Courage Canyon by Shirleen Davies

Author:Shirleen Davies
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Avalanche Ranch Press LLC
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

“We should’ve headed north, like Herb said.” Rufus Ickert sat huddled near the fire, chewing the last of the hardtack they’d stolen from a farm two days before.

Herb Yandell nodded. “It might’ve taken longer, but we wouldn’t be lost in these woods without food. At least there are farms and ranches to the north.”

Boyden Trask finished the water in his canteen, then stood. “Neither of you know what you’re talking about. Heading north would’ve taken us into Blackfoot territory, a risk I’m not willing to take. I hear they’re mostly peaceful, but I’m not willing to bet my life on it. Besides, we’d be tromping through a helluva lot more snow than what we see on this trail.” Turning his back on them, he walked toward the creek.

“Where you headed?” Rufus asked.

“To fill my canteen.” Trask cursed as he tripped over roots buried under a mound of melting ice.

Rufus tossed a handful of twigs onto the fire, shaking his head. “I don’t know, Herb. Boyd’s so hell-bent on revenge, he’s not thinking straight. Maybe if we’d waited another month to escape, the trails would’ve been easier and there’d be more deer and elk to hunt.”

“The timing was right, so we took it. Who knows if we’d have had a better chance later. The number of deer and elk don’t matter ‘cause Trask has no intention of stopping long enough for us to hunt. We’d have done better raiding the ranches we rode past.” Tightening his coat around him, Herb hunkered down against the increasingly strong wind. “Fact is, we left with him. Now we’ve got to do the best we can until he’s finished with the Thayer woman.”

“If it were up to me, we’d get out of the Montana Territory as fast as possible, head south, and start over where no one knows us.”

“It don’t matter, Ruf. Now that we’ve escaped, our faces are going to be plastered everywhere.”

Scrubbing a hand down his face, he looked up. “We could ride off without him.” Rufus glanced toward the creek, lowering his voice. “No reason we have to stay with him. I’m telling you, Boyd isn’t right in the head when it comes to the girl.”

Swallowing the last of the dried meat, Herb stood, stretching his arms above his head. “I don’t like the way he’s obsessed with revenge any more than you, but I ain’t leaving yet. He’s got money hidden, and part of it belongs to us.”

“What money?” Rufus sat up, his gaze hardening.

Herb glanced down at him, smirking. “What do you think happened to the money he made at his restaurant and selling most of the stolen cattle? It may not be much, but he’s got it hidden someplace near the Pelletier ranch and I want my share.”

Shaking his head, Rufus snorted. “The man ain’t rich, Herb. That’s why he blackmailed those brats. Whatever you heard about a stash of money, you’re wrong. Boyd’s got no more money than me or you.”

Hearing the rustling of bushes, Herb sat back down, ignoring Rufus’s words as Trask walked toward them.

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