Free Ralph Compton Death Along the Cimarron by RALPH COMPTON Page B

dangling something as sweet and pretty as that little redheaded woman before my eyes. I’d be a fool not to take a taste. What made you think you could deal with the likes of me and ever come out ahead?”
    â€œEarl, please—”
    Dave Waddell’s voice fell silent as Earl bowed him forward at the waist and crashed the butt of the Navy Whitney against the back of his head. Seeing her husband fall face forward into the dirt, Ellen screamed long and loud, scratching the outlaw and jerking free from Sherman Fentress’s grip. She hit the ground at a run toward her husband and didn’t stop until Earl’s strong hand caught her by her arm and slung her away. She landed in the dirt and came crawling toward Dave Waddell. Earl swooped an arm down, caught her around the waist, and held her hanging down his side, kicking and screaming. “He’ll be okay ... just wake up with a headache is all. You gave your word you’d come with me, no trouble. You ain’t backing out on it, are you?” He flipped the Whitney around and cocked it in Dave Waddell’s direction.
    Ellen caught hold of herself, seeing the gun pointed at her unconscious husband’s head. “No, wait!” She settled down immediately. “I won’t cause any trouble, I promise. I’ll keep my word.”
    â€œAll right then, that’s more like it.” Earl eased his grip and let her stand on her feet. He slipped an arm around her thin waist and hugged her up close. “I swear, woman, since the first time I laid eyes on you from a distance, it’s been all I could do to keep my hands off you.” He nuzzled his face into her long, flowing red hair, the scent of her seeming to overpower him for a second as he closed his eyes.
    â€œI won’t be any problem from now on,” Ellen said in a soft, relenting voice. “Whatever you want, I’ll do it.”
    Earl’s breath quickened at the sound of her voice. “Lord, what a waste, something like you hooked to the likes of something like him.” He shook his head as if to dear it. “But that’s over now.” Then he turned, pulling her back to the horses. “Come on, let’s get these horses swapped out and put some miles between us and Haley Springs. I’ve got to get an ambush set up for a couple of real tough gunslingers who’re going to be on our trail.” He grinned and spoke to Ellen as he dragged her along. “The more you get to know me, the more you’ll come to realize that I’m a man who likes staying one step ahead of the game.”
    Ellen looked back once more at where her husband lay crumpled in the dirt, a trickle of blood oozing down the back of his head. Then she forced herself to swallow the bitter taste in her mouth and follow Cherokee Earl at a quicker pace, trying her best to keep up with him.
    â€œWhere we headed from here, Boss?” asked Sherman Fentress, hoping nothing would be said about the way the woman had broken free from him. But Earl was letting nothing past him.
    â€œI reckon the first place ought to be a doctor so’s you can have your face looked at. You’ve let this little girl scratch you like a wildcat.” He walked steadily on, pulling the woman behind him. The men laughed as they stepped down and led their horses toward the corral.
    Sherman turned red and touched his fingers to the stripe of blood along his cheek. “Aw, this ain’t nothing. She just wiggled loose is all.” He hurried to catch up with Earl.
    â€œYeah, wiggled loose,” Earl said wryly. “Go help swap out some horses. We’ve been here long enough.”
    â€œBut where are we headed from here, Boss?” Sherman persisted. “We told Billy and Frisco we’d meet them along the south trail.”
    â€œI lied, Sherman.... Those two are on their own. I used them as bait for the woman gunslinger and the old man. We’re going to throw a little