“The next tunnel,” she answered. “On the left.”
“If you’re leading me wrong,” he said and cocked the pistol. “There are worse things than dying.”
Fifty paces after the turn, they came to an iron door with the hinges set deep into the rock wall.
“Open it,” Bannen said.
The woman took a heavy key from her pocket, stuck it in the lock, and turned it. The lock came open with an echoing click. Cord tore the lock free and threw it down the mine shaft. Then he yanked the door open with a squeal of the hinges.
“After you,” he said.
Inside were a half-dozen burlap sacks. Cord kicked one open and the lantern light spilled over hundreds of gold nuggets. He knelt down and ran his hands through them.
Gold…finally he had the gold…and so much gold, more than he could have ever imagined.
The door hinges squealed and Cord jerked his head around. Heston’s woman. The door closed with a slam. Cord lowered his shoulder and threw himself against it. He bounced off it, but he had moved it at least an inch.
He heard her running down the mine shaft.
“The lock. Where is it?” she said.
Cord laughed. “You’ll never find it, and soon enough I’ll be out with you,” he said. “Then we’ll have us a good ol’ time.”
He struck the door. Again it held, but he’d gained another inch. She must have wedged a rock or something beneath it.
Cord doubled his efforts.
He’d be free soon enough. Then he’d “thank” Mrs. Heston for her help and he’d ride away rich enough to live like a king.
Six times Cord struck the door. Six times it opened wider, and the seventh time he was free. Then he went down the mine shaft after Mrs. Heston. He heard her in the dark, stumbling and fumbling with fear.
Cord did not run. Too many loose rocks littered the floor. That was the mistake Mrs. Heston was making. Fear, sharp as a needle and quick as a bullet, prodded her on faster. Too fast for caution or care. She’d lost herself fully to it. When Cord cleared the next tunnel, he saw a hint of light from her lantern. He felt a surge of building excitement.
“Mrs. Heston, you and I just have one bit of unfinished business,” he said and laughed.
He heard her stumble and fought down the urge to run after her. Soon enough he would have her.
Another turn and then light from outside poured in from the mine’s mouth. It hurt Cord’s eyes, but he saw her outline. She wasn’t far ahead. He could hear her breathing, quick and rough.
Seconds later, she was out in the daylight. Cord was less than twenty feet behind. She paused to look back at him and he laughed again. She looked like nothing so much as a frightened deer. Then she broke left. Cord could run now. There was light enough he could watch his steps.
He stepped into the light and stepped into the bright sun. He took a deep breath, glancing around. He couldn’t make out any colors yet, just light and shadow. A dark figure was coming through the gate. John. He recognized his friend’s outline.
Good. The two of them could carry the gold out much quicker.
“So Jim Heston finally met his match,” Cord said. “His luck had to run out sometime.”
John’s steps grew into a stagger. He leaned against the gate. His head hung. He looked tired, and Cord couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen John tired.
“Cord,” he said weakly. Then he fell.
There was another shadow figure directly behind John. This one walked smooth and confident.
“Cord Bannen,” the shadow said. “I think you have something that belongs to me.”
* * * *
Cord Bannen stood alone in the mine entrance.
At last, Jim looked upon his enemy and knew that this would be the end. He did not see his wife. He didn’t dare look around for her. He couldn’t afford to take his eyes from Bannen, not for an instant. This was a dangerous man, and now a cornered one.
Bannen wasn’t afraid. Jim hadn’t expected him to be. Bannen wouldn’t deal or bargain. Thief and murderer as he was, the outlaw was a fighting man and he wouldn’t go willingly.
Jim wouldn’t have it any other way. After today, he wouldn’t spend the rest of his life looking over his shoulder and wondering if Cord Bannen was out there.
No. This ends now.
Jim’s pistol hung in his holster. He’d put four shots into the big man before following him here, but the gun was reloaded now. Ready.
“Jim,” Ellen said off to Jim’s right.
Briefly, Jim’s concentration slipped. He turned for her, and he saw Bannen smile before going for his gun.
The man was fast, impossibly fast. He beat Jim to the draw, but he’d been overeager and shot high. Like a lance of pure fire, the bullet burned along Jim’s shoulder.
The shot spoiled Jim’s aim. Jim’s first bullet clipped Bannen’s ear. Bannen dove to his left and rolled toward Ellen.
Jim’s next two shots struck dirt, then Bannen was hidden behind a pile of timber. Jim ran after him. He had to get around the pile for a clean shot. He had to get Bannen before he reached Ellen.
