Slocum and the Spirit Bear (9781101618790) by Logan Jake

Author:Logan, Jake
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin USA
Published: 2012-11-30T05:00:00+00:00

11

There was more that needed to be said, but that night quickly proved to be the wrong time to say it. The children got restless after wolfing down their meals, and it became next to impossible to contain them. But the young ones weren’t Slocum’s only concern. The more that was said about Spirit Bear, the twitchier Josiah, Tom, and Ed became. Since all three of them were armed and looking for something to shoot, Slocum felt it best to disperse for the night, have something to eat, and get some rest. There was always plenty of time for worrying later.

When Hevo attempted to loosen the reins that had been put on the horse so it could be tied to a wagon, Josiah thumbed back both hammers of his shotgun. “Just what the hell do you think you’re doin’?” he growled.

Without paying attention to the shotgun, Hevo replied, “This horse goes with me.”

“Not no more it don’t.”

“If you are horse thieves, perhaps I was mistaken in thinking you deserved to be saved.”

“From where I stand, you’re the one that looks like he needs savin’. Leave that horse be or I’ll burn you down.”

“There a problem here?”

Josiah turned, visibly shocked that Ed was the one questioning him at the moment. “Yeah, there’s a problem. This Injun is taking that horse.”

“It’s his horse. Let him have it.”

“And if he don’t come back?”

“I would think you’d prefer it that way.”

“All right then,” Josiah said. “What if he does come back? Are we taking this redskin all the way to the Rockies?”

“Just let him take his horse. It’s late and I’m too tired to argue about it.” With that, Ed passed between the two men, shoving aside Josiah’s shotgun as he went.

Josiah made it clear he was watching Hevo closely and continued to do so even after the Indian had climbed onto his horse’s back and ridden away.

Slocum watched him leave. He leaned against Theresa’s wagon as Ed walked by. “You think there’s gonna be a problem there?” he asked.

Without breaking his stride, Ed told him, “We got plenty of problems, John. You don’t like it? You can ride away, too.” He took another half-dozen steps before stopping and turning back around.

“I know,” Slocum said before the other man could say another word. “It’s late. We’re all tired. I didn’t take offense.”

“Thank you, John. It’s been a long day.”

“Yeah. It has. And some of us still have guard duty.”

Ed paused. “I could—”

“No,” Slocum cut in. “You won’t be any good to anyone until you get some sleep. I don’t mind taking first watch.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah.”

“You’re a good man, John. We all owe you a lot.”

“Keep that in mind when it comes time to divvy up those mining shares,” Slocum said.

“I’ll do that, friend.”

Plenty of men called others their friend. Sometimes it was a way to get on someone’s good side. Other times it was because he’d just forgotten that man’s name. When Ed spoke that word, Slocum knew he meant it. That went a hell

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