Sundance 28 by Jack Slade

Author:Jack Slade [Slade, Jack]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Jim Sundance, John Benteen, action adventure, Peter McCurtin, Piccadilly Publishing, Sundance western series, the Old West, Wild West, west, western ebook
Publisher: Piccadilly
Published: 2023-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

IN THE MORNING, Sundance, still in breechclout and leggings, tested Hunter’s bonds, then went hunting with bow and arrow. Whatever game he found would be slain soundlessly. It was barely light, the last stars beginning to dim. He was lucky and found game. As he neared camp, carrying a small antelope on his back, he heard Hunter’s pleading voice.

“Lila, cut me loose.”

“He said for me to shoot you if you try anything. And I will.”

“I know I hurt you at the Apache camp because I put my own safety before yours. I apologize. Listen to me closely, Lila. I’ve got friends. One of them a gun hand named Bev Hatch ...”

“Bev? A woman gun hand?”

Hunter burst out laughing. “A man, for Christ’s sake. Yeah, his parents named him Beverly. A man ever call him that and the man is dead.” Hunter’s voice hardened as Sundance paused in the trees to listen. “Hatch moved in with my wife, I know that. From Black Moccasin’s description it was him. But he knows every renegade in the territory. He’ll round up some men, and we’ll drive off the Apaches guarding my gold, and ...”

“Your gold.” Lila shook her head and shifted the heavy rifle. “Apache gold, Moon Star says. Certainly not yours.”

“Mine. Listen to me, Lila. You can’t trust a Cheyenne. And a half-breed is the worst of the lot. There’s no difference between Sundance and Big Luke. Now please untie me ...”

Sundance appeared with the antelope on his back. Hunter began to curse, but Sundance ignored him and built a smokeless fire. When the meat was cooked, Sundance freed one of Hunter’s hands so he could eat.

Sundance broke camp, then freed Hunter. The usually handsome face betrayed strain, the eyes bloodshot, the mouth pinched. His clothing was torn, soiled.

It was shortly after dawn when they were in the saddle again. Sundance knew that with the coming of light, El Tigre would be hunting their sign.

Hunter spoke of the gold. “Sundance, you and me could end up owning half the territory.” He spoke of the chests of gold reached by a vertical shaft that had been sealed off with heavy timbers covered with rock and dirt. “Luckiest day of my life when those timbers gave way and there I was. Rich.”

“Apaches believe the gold is sacred,” Sundance reminded.

“They’re nothing but superstitious savages ...”

“Seems to me the white man is as superstitious in his own religions as we are in ours,” Sundance said coldly.

“Perhaps,” Hunter said. He was in the lead astride the Indian pony. Not such a grand figure as when he had strutted about the Apache camp. Hunter said, “You told me you have a contract with my wife. I accept that. It means you’ll have to know where to put your hands on the gold. I’ll take you there. We’ll talk about making a deal when we see the gold. Agreed?”

Lila, riding behind Sundance, whispered, “Don’t trust him. He’s such a smooth talker.”

Sundance smiled to himself but nodded his head to show he appreciated her concern.

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