Ride Back to Redemption by Eugene Clifton

Author:Eugene Clifton [Eugene Clifton]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780709098539
Publisher: Robert Hale
Published: 2012-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TEN

‘Careful!’ The word was hissed in venomous fury. ‘I want him alive an’ awake.’

Jeff’s fuddled brain told him to move, but the message never had time to reach his legs. Several pairs of hands took hold of him and pulled him upright. He tried to swing a punch at one of the vague shapes milling around but the effect was laughable; he would have fallen but for the men holding him.

‘The barn’s real handy,’ a man said quietly.

‘No, we’re playing safe,’ came the whispered reply. ‘We’ll take him down where I said. Put something in his mouth to keep him quiet.’

‘Sure thing, boss.’

Jeff’s bandanna was untied from his neck and thrust between his teeth. It tasted of trail dirt and stale whiskey. A grain sack was pulled down over his head and pulled tight around his neck and the darkness became total again. Although the words had been spoken in a whisper the voice giving the orders was familiar. With a shiver of something akin to fear, Jeff recognized it. Rupe Krantz!

He didn’t resist as they carried him down the hill. The pain in his skull was fading to a dull ache, and the dizziness was passing. Jeff acted more helpless than he felt, letting them take his weight with his boots dragging; his attackers hadn’t tied his arms and legs, which meant he might have a chance to fight or run once they loosed their hold. From the grip of their hands and the sound of scuffling feet he tried to work out how many men there were, and came up with five or six. That wasn’t good.

How long they were moving Jeff couldn’t tell. The feel of the air changed. There was a sharper breeze, cold on his hands. He realized they were close to the river; he could hear the rustle of water over stones.

‘This’ll do.’ Rupe wasn’t bothering to keep his voice down now they were clear of the town. ‘Keep a good hold when I take this off, we don’t want him going for a swim; that’s how he got away from Cord.’

The sack was pulled off Jeff’s head. A bright shaft of moonlight lay across the dark surface of the river, almost at his feet. They were under the bluff below the town, a little way upstream from the crossing. Jeff bunched his muscles, ready to throw off the men who held him and make a run for it, but Rupe gave him no chance. He stepped forward, a pistol in his hand. With exaggerated care he cocked the gun and set the barrel against Jeff’s neck, while with his other hand he removed the bandanna from Jeff’s mouth.

‘Just so’s you don’t decide to leave the party early,’ Rupe said, an unpleasant grin on his face. ‘Not that I’ll kill you, a slug in the foot will do. You want to try it?’ He laughed. ‘No? Fine. Pull him down, boys.’

Jeff was helpless. They dragged him backwards until his spine fetched up against

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.