Iron Claw's Revenge by Terrell L. Bowers

Author:Terrell L. Bowers [Bowers, Terrell L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2013-08-27T17:15:00+00:00

he people at the stage way station were hospitable and greeted them all with open arms. Deana was given a chance to take a bath and change into the clothes Ira's daughter had given her. Jeff made himself right at home, while Kit saw to the needs of Dusky and the other two horses.

"Been on the move, son?" The old hostler was near the barn, working on a broken harness.

"You might say that," Kit answered wryly.

"We got word that there might be Injun trouble. Soldiers are escorting the stage and any freight wagons going through. Haven't had to do that for a spell."

"Puma and Iron Claw are looking for the men who killed their sister and a few other Owatawna. They know the ones they're after."

"Never had no trouble with Iron Claw," the old man said thoughtfully. "But that Puma is a crazy one. No telling about him."

"I agree."

"My name's Joe Clue. I already know you by reputation, Montgomery. You traded with the Injuns for hostages-that right?"

"Used to work along that line. The Army isn't paying for hostages any longer. I'm thinking about heading south."

Clue took out his timepiece and then stared off down the road. "I wonder if Mack has run into trouble. It ain't like him to run late on this spur. He knows that supper is at six."

"Do you mean the stage?"

"Yep. It usually rolls in about this time. If you want to see the lady off safely, it pulls out again at sunup. We've sleeping quarters for sixteen visitors. You're welcome to spend the night and take your meals with us."

"I appreciate that, Clue. I'll see what she has in mind."

"It ain't none of my affair, but that gal appears to have been a hostage herself. You wouldn't be running from the Owatawna?"

Kit didn't bother lying to him, but he felt that Deana's suffering was no one's business. Some people assumed that any woman taken by the Indians was automatically defiled.

"There was a wagon train about forty miles southeast of here. She was the only survivor of an attack by Iron Claw. She escaped the Indians, but had a rough time until I found her. Her clothes were badly damaged in the raid, so I lent her my spare set."

Clue looked as if he didn't quite believe Kit, but he let the matter drop. He again peered down the road and looked at his watch.

"Nope, it ain't like Mack to be late for chow."

"How many guns are on the place?" Kit asked. "In case there's trouble."

"If you mean people who can shoot, there's only myself, Skeet-the boss of this here station-and a couple of men who trade off as driver and guard, Andy and Neal. A young Mexican named Manuel works here too, but I don't know if he can shoot."

"That's not much of a defense against Puma," Kit said.

"There's an escort with the stage-provided they get here."

Kit looked down the route the stage would take. He thought he could detect a minute column of dust, but it was quickly gone.

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