Free Escape from Five Shadows (1956) by Elmore Leonard Page A

Brazil riding toward them.
    Brazil pulled up, his Winchester across his lap and pointing at them. Just passing the time of day?
    Chick Miller grinned. We're waiting for the axe crew to give us some work.
    Brazil nodded to a tree stump just beyond them. There's one left from Saturday. Start on it.
    That one won't be in the roadway, Chick Miller said.
    Brazil studied him. You going to argue over it?
    I just thought, why pull her out if she's going to be off the road anyway. He saw Brazil start to dismount and the half-smiling, squinting expression came over Chick's face. I mean it's not going to be in the way.
    Brazil swung down and started for him. He waved the barrel of the Winchester at the other three men and said, Get out of the way, not taking his eyes from Chick.
    We'll take her out, Chick said. He glanced at the Mexican, seeing him move away; then to Bowen and Pryde who were watching Brazil and now he saw them back away slowly. As he turned to Brazil again the Winchester barrel was swinging toward him. He threw up his arms and fell back stumbling but keeping his feet and the barrel slashed past his head. Chick started to run.
    Stand where you are!
    He stopped, but seeing Brazil coming toward him again, began to back away.
    I said stay where you are!
    Chick held up his hand. I don't want to get hit. Listen, we'll pull the stump. Just let me get my shovel. His extended hand pointed. I dropped it over there. His eyes opened wide as Brazil moved toward him and at that moment he turned to run, taking one stride as the rifle barrel slammed across his back and he went down covering his head with his arms.
    Brazil looked down at Chick, then turned from him. Now pull the stump, he said.
    The Mexican went to Chick and kneeled over him. Bowen watched Brazil mount and ride down canyon. There, twenty yards ahead of them, a half dozen convicts were clearing the pinyon clumps: cutting the trees close to the ground, but leaving enough stump for the chain to be wound around and fastened to securely.
    As the Mexican helped Chick to his feet, Pryde and Bowen walked over to them. Pryde asked, How are you?
    An exaggerated expression of pain was on Chick's face. He'll be sorry he did that.
    Pryde shook his head. When the time and the day comes, you'll be second in line. I got first dibs on Mr. Brazil.
    The Mexican was looking at Pryde. He smiled then. If that day ever comes, I hope I'm there to see it. When you're through with him, maybe I'll kick him in the face.
    By noon, they were not more than a hundred yards farther down the canyon. The convicts worked as slowly as Renda would let them, knowing that he wanted to stretch the job time for all it was worth. Still, two or three times a day Renda would conscientiously speed up the work pace, as if rebelling against this one small advantage they held over him.
    The clearing crew would cut down the pinyon and large mesquite bushes, drag them to the side of the canyon and burn them. The stump-pulling crew followed digging under the shallow-rooted pinyon stumps, looping the chain about the trunk stub, levering with the shovel and finally pulling it out with the wagon team. One of them would drag the stump to the nearest fire as the others went on to the next stump.
    Two guards watched the clearing crew because there was usually thick brush ahead of them. From the east side of the canyon, Brazil watched the group Bowen was with and most of the time Brazil did not leave the thin strip of shade close to the slanting talus wall.
    Behind them came the pick-and-shovel crew filling the stump holes from borrow pits along the side of the road, breaking stones, clearing the small mesquite bushes and the yellow-blazing patches of brittlebush, raking them over to the bonfires.
    The scraper came next two timbers bolted together and pulled by a wagon team. Six men, Manring one of them, stood on the timbers to add weight. The scraper bumped along over the roadway, the convicts losing their balance, jumping off