Cavanaugh's Island by Robert Vaughan

Author:Robert Vaughan [Vaughan, Robert]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781641194099
Publisher: Wolfpack Publishing
Published: 2018-10-16T23:00:00+00:00

9

Most of the men of Able Troop of the 13th Cavalry Regiment slept away the rest of the day. As soon as it was dark, Captain Cavanaugh gave Lieutenant Winchester specific instructions.

“I’m going to go out in front of that little woods up north and west of the ranch house where we stayed before. I want to know for sure if the hostiles come in there during the night. If they do, I’ll come right back here. As we discussed, at the first sign of attack we’ll lay down a barrage of fire and try to pick off as many of them as possible. Then we’ll mount and charge before they can do any damage to the buildings or the people. Any questions?”

“No, sir. Good luck out there.” Then Lieutenant Winchester raised his eyebrows. “You’re going to walk, sir?”

“Yes. You ever hear of slipping away without a sound when you’re riding an army mount? Besides, I don’t want that gelding of mine to be horse talking with about thirty Indian ponies.”

“Yes, sir, I see.”

Captain Cavanaugh left the cover of the trees and walked around the ranch buildings. He didn’t want some ranch hand’s over-eager trigger finger to blast a few rounds at him. He circled the structures and moved toward the woods two hundred yards northwest of the place. When he could see them in the half-light of the quarter moon, he walked straight ahead until he found a semblance of cover. It was a small bush and the beginning of a wash. He could lie down in the wash and leave his head and shoulders even with the rest of the land, but still conceal himself under the bush.

He lay there for hours, then looked up at the Big Dipper. It was working its way slowly around the North Star on its nightly journey. By the position of the stars, he knew it was midnight. Soldiers, cowboys, and wandering minstrels were probably the only ones who used those stars for a watch.

Off in the darkness, he heard a coyote begin his mournful howling. Far off toward the mountains he heard others pick up the call. Then suddenly all the coyote howling stopped.

He listened hard, straining to hear the smallest rustle. For a long time he heard no sound, then soft footfalls came across the silent prairie. He turned toward the sound and it came louder, more distinct but still soft.

Hooves! he thought with satisfaction. Were they coming directly at him? He listened again, then stared toward the sounds. There were still no clouds, but the quarter moon’s light was faint.

Then across thirty yards of land he saw moving shadows. Horses — Indian ponies — each with a shadowed rider. They were heading for the woods. Vainly he tried to count them. A dozen, fifteen, twenty? He wasn’t sure. They came even with him, then moved on south and east, heading directly for the dark mass of trees along the stream.

He lay there listening and watching. Nothing else moved. He lifted himself up and moved away from the woods, then swung back around the farm buildings.

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