Death Along the Cimarron by Ralph Cotton & Ralph Compton

Author:Ralph Cotton & Ralph Compton [Cotton, Ralph & Compton, Ralph]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2003-01-07T00:00:00+00:00

Drake, New Mexico Territory

Cherokee Earl sat atop his horse and spoke down to Buck Hite, an outlaw gangleader he’d met upon arriving in town. Earl had decided that Buck Hite and his gang would fit nicely into his plans. Buck stood holding the reins to Ellen Waddell’s horse. Ellen sat stone-faced, staring straight ahead. “Don’t wait around too long for Daryl and Lon Trabough, Buck,” Earl said. “I need you and your gang in Cimarron as soon as you can get there.”

“What day do you need us there, Earl? We’ll make sure we get there on time.”

Cherokee Earl gave him a blank stare. “If you knew what day the main silver load comes in, you wouldn’t need me at all, now would you, Buck?”

“I meant nothing by it, Earl,” said Buck. He tried to hand Earl the reins to Ellen’s horse, but Earl refused to take them. Instead, he flagged Avery McRoy forward and gestured for him to take them. McRoy looked put out at the task.

“Just make sure you get there soon,” Earl said gruffly to Buck Hite. “I only need men I can count on.”

As Earl spoke to Buck Hite, Dirty Joe slipped his horse forward ahead of McRoy, saying to him in a guarded voice, “I’ve got her reins, Avery.”

“Much obliged,” McRoy whispered in reply. “Leading her has made my arm sore as a boil.”

Earl leaned slightly down to Buck Hite and said, “Buck, I’ll tell you this much.... Your boys Daryl and Lon killing that woman and old man for me has gotten you a top spot in my operation. Once we pull this bank job you’ll wonder why we didn’t get together years before now.” He gave a thin, quick smile, then straightened in his saddle and leveled his hat. Looking back and forth along the street, he shook his head. “This whole damned town is made of mud. I’m glad you talked us out of burning it.”

Buck Hite only nodded, tipping his hat as Earl, McRoy, and Dirty Joe backed their horses and rode away, Joe leading Ellen’s horse, which stayed right up beside his. “There goes trouble in the making,” Buck Hite murmured to himself, seeing the flushed and aroused look on Dirty Joe’s face and the guarded smile the woman passed to him. Buck shook his head and walked back to the Ace High Saloon, where his men awaited him.

At the edge of town, Ellen Waddell slowed her horse back a step, deliberately making Dirty Joe fall behind with her while McRoy and Cherokee Earl rode on ahead. “Come on, Miss Ellen!” Joe whispered warily. “He’s going to suspect something.” He jerked her horse forward.

“All right,” Ellen replied in a hushed tone, “but can’t you see he’s already tiring of me? He’ll soon pass me off to McRoy or one of those men back there, or anyone he feels like—”

“Shhh, don’t say that, Ellen! I’m not going to let that happen to you.... I swear I won’t.”

“Then you better do something quick,”

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