Free Devil's Canyon by Ralph Compton Page B

valuable than what’s in the wagons,” Odessa said, “and right now, they’re not sure just
where
you’re headed. Until they are, they can’t afford to murder us all.”
    â€œThat sums it up very well, madam,” said Collins. “When I was slugged, our first night on the trail, my attacker was seeking to learn where we are going, and why. Since he obviously learned nothing, it appears to have made them all the more determined that there is some treasure at the end of the rainbow.”
    â€œThey just ain’t sure where the end of the rainbow is,” Dallas said.
    â€œExactly,” said Collins, “and I don’t look for them to become dangerous until they’re convinced they can complete the journey without us.”
    â€œYeah,” Tarno said, “but we don’t know
when
they’re likely to make that decision.”
    Durham laughed. “I’ll be watching all of you sweat. I got nothing to lose.”
    â€œOh, but you have,” said Odessa. “If we get ambushed,and it looks like we’re all out of luck, I’m saving my last slug for you.”
    â€œI think, from here on,” Faro said, “we’ll have to scout the trail ahead. Not just for signs of these horsemen who are stalking us, but for hostile Utes as well. Collins, if you’ll continue to take the reins for me, I’ll scout ahead every morning. I’ll ride at least as far as the wagons are able to travel in a day.”
    â€œCertainly I’ll take over the wagon for you,” said Collins, “but it strikes me that you will be taking all the risk.”
    â€œMaybe,” Faro said, “but it’s a risk someone has to take. I don’t believe these riders who are stalking us will give away their game just to ambush one man, and I think they’ll alert us to a possible attack by Utes by acting as bait. As long as they’re somewhere ahead of us, the Utes will have to deal with them first. Any conflict between the two groups will warn us. Now that these four riders are ahead of us, it’s important that they stay there. I’ll be trailing them, makin’ sure they don’t double back.”
    â€œA good day’s run is twenty miles,” said Dallas. “If you aim to ride that far ahead, and one of those bunches decides to go after you, the rest of us won’t be able to get to you in time to help.”
    â€œI understand that,” Faro said, “but if either group gets in a position to ambush us, we must know in time to mount a defense. If we’re grouped, and they come after us all at the same time, they could wipe us out in a single volley. Behind your wagons, each of you has a horse on a lead rope. Keep those horses saddled, andif you should hear shooting somewhere ahead, then mount up and come a-runnin’.”
    â€œFor what purpose?” Durham demanded. “You’ve already admitted that if everything goes sour and you’re attacked, the rest of us will be too far behind to help you.”
    â€œDurham,” said Faro, “if I ride into an ambush, that doesn’t necessarily mean the rest of you are free of it. If I’m attacked, you may not arrive in time to help me, but there’s a chance I can stand them off until the rest of you can swing in behind them, or flank them. You can only defend yourselves against an ambush by having something or somebody to attack. A group attacking one man will attempt to surround him, and that brings them out into the open. You won’t get a better chance than that.”
    â€œIt’s time we had an understanding,” Durham said. “I agreed that you could use the wagon and the teams, but I don’t recall promising to help defend you against hostile Utes or outlaws.”
    â€œSuit yourself,” said Faro, “but as long as you’re part of this outfit, you stand to be shot just as dead as any of us.”
    â€œThen I