Ghost of Sonora by Morgan Hill

Author:Morgan Hill [Hill, Morgan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-307-77968-7
Publisher: The Crown Publishing Group
Published: 2011-02-02T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWELVE

Seven ranch hands arrived at the scene and drew up just as a furious Joaquin Murieta charged the hulking giant, fists ready. Garth tried to dodge the first punch, but Joaquin was too fast and accurate. The blow struck the hollow of the jaw, and Lindgren’s head snapped back. On the rebound, Murieta popped him with a stiff left jab, then followed quickly with a second smashing right to the jaw. The Swede staggered, blinked with surprise at Murieta’s speed, then released a roar and closed in. A massive fist glanced off Joaquin’s temple, but he felt its effect.

The smaller man pounded the Swede’s nose, then caught a solid blow on his own jaw. He felt his feet leave the earth and the ground seemed to fly up and slam his back. The lowering sun was in Joaquin’s eyes as he looked up to see a monstrous shadow descending over him like some gigantic prehistoric bird.

Joaquin rolled in time to escape the nearly three hundred pounds of determined man. Garth hit the ground with a heavy thump and his opponent leaped to his feet.

Murieta saw two of the ranch hands move close to Rosita and flank her while he waited for Garth to get up. He knew they were attempting to encourage her. Derk Lindgren had crawled next to a tree and was looking on while wiping blood from his face.

When Garth rose, Joaquin charged again. He drove four punches in succession to the man’s face. Lindgren staggered, but came back strong. “I’m going to break you in half!”

The audience of cowboys stood spellbound. Rosita was biting her lower lip as one of the men next to her spoke soft words of reassurance.

Joaquin ducked a whistling fist and popped Garth’s lips with a powerful blow. Both lips split and spurted blood. Another blow slammed his nose. In a rage, the huge Swede swung wildly as Joaquin was coming in again. Joaquin connected, but so did Garth. The fist chopped Murieta’s jaw. Bright lights flashed in Joaquin’s head as he went to the ground. It seemed for a few seconds that he was falling through a black, endless hole.

The sharp pain of a heavy boot in his ribs cleared Joaquin’s brain, and he rolled aside to avoid being kicked again.

Rosita winced when she saw Lindgren’s foot connect with her husband’s rib cage. To the cowboys who flanked her, she said, “Can’t you stop this before that monster kills Joaquin?”

“I don’t think Joaquin would look favorably on us if we stopped it, ma’am,” said Willie Marks, who stood on her left. “He’s plenty mad at Garth, and it’s my opinion that Joaquin is not going to let Garth kill him. You did say that Garth actually kissed you?”

“Yes,” she replied, the thought sickening her.

Curly Bender said, “Your husband wants to punish Garth for what he did, ma’am. He’s willing to take some punishment in order to do it. But I think Joaquin will come out the victor—from what I’ve seen thus far, that’s my opinion.

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