“I ain’t decided yet.”
“You want me to go with you?”
“Hell, no, I wanna go by myself. That’s why I ain’t said nothin’ about it before.”
Lonnie shook his head impatiently. “I swear, you do beat all. We got plenty of meat, smoked and salt cured.”
“We ain’t got no fresh deer meat and that’s what I’ve got a hankerin’ for,” Bloodworth insisted.
“You do beat all,” Lonnie told him. “I’m goin’ to bed.”
* * *
They waited in front of The Chinaman’s for Jug to return from the bushes behind the wagons to see if he was going to need any help getting back to camp. In a short time, he appeared, looking slightly disheveled. “I swear, I believe Red is sellin’ some of that rot-gut stock to his good customers. I believe I fought off death this time, however. I think I’m gonna make it. I told Zeke and Ike I’d bring you back with me for one drink. They said to tell you your likker was on them. Dang cheapskates, they know you don’t ever drink more than two shots of whiskey.”
“What do they wanna buy me a drink for?” Luke wondered aloud. He didn’t express it, but he was suspicious that it might be because Jug was bad about telling heroic tales about him. “I think me and Willow are ready to call it a night. Right, Willow?” It was already beginning to get a little noisy in the clearing on the other side of Red’s Place where a bare-knuckle boxing match was in the making. “I don’t wanna take Willow over to that saloon.”
“The boys will be disappointed if you don’t have a drink with ’em,” Jug said. “Willow can set right here on this bench and wait for you. I’ll set here with her. She’ll be all right.”
Luke started to protest, but Willow interrupted him. “It’s all right, Luke. I stay with Jug. You go drink one drink.”
“There,” Jug crowed, “you hear that? The missus says you can have one drink. Then you’d best get your tail back here.”
Luke looked at her and laughed. “All right, Sweetheart. I’ll have one drink and that’s all.” He gave her a little squeeze and stepped off the porch and walked across the clearing to the saloon.
“He ought not be too long with you waitin’ out here for him,” Jug told her. “I don’t know if I’ve ever told you, but you’ve got yourself a good man there in Luke Ransom. I know you two are gonna make it.”
She bowed her head and smiled, so pleased that he would say that, and grateful for his faith in her. She heard a sound she could not identify, and when she raised her head again, it was to see Jug falling to the ground. She started to scream, but it was muffled by the heavy burlap sack pulled roughly over her head and lost in the noise of the fist fight across the clearing. She stood up but was immediately swept off her feet by one huge arm around the sack, locking her arms to her sides. Helpless to resist, she was carried around to the back of the big tent where a horse was waiting. Her captor still held her in one arm as he stepped up into the saddle, laid her across the horse’s withers in front of him, and rode away into the night. The nightmare returned of her abduction by Bloody Hand, and she was terrified by the realization that she was bound to relive it. At the point when her life had seemed to have fulfilled her fondest dreams, she was not sure she could survive the fate that was cast for her now. She struggled in an effort to slide off the loping horse, but the hand held her clamped down so hard she was unable to move.
Back at The Chinaman’s tent, Jug struggled to clear his head as he found himself lying on the ground, with no idea how he got there. He pushed himself up on his knees and started to get to his feet but found that he couldn’t without feeling dizzy and weak. Thinking it still the whiskey that had cast this awful sickness on him, he attempted to apologize. “I’m sorry, Willow, I reckon I got into some bad likker.” His head was splitting with a massive headache, but he tried to get to his feet again. This time, he remained upright, aware only then of a wetness on the back of his neck and collar. He felt it with his hand, and when he drew it back, he realized it was blood. It occurred to him then that Willow had not answered him when he apologized. Taking care not to fall, he slowly turned around to find that she was not there. It struck him then, like the impact of the hand axe that had struck the back of his head. She had been taken! Seized by panic, he staggered across the clearing like a drunk man, calling Luke’s name.
One look at Jug when he stumbled in the door of Red’s Place was enough to send Luke into immediate alarm. He dropped the shot glass he was holding and rushed to meet him. “Willow?” He cried out desperately, knowing at once that something had happened to her
“They took her!” Jug gasped. “Caught me from behind.”
“Who took her?” Luke pressed frantically as he guided Jug to a chair.
“I don’t know,” Jug groaned, the whole back of his shirt wet with blood. “I never saw ’em. When I come to, she was gone.”
Luke looked around him desperately. He had to go after her, but Jug was in serious need of medical attention. Zeke Singleton stepped up to help. “You go,” he said to Luke. “We’ll take care of Jug.”
“I’m obliged,” Luke gasped hurriedly, then back to Jug, he said, “You hang in there, partner. Zeke’s gonna take care of you.”
Jug grabbed Luke’s arm. “Go get her, Luke. I’m sorry, I never saw ’em. They got the jump on me.”
“It wasn’t your fault,” Luke assured him. “You just let ’em fix up that cut on the back of your head. I’m goin’ after her” He ran out the door, oblivious to the raucous noise of the spectators watching two men exchanging rights and lefts in the middle of the circle. His, Willow’s, and Jug’s horses were still standing at the rail in front of The Chinaman’s, but there was no one outside the tent.
She was gone, and he was at a total loss as to what happened to her. His thoughts of panic were penetrated then by a high-pitched voice behind him. He turned to see a young woman, who was obviously a camp follower, staring up at him. He was about to dismiss her in a hurry when she spoke again. “I said I saw who took that Injun woman.”
“You saw ’em?” Luke responded anxiously.
“I saw him,” the woman replied. “It weren’t but one man, a great big man. He walked up behind that feller with the woman and knocked him in the head with an axe. Then he threw a sack over the woman’s head and picked her up like nothin’ a-tall. I yelled when I saw him do it, but nobody paid me no mind. They was all hollerin’ at them two fellers fightin’. I woulda told that feller that got knocked in the head, but I thought he was dead. Then he got up and started runnin’ to the saloon. I tried to tell him then, but he just ran right by me, hollerin’ for somebody in the saloon.” She paused then before adding, “I reckon that musta been you.”
In total desperation moments before, Luke felt as if he had been granted a miracle. “You say he was a big man?”
“Yessir, bigger’n you, maybe not taller, but bigger everywhere else. He picked that woman up with one arm.”
“Did you see which way he went after he grabbed her?”
“Yessir.” She walked a few feet toward the corner of The Chinaman’s tent and pointed. “He went around the end of that tent and got on a horse and rode off yonderways.” She paused to watch his intense reactions to her report. “That Injun woman, was she somebody you know?”
“She’s my wife,” Luke answered.
The young prostitute didn’t reply at once, just nodded her head solemnly. “Oh. Well, I’m mighty sorry for her. I hope you catch up with him.”
“Thank you for tellin’ me what you saw,” he said to her. “If you hadn’t, I wouldn’t have even known which way to start.” He started to leave, but then thinking of her profession, he reached in his pocket and peeled off a five-dollar bill and pressed it in her hand. With no time to waste then, he ran to the horses.
“I didn’t want no money for that!” She yelled after him. I wouldn’t charge that much if I spent the night with him, she thought.
“Say a prayer that I catch him,” he yelled back. �
��You’re a good person. It might count comin’ from you.” He was already certain he was chasing Dan Bloodworth. Too many clues pointed to him. He knew Bloodworth was not going to back off from his passion for revenge, and he blamed himself for not thinking Bloodworth might go after Willow. And he couldn’t rightfully blame Jug for not protecting her. He knew the little man would have given his life to protect her.
He climbed on Smoke, grabbed the reins of Willow’s horse, and started in the direction the woman had indicated. It was already getting too dark to follow any tracks, especially across an open valley filled with tracks now. But he did pause when he started to cross a small stream that flowed behind The Chinaman’s and dismounted to inspect the sandy bank. He was rewarded by finding the clear tracks of one horse where it entered the water and where it came out again on the other side. He faced the direction in which the tracks led. If they continue in that direction, they’ll lead me straight to the American Fur Company’s campsite, where all their men are camped, he thought. Now that he was sure where he was heading, he turned Smoke toward his and Jug’s camp first. When he got there, he hurried to get his extra rifle and decided to take his bow, too, thinking he might as well be heavily armed for whatever he might run into. He hung the rifle and bow on Willow’s horse. Ready then, he climbed back into the saddle and headed for the American Fur camp.
Chapter 23
It was a familiar-looking campsite Luke rode into. He had camped in one just like it for several years before the year just past. The American Fur Company provided tents for their men during the rendezvous. Luke had shared a four-man tent with the other three members of his team—Tom Molloy, Fred Willis, and Charlton Lewis. Lewis was now the only member of that team who was still with the company. Luke thought of Charlton Lewis as he rode into the meadow where the tents were arranged in a semicircle pattern, all facing the creek. There was little sign of life, which was not unexpected, for most of the men would be spending their money at the various places of adult entertainment available at rendezvous. He pulled Smoke to a stop and looked at the herd of horses grazing downstream from the tents. There was no way he could tell if there was one that had just been ridden into camp. He was still going on the assumption that Bloodworth had returned to camp with his captive. He rode on into the circle of tents and stepped down at the first one he came to with someone in it.
“Hey, Luke Ransom, what are you doin’ here?” Hiram Jones asked as he looked out of the tent, surprised to see him in the camp.
“Hiram,” Luke replied. “I didn’t have any idea whose tent this was. I’m glad it’s you. I need an honest answer. I’m lookin’ for Dan Bloodworth. Which one of these tents is he in?”
Hiram wasn’t sure whether he should give Luke that information or not. “Luke, I’ve always found you to be a level-headed man, and never a troublemaker. I know about all the trouble there’s been between you and Bloodworth, but I hate to see you still carryin’ that on your mind. Why don’t you just stay clear of him. He ain’t nothin’ but trouble, and I’d hate to see you wind up dead because of him.”
“I ’preciate what you’re tryin’ to tell me, Hiram, but I ain’t got any choice in this. I’ve tried to stay clear of him, but he won’t have it.” He quickly told Hiram why he was looking for Bloodworth and why his need to find him was urgent. “So, if you’ll just tell me which one of these tents is his, I’ll thank you for your help and not bother you further.”
“Damn,” Hiram exhaled upon hearing the foul deed Bloodworth pulled off. “Your wife! Everybody knows what a lowdown dog Bloodworth is, but I didn’t know he could do something as bad as that. He stays in a tent near the back with Lonnie Johnson. Come on, I’ll go back there with you.” He stuck his pistol in his belt and came out of the tent.
“I ain’t sure that’s a good idea, Hiram. Bloodworth’s got it in his mind to settle with me for good and all. He might start shootin’ as soon as he sees me, and I’d hate to see you wind up shot in the process.”
“There ain’t very many of us that don’t know what a sorry excuse for a human being Dan Bloodworth is, and that goes for Lonnie Johnson, too. If he’s got your wife back there, after kidnappin’ her, I wouldn’t hesitate to shoot him, myself. Let’s go!” He didn’t wait for Luke but started toward the back row of tents.
When they got to the tent, Luke held his rifle ready to fire and Hiram didn’t wait for him to announce their presence. “Bloodworth! You in there?”
“Who’s that?” A question came back.
“Hiram Jones,” Hiram said, still in charge. “That you, Lonnie?”
“Yeah, it’s me. Bloodworth ain’t here. Whaddaya want with him?”
“Where is he?” Luke asked, impatient with Hiram’s questioning.
“Who’s that?” Lonnie asked, not recognizing Luke’s voice.
“It’s the man who’s gonna gut you like a chicken, if I don’t get some straight answers outta you!” Luke threatened. No longer patient with the question-and-answer game, he grabbed the tent flap and plunged through the opening to find Lonnie sitting on the floor pointing a pistol toward the flap. Reacting at once, Luke kicked Lonnie’s hand sideways, causing Lonnie to shoot a hole in his tent when the gun went off. He grabbed Lonnie by his shirt collar, yanked him up on his feet, and spun him around to hold him from behind. Before Lonnie could try to free himself, Luke’s knife was resting on his throat. “Where’s Bloodworth?” Luke demanded.
“I don’t know where he is,” Lonnie cried. He struggled in vain to free himself from the powerful arm locking his arms to his sides.
“That ain’t the right answer,” Luke said. “If I have to carve the answers outta your sorry hide, that’s what I’ll do. So make up your mind. Where is Bloodworth takin’ my wife?” He put enough pressure on the knife to draw a little blood.
Lonnie almost sagged to the ground in response. “Your wife? I don’t know nothin’ about that. Bloodworth said he was goin’ deer huntin’. That’s all he told me.”
“That’s another wrong answer,” Luke said and bore down a little harder on the knife. “If anything bad happens to my wife, I will kill you and Bloodworth. Do you understand that?”
“I swear,” Lonnie pleaded. “He didn’t tell me nothin’ about grabbin’ your wife. He just said he felt like he wanted to go huntin’ for deer.”
“All right, if you can’t help me find him, then I ain’t got any reason to keep you alive.” He put the blade in a position to pull it straight across Lonnie’s windpipe.
“Wait, wait!” Lonnie screamed. “I might know where he took her! I swear he didn’t tell me he was gonna grab no woman. All he said when he left here this evenin’ was he felt like goin’ deer huntin’. Summer before last, we built us a little lean-to shed, east of here in the foothills of the Wind River Mountains, by a little pond we trapped for beaver. The deer used to show up there damn-near every night. I bet that’s the place he took your woman. If it ain’t, I ain’t got no other idea of where he’s goin’. And that’s the God’s honest truth.”
“How far is it from here?” Luke asked, and Lonnie said twenty miles. “If I find out you lied to me, I’ll spend the rest of my life, if I have to, to track you down and kill you.”
“I ain’t got no reason to lie,” Lonnie pleaded, convinced that Luke meant what he said. “I ain’t got no part in whatever Bloodworth’s got in mind. He didn’t tell me nothin’ more than what I already told you. He ain’t said nothin’ about no woman. Said he had a hankerin’ for some fresh deer meat.”
“All right,” Luke said, “get your bridle. You’re gonna show me the trail you follow to get to this huntin’ spot you’re talkin’ about.” Stripped of all his weapons, Lonnie caught his horse while Luke and Hiram watched. “You ain’t gonna need your saddle, if the start of this trail is as close as you say it is,” Luke said.
While they watched Lonnie fetch his horse from the herd grazing there, Hiram posed a question. “You think this might be part of a plan for you to ride into an ambush? He
’s sayin’ stay on this one trail and it’ll lead you straight to Bloodworth. No cross trails, no forks, no creeks, just stay on this trail. How you know ol’ Bloodworth ain’t settin’ behind a rock somewhere just waitin’ for you to show up on that trail?”
“I don’t,” Luke answered. “But I’ll be surprised if he ain’t, and disappointed, too. Bloodworth’s come at me twice with a challenge and I’ve tried to avoid it. But this time he’s gone too far when he goes after Willow.”
Hiram was still concerned about an ambush when Lonnie led his horse back to them, but Luke climbed back into the saddle, ready to go. “You want me to saddle my horse and go with you?” Hiram was inspired to ask.
“No, I don’t,” Luke answered flatly. “And I’m sendin’ Lonnie back as soon as he shows me the trail to follow. This has to be settled once and for all between Bloodworth and me. I don’t want anybody else to get hurt in it. But I appreciate your offer to help.”
Still not wholly trustful of Lonnie, Hiram asked. “What if Bloodworth’s ol’ pal, here, puts you on the wrong trail?”
“Now, why would he do that?” Luke came back. “He’s wantin’ Bloodworth to drygulch me, ain’t he? And he knows, if he don’t put me on the right trail, I’ll come back and kill him.”
Hiram thought for a brief second. “Yeah, there’s that, I reckon.” He looked at Lonnie and the look he got in return was not a friendly one. The thought entered his mind then of the possibility that it could be Bloodworth to return, instead of Luke. He didn’t like the thought of that, he told himself. He wasn’t the only one in camp that would welcome the departure of Lonnie and Bloodworth. “You be careful, Luke,” he said when they parted. He watched them ride out, then decided to see if Jim Frazier, or any of the other men were in camp. He thought it would be a good idea to let everybody know what was going on between Luke and Bloodworth. And he was not anxious to face Lonnie Johnson when he returned after showing Luke the trail to the deer camp. He figured he’d be a great deal more comfortable if Lonnie thought the rest of the men felt the same as he.
To the River's End Page 26
