Hell's Junction by George G. Gilman

Author:George G. Gilman
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: General Fiction, Genre Fiction, Westerns, Action & Adventure, Literature & Fiction
Publisher: Lobo Publications
Published: 2012-12-06T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHT

STEELE rode out of New Hope less than thirty minutes after the wagon had rolled from sight over the crest of the hill. The sun was clear of the jagged eastern horizon by then but had not had time to burn the chill edge of the morning air. So he rode with the sheepskin jacket around him, collar turned up to protect the back of his neck. He checked the gelding to an easy trot up the rising ground, then increased speed to a canter across the broken but for the most part level terrain that spread towards the next upward step of the mountains.

The heavily-laden wagon and its three horse team left clearly-marked tracks which veered south-west from New Hope. The weight of the wagon or the confidence of the thieves – perhaps a combination of the two factors – kept the speed down. At no time, even on gentle declines, did the tracks ever show signs of a fast retreat. There had even been a halt at one point under the rocky overhang of a bluff and it took Steele several moments to define the meaning of the sign in the disturbed dust – the trio had stopped to lash the canvas covering over the glass casing protecting the gold.

The decision to hold back and not close on the wagon in open country had been reached by the Virginian as he ate the well-cooked breakfast in Utley’s restaurant. His reasoning was that in the barren mountain country the contest would involve three against one. In a town filled with outlaws the trio with the gold would feel it necessary to divide their suspicious attention over a much broader field of potential attackers. The fact that this would cause the men to be ultra-cautious was a risk Steele weighed and discounted.

It was mid-morning when he saw San Loco, basking in sunlight as bright as yesterday but not so overloaded with heat. It was a much bigger town than New Hope, but much older and less well cared for. Sprawled on a broad area of level ground at the foot of a towering rock cliff, it comprised two wide streets with three narrower ones connecting them at intervals. A trail ran north to south across the front of the town with a spur veering away and broadening towards the start of the two main streets. A river, reduced by the heat of summer to a long trench scattered with boulders and the occasional pool, Iran parallel with the main trail. Behind San Loco was the tall cliff which formed the base of a mountain. In every other direction the terrain was a wasteland of rock and dust. Cactus grew in clumps at infrequent intervals and some coarse brush marked out the banks of the winter river.

Man lived well where nature had to struggle to survive. Steele heard San Loco almost as soon as he saw it – the noise reminiscent of that against which he had fallen asleep last night: but much amplified.

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