“Go on,” I said quietly.
“Comes from California, but he already knew all about that herd. Wants to take some fellow’s ranch away from him back home, and figured, if those horses ever got through to be sold, it would spoil things for him. So Davies had the herd rustled. His men are driving it west so he can sell the horses himself. Changed the brand, too. The three of us dropped out after the first part of the job was done ’cause Reynolds didn’t want to ride all the way back to California.”
“What did they change the brand to?” I asked.
“Four Box. Used a runnin’ wire to close off the old brand.”
That would be simple enough. With a hot wire you could close the top and bottom of the H and the side of the E to make two double boxes. Hence, the 4 Box brand.
“How’d he know when the herd was coming?”
“Someone tipped him…telegraph, I think…but I swear I don’t know who. Now untie me!”
I ignored his pleas. “Another thing. There was a man bushwhacked just before your gang hit the herd. Who did it?”
“It must have been Pierce. Luke Pierce. Reynold’s knew him from sometime back, they rode together I think. He’s Davies’s right-hand man now. All I knows is Pierce rode out ahead, and then came back later riding a different horse.”
“A Morgan bay?”
“Think so. Yeah, that’s right.”
“How do I recognize this Pierce fellow?” I asked.
“Sandy hair and moustache. Tall…about your height and size. Always wears two pistols butt forward. You know, crossdraw style.”
No wonder the Hernandez outfit thought me guilty! After convincing them to change directions, I’d disappeared, leaving them to face an ambush led by someone riding my horse. On top of that, with a hat and bandanna mask to hide his face, Pierce apparently could have easily been mistaken for me.
I got up and walked over to my horse, having already tied the others together.
“Hey, what about me?” Evans screamed.
“What about you?” I said as I saddled up.
“God, don’t leave me here. I can’t stand it.”
He was shaking his head frantically back and forth.
I laughed to myself a little before slowly answering. If he had only shut up and thought about it a while he’d have figured out something was wrong. Not enough ants for one thing.
“See, Pete, that ant hill you’ve been lying on’s been dead for quite some time. I just brought a few ants from over yonder to keep you company.”
“But you’re goin’ to leave me staked out here! I’ll die anyway.”
“You worry too much. Just keep on struggling and those pegs ought to work loose in a couple of hours. It’ll be 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 mejicano palaber, but Ah got the dee-stinct impression that whoever the fellow is that they’s a-lookin’ fer, he ain’t gonna be none too happy when they catch up with him.”
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 vaqueros might be right about now?”
“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.”