Free Slocum and the Hellfire Harem (9781101613382) by Jake Logan Page B

more religion in his day than what he saw waking up all around him. Soon, he sipped from his canteen. He’d gladly forgo coffee in favor of making up time. The horse was well rested and had fed on lush summer grass, and he had a canteen full of water, provisions enough in his saddle bags for a few more days. He breathed deep and admired the eddy and swirl of the low-lying fog as they passed through it, man and horse, alone in open country.

11
    â€œWe have made good time in gaining on the demons.” Rufus Tinker nodded at the ground before them as if that were sufficient to explain his reasoning to his weary sons. They all could see the tracks in places as plain as day, though they meant little to them. No one had ever taught them to track anything more than a deer, and even when they had to do that, they followed animals they had plainly seen, then had shot and followed the blood trail. But rarely did they have to rely on reading sign.
    Peter spoke up. “Papa, we have walked through the night and could all use a rest. We could fill our canteens at that stream, maybe nap for a spell. We are all tuckered out.” He gestured at the other three men walking behind him. The brothers looked at the old man, then looked away, slight nods showing their agreement.
    Tinker halted the mule and glared at each of his sons in turn. That they were exhausted was obvious, but he also didn’t want to lose even more time. If they each had a mount, they could have all been on horseback, riding day and night. For that’s what beasts of burden were for.
    â€œVery well,” he said, sliding from the mule. The old animal moaned in relief and lowered his head, fatigued. “We will stop for one hour. I will keep an eye on my timepiece. Get busy doing whatever it is you feel is so important that we must pause in this journey being undertaken in the name of God. I, for one, will not rest until those she-devils are safely trussed and accepting of the lash of the Lord’s will, time and time again.” He rubbed his bony red hands together.
    Tinker felt himself warming to his topic, but stopped in mid-sentence as he turned his stony stare at each of his sons. They all seated themselves at the spot in the road where they’d stopped, their weapons and packs still in their arms and slung on their backs.
    â€œLazy loafing idlers. The Lord will require punishment when we return to the farm. The Lord will not be cheated out of His tribute.”
    Light snores were the only response.
    â€œPah!” said the old man. He pulled out his pocket watch and tapped the face. It hadn’t worked in years, but he referred to it throughout each day because he knew it made him appear commanding, and he knew that he was nothing if not their leader. He was more than their father. He was their spiritual guide, their master, the very Right Hand on Earth of the Lord! He trembled with the thought of it. These fools and the women, nothing more than lazy, fleshy conveyances sent to test him. He would not fail.
    Rufus Tinker tied the mule to a branch, sat back against a rock, and despite the fact that he had done nothing but ride all day, he soon fell asleep as well.

12
    With each mile kicked off behind him, and with each new ray of sunlight from the east warming first his right side, then his entire body, Slocum felt renewed. Fleeting images of the sunburned men, the beauty of the women who had left them behind, all mingled in his mind and he decided not to force them away any longer. They were, after all, more experiences that helped make up this far-ranging life he was leading.
    By the time he crested the northern edge of the valley, the sun was a full-burning thing threatening to become its old demon self. Well, let it burn. He had a full head of steam and Mueller was somewhere up ahead. He hoped. They paused at the top, and he edged the horse in among a stand of aspen, taking care that he’d not be skylined should someone look