Taking the lead rope from Bollinger, Bowdre mounted the horse and rode out, saying nothing to his men. Gary Davis followed. Bowdre’s six men stared at Bollinger and the pair of Mexicans. It was to the latter that Pod Osteen spoke.
“So you Mejicanos know these Superstitions.”
“Si, Señor,” said Sanchez, “and we have learn to respect them.”
“We got the whole day, likely, with nothin’ to do but wait,” Osteen said. “I’m of a mind to light me a pine knot, go back to that cave, and look for our packs. Who’s got the sand to go with me?”
“Lawd God,” bawled Mose Fowler, “it don’t be me!”
“Go,” said Yavapai grimly, “and you no come back forever.”
“Per’ap you see El Diablo pronto,” Sanchez said.
“My God,” said Osteen, “I never seen so many growed men that was jumpy as old squaws. What about the rest of you? Joe? Zondo? Os? Eldon?”
“We know two men went down that tunnel and never come out,” Bollinger said. “I’d say there must be some deep holes and drop-offs in there, deep enough to swallow a man if he don’t know his way around. I can match your sand any day, bucko, but I ain’t a damn fool.”
“Well,” said Zondo, “that makes sense to me. I ain’t a coward, but I’ve seen stacked decks before. If you know you’re goin’ to be throwed at the first jump and then stomped, what’s the use in mountin’ up?”
“If you’re of a mind to look around,” said Bollinger, “climb up to the top of that mountain, the one with the cave up there at the foot. There’s a pair of hombres— Wells and Holt—who’s got an edge on all of us. Somewhere on top of that mountain, they’re hidin’ out, and they got an old Injun with ’em. He used to ride with Logan, the old man who made the gold strike. The three of ’em snuck out at night, rode up there ahead of us, and we ain’t seen ’em since.”
“They got horses, I reckon,” said Osteen.
“Yeah,” Bollinger said. “Horses and a pair of mules.”
“Stumblin’ around in a dark hole is one thing,” said Three-Fingered Joe, “but on top of a mountain, and daylight, that’s another. I’ll go along.”
“Me too,” Zondo said. “Beats standin’ around waitin’.”
“Come on, then,” said Pod Osteen. “Os, you and Eldon goin’?”
“No point in it,” Sandoval said. “There’s three of you, and three of them, includin’ the old Injun. Hell, I ain’t climbin’ that mountain on an empty belly.”
“That’s how I feel about it too,” said Ellerton. “Besides, Cass might not like it, us wanderin’ around up there. The Apaches done took everything but our scalps, and if we split up, we’re even riskin’ that.”
“Cass ain’t my daddy,” Osteen spat, “so I don’t have to jump ever’ time he hollers froggy. Any of you hombres that are afraid to stay here, then come along with Joe, Zondo, and me.”
Nobody else chose to go, and the trio set out on foot back toward the fateful canyon where six men had died at the hands of the Apaches. They had no trouble finding the break in the rim where Davis and his companions had descended behind the mob of gold seekers from town.
Breakfast was over, but Dallas had made another pot of coffee.
“There’s enough for another week,” he said. “Then we either sneak into town for a sack of beans or we give up this search for the mine.”
“I reckon Hoss would be almighty put out with you,” Arlo said, “if he knew you was ready to give up half a gold mine for a sack of coffee beans. But a lot can happen in a week. After all that time in the dark, I got a hankerin’ to see the sun. Kelsey, are you well enough rested to go along? We might follow the east rim a ways and see if we can sight Davis and his men.”
“Let me buckle on my pistol,” said Kelsey. “I’m going to start wearing it again.”
The two left the camp, waiting a while before making their final exit and climbing to the top of the western rim. Seeing nobody, they continued, pausing at the top of the mountain to catch their wind. Suddenly the girl stood on tiptoe, put her arms around Arlo’s neck, and kissed him long and hard. When she drew away, he pulled her to him for a repeat performance.
“I just realized I’m happy,” she said, “and I used to wonder if I ever would be again, especially after Daddy was gone. When he was alive, and when Uncle Henry would come, those were the best times. First we lost Daddy, and then Uncle Henry. You and Dallas were just his cowboy friends, and I don’t know what I expected, but it certainly wasn’t this. You’re the first man I ever kissed, except for Daddy and Uncle Henry.”
“I’m glad,” said Arlo, “and I’d like to keep it that way. At first I couldn’t tell you and Kelly apart, but I can now. How am I doing that?”
“I don’t know,” Kelsey laughed, “unless it’s because Kelly’s got a little of Mother’s perverse nature about her. Mostly we’re like our daddy, and as Mother drew away from him, she seemed to care less and less for us. Kelly and me started to feel like … like … oh, God, like orphans. I’d forgotten what it was like to laugh, to be happy, to … to care about someone. I’d live here in these mountains until I’m eighteen, if there’s no other way. But what’s going to happen to Kelly … and me … when we leave here?”
“Wal,” said Arlo in his best drawl, “Ah cain’t speak for Dallas, but Ah aim to take you whar other hombres cain’t git to you. That is, ’less you got some objection.”
“Looking back,” she said, “I can’t remember a time when I was so happy. I’d be satisfied to just forget the mine, but I feel like we owe it to Uncle Henry to follow whatever trail he left for us. When we’ve done that, ask anything of me you want. I promise not to disappoint you.”
“Thank you,” said Arlo. “Now what do you think about Kelly and Dallas?”
“When she taunts him,” she laughed, “I like the way he gives as good as he gets. I think that, before we slip back into camp, we’d better throw a stone in ahead of us to let them know we’re coming.”
They walked all the way across the east rim, until they could see into the farthest end of the canyon, but not to the very foot of the mountain. When they were close enough to see the three men who were two-thirds of the way up the wall, the strangers had already spotted them!
“Come on,” Arlo said. “Run!”
They had a small advantage, for Joe, Pod, and Zondo were winded from their climb and still were some distance from the top.
“We can’t get back to our camp without them seeing us!” Kelsey cried.
“We’ll have to work our way down the mountain and return through it,” Arlo said.
The three men from Cass Bowdre’s bunch reached the top of the mountain, and while they were unable to see their quarry, they ran along the mountain rim toward the south. There were few places to hide.
“We get close enough,” Pod Osteen grunted, “put a slug in one or both of ’em. That should force ’em back into their camp, and we can see where it is.”
Arlo and Kelsey were on their knees behind an up-thrust of stone. When they saw the trio coming, Arlo fired twice, kicking up dust at their feet and forcing them to hesitate.
“Come on!” said Arlo. “If we can work our way all the way around the rim without them getting wise, we can slip down the mountain where they came up. That’ll put us near the mouth of the cavern. We’ll have to make it through the passage without a light, but that’s better than a running gunfight in the open.”
Chapter 10
Arlo and Kelsey made it as far as the south rim, taking advantage of the little cover there was, before the trio caught sight of them again. There was a rattle of gunfire, and lead sang over their heads like angry bees. Swiftly they made their way to the west rim, finding sanctuary behind an occasional stone abutment. One of the pursuing men tried to cut across the wide-open plateau, but Arlo shot off his hat and burned a second slug along his thigh. He fell, rolling behind a little rise, and his companions paused. Arlo and Kelsey ran on, Arlo reloading his gun as they went.
“Gunfire!” Dallas said. “Somebody’s discovered Arlo and Kelsey!”
“Oh, Lord!” said Kelly. “Let’s go help them!”
“We can’t,” Dallas said, “without givin’ away our camp. Whoever started this ruckus is tryin’ to drive Arlo and Kelsey into a hole, figurin’ to find our camp by forcin’ them back into it. We go runnin’ out there, and we’ll only end up with our own tails in a crack, without helpin’ them. As well as I know Arlo, he won’t lead ’em here. He’ll try to work his way down the mountain and come in through the passage, but he won’t have a light. Come on—we’ll take some pine torches and meet them in the passage.”
“How can we know they’ll come in that way?”
“They have no choice,” Dallas said. “There’s not enough cover on the top of this mountain to shelter a toad. They can dodge from stone to stone for temporary cover, but if there’s more than one man after them, they’ll have to keep moving. Their only chance is to make it down the mountain and then return through the passages.”
Kelsey, in the lead, drew her Colt.
“No,” said Arlo, “save it. This is no place to make a stand. Let me keep them away from us, if I can. Keep moving.”
They paused behind the cover of boulders, breathing hard. The only real cover their pursuers had was what Arlo and Kelsey had already used.
“Sooner or later,” Arlo said, “they’ll try to rush us as we move out from cover. Once we’ve gotten far enough along the west rim, we’re going to cut across the plateau to that steep trail down the east rim. When I tell you to go, run for it. I’ll try to hold them off until you’re over the edge. Then I want you to pull that Colt and give ’em hell. Space your shots, and try to lay down enough fire to cover me, so I can join you.”
Kelsey moved ahead, and soon they were near enough to cut over the west rim to their hidden camp. But they dared not. Almost straight across the mountaintop was the steep pass that led into the canyon and the safety of the passage within the mountain.
“Now!” Arlo yelled. “Run!”
Kelsey ran, lead kicking up dust all around her. Arlo fired, spacing his six shots, buying Kelsey all the time he could. Then she was over the rim. With any luck, he thought, the murderous coyotes will have to reload. He wouldn’t have a better chance, and without sacrificing the time it would take to reload, he lit out toward the east rim after Kelsey. One of the gunmen cut down on him immediately, and the other two joined in. But Kelsey Logan made her presence felt. She spaced her shots as Arlo had done, and he quickly tumbled over the rim to join her. Kelsey was deftly reloading her Colt.
“Come on,” Arlo cried. “They’ll be cuttin’ down on us again before we reach bottom.”
Arlo reloaded as he slid down the steep trail. All too soon, their pursuers were blasting away from the rim. Arlo turned and fired three quick shots over their heads, driving them back for a moment. Then they rushed to the ledge and began the descent, throwing lead as they came. Arlo returned their fire until his Colt clicked on empty. He heard Kelsey shout and turned to face a new danger—three horsemen were galloping up the canyon—Bollinger, Yavapai, and Sanchez. Bollinger was firing not at Kelsey but at Arlo. Kelsey paused, firing twice, and the second shot ripped off Bollinger’s hat. The vengeful gunman then turned his fire on the girl.
“No, Kelsey,” Arlo shouted. “Run!”
Kelsey turned toward the mouth of the cavern through which the stream ran, Arlo right behind her. Suddenly she seemed to stumble, the force of the lead driving her backward into Arlo. His own Colt empty, Arlo snatched Kelsey’s from her limp fingers. His left arm supporting Kelsey Logan’s dead weight, Arlo shot Bollinger out of the saddle in his fury. The trio of gunmen coming down the mountain were closer, and Arlo almost fell as a slug tore through the inside of his right thigh. Praying for a miracle, he gathered the unconscious Kelsey in his arms and ran. For a frightening second, he saw that the entire left side of her shirt was soaked with blood.
He slipped in the mud outside the cavern’s mouth, and that misstep was what saved him. A slug tore across his scalp just above his left ear, and others slammed into the side of the passage inches from his head. Dizzy, his head pounding, he stumbled into the welcome dark of the mountain. He paused only a moment to catch his breath before pressing on into the blackness of the passage that would take them back to the safety of their camp. He made it past the point in the tunnel where the water cascaded down, then paused, exhausted. Kelsey hadn’t made a sound.
“Kelsey,” he cried. “Kelsey!”
But in the blackness of the passage there were only the lonely sounds of dripping water and Kelsey’s ragged breathing. His right arm was under her arms, and he could feel her blood soaking the sleeve of his shirt.
“You bastards,” he sobbed. “You murdering bastards!”
Arlo stumbled on, dizzy from the lead that had creased his skull, feeling the blood from the wound in his thigh squishing in his boot. He could hear shouting somewhere behind him. If they took the time to get a light and had the nerve to follow, all was lost.
Dallas and Kelly hurried down the passage that would eventually take them to the foot of the mountain and to the route they expected Arlo and Kelsey to use. Kelly had brought a couple of blankets, not knowing what difficulty they might encounter. With Dallas in the lead, they reached the point where they had to drop to hands and knees. They were near the end of the cramped passage when Dallas paused.
“Hold it,” he whispered. “Somebody’s comin’. Here, take the light.”
But the light had been seen.
Arlo called, breathing hard. “Dallas? Kelly?”
“Arlo,” Dallas cried, “we’re here. What’s happened?”
“Kelsey’s hurt,” said Arlo, his voice trembling. “Hit hard, bleedin’ bad.”
As Kelly spread the blankets on the stone floor, Arlo eased Kelsey down. Kelly cried at the sight of her sister’s blood-soaked shirt. Before their eyes, new blood began soaking the blankets. Every minute counted now.
“Kelly,” Dallas said, “you take the torch and lead the way. Arlo and me will have to work her through that narrow passage a little at a time.”
On hands and knees, Dallas backed into the passage, gripping the foot of Kelsey’s blanket bed. Arlo took her head, and they lifted her just enough to clear the stone floor. It was impossible to crawl without using their hands for support, and they were forced to move Kelsey only as far as Arlo could reach. While it took them only a few minutes, it seemed like hours before they were able to stand. Arlo hunkered down to gather up Kelsey, but he was unable to. He went to his knees.
“You’ll … have to take her, Dallas,” he said. “I took a slug … in the thigh, and it’s … givin’ me hell.”
Kelly took the lead, carrying the torch, while Dallas followed with Kelsey and Arlo limped along behind. When they reached the cavern that was their camp, Kelly stirred up the fire so they had light. She then set the iron spider in place and hung a pot of water to boil. Turning to the wounded Kelsey, she flung the blankets aside and began unbuttoning the girl’s shirt.
“We’ll go … back into the passage,” panted Dallas, “while you … see to her.”
“You’ll stay right where you are,” Kelly said. “I’ve never seen a gunshot wound in my life, and I don’t know what to do. I’ll need you, and I don’t intend to swap my sister’s modesty for her life. Arlo’s been hit too. Get those britches off, cowboy, and try to stop the bleeding. It won’t help Kelsey, you standing there bleeding to death.”
Arlo stood there in his shirttail, feeling foolish, thankful there were no holes in his drawers. Dallas cut a strip from a blanket and tied the cloth tight around Arlo’s thigh, above the wound.
“Didn’t hurt the bone,” said Dallas, “but you’ve been bleedin’ like a stuck hog. Kelsey is the one we have to worry about.”
“My God, yes,” Kelly said. “Come look at this wound.”
She had stripped away the bloody shirt and pulled Kel
sey’s Levi’s down to her knees. Kelly had washed away the blood, revealing the wound in the girl’s left side. It was angry purple, and blood still oozed from it. Arlo limped over to Kelsey and got down beside her.
“One of you take her shoulders and raise her up,” he said. “It looks bad, but sometimes where the lead comes out is more important than where it went in. It can hit a rib and be driven away from the vitals, or worse, it can be driven right into them.”
Kelly lifted Kelsey enough for Arlo to look for an exit wound. With a sigh of relief, he found it.
“The slug went on through,” said Arlo, “but it tore a mean hole on its way out. We’ll have to wrap her in all the blankets to keep her warm, but the biggest danger will be infection. I think we can handle that, with the two quarts of whiskey we have. We’ll know by this time tomorrow. If she worsens, we’ll either get her to a doc, or bring one to her. Dallas, bring me a quart of that red-eye.”
Skeleton Lode Page 16
