Silver City Massacre by Charles G West

Author:Charles G West [West, Charles G]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Goodreads: 19507482
Publisher: Thorndike Press
Published: 2014-01-07T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

Following the trail left in the snow by the raiders, his mind numb from the sudden catastrophic night of terror, Joel led the gray, with Red Shirt slumped over the horse’s neck. Down through the random patches of spruce and pine, toward the valley below, he walked carefully through the outcroppings of jagged rocks, now covered with a cloak of snow.

He thought about the bodies of his brother and Riley, lying, unburied, on the cold open ground, exposed to the elements and discovery by scavengers of the wild. It agonized him to think of leaving them, and he knew he would probably blame himself forever for not being able to help them. But he promised himself that he would avenge their deaths, no matter how long it took him. Running away now was not what he wanted to do, but he knew that he had no choice if he stood a chance of taking every life that had a hand in this senseless bloodbath.

Common sense told him that he could not defend Red Shirt and himself against another attack by Beauchamp’s hired assassins, given the present circumstances. There was a very good chance that they might come back to look for Red Shirt and him. He knew, in that event, he would account for two or three of the assassins before they gunned him down. And that was not good enough. His promise to Boone and the others was to make each participant pay.

His mind was so absorbed in his feelings of regret that he was suddenly startled by a snort and a whinny close behind him. Clutching his rifle, he whirled around to discover Red Shirt’s bay pony following along behind his horse.

“Thank you, Lord,” he muttered in appreciation.

Somehow the Bannock’s horse had managed to avoid Beauchamp’s men when they were rounding up the rest of the stock. Joel immediately stopped and went back to take the reins of the bay. His intention was to climb aboard the horse and lead the gray, but the bay was having none of it. Each time Joel tried to get his foot in the stirrup, the horse would sidestep away.

After a few unsuccessful attempts to mount the cantankerous horse, it jerked its head away, causing Joel to lose his hold on the reins. Fighting an urge to shoot the stubborn horse, Joel stood exasperated while he and the horse gazed at each other from a distance of several yards. Then an idea occurred to him. It was not likely, and would mean a hell of a lot of trouble, but Joel was desperate to try anything at this point.

“You’re gonna have to bear with me, Red Shirt,” he said. “I’m gonna pull you onto my shoulder. Then I’m gonna try to put you on your horse. I know it’ll hurt like hell, but it might be the only way we’re ever gonna get started again.” Red Shirt made no response beyond a painful grunt.

The strange actions of the man must have fascinated the stubborn bay horse.

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