Long Trail to Nirvana by Scott Connor

Author:Scott Connor
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780719821202
Publisher: Robert Hale

CHAPTER 9

‘Quit staring at him,’ Brewster said.

‘It’s hard not to,’ Dean replied. They followed Clement and Yancy up the side of the ridge. ‘I might just have ended my quest.’

‘If I were you I’d worry more about how we can stay alive for long enough to complete our mission.’

Finding that a man who could be his son was part of the outlaw gang they’d planned to destroy, Dean was no longer sure that he wanted to carry out the mission, but he kept that thought to himself. Instead, he tried to avoid looking too intently at Clement as they headed towards Sebastian’s hide-out.

So far Clement had shown no sign that he recognized Dean. But then he had been only a child the last time they’d been together.

When they crested the ridge it became clear why Sebastian had evaded capture for so long.

The steep slopes on either side of the ridge ensured that anyone approaching could be seen from some distance away, while a gash in the rock scarred the summit of the ridge. This gash was accessible only from one end and, as they skirted along the top of the ridge, Dean could see that a group of men had settled at the far end.

When they rode down into the gash, several of these men moved forward to intercept them.

‘These men have taken over from Kerry and Eugene,’ Clement called. Hearing this the men nodded and drew alongside to escort them to the rest of the group.

Dean had seen Sebastian Crow’s likeness only on a Wanted poster, and the man sitting in the centre of the group resembled him. As Brewster was carrying the bag containing the money, he let him take the lead and, confirming Dean’s guess, he approached the man in the middle.

‘I don’t like surprises,’ Sebastian said, eyeing Brewster with suspicion.

Brewster held out the saddlebag. ‘Then this will put your mind at rest. I gather you were expecting it.’

Sebastian looked Brewster over and then shifted his gaze to appraise Dean. When both men returned his gaze levelly, he directed Yancy to take the bag and bring it to him.

The sight of the money inside made him smile, but when he found the letter he nodded to each of them in apparent acceptance of their story. Then he raised the letter so that everyone could see it and tossed the bag to one side.

The other men moved in on the money to count it out while Sebastian walked on for a few paces. Then, with a glance around, presumably to check that nobody else was close enough to see the contents, he opened the letter.

It took him only a moment to read the slip of paper inside. Then he stuffed the letter in a pocket and returned to watch over the men, but he kept only half an eye on them; looking aside several times he appeared distracted.

When the men had counted the money he joined the guards. He dismissed Yancy, who headed back to the top of the ridge to resume his duties, but he told Clement to stay.

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