cowards. Everyone of you.”
“I think they’re overdoing it a bit,” Carol remarked.
More cussing.
“Smoke Jensen!” the shout cut the night.
“Right here,” Smoke called.
“This is John T. We’ll take your deal, Smoke. And to show you I mean what I say, you can watch us ride out at first light. Unless you want us to pull out now.”
“That’s good, John T.,” Smoke called. “I think you made the right choice. No point in you boys losing a good night’s sleep. You can pull out in the morning.”
“That’s fine with us, Jensen. Good night.”
“Lying scum,” Smoke said.
“We’re all in agreement with that,” Gilbert said. “That scenario was staged if I ever heard one.”
“Von Hausen!” Smoke called.
“Right here, Jensen.”
“You want to settle this right now, you and me?”
“I think not, gunfighter,” his voice sprang out of the darkness. “But there will be another time and place for us, be assured of that.”
“I imagine so, von Hausen.” Smoke turned to his group. “This ought to be good.” He raised his voice. “And your plans come the morning?”
“We’ll be striking camp and pulling out, Jensen. I no longer have any appetite for the hunt.”
“He’s lyin‘, an’ John T. is lyin’,” Walt said. “So what the hell are they up to?”
“No good, and that’s for sure,” Charles Knudson said. “Now I’m getting worried.”
“No need for that,” Smoke told him. “I think we’ll just let them outsmart themselves.”
“What do you mean by that?” Carol asked.
But Smoke would only smile.
“Do you agree the hunt was a good one, Jensen?” von Hausen yelled.
“It was interesting, von Hausen,” Smoke called.
“Oh, quite!” the man shouted. “Good night, Jensen. We’ll all wave auf Wiedersehen in the morning.”
“Yeah, you do that,” Smoke muttered.
“Could it be they are actually leaving?” Perry asked.
“Oh, they’ll pull out,” Smoke said, “and set us up for an ambush.”
“And you have a plan to counter that?” Blanche asked.
“Oh, yes, ma’am,” Smoke said. “I sure do.”
21
“Oughta shoot ’em dead if they show themselves,” Walt said. “And to hell with all their lies.”
Silver was streaking the eastern sky. Those inside the fort stood by the ramparts, drinking coffee and waiting to see if von Hausen’s party were really going to pull out.
“I know we should,” Smoke agreed with him. “But there is that one chance in a million they’re really going to leave.”
“Of course, you don’t believe that?” Gilbert asked.
“No. I sure don’t.”
“Yo, the fort!” came the shout.
“We’re still right here,” Smoke called.
“For reasons of security, none of us will step out into the open,” von Hausen called. “You understand, of course?”
“Sure, von Hausen. I understand.”
“You really have nothing to fear; any of you. After we’ve pulled out, and since you have the high ground you’ll be able to see us cross the meadow to the south, and you will, of course, inspect the remnants of our camp. You will see that we are keeping our word. We’ll have our coffee, and then we shall be gone. Goodbye, all.”
“And good riddance,” Walt muttered. “Even if you are lyin’ through your teeth.”
“They won’t be going much further than those ridges past the meadow,” Smoke said. “Just as soon as they enter the meadow, I’m gone out the back way, on foot. I’ll carry some supplies with me in a pack. I’ll stick to the timber on the ridges and make a half circle. You’ll be able to hear the battle.”
“You want some company?” Angel asked.
