The Loner 1 by Sheldon B. Cole

Author:Sheldon B. Cole
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: colt revolver, piccadilly publishing, pulp westerns, ebook westerns, westerns ebook, lone hero, westerns 1880s, sheldon b cole westerns
Publisher: Piccadilly

Six – Isaac’s Load

“We’ll stop here.”

Isaac Madie drew his horse into the shade of the three trees and dropped wearily from the saddle. He took a step away from his horse and his left leg buckled under him. He reached back and grabbed the pommel and stopped himself from falling. Then, his face wet with sweat and raw from the heat and dry wind, he lay against the big stallion’s sweat-foamed side and mopped his brow. It was several moments before he could get sufficient breath into his lungs to stand erect. He looked sullenly at Mark and Luke who had come effortlessly out of their saddles and were already looking for a place to stretch out. John Madie was still coming up the barren bench country, his horse short-stepping, and John looking as tuckered out as the bony horse.

Blake Durant had drawn rein but sat on Sundown, watching the old man carefully. He knew that Isaac was at the end of his tether, that the hard, hot ride had reduced him to an exhausted hulk, and there would be no more travelling that day.

“Horse is spent,” Isaac told Durant. “Push him further and he could break down completely.”

Blake nodded. Isaac limped away from the horse as John came up. Casting a scornful glance at his youngest son, the old man growled:

“See to my horse, boy, then get a fire going. Have them lazy brothers of yours help some instead of wearin’ out the seats of their pants.”

Isaac strode past Durant, trying to walk normally, but his legs were bowed and he couldn’t restrain the grunts that came from him. He rested against a tree, removed his hat, mopped his brow, then dug out his Bible. He stood fanning his face with the Bible, his surly look fixed on Durant again.

Blake looked into the distance for a time before he walked Sundown, leaning to one side of the saddle to inspect the ground. The buckboard tracks were clear in the dust near the trees.

“They’re no more than two, three hours ahead, Madie. I’ll keep going. Might catch up before the light fails.”

Isaac’s mouth twisted and his chest heaved. His brows crowded his eyes. “Ain’t nobody breakin’ outa this camp, Durant. We’re all stayin’ on. We’ll rest up and pull out together in the morning.”

Isaac Madie motioned his boys to come closer. Eyeing Durant warily, Mark and Luke drew alongside him. Isaac suddenly reached across and whipped Mark’s gun from his holster. He then pushed both his sons back, and said savagely:

“Ain’t nobody movin’ out till I’m good and ready to go with ’em, Durant. And don’t figure to best me later and sneak off in the night, because my boys will be set to watch you. John, get that fire goin’ and Mark, you and Luke take the horses up yonder and rope ’em down then sit with ’em. I’ll have John bring some grub to you later.”

Mark and Luke went off and John was already gathering kindling wood when Blake Durant said, “Madie, don’t push me.

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.