Sidewinder (27 page)

“You . . . you . . .”

The bullet struck the man in the throat and ripped it out in a spray of bright red blood. He gurgled and fell to his knees, clawing at his throat, struggling to pull in air.

His throat went into convulsions, and Brad heard his death rattle as he raced past him and took the stairs two at a time.

Women were screaming, and he heard the thud of blows.

He ran down the dark hall to an open door where the screams were loudest.

He stood there, trying to see into the room. Someone lay on the floor. He saw a woman’s legs and shoes.

“Felicity?” Brad said, and stepped to one side of the door, outside, in the hall.

“Brad,” she screamed. “Help us.”

Then he heard Pilar babbling in Spanish.

“She is dead,” Pilar screamed. “You killed her.”

Brad stepped inside the room, dreading what he might see.

Less than a mile from his mother’s home, Delbert and Ridley heard gunfire. Both men stopped their horses to listen.

Then it was quiet.

“I counted three shots,” Ridley said.

“Maybe it’s all over,” Delbert said. “You ride up and see what’s been going on, Ridley. I’ll be right behind you.”

“Why me, Del?”

“Don’t argue with me. Take it slow. Likely, you’ll see the Mex and Storm lying dead right out front. Now get moving.”

Julio and Pete were waiting for Ridley when he rode up. They pointed their rifles at him from twenty feet away.

“Off your horse, Smoot,” Pete said.

“I’m damned,” Ridley said, seeing that he had no chance to retreat. As he was climbing down from the saddle, Pete and Julio braced him from two sides. He stared at rifle barrels less than a foot from his face.

The three men heard a flurry of hoofbeats heading toward town.

“That Delbert?” Pete asked, lifting Ridley’s pistol from its holster.

“That bastard,” Ridley said.

∿

“Is she dead?” Felicity asked as Brad stepped over Maude’s body. Felicity’s voice was quavering, and she still held the makeshift club in her hand.

Pilar was pressed against Felicity’s back, trembling, sobbing.

“Yes,” Brad said, and took the board from Felicity’s hand and dropped it on the floor. “Let’s go. Pilar, Julio’s outside, waiting for you.”

~

Julio set down his rifle and took Pilar in his arms. They spoke to each other in Spanish.

“Looks like you’ll be working for Harry, Brad,” Pete said. “Delbert Coombs hightailed it after throwing Smoot here to the dogs. Julio and I were the dogs.”

“If it means bringing Coombs to justice, then I’m in Harry’s employ.”

Pete looked at Smoot.

“You’re going to hang, Ridley. All by yourself, I guess.”

Ridley looked at Brad, a wry smile on his face. He saw the rattles hanging from Brad’s neck.

“I heard about those rattles,” he said. “Wicks told me you scared hell out of him.”

“Where is Wicks?” Brad asked.

“He’s on his way up to your ranch. He’ll be there by tomorrow. Del sent him to kill that other Mex, the one you left behind.”

Julio and Brad exchanged looks.

“Don’t be too sure about that, Smoot,” Brad said.

~

Abner Wicks circled the desolated remains of the Storm ranch. He saw no sign of the Mexican. He could still smell the acrid odor of the fire. The scent stung his nostrils. He was about to turn his horse and ride back to Oro City when he saw movement from the trees above the burned barn.

Carlos rose up from his hiding place, a Winchester rifle at his shoulder.

Wicks reached for his own rifle.

That was the last act of his life.

Carlos squeezed the trigger. The bullet fried the air with sizzling speed and struck Abner Wicks just to the right of his breastbone. His heart exploded inside his shattered rib cage.

He fell to the ground, dead.

And now, Carlos thought, I have a horse.

Now, while there was still daylight, he would ride into Oro City to find Brad and Julio.

He looked down at the body of Abner Wicks as he grabbed up his horse’s reins.

“And, you,” he said, “will be food for the wolves and the buzzards.”

~

Harry Pendergast handed Brad a thick envelope as Pete and Felicity looked on.

“What’s this?” Brad said.

“Salary and expenses, Brad. And, your first assignment.”

“I have an assignment already?”

Pendergast smiled.

“I expect Delbert Coombs might lead you a merry chase. He’ll show up somewhere. His kind always do. I want him brought to justice. You know what justice is, don’t you?”

Brad smiled.

“Yes, I know what justice is. I have revised that old Mexican saying.”

“Oh?”

“Yes. Now, it’s ‘There is justice in the world.’ ”

He put his arm around Felicity and squeezed her tight against him.

Then he handed her the sealed envelope, reached into his pocket, pulled out a wad of greenbacks, and handed those to her, as well.

“What’s this for?” she asked.

“A new life,” Brad said. “A new home.”

“Welcome to the Denver Detective Agency,” Pendergast said, handing Felicity a hotel key. “You’ll stay in the Clarendon’s honeymoon suite until you find a place of your own,” he said.

Felicity felt her knees go weak. She felt faint until Brad kissed her, breathing new life into her heart and soul.

“Let’s see if that key works,” he whispered.