Finding Promise (28 page)

Chapter Thirty-Three

“Jake, this is where Luke and I take the other trail,” Colt said, coming to a halt. “A couple of days ago I timed both trails to the bend where they'll most likely be waiting. The higher trail takes longer, and due to the terrain we will have to leave the horses some distance away and walk in. So stay here fifteen minutes before you leave, and then keep a steady pace. It should take about thirty minutes to reach the bend. By the time you get there, we'll be in position above them.”

Everyone checked their guns as they ran through the plan one more time.

“I expect them to split up and come at us from both sides of the pass; you and Luke take the ones on the west side, and we'll take the ones on the east ridge with rifles,” Jake said.

Colt looked inside the wagon, and said to Cole and Rodriguez, “You can untie the canvas on the west side and slip out when the firing starts so you can use the wagon for cover.”

“You're saying that it'll take twice as many of them to do what you and I can do alone?” Luke joked.

“Hell, Colt's wearing both guns, so I figure that'll make it even,” Jake replied.

Colt looked at Jake, and when he spoke, his tone was serious. “Keep the wagon to the west side of the trail. You will be the most vulnerable, so stop this thing in a hurry and haul ass off the right side of the wagon. Have your rifles at the ready in case we haven't picked them off the ridge.”

Cole shoved two rifles through the opening in the canvas to Jake. “Here you go.”

Jake looked at Shorty. “I know you like that shotgun underneath your skirt, but now might be the right time to get it ready.”

As Colt and Luke rode away they heard Shorty's response. “I might just let them low-down dirty skunks shoot your sorry keister.”

 

 

Colt and Luke rode at a quicker pace and tied their horses off so they could walk the last quarter of a mile. Just as they expected, the killers were at the very place they hoped they would be. The two of them descended slowly, trying to remain out of sight from the men on the opposite ridge. They found an area behind some large boulders that was the perfect position to see everything on both sides of the trail. Colt held up five fingers and pointed to the position of the killers below. Luke nodded, and held up four fingers pointing to the ridge on the other side of the trail. There was a slight breeze, and Colt grabbed a handful of grass and threw it in the air to see how it would affect his shots. Just then, he heard the sound of the wagon coming down the trail.

The killers below Luke and Colt also heard the wagon. They pulled their guns and peeked around the rocks, waiting for the right moment to start shooting. One of the men on the west side signaled the men on the east ridge.

Colt and Luke braced their rifles on the rocks. They watched as the killers braced their arms on the rocks, pistols pointed at the road. Seconds later the horses came around the bend. Colt could only see the far side of the wagon, so he knew Jake was keeping it as close as he could to the west side of the trail. Colt and Luke knew the moment the killers saw Jake and the person they thought was Promise because all hell broke loose. The killers started firing. He hoped Jake and Shorty had jumped out at the right moment, because the horses took off at a full gallop down the trail, the wagon bouncing around behind them.

Once the killers realized they were being shot at from behind, they turned and scattered, trying to find cover. Colt and Luke could hear the rifles firing below, and were stunned to hear pistols returning fire. The killers obviously didn't plan ahead. They hadn't thought to take their rifles as they prepared their ambush. In short order, Colt and Luke dispatched the five men, and moved down the ridge to make sure they were no longer a threat. “How many left?” he yelled to his brother.

“Two still firing,” Jake responded. He fired off another round, and yelled, “Make that one.”

Colt grinned as he pulled his rifle to his shoulder and scanned the area to find the one remaining man. Once he spotted him, he took aim and fired one time. The man fell from the rocks to the road.

“Make that zero,” Luke said. “Good shot, big brother. I'm heartened to know you haven't lost your touch.”

“Everyone all right down there?” Colt asked.

“Not so much as a scratch,” Jake answered. “At least not if you don't count Shorty getting caught up in his skirt and falling out of the wagon. He probably skinned his fair knees.”

“At least I saved Promise's hat,” Shorty countered.

“Looks like these varmints can't shoot worth a damn if someone else is shooting back,” Luke said.

Next came the task of checking every man to see how many were breathing. They found three alive. One gut shot, so he wasn't going to make it, but the other two would live. Jake recognized Deputy Potter; he would survive his arm injury. “It looks like you're in luck today,” he said.

“Yeah, I feel real lucky,” Potter whined.

“Well, I can sure put your sorry ass out of your misery,” Shorty offered, poking him with his shotgun.

Potter looked at the little man dressed in women's clothing. “So this was a setup,” he stated.

“Looks that way, don't it, stupid,” Shorty said.

Colt was checking the last man and Jake called out, “Is it him?”

“No.”

“Where is he?” Jake asked Potter.

“Who?”

“Hart Newcombe,” Jake ground out.

“He didn't come with us.”

This came as a surprise to Jake. “Why not?”

“This morning he just told us he'd meet up with us on the way back to Denver,” Potter said.

“Why Denver? Is Schott in on this?”

When Potter didn't immediately respond, Shorty urged him on by poking his wounded arm with this shotgun.

“No!” Potter shouted. “Schott just wanted those people off the land. He wanted Newcombe to get it done and he didn't care how.”

“Jake, do you believe this sorry jackass?” Shorty asked.

“I'm not sure.”

“Let me plug him in his other arm and see if his story changes,” Shorty offered.

Jake grinned. “Sounds good to me. I'm tired of his caterwauling.”

Shorty raised his shotgun and Potter shrieked, “I'm telling the truth! We wasn't gonna stay in Denver 'cause Newcombe has a woman at the border he's itching to get back to.”

“Why would he want to miss this party, since he's gone to all this trouble to find us?” Jake asked.

“I don't know. I know he wanted that gal dead more than anything, even more than the money. He told us if she didn't have the money with her, just kill her anyway.”

“What's this woman's name, and what town at the border?”

“Her name's Juanita Torres, and she lives down past El Paso.”

Jake figured that was the truth. “How many are left?”

“No one. We had two that said they'd had enough and took off to Mexico a week ago. Did that gal really have a lot of money like Newcombe said?”

Jake glared at him. “It don't matter none one way or the other, 'cause you're going to hang and you'll never know.” Holstering his gun, he walked over to where Colt was standing with Luke and Cole. “I'm going after him.”

“I'm going with you,” Cole said, his tone indicating it wasn't open for discussion.

“Me too,” Luke added.

Jake looked at Luke. “Luke, I thank you for wanting to help, but I would consider it a favor if you would stay and help Colt. He's going to have his hands full with all these cattle, and I hate leaving him right now and putting all the work on him again. I'd say he's done enough over the last ten years.”

Colt understood Jake's need to finish this, so he didn't argue about him tracking Newcombe. He didn't want either of his brothers to leave, but he knew he would do the same thing. “Don't worry about me. Let's get back to the ranch and you and Cole can get your provisions.”

As much as he hated to let Jake go alone, Luke couldn't argue that Colt would have too much work with winter coming on. “If you two need any help, then wire us and I'll be on my way,” Luke told them.

As they walked to their horses, Jake said, “Colt, we're taking Potter's word that Newcombe was meeting up with them on their way to Denver, so if he's lying to us, that bushwhacker could be anywhere. If he comes to the ranch, I know you'll take care of him.”

“We'll be ready if he shows up there. Since Newcombe is without his gang now, I don't think even he's stupid enough to try that,” Colt assured him.

Jake glanced at Luke. “Can you and Rodriguez take these vermin to jail, then wire the U.S. Marshal and tell him where to find them?”

“Sure thing,” Luke said.

“There's not a sheriff in town, but there's a deputy. He's not much in the way of enforcing the law, but I guess he can keep them in jail until the marshal gets here,” Colt told them.

 

 

It didn't ease Promise's mind to hear about the plans already in motion, and her nerves were at a breaking point. Fortunately, they were able to keep the secret from Victoria and the boys.

Promise and Mrs. Wellington were in the kitchen baking pies when they saw the wagon pull up to the stable. On seeing Jake leap from the wagon, Promise breathed a sigh of relief. She kept her eyes on him as he walked hurriedly to the stable, and she spotted Cole walking toward the bunkhouse.

“Charles, keep everyone inside until I find out what's going on,” T. J. said as he and Strait walked out the door. They intercepted Colt walking to the house and spoke briefly.

When Colt walked into the kitchen, all eyes were on him. T. J. had told him that Promise was aware of their plans, so there was no reason for him to hide anything. “Everyone is fine.”

“Did it go as expected?” Charles asked.

“Yes. Luke and Rodriguez are taking two of them to jail.” He didn't say the ringleader was missing and the rest were dead. He didn't wait for more questions; he walked through the kitchen and headed upstairs to see Victoria. Realizing Colt had spared the details from the women, Charles left the house to go to the stable to hear the specifics from the men.

Every few minutes Promise glanced out the window, hoping to catch a glimpse of Jake. When she did see him, he was riding out with Cole at his side. Though she was disappointed she hadn't had a chance to talk to him, she consoled herself knowing she would see him at dinner.

 

 

Luke and Rodriguez returned from delivering the killers to jail just as Promise and Mrs. Wellington were putting dinner on the table. Once everyone was seated, Colt said a prayer, and his last request was asking God to look after Jake and Cole and bring them back safely.

As soon as he said amen, Promise asked, “Bring Jake and Cole back from where?”

“He didn't tell you?” Colt asked.

Promise looked from Colt to Luke. “Tell me what?”

It surprised Colt that Jake hadn't spoken with Promise before he left. He didn't know what was wrong with his brother. It wasn't like him to be so callous. “Jake and Cole are following one of the men who's still on the loose.”

“Following him where?” Promise asked.

“Wherever it takes them.” It was obvious to Colt by the look on her face she was devastated that Jake hadn't talked to her and explained the reason he was leaving. “Promise, this is the only man left that is not dead or in jail, and Jake wanted it finished. He knows you won't be safe with this killer running free. Luke or I would have done the same thing. And before you start blaming yourself, remember these men were responsible for ambushing and shooting Jake.”

She knew Colt was right. Not only had these men killed so many on the wagon train, they had intentionally left Jake for dead. Still, she was hurt that Jake hadn't told her he was leaving. She tried to tell herself that he was in a hurry and had a lot on his mind, and he didn't owe her an explanation for his decisions. No matter the reason, it didn't lessen the hurt.

Understanding what Promise was feeling, Victoria hoped to ease her mind. “Colt said Jake would send a telegram if he traveled as far as Denver.”

Promise turned her eyes on Colt. “Do you think they will have to go that far?”

“It's possible.”

“Jake and Cole stopped in town to make sure Newcombe wasn't waiting for the gang there, but L. B. said he'd left town with the others,” Luke offered.

After dinner was over, Promise delivered some pies to the bunkhouse. More than anything she wanted to see with her own eyes that Shorty was okay. Shorty would understand how she felt since they'd already been through so much together.

“I guess you'll be wanting your hat back, missy?” Shorty teased as soon as he opened the door.

“It's probably shot full of holes, just like your head could have been for taking such a chance! I shouldn't even be bringing you pies for doing something so addled!” she scolded.

Since ladies weren't allowed in the bunkhouse, Shorty took the pies from her and handed them off to Rodriguez. He took her by the arm and steered her toward the corral. When he had a lot on his mind, watching horses had a way of calming him down. He hoped it did the same thing for Promise. When they reached the fence, Shorty braced his arms on the top rail. “Now don't get a bee in your bonnet about this. It was a good plan, and we weren't really in any danger. Have you seen those McBride brothers shoot? Jake is one heck of a shot, but I swear that big brother of his could shoot a gnat off a horse's backside a mile away. Besides, as you can see, I don't have any extra holes in my noggin.”