Navajo Autumn by R Allen Chappell

Author:R Allen Chappell [Chappell, R Allen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781482393187
Published: 2014-02-20T00:00:00+00:00

8

The Singer

Thomas cautiously raised his head above the wall of the wash and peered intently toward the camp. The moon had shown itself between ragged rifts of cloud, enough light for him to see the car hidden in the brush shelter. “Looks like a government license plate to me.”

“Government?” Charlie whispered. He could not see over the top as Thomas was standing on the only outcropping elevated enough for this.

“Federal…I think.” Thomas wiggled his elbows up over the edge and pulled himself a little higher. “Hard to tell…too dark.” If it hadn’t been for the moonlight reflecting off the chrome bumper, he would not have noticed the car at all. There was smoke and occasional sparks from the hogan’s stovepipe. Whoever drove that car must have the old man inside—or vice versa. Thomas didn’t like it. It was a complication they hadn’t foreseen—as if waiting for Freddy Chee wasn’t problem enough.

Charlie leaned against the bank of the arroyo, waiting for Thomas to move so he might get a look at the situation for himself. What would a government car be doing out here at night, and why was it hidden in the brush shelter. Anyone coming in from the highway would pick it up in their headlights. “Someone must be expecting company the back way in,” Charlie said softly.

Thomas slid down off the sandstone ledge. “Yeah, that’s the way I figure it too.” He rubbed his hands together and turned up the collar of the Levi jacket Charlie had loaned him. Several big drops of rain plopped here and there in the soft sand of the wash. The two Navajos huddled a moment, looking at one another, backs to the sharp bite of wind, each hoping the other might be the first to suggest a course of action.

“Boy,” Charlie said, “I wish I had my gun.”

“Oh, really. What would you do? Rush ‘em?”

Charlie looked up at the fast moving clouds now hiding the moon. “I would just feel better with the gun. That’s all.”

“Well…” Thomas was reaching behind his back under his shirt. “I have a gun, and it don’t make me feel any better.” He brought forth Charlie’s .38 Smith with the turquoise set grips.

Charlie stared in the gloomy light, frowning. “How'd you come by that?” He held out his hand for the gun. “I thought I’d lost it.”

“You did, hastiin. It must have fallen out of your belt again when I was fixing your truck. I happened to notice it after you had pulled out.” Thomas smiled in the darkness. “I been meaning to give it to you….It just slipped my mind.”

“Yeah right. Well, I’m glad I reminded you.” Charlie snapped open the cylinder and felt to make sure all four cartridges were still in their chambers. “You didn’t fire it, did you?" He ran the tips of his fingers over the primers. "I might need every shot up there. It’s a good thing you gave it back."

Thomas grinned. “What makes you think you’re any better shot than I am?” He laughed softly.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.