Riding the Timberline by Neil Hunter

Author:Neil Hunter
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: elmore leonard, action hero, western fiction, the old west, colt 45, piccadilly publishing, mike linaker, best western ebook, neil hunter westerns
Publisher: Piccadilly

‘I made my escape that night,’ Cassie said. ‘I knew I couldn’t stay in that place any longer. I took a knife from the kitchen. Hid it under my dress. Most nights the men spent time drinking some homemade whisky. By the early hours they were drunk and asleep. That night they held a wake for Shelby so the drinking was even heavier. It was well after midnight when I left the cabin and worked my way around the back of the buildings to the corral. I was going to take Callender’s Arabian stallion but it was a little on the frisky side, so I chose a Mustang. It was a hill bred animal. Used to the terrain. Good, dependable mount.’

‘Sounds the right choice.’

‘I waited until the night picket took himself to one of the other corrals to check the animals there. I didn’t have time to saddle up, so I just put on a bridle and reins, led that Mustang clear of the corral and walked him round back. I walked him out of the settlement until we were well clear and it was safe for me to climb aboard.’

‘No saddle?’

Cassie shook her head. ‘Wasn’t the first time I’d ridden bareback. And that Mustang seemed to like it. We made good time before first light.’ She smiled. ‘He was a game animal. When he realized we were climbing into the high country it was like he was going home. I didn’t need to do anything except stay on his back.’

‘When did you lose him?’

‘Three days out. I thought I was doing well. I guess I got a little casual. I needed to rest. Hadn’t eaten. I found water. Took time rest but I forgot to tether the Mustang. When I woke he’d gone. I looked around for him but there was no sign. My own fault.’

Tyrell took a look out the window. Saw the darkness had fallen.

‘Will, I feel bad about bringing you my problems,’ Cassie said. ‘If the Callenders show up it could mean trouble for you. They’re violent men. I saw them kill without a thought. It doesn’t seem fair to burden you...’

‘You let me worry about that.’ He added more logs to the stove. ‘So when did the leg break happen?’

‘No horse meant I had to walk. Nothing else for it. I knew the Callenders would be out looking for me so I just kept going. I walked as long as it was light. By then I had no idea where I was. I didn’t care. Just as long as I was free. The second day after I lost the Mustang I thought I saw riders on a ridge a long way off. I admit I panicked. Started to run. All I could think of was staying out of their reach. Lost my footing and fell down a steep slope. When I hit bottom I passed out. When I came to and tried to move I realized I’d broken my leg. I crawled as far as I could until the pain became too much.

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