by Tell Cotten
“There’s no need for you to do that,” Brian objected. “Tell you the truth, I had already planned on doing that.”
“We’ll do it together then,” Cliff declared. “You and me.”
Brian frowned. It was silent, and then he sighed.
“Sure, Cliff. We’ll do it together,” he muttered.
“Thanks, Brian,” Cliff said earnestly.
“Don’t mention it.”
Chapter sixty-seven
Everyone turned in after Yancy’s talk.
Yancy thought it would be best if they all stayed together. So, they rolled their bedrolls out in the floor of the cantina. The owner protested, but then he became quite agreeable after Yancy paid him.
Yancy also thought that they should take turns keeping watch, just in case Trent didn’t keep his word about there being no tricks.
Cooper had the first watch. He made sure that Josie was comfortable, and then he went outside and sat in a chair.
He spotted a lantern burning down at the livery stable, and after his eyes adjusted to the darkness he could make out a man sitting in front of the stable.
Cooper smiled as he pulled out his pipe. He packed it with tobacco, and after he lit up he tilted his chair back, rested his head against the wall of the cantina, and gazed upwards.
A few minutes passed, and he heard a noise at the door. He glanced sideways and saw Yancy watching him.
“Can’t sleep?” Cooper asked.
Yancy nodded as he eased down into a chair beside Cooper.
“Trent must not trust us neither,” Cooper nodded at the livery stable. “They’ve got a man keeping watch too.”
“Figured they would,” Yancy said.
Cooper nodded, and it fell silent. Yancy just sat there looking straight ahead while Cooper leaned back and looked upwards.
After a while Cooper took a deep breath and exhaled.
“We’ve killed lots of men before, but never quite like this,” he said.
“What do you mean?”
“Most gunfights we’ve been in just sort-a erupted natural like. They ain’t been so premeditated as this one.”
“I reckon so,” Yancy agreed.
“Gives a feller more time to think about things,” Cooper remarked.
“Does,” Yancy nodded.
Cooper took a deep puff of his pipe.
“Funny, how you notice things when you’re close to death.”
“What things?”
“The moon, stars… just everything,” Cooper said. “You ever notice just how beautiful a clear, calm night really is?”
Yancy turned and stared at Cooper. He studied him for a long time, and then he cleared his throat.
“I don’t think being close to death is what’s making you gaze at the stars.”
Cooper looked at Yancy with a startled look.
“What?”
“You and me were close to death countless times during the war,” Yancy replied. “I never heard you talking about the moon and stars then.”
“So?”
“Sounds more like love talking to me,” Yancy declared.
Cooper was startled. He dropped his pipe and almost flipped over in his chair. He recovered, and then he just sat there and stared at Yancy.
“Tell me I’m wrong,” Yancy continued. “Tell me you ain’t got feelings for her.”
Cooper opened his mouth, but then closed it. He thought hard and smiled.
“I thought so,” Yancy sighed.
It fell silent again. Yancy just sat there, looking straight ahead, while Cooper sat there wringing his hands.
“She’s had it rough,” Cooper finally said.
“Has,” Yancy agreed.
“But, she’s a good person.”
“Seems like.”
“It’s going to be rough on her, getting used to being around white folks again.”
“Probably will be,” Yancy agreed.
“I think I could help her.”
Yancy turned and looked at Cooper.
“You love her?”
Cooper was startled. He looked down at his hands and frowned thoughtfully.
“Too early to tell, but I sure like her.”
“Then nothing else matters,” Yancy declared.
Cooper looked up.
“You think so?”
Yancy nodded.
It was silent as Cooper thought on that, and Yancy cleared his throat.
“After all we’ve been through these past years, you deserve some happiness, Coop. If you’ve got strong feelings for her, then I would proceed.”
“I could be dead in few hours,” Cooper responded.
“Could happen,” Yancy agreed, and he flashed Cooper a rare smile. “Mebbe you should wait to marry her until afterwards then.”
Cooper smiled and shook his head. It was silent, and then he looked back at Yancy.
“So, what do you think?”
“About what?”
“About tomorrow.”
Yancy nodded. He frowned as he thought on it, and he looked at Cooper with a serious face.
“We’re going to have to kill them all,” Yancy declared.
Chapter sixty-eight
It didn’t take Stew long to grow tired of his two companions.
They complained constantly about everything. But, they were all the help he had, so he figured he’d just have to live with the irritation for now.
Stew had hoped to reach the cabin by the end of the day, but by dark they were still a few miles out. So, despite Tyler and Ned’s complaints, Stew pushed on.
He smelled smoke when they got close to the cabin, and Stew made a motion to be quiet. He dismounted and handed the reins of his horse to Ned.
“Stay here,” he told them. “And keep those horses quiet!”
They nodded, and Stew crept towards the cabin. He was careful not to make any noise, and he stopped when he was about a hundred yards away.
The moon was bright, and he recognized the horses in the corral.
Stew smiled.
This is working out better than I figured! He thought.
He turned and trudged back to his companions.
“The fellers we’re after are staying in the cabin,” Stew told them as he mounted his horse. “So, we’re going to camp out here.”
Neither Ned nor Tyler looked happy about that, but Stew ignored them as he led out.
There was a small hill covered in trees a little ways behind them, and Stew rode up amongst the trees and looked around.
“We’ll make camp here,” he announced. “This is a good spot to keep an eye on that cabin.”
“I’ll gather some wood,” Tyler offered.
“No fire,” Stew said sharply. “We’re too close.”
“But it’s cold!” Tyler objected.
“You’ll live,” Stew replied. “Now, unsaddle the horses, and be quiet doing it.”
Ned and Tyler grumbled, but they still did as they were told.
Chapter sixty-nine
Nobody slept very well in the cantina, and everyone was somber during breakfast. Afterwards, everybody got ready.
Yancy made sure that his Colt was loaded and ready. He had an extra Colt in his saddlebags, and he stuck it in his waist.
Tussle checked his shotgun, and Lee and Jed checked their six-shooters.
Cooper checked his Colt, and then he checked his Henry. He put a bullet in the chamber, and he left it cocked.
At five minutes till seven, Yancy moved to the door and looked out.
“They’re waiting for us,” he commented, and he looked around the room at everybody. “Is there anything anybody needs to go over?”
Everyone shook their heads.
“Remember,” Yancy told Tussle and Jed. “Being steady is more important than being fast.”
They nodded, and Yancy glanced at his watch.
“Time to go,” he announced.
Cooper glanced at Josie. She was staring at him, and her face was filled with wo
rry.
“I’ll be back,” Cooper said.
Josie didn’t reply. Instead, she just nodded.
Lee smiled at Josie too, and then everybody stepped outside.
They spread out in a single line. Yancy was in the middle, and Lee was on his right while Cooper was to his left. Jed and Tussle were on the outsides.
The wind was on their backs as they walked towards the livery stable. Trent’s bunch had spotted them, and they were waiting.
Yancy glanced at Cooper.
“Feel it?” He asked.
“Yep.”
“Me too.”
“Feel what?” Lee asked.
Cooper looked at Yancy. He nodded, so Cooper cleared his throat.
“We Landons get a special feeling in times of trouble.”
“What sort-a feeling?” Lee asked curiously.
“Can’t explain it really,” Cooper said. “Heart’s pounding. You feel hot and cold at the same time, but then you also feel nothing at all.”
Lee thought on that and smiled.
“Shucks, everybody feels like that before a fight,” he said.
“No,” Yancy spoke up. “Not like this.”
Chapter seventy
Cliff was up early.
He found a shovel in the cabin, and he was halfway through digging Rusty’s grave by the time Brian and Jessica were up.
Sweat ran down Cliff’s face, but he didn’t mind. He was working hard, and he was taking out his frustrations while he dug.
Brian walked over, and Cliff stopped digging. He breathed deeply and glanced at Brian.
“I want to be alone while I bury Rusty,” Cliff told him. “Take Jessica, and scout around a bit.”
“Probably be a good idea,” Brian agreed.
Cliff nodded and got back to work.
Brian watched him for a moment, and then he went back to the cabin and told Jessica.
“He wants us to look around, but we’re going to keep on riding,” Brian told Jessica.
“Good!” Jessica exclaimed, and her face filled with excitement.
“I’ll go saddle my horse, and then we’ll be off.”
Jessica nodded as Brian went outside. He saddled his horse and led him over to the cabin.
Jessica came out of the cabin, carrying her carpetbag. She gave it to Brian, and he was just about to tie it on his saddle when Cliff walked up.
“Why are you taking that?” Cliff snapped irritably.
Jessica and Brian glanced at each other, and Brian forced a smile.
“You’re right, Cliff,” he said casually. “There’s no need to take it. Jessica, why don’t you put it back in the cabin.”
Jessica tried to look unconcerned as she took the carpetbag. She went inside and placed it in the corner, and then she went back outside.
Brian was already mounted. He reached down and helped Jessica up, and then he looked at Cliff.
“See you in a bit.”
“Come back in a few hours,” Cliff said.
Brian nodded, and then they rode out.
Chapter seventy-one
Time seemed to slow down for Yancy. He felt the presence of Cooper and Lee beside him, but he kept his eyes forward.
Pedro had warned the Mexicans, and the only Mexican in sight was the lookout on the wall.
Yancy spotted Trent. He was directly in front of him, and his brothers and Clay were spread out beside him.
Yancy’s heart beat steadily, and he could feel blood flowing through him. He also felt a slight tremble of anticipation in his legs. His throat was dry, and his face was intense.
Yancy could feel the weight of his Colt as he walked, and he lowered his hand so that it hovered over his gun handle.
“Lord have mercy,” Yancy heard Tussle pray softly.
“Amen,” Yancy whispered, and then they were there.
Trent had a scowl as he watched Yancy.
“Well, looks like you decided to show,” Trent said sarcastically.
Soon as he said that, Yancy drew his Colt and shot Trent twice in the chest. There was a loud thumping sound, and the impact propelled Trent backwards. He flew through the air and landed hard on his back.
Yancy kept walking forward. Trent had pulled out his Colt as he flew backwards, and soon as he hit the ground he tried to raise up and fire. But Yancy fired again, and this time Trent was flipped over backwards.
Meanwhile, gunshots exploded all around. Tussle’s shotgun blasted, but then Tussle fell. Lee’s Colt fired into Oscar, and Oscar went flying backwards. Cooper’s Henry barked one shot after another as Clay went down, but then Yancy heard a loud thump as a bullet hit flesh beside him. And then, in the corner of his eye, he saw Cooper fall.
With an outraged yell, Yancy spun towards his left. Reed was firing in his direction, but Yancy calmly aimed and fired twice. Both bullets hit Reed in the chest, and he was flung violently to the ground.
Jed, meanwhile, stood there completely frozen. He suddenly snapped out of it, but right as he drew his gun Tyson shot him in the chest, and he went flying backwards.
Tyson turned his aim on Yancy. But, before he could fire, two bullets from Lee’s direction hit Tyson in the belly and chest. Tyson’s body was flung backwards, and he landed in a heap.
Yancy glanced at Lee. Lee nodded, and they turned towards the Oltman brothers.
They were all down, and it was over.
Yancy holstered his Colt, and then he rushed over to Cooper.
“Coop?” Yancy asked, his voice strained.
Cooper was stretched out on his stomach. Yancy knelt beside him and gently rolled him over.
“I’m alive,” Cooper said through grimaced teeth. “My hip. I’m hit in the hip.”
Yancy examined him.
“You are,” he agreed. “You rest easy now. Pedro’s coming.”
Cooper nodded and tried to smile.
Yancy stood and looked around him.
Tussle was rolling around on the ground, grabbing at his foot. As for the others, they were all dead.
Lee was checking on everyone else, and when he finished he straightened up and looked solemnly at Yancy.
Yancy nodded, and Lee nodded back.
“You all right, Tussle?” Yancy asked.
“I’m hit in the foot!” Tussle grimaced in pain.
“Take it easy, we’ll get you tended too,” Yancy replied.
Tussle nodded, but then asked, “How’s Jed?”
“Dead,” Yancy said as he looked at him.
“And so are the Oltmans and Clay,” Lee added.
Tussle frowned, but didn’t say anything.
Suddenly, Yancy and Lee heard running footsteps coming from the cantina. They spun around and saw Josie.
Lee smiled and started for her, but then Josie spotted Cooper. A look of concern crossed her face, and she rushed by Lee. She dropped down beside Cooper, and she reached down and held him in her arms.
Despite the pain, Cooper looked up and smiled. Tears ran down Josie’s face as she held on tight.
“It’s all right,” Cooper managed to say. “I’ll live.”
Josie didn’t reply. Instead, she stared straight into Cooper’s eyes, and Cooper stared back into those blue eyes. It was silent for a long time, but as they stared at each other a silent understanding passed between them, and they both smiled.
Lee stood still and watched them. At first he frowned, but then he breathed deeply and looked up into the sky. He continued to stare upwards as he gathered his thoughts, and then he looked back at them. He smiled sadly and nodded to himself. He glanced at Yancy, and then he holstered his Colt, turned, and walked away.
Meanwhile, Pedro came running up. He started towards Tussle, but he waved him away.
“I’m all right,” he said, and he beckoned at Cooper. “Look after him first.”
Five minutes later, Pedro was still working on Cooper when Yancy heard a noise from behind. He turned and saw Lee riding up a-horseback.
“Where are you going?”
Yancy asked.
“Take care of your brother,” Lee said. “I’ll find Jessica.”
Yancy nodded slowly as he thought on that.
“I’ll catch up,” he said.
Lee nodded. He looked at Josie once more, and then he kicked up his horse.
Chapter seventy-two
Soon as it got daylight Stew spotted Cliff digging a grave, and he knew then that Rusty was dead.
Their hiding place was a good one. It was brushy and had a lot of trees, and it was also far away enough so that the horses could stir and not be heard.
Stew leaned against the trunk of a tree as he looked down below. Ned and Tyler were behind him, sitting cross-legged on the ground.
An hour passed, and Stew spotted Brian Clark coming out of the cabin. He talked to Cliff and went back to the cabin. Then, Brian came back outside and saddled his horse.
Stew watched with great curiosity as Jessica came out of the cabin. She held her carpetbag, and she gave it to Brian.
But then Cliff walked up, and they exchanged some words. Brian gave the carpetbag back to Jessica, and she took it inside. Then, they mounted up and took off while Cliff walked back over to the grave.
Stew smiled as he watched Cliff dig. It looked like hard ground, and Cliff worked hard.
A couple of hours passed. Both Ned and Tyler started getting restless, but Stew ignored them.
Finally, Cliff stopped digging. He walked back to the cabin, and presently he came back out, carrying Rusty. He carried him over to the grave and gently placed him in it.
Moving quietly, Stew brought his rifle up and placed the butt against his shoulder. It would be a long shot, but Stew had had more than enough time to judge the distance, elevation, and wind.
Cliff stood with his back to Stew, and he removed his hat as he looked down at Rusty. Stew couldn’t be sure, but it looked like Cliff was sobbing.
Stew took a deep breath. He let half of it out, and then he took careful aim.
He pulled the trigger, and the loud boom of a rifle shot bellowed out. There was a loud thumping sound, and Cliff dropped instantly.
