us shoot you. I’d a whole lot rather see you hang back in the States.”
Barton gave a contemptuous sniff, as if he thought that was unlikely to ever happen. Longarm had to admit that the odds against it were steep. To get Barton back to Texas, they would first have to escape from this outlaw stronghold, then make a long, perilous ride across the wasteland between the mountains and the border, probably being chased the whole way by the rest of the gang.
But if there was any way to bring Barton to justice, he was going to do it, Longarm vowed.
“There’s only one way out of this valley that I know of, Scott said to Longarm, “and if any of those outlaws get between us and the gap, they can block us off. We need some sort of distraction to draw them away.”
“I happened to see a box of dynamite in the storehouse, like the raiders used to blow up Sheriff Sanderson’s office in Del Rio. If we got hold of a few sticks of that stuff, and if one of us rode to the other end of the valley and set them off, that would draw the attention of all the outlaws. It might even be enough of a disturbance to draw the guards away from the gap.”
“But that man wouldn’t have a chance to get away,” Longarm pointed out. “He’d be sacrificing his life.”
“Not if there’s actually another way out of the valley.” Scott looked intently at Barton, who was standing at the other end of the table with one hand on Sonia’s shoulder. “What about it, Barton? I’ve never seen an outlaw hideout without a back door. Where’s the one in this valley?”
Barton laughed harshly. “There isn’t one, you fool. And if there was, do you think I’d tell you?”
“I don’t have a whole lot to lose by killing you right here and now,” Scott said grimly.
Barton just shook his head. “You’ll have to, because I’m not telling you anything.” The soft clop of hoofbeats sounded outside the patio door. Longarm swung in that direction while Scott kept Sonia and Barton covered. A moment later, Coffin’s bulky figure appeared in the doorway. “I’ve got horses outside for the five of us,” he announced. “Scott, that black devil of yours nipped a hunk out of my hide.”
Scott smiled faintly. “Phantom’s a one-man horse. He doesn’t care much for other people messing with him.”
“You’re lucky I didn’t throw your saddle on another hoss instead of riskin’ life and limb the way I did.” Coffin came farther into the dining room and peered down at Deke. “This old boy’s still out cold, I see.”
“You hit him pretty hard,” said Longarm. “You may have killed him.”
“Good riddance,” muttered Coffin. “Now, how are we goin’ to go about gettin’ out of here?”
“Scott and I were just talking about that. We need a diversion to clear the way to the gap in the wall around this place.”
Scott said, “I suggested that I set off a few sticks of dynamite up at the far end of the canyon.”
Coffin grunted. “Might as well put a gun to your head and pull the trigger. You’d never get out alive.”
“We don’t know that. And it’s worth a try, don’t you think? You and Marshal Long can take Barton and Senorita Guiterrez back to Texas that way.”
“Well, you’re about the oddest owlhoot I’ve ever run across,” said Coffin, “offerin’ to give up your own life to save ours that way.”
“Maybe we should draw straws to see who takes the dynamite,” Longarm suggested.
Scott smiled again. “I’m the one who knows where it is. And besides, as Ranger Coffin pointed out earlier, I’m the one who got us into this.” With a smooth movement, he holstered his guns and started toward the patio door, pausing only long enough to pick up his hat from a side table and settle it on his head. “Give me ten minutes.” With that he was gone, vanishing into the shadows outside.
“Damn it,” grated Coffin. “You reckon we can trust that hombre, Long?”
“I don’t see that we’ve got much choice,” Longarm replied. He moved toward the end of the table. “On your feet, Sonia.”
Her lovely features contorted with hate until they were anything but beautiful. “You will never get away with this, Custis,” she said, practically spitting the words at him. “Turning you over to the Yaquis is too good for you. We will hang you from your feet and let you roast in the sun.”
Longarm ignored the threat and motioned with the gun in his hand for Sonia to stand up. She did so reluctantly.
“There’s no need for all these melodramatics, gentlemen,” Barton said suddenly. “There’s plenty of money to be made in this arrangement, plenty to go around for everyone. All you have to do is put up those guns and join us.”
Coffin grinned. “Sounds to me like this fella’s startin’ to get a mite scared, Long. You reckon he figures there’s a chance we might actually get him back to Texas to face a hang-rope?”
“Could be,” said Longarm.
Barton’s face was pale and taut. “Come now,” he insisted, “how much does either of you make in a year’s time? Give up this ridiculous idea and I can promise you ten times as much.”
Longarm shook his head. “Might as well forget about it, Barton.
Money’s mighty nice, but there’s some things it won’t buy.”
“That’s preposterous-“ the renegade diplomat began, but Coffin interrupted him.
“How long’s Scott been gone?” asked the Ranger.
“Almost long enough,” Longarm replied. He started toward the patio door. “Come on, you two,” he said to Barton and Sonia. “By the time we all get mounted up, it’ll be time to go.”
