Mountain Majesty 7 by John Killdeer

Author:John Killdeer
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: rocky mountains, american frontier, william w johnstone, piccadilly publishing, frontiersman, david l robbins, alan b guthrie jnr, thomas berger, wilderness westerns
Publisher: Piccadilly

Chapter Eleven

SECOND SON TOOK one look and bent with renewed vigor to the task of sawing through the grass rope. The giant Modoc was taking prodigious strides, but he was slowed down by the steep slope and the treacherous footing. Loose stones and dirt spewed out from under his churning feet. Several times he slipped but managed to stay upright.

The warrior’s arms seesawed back and forth, her sinews corded. She put her entire weight into the effort, pressing so hard on the jagged edge of the rock that she accidentally cut her left hand. Blood flowed, rendering the rope slippery. She wriggled her hands, trying to slide them loose of the loops, but the rope refused to give.

And meanwhile the Modoc had climbed to within twenty feet of where she crouched. His club was overhead as if he planned to smash her skull, but the look on his face was more one of hurt than fury. He took another bound, fell to one knee when the earth shifted under him, and snarled in frustration.

Second Son glanced over her shoulder and saw that she only had a few more tough strands to sever and she would shear the rope in half. Another time or two should suffice. She arched her back and rammed the rope against the sharp edge. It gave, not all the way but enough for her to tear her hands free, and as she did so an enormous shadow fell across her and she looked up into the sweaty features of her irate captor.

Not again, Second Son thought, and launched herself at him, low down, her arms catching him around the knees even as she threw her shoulders against his thighs. On flat ground he would have been able to keep his balance, but not on that slippery slope. Yelping, the Modoc tumbled.

Second Son let go and rolled to a stop. She shoved into a crouch and saw the giant doing the same. He swung the club halfheartedly, narrowly missing her head. Backpedaling up the grade, she kicked dirt and stones at him as he tried to seize her ankles.

It took a few moments for the new sound to register. With a start, Second Son realized a horse was bearing down on them from above, at a gallop. She twisted, and her heart soared to see Cleve rushing to her aid, his rifle pressed to his shoulder.

The Modoc also saw, and stopped in amazement. Straightening, he gawked dimly at Socks, the club falling to his side.

Cleve had been about to fire, but when he saw the giant lower the weapon instead of trying to use it, he hesitated and, in doing so, reaped calamity. He hauled on the reins to bring Socks to a halt. The dependable animal tried to obey, but its momentum was too great. Its hooves were unable to find purchase, and the next thing Cleve knew, Socks was hurtling down the slope out of control and all he could do was hold on for dear life.

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