Chapter 18

Chris reined his horse to a stop and grabbed the reins of Jake's horse. "Stop. We can't just go charging down there and invite a bullet."

Jake shook his head. "All right. You sure he's down there?"

"Yeah, the tracks Steve told us about go right to the shack. I don't see his horse or any movement, but they might be sleeping during the day and moving by night. I only saw the tracks for two horses. The gang must have split up." Chris dismounted and led his horse to the nearby stream.

After pulling the rifle from his saddle, Jake dismounted and let his horse drink. "When are we going to go down there?"

"Patience, Jake. That is something you always fall short on."

Jake snorted. "I've heard that before. I'm just ready to get that money back and give the reward to Sheila. I really want our ranch to be a success." He handed the rifle to Chris. "You'll need this. We sold yours to pay for the livery last month."

Chris took the rifle from him and checked to make sure it was loaded. Holding the rifle, he felt chills go down his spine. The cold metal of the barrel. The wood of the stock against his shoulder. Like old times during the war, he'd used one just like it to kill too many men. Could he kill again?

Jake grinned. "I'm ready to save our ranch. Since you're the level-headed one, how come I had to save you from joining Drake and robbing the bank?"

Chris chucked Jake on the shoulder. "We're a pair, aren't we? I don't know. I guess I let hate rule over me. Funny, since I made peace with Mary Anna, I don't really care about North and South anymore. It's done and over."

"Good. I hated to see you haunted by it. You're not alone, though. Look at Drake."

"Drake just used it to lure others into his gang. He didn't care one way or the other. I saw him play cards with Southerners, laughing and joking with them as if they were best friends. No, he used both sides against each other."

Jake elbowed him in the ribs. "Someone is coming out of the shack."

Chris wasn't sure who it was. He didn't know the members of Drake's gang. "We have to catch Drake. The reward is for him." Chris studied the layout. "I'll go around the back and find their horses and cut off their escape."

Jake nodded. "I'm going to get down to that boulder and fallen tree. I should be able to get the jump on them from there."

Chris tied his horse and went through the woods along the stream to get to the back of the shack. Once he was even with the hut, he saw the horses in a makeshift rope corral. It would be easy enough to cut the rope and set them free.

The sun filtered through the trees to the west, making the shadows lengthen. Chris gave a whip-or-will birdcall. Jake answered.

Crawling through the brush, Chris made his way to the horses, cut the rope, got behind the animals, and sent them running. For good measure, he sliced the cinch straps of both saddles. He stayed low to the ground and ran back to the stream and up to where he'd tied his horses.

Jake waved to him from the boulder close to the front of the shack.

Chris looked around for a good place to hide. He wanted to be able to protect Jake. His partner was rash and prone to be too risky. Many times in the war, Chris had to shoot from a tree to save his partner.

Before Chris could get settled, the two outlaws came out of the shack with guns blazing.

Jake yelled at them. "Drop your guns. We have you surrounded."

Chris rolled his eyes and then shot from where he was and then ran through the woods to shoot again, hoping Drake would think there were more than two idiots trying to take them down. What was Jake thinking?

Jake's gun roared.

More shots came from the shack, and Chris was afraid that he and Jake were the ones at risk of being surrounded. Chris made his way through the woods even with the shack. He saw the two outlaws and could have easily picked them off. He raised his rifle, aimed, but couldn't pull the trigger. Too much killing. Too much blood.

Jake made his move and came out from behind the boulder. "Drop your guns."

Drake spun and shot Jake in the arm.

Jake's gun fell from his hand as he fell to the ground, helpless to defend himself against Drake.

The other outlaw aimed to fire at Jake. Chris fired and hit the man in the chest before he could pull the trigger. Chris watched and saw the man was unconscious, or worse. He wouldn't threaten Jake again.

Drake ran toward Jake and held his gun on him. "Throw down your gun and come out where I can see you. Do it now, or I'll shoot him."

Chris stared at his partner. It was either Jake or the outlaw. Chris took aim. It would take a kill shot to stop Drake from killing Jake.

Drake yelled out again, demanding he drop his gun.