Dalton's Bluff by Ed Law

Author:Ed Law
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Culbin Press
Published: 2023-08-07T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Ever since Loren had joined the wagon train, Dalton had half-expected that he would unmask him, but he still couldn’t stop himself gulping. Loren hadn’t mentioned his suspicion to anyone else and there had to be a reason for that, so he decided to answer honestly.

He placed a hand on Loren’s shoulder and led him away from the wagons, smiling. Loren returned the smile, presumably in case anyone was watching them. A hundred yards from the wagons, Dalton stopped and stood square on to Loren.

“My name is of no importance and I’ve done nothing to John,” he said.

“Then where is he?” Loren said.

“I won’t lie. I’m sorry, but he’s buried beside the river.”

Loren’s right eye flickered with a twinge, this being his only reaction.

“Did you kill him?”

“Nope. He saved my life.”

“And you’re repaying his memory by pretending to be him.” Loren snorted. “If you knew the man he was, you’d know how pathetic that is.”

“I only knew him for a few minutes, but I know you’re right.”

“That’s the first thing you’ve said I do believe, Dalton.”

Dalton sighed. “So you already knew who I was.”

“Yeah. I asked around. It didn’t take long before I heard the story of the dead outlaw and the lawman.”

“Then why avoid confronting me with your suspicions?”

“I just wanted to know how long it’d take you to tell the truth.”

“With a lawman so close, you must know how hard it was for me to tell you that. That must prove things aren’t what they seem.”

With this admission, Loren’s shoulders relaxed.

“There’s always a chance of that.” He sighed, his glazed eyes suggesting he was recalling old and fond memories. “I knew John some years back. When I heard he was leading these people, I reckoned I’d ride with him awhile and swap some old tales. Except he’s dead and you’re pretending to be him. You must see why I got suspicious.”

“I do, but why didn’t you tell Melrose?”

“John would have known. Out here, you’re on your own. So I’ll tell you this – I’m not interested in hearing no lies, but I will work out what happened to John and, if necessary, I’ll deliver my own justice in my own way.” Loren slapped his holster and narrowed his eyes. “Don’t bother watching your back, Dalton, because I’m watching it for you.”

Loren turned away, but Dalton clamped a hand on his shoulder and halted him.

“I’m not interested in hearing no lies either. You didn’t tell Melrose about your suspicions, not because you want to deal with me, but because you don’t want Melrose to learn of my suspicions about you.”

Loren sneered. “You’ve got nothing.”

“The Spitzer gang were following us and you knew what they’d do, where they’d go and how to stop them. That means you’ve met them before, except you didn’t mention that.”

“Why does that matter?”

“It matters because it means you didn’t join us to meet an old friend, but for some other reason, and I reckon it had something to do with why Melrose is here. So, Loren, don’t watch your back because I’m watching it for you.

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