Zeke saw Mac as soon as he pulled up to the campsite. The two dandy dressed men were arguing and didn’t see him. Without warning, he pulled his rifle from his scabbard and eased over to the ground where Mac lay. He checked his scout and saw Mac was wounded pretty badly, but someone had stopped the bleeding and Mac was breathing. He raised up and said in a gruff voice, “Get your hands up and tell me which of you dirty bastards shot my scout.”
“Oh my Lord,” Leo squealed, wheeled around, dropping the limb he was trying to light and throwing his fat arms into the air.
Wade looked startled when he turned to face Zeke, but took time enough to lay down the matches and lift his hands upward. “Mr., neither of us shot your scout. I’ve been trying to help him all I can.”
“I don’t see anybody but the two of you here. Somebody’s guilty.”
“It was Markin,” Leo babbled. “He did it and then rode off and left us here alone. We don’t know anything about this country or how to survive. We need your help.”
Wade said, “Calm down, Leo. I’ll do the talking.” Turning back to Zeke, he said, “Leo’s right about Markin shooting your friend and leaving us stranded. I hope you’ve come in time to help the man. I didn’t know anything else to do for him.”
Zeke eyed the two easterners. He noticed they weren’t wearing guns, so he felt safe letting his rifle down to his side. “I’m going to see what Mac needs, then I’m going to get to the bottom of what’s going on here.”
“I can tell you...”Leo started, but stopped when Zeke raised the rifle and pointed it at him.
“I said I’m going to check on my scout. Stay where you are.”
Leo looked as if he was going to say something else, but Wade put a hand on his arm. “Let the man check on his friend, Leo. We have plenty of time to talk with him later.”
Zeke checked the bullet hole in Mac’s side. It was nasty, but looked like the bullet had come from the back and had gone through. At least he wouldn’t have to dig it out. He knew if it hadn’t hit anything vital, Mac might be all right. It all depended on how much blood he’d lost.
A sharp whistle brought Zeke’s horse to him. He stood and took a bottle of whiskey out of the saddlebag.
“Are you going to get drunk?” Leo demanded.
Zeke looked at the man, then at Wade. “If you don’t keep your fool friend quiet, I’m going to shut his mouth, permanently.”
Leo’s eyes got big and he bit his lip.
Zeke turned from them and poured whiskey on the wound. Mac flinched, which Zeke knew was a good sign. “Give me a clean shirt,” he demanded.
“I only have one clean shirt and I’m sure not going to give it to you to put on that ruffian,” Leo blurted.
“I think I have an extra shirt,” Wade said.
“No! I want his shirt.” Zeke took the gun from his holster and waved it at Leo. “Get it for me.”
“I don’t want my good linen shirt messed up. Use something else.”
Zeke shot a bullet into the ground beside Leo’s foot. “Give me the goddamn shirt and give it to me now.”
A frightened Leo stumbled to his bedroll where he had his saddlebag. He took out a white linen shirt and came only close enough to Zeke to hand it to him. He then watched with disbelief on his face as Zeke ripped the shirt and made strips of bandage to wrap around his friend.
Mac opened his eyes, but didn’t speak.
“You’ll be all right as soon as I get you back to the train, Mac.”
After finishing with Mac, Zeke stood and looked at the two men. He didn’t think he’d ever seen anyone as out of place as these two were. They must have a powerful reason to be out here alone. Or were they alone? Didn’t they mention a man named Markin? Wasn’t that the name of the man Fiona was trying to get away from?
He picked up his rifle again and pointed it at Leo. “You keep your mouth shut.” He waved the gun toward Wade. “You tell me what the hell you two are doing out here in this desert?”
“I came to Independence to take my daughter, Rose, home to Baltimore. In the process I learned she’s on a wagon train headed for Oregon.”
“What makes you think she wants to go home?”
“She has no business out here in the wild,” Leo butted in.
Again Zeke swung the gun toward him. “Do you want me to put a gag in your mouth?”
“You wouldn’t dare.”
“One more interruption from you and you’ll see.” He turned back to Wade. “Why should she go back to Baltimore?”
“I’m her father. I know what’s best for her. She has no idea how dangerous it is out here.”
“Then why did she leave Baltimore?”
“Clint Larson carried her away in the middle of the night. Of course we didn’t know for several days. We thought something had happened to her in Baltimore. Then I got a letter saying she’d married Larson and wasn’t coming home.”
“So, I guess you’ve wasted a trip out here.”
“We have not. We’ll get Rose...”
Zeke jerked the kerchief from around his neck and walked toward him. He slung Leo around by the shoulder and gagged him. “That should keep you quiet.” He turned back to Wade. “Now go on with your story. Why do you think she’d leave her husband and go back to Baltimore with you?”
“I’m sure if I can talk to Rose, she’ll be happy to return to her family. We love her and want her back where she belongs. Larson is no good. He got into a mess a few years ago and left for Texas. Of course none of us lost any tears over his departure. I don’t know how he managed to persuade Rose to leave Baltimore with him, though it doesn’t matter. All I want is to take her home.”
Zeke decided not to tell Wade that his daughter had given birth to Clint Larson’s child. Besides, Rose and Clint seemed to be a happily married couple.
“Tell me about this Markin fellow,” Zeke said, changing the subject.
Wade went into detail about how they’d met Luther in Independence and decided to come with him to catch the wagon train. He finished with, “He had his own reasons, I’m sure, but I’m not interested in the woman and child he wants. I only want to find my daughter.”
Zeke shook his head. “I don’t see anything to do except take you to the wagon train. It’d be the same as murder if I left you stranded. You probably wouldn’t last until the Morris train comes along. It’s still three days behind you.”
“Thank you, sir. I’m sure I can get things straight as soon as I talk with Rose.”
Zeke didn’t tell him he had no intention of letting him talk to Rose until he talked with Clint himself. He was sure there was more to the story and he intended to get to the bottom of it.
“I’ll ride Mac with me and lead his horse. I can make sure he gets there safely. You and your friend saddle your horses and get together anything you intend to take with you. Be sure to gather up any food you have. Nobody on the train is compelled to share what they have with you.”
Wade nodded.
Zeke moved beside Leo. “Do you think you can keep your mouth shut if I take the gag off?”
Leo nodded his head, but as soon as his mouth was free he asked, “How far is the wagon train. I can’t wait to see Rose.”
Zeke ignored him. “Get to it, tenderfoot. I’ll be ready to pull out in five minutes.”
“Oh, lord. I don’t think I can get ready in such a short time.” Leo looked at the bearded wagon master. “I’ll need at least half an hour.”
“Then you’ll be here in the desert by yourself. Now step to it.”
“But...”
“Come on, Leo. Stop arguing with the man.”
It was actually ten minutes later when Zeke led them away from the camp toward the wagon train. His mind was working all the while. He knew he had to get help for Mac as soon as possible, but he wanted the two outsiders kept away from the Larson’s wagon. They hadn’t gone very far when he knew exactly what he was going to do with them. He chuckled out loud. It would serve them right. Men such as they were didn’t have any business wandering around in this barren country.
* * * *
“Uncle Clint, I think I heard it thunder.”
“I did, too, Joey. We’ve been lucky not to have rain on this trip so far, but our luck may run out tonight.”
“What will we do if it does rain?”
“I’m sure our tent won’t leak and the wagon has a good canvas. The women should stay dry.”
“Oh.”
“Besides,” Clint went on, “sometimes these storms last only minutes out here.”
“What if it lasts a long time?”
“Then we’ll have to cope with it.”
They finished cleaning up and then set up their tent. It began to rain as they settled down.
“Uncle Clint, do you like your baby?”
Clint was confused by Joey’s question. “Sure,” was all he said.
“Ma said she liked it, too.”
“I’m glad she likes it. She has to help Rose take care of it.”
“I asked her if she wanted to have a baby.”
Clint frowned as the exciting thought of making a baby with Fiona slithered across his mind. He shook the thought away and asked, “What did she say?”
“She said if she had lots of babies she’d still want me. That made me feel good because I was afraid she’d not want me if she had a baby.”
“I’m sure Fiona will always want you, Joey.”
“That’s what she said.” He yawned.
“Now, you go to sleep and don’t worry about your Aunt Fiona. She’s a wonderful woman and she’ll always be there for you.”
Joey turned over and snuggled in his blanket. “I hope you and Aunt Rose always live with me and Aunt Fiona,” he muttered.
Clint didn’t answer. He knew Joey was drifting off to sleep and he didn’t want to say he always hoped Fiona would be in his life, too. The problem was, he didn’t see how she could be. Eventually he might give himself away and lose not only her friendship, but her respect, too. Clint had lost enough people’s respect. He didn’t want to lose this special woman’s.
* * * *
“Well, I guess that’ll keep them away from the Larsons until I get a chance to find out what’s going on,” Zeke said as he tied the gag on Leo Carver’s mouth.
“Yeah, Boss. Nobody go in blacksmith wagon, but me. Nobody see them.” The huge blacksmith who always traveled with Zeke’s wagons nodded his head.
“Keep the fat one gagged, Ira. He’s liable to start yelling if we’re not here. You can gag the other one if you need to.”
“I keep them quiet. No problem for anyone.”
“Thanks, Ira.”
“How Mac?”
“I took him to the Weatherbees. His grandmother is part Crow Indian and does some kind of healing with plants and herbs. I’m sure she’ll take good care of him. I don’t want anyone knowing what happened. I’m afraid there might be a lynching, if they do.”
“If they took little girl, I bring rope.”
“Let’s hope it won’t come to that.” Zeke climbed out of the wagon, leaving the big mountain man as guardian over the two easterners. He knew Ira would do a good job.