Dead Men Walking by Scott Connor

Author:Scott Connor
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Culbin Press
Published: 2023-03-27T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

When Wyndham’s group approached, Corrigan reconsidered his earlier assumption, as the man who was afoot was also tied at the wrists and being led along. Nicholson turned around and gave a bemused shrug and in response Corrigan could only reply in kind.

Then they both lay still as the men moved closer. The trio was on a course that would pass by only a dozen yards from the spot where Nicholson was lying in wait. Wyndham and the other rider were facing the house while their prisoner was shuffling along with his head bowed.

With none of them paying attention to the ridge, Corrigan and Nicholson both leveled guns on the group. Corrigan judged that Nicholson was aiming to take out Wyndham, so he aimed at the other rider, although when the group was around fifty yards away he again revised his opinion about them.

The second rider was rubbing his jaw and shuffling around in the saddle, presenting none of the assurance he’d expect from a hired gun. He even started drawing back from Wyndham, but then his fidgeting caused him to turn to the ridge. Nicholson and Corrigan were both keeping low and still, but the man waved, trying to get Wyndham’s attention.

“There’s someone ahead, Wyndham,” he called.

The news that someone was looking out for people heading toward Stanmore’s house couldn’t have been surprising as Wyndham only slowed to a halt and then turned to the ridge.

“Don’t panic, Howie,” he said, speaking loudly, presumably to ensure his watchers heard him. “I’d already seen them and it’s not a problem. We’re all friends here.”

Wyndham raised a hand in a show of his not being trouble while the other rider, Howie, took the opposite approach and moved to the side so that Wyndham was between him and Nicholson. The prisoner stayed hunched over, but Wyndham tugged on his rope, drawing him along to stand beside him.

Then he murmured something to him. With a reluctant air the man shuffled a few paces toward the rise.

“I’m Romney Burke,” he shouted. “Stanmore knows and trusts me. I’d like to speak to him and maybe then we can sort out this spot of trouble I’m in.”

For long moments the two groups faced each other. Then Romney took a long pace backward, something about the situation appearing to spook him and make him realize that Wyndham had been mistaken about who was he was talking to.

He turned to Wyndham, but before Romney could give what looked as if it would be a warning, Nicholson raised himself and fired. Wyndham was already on alert and he had begun to move away so the shot flew wide.

Wyndham rode toward the ridge. A moment later Howie hurried after him while the bound Romney scampered along with his arms thrust out until he lost his footing and went sprawling on to his front.

Romney was dragged along, but luckily for him Wyndham drew up quickly and, as Nicholson fired at him and Corrigan blasted a gunshot at Howie, both men leaped down from their horses.

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