They Rode Good Horses by D. B. Jackson

Author:D. B. Jackson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Goldminds Publishing, LLC

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

Kincaid and the boys never spoke again of the massacre or the bitter revenge they wrought upon the five young Sioux warriors whose blood stained the sand around an un-named creek in a place they would never see again. There was no pride in what they had done and no satisfaction and no remorse. They let the nightmare end there.

Now, as they rode the trail back toward Bridger, there was an absence of purpose and, for Franklin and Brady, there was nothing left but uncertainty. Kincaid sensed it, for he felt it himself. He agonized over their circumstances but convinced himself the boys would be better off in California. He knew he could arrange accommodations for the trip once they reached Bridger. He would return to Montana to fulfill his own plans. The boys would grow up with more opportunity in California than he could offer them on a start-up ranch in the remote Montana Territory. Then it was settled. He decided to tell the boys first thing in the morning.

The sun was full-up when the boys awoke to the sound and smell of their first campfire in more days than either could recall. Franklin and Brady pulled on their boots and stood with Kincaid near the heat of the fire.

“Morning.”

“Morning, Travis.”

“Morning, Travis.”

“I worked out a plan last night,” Kincaid said.

“So did we,” Franklin said.

“Well, here’s mine,” Kincaid said. “And it’s the one we’re going with.”

Brady listened, and Franklin pretended to.

“I’ll get you back to Bridger, get you lined up with someone heading to California, and that’ll be it,” Kincaid said, as he splashed the last of his coffee into the fire.

“And that’ll be what?” Brady asked.

“That will be the end of my obligation to you two,” Kincaid replied.

Franklin stood up to his full height and looked Kincaid straight in the eye.

“That ain’t a good plan, Travis.”

“We’re coming with you to Montana and help you with your ranch,” Brady said.

“Like hell you are,” Kincaid responded.

“We already decided,” Franklin added.

“Seems like I ought to have some say in that,” Kincaid said.

“You do. Just say, yes,” Franklin said.

“Come on, Travis. You don’t have no one either,” Brady said. “We’ll be good help.”

Franklin looked at Kincaid. His expression softened, and he smiled that rogue smile of his.

“Try it for the winter, Travis. If it don’t work out, me and Brady will line out for California come springtime.”

Kincaid took off his hat. He wrung his face in his hands and picked his hat up and slapped the dust off on his leg.

“Look, it’s hard work. It gets lonely...and damn cold. There ain’t even a decent place to live in there. The answer has to be no.”

Brady watched Franklin’s expression turn to the whipped puppy look he was so familiar with when Franklin would find himself with his back against the wall and he was out of options.

“Okay, we understand,” Franklin said softly.

“I’m sorry, boys. There’s just no other way,” Kincaid added.

“You know we got no one and nothing waiting for us in California,” Franklin said, after an uncomfortable silence.

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