Read Online Ambush at Shadow Valley by Ralph Cotton - Free Book Online Page B

you get my daughter safely away from them.’’
    â€˜â€˜It is said that his daughter was once a prosperous puta on the Barbary Coast of California,’’ Hector said almost in a whisper as they nudged their animals forward at a quicker pace. ‘‘That is why they took her, instead of killing her and taking her hair. They take her for their pleasure.’’
    â€˜â€˜No,’’ said Sam. ‘‘We’ve seen how these men take their pleasure. If she’s alive it’s because she’s struck a deal for herself. These men are keeping her alive for their own reason.’’
    They stepped down from their saddles. Sam stooped, picked up the shotgun, checked it and held it sideways, letting Hector see that it wasn’t even loaded. Squinting, the old man said, ‘‘Holding an empty shotgun is better than holding no gun at all.’’
    â€˜â€˜Only if you hold it as a club,’’ Sam said, handing him the shotgun butt first. ‘‘How long have they been gone?’’ he asked.
    â€˜â€˜More than an hour . . . two hours at the most.’’ The old man squinted harder, trying to make out the blurred badge on the ranger’s chest. ‘‘She’s not with them because she wants to be. My Clarimonde rode with them to keep them from killing us . . . from killing us and our two dogs. Now the two dogs are gone off trying to find her. She is a good daughter, my Clarimonde.’’ He grasped the ranger’s sleeve. ‘‘Please get her away from those men. Please bring her home. Whatever she has done, she does it to save me and our dogs.’’
    â€˜â€˜I understand,’’ said Sam. He gazed toward the higher land beyond the clearing, gauging how far the party could have traveled in under two hours on such rugged, upward terrain. ‘‘We’ll do our best to bring her home,’’ he said, gently pulling his sleeve free. To Hector he said, ‘‘They must be riding to the high country to find a back trail into Sonora. Maybe Hirsh was telling us the truth after all.’’
    â€˜â€˜Oh, no, Ranger,’’ said Siebelz, ‘‘they do not go to Sonora. My daughter risked her life to tell me. They are going to Shadow Valley. She is showing them a hidden trail that takes them there.’’
    "Valle de la Sombra," Hector said with a tone of dread in his voice.
    Sam looked at him. ‘‘I’ve heard of it, but I’ve never been there. Do you know your way there?’’
    " Sí , I know my way there, but not on some hidden trail,’’ said Hector.
    "We’ll keep tracking them," Sam offered.
    "No matter the trail, once inside Shadow Valley, we are in a good place for desperate men like these to catch us in a trap,’’ said Hector. ‘‘That is why they go there. Why else would they venture back so close to the border to get to such a place?’’
    Sam ignored the warning in Hector’s voice and looked up eastward into the tall, rocky hill country lying above them. ‘‘Maybe they only crossed the border because there’s something Soto needs down here.’’ He studied the eastward ridges against a blue and perfect sky. ‘‘Whatever it is, he gets it, then he’s gone back across the border with it. If he can get rid of us on his way, so much the better. . . .’’ He let his words trail in contemplation.
    After a moment, the old German said, ‘‘Whatever these men are doing, when you catch up to them you can count on my daughter to do whatever she can to help you. This I vow to you.’’
    Hector and the ranger both turned quickly at the sound of brush breaking on the far side of the clearing. Their guns streaked out of their holsters. But they both eased their guns down as they saw the tired younger dog come walking into sight, his head down, his tongue hanging limply.