Blood on the Mountain_A Western Adventure by A. T. Butler

Author:A. T. Butler [Butler, A. T.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Goodreads: 41395418
Published: 2018-08-20T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

When Joel paused their advance, Jacob dismounted, tossed the reins to Zeke and crept up on foot to the young man at the head of their posse.

“What is it?” he whispered, scanning the area.

Joel pointed. “The cave is just past there. Look!”

Jacob followed where the young man indicated. He could see where the trail continued, into the dark, dense forest. For a brief moment he didn’t see anything unusual. At a glance, there was no clear reason why Joel had stopped at this spot. The light peeking in through the forest canopy ahead flickered and flashed, making Jacob think he saw movement where there wasn’t any.

He sniffed the air, but couldn’t make out anything out of the ordinary. Earth, forest, animal scents wove around them but other than Joel on his horse next to him, Jacob didn’t smell anything that alluded to Pickens or anyone else being nearby.

But his gut said differently. The bounty hunter kept his gaze trained down the length of the trail where Joel had pointed and crept forward a little farther on foot, darting behind the trunk of a large tree in case whatever Joel had seen was watching back. The longer he looked the more he noticed.

Just through the trees, Jacob noticed the trail about thirty feet ahead curving around an enormous boulder. From this distance he was guessing, but the boulder likely would tower several feet above his own head. It seemed to form a virtual wall of rock presumably continuing past the curve and along the trail farther up the mountain. Small cracks in the boulder revealed the smallest weeds and tiny plants trying to take hold, but the stone seemed nearly impenetrable. It would be the perfect cover and protection for an outlaw.

Just as he was about to turn back to Joel to ask what he had noticed, movement caught his eye. The flash of a purple skirt wafted into view from behind the boulder before winking out of sight again. There was someone there. Jacob had no doubt he had seen a skirt. There was a woman just out of sight. He prayed it was Flora Kimball.

Jacob strained his ears to listen. He almost thought he could identify a faint mumble of conversation, but couldn’t hear anything more above the horses’ heavy breathing and occasional pawing at the ground.

He had to get closer. They could get closer.

He crept back to Joel and whispered quick instructions, before repeating the same with Boyd and Zeke. He needed the men to drop anything holding them back so they could be the most nimble on their approach to rescue the girl. The men would find a nearby tree and cover to leave their horses, far off the trail. Then they could all move forward quietly to inspect what was on the other side of that boulder and hiding farther up the mountain.

Once those steps were underway, Jacob was on his own again. He moved through the trees, winding his way downhill. His revolver in hand, the bounty hunter kept a focused watch on his prey while he moved to a better position.

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