“We have claims,” Ellen said.
“Good to know,” Bannen said, and he tipped his hat to her. His eyes never left Jim’s. “But I think you’ll be happy to sell out to me soon. And with you having claims filed, it’ll all be right and proper.”
“We won’t sell,” Jim said. He could end this now. Killing Bannen would keep his family safe. The gang would still be dangerous, but this was the ringleader. Jim’s hand moved closer to his holster.
Bannen never moved, but the men behind him suddenly straightened. There were six of them, all armed with pistols and several carrying rifles. Jim took them in at a glance. He might get a few of them. He didn’t know if Bannen could use a gun or not. The man certainly seemed confident enough.
“No need to rush things,” Bannen said.
“Jim, having trouble here?” David said. He was standing off to Jim’s right, a scattergun hung over his elbow but with the barrel pointed in Bannen’s direction.
“I don’t think so,” Jim said. “These fellows seem lost.”
“Road out of town is that way,” David said.
“Oh, we’re not lost anymore,” Bannen said. “We’ve found just what we’re looking for.” He turned then, eyeing David for a moment, and then joined his men. “Be seeing you,” he said.
He and his men stayed on the covered porch. One of them handed Bannen a bottle, and he took a long swig. Then a tall fellow produced a harmonica, and they began singing along with it.
Beauing, belling, dancing, drinking,
Breaking windows, cursing, sinking
Ever raking, never thinking,
Live the Rakes of Mallow.
Jim and Ellen went up the street, followed by David. Abigail was waiting at the loaded wagon of supplies. They could still hear Bannen’s gang singing.
Spending faster than it comes,
Beating waiters, bailiffs, duns,
Bacchus’ true begotten sons,
Live the Rakes of Mallow.
Two more men Jim had never seen before watched them on their way out of town. Jim knew they would follow.
And then Cord Bannen will know where we live and how many we are.
Jim wondered how Captain Neill was doing. How long would it take to round up his men. Soon enough, they’d need those guns.
* * * *
Jim expected Cord Bannen to move quickly and was mildly surprised when he failed to appear the day after their return. Nor did he appear on the second day.
“Maybe he’s given up,” Ellen said.
“No,” Jim said as he remembered the firm set of the man’s jaw. “He won’t give up. I don’t believe he has it in him.”
He was staring out the window into the coming evening. His eyes roamed the ridgelines and the edges of the timber, searching for movement.
He and David had stayed close to the cabin over the last two days. The claims were filed and staked. Time, their former enemy, was now on their side. When word of the claims spread, the valley would fill with miners. Jim didn’t expect any of the newcomers to intervene directly, but too many witnesses would ruin Bannen’s plan for outright theft.
He needs us all dead and gone so he can claim we sold out to him. A valley full of witnesses would put the lie to that.
There was a hint of movement to the east. Too small for a man. Jim could only smile. The injured wolf. The family had taken to leaving scraps out for him. Normally, Jim would have objected to such treatment, but alone and crippled as he was, he couldn’t harm the cattle. Even a newborn calf and its mother could fend him off.
The wolf came close, just a few yards off, and Jim tossed him a bone from dinner. The wolf caught it in his teeth and laid down. Jim heard the bone pop and crack in his powerful jaws. Nothing wrong with those. Then the wolf lifted his head suddenly and stared west toward the lake and the trail into the valley.
Jim followed his gaze.
Though the light was failing, he saw them then, eight men on horseback, all riding abreast like soldiers taking the field.
“David,” Jim said. “Douse the lantern.”
“They’ve come?” David said.
“Looks like it. Better tell the women and get everyone armed.”
“I wish Colton was back,” David said.
“Might as well wish for Neill and a platoon of soldiers,” Jim said.
“I try not to be greedy when I wish for things.”
“Be ready at the window,” Jim said. He nodded at the scattergun. “Don’t bother aiming, no need to at close range—just let them have both barrels.”
