Pack Rat by Colin Bainbridge & 9780719823152

Author:Colin Bainbridge & 9780719823152 [Bainbridge, Colin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780719823152
Publisher: Robert Hale Fiction
Published: 2023-01-18T00:00:00+00:00

After eating their meal, Carson and Tombstone took a slow, roundabout route back to the barn. The outbuildings were locked and nobody seemed to be about. Carson surreptitiously knocked on the doors but there was no response. When they came past the main building again they could hear talk and laughter.

‘I reckon Laura is being held in that other room,’ Carson said. ‘I guess we just have to wait.’

The night wore on. Watching from the doorway of the barn, Carson saw the door of the ranch house open and three men come out. They made their way to the bunkhouse. Presently, a couple more emerged and he could see Carlyon standing in the doorway. One of the men shouted something and Carlyon laughed. Shortly after their departure the lights went out in the ranch house.

‘I guess Carlyon is settlin’ down in there,’ Carson said. ‘But how many others are there?’

Tombstone shrugged.

‘This is what we’ll do,’ Carson said. ‘You get back to the barn. Be careful in case there’s anyone still about. Get three horses saddled and ready. Wait behind the horse corral.’

‘And what do you propose to do?’

‘I aim to sneak in there while everyone’s asleep.’

‘Yeah? And then what?’

‘Slip into the other room, wake Laura if she’s sleeping too, and get her out.’

‘Carson, I see you’ve been giving this plan a lot of thought just like the others. I reckon they should make you a perfessor.’

Carson chuckled. ‘You’re the one reads encyclo-paedias,’ he retorted. ‘Have you got a better one?’

‘Maybe about three or four steps back along the line. But right now I can’t think of anythin’ else. Leastways, only one small thing.’

‘What’s that?’

Tombstone dug in his pocket. ‘You might need this again.’

It was the key they had used to break out of the jail.

‘Maybe the door to the ranch house is open,’ Tombstone said. ‘Maybe the door to Laura’s room is open – if she’s there at all. You could be plumb lucky. But take it anyway.’

‘You’d be better with the key,’ Carson said.

‘You take it. If Miss Laura is in there, she’ll respond better to you puttin’ in an appearance than an ornery old goat like me. When do we start?’

Carson took a final look outside. The whole place was in darkness. ‘No time like the present. I’ll give you a few minutes to make your way to the stables. Let’s go.’

With a quick glance to left and right, Tombstone slipped through the barn door. He was soon swallowed up in shadows. Carson waited impatiently, ticking off the seconds. The night was silent except for the occasional snicker of a horse. At last, he slid from the barn and made his way silently across the short distance which separated him from the ranch house. Pressing himself against the wall, he listened intently for any sounds from within. He could hear nothing. Quickly but silently he reached the door and touched the handle, hoping that it might have been left unlocked; it was shut tight. Reaching into his shirt

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.