Ambush Valley Read Online Free PDF Page B

Raphael studied the tracks. His words sounded sad. “They must have taken them with them.”
    Chet dropped heavy from the saddle. “I have a blanket. It’ll be cool up here by sunup.”
    â€œI have a blanket-lined jacket here on my saddle, señor . You use that blanket. I don’t know if I can sleep anyway.”
    â€œI understand. It will be past noon or later before the posse shows up here. I will leave them a note about what we found.”
    â€œGood idea.”
    Chet used the side of his boot sole to clear a place of any debris and rocks from his resting place.
    With a stub of a pencil he found he would write it in a small tally book he kept notes in. By the light of Raphael’s matches he wrote a short note. He planned to tie it on yucca stem in the path for them. On the hard ground, he grabbed some shuteye, waking every hour or so until he sat up and wondered if they could see anything yet.
    The short man came over and squatted on his boot heels. “I never sleep much.”
    â€œNeither did I. But can we see yet?”
    â€œNo. But my anger fires me.” He pounded his chest with his fist.
    â€œMe too. Let’s give it a little more light. They have to sleep too.” Raphael agreed.
    Chet’s eyes felt like they had been sanded by a dust storm. He hoped they soon would become wet from his lashes fluttering over them. If those outlaws dumped the bodies they might be hard to find. They could not afford spending much time on the search and let them get away. As much as it sickened him, they needed to hound these men’s trail or they’d evaporate. That was something he didn’t want to happen no matter how far they had to go to get them. He left the posse a note they could hardly miss, mentioning they thought the rustlers had taken the two bodies. He added, If we find any evidence of the bodies we will leave a note for you where they are . Personally he intended to keep after the thieves, no matter the outcome.
    The first light showed the trail went to the east and off the mesa. This jumble of mountains was a real wilderness. Raphael told him the Apaches had used this country to hide in as well.
    â€œI can see why. Are there any ranchers in here?”
    â€œI think so. But I have never been here before either.”
    Mid-morning, they spotted smoke and could smell it on the wind. It proved to be a ranch. Not much of one, but they must have water and their horses needed some. The adobe jacal and the corrals did not look prosperous, but several tanks held water, no doubt from a spring. Some goats greeted them and a few burros stood hipshot around the house.
    The shock came to Chet when they rounded the house and faced a woman in a wash-worn dress armed with a .22 rifle. Her hair was dark and unkempt. Thin faced, she looked like she was badly upset.
    â€œStop right there. I can shoot this damn gun and it’ll kill you.”
    â€œWhoa, ma’am. Our horses need water. We are after some men that stole our horses and killed two men. Have you seen them?”
    â€œGet your horse watered and get the hell out of here. I can shoot you both and I will.”
    â€œDid you see these men?” He knew they had been there. The shod hoofprints and fresh horse apples showed they might have been there for a while.
    She shook her head. The rifle butt was against her shoulder. Her dark eyes looked hawklike.
    â€œLady.” He led his horse toward the trough. “I can read signs. Those men were here. If you gave them any comfort, the posse of lawmen behind us may arrest you as an accessory to murder and horse theft.”
    â€œShut up and water those horses and get the hell out of here.”
    â€œDo you know the men who killed our ranchmen?”
    â€œShut up!” She stepped over so she could aim the rifle, threateningly, at him.
    â€œYou know these men?”
    She never answered and he felt she was so upset she might really shoot him. The