by Tell Cotten
“That snake has turned belly up.”
“So?”
“When you kill a snake and he turns belly up, it means it’s going to rain,” he declared.
I scowled, but didn’t reply. Instead, I looked at Cooper and motioned for him to lead out. Cooper grinned and kicked up his horse, and everyone fell in behind him.
We rode in silence for a couple of hours, and then Cooper turned in the saddle and looked back at me.
“Do you remember the cabin that you and Rondo stayed at?”
I nodded.
“It should be up ahead,” Cooper recollected.
“It is. We’ll be there this afternoon,” I said.
“It’d be nice to sleep indoors for a change,” Cooper said, and added, “Especially if it rains.”
“It would,” I agreed, and I looked at Josie. “How far is the Apache’s camp from the cabin?”
Josie pinched her face in thought.
“A day and a half,” she said.
“Good,” I said.
It fell silent as we traveled on. The mules became difficult, so we didn’t make very good time.
We rode across a creek midafternoon. We stopped and watered our stock, and then we pushed on. We arrived at the cabin late afternoon.
It was a small cabin, nestled in amongst several trees. There was also a small corral made of logs and a lean-to where saddles could be kept. On the other side of the cabin were several unmarked graves.
“This is the place,” I said thoughtfully as we pulled up.
“This is what place?” Kolorado looked at me.
I was silent, so Cooper explained.
“This is where Stew Baine was killed by Sheriff Wagons.”
“The man who killed Stew Baine,” Kolorado said softly.
“That’s the story,” I said. “But, I think something else happened.”
“Like what?” Kolorado asked.
“I don’t know,” I grumbled, and added, “One of these days, I’m going to find out.”
Cooper looked at me and frowned, but I ignored him as we dismounted.
We walked inside the cabin and looked around. It was dusty, and there were a few cobwebs. Other than that, the cabin was in good shape, and there was also a fireplace.
“I will clean up,” Josie offered.
I nodded and turned towards the door.
“We’ll take care of the horses,” I said.
Josie nodded, and we all got busy.
We unpacked the mules and placed the rifles under the lean-to. Then, while Cooper and Kolorado tended to the horses, I gathered some wood and built a fire inside. I cooked supper and made some coffee, and we sat around the fireplace and ate.
“Snug little cabin,” Cooper commented as he glanced around.
“It is,” Josie said, and she looked at Cooper and smiled.
“It’s too bad we couldn’t pick this cabin up and put it wherever we wanted,” Cooper said wistfully.
Josie smiled faintly, and it was silent as we finished supper.
Afterwards, we drank some more coffee, and then we rolled out our bedrolls.
“I’ll take the first watch,” Cooper offered.
“I watch with you?” Josie asked hopefully.
“Sure,” Cooper said, and he looked at me. “I’ll wake you up around midnight.”
I nodded, and Cooper and Josie walked out the door.
I glanced at Kolorado. He had already pulled his boots off and was crawling into his bedroll.
“Night,” he said.
“Sure,” I said.
I watched him for a moment, and then I pulled my own boots off and crawled into my bedroll.
Chapter forty
Cooper woke me at midnight. I yawned as I pulled my boots on, and I joined Cooper and Josie outside.
“Look,” Cooper gestured to the south.
There, in the far distance, was the faint glow of a campfire.
“Rocca,” I said with a frown.
“We spotted it a few hours ago.” Cooper said. “Looks like he’s still following us.”
“I’d say so,” I agreed.
It was silent for a bit, and I cleared my throat.
“He wants us to see him,” I said.
“Why do you say that?”
“That fire should have burned out hours ago. He’s keeping it going so we’ll see it.”
“Why does he want to be seen?”
“Mebbe he’s sending us a message,” I figured. “He wants us to know that he ain’t afraid of us.”
“He might be hoping we’ll come visit again,” Cooper suggested.
“Could be.”
“What do we do?”
“Nothing,” I replied. “You and Josie get some sleep. I’ll keep watch.”
“I could sure sleep.”
“Go ahead then.”
Cooper nodded, and he and Josie walked towards the cabin.
I watched them go, and then I settled down next to the lean-to.
***
The campfire finally faded out a couple of hours later, so I figured Rocca finally went to sleep. I was sleepy myself, but I forced myself to stay awake.
The night passed smoothly. I finally heard a noise over by the cabin, but it was only Kolorado. He held his rifle, and he walked over and offered to keep watch.
“It’ll be daylight in a couple of hours,” I objected.
“Go ahead and get some rest,” Kolorado replied. “I can’t sleep anyhow.”
I frowned hesitantly, and Kolorado scowled.
“You don’t trust me?”
“It’s not that,” I said, and I explained about the campfire.
“You go on,” Kolorado declared. “I’ll keep an eye on things.”
I frowned thoughtfully, and then I nodded.
“All right,” I said. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
Kolorado nodded, and I walked towards the cabin.
Chapter forty-one
It was way past daylight when I finally woke up. I sat up abruptly, and I noticed that Cooper and Josie were just waking up too.
“It’s late,” Cooper said as he stretched.
“Too late,” I frowned.
“Where’s Kolorado?”
“He’s supposed to be keeping watch,” I replied.
We pulled our boots on and hurried outside, and Josie gasped in surprise.
Kolorado was stretched out on the ground beside the lean-to, and he was lying on his side.
We rushed over to him. Coop knelt down and rolled him over, and we heard a soft groan.
Kolorado had an arrow in his shoulder. It had gone all the way through, and the arrow was sticking out his back.
It was a bloody mess. Blood had run down his front and back, and his shirt was stained red.
Cooper shook Kolorado gently. He grunted and opened his eyes.
He looked startled. He tried to sit up, but Cooper stopped him.
“Take it easy,” Cooper said. “It’s us.”
Kolorado stared up at Cooper with a confused look.
“What happened?” He asked, and his voice sounded hoarse.
“I was about to ask you that,” I spoke up, and asked, “You don’t remember?”
Kolorado blinked his eyes and thought for a moment.
“I was sitting by the lean-to, keeping watch, and then-,” his voice trailed off.
“And then you fell asleep,” I suggested.
Kolorado didn’t reply. I sighed and looked at the corral, and I narrowed my eyes.
“We’re missing two mules,” I announced.
“The rifles,” Cooper pointed. “They’re gone!”
My face was emotionless as I looked at the lean-to. Just as Cooper had said, the crates were gone.
It was silent as we all thought about that.
“Don’t say it,” Kolorado finally said, and his voice sounded tired. “It’s my fault.”
“All right,” I said. “I won’t say it.”
Cooper looked at me
and frowned.
“It wouldn’t have mattered if you were asleep or not,” Cooper tried to be helpful. “You would have still been shot. What matters is that you’re still alive.”
“But I lost the trade goods,” Kolorado muttered.
“You did,” I agreed.
“How are we going to get the boy back now?”
“We’ll find another way,” I said.
Chapter forty-two
Josie took charge of the situation.
“Take him inside,” she told us. “I fix.”
Cooper looked at Josie and frowned hesitantly.
“How? The Indian way?”
“How else?” Josie grunted.
“I could pull the arrow out and stitch it up,” Cooper suggested.
“My way is better,” Josie replied stubbornly.
Cooper and Josie frowned at each other while I looked at Kolorado.
“It’s your wound,” I told him. “You decide.”
“I’d rather have a woman fussing over me than you,” Kolorado told Cooper.
Cooper nodded and shrugged.
“Fine by me,” he said, and we picked him up and carried him inside.
Meanwhile, Josie walked out into the bushes, and she returned with two long, thin sticks.
“What are the sticks for?” Kolorado asked.
Josie didn’t reply. Instead, she built the fire back up, and she whittled on the ends of the sticks. She finally seemed satisfied, and she stuck the whittled ends deep into the coals.
“This brings back too many painful memories,” Cooper said, and he turned towards the door. “I’ll be outside, looking for tracks.”
“What’s he mean about painful memories?” Kolorado asked after he was gone.
“I think you’re about to find out,” I replied.
Kolorado frowned while Josie peeled back his shirt and long johns. Then, she broke the arrow off, right behind the arrowhead. The movement hurt, and Kolorado grimaced in pain.
“This will hurt,” Josie said, and she grabbed the arrow with both hands and yanked it out.
Kolorado screamed in pain. Josie’s face was emotionless, but I couldn’t help but grimace.
Blood flowed from both sides of the wound, but Josie didn’t seem bothered. Instead, she broke the clean end of the arrow off, and she offered it to Kolorado.
“Bite down,” she instructed. “It will help.”
Kolorado was in great pain, but he managed to nod. Josie placed the end of the arrow in his mouth, and he clamped down.
Josie walked over to the fire and pulled out one of the sticks. The end was bright red and glowing. She blew softly on it, and it glowed even brighter.
“What are you going to do?” I asked as she walked over to Kolorado.
“I fix,” she said, and she beckoned at me. “Hold him. Don’t let him move.”
I walked over and grabbed ahold. Josie nodded, and without warning she stuck the burning end into the wound.
It made a hissing sound as she forced it deep in the wound, and I could smell a burning smell. Kolorado screamed, and it was all I could do to hold him down. Then, he relaxed as he passed out.
It took a while for Josie to sear the front of the wound. Then, she grabbed the other stick while I rolled Kolorado over. He stirred momentarily, but then he passed out again and stayed unconscious until Josie had finished.
“I need mud from the creek,” Josie told me. “It will help with the burning.”
There was a bucket in the corner. I grabbed it, hurried down to the creek, and filled it with mud. I went back to the cabin, and Josie was smiling as she studied the wound.
“It doesn’t bleed now,” she said.
“That’s wonderful,” I said, and added, “I need some air. I’ll be outside if you need anything.”
Josie nodded, and I hurried out the door.
Chapter forty-three
I walked down to the lean-to and studied the horses, but my mind was on what Kolorado had just gone through.
I was still thinking about it when Cooper walked up. He glanced at me and noticed my disturbed look.
“How’s Kolorado?”
“He’s alive.”
Cooper smiled and nodded.
“The worst of it is over now,” he said.
“For Kolorado’s sake, I sure hope so,” I said.
“Now you know why I looked so peaked when you found me up here,” Cooper said.
“I don’t know what’s worse. Searing the wound, or stitching it up.”
“Be best not to get shot.”
“Well, I learned one thing,” I said.
“What’s that?”
“Josie’s a good woman,” I declared.
“She sure is.”
“And, you’re lucky to have her.”
“I am.”
“Just don’t ever make her mad again.”
“I’ll sure try not to,” Cooper smiled.
“And I’ll do the same,” I said.
Cooper nodded. It was silent for a bit, and then Cooper changed the subject.
“I found the tracks, over there,” he gestured to the west.
“How many?”
“Just one.”
“That’s all?”
“That’s all,” Cooper nodded, and added, “I think it was Rocca.”
“But Kolorado was shot with an arrow,” I pointed out.
“I didn’t mention it before, but when you and Rocca were talking, I noticed that he had a bow and some arrows beside his bedroll.”
“I didn’t see that.”
“You were busy.”
“I was,” I agreed, and I frowned as I thought on that.
“So, we can assume that Rocca stole our trade goods,” Cooper surmised.
“I’d say so.”
“And now, he’s riding west towards the Apache camp.”
“He also took Jug-head,” I said.
“What?” Cooper looked startled.
I gestured at the corral.
“Jug-head is one of the mules that’s missing.”
“Poor ’ol Jug-head,” Cooper smiled, and added, “It’s a good thing we disabled those rifles when we did.”
“Sure is.”
“Course, Rocca doesn’t know that we disabled them.”
“No, he doesn’t,” I said thoughtfully.
“That could get him into trouble.”
“It sure could,” I agreed.
“I reckon we’re going after him.”
“My thoughts exactly,” I said, and asked, “Do you think we can catch him before he reaches the Apache camp?”
Cooper thought for a moment.
“Not sure. Jug-head should help, but he has a big lead on us.”
“Our only chance is if we leave Josie and Kolorado here,” I said.
Cooper didn’t like that, and he frowned thoughtfully.
“It’s the only way,” I said softly.
“I reckon it is,” Cooper admitted. “But, I don’t like it.”
“You can stay,” I offered. “I’ll go after Rocca alone.”
“No,” Cooper shook his head. “I won’t let you do that. Besides, I’m a better tracker.”
I nodded, and it was silent for a bit.
“If we don’t catch Rocca in time, No Worries might figure out that he’s trading with damaged goods,” Cooper said after a while.
“That would be a shame,” I said.
We both smiled wolfishly at the thought, and we glanced at each other and noticed our wicked smiles.
“What’s wrong with us?” Cooper wisecracked.
“Probably a lot more than we know,” I replied.
Chapter forty-four
Cooper and I went back to the cabin. Kolorado was awake, and he was in an irritable mood.
“I see you’re still alive,” I said.
“It takes more than one arrow to bring this old buffalo down,” Kolorado declared.
“How do you feel?”
“Like I’ve
just been tortured,” he scowled. “I didn’t know a woman could be so rough.”
Josie had just finished packing the wound with mud, and she paid no attention to him as she cleaned up things.
“You should see her when she’s angry,” I said.
Josie looked at me and frowned, and I smiled back. She tried to hold the frown, but then she broke and smiled back.
“It was Rocca who shot you,” I told Kolorado. “Coop found his tracks, and he’s headed for the Apache camp.”
“What are you going to do?” Kolorado asked.
“Me and Coop are going after him,” I declared, and Josie looked up sharply. “You and Josie will stay here.”
“No. I go with you,” Josie said.
“Josie, Kolorado can’t stay here alone,” Cooper spoke up. “He’ll need your help.”
Josie frowned, and it was silent for a long time.
“I’ll stay,” she finally said in a subdued voice.
“Our only chance is if we leave now,” I spoke back up.
“I understand,” Kolorado said, and added, “And don’t worry about us. We’ll be fine.”
I nodded, and Cooper cleared his throat and looked at Josie.
“Soon as we leave, I want you to barricade this door,” Cooper told her. “Don’t open it for any reason, understand?”
Josie nodded, and Cooper gave her a hug and walked out the door. I started to follow him, but Josie reached out and stopped me.
“I am worried,” she said.
“About what?”
“Cooper,” she said. She hesitated and added, “And you.”
“We’ll be fine,” I said reassuringly.
“He will not stop,” she replied, “until the boy is safe.”
“Neither will I,” I declared.
“You are both very stubborn.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Do not let Cooper go to the Apache camp alone,” she said. “They will kill him.”
“If anybody could pull it off, it would be him,” I replied. “He’s got skills we ain’t got.”
“What skills?” Josie asked, confused.
“He’s likeable,” I explained.
Chapter forty-five
Josie followed me to the lean-to, and she stood there with a worried look while we saddled our horses.
