Free Ambush at Shadow Valley by Ralph Cotton

Having turned with them toward the breaking brush, the old German squinted, saying, ‘‘Who is it? Who is coming?’’
    â€˜â€˜It must be one of the dogs you talked about,’’ Sam said, watching the dog speed up into a worn-out trot at the sight of them. ‘‘Easy, boy,’’ he said, he and Hector both standing perfectly still, guns in hand as the thin-flanked shepherd hurried in close, lunging, barking and snarling toward them.
    The old man raised a hand toward the growling dog and spoke to it in German, causing the animal to settle down instantly and drop to the ground at the old man’s feet.
    â€˜â€˜You must excuse Little Bobby,’’ the old man said. ‘‘He is not vicious. He is only trying to protect me.’’
    â€˜â€˜I understand,’’ said Sam. He and Hector both looked toward the trail to see if the other shepherd might be coming.
    The old German stooped down, embracing and patting the exhausted dog. ‘‘So, you have spent yourself out and now you come home to me, eh?’’ he said affectionately to the animal. To Sam and Hector he said, ‘‘See? He is no more than a big, foolish child, this one.’’
    â€˜â€˜He is a big child, but one who could take a man’s hand off if he wanted to,’’ Hector commented.
    â€˜â€˜Yes, but only if someone were harming the herd, or my daughter or me,’’ the old man replied. ‘‘That is how these mountain dogs are. That is why Clarimonde made me keep them inside while the men were here. She was afraid they would get frightened and attack the men, and the men would shoot them.’’
    â€˜â€˜So, she protected the watchdogs,’’ Sam commented, seeing the irony of it. He looked down at the tired dog lying at its master’s feet.
    â€˜â€˜It sounds strange to one who has not given himself and his heart to the herder’s life, but it is how we do things, my daughter and I,’’ the old man said.
    Sam only nodded. ‘‘Will this other dog cause us any problems if we come upon her out there?’’ he asked.
    â€˜â€˜You will do well to beware of her,’’ said the old man. ‘‘Bess is twice this one’s size. She is an old bitch who thinks Clarimonde and I belong to her. She is very protective of us, as if we are her pups.
    â€˜â€˜Obliged for telling us,’’ said Sam. ‘‘We will beware of her.’’
    â€˜â€˜If she tries to harm you,’’ the old man said, ‘‘I know you must do what it takes to stop her. But I hope you do not have to hurt her. She is such a good and faithful animal.’’
    â€˜â€˜You have my word we’ll do the best we can,’’ Sam said reassuringly.
    The old man looked relieved, but only for a second. Then he said, ‘‘I fear she will try to follow Clarimonde too closely and those men will shoot her—if they have not already.’’
    Sam and Hector looked at each other, both seeing the fear and anxiety in the old man’s squinting face as he rubbed his hands nervously up and down on his trouser legs. To take his mind off things if only for a moment, Sam said quietly, ‘‘In my saddlebags I have a pair of spectacles that belonged to a prisoner who didn’t make it back to the territory. This might be a good time for me to pass them along to somebody who could use them.’’
    "Sí," said Hector. ‘‘Meanwhile, I will water our horses and get us prepared to ride on. We are too close to stop any longer than we have to, especially now that we know they have taken a woman hostage.’’
    Hearing Hector, the old man stood up stiffly from patting the tired dog and said, ‘‘My Clarimonde prepared our finest kid for those men. I will not feel that it was such a waste if you two will take it with you to eat on the trail. It’ll save