“The German government would get involved in it then, and there’d really be an investigation.”
Mike nodded his head. “I hadn’t thought about that. You’re right.”
John T. did not enter into the conversation. Only when and if he was asked. Best to let the men hash it out among themselves, he concluded.
Paul Melham moaned in pain in his sleep.
“We best stick with what we planned,” Nick spoke up. “With the money bein’ paid us, we can disappear for a good long time if we’re careful with it. This’ll blow over after awhile. It always does, don’t it?”
“Not no killin’ like we done and like we’re plannin‘, it don’t,” Utah Red said. “But I agree with Montana that we ain’t got no hell of a lot of options left us. We just got to go on and do it, that’s all.”
Valdes tossed another stick on the fire. “I am more fortunate than most of you. I can head back into Mexico and vanish. And that is exactly what I plan on doing. With my money, I can buy a cantina and quit this business.”
“You mighty quiet, John T.,” Ray Harvey said.
“Just listenin’ to you boys talk, that’s all.”
“Ain’t you got no opinion a-tall?” Tony Addison asked.
“I reckon not, Tony. I’m goin’ on, so there ain’t much point in talkin’ about what’s behind us. We just do the deed we all agreed to do.”
“Oh, I’m in, John T.,” Tony was quick to say. “Don’t worry ’bout that.”
“I was wonderin’, after listenin’ to all this talk,” John T. said, pulling out the makings and rolling a tight cigarette. “Just had me a little curious, that’s all.”
The men were all quick to speak up that John T. could count on them. Yes, sir. All the way.
“Good, boys, good.” He smoked his cigarette down and tossed the butt into the fire. “I’m gonna turn in. I got a funny feelin’ in my guts that tomorrow is gonna be a damn busy day.”
“Why do you say that, John T.?” Valdes asked.
“Just got a hunch is all.” He rolled his gunbelt and took off his boots. “I pay attention to my hunches, boys. They’ve saved my bacon more’n once.”
“Good idea, John T.,” Gil said. He got up and wandered off toward the bushes.
John T. Matthey went to sleep counting all the men they’d buried on their back trail. Thanks to that damn Jensen.
Smoke was up and drank the last of his coffee before dawn ever thought about opening its eyes. As he had done before rolling up in the blankets the night before, he climbed up on a ridge and looked to the south. Fires, and a lot of them. Von Hausen and his pack of hungry, rabid skunks were very close. He turned and looked to the north. Several small fires; that had to be Walt and his bunch.
He walked to his camp, made sure his fire was out, and then packed up, saddled up and pulled out. He had to find a place to make a stand this day. If he didn’t, Walt’s group wouldn’t have any more days left to them.
Dawn was just breaking when Smoke rode out. He flirted with the idea of just picking a spot and make a stand to the death. But he didn’t flirt with it for very long. The will to live was too strong in him. And just as strong was his will to win against seemingly insurmountable odds.
He’d have to admit he’d done a pretty fair job of doing just that so far.
No, Smoke would not make any stand-or-die move. No, what he would do is catch up with Walt and the others and then fight a rear guard action after seeing what kind of shape they were in.
They were going to win this fight, by God.
His horse sensed its rider’s excitement and the big ’paloosa quickened its step. “That’s right, boy,” Smoke said. “You feel the same way, don’t you?”
The Appaloosa snorted and swung his head. Smoke laughed.
Above him, an eagle soared.
19
Smoke put some distance between himself and von Hausen. Smoke’s ’paloosa was a mountain horse and as sure-footed as a puma. Many times Smoke just gave him his head and let him go, so strong was the bond between horse and rider.
Smoke pulled up short when he heard voices and the sounds of an axe. “What the hell?” he muttered.
He urged his horse on, knowing that whoever was making all that noise wasn’t setting up any ambush for him. When he climbed up the ridge and made the clearing, Smoke sat his saddle amazed at what he saw.
Just behind the dozen frantically working people, there was a falls, the water cascading down a sheer rock face. He could hear the sounds of running water close-by. Then he saw the stream.
“Hello, Smoke Jensen!” Robert waved and called to him. “Come on into our fort.”
Smoke returned the wave and muttered, “You damn sure got that right. It’s a fort.”
“You can put your horse right back there,” the government scientist said, pointing. “It’s a tiny valley that is accessible only from the front.” He smiled. “Unless you know the back way in. And even Angel and Walt couldn’t find that until Gilbert pointed it out.”
“But...”
