Dalton by Ed Law

Author:Ed Law
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Culbin Press
Published: 2023-03-20T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

Dalton relaxed when he realized the new arrival was Santiago. He confirmed that Chase wasn’t around, and then hurried to Santiago’s side.

“Where’s my horse?” he asked.

“I have it, and a gun.” Santiago grinned. “So just how badly do—”

Dalton grabbed Santiago’s leg and with a firm gesture, yanked him from the saddle. Santiago hit the ground heavily and rolled. When he came up, Dalton grasped his collar and pulled him closer.

“You reckon that you have me where you want me, but I’m not negotiating the price. Twenty dollars is every last cent I own.” Dalton pushed Santiago to the ground and dragged out the lining of his pockets. “I’ve got nothing left.”

Santiago shrugged. “Except for a few thousand dollars, maybe more if the rubies are as fabulous as Milo says they are.”

“I don’t have the necklace,” Dalton said through gritted teeth.

Santiago’s eyes opened wide. “You are lying.”

“You’ve got no proof and you’ll never get any. So just tell me where you’ve left my horse and gun and I’ll leave you to claim the necklace when you decide to do Misty’s bidding.”

“I have something better than proof. I understand you, and you wouldn’t run scared just because of the likes of Milo.”

“Walker will return soon, perhaps even today, and I haven’t got a gun. He has.” Dalton lunged for Santiago’s collar, but Santiago shuffled back, his grip closing on air. Dalton shrugged and bunched a fist. “No matter how tough you reckon I am, I don’t like those odds. So if you don’t tell me where you’ve left my horse, I will show you what I can do with my fists.”

Santiago just smiled. “You won’t hit me. You’re a man who ends fights, but doesn’t start them.”

“You reckon you know me well.” Dalton rolled his shoulders and swung back his fist. “I’ve already given Milo a good thrashing today, and you’re next if you don’t start talking.”

“I will talk, but not about your horse. You see I also reckon you’d judge the risk from Milo and Walker as something you could deal with when you’re close to the necklace.” Santiago smiled. “As you haven’t killed Chase, the only reason you’d leave is because you’ve found it.”

With a snap of his wrist, Dalton relaxed his fists.

“I haven’t got no necklace,” he said, standing back. He lowered his voice to a resigned tone. “Just to end your whining, what are you trying to gain out of this?”

Santiago rubbed his thin mustache and got up on his knees.

“You’ve found where Chase has hidden Misty’s necklace. Now you have to escape. You need a horse, but when Chase discovers that the necklace is gone he’ll let everyone know what happened and everyone, including me, will chase after you. You can avoid most of us, but not Walker. To escape him, you need help.”

“From your smug grin I guess you’re offering to provide me with a way to escape.”

Santiago rolled to his feet and edged around to stand beside Dalton. He took his horse’s reins and draped his other arm around Dalton’s shoulders.

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