Read Online A Tale Out of Luck by Willie Nelson, Mike Blakely - Free Book Online

you.”
    “No,” the major said. “I will not be responsible for getting Captain Hank Tomlinson’s son killed. You youngsters stay out of this. Go home. Mr. Brennan, your men can ride with me to identify your stock as long as you agree to act only under my orders.”
    Jack Brennan turned to Milliken. “Take the dead man into town. The rest of you men will come with me and the major.” He looked at Skeeter, then Jay Blue. “You two whelps do what the major says and let the men handle this.”
    “But . . .” Jay Blue began.
    “Don’t try to follow us,” the first sergeant added.
    “But they’ve got our mare,” Jay Blue insisted.
    Jubal Hayes slapped Jay Blue on the shoulder with the back of his hand. “Them Indians don’t have your daddy’s mare. Do as you’re told and go home. First Sergeant, who’s gonna pay me for those horses I led in?”
    Polk took the money from his pocket, handed it to the mustanger, then turned for the stables. The major was marching back to his headquarters, for his weaponry, Jay Blue assumed. Eddie Milliken was busy cussing at his mules to turn the buckboard around, but took the time to aim one of the cuss words at Jay Blue. Jack Brennan was remounting with a curious grin.
    Jay Blue turned to the mustanger. “What did you mean, Mr. Hayes? If the Indians don’t have our mare, who does?”
    Jubal Hayes finished counting his money and tucked it into his shirt pocket. “I cut her trail this morning. Shod all around, long-legged, running with a herd of mustangs. That stallion got her.”
    “What stallion?”
    “The wildest of the wild. The Mexicans call him El Grullo. White men call him the Steel Dust Gray.”
    Skeeter had walked up within earshot, though he still seemed leery of the albino man. “They say he’s uncatchable.”
    “That’s right,” Jubal agreed.
    “How could a mustang steal our mare right out of her pen?” Jay Blue argued.
    “Was she in heat?” Jubal said through his scarf.
    “Yes, sir,” Skeeter replied.
    “Then that stallion took her,” Jubal insisted. “That mare is gone as a goose in spring, boys. You wouldn’t even know where to look to find her.”
    “I was hoping you might guide us,” Jay Blue suggested.
    Jubal shook his head. “Not interested. Go home and face your daddy.” He marched back to his pony, stepped up into his stirrup, and turned west.
    Twenty-four buffalo soldiers had formed up with their mounts. First Sergeant Polk ordered them into a column of fours as Major Quitman marched back to the stables with his saber and his Colt revolver belted on. A corporal brought Quitman his horse and held it while the officer mounted. Within a minute, the major gave the order to ride, repeated by First Sergeant Polk at the top of his bellowing lungs. Jay Blue could only stand there with Skeeter and watch the column move off to the east while Jubal Hayes continued to trot away to the west.
    “Maybe they’re right,” Skeeter said. “Maybe we should just go face the captain. You can’t believe that crazy-lookin’ mustanger. He didn’t actually
see
our mare. That could have been anybody’s shod horse running with the wild ones. We don’t know if the Indians have got her, or El Grullo, or somebody else. We don’t know any more right now than we knew this morning.”
    “The gate was closed, Skeeter.”
    “Huh?”
    “The gate to the mare’s pen was closed this morning. Didn’t you notice?”
    “I was a little busy dodging the captain, hombre.”
    “That mare jumped over the rails. What horse thief would open the gate, steal the mare, then close the gate back? She jumped, Skeeter. She’s running with the Steel Dust Gray.”
    “Then we’ll never get her back now. You heard that mustanger. He said not even he could get her back.”
    Jay Blue smiled, even though it hurt his lip.
    “Uh-oh. I don’t like that shit-eatin’ grin. What are you thinkin’?”
    “I’ll bet Mr. Hayes can do it if we help him.”
    “You crazy? Didn’t you