Read Online Trail Of the Apache and Other Stories (1951) by Elmore Leonard - Free Book Online Page B

hereabouts.
    Angsman looked at him and his eyes opened a little wider. Maybe you didn't hear, Ed. I said she's a Mimbre. She's going home from a hunting trip led by her father. And her father's Delgadito, he added.
    Hell, the 'Paches are at peace, ain't they? Hyde asked indifferently. What you worried about?
    Cochise made peace, Angsman answered.
    These are Mimbres, not Chiricahuas, and their chief is Victorio. He's never never made peace. I d on't want to scare you, Ed, he said looking back to the girl, but his war lieutenant's Delgadito.
    Billy Guay was standing in front of the girl, his thumbs in his gun belts, looking at her closely. I k now how to stop a war, he said, smiling.
    Who's talkin' about war? Hyde asked. We're not startin' anything.
    You don't have to stop it, Ed, Angsman said.
    You think about finishing it. And you think about your life.
    Don't worry about me thinkin' about my life. I t hink about it bein' almost gone and not worth a Dixie single. Hell, yes, we're takin' a chance!
    Hyde argued. If gold was easy to come by, it wouldn't be worth nothin'.
    I still know how to stop a war, Billy Guay said idly.
    Hyde looked at him impatiently. What's that talk supposed to mean? Then he saw how Billy Guay was looking at the girl, and the frown eased off the grizzled face as it dawned on him what Billy Guay was thinking about, and he rubbed his beard.
    You see what I mean, Ed, Billy Guay said, smiling. We take Miss Indin along and ain't no Delgadito or even U. S. Grant goin' to stop us. He looked up at the old woman on the pony. Though I don't see any reason for carryin' excess baggage.
    Angsman caught him by both arms and spun him around. You gun-crazy kid, you out of your mind?
    You don't wave threats at Apaches! He pushed the boy away roughly. Just stop a minute, Ed. You got better sense than what this boy's proposing.
    You Never See Apaches . . .
    It's worth a chance, Angsman. Any chance.
    We're not stoppin' after comin' this far on account of some Indin or his little girl, Hyde said. I'd say Billy's got the right idea. I told you he had nerve.
    Let him use a little of it.
    Billy Guay looked toward Angsman's mount and saw his handgun in a saddle holster, then both pistols came out and he pointed them at the scout.
    Don't talk again, Angsman, 'cause if I hear any more abuse I'll shoot you as quick as this. He raised a pistol and swung it to the side as if without aiming and pulled the trigger. The old Indian woman dropped from the pony without a cry.
    There was silence. Hyde looked at him, stunned.
    God, Billy! You didn't have to do that!
    Billy Guay laughed, but the laugh trailed off too quickly, as if he just then realized what he had done. He forced the laugh now, and said, Hell, Ed.
    She was only an Indin. What you fussin' about?
    Hyde said, Well, it's done now and can't be undone. But he looked about nervously as if expecting a simple solution to be standing near at hand. A s olution or some kind of justification. He saw the mining equipment packed on one of the mules and the look of distress left his eyes. Let's quit talkin' a bout it, he said. We got things to do.
    Billy Guay blew down the barrel of the pistol he had fired and watched Sonkadeya as she bent over the woman momentarily, then rose without the trace of an emotion on her face. It puzzled Billy Guay and made him more nervous. He waved a pistol toward Ygenio Baca. Hey, Mazo! Get a shovel and turn this old woman under. No sense in havin' t he birds tellin' on us.
    The scout rode in silence, knowing what would come, but not knowing when. His gaze crawled over the wildness of the slanting canyon walls, brush trees, and scattered boulders, where nothing moved. The left wall was dark, the shadowy rock outlines obscure and blending into each other; the opposite slope was hazy and cold in the dim light of the late sun. He felt the tenseness all over his body.
    The feeling of knowing that something is close, though you can't see it or hear it. Only the