Free Slocum 394 : Slocum and the Fool's Errand (9781101545980) by Jake Logan

animal by making it pay for the damage it had done to him. It wasn’t exactly rational, but that wasn’t much of a concern when a man’s blood ran that hot. Any living thing, man or beast, tended to lash out when it was wounded.
    Perhaps sensing Slocum’s slow change of spirit, Jack said, “And then there’s the matter of the well-being of folks in that town.”
    â€œHow so?”
    â€œThat wolf got a taste o’ human flesh and blood! It’s a man-eater! Once that happens, there ain’t no turnin’ back.”
    â€œThat doesn’t mean it’ll lead a rampage on Rocas Rojas.”
    â€œIt don’t bode well for anyone else that happens to stumble upon that pack. Would you have it on your conscience when some bunch of kids or a lady gets ripped apart by those beasts?”
    Slocum shook his head. “This is sounding dumber the more I think about it. Have you ever tried to track wolves? It’s no picnic on regular terrain, but this is rock and sand!”
    â€œIt’s possible, though.”
    â€œYou want to find those wolves so badly?” Slocum asked. “Wait here for them to come back to this cave. They’ll probably revisit a den especially if there’s fresh meat laying here.”
    â€œThey already moved on.”
    Slocum studied the other man carefully. Once he got a good feel for Jack’s face, he watched for the slightest change when he asked, “This isn’t about the wolves, is it?”
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œYour horse was shot. Did you shoot it?”
    â€œWhy would I shoot my own goddamn horse miles away from town?”
    â€œThen that means there were armed men here to do the shooting. Could it be you’re after them?”
    â€œNo,” Jack sighed, “I was lucky enough to scare those wolves away once I got to my gun. After that, I don’t know what the hell happened. I barely know how I got to that doctor’s office. I still wanna go after them wolves.”
    â€œOn account of your Indian background?”
    â€œThat’s right.”
    Slocum sighed, not believing everything Jack said, but looking at enough evidence to back up some of it. As for the rest, there was always a good dose of craziness to explain it. All Slocum needed to do was look into Jack’s eyes to find that much.
    â€œCan you at least take me back to town?” Jack asked.
    â€œAs long as it’s right now. I’ve smelled enough of this horse to last me for a while.”
    â€œAmen to that.”

7
    The ride back to town was quiet and uneventful. If not for the fact that he had a smelly, off-kilter vagrant clinging to him, Slocum might have gone so far as to call it peaceful. Having the stink of dead flesh lodged in his nose didn’t help matters, but Slocum did his best to enjoy the scenery and fresher air as he rode the trail that took him into Rocas Rojas.
    Once they were in town, he rode directly to Oscar’s horse trading and rental business. After an arduous bargaining process with the stuffed shirt who fancied himself a lawman, Jack purchased a gelding that had some spirit and most of its teeth. Its coloring made Slocum uncertain as to whether the horse’s coat was just black or if it was so dirty that a dozen baths could no longer do any good. Jack was liberal with the money he’d taken from the saddlebags, which was allowed him to get a blanket along with a new set of reins. Oscar tried to gouge him on the price of the saddle, but Slocum had enough pull with the local man to avoid that trap.
    â€œI saw that thing before,” Slocum said while tapping the battered hunk of leather.
    â€œSure,” Oscar replied. “You’ve seen what I got for sale.”
    â€œNo, this wasn’t with the other saddles.” After thinking it over long enough for the other man to stew, Slocum snapped his fingers and said, “Now I remember! This is what you were using to hold