by Tell Cotten
“We’ll wait ’til dark and ride up closer. Then we’ll walk up to their camp on foot.”
“Then what?”
“Then we’ll do what we came here to do,” I said.
Cooper frowned and nodded.
Chapter twenty-five
We stayed put until dark. We could see for miles, and we kept an eye on Morgan and Boyle with the eyeglass.
They stopped and camped beside the creek. They picketed their horses and built a fire, and as it got dark we could see the glow.
“Well, let’s go,” I said.
Cooper nodded. We climbed on our horses and followed an old cow trail.
Cooper and I were both solemn. There was no avoiding the confrontation that awaited, and that was a sobering thought.
We kept an eye on the glow of the campfire as we rode down the mesa. We came up beside the creek, and we followed it into the valley.
We stopped when we were a few hundred yards away. I could smell something cooking on the fire, and I also thought I could smell some coffee.
We dismounted and tied our horses to some nearby trees. Next, we checked our weapons. We both had our Colts, and Cooper carried his Henry.
“You ready?” I asked softly.
Cooper nodded.
I nodded back, and we walked towards the campfire. My gun hand hovered naturally over my gun-handle, and Cooper held his rifle with the barrel pointed down. I heard a soft click as he pulled the hammer back.
It was then that the feeling came all over me. I felt alert, calm, and ready. I glanced sideways at Cooper, and I could tell that he felt it too.
They heard us coming. They stood and spread out, and their hands hovered over their gun-handles.
“Hello the camp!” I called out.
“Who’s out there?” One of them called back.
“There’s two of us,” I replied. “We’re coming in.”
It was silent, and then one of them replied, “Go ahead.”
I glanced at Cooper. He nodded soberly, and we walked in and stopped at the outskirts of their camp. Cooper stood to my right.
It was silent while we studied each other.
One was bigger, and the other one was smaller. The smaller one stood in front of me, and he was very slim. Even in the dark I could tell that he had bright blue eyes, and he had an alert and graceful look about him.
The bigger one had a bit of a belly, with wide shoulders. He had a wide face, and his eyes were heavy-lidded. They looked so different that it was hard to believe they were brothers.
“Who might you be?” The smaller one asked, and he sounded very educated.
I reached into my pocket, pulled out my badge, pinned it on my vest’s pocket, and gave it a little pat.
“Name’s Yancy Landon,” I announced. “This is my brother, Cooper. We’re Texas Rangers.”
“I’ve heard of you both,” the smaller one said, and added, “I wasn’t aware that you were Texas Rangers.”
“It just happened,” I said.
The smaller one nodded, and said, “I’m Morgan Gant, and this my brother, Boyle. You’ve probably heard of us.”
“We have.”
“I’d say we’re on opposite sides of the law,” Morgan smiled.
“You could say that.”
“Interesting coincidence, us meeting like this.”
“No coincidence. We trailed you from Landry,” I corrected.
Morgan looked thoughtful. He glanced at Boyle and looked back at me.
“May I ask why?”
“You boys are trading rifles to the Injuns,” I said.
Morgan looked surprised.
“Who told you that?”
“You’ve got two choices,” I said as I ignored his question. “One; you both get on your horse and ride for California, and you never set foot in Texas again.”
“And two?” Morgan asked, and there was sarcasm in his voice.
“You die.”
Morgan chuckled.
“You overlooked choice number three.”
“And what would that be?” I narrowed my eyes.
“We kill you.”
“You could try.”
“I’ve heard you’re more than adequate with a Colt,” Morgan said.
“You heard right.”
“I’d like to see for myself, wouldn’t you Boyle?”
Boyle nodded.
“There’s no need for trouble,” I said. “You boys can ride out for California.”
“We aren’t leaving,” Morgan declared, and added, “So, that leaves us in a travesty.”
I nodded.
“You boys were warned. I want you to remember that.”
“We appreciate the warning,” Morgan said, and it fell silent.
I watched Morgan. There was a twinkle in his eyes, but then they got hard. He blinked, and we both grabbed for our Colts.
With an easy movement, I palmed my Colt. The pistol boomed in my hand, and there was a loud thump as the bullet hit Morgan in the chest.
The impact propelled Morgan backwards. He had his Colt in his hand, and he managed to fire as he hit the ground. But, the bullet went harmlessly up into the air.
Gunshots erupted around me as I walked forward. Morgan tried to rise up and fire, but I fired before he could. My bullet caught him below the throat, and his body was flipped over backwards. He kicked out and was still.
I looked sideways. Cooper was standing there holding his Henry, and his eyes had a wild look to them. Boyle was lying on his back on the ground, and he was dead.
It was over.
There was a haze of gunpowder around us. I nodded at Cooper, and he nodded back and lowered his rifle.
I reloaded and holstered my Colt. Then, I walked over to Morgan’s body.
Cooper joined me, and he frowned as we looked down at Morgan.
“You can be Morgan,” he said in a somber voice.
Chapter twenty-six
It took a while for our nerves to settle. We walked back and got our horses, and we unsaddled and picketed them next to the other horses.
I dug my coffee cup out of my saddlebags and went over to the fire. The coffee pot was full, and I also noticed some salt pork in a frying pan. It was a little over-cooked, but not bad.
I poured myself some coffee, and Cooper walked up and frowned.
“You’re drinking their coffee?”
“They won’t be needing it,” I gestured at them.
Cooper scratched his jaw thoughtfully.
“I reckon they won’t,” he agreed, and he went over to his saddlebags and dug out his cup.
“Grab our plates too,” I told him.
Cooper returned to the fire, and I poured him a cup of coffee. Then, I split up the salt pork, and it was silent while we ate.
After supper, I poured myself another cup of coffee and leaned back. Meanwhile, Cooper pulled out his pipe and tobacco pouch. He packed it carefully, struck a match and lit it, and took a deep puff.
“Well, it’s good to be alive,” Cooper broke the silence.
“It is.”
“Morgan sure did use a lot of fancy words.”
“He did at that.”
“What does adequate mean?”
“I’m not exactly sure,” I replied.
“How ’bout travesty?”
“Not sure about that one neither,” I admitted.
“Well, whatever it meant, they still had choices,” Cooper said.
“They did.”
“But, they chose the wrong choice.”
“I’d say so.”
“And it ain’t our fault they chose the wrong choice.”
“I even warned them,” I added.
“You did,” Cooper nodded.
“Does your conscience feel better now?” I asked.
“Not really. I still wish there’d been another way.”
“Me too,” I said softly.
Cooper took another puff on his pipe.
“So now what?”
“Come morning, we’ll bury them,” I said. “Then, we’ll wait for Kolorado and Josie.”
“They should be here tomorrow.”
“Should be.”
“What about Morgan and Boyle’s horses?”
“We can’t take them with us,” I replied. “So, we’ll pack all the supplies we can take and turn their horses loose. They should drift back to Landry.”
“What about their saddles?”
“I reckon we’ll have to leave them.”
Cooper frowned as he thought on that.
“Seems like a waste,” he said.
“It is a waste,” I said. “But, there’s nothing we can do about it.”
“Reckon not,” Cooper agreed.
I nodded and took another swig of coffee.
Chapter twenty-seven
I cooked breakfast at dawn. After we ate, we unpacked our shovels and buried Morgan and Boyle.
Cooper was silent while we worked. He kept glancing back to the east, and I could tell that he was worried.
After we got them buried, we went through their belongings. We packed all their supplies and food, and we piled everything that we couldn’t take beside the graves. Their saddles and gear were among the pile.
It was midmorning by the time we finished everything. I rekindled the fire and made some more coffee. Soon as it was ready, I poured myself a cup and leaned back.
Cooper looked concerned as he squatted by the fire and poured himself a cup.
“Quit fretting. They’ll show up,” I said.
“They’d better,” Cooper muttered, and added, “I’d still like to know why Kolorado was in prison.”
“He was probably caught trading rifles to the Injuns,” I suggested.
“Well, whatever he did, Josie’s out there alone with him.”
“Josie will be fine,” I said.
“If they don’t show up today, we’re riding back east first thing in the morning,” Cooper declared.
“Of course,” I said.
Cooper nodded and took a swig of coffee.
“Been thinking,” Cooper said after a while.
“Yes?”
“We’re Texas Rangers,” Cooper declared.
“That is correct.”
“But, we’re headed to New Mexico.”
“That would also be correct,” I nodded.
“Do we have jurisdiction in New Mexico?”
I frowned as I thought on that.
“I’m not really sure,” I admitted.
“If we don’t have jurisdiction, does that make what we’re doing illegal?”
“No,” I replied. “That makes it personal, but in a professional manner.”
Cooper frowned, but didn’t reply.
Chapter twenty-eight
It was midafternoon when Kolorado and Josie finally showed up.
We spotted them riding down the mesa, and a relieved look crossed Cooper’s face.
It took them a while to reach us. Cooper waited anxiously, and he gave Josie a concerned look as they rode up.
“Are you all right?” He asked.
“We are fine,” Josie said, and she frowned when she noticed the fresh graves. “What happened?”
“We caught ’em,” Cooper explained with a solemn face.
A worried look crossed Josie’s face.
“Are you hurt?”
“No, I’m fine,” Cooper reassured.
Josie looked relieved.
“I’m good too,” I added, but Josie didn’t hear me. She was busy looking at Cooper.
I sighed and glanced at Kolorado. He had a pained expression on his face as he dismounted, and he limped over and sat by the campfire.
“What happened to you?” I asked curiously.
“I haven’t rode this far in years,” he explained.
I couldn’t help but smile.
“Sore?”
Kolorado looked at me and scowled.
“I’ll take care of your horse,” I offered.
Kolorado grunted in response.
***
After the horses were tended to, I built the fire back up and cooked supper.
We didn’t talk much while we ate. Afterwards, we drank some more coffee. It was late by then, so we turned in.
Kolorado grimaced as he stood, and he limped over to his bedroll and rolled it out. Next, he went over to his saddle and grabbed his rope. He circled his bedroll with the rope, and he pulled his boots off and crawled in.
I frowned as I watched him.
“What’s the rope for?” I asked.
“Snakes.”
“Snakes?”
“A snake will not cross a rope,” Kolorado declared.
“Says who?” I challenged.
“Ask any old-timer; he’ll tell you.”
“I’ve heard of that,” Cooper spoke up. “Didn’t know if it was true or not.”
“Course it’s true,” Kolorado grunted.
I shook my head as I thought on that.
“You are a very odd man,” I said.
“I ain’t never been snake bit neither,” Kolorado replied, and he pulled his blankets up around him and rolled over.
I looked at Cooper. He and Josie were frowning at each other, and then Cooper walked over to his saddle and pulled his rope off.
“You aren’t-,” I frowned.
“I am.”
“Surely you don’t believe that.”
“Doesn’t matter,” Cooper said. “What does matter is that I’m sleeping next to Kolorado, so anything that rope turns back will end up in my bed.”
“This is ridiculous.”
“I’ve heard of stranger things, Yancy.”
“Just cause you hear things doesn’t mean you have to believe them,” I grunted, and I grabbed my bedroll and rolled it out.
“You ain’t gonna?” Cooper looked at me curiously as I pulled my boots off and crawled into my bedroll.
“No, I ain’t gonna.”
“I hope you sleep well.”
“I plan to,” I replied, and I pulled my blankets up around me.
Chapter twenty-nine
I was the first one to wake up the next morning. I pulled my boots on and rolled up my bedroll, and then I stirred the coals and built the fire back up.
Everyone else awakened while I cooked breakfast, and I couldn’t help but shake my head as I watched them coil their ropes up.
Everybody came up to the fire, and it was silent while we ate.
“Well, what’s the plan?” Kolorado finally asked.
“Today’s the day we’re supposed to meet Ike’s man,” I said, and I glanced at Kolorado. “How far is Bronc?”
Kolorado thought for a moment.
“We should be there by midday,” he said.
“Good,” I said. “We’ll ride to Bronc, and then me and Coop will ride on in.”
“What if Ike’s man ain’t there?” Kolorado wanted to know.
“Then we’ll wait ’til he shows up.”
“Can I go home if he doesn’t show up?”
“No.”
Kolorado scowled, but didn’t say anything else.
We finished breakfast, and then we packed up camp and saddled our horses. We also turned Morgan and Boyle’s horses loose, but we kept the mule.
“Well, look at that!” Cooper suddenly exclaimed.
We all turned and looked, and Cooper was pointing at the ground where my bedroll had been.
We walked over, and in the sand were fresh snake tracks.
“What’d I tell you?” Kolorado exclaimed.
I looked at Cooper. His eyes were twinkling, and I frowned suspiciously.
“You made those tracks,” I accused.
Cooper didn’t reply. Instead, he just chuckled as he walked over to his horse and mounted up.
I stood there a moment, and then I scowled as I walked over to my horse.
Chapter thirty
We arrived at Bronc around midday, just as Kolorado had said.
&nbs
p; There were a lot of rolling hills surrounding Bronc. The tallest hill had a lot of brush, so we rode to the top and dismounted. Cooper pulled out his spyglass, and we studied the town.
Bronc made Landry look like a boomtown. There were only three buildings. There was a livery stable, a trading post, and a cantina.
“Ain’t much of a town,” Cooper commented.
“Ike’s man shouldn’t be hard to find then,” I said.
“If he’s there.”
“True.”
“Where do you suppose he is?”
“Probably the cantina.”
“Reckon we should go find out.”
“I reckon we should,” I agreed, and I looked at Kolorado and Josie. “You two stay here. I’m not sure when we’ll be back, but try your best not to be seen. Don’t build a campfire.”
“What if it gets dark?” Kolorado asked.
“Then it gets dark.”
Kolorado scowled while Cooper and I climbed on our horses.
“We’ll be back,” I said.
Josie looked at Cooper, and he smiled reassuringly. She smiled back, and then they watched us as we rode down the hill.
***
I’m not sure why, but I felt uncomfortable as we rode in, and I could tell that Cooper felt it too.
The street was dry and dusty, and flies buzzed around us. There was also a stink that rose up from the ground.
Cooper frowned as he looked around.
“I don’t see any other horses tied to hitching posts,” he commented.
“Or two mules, packed with rifles,” I added.
He nodded, and we rode up to the cantina and pulled up.
There were three men sitting on the porch. One was tall, one was short, and the other was fat. All three wore shabby clothes, and they also smelled. They were chewing tobacco, and they spat on the sidewalk as they stared at us.
We stared back, and several seconds passed.
“Afternoon,” I finally said.
The fat one nodded, but that was all.
I glanced at Cooper, and then we dismounted. We tied our horses to the rail, stepped up on the porch, and walked through the swinging doors. The three men just sat there and watched us.
