Read Online Spanish Gold by Kevin Randle - Free Book Online Page A

around the brake after setting it and dropped to the ground. He took a deep breath and thought about telling her to wait behind again but knew it would do no good. She was a strong-willed woman who had nothing to wait for in the cabin.
    She stood up and moved away from the trunk. Travis grabbed the leather handles and lifted. The trunk was lighter than he would have expected it to be. He glanced at her.
    â€œJust a few things I want to keep safe,” she said. “The important things.”
    â€œI thought your friends would watch the cabin.”
    â€œThey will.” She retreated to the cabin.
    Travis loaded the chest and shoved it toward the front. He turned as she came out of the cabin closing the door behind her. She carried a double-barreled shotgun and a revolver in a holster.
    â€œMy father’s,” she said.
    Travis took the weapons from her and put them in the back, near the trunk. He then held out a hand to help her as she climbed up to the seat.
    He walked around the back, made sure that his horse was ready, and then climbed aboard. He unfastened the reins. “If you’re sure.”
    â€œLet’s go.”
    Freeman was standing at the base of a tree, hidden in the shadows of it. He had an unobstructed view of everything that was going on below him. As Travis climbed to the seat far below him, Freeman turned to Crosby.
    â€œThey’ve got a wagon now.”
    â€œWhich means?” asked Crosby sitting up and scrubbing at his face.
    â€œIt means that he’s going to be moving slow and that the woman is going with him. We hang back and they’ll take us to the gold. It means that they won’t be running away from us.”
    Crosby stood up and moved to the tree. He stepped behind it as if afraid that Travis or Crockett would see him. He watched as the wagon moved down the road and into the small town.
    â€œWe follow them?”
    â€œHell,” said Freeman, “that’s the road to El Paso. A straight shot in. I figure they’re going to El Paso. We’ll just ride on ahead and wait for them there.”
    As the wagon disappeared among the low buildings, Crosby stepped out into the open. “What if they don’t go straight to El Paso?”
    â€œThen we backtrack and find where they left the road. It won’t be that difficult to find them.”
    Crosby stretched and then reached down, opening his fly. As he relieved himself, he asked, “What are you going to do with your share?”
    Freeman grunted and then shrugged. “Buy a whorehouse and stock it with the best whiskey. After a month or two, I’ll come out and think of something else.”
    Crosby finished, shook his foot, and then buttoned up. “We going to eat breakfast first?”
    For a moment Freeman stood looking down the ridge. At the far end of the town he saw the wagon reappear, heading for El Paso. It was obvious that Travis was in no hurry and that he didn’t suspect anyone was behind him. He was taking it easy.
    Freeman turned and moved down to where the fire was burning low. He’d let it die during the night so that no glow would be visible, even though on the reverse side of the slope, away from the cabin, there was no chance for Travis to see it.
    â€œBreakfast first,” said Freeman. “Then we’ll ride down, make sure they’re still on the road, and then head on to El Paso.”
    â€œAnd wait.”
    â€œAnd wait,” agreed Freeman.

Chapter Ten
El Paso, Texas
August 25, 1863
    Travis met her in the lobby of the hotel. Her room was on the first floor and his on the second. The owner had seemed to be happier with them separated by that much space. Travis had wanted them on the same floor, in neighboring rooms, but she hadn’t cared about the arrangement, so he let it stand. Now Crockett sat on one of the ornate couches with a high back and intricately carved feet. She glanced up, almost shyly, as Travis approached