Apache Squaw by John J. McLaglen

Author:John J. McLaglen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: wild west, old west, piccadilly publishing, john j mclaglen, herne the hunter, jed herne, western pulps
Publisher: Piccadilly Publishing

Chapter Nine

The sun was baking the land, pushing the temperature well over the hundred mark. It bounced back off the rocks and sand, roasting the two riders as they slowly made their way away from the Sierra Mogollon towards the center of Parsons’ spread. It made the stock of the Sharps rifle burning hot. Danced off the small golden ear-rings that Emmie-Lou wore. Herne had noticed them before, and had been surprised that the Apaches hadn’t ripped them off. Then he’d recalled that her hair had been long and loose and would have hidden them. They were tiny wheels, with the initials ‘E.P.’ at their center.

Lishe Parsons clearly believed that all of his stock should carry his mark.

Emmie-Lou had kept her word. Not only had she said nothing at all while they were still within the confines of Fort Gilman, but she had said nothing since. Twice Herne had asked her if she wanted a mouthful of water from one of the canteens, and each time she had simply nodded mutely, and taken it from him without a word of thanks.

In some ways he was grateful, not having to resist her attempts to persuade him to release her, but in some ways he was disappointed. There were things about the girl that he liked, setting aside her obvious desirability. From what he’d seen of her husband, she was one of life’s losers. There was nothing even remotely likeable about Elisha Parsons.

In all his days as a bounty-hunter, Jed had never once thought of himself as a hired killer. In most every town along the border there were men who would kill. Kill anyone you cared to point the finger at for as little as ten dollars. But Jed was only for hire for legal purposes. Bring in a wanted man, or hunt a robber. Now he was bringing back a stolen girl. To him it was a job like any other. Only a little different from trying to return a rustled herd.

But it was a little different.

‘Contract’s a contract,’ he said to remind himself, hardly aware he had spoken his thoughts out loud.

‘What?’

‘Nothing.’

‘You spoke. I heard you.’

‘Just thinking to myself.’

‘Oh.’

‘Want another drink? Plenty left. I guess we’ll break for an hour in a half hour. Rest up us and the horses. Then move along to reach your spread well before sundown.’

She shook her head. ‘I’m fine. I wouldn’t want you worrying about me, Mister Herne.’

‘If it wasn’t for that sun, Mrs. Parsons, those words would have froze me clean to death.’

She didn’t laugh. Didn’t even smile. ‘When are we going to stop? I’m tired. Didn’t get that much sleep last night. Nor some of the nights before.’

‘Soon be back in your own bed. Nothing like that, is there?’

She pulled up at the reins, staring him straight in the face. ‘If I told you what it was like being in my own bed, with my own husband, then I doubt you’d believe it.’

There wasn’t an answer to that, so Jed simply

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