The Mavericks by Leigh Greenwood

Author:Leigh Greenwood
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Romance
ISBN: 0843952377
Publisher: Leisure
Published: 2004-12-31T13:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Zeke could feel trouble in the air before he reached the single street that ran through Redington. Maybe it was the sixth sense he’d developed over the years. Maybe it was the fact that he and Hawk were strangers in a part of the Arizona Territory dominated by powerful ranchers like the Redfields, the Sozas, and the Gardners. They wouldn’t take kindly to an ex-slave and a half-breed Comanche accusing one of their own of being a horse thief. They’d be even less pleased to see the men brought into town tied to their horses like common criminals. He wanted to ride ahead and see what was going on, but he couldn’t leave Suzette. Neither did he want to take the mares into town and expose them to still more men who might want to steal them.

“Let’s change places,” he called out to Suzette.

She stopped and turned in the saddle. “Why?” The mares bunched up as they stopped behind her.

“There could be trouble. You’ll be safer in the wagon.”

Suzette cast a worried gaze toward the town before turning back to Zeke. “Do you think they’d hurt Hawk?”

“They’d have to be pretty stupid to try, but someone might risk it if they think he’s by himself.”

Suzette rode back to the wagon and dismounted immediately. “Tell me what you want me to do.”

“Act like nothing’s wrong, but keep your rifle handy.” He jumped down from the wagon and helped Suzette up. “No matter what happens, don’t get down until Hawk or I tell you it’s safe.”

“Why did Hawk bring those men here if it’s not safe?”

“I don’t know anything’s wrong. I just like to be on the safe side.”

Zeke mounted up and headed toward the town. The mares gradually swung into line behind him. He looked back to make sure Suzette was okay, but she appeared to have the mules well under control. He urged his mount into a trot but dropped back to a fast walk when the mares refused to keep up. He kept telling himself Hawk could handle any situation, but Hawk had never been saddled with Josie as well as five rustlers. He didn’t feel any happier when he spotted knots of men gathered in the street up ahead. That was never a good sign. Time for a distraction.

He rode back to the wagon. “I’m going to take the mares in at a canter.”

“Why?”

“To give everybody something else to think about.”

He whipped his horse around and let out two sharp whistles that rent the air like a lightning strike. Using his hat, he urged the mares into a trot and then a canter. He rode down the middle of the street yelling like a cowhand trying to herd wild horses. The men in the street backed away to let the mares through, but they stopped when the mares slowed to a trot, then a walk as Zeke stopped yelling. Dusky Lady came to a halt when she reached the flank of Hawk’s mount.

The men moved back into the street.

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