Breakout by G Mitchell & 9780719823626

Author:G Mitchell & 9780719823626 [Mitchel, Greg]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780719823626
Publisher: Robert Hale Fiction
Published: 2023-01-18T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER ELEVEN

The posse had a few half-hearted tries at picking up the outlaw’s trail but it soon became obvious that Craig was an expert at concealing tracks. The deputy was tired of the whole exercise and only too eager to abandon the search. His men had experienced a fair measure of success accounting for three of the four fugitives for no loss of life on their side.

It was late afternoon when they reached the Harris ranch, tired, hungry and dirty. Jud and his wife Clara made them welcome. Maryanne emerged from the kitchen a short while later. She had seen them coming and started preparing food. Clem would have liked to socialize with her but too much was happening and the girl seemed to be coming and going continually as she brought food from the kitchen.

Questions and answers flew back and forth, with Weatherby doing most of the talking. He shrugged off the fact that Craig was still at large after leaving Black afoot.

‘He’s small fry,’ the deputy assured his listeners. ‘He won’t get far. Some lawman miles from here will eventually pick him up.’

Until then Clem had said little, but he did not agree with Weatherby’s assessment of the situation. ‘I wouldn’t be too sure about that,’ he said. ‘Craig outfoxed Black, stole his horse, slipped past us and hid his tracks. I reckon he’s an old hand at the outlaw game. Black seemed mighty keen to catch up with him even before he stole his horse. I think he knows something that we don’t.’

‘The Ansons’ cattle money is still missing,’ Clara said. ‘Maryanne and I have been over at their place helping Randy get things fixed up. Their son Harry was over here from Chicago to arrange the funeral. He has inherited the ranch but is thinking of selling it. He had to rush back to Chicago after the funeral, so Randy is running the place.’

‘I wonder where that leaves me?’ Clem said.

It was Maryanne who answered. ‘I heard Harry tell Randy to keep you on until he finally decided what to do. You have a job for a while if you want it. There’s too much work there for one man. He might sell the place eventually but that could take time.’

‘That’s comforting to know. Now my only worry is Vern Black.’

‘I think you’ll find he was only bluffing,’ Weatherby said. ‘He has to stay within the law the same as everyone else.’

Jud Harris was not so sure. ‘From what I heard Black’s pretty good with a gun and the only laws he stays within are the ones he makes himself.’ He looked hard at Weatherby. ‘Could you arrest him if he decided to take the law into his own hands?’

‘That won’t happen,’ the deputy said with a confidence that he did not really feel. He knew Black’s reputation with a gun and dreaded the thought of getting involved in a shoot-out with him.

‘I sure wouldn’t like to be that Craig fella.’ Harris chuckled. ‘He made Black look mighty stupid when he stole his horse.

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