THIRTY-EIGHT
McBeth slept through the night and woke up ravenous. Over steak and eggs at the same restaurant he demanded, “Why’d you let me sleep?”
“You needed it,” Clint told him.
“I think I could eat a damned horse this mornin’,” he complained.
Clint and Weaver just had ham and eggs and watched the Irishman destroy two plates of steak and eggs. While he was eating, Clint told him what he was planning.
“We ride like hell for Fort Hampton, try to pick up the trail from there.”
“That sounds good to me,” McBeth said. “This is the closest I’ve been to the bastard in three months. The faster we move the better.”
“There’s one thing,” Clint said.
“What’s that?”
“I can move faster than the two of you,” Clint said, “even if you weren’t wounded.”
“With that horse?” Weaver asked. “I’d say so.”
“You want to go ahead of us?” McBeth asked.
“That’s right,” Clint said. “I’ll leave a clear trail for you to follow.”
Weaver and McBeth exchanged a look.
“Sounds good to me,” Weaver said.
McBeth remained silent.
“You want him dead, right?” Clint asked.
“Yes.”
“Does it matter to you who kills him?”
“Yes, it bloody well does,” McBeth said. “I wouldn’t have come all this way if it didn’t.”
“Okay,” Clint said, “okay. I’ll just locate them, then double back and find the two of you. Then we’ll go and get them.”
“How’s that?” Weaver asked McBeth.
“It sounds better,” the Irishman admitted.
“Okay, then,” Clint said, standing up. “Finish eating and I’ll get started.”
Weaver stood up
“I’ll come along, saddle the horses.” He looked at McBeth. “Then come back and get you.”
“Fine,” McBeth said. “I’ll finish up here and be ready.”
“How are you feeling, McBeth?” Clint asked.
“Actually,” McBeth said, “I’m feeling pretty strong.”
“Good,” Clint said, “because it’s going to be a hard ride from here.”
Clint rode hell-bent for leather to Fort Hampton. With Eclipse moving like the wind, he got there a full two hours before Weaver and McBeth could possibly make it.
He rode straight to the sheriff’s office, entered like his ass was on fire.
“Whoa, whoa, friend,” the lawman said. The sheriff stood up, topping six three easily, with a shock of gray hair standing up on his head, adding a few inches. There was a deputy there, who almost pulled his gun.
“Take it easy, Jed,” the sheriff said, stopping the deputy with a wave of a big hand. “Friend, I’m Sheriff Bez. What’s on your mind?”
“Sheriff, two colleagues and I have been tracking the Dolan Gang for months,” Clint said. “We heard they robbed your bank.”
“About four days ago,” the sheriff said. “Killed two people.”
“Have you been out looking for them?”
“I had a posse out for two days,” the lawman said. “Most of them had to come back after that.”
“You quit after that?”
Bez bristled.
“Quit ain’t the word I’d use,” he said gruffly.
“I’m sorry,” Clint said. “I didn’t mean any offense. We’ve just been after them for a long time.”
“You and who else?”
“I’m riding with a man who followed Dolan here from Ireland.”
“He must want him pretty bad.”
“Real bad.”
“Well, I’m pretty sure they’re out of the county by now. We did manage to find a camp of theirs, but not much else.”
“Can you take me to that camp?” Clint asked. “Give me some idea what direction they were heading when you . . . broke off your pursuit?”
“Sure,” Bez said, “I can do that. Don’t see why not.”
“Now?”
“Don’t you want to rest?” the lawman asked. “Looks like you rode pretty hard to get here.”
“I did,” Clint said, “but this is the closest we’ve been in three months.”
“Okay,” Bez said, grabbing his hat. “I’ll saddle up. Jed, you hang around here. You’re in charge.”
“Yes, sir.”
“I’ll get my horse and meet you in front of the Big Thicket Saloon. You look like you could use a beer.”
“I could,” Clint said. “I’ll meet you there.”
Clint went into the Big Thicket Saloon and had a cold beer. He was standing out in front of the saloon when the sheriff rode up.
“That’s an impressive horse,” the lawman said.
“Got me here in no time from Silverton,” Clint said proudly.
“Where are your partners?” the sheriff asked.
“They’re coming,” Clint said, patting Eclipse’s neck. “They couldn’t keep up. I want to locate the gang as soon as I can.”
“Well, you’re still gonna have some ridin’ to do,” Bez said, “but I’ll take you to the campsite we found. Maybe it’ll tell you somethin’ it didn’t tell me.”
“I hope so.”
