Chapter 23
A quarter mile separated Jim and the cabin when he broke from the trees. The Appaloosa was running full tilt, long strides eating up the distance.
Bannen and his men were three horse lengths behind him, falling back, but not nearly fast enough. In the trees, they hadn’t taken any shots at him; that changed when they broke out into the open.
A bullet burned the Appaloosa’s rump. The horse staggered a step, recovering quickly, running on even faster.
Ellen and her father were outside the cabin, between it and the barn. When they saw Jim, they turned and ran for the cabin.
David emerged a moment later, raised his rifle, and began firing.
Jim ducked low against the Appaloosa. David wasn’t a bad shot, but he didn’t want to catch a bullet from either direction. He needed to reach the safety of the cabin, but how could he, with Bannen and his men so close?
The barrel of a second, and then a third rifle extended from the cabin’s windows. Ellen and her mother had armed themselves. Smoke rose from all three barrels. David emptied his gun and fumbled shells into the tubular magazine.
Jim glanced back.
Bannen was there, still coming on quick, at least seven men in tow. The bastard was still smiling.
The barn was seconds ahead when a bolt of white-hot pain shot through Jim’s back near his left shoulder blade. He reached back and his hand came away stained with warm blood.
His arm started to tingle, then it went completely numb. Jim felt himself falling from the saddle. Momentarily, his vision swirled and blurred. He fought for control, gripping the saddle’s horn tight.
Everything suddenly came into focus. The cabin wasn’t far. He could still reach it. He willed himself to stay in the saddle. He had to hold on just a little longer.
More gunfire erupted from his left. Who was firing from that direction? More of Bannen’s men? Were they up against an entire army?
He looked toward the new arrivals.
Colton was in the lead, flanked by Captain Neill. Ellen’s brother had his rifle up, sighting in on Bannen’s men and firing methodically. There were a half dozen other men with him. Jim recognized Pat Robeson and two of his sons. They too had their rifles up. They too were firing.
The shooting to Jim’s rear stopped. He turned his horse and drew his pistol. Bannen and his men had broken off, running hard and out of range. Bannen looked back over his shoulder at Jim. He wasn’t smiling anymore.
“Looks like we showed up just in time,” Neill said.
“You did,” Jim answered.
“Found this strange fellow on the way up,” Neill indicated Colton.
The young man was changed from the last time Jim had seen him. There was a stubbly beard on his face. Colton had been a lanky youth, pale-skinned, but now he’d put on a great deal of muscle and his face and hands were sun-browned.
“Colton, good to see you.” Jim offered his hand.
Colton reached for it, but Jim never felt it. His head swam suddenly, his vision failed, and the world went dark.
He heard Ellen’s voice…she was yelling, crying…then nothing.
* * * *
The Bannen gang rode west, through the trees and toward the end of the valley. Cord looked over at his men. They were a battered lot, beaten, but not broken, and certainly not defeated. They would never be truly undone so long as he led them.
“We’re pulling out,” Jacob said. His partner, the Swede, stood off a few yards behind him, rifle in hand, watching the rest of the gang with cold blue eyes.
“Then go,” Bannen said. He’d long since grown sick of Jacob and his whining. If they thought they could do better on their own, then so be it.
“It’s over. No chance of gold, not here, not with that many guns around. I’m for Bidwell’s Bar again. Plenty of gold leaving there and we can take it easy just like before. Anyone else wanting to go with us?” Jacob asked. He gazed at each man in turn. None moved.
Cord laughed at him. These men, most of them at least, had been with him for a long time. They knew him. They remembered how much money he’d made them over the years. Those who hadn’t been with him for so long, the few newcomers, he’d recruited personally. They might not be happy with how this turned out, but they trusted him far more than a snake like Jacob.
Jacob turned on Cord, then. “You led us into this. We could have been living fat and happy off the pickings around Bidwell’s. Instead, you brought us on this wild chase. We’ve got nothing to show for it. There’s no gold in that cabin.”
“So leave,” Bannen said. “No one’s stopping you and no one is joining you.”
Dunlap spurred his horse, edging himself closer to Jacob and the Swede. “I’ll ride with you,” he said.
Cord laughed again. “There you go and welcome to him. Take Dunlap with you. One snake deserves another.”
Jacob eyed the fat man in open disgust. “Dunlap, you dirty fool. What are you going to do for us?”
“Same as I did for him,” Dunlap jerked a thumb toward Bannen. “I’ll spot them for you, point them out and all.”
“Fine, let’s ride then,” Jacob said. He didn’t sound happy with his new ally. Without turning his back to Bannen, he started out, followed by the Swede and Dunlap.
Cord watched them go.
“Keep a sharp eye on Dunlap. He’ll steal your boots if he thinks he can get away with it,” Cord said.
When they were gone, John moved up alongside him.
