Longarm and the Sweetheart Vendetta by Tabor Evans

Author:Tabor Evans
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group

Chapter 18

It was nearly dark when they topped a low ridge line overlooking a broad, shallow valley.

“Likely there’s farms down there or some cow outfits,” Longarm said, “but it’s too dark to see very far, an’ anyway I don’t want to risk losing the trail. We’ll sleep out tonight instead o’ looking for a roof to get under.”

“All right. Where?”

Longarm inclined his head back the way they had just come. “South side of this ridge,” he said. “I seen a little seep back there where we oughta be able to collect enough water for some coffee an’ to fill the canteen.”

“Won’t that be going in the wrong direction?” Handley asked.

“Couple hundred yards is all and won’t nobody be able to see our fire,” Longarm responded.

“Do you think we are that close to them?”

“No. But it never hurts to be careful. I expect we’ll catch up with them tomorrow or the day after, depending on how early they stop. They’ll be wanting to get at Emily. You can be sure of that. That’s why they brought her along, don’t forget. And they’ll each be wanting their share of her.”

“You take this calmly enough, Deputy, knowing what those men will be doing to your friend.”

“Calm? No. Not a bit of it. But blustering and roaring and making a show of what I’m feeling won’t do anything for her. Catching up with those bastards will.”

“And then?”

“That will be up to them. Over here.” He turned his horse parallel to the slope and continued a rod or two to a depression in the earth where a trickle of sweet water emerged from the hillside. “We’ll stop here.” Longarm stepped down from his horse. Handley carefully eased down to the ground beside him.

They tended to the animals first; then Longarm found wood and built a fire while Handley unloaded their bedrolls and gear and began putting together a meal, starting with that pot of coffee.

After they ate, Longarm hunkered beside the fire with one of his very few remaining cheroots while Jack Handley sat cross-legged in the grass nearby. “Do you mind if I ask you something, Deputy?”

“Go ahead.”

“What will you do with those men when you catch up with them?”

“Arrest them and take them in for trial, of course. Why?”

“I thought maybe that’s what you would say, but I wanted to hear it from you. I just want you to know that tomorrow or the whenever we find them, you can count on me to help with whatever needs to be done. I don’t countenance rape.”

“Coming from you, Jack, that’s a funny thing t’ hear, you bein’ a convicted rapist your own self.”

“I told you what happened at that farm. If you want to call it rape, feel free.”

“And the fellow in Manitou? You said you shot him.”

“So I did, Deputy, so I did.”

“You never said why you shot him.”

“No, I suppose I didn’t.”

“Well?”

“Well, what?”

“I . . . never mind.”

Handley nodded, then yawned and stretched. “If you don’t mind, Deputy, I think I’ll bed down now.

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