The sun grew hotter and hotter as the day wore on. The Laredo Kid had been walking for an hour and a half. He had descended high country and crossed two small valleys. He was tired and thirsty. He had passed a stream shortly after starting out, but in his haste to get away from the posse, he had not taken the time to drink. Now he was regretting that decision. His throat was dry and if he had spoken, he would have found his voice raspy.
The terrain he was traversing now was hilly, but there were stands of trees and the grass was greener. There must be water nearby, The Kid told himself. There was a grove of cottonwoods off to his right. Thinking that this might be an indication of water nearby, he headed toward it.
As he approached it, he saw that the stand extended down the opposite side of a hill. He heard the gurgle of a stream somewhere on the other side down below.
He walked into the shade of the trees. It felt cool and refreshing. His feet slid a little as he made his way down the wooded embankment. He reached out and grabbed the trunks of small saplings, hand over hand, one hand at a time, to steady himself. His boot heels dug into the soft earth beneath his feet as he all but skidded to the bottom of the incline.
The heat of the sun struck him again as he emerged from the shade into an opening. The stream gleamed in the sunlight. He could feel the coolness of the water as he dropped himself full length on his stomach across the pebbled side of the stream. Its surface was so crystal clear that he could see the image of his own face and the mirror image of the trees behind him and the clear blue sky above. He immersed his face, then lifted it a bit to drink. The water was cool, brisk and fresh. After he had drunk his fill for the moment, he plunged his entire head below the water, shook his head about, lifted it again and ran his fingers through his soaked, matted hair. It all felt so good. He splashed his face with the fresh liquid and rubbed the back of his neck, easing his tension.
He turned back to drink again. The water was still rippling from the disturbance he had just caused, but the reflections in the water were beginning to reappear. He halted with a start, staring into the water. Above his own image, he could see the shapes that looked like three men standing behind him. Three horses were ground hitched near the trees. As the water settled, the images came into better focus. There were men and horses there. He was sure now.
He instinctively rolled to his left side; his right hand reaching for his Colt. He had it half slid out of the holster when he heard the menacing clicks of hammers being pulled back.
“Hold it right there!” A voice boomed. It was a deep voice. Laredo had heard it before, but had not placed it until he focused on the man and his companions standing above him.
“Well, well, well. Look what we got here boys,” Ben Tolbert said, half chuckling, but now sounding friendly. “This is one of those boys we met up with the other night.”
Then to The Kid he said, “Now a word of advice to you, Mister. I suggest you just let that hogleg slip back into its holster. Take your hand off the grip and keep it away wide.”
Laredo did as he was told. He said not a word, but kept his eyes focused on his captors.
“There. That’s better,” Tolbert said
“What’s the matter, sonny. Cat got your tongue? You lose your way, out here? ”
“Hey boss,” Dan Greer said. “I seen this hombre in town. He’s the hangman.”
Tolbert grinned and waved his pistol playfully. “That right, sonny? You the hangman?”
“You’re saying it. You’re calling the tune.” Laredo said flatly.
“You know. You’ve cost me a lot of dough today.”
Laredo only stared. He didn’t say anything more. Just waited.
“You know who we are boy?”
“Yeah. You’re the jaspers that jumped me and my partner the other night.”
“Hell, we know that,” Tolbert scoffed. “I mean, you know are names?”
“Seems to me I heard you say your name was Tolbert. I don’t remember your friends’ names. I only remember yours from the sheriff talking about you. Other than that I don’t give a damn about you. I just want to be on my way. I’m not looking for any trouble.”
“You’re not looking for trouble?” Tolbert laughed. “Seems to me you’re already in one hell of a lot of trouble.”
The Kid waited. He didn’t know just how much this bunch really knew about him.
“Shootin’ that sheriff, back there wasn’t a smart thing to do, sonny. You see, you‘ve caused us one hell of a problem. We was all set to rob the bank while you were putting on your hanging show. With everyone in town there, robbing that tin can would have been a piece of cake. Now you‘ve gone and spoiled it for us. And, I don‘t like that. Do I?” The last part was practically a growl. He thrust his pistol forward, aiming directly at The Laredo Kid’s face. He started to squeeze the trigger, taking up the slack.
The Kid waited for it. Resigned to his fate. Perhaps relieved that it was finally all over.
“Hold it right there!” A voice sounded behind them from the trees.
Tolbert, taken by surprise, turned on his heel. His pistol stabbed flame as it went off without any particular aim.
Greer and Slocum both turned at the same time. Bringing their drawn weapons up. Neither had time to fire as rifle shots sounded. Both fell almost as one; their faces masked white with surprise and agony as bullets drove into them. Greer took one in the gut and doubled over. Before Greer hit the ground, Slocum took a slug in the face, splattering blood like a halo around his head. Tolbert had thrown himself to the right, reaching for the ground. A bullet ripped through his upper thigh just before he landed. His pistol fell from his hand and skittered just out of reach.
The rifle sounded twice more. One driving into Greer before he fell the rest of the way to the ground. The other plowed into the dirt just before Tolbert’s pistol and pushed it a little farther away from his fingers as he reached out for it again.
The voice sounded again. “Leave it alone, unless you want to get what your two playmates got.”
Tolbert let his fingers slide back close to his body; his eyes still on the weapon.
By now The Kid had slid his colt back out of the holster and gripped it tightly; hammer eared back. He remained lying where he was, avoiding any sudden moves that might attract the rifle fire in his direction.
He thought he had recognized the voice immediately, but when Bell Bonner emerged from the trees he knew he had been right.
She came forward toward them; her rifle held high with a bead on Ben Tolbert. When she came close, she kicked his pistol farther away to relieve the outlaw of any further temptation to go for it. “I really wished you’d have gone for it,” she said flatly. “Dead men are easier to take back.”
She turned to Laredo, “You can put that hogleg away now, Kid and get up. Everything’s under control now.”
The Kid stood up, but kept his Colt in his hand. His thumb still held the hammer back. He reminded himself that Belle Bonner was a bounty hunter and there was bounty on his head as well as Tolbert and his two goons. This could be a very profitable day for Belle.
“You plan to take me in too, Belle?” There was ice in his tone and his pistol raised slightly.
Belle acknowledged the move. “Don’t you trust me, Kid?” Her voice went soft and her rifle lowered. A quick glance in Tolbert’s direction told him not to get too eager to put the play back in motion.
“Can you blame me? You knew I was The Laredo Kid all along and you were just playing me like a sap.”
“The Laredo Kid?” Tolbert exclaimed.
Then to Laredo, “That right? You are The Laredo Kid? What the hell were you doing being a hangman.”
“Shut up!” Belle ordered. “Ain’t none of your business who he is. I’m not talking to you. I’m talking to The Kid.
“No, Kid,” Belle said, turning her attention back to him. “I didn’t know who you were until you told the judge. I backed you up so he wouldn’t hang that kid you were so damn worried
about. You’re a fool, you know that Kid? You should have looked out for your own skin and kept on riding. But just so you know, the judge did let that boy go, but I guess he didn‘t believe you about Clay Shaw killing the sheriff. I guess you‘re still taking the rap for that one.”
“You know, Kid. This is the third time today I saved your miserable hide.” She continued.
She was sounding too nice. Too sincere. Was she just trying to get him off guard?
“Third?” His brows knitted together in consternation.
“Yep,” she said proudly. “I kept Clay Shaw from putting a bullet in your back as you rode out of town this morning and just why do you think the posse got off your tail this afternoon?”
“Let me guess,” The Kid said sarcastically. “You’re going to tell me you had something to do with that?”
“Yep. I was out ahead of the posse. Been watching you all day. If I had wanted to take you for the bounty, I could’ve done it anytime. But, I guess I’m just as big a fool as you. Anyways, when you left the trail I was on higher ground. I saw the posse coming and I circled around and got up on the ledge on the opposite side of the ravine. When the posse rode in, I gave them a dose of lead.” She smiled. “You’re going to love this. I shot your friend Clay Shaw in the brisket.”
“Kill him?” Laredo was listening now. His thumb was easing the hammer down.
“Don’t I wish,” she said. “After the posse retreated, I caught up with them. Made out like I was after you too. They had gotten Shaw off his horse and fixed him up a little. I swear the man’s got nine lives. My bullet nicked a rib and was deflected. Looks like the bastard’s going live after all. Some of the men were going to take him back to town, but the rest were going to keep after you. If you don’t get away from here soon, they’ll be catching up. If I were you, I’d clear out, now.”
“And you’re just going to let me go? Forget about the bounty? Why would you do that for me?”
“Do you really have to ask that?” She said softly. The hardness in her eyes was gone. A hint of mist glinted in the corners.
Laredo let the hammer all the way down and he slid the pistol back into the holster. He didn’t know why but he believed her. Maybe he just wanted to believe her.
“What about these three?” Laredo said pointing to the two bodies and Tolbert, who was clutching at his wound. Red stain dripped through his fingers.
“I can handle them until I meet up with the posse,” Belle said.
“You gonna just let that outlaw ride away?” Tolbert put in. “He’s worth more than we are altogether. There’s five hundred on Greer. Two hundred on Slocum. Another thousand on me That’s chicken feed compared to what’s on The Laredo Kid. Just how much is there on you, Kid?”
“I told you to shut up.” Belle swung the rifle toward him.
“Just trying to help,” Tolbert said.
“I don’t need your help. I can count. And today is a good haul for me.” She pointed the rifle at each dead outlaw counting, “Five hundred, seven hundred.” Then to Tolbert, “Seventeen Hundred.”
She turned and brought the rifle up pointing at The Laredo Kid, “Eleven thousand seven hundred dollars.” She smiled wryly, like the cat that just ate the canary.
“Guess I should have known,” Laredo said sadly. His arm was outstretched at an angle. His hand was away from his pistol butt.
“Yes, you should have, Kid.”
“I wanted to believe you.”
“I know you did, Kid. But, business is business. I’m sorry. I really am.”
“I believe that too,” he said. “But I’m afraid it’s going to have to be business as usual for you , Belle. You always said it was easier to take them back dead than alive. I’m afraid that’s the only way you’re going to take me back.”
“You going to try to shoot it out with me, Kid?”
“No. I just might take you with me if I did. And I don’t want to do that.”
“Why not?”
“Do you have to ask, that?” He said.
“Then, what’s the play going to be?”
“I’m climbing on one of those horses over there and riding out. You’ll have to shoot me in the back. I’m hoping you won’t, but if you do, so be it. I’m tired. Tired of running, hiding, being somebody I’m not. Hell I don’t even know who I am anymore. So, if you want to shoot me, go ahead, I just don’t care any more.”
With that he strode forward. The rifle lifted higher. When he was a foot in front of her, he halted. “You’re quite a woman, Belle Bonner.” He almost cracked a slight smile, then walked on past her. She turned on her heel, letting the rifle muzzle follow him. She watched his broad back, the easy swing of his arms as he picked out one of the horses and climbed into the saddle. He was careful not to look back. He didn’t want it see it coming.
Now that he was in the saddle, Belle raised the muzzle higher, the gunsight still zeroed in on Laredo’s back.
Laredo urged his mount forward at a walk. For some reason, he felt no fear. A peace was settling over him. At long last, it would be over. Let it be done, he thought to himself.
Belle’s finger tightened on the trigger. She started to take up the slack and then the rifle barrel became unsteady. Suddenly she realized she was trembling all over. What was wrong with her? She tried again to bring the gunsight in line with her target. Her knees were weak. She lowered the weapon, no longer aiming it.
“What are you waiting for?” Tolbert chided from behind her. “You’re letting ten thousand dollars get away. Go ahead. Shoot the bastard.”
Laredo kept the horse walking, slowly, steadily. Still waiting for it to end. Then as if he weren’t expecting it, the thundering roar of the rifle echoed in his ears. His shoulders bunched and his broad back went taught. Then silence. Total silence. The way it should be. But it wasn’t. He suddenly realized he could still hear the steady clip clop of his horse’s hooves. He suddenly realized he had not been shot at all. He was still alive. Telling himself that she had merely missed, he forced himself not to look back. He kept riding. Waiting.
“Hey, Kid,” he heard Belle shout. “Tolbert told me to shoot the bastard. I did.”
Laredo reined the horse to a halt and turned in the saddle.
Belle was standing over Tolbert’s dead body, wisps of gun smoke still curled up from the muzzle of her rifle. “Like I always said, it’s easier to take them back dead. Now you’d better get riding before the posse catches up.” Color returned to The Laredo Kid’s cheeks. A broad smile spread across his face. Belle was waving at him. He raised a hand and waved back. Then he turned in his saddle and spurred his horse forward into a gallop and then turned south and toward the west.
He wasn’t far from the New Mexico border and the posse couldn’t follow him there. But the problem was that he was now going back into Indian territory where he had come from and once again a posse was on his tail. Comanche warriors would be waiting up ahead and the Devil was still on his back.
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