Devil's Canyon by Ralph Compton

Author:Ralph Compton [Compton, Ralph]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781101626498
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2013-09-03T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

Southwestern Colorado. August 28, 1870.

By dawn, Levi Collins was awake, his fever having broken during the night.

“We need to talk,” Faro said, “if you’re feelin’ up to it.”

“I think, after I’ve had some cold water, hot coffee, and some food, I’ll be ready for anything,” said Collins.

“Mostly,” Faro said, “there is something you need to know about. I’ll talk while you eat, and then you can tell me what you think.”

“Anything that has to do with this expedition, I’ll trust your judgment,” said Collins.

“I’m obliged for your confidence,” Faro said, “but this is a strange situation that came up late yesterday. Frankly, I’ve decided how I believe we should handle it, but you deserve to know my reasoning.”

While Collins ate, Faro talked. When Collins finished the last of his coffee, he spoke.

“So you believe Hal Durham, the gambler, knows these men who showed up late yesterday. That would put Durham squarely in cahoots with those outlaws who were following us.”

“It would,” said Faro.

“Then there’s the McCutcheons,” Collins said. “Are they also involved with these outlaws, or is their relationship with Durham strictly personal?”

“They have nothing to do with the outlaws,” said Faro. “I think they’re victims of an uncommonly rotten judgment, and their involvement with Durham began in Amarillo, like they say. Troublesome as they are, they’ve kept Durham from accomplishing what he must have been sent here to do.”

“You think it was Durham who slugged me and took the ore, then,” Collins said.

“Yes,” said Faro. “Nothing else makes sense. I was sure of it yesterday, when Kritzer and Withers showed up. Durham has a pretty solid poker face, but it slipped for just a second. He knows these hombres, and they know him.”

“Go ahead and deal with this situation as you see fit,” Collins said. “In fact, if you’re reasonably certain Kritzer and Withers are no longer seeking to take the claim from us, I’d be willing to hire them for the duration of this journey. We can always use a couple more guns, when the Utes come after us.”

“That would certainly be a means of keeping them around, and in contact with Hal Durham,” said Faro. “If we’re right about Durham, he’ll make some move toward Withers and Kritzer, and if they respond with any interest, we’ll know where they stand.”

“Tell Kritzer and Withers I’m offering them each two hundred dollars to deliver these wagon loads of goods,” Collins said. “I will provide them with food, weapons, and shells. I shall expect them to assist in any way they can, especially in our defense against the Utes. We have no horses for them, of course.”

“That’s a more than generous offer,” said Faro. “They’d be fools not to accept.”

Faro presented the offer Collins had made, and the two readily accepted.

“We’re obliged,” Kritzer said.

“My God, yes,” said Withers. “I’d side you just for grub, a gun, and ammunition.”

When Durham made an appearance, he pointedly ignored the two men, further adding to Faro’s suspicion that he knew them.

“He knows them, all right,” Dallas Weaver said, when he had a chance to talk to Faro in private.

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