Free Straw Men by J. R. Roberts Page B

group.
    The scout, on the other hand, fidgeted uncomfortably in his saddle. “I won’t be going any further,” he said. “I was supposed to make sure nobody snuck up on you men along the way and that’s what I did. Colonel Farelli said I could—”
    â€œI know what he told you,” McGurn interrupted. “If you intend on leaving, then just go.”
    Glancing around at the men, the scout turned his horse toward the west and snapped his reins. Judging by the way he spurred his horse, he wasn’t about to stay in the area for one second longer than he’d been paid to.
    McGurn made a quick waving motion, which was enough to set the rest of the men into motion. He snapped his reins and held his spot at the front of the group.
    Breaking the command he’d just been given, Clint rode up to a spot on McGurn’s left. Private Biggs nearly jumped across the lieutenant to try and shove Clint back.
    â€œIt’s all right, Biggs,” McGurn said. Turning to Clint, he asked, “Something on your mind, Adams?”
    â€œWere you planning on going ahead with just Biggs to guard you?” Clint asked.
    â€œNolan knows his orders. He’ll be enough to get us out if things go bad.”
    Nodding toward the man who wore a double-rig holster along with a Winchester strapped across his back, Clint asked, “Is that Nolan?”
    â€œIt sure is,” McGurn replied.
    â€œWith all due respect, I think I’d like to be the one to go along with you.”
    For the first time since the ride had begun, McGurn broke out of his official demeanor and became more of the man that Clint had beaten at poker. “Why do you say that?”
    â€œIt’s why I came along. I don’t think Farelli went through all that trouble to find me just so I could hang back and watch for things to go badly. I can do a lot more good if I’m in the middle of things.”
    â€œI respect you, Clint, but I don’t know why Farelli would go through so much trouble to hire you. Some of us thought you’d be replacing Nolan altogether, but that’s not how it turned out.”
    â€œWhy would Nolan be replaced?”
    â€œYou ask a lot of questions, Clint.”
    â€œIt’s a quick way to find out things,” Clint replied.
    â€œWhat sort of things?”
    â€œThat you don’t hold the colonel in very high regard, for one.”
    McGurn snapped his head around to shoot a quick look at Private Biggs. Reflexively, Biggs looked away and steered his horse to one side to give the lieutenant some room.
    â€œWhere’d you come up with that?” McGurn asked in a low voice that could barely be heard over the sound of hooves against the earth.
    â€œYou twitch when you call him by his rank and have already started calling him by his common name. And even when you do that…you still twitch,” Clint explained.
    â€œStill got an eye for twitches, huh?”
    â€œThat’s how I’ve won so many hands of poker,” Clint said. “Also, you conduct yourself like a proper soldier. Any man who acts befitting his rank would have a problem with someone like Farelli. How the hell did he get to be an officer anyway?”
    â€œLord only knows, but he is the one issuing the commands,” McGurn said. “Since he’s actually doing something to try and stop these attacks before they get any worse, I’m inclined to follow his lead.”
    Already seeing the smoke from the fires of a nearby camp, Clint spoke quicker before they got any closer to the awaiting Indians. “Doesn’t the Army have someone better than him to handle this?”
    â€œFarelli handled a group of unruly redskins when he was awaiting a formal court-martial. I believe you know something about that.”
    â€œYou’re damn right, I do.”
    â€œFarelli came up with a plan to deal with the Indians and they would only talk to him. Blood was being spilled and he