen said. ‘Damn dust storm is going to wipe his tracks.’
‘You give in too quick,’ Riggs said.’
‘Ain’t saying I’m giving in.’
‘Nobody is quittin’,’ Tannen said.
‘Shut up,’ Munro said. ‘I figure to split up. See if one of us can find his trail. Now we know this territory. Enough so we can find each other. We got most of the day on our side, so we do this until late afternoon, then head towards Cap Rock. Mebbe by then one of us’ll have spotted LeRoy. If one of us picks him up, we get back together ‘fore we take him down. Just don’t forget that lawdog is no tenderfoot. Needs to be the three of us to catch him off guard.’
They checked weapons. Made certain they had adequate water in their canteens before they broke apart and headed into the dust storm, hunched across their saddle against the wind.
Three men with murder on their minds.
Fourteen
‘Trees,’ Hobbs said. ‘Could mean water.’
They eased their head-down horses in the direction the stand of timber. It was late afternoon now, with the dust storm falling behind and a spread of wide terrain revealed ahead. It was still semi-arid, dun-colored and giving the appearance it might never end. A scattering of sagebrush and spiny cactus broke the emptiness.
LeRoy swept his gaze back and forth, searching for any sign, or movement that might tell him they were not alone. Just because they hadn’t seen anyone did nothing to confirm they were on their own. LeRoy had stayed alive long enough never to take initial appearances for granted.
At the back of his mind the image of Lafe Munro and his two partners eased into his conscious thoughts. Something persisted and LeRoy decided he was not being paranoid. Simply cautious. He slid his rifle from the scabbard and held it across his lap as they rode in the direction of the timber.
He picked out a fair-sized stand of cottonwoods. Surrounded and mingled with heavy brush that suggested the presence of water. If it provided nothing else at least there would be cover for the night.
LeRoy called a halt while he ventured closer to the isolated grove of trees. What little wind remained after the dust storm had passed provided a soft rustling of foliage. LeRoy took his time inspecting the way into the stand, then moved forward and beckoned his prisoners to follow. The overhead canopy formed by the high branches created a mix of light and shadow. The ground underfoot was carpeted by a layer of fallen leaves and brush, deadening the sound of the riders’ horses passing.
‘How long we going to wait?’ Hobbs said. ‘I need to wash this damn dust off.’
LeRoy ignored his grumbling. He sensed they were not alone in the trees. It was a feeling brought on by his sense of unease. He tightened his grip on the rifle, lifting it from his lap and allowed the barrel to reach forward. He eased his horse forward, searching the crisscross shadows bisecting the trees.
There was someone in the shadows.
Watching and waiting, flicking his gaze back and forth LeRoy probed the mass of greenery.
When it came the movement was little more than a flicker. Then the sliver of brightness as sunlight touched metal.
The blurred figure of a man holding a raised rifle stepped clear of the tree hiding him. He moved fast, almost too fast, yet it was that reckless action that lost him the surprise. When he triggered his shot, he was out of time to settle his aim.
LeRoy heard the rifle slug slam into the trunk of the closest cottonwood. Out the corner of his eye he saw chips of bark pepper the air. He reacted without hesitation, slamming in his heels and sending his horse forward in a lunging leap. He saw the man with the rifle making a fumbling move to reload, jerking the lever with clumsy fingers. Before he could complete the cycle, LeRoy was on him, freeing his right boot from the stirrups and driving it into the man’s chest. It landed with a solid thud, driving the shooter backwards. He slammed into a cottonwood, breath exploding from the impact, the back of his skull cracking against the trunk of the tree. LeRoy swung from the saddle and hauled off with a looping right that caught the man across his jaw. He went down hard and lay still. LeRoy scooped up the dropped rifle, slid the man’s handgun from the holster and pushed it behind his belt.
Satisfied he wouldn’t be having any trouble from the downed man for a while LeRoy scanned the area. Beyond the stand of timber, the landscape was empty except for natural vegetation. Not a deal of close cover close by. LeRoy spent his time checking the way ahead, eyes noting every rise and hollow confronting him. He had his Winchester in his hands ready for use if needed. No sound except the slight whisper of disturbed cottonwoods as the wind riffled through the branches. Then he picked up the sound of a restless horse somewhere in the stand of trees. His own animal responded with a soft whicker.
‘You stay easy,’ LeRoy said. He stroked the animal’s neck to settle it.
A thought formed and he stood over the unconscious man, checking to see if he carried a knife. His suspicion was confirmed when he found one tucked down inside the right boot.
‘Careless of you, son,’ he said. ‘You should have checked that first.’
He secured the knife, and the man’s pistol, in his saddlebag. He glanced at the prone figure. Came to a decision and pulled out his remaining set of manacles. It only took a minute to turn the man on his back and secures his wrists. LeRoy hauled him into a sitting position and leaned him against a cottonwood.
It was then LeRoy recognized the man. One of Lafe Munro’s table partners from the saloon in Landiss.
That meant Munro and the third man had to be around somewhere.
Fifteen
A quick search in the timber located the man’s horse. LeRoy led it back and tied it close.
Teague and Hobbs looked sorely disappointed when they watched LeRoy walk back to where they sat their horses.
‘LeRoy, I do believe you’d walk through fire just to make sure you deliver us to Yuma,’ Teague said.
‘He is just determined to get us behind bars,’ Hobbs said.
‘See it as my civic minded determination,’ LeRoy said.
‘Should I know that feller?’ Teague said. ‘Maybe I should be grateful seein’ as he almost got us fre
e.’
‘Not rightly so,’ LeRoy said. ‘That’s one of Lafe Munro’s friends. One of the boys out here lookin’ for you pair. Their intention is to put you down for what you did to Daniel Machin. Not in their minds to welcome you home.’
‘Son of a bitch,’ Hobbs said.
‘Lafe Munro must have heard about the bounty on you two.’
‘What damn bounty?’
‘Offered by Lawrence Machin. Something in the region of a few thousand dollars. Dead or alive. Preferably dead.’
Teague glanced at his partner. They were visibly shaken.
‘Ain’t like we killed his brother,’ Hobbs said.
‘Good as gave him a life sentence,’ LeRoy said.
Hobbs let go with an angry yell.
‘We’d’ve got away if that dumbass idiot hadn’t stepped in to the street...’
‘So, it’s all his fault,’ LeRoy said. ‘Inconvenient him getting in your way.’
‘Nothin’ goes our damn way.’
‘You’ll have time enough to think about it in Yuma.’
‘LeRoy, you’re not doing anything to make me feel better,’ Teague said.
‘Get down, boys, we need to take a break. Looks to be a stream over yonder. You can have that wash, Hobbs.’
The captives let themselves down off their horses after LeRoy loosened the cuffs around the saddle horns. He watched as they tied the horses to a low branch, then followed them the short distance to the clear stream that ran through the trees. He stood watch as they cleaned the dust from their faces, keeping his new prisoner in sight.
LeRoy decided on a cold camp. He wasn’t about to advertise their presence in case Munro was close. He could have enjoyed a cup of hot coffee, but it wasn’t worth the risk. Teague and Hobbs grumbled loudly when he told them.
‘Think about it. We set a fire it could be enough for Munro to see. Guide him right to us.’
‘That’s a great help,’ Teague said.
LeRoy passed out strips of jerky. Breaking down the tough meat passed a few minutes until Teague spoke up after studying the new man who was now awake and staring across at LeRoy in sullen silence.
‘You’d be Jay Tannen,’ Teague said. ‘And your partner is Don Riggs. Yeah, now I know you. You side with Lafe Munro. Heard tell about you couple of years back after that ruckus in Salinas. Hey, LeRoy, you got a rare bunch on your backtrail.’
‘Appears to me it’s your trail they’re on, Teague. Don’t go figuring you’re home free here. They put me down I don’t give much for your chances.’
Tannen chuckled at that. ‘Boys, whichever way you look at it there ain’t a cat’s chance in hell you’ll be walkin’ away free and clear.’
‘Go to hell,’
‘You ready to eat now?’ LeRoy said.
When Tannen nodded LeRoy brought him jerky and canteen of water. He took the items grudgingly and chewed on the meat.
‘Lafe ain’t about to give up chasin’ you, LeRoy,’ he said. ‘He’s a hard one.’
‘Didn’t seem so when I put him down with the barrel of my gun.’
‘Damn your eyes. He ain’t about to quit.’
‘You put him down?’ Teague said. ‘Lafe Munro? An’ with a gun barrel.’ He gave a hoarse laugh. ‘Wish I’d seen that.’
‘Mebbe you can ask him when he catches up with us,’ Tannen said.
It gave LeRoy something more to think about.
Sixteen
Twilight came quickly enough and before it eased into a darker aspect LeRoy reached a decision. With two men on his trail he was going to have to move on. The sooner he got to Yuma the less the chance of a confrontation began to appeal. Night travel was risky but staying where he was might be just as difficult.
It became a gamble. A choice between alternatives and neither offered much in the way of a winning hand.
LeRoy tidied the camp then got his prisoners on their feet and mounted up. He attached the manacles to the saddle horns. The only protest came from Tannen but LeRoy’s gun muzzle in his ribs convinced him to climb into the saddle after LeRoy gave him the alternative. The thought of the lawman’s gun barrel bent over his skull was no real choice. With the three settled, manacled to the saddle horns, LeRoy urged them out of the trees and got them back on the unmarked trail. His wish for some light came when a pale moon began to show, at least allowing them some guidance. He kept their move slow, the trio ahead where he could watch them close. It was not the most ideal way to ride but LeRoy figured it was the best he could expect under the circumstances and maintained his watch.
They moved out across the cooling wasteland. Dust sifted out from beneath the horses’ hoofs, hovering in the air. They were leaving tracks in the sand which was unavoidable. That would have happened whichever way they went. LeRoy was concerned but he didn’t allow him to be dissuaded from his line of travel. He did keep his rifle across his saddle, shell in the breech and his trigger finger close. With the stand of trees dropping behind them the terrain offered itself as an uneven, sparsely scrubbed piece of land. Clumps of coarse grass sprouted haphazardly. Sand and more sand, with a few erect saguaro cacti showing in the fading light. An unwelcoming land.
Less than ideal conditions but the only ones on offer to Alvin LeRoy. He may not have approved. It was a trail of his own making, so he had no one other than himself to blame but himself.
LeRoy had made his choice and would stay with it. Riding this way cut off miles from the regular trail. That was one of the main reasons he had chosen it. The less time he had with Teague and Hobbs the better LeRoy would feel. And now there was Jay Tannen to add to the mix. LeRoy had him manacled but that wasn’t the end of it. Instead of two to watch over he now had three. And Jay Tannen didn’t strike LeRoy as the type who would go quietly.
So, you took your gamble, he thought. No turning back. No easy way out. And no help on its way.
That at least was par for the course. The life of a Marshal tended to be a solitary one. The service was always far stretched, with a few men having to cover vast distances. Little chance of summoning assistance. That was something each Marshal accepted. It came with the badge. No comforting backup. No one helping out. As always LeRoy rode his pursuits dependent on his own skill. He would have admitted it was a hell of a way to earn a living.
Darkness dropped and they rode through the thin illumination provided by the moonlight. There were few clouds to obscure the cold gleam. LeRoy rode close behind the three captives.
Teague and Hobbs were talking in low tones. Not loud enough for LeRoy to hear what they were saying but he wasn’t expecting them to be singing his praises. More likely working on how to free themselves. He didn’t trust the pair for a moment. They lived on their wits and had survived for a long time doing just that.
‘LeRoy, can’t you make that pair shut their mouths,’ Tannen said. He put a soft whine in his voice. ‘Body can hardly be expected to put up with their bellyaching.’
‘Hell, LeRoy, tell him to quit moaning,’ Hobbs said. ‘Not like he was invited to join us.’
‘You boys better learn to get along,’ LeRoy said. ‘We still got a way to go. Be easier if you do it peaceably.’
Silence followed. They rode on, the desert chill edging away what remained of the day’s heat. LeRoy tugged his short coat from where it lay behind his saddle and eased into it. It afforded a degree of comfort. The cold began to affect the others and they hunched over in their saddles.
‘LeRoy, it’s damned cold out here,’ Teague said.
‘You figure I can do anything about it? Even if I wanted to.’
‘You are one hard-hearted son of a bitch,’ Hobbs said.
‘Come daybreak you’ll be complaining it’s too hot.’
‘Ain’t that the damn truth,’ Teague said.
Seventeen
As soon as it was light Munro and Riggs roused from their blankets, ate a cold breakfast and checked their horses before they moved off.
‘You figure Tannen is dead?’ Riggs said
‘All we heard was one shot last night,’ Munro said. ‘Don’t have to mean Tannen was killed.’
‘We ain’t heard nothin’ from him. Could be he run into ’em and took a bullet...’
‘And maybe he took off and lost ’em. Likely he’s led ’em in a different direction so’s they don’t pick up where we are. Now quit fussin’ like an old lady and let’s move.’
Riggs fell silent. He knew if he made too much fuss Munro would get into one of his moods.
Lafe Munro had a short fuse. It didn’t take much to make him angry and right now he was smarting from the way LeRoy had put him down in front of the whole saloon. It was going to take a long time for him to get over the humiliation. Riggs was not going to put himself up as the target of Munro’s frustration. Better to keep his thoughts to himself and also keep his mouth closed.
He eased his horse in behind Munro and they moved off at a slow pace, searching for tracks left by LeRoy and his prisoners.
Eighteen
After Vern Carrick had visited Rocking-M and spoke with Lawrence Machin, giving the information on LeRoy’s plan to escort his prisoners across the desert strip, he rode out with a smile on his face and a solid roll of cash in his pocket. On his way back to town he made plans as to how he would spend his windfall.
Machin relayed what he had learned to Lang, giving him the means to pick up on LeRoy’s line of travel. Saddling up the bounty man left the ranch and followed US Marshal LeRoy and his prisoners from Landiss, picking up his tracks when he broke away from the regular trail in the direction of Yuma and diverted across the desert strip. He sat his horse, a thin smile edging his pale lips as he studied LeRoy’s trail. Cutting across the sand would shave off a considerable portion of the journey.
He had read LeRoy’s trail. Lang had also picked up the tracks left by Munro and his two partners. The splitting of the three, all going in different directions had amused him. The faint trail left by the lawman had forced them to split in an attempt to pick up where LeRoy had gone in the wake of the dust storm. All they had succeeded in doing was to lose one of their number when he had attempted to handle LeRoy on his own. Now LeRoy had an extra prisoner and was continuing his trek across the desert landscape. It was in fact making Lang’s job easier.
