Rio Grande Death Ride by Terrell L. Bowers

Author:Terrell L. Bowers [Bowers, Terrell L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2013-08-14T20:20:00+00:00

Faye was cheerful the next morning, even remarking that she'd have to have one of the men cut her a Y-shaped branch for a crutch so that she could get some exercise.

Valerie cleaned the dishes as they exchanged small talk. Then the girl turned serious.

"You don't seem bitter about possibly being crippled for the rest of your life."

"I'd have given both legs just to get Shelly out of that camp. If I can see her safely home-even without me-I'll be a happy woman."

Valerie sighed. "It must be wonderful to love someone so much that you disregard your own welfare for them."

"You've never been in love, Val." Faye smiled. "You've yet to meet a man you'd gladly die to save, or raised a child that meant more to you than your own personal safety. Naturally, I want to live-more than anything in the world, except for getting Shelly home safely. I so want to see Jeff again, to feel his strong arms around me, to hug him, kiss him, to be secure. I've never been so frightened in all my life as while we were captives in that horrible Copa's camp."

"And now?"

"I'm still afraid, but with Mr. Banner, I feel confident that he'll get us through safelyShelly, at least."

"What makes you trust him so blindly? What do you see in him?"

Faye thought for a moment. "He has character. He's quiet, taciturn almost, but he cares what happens to all of us. And I believe he has the ability to get us through this, if there is a man alive that could. Don't ask me to put into words something I don't really understand myself, but I trust him. Say, Valerie, aren't you and he getting along yet?"

Valerie looked away. "I'm not sure. Sometimes he's-well, sort of gentle, and then he gets riled."

"He has a lot of responsibility."

"Chase told me that he could kill Banner any time he wanted to. Do you think he could?"

Faye thought that that was an unusual question, but she answered it anyway. "I think Mr. Banner would take a lot of killing, Val. If I were a man, I wouldn't want to be the one to try and get the job done."

Silent returned from scouting to report that Copa had a band of men near the stream's entrance. Banner checked to make sure there were no fires in camp. He positioned the horses as close to the cave as possible for easy access, and took up a position a hundred yards from the cave. The Indian went into the trees with a bow and several arrows he'd fashioned. Chase held a position nearest the cave.

Valerie crept out to Banner's position, kneeling by his side.

"You're supposed to be watching Shelly," he told her.

"Faye is awake. The two are playing a game. I'd like to be of some help."

"You can best help by staying out of the way. If Copa's men discover us, there'll be more flying lead than mosquitoes around a swamp."

"I can reload a gun. I learned at home in case of an Indian attack.

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