Jeff asked, “You have your bearings again?”
“Thank the Lord, I do. I recognize a landmark from the drawing. Men, I want to thank you again for your help. I don’t know how this is going to turn out. I hope none of us is injured. We have two allies inside the ranch house.” He sat down and traded his boots for his moccasins.
Sarge did the same. “While we were waiting around, I went shopping. I said my feet hurt walking so much when I was used to riding a horse. Later, the other two went to the bootmaker and pretended they wanted to each get a pair of moccasins because I bragged on mine.”
“You men are clever. I figure these will help us slip in and out of that house.” He wondered about a guy Sarge’s size moving quietly.
Sarge must have read his mind. “You’ll be surprised how I can move without making a sound. Being an Indian fighter taught me a lot.”
Ozzie chuckled. “Yeah, to move like them. We studied them the hard way but we kept our scalps, which is more than some did.”
They all stretched out for sleep except Peyton, who sat against a tree. He kept checking his watch but the time dragged. He listened for any strange sounds that meant prowlers.
Overhead, the stars shone as if this were a perfect night. The breeze carrying a hint of pine and cedar blew the smoke away from him. The night seemed peaceful but the threat of the ordeal to come weighed heavily on his shoulders. At five minutes before midnight, he woke the others.
“Time to move, fellas. Take two extra horses in case Josiah can sit up. Carlos will have to come back to town with us. Leave the camp looking like we’re still here.”
One by one they bunched up the bedrolls to look as if someone was inside before slipping into the dark. Ozzie added wood to the fire. He’d carefully made a good fire pit with a ring of rocks around it. Jeff and Peyton saddled six of the horses. They walked the animals in the dark until they were away from the camp. Pine needles padded their way so they were silent.
As they walked, they heard a whiney voice, “I tell you, Oscar, I can see the camp. They’re asleep in them fancy bedrolls.”
“If you’re wrong, I’ll shoot you.”
“I don’t doubt it, Oscar. I’ve seen how you handle people when you’re mad at them.”
Sarge made a scissors motion with his fingers. Peyton shook his head. If the horses ran back to the barn or corral, that would alert others.
He looped his horse’s reins around a tree branch and pulled his revolver then took the coil of rope from his saddle. He motioned for the others to do the same. The four of them crept toward the four sidewinders who’d ordered them to move earlier.
Peyton scouted the campsite. They didn’t have a fire. Two men were each rolled up in a blanket. Oscar and Whiney sat on a log.
Peyton crept up behind Oscar and spoke quietly but firmly. “Don’t move or you’re dead.”
The big lout cussed a blue streak, but Peyton’s revolver pressed between his shoulder blades convinced him to cooperate.
Ozzie poked his revolver in the other man’s back. “You, too.”
Jeff and Sarge each roused a sleeping man and relieved him of his weapons and his boots. While Jeff held a gun on them, Sarge tied and gagged the two men who’d been asleep.
Sarge shoved one onto his blanket. “You can go back to sleep. We’ll come for you later.”
Jeff did the same. “Right, you need your beauty sleep. A bath wouldn’t hurt.”
“You’ll be sorry you did this. No one treats me this way and lives.” Oscar’s voice held such anger he sounded as if he growled.
Peyton stuffed a gag in Oscar’s mouth. “It’s a new day, Oscar. Change is here. Get used to it but you’re not gonna like it.”
Chapter Fourteen
Peyton and his men made certain the four gunmen were securely tied and gagged. They then mounted their horses and rode toward the ranch house. As Carlos had cautioned, they moved slowly in a walk. They tried to avoid open areas but had to risk crossing several.
When the ranch house was in sight, Peyton checked his watch. He couldn’t see the dial and feared lighting a match.
Jeff must have understood his frustration. “I can tell you the time by the night sky. It’s near one.”
Peyton gestured to a small group of trees. “Let’s leave the horses here and make our way on foot.
They looped their reins loosely around branches—taut enough so the horses wouldn’t stray but with enough give that the animals could escape if a predator came near. Wolves and cougars preyed in this area, likely bears as well.
He was surprised at how quietly they continued on foot. Sarge hadn’t exaggerated when he talked about his ability. They reached the fence wall without incident.
Carlos had promised he would unlock a back gate. Unfortunately, all the windows on this side of the house overlooked that entry. Peyton pushed carefully but the gate didn’t creak as he’d feared. With stealth they made their way to the hacienda.
Peyton led the way to the door Carlos said was closest to the stairs and where Josiah was held. The plan was for Peyton and Jeff to go upstairs and Sarge and Ozzie to remain near the back door. His revolver in his hand, Peyton crept up the stairs.
As arranged, Carlos met him in front of Josiah’s door. Without making a sound, Carlos opened the door and stepped inside. Wary in case this
