Ralph Compton Face of a Snake by Bernard Schaffer & Ralph Compton

Author:Bernard Schaffer & Ralph Compton [Schaffer, Bernard & Compton, Ralph]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2021-02-09T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TEN

Sinclair inspected the bandit’s pistols while the others struggled to get Odell’s saddle off of his deceased horse.

“These are both junk. Bullets are all corroded in the chamber. Things look more likely to blow up in your hand than shoot.”

“Well, he shot my horse with it just fine,” Odell said.

“That he did. Shame his aim was a little low.” Sinclair tucked one gun in his waist and walked the other over to Odell. “Here. Take it.”

“I don’t want it. You keep it.”

“Lorenzo has his shotgun. The girl has her bow. Now me and you will each have one of these. Even if they don’t hardly work, folk’ll be less likely to try to rob us if they think we all have weapons. Especially if you can somehow manage to resist telling them we ain’t got no ammo. Take it.”

“I said I don’t want it!” Odell said. “I’m not carrying guns anymore. You keep it.”

“You really are an idiot. Do you know that? After everything we’ve just been through, you can’t understand what I’m saying here? What, you gave up drinking in prison and now you’re giving up guns too?”

“Something like that,” Odell said.

Sinclair turned to Escalante. “Here.”

Escalante frowned at the decrepit-looking weapon. “I’m not taking that.”

“Fine. Suit yourself,” Sinclair said. “How about you, little lady?”

“No, thank you, sir,” Mirta said.

“Way you handled that bow, you need it the least of us. Your daddy showed you how to use that?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Well, he was always good with any kind of weapon. Sometimes in the old days when we rode together—”

Escalante coughed and shook his head at Sinclair.

“He always knew just what to do,” Sinclair said and smiled.

“Were you a gold prospector with my father back before he met my mother?” Mirta asked him.

“Gold prospector?” Sinclair said with a laugh until a look from Escalante silenced him. He cleared his throat and said, “Yes, I suppose that’s exactly what we were. Him and me, always out there looking for gold.”

“Let’s go,” Escalante said. “Mirta, where’s your horse?”

“Tied up next to the one the bandits have by a tree back there.”

“Go get both. Mr. Odell will need to ride it now.”

“Okay, Papa,” Mirta said, and ran to get the horses.

Escalante put his fists against his forehead and moaned, “I can’t believe she followed us out here.”

“Well, I for one am grateful she did,” Odell said. “That was a hell of a shot. She saved our lives.”

“To hell with our lives! She shouldn’t be here!” Escalante shouted. “If either of you had children you cared about, you wouldn’t be sitting here saying how grateful you are my daughter has been out following us all this time! What if she’d run into those lunatics in the woods?”

“All right, Lorenzo,” Sinclair said. “It’s going to be all right. She’s with us now, and she’s safe. We’ll make sure she stays that way.”

When Mirta emerged on her horse and leading the bandits’, Escalante said, “Mirta, from now on you ride next to me at all times. You understand?”

She told him that she did, and they all mounted their horses and rode east.

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