Ghost Valley Read Online Free PDF Page B

owlhoot did.”
    Sheriff Brewer turned back toward Glenwood Springs. “I’ll send Old Man Harvey out to take care of the body. He’s our undertaker, when he ain’t bein’ a blacksmith.”
    * * *
    Frank turned out the lamp in his tiny room and lay across the bed. His guns were on a washstand beside him. All this recent bloodshed was a result of Ned Pine and Victor Vanbergen, and the events that had brought Frank to this part of Colorado to put unfinished business to rest.
    He thought about Conrad, and the snowstorm that had finally led Frank to the right spot to rescue his son....
    * * *
    Frank watched from hiding as Ned Pine brought Conrad out of the cabin with a gun under his chin. The boy’s hands were tied in front of him. Swirling snow kept Frank from seeing the boy clearly.
    Five more members of the gang brought seven saddled horses around to the front. Frank was helpless. For now, all he could do was watch.
    He wondered if Pine would execute his son for the men he’d already lost. But Pine needed a human shield to get him out of the box canyon. He needed Conrad alive. For now.
    â€œPine will kill Conrad when he hears the first gunshot,” Frank whispered to himself. “I’ll have to follow them, and wait until Ned makes a mistake.”
    He wondered where they were taking his son. Frank had taken a deadly toll on Pine’s gang in a matter of hours, with the help of Tin Pan Rushing.
    Frank felt something touch his shoulder, and he whirled around, snaking a pistol from leather. He relaxed and put his Peacemaker away.
    â€œDon’t shoot me,” Tin Pan said softly. “They’re clearin’ out, as you can see.”
    â€œI’ve got no choice but to trail them. Maybe Ned will get careless somewhere.”
    â€œWhere will they take him?”
    â€œI’ve got no idea, but wherever it is, I’ll be right behind them. I don’t know this country.”
    â€œI do,” Tin Pan said. “Been here for nigh onto twenty years.”
    â€œThis isn’t your problem. I appreciate what you’ve done for me, but I can handle it from here.”
    â€œI’ll fetch one of them dead outlaws’ horses from behind the canyon. I’ll ride with you.”
    â€œNo need, Tin Pan. This isn’t your fight.”
    â€œI decided to make it my fight, Morgan. When some ornery bastards are holdin’ a man’s son hostage, he needs all the help he can get.”
    â€œThat was a nice shot from up high a while ago. Couldn’t have done any better myself.”
    â€œI was hopin’ the wind didn’t throw my aim off. But this ol’ long gun is pretty damn accurate. I’ll collect that horse and unsaddle the others so I can let ’em go. I’ll bring your animals around, along with Martha, to the mouth of the canyon soon as they ride out.”
    â€œI’d almost forgotten about your mule.”
    â€œShe’s got more’n fifty cured beaver pelts tied to her back, and that’s plenty to get me a fresh grubstake before the weather gets warm and the beavers start to lose their winter hair. You might say that’s a winter’s worth of work hangin’ across her packsaddle.”
    â€œHere they come,” Frank said, peering into the falling snow. “Stay still.”
    â€œNo need for you to tell me what to do, Morgan. I know how to make it in this wilderness without being seen. Rest easy on that notion.”
    Ned Pine rode at the front with Conrad, Pine’s gun still pressed to Conrad’s throat. Two more gunmen rode behind Ned and the boy. A fourth outlaw came from the cabin leading a loaded packhorse.
    The last pair of outlaws stayed well behind the others with Winchester rifles resting on their thighs.
    â€œKeepin’ back a rear guard,” Tin Pan observed. “If we get the chance, we might be able to jump ’em in this snow. It’s hard to see real