Read Online Dead Trouble by Jake Douglas - Free Book Online

back.’ Those words got the attention of all three men as Deke dismounted stiffly. ‘Doing some shooting with the six-gun in a draw when three hardcases from the Territory set on me.’
    He was watching Spain closely but it was Jno who asked harshly:
    ‘How you know they was from the Territory? There’s lots of riders use them hills.’
    ‘It was at the sharp bend of the river. Didn’t realize how close to the Territory line our land comes.’
    ‘No? Thought I showed you on the map. Nothing to worry about. Ringo was a little unlucky but usually they keep to themselves, the men over there.’
    ‘Didn’t this time. Heard my shooting and came on down. Were aiming to take my horse and everything else, I guess.’
    Spain’s eyes narrowed.
    ‘ Were ? You kill ’em all?’
    ‘Got two.’
    ‘What happened to the third one?’
    ‘He got himself speared, pinned to a white pine, right through the heart.’
    The three men were silent. ‘Injuns!’ said Jimmy Taggart after a pause. ‘They reckon the tribes are all gettin’ together an’ there’s gonna be hell to pay once they get guns …’
    Deke shook his head.
    ‘No, Jimmy. Dutch Pete’s sidekick. The Samburu.’
    ‘That lanky devil?’ asked Jno. ‘Goddamn, I knew that son of a bitch’d end up killin’ someone.’
    ‘Glad he did. I slipped and the outlaw would’ve nailed me if Sam hadn’t speared him.’
    ‘What the hell was he doing on Shoestring?’ Spain asked quietly, looking hard at Deke.
    ‘Saw him and Pete earlier down by the river at the point where our fences meet. They’d found a bear’s tracks and crossed into the Territory. Pete wanted to run it down and fight it with his assegai.’
    ‘Christ! Man must have a death wish,’ opined Jno.
    ‘Maybe. Anyway they lost the tracks and crossed theriver a little higher than they meant to. Put them on our land. They heard the shooting and came on down. Like I said, I’m mighty glad they did.’
    ‘Uh-huh.’ Spain continued to watch Cutler’s face. ‘You don’t seem to have much luck with the fellers from north of the river, Deke. This is twice now.’
    Deke nodded, returning Spain’s searching gaze.
    ‘Yeah. I recognized two of them. Didn’t at first, but when I took a good look after they were dead, I saw who they were – Salty Shaw and that old hellion they called Twist. You recollect him, Durango? He’d use women on a raid and then twist their necks….’ He watched his partner closely now, waiting.
    Spain was very tense.
    ‘Can’t be, Deke,’ he said very slowly. ‘Neither Twist nor Salty. They were both killed down on the Rio. Hell, you knew that, didn’t you?’
    ‘Thought I did. I knew there was something queer about ’em. But they must be twins to the others, one even going by the name of Salty – we buried ’em out there.’
    Spain said nothing, just stared.
    Deke shrugged. ‘Must’ve been mistaken, I guess.’
    ‘You must’ve. Why don’t you go on up to the house? Karen’ll make you some coffee. Or there’s whiskey in the sideboy if you feel the need for something stronger.’
    ‘Yeah, I’ll do that. Where’s Hal Tripp and Ringo, by the way?’
    Spain frowned. ‘Out chousing mavericks. Why?’
    ‘Nothing. Just that Dutch Pete said he thought he saw them riding into a draw across in the Territory.’
    ‘Well, could be. If they figured there were somemavericks worth going after.’
    ‘Kinda dangerous, ain’t it?’
    Spain shrugged. ‘I don’t like the boys doing it but if it’s gonna pay off, why not chance it?’
    ‘I’d want danger money.’
    ‘Hell, I don’t send ’em over. It’s their own choice, so no extra pay. Satisfied?’ Spain’s voice was tight, his face almost belligerent, challenging.
    Deke nodded and walked towards the house without speaking, carrying his rifle in his left hand. His right wrist and forearm were a little sore but he was mighty pleased – a couple of weeks back and he’d have been in pure agony. Or lying dead out in