Ralph Compton Whiskey River Read Online Free PDF

her head, and Betsy joined her sister on the ground.
    â€œNow the two of you get the hell out of here,” Estrello ordered.
    They went, carefully closing the tent flap behind them. Estrello wasted no time, lest the women regain consciousness before his lowdown intentions had been accomplished. He first drew off Amanda’s and Betsy’s boots. Their only other garments were men’s shirts and Levi’s. He stripped Amanda first, and then Betsy, catching his breath at their unspoiled beauty. He laughed as the girls came to their senses, frantically trying to cover vital parts of their bodies with their hands.
    â€œLook, you bastard,” said Amanda. “That’s all you’ll ever have a chance to do.”
    â€œThere’ll be no supper for either of you,” Estrello said, “and breakfast depends on how nice you are to me the rest of the night. I’ll see you again after supper.”
    â€œBring all your gunmen with you,” Betsy taunted. “You’ll need them.”
    For all their bravado, the two women stared at each other in terrified silence. They had only their boots and Wolf Estrello’s promise to return. Of his evil intentions, they had not the slightest doubt.
    â€œIt’ll be dark in a few minutes,” said Amanda. “Then we can crawl out from under the back of this tent.”
    â€œStark naked and without horses,” Betsy said. “They can just wait for daylight and then track us down like starved coyotes.”
    â€œWhen it’s dark enough, perhaps we can get to the horses,” said Amanda.
    â€œNo saddles,” Betsy said. “Settin’ your naked behind on a horse’s backbone will be like straddling a corral fence without your britches.”
    â€œI’d prefer that to having Wolf Estrello straddle me ,” said Amanda, “if you know what I mean.”
    â€œI know very well what you mean,” Betsy said, “and I’m not disagreeing with you. I’ll stand anything a horse can do to my behind, as long as that pig Estrello keeps his dirty hands off me.”
    Amanda and Betsy pulled on their boots, waiting for darkness. They could hear the rattle of pots and pans as the outlaws prepared supper.
    â€œI’m hungry,” said Amanda.
    â€œSo am I,” Betsy said, “and they’ll be counting on that. Our only hope is reaching and crossing the Red before daylight. Surely, someone in Texas will help us.”
    â€œUs being naked won’t help our cause,” said Amanda.
    â€œNo,” Betsy agreed, “but we must get beyond the dirty hands of Wolf Estrello. I’ll be willing to gamble on anybody else. And I do mean anybody.”
    Darkness came, and the supper fire outside created weird dancing shadows on the side of the old canvas tent in which Amanda and Betsy waited. The sounds of supper became less and less. Time was short.
    â€œIf we can slip under the back of the tent, it’ll be between us and the horses,” Amanda said.
    â€œEstrello, bastard that he is, may have a double guard posted,” said Betsy. “Suppose we’re discovered before we can mount horses?”
    â€œHead for the shadows along the Washita,” Amanda said. “The important thing is, they must not catch us. Estrello has plans for us tonight. It’s time to go.”
    They worked a tent peg loose, allowing them to crawl under the canvas. Briars and a variety of thorns tore at their exposed flesh, until finally they were free, crawling on their hands and knees. They could see some of the outlaws beyond the tent. Slowly, they crept toward the grazing horses and mules. Estrello insisted on riding a half-wild black stallion, and the black raised his head and perked his ears, listening. Amanda and Betsy took just a single step. Spooked, the black reared, nickering long and loud. He sidestepped, and the rest of the animals followed his lead.
    â€œThey’re after the