Ole Devil and the Mule Train (An Ole Devil Western Book 3)

by J. T. Edson

  No matter what Ferris’s actual motives might be, Ole Devil knew that nothing was changing in the situation he was trying to bring about. Except that, if the latter eventuality should be correct, he would be meaning to kill rather than merely assert his superiority by physical means.

  The possibility that the hard case was hoping to earn the Beaucoup family’s appreciation and financial support made dealing with him more difficult. Although Ole Devil had not envisaged that he might need one, on the way to the ferry he had instinctively exchanged the pistol used to signal their coming for the loaded weapon in his saddle-holster. So he had the means to defend himself and in a fashion that would in all probability come as a complete surprise to his antagonist.

  Unfortunately, the issue was not as simple as that.

  Ole Devil realized that he could be making the wrong assumption. Perhaps Ferris was only a bully trying to assert himself; or at the worst, wanted to work off some ill feeling towards the Hardin, Fog and Blaze clan in general by picking a fistfight with one of its members who had crossed his path. In that case, he would not be contemplating a murderous assault, but merely a roughhouse brawl.

  While Ole Devil was willing to be completely ruthless where the protection of the consignment was concerned, he had never regarded lightly the taking of another human being’s life for personal reasons. So he could not adopt the most obvious course of drawing his pistol and ending the matter with a bullet.

  ‘I’d be obliged if you’d have the ferry across there when my man arrives, Mr. Hickert,’ Ole Devil requested, giving no sign of his thoughts or even that he had heard Ferris’s comment.

  ‘Sure, Cap’n,’ Hickert assented, without showing the slightest indication of how he felt about what was happening. ‘I’ll tend to it.’

  ‘Now me,’ Ferris said, advancing a pace. ‘I’m wondering why, with you being so concerned about them Hopis ’n’ all, you didn’t go look for ’em yourself instead of sending that heathen “Chinee”.’

  ‘We can only hope that they’re not too close,’ Ole Devil drawled, dropping the dun’s reins and starting to turn towards the river, still apparently refusing to acknowledge his challenger’s presence. ‘The further they’re away—’

  ‘God damn it!’ the burly hard case bellowed, continuing to advance and his face darkening with anger at being subjected to such cavalier treatment, ‘I’m talking to you, you fancy dressed son—’

  Instantly, satisfied that the other was behaving as he had anticipated and had sought to bring about, Ole Devil pivoted around with such violence that his hat was dislodged to fall back on his shoulders and he sprang to meet Ferris.

  Taken completely unawares, the hard case was further disconcerted by the exposure of the horn-like tufts of hair on the sides of the young Texian’s head. They added to the already savage Mephistophelian aspect of his face that was enhanced by the strain of the exertions he had endured during his present assignment. For the first time, Ferris began to realize what was portended by the second part of Ole Devil’s sobriquet. Although far from religious, he was sufficiently superstitious for the shock to numb his responses at a moment when they should have been working at their fastest.

  Up lashed Ole Devil’s right arm, delivering a backhand blow with wicked force to the side of the burly man’s left cheek. Alarm as much as pain caused Ferris to snatch his forward leg to the rear so as to carry himself away from his Satanic-featured assailant. Almost before the foot had touched the ground, the flat palm whipped across to meet his head as it was turned by the force of the blow and reversed its direction with an equal violence. Once again, the recipient of the attack was driven to make an involuntary withdrawal and with even more disastrous results. Lashing around, driven by the full power and fury of a wiry and whipcord strong body, the knuckles repeated their contact with no loss of velocity for all the speed that they were moving.

  Coming so rapidly and hard, the blows completely destroyed Ferris’s equilibrium. Trying to back away with sufficient haste to avoid further punishment and not a little frightened by the almost demoniac rage which he had caused to be released, he lost his footing. Going down, he alighted on his rump with a bone-jarring thud. For a few seconds, he sat dazed and winded. Then, although his vision was still blurred, he spat out an obscenity and his right hand went towards the hilt of his knife.

  ‘Go ahead!’ a savage voice challenged, cutting like the blast of an icy cold wind into the mists of anger, pain and humiliation that were tearing through the discomforted hard case. ‘Take it out—if you think you can.’

  Before the final part of the speech was completed, Ferris’s vision cleared and the sight that met his eyes was one he would never forget. Crouching slightly, the tall figure before him was charged with a grim and terrible menace. What frightened him was not the way in which the right arm was extended and bent so that the hand, turned palm outwards, was close to the butt of the pistol in the loop of the waist belt. The day of the fast-drawing gunfighter and his methods was yet to come, so he had no conception what the posture indicated.

  It was the sheer magnetic driving force of Ole Devil’s personality that produced the reaction!

  Staring at him, the hard case did not doubt for a single instant that he was ready, willing and completely able to kill without mercy.

  So the young Texian was, but he hoped that the necessity would not arise!

  Almost a minute dragged by on leaden feet, or so it seemed to Ferris. Much as he hated to admit it even to himself, he did not dare to attempt pulling out the knife although he had no idea of how Ole Devil proposed to stop him. He was aware that the only alternative was to back down and eat crow. He could not hope for intervention on the part of the other men. Although his main attention was riveted upon the menacing figure confronting him, he was conscious of the second male arrival’s dispassionate gaze and sensed that Hickert was also studying him, awaiting whatever came next with no great display of emotion.

  Attracted by the commotion from their rear, Corrinne Hallistead and Maw Hickert had turned around. Neither of them knew exactly what had caused the trouble, but both suspected that it was not of Ole Devil’s making. Knowing the hard case. Maw had a solid basis for her belief. Corrinne had had considerable experience of men and had deduced correctly the natures of the protagonists in the little drama. So she felt sure that the young Texian had been provoked and guessed that he had no wish to take the matter further if it could be avoided.

  Although the men had no intention of mediating, the same did not apply to the women. There was one difference in their attitudes. Maw had duplicated the little actress’s summations, but was unable to decide what would be the best way to ease the situation. Seeing Tommy Okasi approaching, Corrinne realized how she could achieve her purpose; at least as far as Ole Devil was concerned.

  ‘Really, Maw!’ the actress snorted, in tones of exasperation, starting to retrace her footsteps. ‘Isn’t this just like men? There’s poor little Tommy Okasi needing to be brought over the river and they’re playing foolish games.’

  ‘Danged if it don’t make you want to give up on ’em,’ the big woman supported, stepping out to catch up and keep pace with the other member of her sex. ‘Mose’ Hickert, you get them blasted oxen unhitched and turned around. And, happen you’re so all-fired eager to hear what that feller’s got to say, you pair want to lend him a hand to do it.’

  ‘A most astute and commendable suggestion, my dear lady,’ Hallistead admitted, showing a trace of relief as he realized what the women were hoping to do. ‘And one which I, with all promptitude, would advise that we apply ourselves to carrying out, Devil.’

  ‘I don’t know what most of that was about,’ Maw growled. ‘But, happen it means “yes”, get to it.’

  ‘With alacrity, although I am but slightly acquainted with such a task,’ the entertainer assented. ‘Perhaps you would, having more experience possibly, care to instruct me, Devil.’

  ‘Why sure,’ the Texian replied, but he did no
t turn away immediately. Instead, he addressed the hard case in a quiet, matter of fact, yet somehow coldly threatening manner. ‘One thing, hombre. The Beaucoups have found out that I didn’t kill Saul. So there’d be no bounty if you’d tried to claim it.’

  ‘Wha—?’ gasped Ferris, but Ole Devil had swung on his heel and was walking with Hallistead towards the oxen.

  To give the hard case his due, he had never heard of the reward offered by the Beaucoup family for Ole Devil’s arrest and return. His animosity had arisen out of a share-cropper arrangement lxii he had made in Iberville Parish with Colonel Marsden Fog.

  In spite of given several opportunities to change his ways, always shiftless and idle, his continued failure to uphold his end of the bargain had caused him to be evicted. As a result, his long-suffering wife had deserted him and he had drifted to Texas in search of a way of earning a living that was not burdened with the need to do much work. When he had failed to achieve his goal, never being one to admit he was at fault, he had put the blame on the owner of the property he had been mismanaging. Brooding over it, he had extended his hatred to the whole of the Hardin, Fog and Blaze clan. Ole Devil was the first of them with whom he had come into contact and that alone was the reason why he had picked the fight.

  Although Ferris did not realize it, he had had a very narrow escape. Many a man, especially when laboring under the strains that Ole Devil was enduring while at the same time possessing such effective fighting techniques, would not have thought twice about killing him.

  Watching the straight-backed young Texian striding away, the hard case muttered under his breath. Fear and resentment warred with each other inside him. The latter emotion cried for revenge, but the former cautioned against trying to obtain it. For once in his worthless life, he was ready to listen to the dictates of prudence and wisdom. Which showed good sense. If he had offered to cause further trouble, Ole Devil could not have refrained from killing him.

  ‘Mr. Ferris,’ Maw Hickert said, as the hard case started to rise.

  ‘Yeah?’ Ferris asked, looking over his shoulder.

  ‘I hope you ain’t fixing to make no more fuss for young Cap’n Hardin,’ the big woman went on, tapping the heavy ox-goad she was still holding against the palm of her left hand as if it weighed no more than a slender willow switch. ‘’Cause I wouldn’t like it if you do. Fact being, I reckon’s you had a right smart notion when you was talking about pulling out and going to find General Sam ’n’ enlist in the Army. Why’n’t you go and do it?’

  ‘I reckon I will,’ Ferris replied, refusing to meet either woman’s gaze. He knew better than to antagonize Maw and also was aware that she had never cared for him. So he doubted if he would be welcome to stay in Hickert’s Landing even if the news that the little Oriental was bringing in such haste should—which was not likely—be favorable. ‘Yeah. I reckon I’ll go and collect my gear ’n’ head out now.’

  ‘Good luck to you,’ Maw grunted, then swung towards her bulky sons who were hovering in the background. ‘Take care of them two hosses, Henry, and you see to that other when its gets across, Clyde. Come on, gal. I reckon’s you and me can leave them shiftless menfolks to do the rest.’

  Oblivious of what had taken place behind them, but confident that one of the women would give a warning if the hard case was contemplating further hostilities, Ole Devil and Hallistead helped Hickert to unhitch and turn the oxen. With the animals on the move, the Texian watched the boat creeping forward. As he did so, he began to think how useful it had been to travelers in the past and what an asset it would be if the struggle for independence was successful. However, it was also dangerous to the safety of the consignment if the enemy were allowed to capture and utilize it as a means of a rapid crossing of the San Bernard River.

  ‘I’ll be right sorry to lose this old boat, Cap’n,’ Hickert remarked, almost as if he was reading the Texian’s mind.

  ‘Yes, sir,’ Ole Devil answered. ‘But there’s no way you could hold on to it if the Hopis are coming. Even if they passed you by, they’ll want it should they come back with the consignment.’

  ‘That’s for sure,’ Hickert admitted, then gave a fatalistic shrug. ‘Anyways, happen ole Santa Anna wins this fuss, which he could do a whole heap easier without General Sam having them caplocks, ain’t no chance of him leaving us here to keep running her.’

  ‘You’re right, sir,’ Ole Devil agreed. ‘He’s sworn that he won’t allow a single gringo to own land on Mexican soil in future. But, if we win, your ferry will be needed more than ever.’

  ‘Likely,’ Hickert conceded, knowing that in all probability there would be an influx of colonists from the United States if the security of an independent Republic could be attained. He darted a glance of curiosity at the younger man’s Satanic face. ‘Only I can’t see’s how we can have it both ways?’

  ‘What do you have in mind, Devil?’ Hallistead put in, having followed the conversation with interest and sharing the owner of the ferry’s belief that the Texian was not merely making idle chatter.

  ‘The Hopis would be willing to use the ferry,’ Ole Devil replied, watching the boat reach the western bank where Tommy was already waiting on the landing stage. ‘But, coming from Arizona, I don’t think they would know how to refloat and repair it, even if they’d be willing to take the time.’

  ‘You’re right!’ Hallistead ejaculated, so impressed that he forgot to employ his usual verbose flow of words. ‘If the boat was sunk, trained men would be required to raise and repair it.’

  ‘Whoa!’ Hickert bawled at the oxen, having been keeping the boat under observation. Realizing what the young Texian was driving at, he continued as soon as the order had been obeyed, ‘How about that bunch from San Patricio, could they do it?’

  ‘From what I saw, there’s a full Brigade there,’ Hallistead answered, as Ole Devil looked at him. ‘While I couldn’t swear to their presence, my rudimentary knowledge of military organization leads me to presuppose they have engineers accompanying them. However, as I mentioned while we were coming here, Devil, there was no sign of pursuit. Furthermore, all the reconnaissance activity which I observed in the, I admit, limited time they were subjected to my scrutiny, was directed to the west. I would be inclined to suggest it will be in that direction, rather than northwards they are intending to devote their energies.’

  A faint grin flickered across the Texian’s face as he watched Tommy leading the blue roan gelding on to the boat. For all the entertainer’s diffuse manner of speaking, he was no fool. What was more, in spite of his claim to know little about the subject, his summations on military matters were worth considering.

  ‘You mean they’ll go to Goliad to take care of Fannin’s bunch afore they head out to join up with Santa Anna?’ Hickert asked, remembering what Ole Devil had told him about the state of affairs elsewhere in Texas, and the fact that he directed the question at Hallistead showed he too accepted the entertainer was worth listening to.

  ‘That would be my considered supposition, sir,’ Hallistead declared.

  While talking, the three men had started to change the oxen.

  ‘Santa Anna’s sure to have engineers along, even if that bunch at San Patricio don’t,’ Hickert guessed, stepping back after the completion of the work and setting the animals into motion. ‘I’d hate like hell for him to be able to use old Nellie there.’

  ‘It’s not likely he’ll come this far south,’ Ole Devil pointed out. ‘He’ll be following General Houston, who’s falling back towards Washington-on-the-Brazos and will go over thereabouts. lxiii So they’ll go by well to the north.’

  ‘What do you reckon’d be the best thing for us to do, Cap’n?’ Hickert asked. ‘Sink her in midstream.’

  ‘That would be the safest way, sir,’ Ole Devil replied. ‘Or you could beach her somewhere downstream. Take out some of her bottom planks, load the cable on to one of your wagons and drive the oxen along with you when you leave. I think that the Hopis will come after us, not you,
so you’ll be all right.’

  ‘Huh huh!’ Hickert grunted noncommittally, but he liked the solution he had been offered. Many a young man would not have troubled to think of such a thing. ‘How long do you conclude it’ll be afore General Sam’s ready for the showdown with ’em, Cap’n?’

  ‘A month, or two at the most,’ Ole Devil decided, after a moment’s thought. ‘He’s falling back until he’s certain our people are close enough to be able to escape over the U.S. line if things go badly.’

  ‘Was that all she’d be under, she wouldn’t take no hurt,’ Hickert said quietly. ‘And, happen we get run out, I’m such an ornery cuss that I’d sooner not have some greaser taking her over unless he’s had a heap of work to do.’

  ‘I’ll leave how you handle it up to you, sir,’ Ole Devil stated, satisfied that he had achieved his purpose. ‘And, of course, there might not be any need for you to do anything at all.’

  Even as he was speaking, Ole Devil and the other two men were looking at the approaching boat. Studying the condition of the little Oriental and his horse, the coat of which was white with lather to such an extent that its true color was almost completely hidden, they all realized the Texian was raising a false hope. Tommy would only have driven his mount to such a state if the matter was extremely urgent. There was no chance of the Hopis having given up the pursuit. In fact, from all appearances, they could be very close at hand.

  Chapter Thirteen – If I Can Ask Them to Die, I Can Ask You to Live

  Sitting with his back propped against a rock and fighting to stave off the tiredness that threatened to make him fall asleep, Ole Devil Hardin was once again waiting for Tommy Okasi to catch up and deliver a report. He hoped, but did not expect, that it would be one that would relieve his anxiety over the safety of the consignment. From what the little Oriental had told him on the previous occasion, he knew that he had at least bought himself a respite by his activities at Hickert’s Landing, but he doubted whether he had seen the last of the Arizona Hopi Activos Regiment.