Melinda Heads West (5 page)

Mindy stood and stepped forward. She pointed at Boone. “He’s the trouble,” she said. “He stol — ”

Boone “accidently” bumped into the knee of her back leg, causing Melinda to stop speaking as she tried to catch her fall. Like a gentleman, he leaned down to help her up, turning so the other men couldn’t see him. “If you want to learn about real trouble, you just keep talking,” he said under his breath. In a normal tone of voice, he said, “Here you go! Upsa daisy!”

Mindy glared at him as he pulled her to her feet.

Lucas asked, “What were you saying? Who’s the trouble? Boone?”

“Never mind,” Mindy said with a jerk of her skirt.

• • •

The first thing Lucas did was visit each dead man in turn and go through his pockets. It gratified Boone in some strange way. He knew Mindy was witnessing every move, and he waited to see if she would accuse their leader of robbing the dead.

Mindy watched without saying a word. She obviously assumed Lucas’s intentions were good, while his were automatically dishonorable. He shook his head, took off his hat, and rubbed his noggin vigorously. Women.

“This fellow’s carrying a bandana with the name ‘Rutliff’ stitched onto it.” Lucas rose and then knelt by the other man. “We can let the marshal know his name when we get to town. This other fellow doesn’t have any identification on him, but I’m pretty sure his name was — ”

“Stanton, Mack Stanton.” Mindy looked at the lifeless body of the man who had walked alongside her for many miles and entertained her with his stories. “His folks are in Bolivar. We should let them know.” She turned away.

“Um, yeah. Stanton. That’s what I thought. We’ll be passing through there sometime, if the good Lord’s willing and the creek don’t rise.”

Byler slapped his leg and laughed. “I haven’t heard that old saying in a coon’s age!”

Boone and Lucas glared at him. His humor seemed a mite inappropriate given the circumstances, and he quickly wiped the grin from his face. He tried to put on a sad countenance, but it was clear to one and all that he was bubbling with excitement.

“What’s with you, Byler?” Lucas asked. “Do you know something about this that the rest of us have missed?”

“Naw! Of course not!” He swallowed loudly, and looked back and forth between the men. “How would I know anything more than y’all do?”

“I don’t know, and that’s a fact.” Lucas raised his hat and wiped his forehead and neck with a dirty square of fabric. “But you sure act peculiar at times.”

Byler laughed out loud. “My momma always says the same thing. I get it from my brothers, I reckon.”

“Great. What a blessing to know there’s more of you.” Boone looked at Lucas and rolled his eyes. “Well, we’ve got to do something with these bodies. I’m starting to think we ought to go into the undertaking business.”

Byler laughed out again. “Hey! That’s a funny one, right there! Undertakers! Haw!”

“Tell you what, Byler. Me and Boone here’ll take care of these bodies. You go pile that wood up for burning.”

Byler shrugged. “Thought you said you didn’t want no fire. Didn’t want them fellers coming back.”

“I don’t,” Lucas answered. “But I’m tired of looking at your face. I’m getting to where I like you less every minute. Get on with it!”

Byler grunted and went to do as he was told.

Mindy was still turned away. She leaned against a pine tree and sobbed quietly into her hands. Lucas went over and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “You all right?”

“No. I’m not all right! I’ve seen three men die in two days!” she cried. “How can I possibly be all right? I planned a sightseeing trip! I had no idea it would turn into … into … this!” The crying started again and gained in strength.

Lucas tucked her into the crook of his shoulder, murmuring soothing words into her ear. Mindy collapsed against him.

Boone watched them from a few steps away. Comfort her! He’d never even considered it. He turned and slammed his fist into a tree.

After another long day of walking, the small group settled down into a secluded area of woods for the night, hoping the trees and shrubs would conceal them from those who might follow.

Mindy shared some beef jerky she carried in her bag. It was the only meal they had.

Afterward, Lucas stretched out his long legs and leaned against a fallen tree. “What I can’t understand is why the thieves would trouble themselves with our little campsite. Seems like they woulda taken that money they stole from Gibbs and hightailed it out of here.”

“Yeah. Seems that way.” Boone was flat on his back studying the stars in the dark sky with his hands resting casually on his stomach. Suddenly, he could feel Mindy’s eyes burning into him.
Well, let her stew,
he thought.
I’m sure not going to reveal to the others I’m carrying more than five thousand dollars in stocks and cash.
Boone was a careful man and knew what that kind of money could do to a man’s mind — he’d seen it happen too many times. Lucas seemed to be an all right fellow, but his gun said he could get serious when he wanted, and Boone didn’t trust the Byler fellow as far as a flying chicken!

To her credit, Mindy said nothing. Evidently the warning he’d given her earlier had stung.
Good. Might keep her out of trouble for a change.

Rolling his head so he could see her, Boone couldn’t help but grin. She was sitting against a tree, messing with her hair, though it was to no profit. She looked like death on a cracker.

“You think that’s going to help?” he asked.

“Shut up,” she replied as she continued her task, determined to will the mass of unruly strands back into a knot on the back of her head. Having lost most of her hairpins along the way didn’t help. Finally, she gave out a tremendous sigh and a grunt and gave up.

Boone looked closer. Melinda’s face was blistering and there were signs it was beginning to peel around the edges of her hairline and on her nose.

“You’ll need to put mud on your face tomorrow before we head out.”

“Pardon me?”

“Mud. It’ll keep the sun off somewhat.”

“Oh, you’d like that, wouldn’t you? Give yourself one more thing to laugh about?” Mindy frowned, grabbed a nearby rock, and threw it at him.

“No, he’s right,” Lucas interjected. “You’re red as a tomato. The mud will help some.”

“Oh.” Mindy was quiet a moment, but when she caught Boone looking at her, she made a face and stuck out her tongue.

Boone laughed again. “You’ll need to put some on your legs as well. I suppose they aren’t used to seeing much daylight.”

“You’re a pig, do you know that?” Mindy said. “How on earth you ever got a wife is beyond me.” She crossed her arms and looked to the side.

Boone tensed. “Don’t you mind about my wife! She’s none of your business and I’ll thank you to keep your mouth shut about her.”

Mindy snorted.

Boone crossed his arms and closed his eyes, determined to will himself to sleep. Before he could help himself, he spoke again. “It might surprise you to know she thinks I’m a fine fellow.”

“You must stay on the road a lot. Or you’re just fooling yourself. Or she’s blind and deaf!”

Boone sat up, sparks flying from his eyes. “My wife worships me! We’re extremely happy with our home and three little children.” He didn’t understand why these words were coming out of his mouth. The “wife” she referred to was his sister, from the picture he’d allowed her to hold, and there were no children. Somehow this tiny lady brought out the rooster in him. He was crowing like mad!

Mindy leaned forward. “Ha! See if she’s home when you get back. I’ll bet — ”

“All right, that’s enough! You two act like brother and sister the way you go at each other.”

“Humphf! If he was my brother, I would have already — ”

“Already what? I’m real interested to know just what you think you would have done!”

“Never mind! Leave me alone!”

“Yeah, leave off, Boone. You’re being a little rough,” Lucas said.

“
Me
? She started it! I was trying to help her out with the mud!”

“Just shut up, both of you!” Lucas shouted, staring the squabblers down. They grew quiet. “Get some sleep. Tomorrow will be another long day.”

Boone shot Mindy another venomous glare before he lay back down and rolled to his side. He propped one arm beneath his head. “Women!”

The travelers awoke to the click of hammers. Surrounding them were three unruly looking gentlemen with amused looks.

“Why, lookee here what we done found, brothers! A party! And us without an in —
vi —
tation,” a stranger with cold eyes said, throwing a cocky look over a shoulder to his two companions.

“You think maybe they’ll allow us to come late?” A second man said with a chuckle, until he saw the look in his compatriot’s eye. For some reason, his laugh cut off uncomfortably in the middle. “Sorry, Lee.”

“Well, now. that’s all right! It just might be that these nice folks will let us join their party. You might say we brought the entertainment.”

The two other men bearing guns grinned and nodded.

“Who are you and what do you want?” Lucas asked.

The man named Lee ignored him and stepped closer to one of the people on the ground. The traveler called Byler was lounging casually with one elbow propped beneath him. He grinned at the man holding the gun. “It’s good to see you, brother. I wondered when you would get here.”

Mindy drew back in horror, putting one hand to her mouth, as she realized she’d spent the last few days traveling with a potential thief and murderer. Boone motioned for her to remain calm.

Lucas regarded the group of dirty thieves with disgust. “I don’t like repeating myself, but who are you and what do you want?” he said, a little more forcefully.

“Now, I’m glad you asked that, friend. See, there’s this matter of some gold, missing from the stagecoach. As far as I’m concerned, that’s my gold. I am headstrong on finding it.” Lee Byler wore a wide smile.

“What gold?” Lucas replied. “We don’t have your money. Gibb had it — the coach driver. Somebody killed him and took it. Go look for them.”

“That’s where you’re wrong, neighbor. We happened to be there when ol’ Gibb had his ‘accident.’ That cashbox was empty. I figure one of you four either has the money or knows where it is. So we’re going to have a discussion. Now, throw me your guns.”

Lucas and Boone withdrew their weapons and tossed them toward Lee. A younger brother scurried to pick them up and then chucked them in the muddy stream.

There was a long pause. Lee Byler seemed to enjoy the silence and allowed it to draw out. Mindy had pulled herself into a ball beside a tree and Boone was slowly easing toward her. Lucas tried to stare Lee down.

“So, where’s the gold?” the middle brother finally shouted. “We don’t plan to stand around all day.”

“My brother’s right, for once. Someone speak up.” He pointed the tip of his gun toward Boone. “Stay right where you are. When people move around too much, Ben here gets a little antsy. His gun’s got a feather trigger and I wouldn’t test it if I were you.”

Boone glanced over to Mindy. “Are you all right?” his eyes seemed to ask. She nodded nervously.

Lee looked over to the man they knew as Byler, who was calmly watching the proceedings. “You know anything, Rich?”

“Not a thing, brother.”

“Fat lot of good you’ve been.” Lee snarled. “I ought to kill you with the rest of ’em.”

“I know where the money is,” Mindy interjected. “If you promise not to kill anyone, I’ll tell you.”

Lee turned his head in her direction and raised an eyebrow. He smiled at each of his brothers in turn and then stepped over to where Mindy sat with her arms wrapped tightly around her knees. He squatted and put his gun within inches of her nose. “Oh, I promise, and I’m a gentleman of the best sort.”

She nodded her head in Boone’s direction. “Boone — ”

At that moment, the world turned upside down. Lucas lunged onto Rich Byler, whose holster was riding high on his right hip as he lounged on the ground. Lucas bent the gun belt up and fired off two shots in quick order. The middle Byler brother, Ben, and the youngest one, Roger, hit the ground. As Lucas tried to twist the gun toward Lee, Rich rolled away. Lee fired off one shot before Boone was on him, knocking Lee to the ground and wrestling him for the gun. Mindy covered her head and screamed.

It was over in a moment. Boone stood panting over Lee, pointing the gun down at him.

“Look out!” Mindy hollered. Boone whirled to his left, just as a bullet whizzed by his ear. Rich lay on the ground, firing. The sibling pulled the trigger again, but the gun only clicked. Boone fired back and Byler’s gun hand went limp. He hunched over, crying.

Lee Byler used the distraction to knock Boone’s legs out from under him. When he hit the ground, the gun went flying, landing in brambles beyond Mindy.

Boone and Lee jumped each other and fought like animals, pounding and pummeling. When Lee pulled out a knife, Boone scooted backwards.

Lee rose to his feet and motioned for Rich to stand as well. He glanced over his shoulder at the other two brothers who lay motionless on the soft grass. “I think that’s about enough.” He wiped blood from one corner of his mouth. “I don’t like it too much when things don’t go as I plan.” He looked over to Rich again. “Get up! You lazy coward!”

“But my hand’s been shot off, Lee,” Byler moaned.

“It’s barely shot at all! Get up and help me. You can wrap it later!”

Rich staggered to his feet, holding one bloody hand to his stomach.

“Get some rope!”

“Yes, sir.” Rich hobbled over to the horses; there were seven tied to a tree not far from the campsite.

No one had been watching Mindy. She had inched over to her bag, reached in and fumbled for her gun, pulling out a heavy fifteen-inch-long revolver. She raised the weapon and aimed directly for Lee Byler.

“I think you should be still.” There was only a small tremble in her voice. “Throw down that knife. Don’t make me shoot. I’ve never shot a man before.”

Lee Byler laughed and took a couple of steps toward her. “It don’t look like you’ve ever shot at all, girlie. Leave this to the men and hand over that gun.” Mindy came to her feet, sliding one hand up the tree. “I’ll thank you to know I’m a good shot! Now be smart and don’t try me and you won’t have to find out.”