They sat down and settled in to killing the bottle as they discussed their next move.
‘The bastards could be anywhere,’ said Dumfries. ‘Maybe they’re dead.’
‘No.’ Baum shook his head. ‘A feller like Gunn don’t die so easy. What’d that guy at the depot say about the stage?’
‘Said the Army found four bodies an’ lost the track’s up towards the badlands,’ grunted Dumfries. ‘You heard that, same as me.’
‘Driver.’ Baum slapped a calloused finger on the table. ‘Shotgun guard. Two passengers. There were three got on. An’ just one horse missing.’
‘He said the others were bust up,’ said Dumfries. ‘Maybe the broncos just run off the one good horse.’
‘You ever fight Apaches?’ asked the German. ‘Enough to know them?’
‘I fought ’em,’ nodded the rancher. ‘Wouldn’t say I ever got to know the scum.’
‘I have,’ rasped the bounty hunter. ‘An’ they’re superstitious.’
‘What the hell’s that mean?’ Dumfries poured more whiskey. ‘I don’t follow you.’
‘You seen the way they paint up their mustangs an’ shields, ain’t you?’ grunted Baum. ‘All pictures? Medicine paint?’
‘Sure.’ The rancher nodded, staring over the rim of his glass. ‘So?’
‘So there was three men got on that stage,’ said the German, ‘but only two bodies found. There was just one horse taken. Right?’
‘Sure, that’s right,’ frowned Dumfries. ‘What you gettin’ at?’
‘Jesus!’ Baum glowered at the big, silver-haired man. ‘They told us there was stuff scattered halfway to Arizona, but they didn’t find nothing that looked like it belonged to the artist.’
‘Could’ve blown away,’ murmured the rancher. ‘I still ain’t followin’ you.’
‘You ever see an Apache sand painting?’ asked Baum.
Dumfries shook his head.
‘They do ’em a lot,’ said the German. ‘It’s like the paint on their horses: medicine paint. Suppose that artist was carryin’ things he done. The injuns might just have seen ’em. Figgered he could make medicine paint, too.’
‘You sayin’ they took him?’ queried the rancher. ‘I don’t see that.’
‘The Army didn’t find no body,’ said Baum, his voice thoughtful now as the idea took hold. ‘An’ there was just that one horse gone.’
‘That still don’t lead us to Breed,’ said Dumfries. ‘Or you figger he was with the injuns?’
‘No,’ said Baum. ‘Not with ’em, but maybe followin’ them.’
‘Why?’ Dumfries emptied the bottle. ‘You’re way ahead of me.’
‘That ain’t difficult,’ muttered the bounty hunter. ‘Lissen. The half-breed ducked into a fight with yore boy on account of the artist. He took the feller out of San Jacinto an’ we know they come here together. The artist got on the stage, but now he’s disappeared. The half-breed quit town the same day.’
‘Yeah.’ Dumfries set his glass down and shouted for Ned to bring a fresh bottle. ‘We know all that, but I still don’t see how it helps us.’
Baum shook his head, sighing.
‘Suppose the ’breed heard about the attack? Maybe saw it. Maybe he was even makin’ sure his little buddy got through safe to Lordsburg. Then he sees the injuns come in an’ take the artist away. What’s he gonna do?’
Dumfries poured fresh drinks and shrugged. ‘I don’t know.’
‘That’s why you ain’t in my profession,’ grunted Baum. ‘Raisin’ cows don’t take so much thought.’
‘So tell me.’ Dumfries’s voice was angry now. ‘You tell me, mister bounty hunter.’
‘He done plenty fer the artist already,’ said Baum, ignoring the rancher’s anger. ‘So maybe he thought to do some more. Maybe he trailed the Apaches to get his buddy back.’
‘That don’t tell us where they are,’ said Dumfries.
‘But it means they’re still together,’ said Baum. ‘I reckon Gunn went after the Englishman. So we’re still lookin’ fer two fellers.’
‘Only trouble is the broncos got ’em both,’ said the silver-haired man. ‘Don’t help us much.’
‘Might.’ Baum topped his glass and pushed the bottle over the table. ‘Breed knows the Apaches, so he could just bring Backenhauser out. If he does, if I’m right, then we can be waitin’ fer them.’
‘Where?’ asked Dumfries. ‘They could go anyplace.’ Baum stroked the waxed curves of his mustache, staring moodily into his glass. Dumfries waited, acknowledging the German’s expertise as a man hunter. Finally Baum looked up.
‘Only place between here an’ Lordsburg is Gilman. After Lordsburg there’s just Nogales or Tucson are any size. Ain’t nothin’ to the north, an’ precious little towards the border.’
Dumfries nodded his agreement.
‘So they was makin’ fer Lordsburg,’ continued Baum. ‘Why you think that was?’
