dark in an hour or so, so you won’t really burn much. After that, I suggest you bury your friends with that shovel over there.” I was actually enjoying this part.
“What about my cayuse?” he asked.
I tossed a half empty canteen on the ground.
“The horses come with me. Might make up for the ones you stole. Besides, walking ought to do you some good. You should make it into town in a couple of days. After that leave the territory,’ cause I swear the next time we meet I won’t be so generous,” I said, mounting the roan.
“What if you’re wrong about these stakes comin’ loose?” he shouted.
“In that case,” I said, turning the horses around, “Jenkins and Reynolds will have a third for poker. In hell.”
I rode out, leaving Evans lying there, screaming back at me, but I wasn’t listening. My mind was focused instead on someone named Luke Pierce. It now appeared I had more than one account to settle with the man.
Chapter Fourteen
Elijah leaned his pitchfork against the barn wall and eyed the horses I was leading.
“Ah see those saddle bums caught up with you. Or was it visy versy?”
“A little of both,” I replied. “One thing’s for sure, they won’t be needing these ponies any longer,” I added.
“Figured that much when Ah seed you ride in,” he said, wiping his forehead with the back of his hand.
“Look, I’m going to be leaving again, but this time I’ve got a long way to go, so I’ll be needing more supplies. Suppose I could get a fair price for these two horses?” I asked.
“Depends on what you consider a fair price.”
“All I need is a change of clothes, some more ammunition, and enough grub to get me where I’m going. Might even check out that bathhouse you mentioned before.”
“Well, seein’ as how mah brother-in-law runs the mercantile, Ah reckon we can strike a deal. What about the other one?” he asked, pointing to the chestnut gelding with the EH brand.
“Just leave him in the corral and feed him. I expect some boys from that same brand will be along soon to claim him,” I said.
“Iffen they ain’t friends o’ yorn, you might want to reconsider takin’ time fer that bath,” he said knowingly.
“Why’s that?” I asked.
“Already been here. About three hours after you rode out, a group o’ Mexes rode in. Ah couldn’t help noticin’ but they was ridin’ that same EH brand you are. Ain’t none o’ mah business, but those boys kept askin’ ’bout someone who kinda fits your general description.’ Course, Ah don’t savvy none o’ that
I glanced quickly back over my shoulder. “You tell ’em where I went?”
“Iffen Ah had, they’d ’a’ found you by now. Nope, they didn’t offer me nothin’ fer mah trouble like you did, and Ah always figured a businessman ought to take care of his good payin’ cash customers first. Besides, maybe you’ll take that into account when we agree on the final price for these cayuses,” he said, grinning.
“You just saved yourself a lot of money, friend. Know where these
“Oh, Ah figure they still ought to be headin’ on north. Guess Ah kinda intimated it was a good idea. Ah remembered how you rode out o’ here to the west, by the way.”
“Much obliged. But with no trail to follow, they might backtrack any time, right?” I looked around again apprehensively.
“Might at that,” he said. “But then again, that stretch is so bad iffen they was a-lookin’ fer sign, and iffen they wanted to find someone real bad like, they prob’ly wouldn’t stop until they hit the nearest water hole. That’s the only way they’d be sure, and it’s a good two days ride from here. ’Course, it’s none o’ mah business,” he continued on, “but iffen you were the feller they’s a-lookin’ fer, Ah figure you got about a full day or so, afore they git back.”
“Hadn’t counted on them finding me so soon,” I said. “Thanks again for the help.”
Elijah just nodded back at me.
“Look, when they come back this time, don’t take any chances, just tell them straight out where I went,” I warned.
“Truth is there ain’t a-gonna be no next time. When that outfit comes back, Ah don’t plan on bein’ around to answer any more questions. Especially not after what they done to the Golden Goose.”
“How’s that?” I asked.
“After they left here, they headed straight fer the saloon. Most folks usually do.”
“So what happened?”
“Ah followed them down there an’ saw the whole thing. They all went in, peaceful enough like, and ordered beers and a few tequilas. The bartender served them all right, but then this one feller, name o’ Morton, he don’t cotton to Mexes much, and starts givin’ ’em a hard time. Called ’em a bunch of stinkin’ beaners and let on that the folks in the bar don’t want their kind around. Well, sir, one of them Mexes starts to object, but Morton, he’s kind of a big feller, he just shoves him backward and reaches behind the bar for a sawed-off shotgun that’s kept there. Then he sets it on the bar top and starts talkin big to his friends, you know, braggin’ a lot. Ah could tell those Mexes was hot, but this other feller with a scar on his face, guess he’s the boss, he sort o’ holds up his hand to stop them from startin’ a fight.”
“That would be their ramrod, Chavez,” I offered.
“Iffen you say so. Anyway, this Chavez feller, he takes out a ceegar from his shirt pocket and lights up. Then he motions to the barkeep to buy this Morton feller a drink. Next this other Mex translates for him that they ain’t a gonna fight with ’em. Says they’s just passin’ through and ain’t lookin’ fer no trouble.”
“I assume it didn’t help?”
“Hell, no. This Morton, he just laughs, and starts bragging again to his friends about how many Mexican whores he’s had. Then he and some o’ his pals order all the Mexes out of the place.”
“And they just took that?” I asked surprised.
“Well, Ah’ll tell you. This Chavez feller shrugs his shoulders, and then turns to leave. But, see, he stops first to put out his cigar on the bar.”
“Then what happened?” I asked. Chavez was hardly the mild-mannered type.
“Oh, he put the cigar out all right. But as it turns out, he ground it right into the back of Morton’s hand. Well, Ah’ll tell you, that man yelped loud enough to wake the dead, and pulls up his hand in pain. Next thing ya know this Chavez feller grabs up the shotgun and clouts him right across the nose with it. Man, that Morton went down like he was pole-axed. After that the rest of them started swinging at anyone in sight. And them Mexes, they got this one big bald feller.”
“Chango,” I said, nodding.
“Whatever. Anyway, he grabs this one cowboy up over his head and throws him clear through the gambling wheel like he was a dart. Went right through the middle, flying headfirst. When the bodies started sailin’ through the windows is when Ah skedaddled out of there. Last Ah heard every table was broke, two cowboys lost an ear, and the barkeep got part o’ his nose bit off. One cowboy ’parently pulled a gun. They found him later under a table, with three holes in him, two in the chest and one in the gut. Right here.” He pointed to his belly, indicating the precise spot.
“Any of them
“Saw ’im ride out right afterwards. Couple of bloody noses and one fellow was cut a little on the arm, but nothing serious. Leastwise nothing Ah could see.”
“How many riders were there?” I asked.
