Ransom by Paul Lederer

Author:Paul Lederer
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781480487819
Publisher: Open Road Media

SEVEN

‘I still don’t see them,’ Kyle Trotter said, turning from the mouth of the shallow cave to look back to where Anita Fillmore sat dismally against the wall of the cleft that the silver-hunters had quarried into the stone. Her eyes were hidden in dark circles after nearly four days of captivity. Dirt streaked her face, showing traces of tear rivulets. Her long blond hair was an untidy tangle. Her lips were slightly parted as if she would say something, but she remained silent.

‘What do you think could have happened?’ Kyle Trotter asked in the way he had that made it unclear if he was talking to Anita or to himself. He had been standing at the entrance to the cave staring out at the glitter of the long desert for nearly half an hour, hoping, expecting to see Earl Weathers returning or Ike Morris arriving for his turn to stand guard over Anita.

‘Ike, you can figure he got drunk – fell off his horse or got himself arrested,’ Kyle Trotter continued, his eyes on Anita’s. ‘But Earl! What could have happened to him? He said he’d be back shortly, and you can take Earl Weathers’ word.’

‘When that much money’s involved?’ Anita asked suggestively. She had tried from time to time to sow mistrust among the kidnappers, thinking that she might somehow use it to her advantage. Normally the men paid no attention to her. Now Kyle Trotter seemed to give her question some thought.

The fat man’s eyebrows drew together. His fingers tapped rhythmically against the butt of his holstered pistol. For the first time Anita thought Trotter’s face reflected concern. His frown held for a long minute, but then Trotter laughed and shook his head.

‘Earl Weathers! You never have to worry about that man once his word is given,’ Trotter said. He wandered again to the front of the cave, his bulky body silhouetted by the brilliant sunlight beyond. He laughed again and lifted a stubby, pointing finger.

‘Look at me!’ he said, ‘Worried about nothing. Here comes Ike now. I recognize that paint pony he rides.’

Anita accepted this information without interest. These two would make no decision about her destiny. That was in Earl Weathers’ hands. As far as changing guards went, it made very little difference to her. True, Kyle Trotter sometimes loosened her bonds for a while, but then he began talking incessantly about his apparently empty past. Ike usually stayed awake until Kyle had turned in and fallen asleep then simply drank until he passed out leaving her alone in the dark silence wine company of the rustling things that lived in the cavern depths. Anita was not sure whether she preferred the hours she was forced to endure Trotter’s endless rambling or the deadly silence of Ike Morris’ midnight watch.

If only she could free herself. She had wished, hoped, that Kyle Trotter would forget to re-tie her bonds, leave her alone in the night with the sleeping Ike Morris, but he never did. Where she

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