“I wish he would and make our task easier. He has to know the man is a criminal.”
“Knowing someone’s a crook and proving it are two different things. You know that. Show me what that brand is like so we can be on the lookout for it.”
“Looks almost like a ribbon bow, I suppose for the man’s first name.” Peyton picked up a stick and drew the brand in the dirt.
“Makes me mad just to look at it. You say they passed you by yesterday?”
Peyton nodded. “A little after nine in the morning. We’d stopped at a creek to rest the animals and have breakfast we’d brought from Santa Fe.”
He spread his hands. “I didn’t stop in your office because I wasn’t in town on law business, just to buy supplies. I didn’t want anyone to suspect I had anything to do with the law.”
The other lawman scowled. “You still should have shown me the courtesy of a visit or at least sent word.”
“You’re right and I apologize. My only excuse is haste to get to my brother-in-law’s aid. We’re afraid he’s unable to defend himself by this time, especially since it’s been weeks since he was heard from. My wife and her mother are frantic.”
“I would be too. You’ll be lucky to find him alive.” Sheriff Conklin slapped his hat against his leg. “Luckier still if all of you survive the confrontation.”
“We’re aware of the danger we face. That’s why I have three men with me. My wife and her mother are both good shots. My wife carries a knife, as Diaz found out.”
“Three men?” The sheriff used his hat to point at Peyton. “Listen, I’ve heard Lawson keeps at least two dozen cowboys on his payroll plus a dozen hired guns.”
He paced a few yards and turned back. “The man they beat in Santa Fe had property in San Miguel County. He lived long enough to say he’d signed the deed because he saw no benefit in more resistance.”
“That’s what we’re afraid will have happened to Josiah. I haven’t met him yet but if he’s like my wife, hell will freeze over before he gives in. Besides, she has the deed with us which is signed over to her.”
“You don’t mean it? For her sake and yours, I hope that devil Lawson doesn’t know that. ’Course not having the deed won’t stop him, not with the local law on his side.”
“I haven’t told her that. She’s a smart woman and probably knows.”
Sheriff Conklin settled his hat on his head. “This is disappointing but we may as well go home. We can’t catch them before they get to Lawson’s ranch if they’re that far ahead of us.” The sheriff proffered his hand to Peyton.
Peyton shook hands. “Take care. Sure appreciate you taking our unwelcome prisoners off our hands.”
“Son, you’re the one who needs to take care. Tell you what I’ll do. When we get back to Santa Fe, I’ll wire Lopez and let him know what’s happening.”
“Thank you, that’s gracious of you and may be the help that saves us.”
Sheriff Conklin nodded toward Red. “You’d best take special care with your wife. Lawson has a fondness for pretty women. Even in that get up, I can tell your wife is more than just pretty.” He tipped his hat and mounted his horse.
Jeff watched the posse leave. “Enlightening but not encouraging.”
Peyton braced his feet and faced the other three men. “You heard what the sheriff said. I won’t blame you if you want to walk away now. I’ll pay you for the time you’ve worked no questions asked.”
Sarge stabbed a forefinger at Peyton. “If you think I scare off like that you can think again. I served twenty years in the Army and never ran from a fight.”
Jeff shook his head slightly. “Know your intentions are good but you’re offer is downright insulting. I hired on to do a job and I’m in this for the duration.”
Frowning, Ozzie stood with his hands on his hips. “Hurts my feelings you think I’m a coward. ’Course I’m staying.”
Peyton exhaled and offered a genuine smile of relief. “Thank you, men. I knew I could count on you but had to give you the option to get out honorably. Now here’s another consideration. Should I try to find more good men to go with us?”
Jeff shook his head. “You can’t find three dozen so what’s the point? The more you hire the more likely you’ll get a Judas. I say stick with just us.”
Sarge nodded. “I agree. We’re not waging war exactly, more like a guerilla operation. We just have to hit and run until we get Lawson.”
Ozzie said, “Sarge is right. We can fight like the Apache. Strike and disappear over and over. We’ll devil them to death.”
Peyton couldn’t have expressed in words the relief he felt right then. “All right, let’s head toward Los Perdidos.”
As they rode in the wagon, Peyton glanced at his wife. Each day she became more silent and withdrawn. Seemed to him the circles under her eyes grew darker by the hour.
“Did your brother have a photo of you with him?”
Her eyes widened. “There’s one of the two of us together and also one of Mama. I don’t know where he keeps them.”
“We’ll have to assume they’ve been seen by Lawson and his men and they’ll recognize you. I don’t know what we can do to disguise you further.”
Her bottom lip trembled. “Y-You don’t believe Josiah’s still alive, do you?”
“Red, if he’s as tough as you, he’s driven off Lawson by now.”
“Peyton, I’m so worried. He is strong, but if he’s been beaten like Mr. Corrigan? What if he has been shot and has gangrene?”
