Free Packing Iron by Steve Hayes Page A

sun’s so close to the horizon that it shines all day and night during the summer months. That’s why we call it the Midnight Sun.’
    ‘How ’bout that?’ Gabriel said, impressed. ‘Learn somethin ’ every day.’
    Raven, irked by the attention he was paying her mother, went to the water barrel Gabriel had lashed to the side of the wagon. Filling a bowl, she gave the two team horses a drink.
    ‘Not too much,’ Gabriel warned. ‘Don’t want ’em to bloat up in this heat.’ She gave him a withering look as if to say she already knew that, and then refilled the bowl and held it under the Morgan’s muzzle.
    ‘Would you like a ham sandwich?’ Ingrid asked her. ‘I made some before we left in case we got hungry.’
    ‘No.’
    ‘No, what?’
    ‘Thank you.’ Pouting, Raven sat beside the Morgan and released her hostility by hurling stones at a roadrunner that was crossing the trail. The black-and-white mottled bird with its distinctive head crest and upward tail dodged them easily and fled in a blur.
    Ingrid sighed and shook her head. ‘I hope she’s not going to be like this the whole way or it’s going to be a very long trip.’
    ‘She’ll perk up soon as you get on the train,’ Gabriel said. ‘Be a new experience for her. She won’t have time to sulk.’
    ‘Speaking of trains, what do you plan to do once we get to Las Cruces? After you’ve seen Ellen, I mean?’
    ‘Haven’t given it much thought.’
    ‘Can you stay in town if you want to?’
    ‘Mean am I wanted by the law there? Yep. Stadtlander made sure of that. New Mexico, Arizona, Texas – man as rich an’ powerful as him has got a mighty long reach.’
    ‘Then you mustn’t go there. Once we get close to town you must ride off. Surely you can see that?’
    ‘You’re forgettin’ Ellie, ma’am. Promised myself I’d see her. ’Sides, the mission’s ’bout two miles away in Mesilla. So long as I don’t cause trouble chances are the sheriff won’t come after me. Not for his wages.’
    Ingrid hesitated. She wanted to ask him to come to California with them, but couldn’t find the nerve. ‘Well, I think you’re making a dreadful mistake. I’m sure Ellie would too. But of course you won’t listen to me. So whatever you do I wish you luck.’
    ‘You, too. Maybe one day we’ll meet up again.’
    ‘I’d like that. And I know Raven would, too.’
    Neither seemed to know what to say next and there was an awkward pause.
    ‘Reckon we better be movin’.’ Rising, Gabriel stubbed his cigarette out on the heel of his boot, hitched up his gun-belt so it rested on his hips and walked to the Morgan. About to step into the saddle, he faked a lunge at Raven as if to grab her. But she sprang back, avoiding him.
    ‘Hah! You can’t catch me. I’m too quick for you.’
    He turned his back on her, as if the game was over. Raven fell for it and walked to the wagon. A faint whirring sound made her turn – but she was too late. His rope looped around her. She tried to wriggle free but Gabriel jerked the noose tight, clamping her arms to her sides, and then slowly, hand over hand, pulled her to him.
    Ingrid, watching from the wagon, began laughing.
    Gabriel pulled Raven right up to him then held the rope up just high enough to bring her to her toes.
    ‘Now what was that you were sayin’?’ he asked her.
    ‘Let-me-go,’ she hissed at him. ‘Momma, tell him to let me go!’
    Gabriel grinned at Ingrid. ‘How ’bout I put her ’cross myknee and give her a few licks?’
    ‘Hmmm,’ she said impishly. ‘Not a bad idea.’
    ‘Momma, you make him let me go this instant or I’ll never speak to you again.’
    Ingrid cupped a hand to her ear. ‘Did you hear something , Mr Moonlight? Or was that just the wind?’
    ‘Momma!’
    ‘The wind, ma’am, I reckon.’
    ‘MOMMA!’
    Ingrid chuckled. ‘What do you say, Mr Moonlight? Do we give her one more chance?’
    ‘Seems reasonable.’ He let the rope go slack, loosening the loop around