Grizzly Fury by Jon Sharpe

Author:Jon Sharpe [Sharpe, Jon]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Penguin Group USA, Inc.
Published: 2011-05-13T04:00:00+00:00

15

When Fargo rode out of the trees with the Blackfeet behind him, Cecelia was the first to spot them. She let out a holler and Rooster, Moose and Wendolyn grabbed their rifles and came on the run, Rooster going so far as to take aim and cock his Sharps.

“No!” Fargo commanded, drawing rein.

“What the hell? Those are Blackfeet, hoss.”

“You think I don’t know that?”

Cecelia had her own rifle and was by the lean-to, her fearstruck brood peeking past her dress. “Are there more of the savages? Do they plan to take us captive? I’ll be damned if they’ll lay a finger on me.”

“Simmer down, both of you,” Fargo said. “They’re after Brain Eater, the same as us.”

“The devil you say?” Wendy said. “I’ve heard a lot about these blighters. Can we trust them?”

“In this we can.”

“Like hell,” Rooster said. “I lost two good friends to the Blackfeet. I don’t trust them any further than I can throw a buffalo.”

“They can be of help,” Fargo insisted. He turned to Moose, who was being unusually quiet again. “What do you say?”

“I say whatever Cecelia says.”

All of them looked at her.

“Well?” Fargo prompted.

Cecelia regarded the Blackfeet as she might three rattlesnakes about to bite her. “You really reckon it would be safe?”

“I do,” Fargo said. “And remember, they have more at stake than we do.”

“How so?”

“Most of us are in it for the money,” Fargo said. “They’re in it to protect their people.”

“They have no interest in the bounty?”

“None,” Fargo confirmed.

Cecelia pursed her lips. “In that case they’re welcome to stay. But only so long as they abide by my conditions.”

“Which are?”

“They do what we say when we say it. They cook for themselves. They’re not to go near my kids, ever. And at night they don’t sleep in the lean-to. Tell them.”

“No,” Fargo said.

“Why in blazes not?”

“Where to begin?” Fargo responded, half to himself. “They’re Blackfeet warriors. We can’t tell them what to do. We can ask but whether they do it or not is up to them. They’re here after Brain Eater, not your kids. They like sleeping under the stars so I doubt they’d want to sleep in the lean-to. And since they’re helping us, we share our food.”

“Sounds to me like you’re treatin’ them the same as you treat us.”

“Smart gal.”

“But they’re heathens.”

Fargo had met so many whites who had the same attitude that he supposed he shouldn’t be disappointed, but he was. “They’re people.”

“Pard, that is the stupidest thing you ever said,” Rooster spat.

“I say,” Wendolyn interjected. “All this arguing isn’t doing us any good. We need to work together.”

“I’ll work with anyone but the Blackfeet,” Rooster declared.

“Damn it, Rooster,” Fargo said.

“I’m sorry, pard. If they were Shoshones or Crows, I wouldn’t mind. You can call it wrong but I can’t help being me.”

“Will you at least not shoot them if we let them lend us a hand?”

Rooster glared at the three warriors, who were still on their horses. “I reckon I can live and let live just this once.

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