‘I recollect the story your foreman feller, Sketcher, told me about him and the others going after your kidnapped sister. That’s about the wildest tale I ever heard – especially as it’s all true.’
‘And you saw the cutout from the Denver newspaper about him and Wyatt bringing in those killers with ropes strung between the outlaw’s horses.’
‘Yep, neck-to-neck-to-neck prisoners,’ he recalled. ‘I’d never seen or heard of anything to beat that either.’
‘Well, if you stick around long enough, you’ll learn that most everyone in our family can be counted on when needed . . . and they will do whatever is necessary to complete their task.’
July grinned. ‘Like I said, we don’t have to worry about your brother. Let’s figure a way to do our little chore without messing it up.’
Wendy laughed. ‘Now you are sounding more like the man I . . .’ She paused, a flush of color rushing to her cheeks.
‘The man you what?’ July asked, taking notice of her odd expression.
‘I . . .’ she shrugged her shoulders. ‘I almost said something inappropriate.’
‘You?’ he was shocked. ‘But you never miss-use a word. I don’t know that . . .’ But this time, he stopped speaking.
After a short way and a much longer silence, July cast a sidelong glace at Wendy. ‘You didn’t about say the word . . . love, did you?’
Wendy squirmed, finding the saddle suddenly hard and uncomfortable. ‘It was a slip – well, it would have been a slip of the tongue.’ She made eye contact, but with a coy, somewhat defensive look. ‘It’s just that I’ve grown used to you, and the only other men I am at ease with are related to me. Or like Reb and Dodge – longtime friends. I’ve often told them something like: it’s why I love you.’
‘I’m truly pleased to think you consider me as one of those close friends,’ July said carefully. ‘Even,’ he hurried to add, ‘if it was a slip.’
‘Is that what we are, July?’ Wendy asked gently. ‘Are we close friends?’
July licked his lips, as if he had suddenly lost the moisture to form words. ‘Uh, well, to be completely honest with you, I’d sure like to be a whole lot more.’
Wendy smiled. ‘Me too.’
The man sat up straight in the saddle. ‘Then let’s get this here chore taken care of, Miss Wendy. I’m for the two of us going to a dance or some other social affair. Nothing I’d like more than to have you on my arm.’
‘It’s a date,’ she replied. ‘Soon as we put this chore behind us.’
Chapter Eleven
Everything looked quiet at the slaughterhouse. One horse was tethered at the holding corral, able to eat from a manger used whenever cattle were penned inside. From the office window, a man was visible sitting in a chair by the window. His hat was tipped down over his eyes and he appeared to be asleep.
‘See what I told you?’ McEnroe said in a hushed voice. ‘Old Barney never was much of a watchman.’
‘We’ll let you talk to him,’ Jared suggested. ‘Don’t want to spook the old guy and give him apoplexy.’
The three tied off their horses at the hitch-rail and went up to the front door of the building. It wasn’t locked so they walked into the main office.
‘Yo there, Barney!’ McEnroe spoke loudly. ‘You asleep, old timer?’
The man in the chair lifted his head. Once unveiled from the floppy hat, they saw it was not the old watchman – it was Pegg!
Before Jared could react a gun was shoved against his ribs. Into the room spilled four more men, all with guns drawn.
Jared looked down to see the gun pressed to his side was held by the police sergeant. He and Shane had no chance. They were both quickly disarmed and their hands were tied behind their backs.
‘Should have known a rustling operation like this would have someone spying from the local law,’ he grated between his teeth at McEnroe. ‘You’re as guilty of murder and thieving as any of these others.’
‘Unlike the rest of those dummies working for the police, I don’t intend to risk my neck for pennies and die broke,’ McEnroe told him.
‘Good work, Mac,’ Pegg praised his accomplice. ‘Neatly done.’
Of the others, one was Mantee and another looked vaguely familiar.
‘You remind me of a man I arrested some time back,’ Jared spoke to him. ‘You related to one of those three me and my cousin brought to justice?’
‘Brought him to be lynched, you mean!’ The man snarled. ‘Timmy was my brother.’
‘Dixon Kidd,’ Jared pinned a name on him. ‘I saw you had been released from prison a few months back.’
‘I’m here to even the score, Valeron,’ Dixon sneered the words. ‘We’re gonna gut you like one of the beef, melt the flesh off of your bones, then grind your leftover bones to meal. No one is ever going to know what happened to you and your kin here.’
‘Dad gum! When you fix to get even, you don’t mess around,’ Jared replied.
Pegg looked at Mantee. ‘You keeping watch? We don’t want anyone passing by to see something they shouldn’t.’
‘Rocco is outside.’ Mantee tipped his head to another man. ‘Jones, you go keep an eye out with him. Get the horses from the draw. Soon as we deal with these two, we’ll wrap their bodies in canvas and tote them over to the tannery.’
‘That’s how you intend to melt our flesh,’ Jared surmised. ‘Toss our bodies into a vat of lime or whatever, then grind the bones and there will be no trace left.’
‘Plus, we will burn everything you own, including your clothes and saddles. Your horses will have to be done away with too.’ Pegg shrugged. ‘Fortunately, I own this here butchering house. Won’t be anything left of them for anyone to ever find either.’
‘And the story about where we went?’
‘Far as we know,’ McEnroe interjected, ‘you two boys left to follow the trail of them stolen beef. Something must have happened to you between here and Pueblo. That’s a long way – close to a hundred miles. Who knows how you met your fate?’
‘You forget the findings of those two auditors for the governor. It’s going to look real suspicious having us disappear after they gave him their findings.’
McEnroe burst forth with a menacing laugh. ‘I was the one who checked over the findings,’ he said. ‘It didn’t take but a few changes and everything looks perfectly innocent. There was no discrepancy between buying and selling of Pegg’s beef in the paper I forwarded to the governor.’
‘You had us nailed from the very start,’ Jared allowed them a victory. ‘I have to admit, this is the smartest rustling ring I ever heard of – the slaughterhouse, the law, all the way down to the tannery. Makes an honest man believe he’s working at a real disadvantage.’
‘Enough jawboning,’ Dixon growled. ‘Let’s herd this pair into the back and dress ’em out like we would a mountain buck. I’ve a mind to hear these two scream like a couple of frightened little girls!’
McEnroe shook his head. ‘I’m not a part of this. You keep paying me and I’ll keep providing information, but I draw the line at murder.’
‘So git, law-dog!’ Dixon barked at him. ‘You done your part.’
McEnroe hurried out of the office to get his horse. He wanted to be miles away before Dixon Kidd took his revenge on the Valerons.
‘Scooted away like a kid what just turned over an outhouse!’ Dixon laughed to Pegg. ‘Let’s get started.’
‘Soon as Rocco gives us the all-clear,’ Pegg ordered. ‘He’ll check the trail both ways to make sure we’re not interrupted. Soon as he gives the go-ahead, the Valerons are at your mercy.’
Dixon guffawed, ‘Yeah, like they are getting any of that from me!’
Don was in the process of putting the carryall away, having just unharnessed his horse, when the two men appeared from inside his small barn. Thankfully, Gayle had taken the children into the house to change from their Sunday best to everyday clothes.
‘You waiting for me, fellers?’ he asked.
&
nbsp; The men were both strangers – one a medium-framed man with a mustache, and the other a rough-looking brute with savage eyes and a scar on one cheek.
‘Nice family you have, Larson,’ Brute said.
‘Ez true, monsieur,’ the other spoke in a distinct French accent. ‘You must be very proud.’
‘My wife and children are all I live for,’ Don replied carefully. ‘Can I help you with something?’
The two closed the distance until they had Don blocked between them. He saw menace in their faces, but he had no weapon at hand.
Brute looked him up and down, as one might appraise a horse. ‘Pretty little woman, your wife,’ he said. ‘Be a real shame if she had to raise them kids on her own.’
‘What are you talking about?’
‘Have no fear, monsieur,’ Frenchy said, his voice calm, yet menacing. ‘We wish you no harm.’
‘Then why . . .’
‘The thing is,’ Brute cut him off, ‘if a man was to run off at the mouth. . . . Well, that could be very unhealthy. Your wife could end up a widow real quick.’
‘I don’t know what . . .’
Frenchy raised a hand to stop his protest. ‘We think you do.’
Brute’s hand shot out and he took hold of Don’s throat. He squeezed hard enough that Don gagged and put both of his own hands around the man’s wrists, trying to break the hold.
‘It’s real simple,’ Brute threatened, throttling him. ‘You even think of talking to the law or anyone else about what you might have seen – or thought you saw – at the slaughterhouse, and we’ll be back.’
‘Listen to my friend,’ Frenchy warned. ‘Yours ez not the only life you have to worry about. There ez your wife, your children . . . Be smart, monsieur. Do as we say!’
‘I think you’d best do what we say!’ July voiced the command from behind them.
Brute released Don and both henchmen rotated about to see July and Wendy about thirty feet away – he with a handgun pointed at them and she with a rifle in her hands.
Brute pushed Don hard enough that he lost his footing and sat down. He raked the newcomers with malevolent eyes. Then a snarl curled his lips.
‘You’re shaking like a leaf in a high wind, little man,’ he directed his attention to July. ‘I don’t think you ever pointed a gun at a man before.’ With a grunt, ‘Especially one who could rip your head right off of your shoulders!’
‘Oui, monsieur,’ Frenchy joined him, one hand on the butt of his gun. ‘I think we can kill you before you have time to act.’
Wendy cocked her rifle and threw it to her shoulder. With the weapon aligned at either of the pair, she was next to speak.
‘I’m a Valeron,’ she stated succinctly. ‘My brothers taught me to shoot when I was ten years old, and I’m as good with this rifle as anyone in my family. Both of you toss your guns away or we will kill you.’
Frenchy lifted his hands, but Brute took a threatening step in her direction.
Wendy pulled the trigger.
Brute howled in surprise and lifted a hand to find a piece of his ear was missing. Before he had time to recover Wendy cocked the rifle and had it ready again.
‘If you’d like further proof I can and will kill you, tough guy,’ Wendy warned a second time, ‘take one more step!’
July cocked the hammer back on his handgun. ‘I might be shaking some, but I’m not afraid to use this gun either. You best do as Miss Valeron tells you.’
Frenchy used two fingers to remove his gun, then flipped it aside. Brute was still fingering his bleeding ear with one hand, but used the other to discard his weapon.
‘Mr Larson,’ July took charge. ‘We’d be obliged if you would round up some twine or rope and tie the hands of these men behind their backs. We’ll be taking them to jail in town.’
‘I’ll saddle my horse and go with you. I see Gayle is standing in the doorway. She certainly heard the gunshot and must be going crazy wondering what is going on.’
‘Tie them up first, then explain things to your wife,’ July recommended. ‘Me and Miss Valeron will get them on their horses and make sure they are secure for the trip into Denver.’
As Don began to bind the hands of the two intruders, Wendy smiled at July. ‘You handled that pretty well.’
‘I about left my boots when you pulled the trigger. It’s lucky for them I didn’t start shooting before I knew what was going on.’
She laughed. ‘Actually, I was just showing off. Jerry always said I was as good as him – I wanted to prove him right.’
‘Any idea who these two men are?’
‘If they were here to warn Mr Larson to keep quiet, they are working with Pegg. We’ll have them put behind bars while we wait for Jer and Shane.’
‘How do you think they are doing?’
‘Should be tying up loose ends of their own by now,’ Wendy said confidently.
With ropes around their wrists, both Shane and Jared were dangling from meat hooks, the ones used after the beef were skinned. As the two men were nearly the same height, their toes just touched the floor so they could relieve some of the strain on their wrists.
‘What’s taking so long?’ Dixon demanded to know. ‘I’m ready to start carving!’
Pegg held up a hand to prevent him from doing anything. ‘Let me see what’s holding Rocco up. He should have checked the area by now.’
Mantee shook his head at Dixon. ‘You sure you want to do it like this? I mean, to kill a man is one thing, but butchering him like a hog – while he’s still conscious?’
‘If you ain’t got the stomach, get the hell out.’
Mantee looked at Squint. ‘Let’s join Rocco and Jones outside. I don’t hate anyone enough to watch them being skinned alive.’
‘This place smells to high heaven too,’ Squint returned. ‘You can see the floor is slanted so the blood runs to that gutter and drains outside, but . . . damn! I don’t know how a man stands the stench day after day.’
‘Ought to stick your nose into the rendering room,’ Mantee told him. ‘You’d never enjoy the taste of steak again.’
Then Squint and Mantee turned toward the side door, following after Pegg.
Dixon ripped Jared’s shirt off and snickered. ‘Any last words – before you start screaming your lungs out?’
Jared clenched his teeth together and hissed: ‘Yeah . . you’re all under arrest!’
Pegg didn’t reach the side door, but stopped dead in his tracks. He backed up right into Mantee and Squint – with his hands raised.
‘No one move!’ Locke Valeron’s booming voice commanded.
Wyatt Valeron, along with Reb, charged into the room.
Dixon didn’t think – he reacted – trying to draw his gun.
A bullet from Wyatt’s Colt staggered him. He had managed to get his own weapon clear and desperately tried to point it at Jared. . . .
Another gun blast filled the closed-in room.
Dixon pitched forward and his face bounced off the bloodstained floor. Unable to raise himself up, he turned his head and glared at Jared until the vacancy of death filled his eyes.
Squint, Mantee and Pegg were quickly stripped of weapons and bound up for travel. Locke himself used a knife to cut down his son and nephew.
‘You took your sweet time, Pa,’ Jared complained. ‘If Pegg hadn’t been concerned with anyone happening by to hear our cries, Shane and I would be half the men we were when this thing started.’
‘And he does mean half the men,’ Shane repeated. ‘I’ve never been so scared in my life.’
‘Hanging around with Jared . . .’ Wyatt snickered at the pun, ‘will do that to you, cousin.’
Jared harrumphed. ‘I’ll laugh about this some day, but this isn’t that day. I’m for thinking my soul left my body about ten minutes ago – couldn’t stand the notion of how much suffering we expected.’
‘The two men watching outside were tough to take out silently,’ Locke informed the pair. ‘Takoda and Chayton might have been
the pride of the army scouts back in their day, but they work a whole lot slower than in their youth.’
Officer Fielding entered the room, having come in from the office. ‘I found the journals we need. He looked at the body on the floor and shook his head. ‘There wasn’t to be any killing.’
‘Didn’t have a choice,’ Wyatt explained. ‘Locke told everyone not to move.’
‘You can see Dixon’s gun is out,’ Jared directed his attention to the dead man’s weapon. ‘He wanted to take me with him.’
‘Had I give it some thought, I might have let him shoot first,’ Wyatt snickered. ‘Jerry has been a thorn in the family’s side for a good many years.’
‘Who has shot more men than me and any other two Valerons?’ Jared fired back. ‘That would be you!’
‘Did you nab McEnroe?’ Locke remained focused to the job.
‘Cliff was watching the road at that end – no way the back-stabbing lawman could have gotten past him. Him and your Indian wranglers will have McEnroe and the two guards ready for travel.’
Jared took a mental count. ‘Wait a minute. Dixon wouldn’t have been alone, and we have Mantee and his four men.’
‘Maybe they are over at the tannery,’ Shane postulated. ‘You can bet someone is waiting to finish the job on us.’
‘Tannery? What are you talking about, nephew?’ Locke asked him.
‘They were going to stick our bodies in a vat of brine or whatever bath they use to remove the extra meat and hair off of the cowhides. After that, our bones would be ground to meal and ka’flooie! – we do a disappearing act like at one of those carnival magician’s shows.’
‘Ka’flooie, huh?’ Locke said, displaying a frown. ‘I’m glad you killed Dixon, Wyatt,’ Locke told him. ‘I’ve suddenly developed a major dislike of the man.’
‘How about it, Pegg?’ Reb pulled his skinning knife. ‘Where are Dixon’s missing men?’
‘They had orders not to hurt anyone,’ Pegg said quickly. ‘Two of them rode over to warn my meat-cutter not to say anything. That’s all I know about them.’
‘Jared,’ Locke ordered, ‘you and Wyatt take a ride over there. We’ll meet you at the jail in town.’
The Valerons--Retribution! Page 12
