Free Destiny of Eagles by William W. Johnstone

frustration, Thad removed the saddle and saddlebags. Throwing the saddle on his shoulder, he started walking, but after a few yards tossed the saddle away in disgust.
    He continued on with the saddlebags, but after less than a mile threw them away too.
    Two miles later, he took the last swallow of water from his canteen and tossed it aside as well.
    * * *
    Falcon had spent only one night in Belfield. He and Billy Puckett had stayed at the dinner table, talking long after the other diners had cleared out. It wasn’t that they were reminiscing about old times. The time they’d shared had been a period of no more than three months, and that had been a little over thirty years ago. But they did catch each other up on their lives, and they shared stories of their adventures during the war. As it turned out, they had faced each other several times during the war, though it wasn’t until the incident at Chattanooga that they had come in direct, or nearly direct, contact with each other.
    Falcon left the next morning just after sunrise. When he’d left MacCallister to come up here for a visit with Billy Puckett, he’d planned to take the train back. In fact, he’d bought a two-way ticket. But the more he thought about it, the less interest he had in going back home. The old wanderlust that had pulled at him for so many years had grabbed hold of him again. He left Belfield on horseback, with no clear idea as to where he was going.
    Falcon wandered around with no particular destination in mind for about two weeks. He was heading back to Belfield for some more supplies when he came across someone on the trail.
    The man looked exhausted, sunburned, and very thirsty. Stopping, Falcon tossed his canteen to the man.
    â€œYou look like you could use a drink,” he said.
    â€œYeah, thanks,” Thad said, taking several Adam’s-apple-bobbing swallows from the canteen.
    â€œBeen walking long?” Falcon asked.
    â€œMy horse stepped in a prairie-dog hole three days ago,” Thad lied. “Broke his leg and I had to put him down. I been afoot ever since.”
    â€œSorry to hear about that,” Falcon said. He pointed just over a ridgeline. “But there’s a town just over the ridgeline, not more’n five miles from here. It’s called Belfield. If you cut through that pass, you can make it by noon.”
    â€œThanks,” Thad said. He handed the canteen back, and as Falcon was distracted while hooking it onto his pommel, Thad drew his gun. “You don’t recognize me, do you, mister?”
    â€œShould I?”
    â€œWell, there’s no reason you should. It was pretty dark that night, and I was wearin’ a mask. I sure as hell recognize you, though.”
    â€œYou’re the train robber that got away,” Falcon said. “You’re the one that got away.”
    â€œWith the money, yeah,” Thad said. He giggled. “Too bad I ain’t got none of it left, but me’n my brothers had a fine old time, I’ll tell you that. Say, whatever happened to them boys that robbed the train with me? Did they go back to jail?”
    â€œI killed them,” Falcon said matter-of-factly.
    Thad nodded. “Yeah, I figured you did. I just wanted to see if you would admit it.”
    â€œYou don’t seem all that broken up over it,” Falcon said.
    â€œWhy the hell should I be? With them dead, me’n my brothers just had more money to spend. Now, climb down off that horse.”
    â€œNow, why would I want to do that?” Falcon replied calmly.
    â€œBecause if you don’t, I’m going to put a bullet in your gizzard,” Thad said. He reinforced his comment by pulling back the hammer of his pistol. The double clicking sound of the sear engaging the cylinder was cold and deadly.
    â€œAll right, you’ve convinced me,” Falcon replied. He dismounted and handed over the reins.
    â€œHah, looks like maybe you’re