Maverick Raid by Terrell L. Bowers

Author:Terrell L. Bowers [Bowers, Terrell L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2013-08-14T21:06:00+00:00

Travis dipped down a steep bank, circled a patch of scrub oak, and hazed two steers towards the small group of cattle he'd spent most of the morning gathering. His shadow was right under him, so he turned the few head towards the meadow and the waiting chuck wagon. He'd gone only a short distance when a horse came through the brush without a rider. He recognized it as Spade's!

The group of cattle forgotten, Travis picked up the tracks of the horse and hurriedly backtracked, looking for any sign of the little wrangler. He'd followed the flight of the runaway horse for nearly a mile when he saw the man lying on the ground. Spade had been hit over the head and worked over with a club. His right arm was broken and there appeared to be either cracked or broken ribs as well.

Travis cut a couple of long poles and tied his ground blanket between them, making a passable travois. After easing the man onto it, he hooked the poles to either side of his horse and started out.

Corns was with April when Travis rode in. Lloyd must have been close enough to see Spade on the crude travois, for he came riding in at a gallop.

"See anything or anyone?" Corns asked.

"Nary a thing or body around until Spade's horse come pounding through the brush. The tracks were pretty scuffed, but it looked like at least two riders."

Lloyd was listening, already standing next to the injured hand. He looked up in disgust.

"They knew exactly who to work over, didn't they? Spade is better than any two of us put together."

"I'll take him in," Corns offered. "It'll take all day to get him into town, but I think he'd better be looked over by the doctor and have that arm set."

"Get going," April agreed. "Take the horse Travis was riding. He can get another. It'll save moving Spade any more than we have to."

Lloyd looked around. "Where's Jackson?"

"He was off a bit from where Spade and I were working," Lou said. "I saw him on the way in, but I wasn't able to warn him. There's a chance that whoever did the work on Spade might want a couple more of us laid up."

"Better take your saddlebags and canteen," Corns suggested.

"I'll give you a hand," Lloyd offered, pulling the saddlebags free of the horse. He paused, eyes fixed on the envelope that fell to the ground.

"You writing letters home?" Lloyd asked, picking the paper up. He had almost shoved it back in the bag, then froze. A puzzled frown twisted his features. When he looked up again, there was fire in his eyes.

"You dirty snake!" he shouted, his face red with rage.

Travis blinked in surprise, wondering what envelope he could have had that might have fallen out. He might have asked what the matter was, but Lloyd swung at him.

Travis ducked instinctively, backing away. He felt a stinging blow in front of his left ear, blocked another vicious right, and was relieved that Corns had intervened.

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