by Lou Bradshaw
What is it the Navy does when they want to warn a ship off? Oh yeah…they send a cannon ball across their bow.I didn’t have cannon or a ball… and I didn’t know a bow from a starboard, but I had a good rifle and some .44s. So I waited for him to come closer than I wanted him to be.
And sure enough, he got within what I figured was about three hundred yards, so did some calculating for the wind and distance. Aiming a little high and to the left, took a breath, and squeezed the trigger. Before he heard the report, I had shifted to the right and did it again. I didn’t know if I had sent my shots across his stern, port, or keel, but he hoisted anchor and left a dusty wake going back to a safe harbor among his allies. I thought to myself, Tater, you could be a sea captain if you knew what all that meant.
“Did you turn him”? Carson called up.
“Yep! He lowered his colors and hoisted his jib?”
“Huh?”
“He’s headin’ home to mama, with his horse’s tail in the air.”
“That’s better… Talk American when you talk to me.”
Within a few seconds, Spade was beside me and I showed him the two plumes of dust. He just nodded and grunted without saying anything.
They knew someone was keeping an eye on them, but they didn’t know who or where we were. The rider was too busy turning and ramming spurs to see where the smoke had come from. So we had that advantage. Our choice of smokeless firewood was limited to what we could find here in the desert like landscape, but whatever we found would at least be dry. We’d put the fire out before dusk.
When dark came, Carson moved out and found a place to set up for a two hour watch. The little fortress was dark and quiet. I was going from place to place listening. Carson was off to my right somewhere, and Emma sat close to the remaining embers of the fire for what little warmth they might give. She sat wrapped in a blanket saying nothing. It was a night without a moon, so all we had were our ears to keep us alive.
Climbing back to my little nest above the fortress, I scanned the area toward the Rio Grande and saw what I was hoping for… a fire. They were settling in to wait for us to come out with the gold. They were planning on setting up an ambush and make things easy. Well, easy may not be as easy they might think.
After about two hours in the dark Carson came in, and I told him about the fire. He agreed that they weren’t expecting us to be so close. “Now they’ll wait and lay for us somewhere down the line. We still need to post a watch, but we can do that from inside the circle.”
I thought that best too. It made sense to get some rest while we could. We would still take two hour shifts, but we’d stay inside the fortress. The chances of them finding us in the dark were slim, unless they had dogs, and there hadn’t been any evidence of that. Besides, most hounds set up a ruckus when they get on the scent. So we began to breathe a little easier, not too easy but easier.
We calculated they were camped about three miles back from the dry lake, so Spade decided to scout the camp while it was still dark. About three o’clock, he mounted up and headed toward where we’d seen the fire. It would take him a while to find them in the dark; it would take him a while to even find his way to and across the horse shoe lake. So I figured on being the guard, cook, and protector of a mighty pretty young lady at least till sunup.
To my surprise, Carson came across the lake, just as the sun was washing the gloom away. When I heard the horse scrambling up the bank, I was looking for a target. Then as the target got close enough to recognize the three white stockings on the tough black he’d been riding, I exhaled and eased the hammer down.
As soon as I was sure it was Carson on that horse’s back, I started building a fire. When he slid from the saddle, I was setting the water on a barely lit fire. He came through the opening like a man in need of some sleep. I took his horse and unsaddled it, and then I put it with the others. By the time I walked through the opening of the little fort, Spade Carson was curled up near the fire asleep.
There wasn’t any point in waking him, so I poured myself a cup of coffee and turned my efforts to watching for Burley, Morgan, the mules, and the gold. Hearing something behind me, I turned expecting to see Carson looking for something to eat, instead I saw Emma, with her bare toes peeking out from under her skirt, pouring a cup of coffee.
“What’s going on?” She asked.
“Carson went out scoutin’ their camp in the middle of the night.”
“Did he find out anything?”
“Don’t know… I went to take care of his horse and he went to sleep. I’ll start cookin’ soon… that’ll wake him up.”
“Weren’t you worried while he was out there in the dark… alone?”
“Oh we almost always worry about each other, we each know what the other one can do and shouldn’t be doin’… I only know a very few men who would have less trouble out there in the dark.”
“And as far as being alone… well sometimes when you’re doin’ what he was doin’, it’s best to be alone… Your life depends on payin’ attention to what you’re doin’. If you go wonderin’ if someone else is safe, you got a good chance of gettin’ yourself killed.”
“How’s a fella supposed to get some sleep with all that chatter goin’ on?”
“Oh, Mister Carson, I didn’t mean to wake you… I’m so sorry.”
“No matter, I figger, I got eight to ten minutes of sleep, and that ought to be enough for anybody… And don’t you think it’s about time you stop callin’ me Mister… After these past few weeks, we’re either friends or we’re gonna shoot each other first chance we get.”
“And just what shall I call you?”
“Most folks just call me Carson… but you can call me… Good Lookin’… I’ve always been partial to that…but Carson will do.” She got so tickled she nearly choked on her coffee.
“Now, Tater, ain’t that just the finest way to start a day… listenin’ to the sound of a young girl laugh?” I had to admit that it was.
“Come on, Carson… Tell us what you found out there… Anything new?” I urged.
“Yeah… and you ain’t goin’ to like it much… I saw four sombreros coverin’ the faces of sleepin’ men… add them to the three that survived plus Blaze, and we got our hands full…I figger those banditos, what there was left over of ‘em, hooked up with Drummond’s bunch.”
“Eight against four…” I said needlessly, since they both knew the odds.
While I was pondering our new situation and absent mindedly watching for Clayton and the mules to come out of the hills, Emma was busy fixing breakfast. I wasn’t even aware of it until she touched my arm and handed me a plate and a cup. She fixed her own plate and joined me at my post. Carson had eaten and was curled up under the makeshift awning. We ate in silence. There was nothing to talk about; we both knew what lay ahead of us. For me, if things went bad, I would most likely be killed. But for Emma, dying would be the better of her options.
Carson could sleep for a few hours and then I’d wake him and get some sleep myself. I’d been up since around midnight with only a few hours of sleep before that. I don’t imagine Clayton and Morgan had any sleep at all during the night time hours. They likely got where they were going, dug it out, loaded it and traveled through the night. We would all need some rest if we were going to make it out of here alive.
“You keep watching… right over there where two gray hills almost come together. That’s where they went in, and I suspect that’s where they will come out.” I told her.
“Are you going to get some rest? You were probably up all night.”
“Not yet… I’m goin’ up into those rocks and have a look for dust. I just want to see if they’re moving… Then I’ll bring my horse up, so I can be ready to ride out and cover your father and Morgan when they show… Call out if you see them.”
I’d made several trips up that jumble of boulders, so it wasn’t much of a chore. The sun had been up a while, and I figured the outlaws would be moving by now, if they were c
oming. I was facing northeast and the morning sun was making it hard to see anything. This would be a perfect time to hit us… blinded by the sun, we’d be at a big disadvantage. Taking off my hat, I held it away from my face to block the sun.
The smoke from their breakfast fire stood out in the cool morning air. Once I had the fire located, I worked my way back toward our location… Nothing. They were going to wait until we moved the gold. I was sure Blaze had told them who was left, so they knew our numbers. But they wouldn’t have any way of knowing we were two short at the moment. Otherwise they’d be trying to overrun our fortress.
A flash of light off to my left caused me to drop down in my little nest. It was too bright to be the sun on a rifle barrel, but it could be off a silver buckle or a concho. Or it might just be an old broken bottle or a piece of mica. Removing my hat, I eased up to where I could get another look. I saw nothing but dry desert brush, so I waited. After several minutes I saw the movement on the far side of the dry lakebed.
There was nothing at first except a dark spot among the brush, and then the dark spot moved again and stood up. It was a man and he was pulling his large sombrero onto his head. Next he moved right and was blocked by a boulder. When he came out again he was sprinting toward a clump of Manzanita. It was too short of a run to get a shot, so I waited for him to come out the other side.
Once again, I learned not to take things for granted because instead of coming out the other side, he came out above the brush… he had climbed into the saddle and was in the act of turning to his left when I squeezed the trigger. I saw dust fly from his jacket just before he left the saddle and disappeared. The horse walked away a few yards and started nibbling on the Manzanita.
I heard Emma utter a little startled noise and Carson asked, “Didja git ‘em?”
“Yeah… dusted him through and through… probably ruined the tobacco in that pouch.”
“Well… I can’t git no sleep with all that racket goin’ on. Might as well git up.”
“Might as well.” I replied.
Chapter 19
Carson was pouring another cup of coffee when I reached the ground. After a good stretch and yawn he asked, “Why don’t you get some rest, and I’ll watch for Burley?”
“As soon as I go over there and see what made that flash, I will. If he’s got anything worth shootin’ with, I’ll bring it back… Why don’t you bring a horse up, so one of us can ride out and cover Burley and Morgan?”
Before he could argue, I was out through the opening. Upon reflection, I was pretty certain, that hombre was here to find out exactly where we were. He had come upstream about three hundred yards from where we had crossed the lakebed. But he was no more than a hundred yards from us as the crow flies.
I found the bandito laying on his back and no longer of this world. He had a nice long barreled Colt that needed cleaning, but otherwise it was in good shape. His Winchester 73 was practically new, but unless that fella’s name was Arthur Trumbell of San Felipe del Rio, Texas, then it was stolen…. He just didn’t strike me as anybody named Trumbell. Hanging from the saddle in a pouch was a nice pair of fieldglasses. They would explain the flash of light.
There was an ample amount of ammunition for the Colt and the Winchester in his saddle bag. I had a feeling we would need as much as we could get. After draping that hombre over his saddle, I sent him back to Drummond’s camp. If we had to spend more than a few days in the fortress, it could get a little unpleasant with his body upwind of us. Taking the weapons, ammunition, and the field glasses I hiked my way back to the circle.
Reaching the little fort, I found my horse saddled and tied near the opening. Carson’s horse had been out all night, so mine was the best choice. But they’d have to wake me if they expected me to ride it. I handed the glasses to Carson and said, “I know you’re getting’ up there in years, so these might help your failin’ eyesight.” Carson was maybe twenty eight, at the most. Dropping the rest of the bounty between them, I headed straight for my bedroll.
After what seemed like three minutes, I was pulled out of my sleep by someone asking for Truman. They called the name three or four times before they called for Tater. My eyes popped open and I muttered, “What? What is it?” A quick glance at the sky told me it had been closer to three hours than three minutes. A quick glance at Emma’s face told me she was still beautiful.
“They’re back.” she said. “Papa and Morgan are back with the mules… Dave went out to meet them.”
“Dave?… Dave who?”
“Dave Carson… your partner… wake up, you silly thing.”
Forcing myself to sit up, I managed it without having to pull a gun on myself as a threat, but it was doubtful. Running my fingers through my hair as part of my waking up ritual, I plopped my beat up hat on my head and got to my feet.
Looking out across the open ground, I saw the string, and they did indeed look to be under a much heavier burden than they had at any point along the way. The mules were being led by Morgan with Burley Clayton hazing them along from behind. Carson was off between them and the lakebed just sitting with his rifle in hand. He stayed there until the train reached the fortress.
With rifles in hand, Emma and I both walked out to greet them. Both men looked like they’d been on the wrong end of a cattle stampede. Burley looked at Emma, then he looked again with his focus on her rifle. He didn’t seem to be pleased to see his little girl totin’ a Winchester and acting like she knew what to do with it.
“It’s mine, Papa, compliments of a big hatted bandito.”
“What!.. What happened here?”
“Get down, Papa… let me fix you and Morgan some food… I can tell you all about it while you eat.”
“Me and Carson will take care of these mules and get them unloaded.” I told him.
“No! Leave them loaded… we’ll be leavin’ here in right away. I want to get to the river before night fall.”
“You ain’t gettin’ to the river tonight… not the way you came in, you won’t. You won’t go very far with these mules unless you rest ‘em… They’re completely wore out, and we got a rough road ahead.” Carson told him.
“What’r talkin’ about?”
“I’m talkin’ about Drummond and Blaze gettin’ hooked up with four of them Mexicans that got away. Tate fetched one, but there’s still seven hard cases between us and the river.”
By the time we got back to the fortress circle, Emma had filled her father in, and he sat there, somewhere between asleep and lost. “Burley, the way we got it figured, there’s the likelihood of two things they might do. They can sit there and keep us bottled up and gradually close in till they’re right on top of us. Or they can hit us under the cover of night anytime they want… that happens and everybody gets killed…You, me, Carson, Morgan, and Emma…and…”
“Stop!” he snapped.
But I went right on, “… and if they take her alive…”
“Stop I said… just Stop!”
“We got a plan.” Carson told him.
“Let’s hear it.”
“Instead of waitin’ for them to hit us, or us tryin’ to break through, we skedaddle out of here tonight. We build up a nice fire so they can see we’re still here. After it gets good and dark we load up the mules and take off down that dry horse shoe lake… headin’ west. It’ll take us almost to the Rio Grande… If they hit us tonight… or whenever they hit us, they’re most likely gonna want to hit us at dawn. I think them banditos learned their lesson about raiding a well armed bunch at night.”
“With that soft sand, our tracks won’t mean much after we brush them out, and the night winds do their part. We can be almost to the river before they realize we’re gone. If they catch up to us, we’ll just have to make a stand and fight it out. But at least we’ll have a fighting chance.”
Spade and I were both hoping he’d go along with it; for one thing, it made more sense than our other options. Another and also a good reason was, we couldn’t confiscate the
gold here in Mexico. We had no legal standing here. If we took the gold here, we’d be stealing it. We needed to get back across the river to make our move. We waited for Burley to make up his mind.
“All right, Carson, you’re right. We got no choice. When do we go?”
“As soon as it’s dark, we’ll load up the mules and build a nice cook fire. When Morgan wakes up, we’ll have him water the mules and horses… a lot’s gonna depend on our animals this night.” Carson told us.
As the afternoon wore on we all rested as much as we could. Carson and I both caught a couple of hours between watching from the rocks with the field glasses. Morgan woke in the late afternoon. He was an older man and tough enough, but the hours in the saddle plus the work of digging and loading the gold took a toll on him. But he didn’t mind watering the mules… he called them his friends.
The mules all had a pack on each side, with a sixty pound load in each pack. Each mule carried a hundred and twenty pounds plus whatever odds and ends we didn’t carry on our saddles. It wasn’t a heavy load, but it was dead weight and put a strain on the animals.
There had been no movement in and out of the outlaw camp. We hadn’t seen sign of anyone along the far side of the old lakebed since I shot Mr. Sombrero earlier. It was hard to read another’s mind especially when the other in question was someone you didn’t know and had only seen twice. And both of those times were in the midst of a heated gun battle with hot lead flying in all directions.
But I had seen his actions and his inactions. He had a tendency to lay back and wait… he was a patient man and a cautious one. He didn’t like an all out fight, unless he was damn near certain he could win. So far that hadn’t worked out for him, but I didn’t take him for a quitter.
I would expect him to send scouts out tonight and attack either at dawn or shortly before. By that time we hoped to be crossing the Rio Grande. Two days later, we would ride into El Paso, and be done with this assignment. The only real worry I had, was the prospect of arresting Burley Clayton. I’d come to… what? I didn’t exactly like him, but I had to admire his wanting to take care of his daughter and do right by her…. Or maybe I just admired his daughter?
