by Paul Bedford
‘Shh, cher, calm yourself. There’s no danger this night, only pleasure.’
Mind befuddled, I did not immediately comprehend her meaning. Only as she began to stroke my hair and nuzzle me, did I realize what she was about.
‘Those bastards were out to leave me here, but you stopped them. Now I’m gonna thank you properly.’
A hand slipped under the blanket, and with the speed born of much practice, undid the buttons of my trousers. Suddenly picturing Sarah looming over me, incandescent with rage at my infidelity, I tried to brush her away.
‘This cannot be,’ I whispered hoarsely. ‘You are Sarah’s cousin. Besides, our coupling could not escape unnoticed.’ So there it was! In my heart I had already accepted my need for her.
In any event she would not be denied. ‘This ain’t Béxar, and she ain’t here,’ she stated flatly. ‘Land sakes, man, we might not even make it back there.’
As if emphasizing those words, her hand tightened around my manhood and abruptly all was lost. Maintaining a highly charged silence we made love swiftly, as though both realizing that time was of the essence. Afterwards I was barely able to control an enormous sigh.
As if in a fantasy she whispered in my ear, ‘So now you’re mine, cher bebe!’ With that she turned away, and crawled carefully back to Kirby’s inert form.
It was not until some time had passed, with the first watch having nearly run its course that I was capable of reflecting on the full content of Vicky’s last words to me. She had announced her possession of me in no uncertain terms, and in circumstances that could only bode ill for the future. Whoever had coined the phrase, ‘the frailty of women’ did not know that gender very well.
CHAPTER EIGHT
As the new day emerged, I gazed upon our little encampment. My eyes settled briefly on Kirby’s prone figure, and I was assailed by feelings of guilt. I did not relish the thought of leaving him behind. He had proved to be a capable leader of men and wise to the ways of the world. But as Travis had stated the previous day, he was out of it. It was now up to me to see us back. Even with only five men remaining we would still have to press ahead with the plan to split the group, as we would have no hope of fending off a determined Indian attack. Whichever party might be discovered first would face almost certain annihilation, whilst with luck the others should make it home. Which suggested that, by agreeing to stay behind, Frenchie was definitely more intelligent than he looked. Whether Kirby lived or died, he would in all probability be able to follow on unhindered.
That thought led me onto Vicky’s presence in our midst. Her chances of actually meeting her cousin again were looking slim. I could have insisted that she remain with Frenchie, but I was under no illusions as to his morals. To complicate the situation further, thoughts of her extremely accomplished seduction kept intruding. That suggested that she could well have succeeded in her ‘so now you’re mine’ strategy. Which of course brought Sarah unwittingly into a ménage à trios.
My descent into madness was postponed by the realization that the camp had now come to life, and that the pickets could safely withdraw. Approaching the site from opposite directions, Travis and I gratefully tramped back to join the others and there chewed pensively on some strips of beef jerky. With the notable exception of Miss Fulsome we were an unusually subdued group that morning, all of us aware that, for one reason or another, we were unlikely to see Kirby again. Vicky, on the contrary, seemed to be savouring a private triumph and favoured me with many a broad smile as she went about her tasks.
Our erstwhile leader had survived the night and was now appearing to drift in and out of consciousness. He was desperately weak and likely to remain so for some time, if he survived. Anxious not to prolong the parting, I gave out my first instruction of the day.
‘It is time we left this unhappy spot. Frenchie, I wish you only good fortune and very much hope to see you and your patient back in San Antonio before long.’
The other four rangers also said their farewells, but they seemed somehow restrained, as though they too had grasped that their companion might well be benefiting from the arrangement. As though an invisible line had been drawn, that man now collected his belongings and stationed himself close to Kirby’s recumbent form.
The irrepressible Travis couldn’t resist firing off a parting comment. ‘Keep your pecker hard and your powder dry, pardner!’
The rest of us mounted up in silence. Vicky climbed up onto the bench seat and sat close to me, ensuring that her thigh was in contact with mine. Groaning inwardly, I reflected that lust could be both a pleasure and a cross to bear. Whatever the eventual outcome, it was going to be a very long journey indeed.
Looking back, for possibly the fourth time, I discovered with a slight shock that the two men had finally blended into the distance and were no longer visible to the naked eye. So that was it. Kirby and Frenchie were on their own and we continued on our way, shadowed I was sure by the potent wrath of Captain Speirs. A combination of greed and anger was certain to be keeping him somewhere in our rear. Knowing that there would be an experienced outrider circling the party, he would hang well back, which would effectively keep him beyond rifle range of me. He would probably be unaware, as I had been the previous year, just how much danger he might be in from the Comanches.
So deep in thought was I that the sudden placing of a hand on my thigh made me jump.
‘Damn it all, woman, you startled me!’
Vicky’s face betrayed a certain wounded nervousness and she hastily pulled back. Reproachfully she answered, ‘I thought you liked my hand down there. None of these others would turn me away.’
Slightly chastened, I had to acknowledge the truth of that. ‘I do, and so would they. Which is the very reason why you must keep your distance. I cannot, must not, allow your presence to create any ill feeling amongst us all. My leadership of them is not yet on a firm footing and we could, all of us, be in very great danger soon.’
Vicky’s undeniably delightful face clouded, as she took in my words. ‘I saw what you did to that fella back there. It ain’t over with them either, is it?’
‘To my knowledge there’s one left, but I believe he’s the most dangerous. And when we split up, as we must, he’ll be behind us with Comanches possibly up ahead.’
‘I’ve never seen them, but I’ve heard tales,’ she replied dubiously.
I responded in deadly earnest. ‘You must never allow yourself to be seized by them. Never! Do you understand?’
Every drop of colour drained from her face as realization struck home. ‘That’s why you made Shockley return my Derringer. You think I might have to kill myself, don’t you?’
‘There is that possibility. In any event you must be alert to your surroundings. Don’t ever wander off by yourself.’
From the strained silence that greeted that advice, I knew that she was rattled.
For the next two days we slogged laboriously westward, all the time praying that the fine weather would hold out, at least until we had forded the wide Colorado River. Once across that, I intended that we would split up into two parties. At that point we would well and truly be in the hands of fate.
Finally, shortly before noon, on the third day after leaving Kirby, we beheld a line of trees in the distance. That could only mean we had reached the Colorado. The river stretched from the coast up to Austin, the official capital of the Republic and on into the interior. Once across, we would have a vast tract of open ground ahead of us.
Somehow sensing the liquid, the horses pulled strongly and soon we were faced with a whole vista of trees and water stretching off in either direction as far as the eye could see. Shockley’s solitary figure was some hundred yards ahead when, without warning, he pulled up sharply. Off to my left, Travis called out brusquely. ‘Major, rein in now! Something’s got him spooked.’
Complying immediately, I called back, ‘What’s wrong? What has he seen?’
It was some time before the other man answered. ‘Can’t
say. Maybe nothing. Could be just that dang nose of his.’
Ben and Davey reined in next to us and we all sat there speculating on what Shockley could possibly have discovered. That man remained atop his horse, still as a statue and seemingly oblivious to the passing of time. The fresh water was temptingly close and both teams began to whinny with impatience.
‘How long do we leave him like this?’ I demanded of the others.
Ben’s reply was swift. ‘Long as it takes, mister. Ain’t ever known him to be wrong about something like this.’
Curbing my natural intolerance of delay, I dropped gratefully to the ground, to stretch my aching back. Yet no sooner had I done so than Davey hissed out, ‘He’s waving us forward, we gotta move.’
Cursing, I hurriedly clambered back onto the wagon and joined the others in a slow advance. At length we pulled up behind Shockley who, to my surprise, gave absolutely no acknowledgement of our presence. He just continued to sit his horse, whilst staring fixedly ahead. The man might as well have been in a trance and my annoyance was beginning to bubble over as I asked myself, How long must I accept this? I was, after all, supposedly in command.
Appearing almost eerily mindful of my thoughts, the ranger suddenly spoke. ‘There, in the trees!’
The hairs rose up on the back of my neck as I replied, ‘Who is it?’
Impatiently he responded, ‘Someone or something is using those trees as cover!’
‘I can’t see a dang thing, Kirkham,’ said Travis softly.
‘Neither can I,’ was that man’s calm response, which left me utterly flabbergasted. But before I could protest he pivoted around in his saddle to face me. ‘I don’t have to see a snake in the grass to know it’s there. It just is.’
There was something hypnotically compelling about his eyes that commanded my attention. But what was I to do about it? We couldn’t wait out there all day. Fleetingly I wondered what Kirby would have done, only to push such thoughts from my mind. The decision was mine. Clambering off the wagon, I approached Shockley.
‘Kirkham,’ I called softly, so as not to alarm him.
There was no response, so this time I reached up and shook his arm. Pulling away as though I had just struck him, he wheeled his horse around so that he could directly face me.
‘You just won’t have it, will you? Because you can’t see anything, it can’t be there.’
I had had enough of this. Heatedly I said, ‘If you’re so damned sure, prove it. Ride on to the river and if nothing transpires we will all join you.’
The ranger stared at me for a full minute, eyes wild, as though in an opium induced haze. Then, with an almost imperceptible nod, he turned his mount back to the river. Rifle cocked at the ready, he inched forward, all the time scanning the tree line. No sooner had he left, than I was overcome by both unaccustomed indecision and guilt. That man knew the country and its people far better than I did. What if there was someone there, and I had just sent him to his death?
Clambering back onto my wagon, I joined Vicky and all the others in watching Shockley’s slow progress. At any moment I expected a shot to ring out, but nothing at all happened and finally he reached the trees. Dismounting, he prowled around for some time before motioning for us to join him. With relief I urged the team forward. Within a matter of minutes all the horses were drinking from the wide, slow moving river. We had made it!
Shockley was still stalking about in the foliage, apparently unable to accept the outcome. Grim faced, the ranger tersely spat out a list of demands. ‘We take the wagons over in relays, Travis first. The rest of us stand guard.’ Turning to view Vicky, he almost snarled the question, ‘You handled a long gun?’
Unbowed, she replied gamely, ‘My pa done taught me, but it’s been a long time.’
‘That’ll answer,’ he returned, switching his unblinking gaze back to me. ‘She can use the one you took off that soldier boy.’
Shockley was giving every appearance of usurping my position, but I was prepared to go along with him, as he so obviously knew his business. Complaining at his swiftly curtailed rest, Travis clambered reluctantly to his feet and headed for his wagon. The rest of us spread ourselves out along the riverbank, weapons cocked and ready. From the way that Vicky held her rifle, she obviously knew which end to point.
Stirring his unwilling team into action, Travis guided his wagon into the river. The water level was expected to be about chest high, and so it transpired. Any higher and the powder would have been at risk, as I did not have any great confidence in the water proofing of the barrels.
Slowly but surely he proceeded to the far side. Affected by Shockley’s fears, we all expected a fusillade of shots at any moment, but none came. Yet the tension continued unabated, until I would almost have welcomed a burst of gunfire.
Finally the wagon emerged from the water, and came to a halt on the far bank. So now it was my turn. Hauling myself up and onto the seat, I grabbed the reins and we headed off down the bank. Once across, we would not have to traverse another river until we reached the Guadalupe.
As it slipped into the river our wagon tilted forward in an alarming fashion. My first such crossing had been a nerve-wracking experience, but I now felt myself to be an accomplished freighter. The water swirled about us, but remained just below the all-important cargo. Darting a glance at Vicky, I saw that she was taking her duties as guard seriously. Rifle at the ready, she carefully scanned the trees ahead.
The right hand lead horse stumbled and for a heart stopping moment I thought we were under attack, but then it recovered and maintained the pace. We were now halfway across. Travis bellowed out, ‘Come on, Major, you’re home and dry. Don’t pay Kirkham any mind. He’s all shit and no sugar!’
Then the left hand lead horse stumbled, only this time it didn’t recover. Because a hole the size of a penny had just been punched in its neck. Whinnying with shock, it fell back on its haunches before slipping sideways under the water. Still in harness, it had the effect of dragging the others with it. Instinctively I pulled my knife, and leapt over the side. Suddenly immersed in cold water, I managed to keep my feet on the stony riverbed and yelled up to a very startled Vicky.
‘When I cut the traces, get the other horses moving!’
Gunshots rang out as I powered towards the stricken horse. Blood stained the water, providing confirmation if any were needed that it had indeed been shot. Grasping the leather straps, I slashed at them with the well-honed blade. The instant that they were severed, I grabbed the bridle of the remaining lead animal. For the first time, I became aware of the shock of the chill water on my body. My boots felt leaden. My clothes clung to me. The remaining sovereigns, stitched into my jacket, acted as a dead weight.
From back in the trees I heard more shots and a choice selection of oaths. If there was any fighting to be done, I would be in serious trouble. Gradually we struggled through the gentle current, until I found myself looking directly up at Travis, standing before us on the bank. With his long rifle tucked tightly into his shoulder, he intently searched the opposing tree line for a target, but was not so occupied that he couldn’t voice an opinion. ‘That son of a bitch just doesn’t give up, does he?’
‘I wouldn’t expect him to,’ I retorted breathlessly. ‘He’s a British officer!’
With a titanic effort, I hauled my waterlogged form out of the river and heaved on the bridle. Urged on by Vicky and tugged forward by me, the unfortunate animals had little choice other than to drag their dripping burden out of the water.
Back across the river the tumult had died down. The three rangers were spread out along the bank, apparently unhurt. Uncomfortably aware of my sodden clothing, I shouted over, ‘It was Speirs, wasn’t it? Where is he now?’
Shockley’s hard-edged voice answered, ‘He was in the trees a ways down there. He’s backed off some, but he’s still local.’
‘Damn the man,’ I cursed to myself.
‘We’re coming over,’ continued the ranger, ‘so keep y
our eyes peeled.’
One at a time they rode across, whilst the rest of us stood guard. Having tethered his horse to a tree well back from the river, Shockley stalked towards me. Regarding me with a baleful expression, he said accusingly, ‘You’ve brought some trouble down on our heads, ain’t you? That ass boil knows how to shoot, and when to move.’
‘If he’s such a good shot, why’d he drill the horse and not you?’ This came from a genuinely puzzled Davey.
To that at least I had the answer. ‘I’m no use to him lying dead on some riverbed. Whatever he has been promised for apprehending me, is dependent on either producing me alive or irrefutable proof of my demise.’
It was Ben’s turn to look puzzled. ‘I don’t understand the half of what you just said, or where he got another rifle from. I thought you ran him off with only that dang Pepperbox.’ Then the awful implication of that hit him, and he cried out. ‘Shit! That means he’s kilt Frenchie and Kirby!’
Travis spat a wad of tobacco onto the ground as he exclaimed, ‘Well, that just tears it!’
‘So it stops here,’ snarled Shockley.
Ignoring the others, Vicky flounced into our midst and jabbed a finger into my chest. ‘If you don’t get out of those wet duds, you won’t be fit for stopping anything.’
Shivering violently, I could only agree. Looking pointedly at her I said, ‘Perhaps you could fetch my blanket. I’m sure you’ll recognize it.’
Some little time later I sat before a welcome fire, watching my clothes steam and pondering on Shockley’s words. The man was right as usual. We would have to tackle Speirs before going any further. As it was, we could no longer proceed with Kirby’s plan of splitting into two groups. We had insufficient horses to haul both wagons. And what of Kirby and his lone companion? Had Speirs really slaughtered them to obtain their weapons? I felt the colour flush into my face, as I considered the worst part of all this. That we were all in this god awful mess was, in large part, due to me.
