“Jud’s own men—some of them—are talking mutiny. That might turn out bad for Doreen.”
“Yes. I thought about that. I think we have a week or so before anything like that happens. Probably longer. It will take that long for Jud to pull in his various and far-flung gangs.”
“If that’s what he has in mind.”
“He does. I’ve been on these ridges since early afternoon. He’s sent riders out in all directions. I’m guessing that some of them are riding for the gangs.”
“Then we’d damn well better do something before the odds against us get ridiculous.”
“I’ll let you know when I have a plan.”
Smoke heard a whisper of cloth against brush, and knew that Clint Perkins was gone, slipping into the night.
Smoke sighed and shook his head. This had turned into one great big mess. The next time you think about a vacation. he thought sourly, try riding east instead of west.
Then he felt guilty for thinking that. His own children would be grown some day, and if they got into a jam that. was not of their own doing, he hoped someone would be around to help them.
Someone like Smoke Jensen.
He rose to his moccasins and started back to his horse. This was one of the few times in his life that he felt helpless, and he had a hunch the feeling was going to get much worse until it bettered out.
If it ever did.
Matthew remained in bed, embarrassed by all the fuss being made over him, but enjoying it nonetheless. There were no signs of infection in his wound, and he seemed to be healing nicely and quickly.
Walt had ordered all the boys to stay close to the ranch. What cattle remained were bunched in the box canyon with plenty of graze and water and could take care of themselves for a time. The boys worked at turning the ranch compound into a fort.
Everybody knew that an attack, and it would be a big one, was inevitable. It was just a question of when.
Smoke and Rusty and Jackson went over everything they could think of.
“As far as weapons and ammo goes, we got enough to outfit a battalion of army,” Jackson pointed out. He grinned. “I recognize a whole lot of them rifles and pistols from the Bar V boys.”
“We’ve filled ever’ water barrel we could tote in,” Rusty said. “The house and barn and bunkhouse is fortified like none 1 ever seen. That was a good idea Jamie had about haulin’ up big rocks and stackin’ them window high around the house and bunkhouse. It’d take a lot of giant powder to do any damage.”
Jackson rolled a cigarette, licked, and lit up. He glanced at Smoke. “You in deep thought, Smoke.” He passed him the makings.
“Three reasonably young men— that’s us. Three old men. Two women. One little boy, and fifteen young boys. That’s all that’s standing between maybe hundred or more hired guns, bounty hunters, outlaws, and a crazy man who walks around his mansion in an ermine robe with a jeweled crown on his head proclaiming himself to be king. I’ve been in some strange situations in my time, but this one has got to take the cake.”
“How about ridin’ into town and sendin’ a wire to the governor?” Rusty suggested.
Smoke shook his head. “I discussed that with Walt. We both agreed we’d be wasting our time. The governor has made it clear that he doesn’t have the manpower to do us any good down here. Reading between the lines of that remark, I’d have to say that the governor is not going to get involved. Why, is anybody’s guess.”
Jackson was thoughtful for a moment. “I know maybe half a dozen men I could get to come in here. If I could find them, that is.”
“Yeah, that’s my problem, too,” Smoke said. “Louis Longmont would come in here in a flash, but I have no idea where to find him. For all I know, he might be in Europe. I have a hunch that all this is going to be over before any of us could locate and bringpeople in. Jud’s got the jump on us in that respect.”
“If we could just get Doreen free of that nuthouse of Jud’s, we could sit back here and wait Jud out,” Rusty reflected. “I think even if Jud sent all his men over here, we stand a pretty good chance of holding them off.”
“Attacking us here will come,” Smoke said. “I believe that. But only as a last resort. Jud’s got Doreen; that’s what he wanted most of all. His main concern now will be in keeping her.”
“The thing to do, the way I see it,” Jackson said, “is to try to think like Jud. But how in the blue blazes could anyone think like a crazy man?”
“You can’t,” Smoke nixed that. “I think his moods change, or could change, every day, maybe every hour. I believe he’s so far around the bend that he’s become totally unpredictable.”
Rusty glanced at him. “You’re sayin’ that even Jud don’t know what he’s gonna do next?”
“That’s right. And if you ever get a chance, look into the eyes of Clint Perkins. His and Jud’s eyes are identical. They’re both madmen.”
“Then it’s true that Jud is Clint’s father?” Jackson asked.
“Yes. And Clint can be just as whacky as Jud. No telling what he’ll do next. He doesn’t even know.”
“You think he still cares for Doreen?”
Smoke shrugged. “In a way, I suppose. But I think he’s driven more out of hate for Jud than concern for Doreen. And that could get Doreen in trouble if Clint tries something on his own.”
“How about contactin’ the Army and seein’ if they’ll do something?” Rusty grabbed at straws.
Smoke shook his head. “There again, we’d have to go through the governor to get them. And for some reason, the governor, or more likely, someone in his office, is blocking all requests for help.”
