When Jim rounded the timber, Bannen snapped off a shot, then vanished around the corner of the mine office. Jim ducked back as the bullet sent up a handful of splinters.
Jim retreated to the other end of the timber pile and fired into the office. The longer he could keep Bannen pinned down, the better chance Ellen had of escaping.
“Run, Ellen,” Jim yelled. Then he fired twice more into the office.
Jim snapped the loading gate open and ejected the spent cartridges. He replaced them with fresh rounds from his belt and wondered how many he had left. He peered out and ran one hand along the belt. More empty than full. He could reload his pistol one more time.
Bannen almost certainly has more shots.
And now Jim wasn’t sure exactly where Bannen might be.
“The others are on the way, Bannen. Your men are all dead,” Jim said.
Bannen laughed in response. “I don’t think they are. I think it’s just us up here. You, me, and your pretty little wife.”
Jim thought Bannen was behind a pile of rubble now, but the mountain threw off the sound. He started for the mine office and a bullet sent him retreating back.
Where did that come from?
Bannen wasn’t at the mine office, not anymore. Across from the office was a cookhouse they used to make hot meals for the men. He could be in there.
Jim licked his lips. The timber pile was off on its own, some distance from the next piece of cover. He didn’t like being trapped behind it. Not while Bannen was free to move around and circle behind him. Worse, he did not know where Ellen might be. Too much time had passed since he’d heard from her. Was she hurt? Did Bannen have her?
Jim didn’t think so. Bannen would have tried taunting him into a mistake if he did.
But where is she?
A bullet whizzed an inch above Jim’s head. Jim fired twice into the cookhouse. He was rewarded with a grunt from Bannen.
It hadn’t been a hit. The bullet didn’t make the right sound for that. But it must have been close.
Taking a chance, Jim ran for the mine office again. Midway across, Bannen fired. The shot missed, but Jim felt the wind of it.
Then Jim had the bulk of the office between himself and the cookhouse. At the far side, he waved his hat out. Bannen was waiting. A bullet punched a neat hole in the brim an inch above Jim’s hand.
The door to the mine office was to Jim’s left. He opened it, praying the hinges didn’t squeal, then slipped inside. There were a pair of windows facing the mine shaft and the rubble pile. Staying low, Jim moved forward on his hands and knees. A board squeaked to his right. Ellen’s desk stood there.
Jim raised his pistol.
“Ellen,” he whispered.
“Jim,” she said. Her face appeared around the edge of the desk.
Jim let out a vast sigh of relief. She was safe.
She’s safe and Bannen can’t get to her, not without going through me.
Jim smiled at her reassuringly.
Ellen’s eyes shifted to something beyond him. She screamed.
Jim flung himself aside, whipping his pistol around. Through the dusty glass, he had time to see a grinning Bannen. Flame shot from the barrel of Bannen’s gun. Jim felt the bullet strike his left arm. He fired continuously in return, emptying his pistol.
When the smoke cleared, Bannen was gone.
Fingers flying, Jim ejected the empty cartridges. He only had three replacement shells.
Three would have to be enough. He didn’t know how many times he’d hit Bannen. He didn’t know if he’d missed him entirely. But he had to get Ellen out of here.
“Follow me out,” Jim said.
Ellen nodded and came over to him.
“You’re hurt,” she said.
“Not bad,” Jim said. “Just stay behind me.”
“You’re bleeding.”
“It’s just my arm.”
“Your arm?” she said. “No, it’s your side.”
“My side?” Jim said. He hadn’t been hit…his side was bleeding. Then Jim felt the pain. “We’ve got to go. I’ve got to get you out of the gate. Captain Neill will be along. He’ll keep you safe.”
“I won’t leave you,” Ellen said.
Jim opened the door, and they went out together. Jim’s leg wasn’t working properly. His head swam and his vision was blurry.
