Idaho Gold Fever Page 13

  Pleased with themselves, the three cutthroats climbed on their mounts and reined around. Rinson gave a little wave. “I’ll think of them cutting on you while I’m having my way with that filly you’ve been poking.”

  They cackled and were gone.

  Bending his back into a bow, Fargo sought to slide his fingers into his boot. The rope thwarted him. He pried at the knot, pried so hard he thought his fingernails would tear off, to no avail.

  Every second counted. The warriors were bound to have seen the smoke by now. They would come on warily, though, suspicious of a trick, and that would slow them some.

  Fargo figured he had five minutes, if that. There was no way in hell he could free himself before the warriors got there. They would find him bound and helpless, exactly as Victor Gore wanted.

  Crackling from the fire sparked an idea.

  Quickly turning so his back was to the flames, Fargo wriggled backward. The heat was excruciating, and got worse. Gritting his teeth, he looked over his shoulder and thrust his wrists into the fire. He tried to burn the rope and only the rope but it was impossible. His sleeves were soon ablaze, and the smell of his burning flesh filled the air. He stood it as long as he could. Then, uttering a low groan, he jerked his arms from the flames and rolled back and forth on his back to smother them.

  Bunching his shoulders, Fargo exerted all his strength. But all he succeeded in doing was dig the rope deeper into his wrists. He tried again, exerting every sinew in his arms and shoulders, and felt himself grow red in the face. But once again the rope refused to break.

  Fargo was sure the flames had weakened it. Again his muscles bulged. If he failed this time, he would stick his boots in the fire and try to burn the rope around his ankles before his feet were charred and useless.

  A snap threw Fargo off balance. Although his hands and wrists were welters of pain, he rolled over and set to work on his ankles. Untying the knots now was easy.

  Fargo started to stand. A whinny off in the underbrush warned him the warriors were almost there.

  Fargo ran. He made it into the woods and threw himself to the ground just as the first warrior appeared—a Nez Perce with a bow, an arrow nocked. The warrior drew rein and gazed about. Presently he was joined by others, until fully twenty painted warriors were trying to make sense of the shots and the untended fire.

  Fargo reckoned they would spread out and search for sign. In which case they were bound to find the tracks of the shod horses, and would follow them to the canyon. But to his consternation, the warriors just sat there, talking. Not one climbed down to examine the ground.

  Then another Nez Perce arrived. Why he came so late, Fargo couldn’t say. But it was Winter Wolf. The others stopped talking and patiently waited while the old warrior did what they should have done. Dismounting, Winter Wolf walked in ever widening circles, his aged form bent. Finally he said something that excited the rest.

  Fargo wished he could see the expression on Victor Gore’s face when the Nez Perce blocked the mouth of the canyon and fired down on the white invaders from the canyon rim. The whites had rifles but the Indians had numbers.

  Winter Wolf straightened. He spoke and the others listened. His horse was brought. Raising an arm, he uttered a sharp cry and led the war party in the direction Rinson, Perkins and Slag had gone.

  Fargo smiled. It would serve Victor Gore and the so-called protectors right if they were wiped out.

  When the last of the Nez Perce had melted into the greenery, Fargo cautiously stood. Only when he was convinced they were gone did he walk to the fire. What now? he wondered. He was unarmed and on foot and miles from the valley and the settlers. He broke into a jog.

  The swatch of broken undergrowth made by the Nez Perce enabled Fargo to travel faster than he otherwise could. He prided himself on his ability to run long distances without tiring, and now that ability was put to the test.

  Fargo was about halfway to the canyon when the unexpected occurred. The trail veered to the east. His first thought was that Rinson realized they were being chased and sought to lead the war party away from Gore and the gold. But as Fargo moved about reading sign, he discovered a track that changed his thinking. It was a human footprint. A boot print. He soon found others. Three sets, in all. And all three pointed toward the canyon.

  It wasn’t hard to figure out. Rinson, Perkins and Slag had dismounted and given their animals slaps on the rump. Then they set out on foot for the canyon. The Nez Perce, eager to overtake them, saw where the horse tracks led on east and didn’t bother to stop. The warriors were chasing riderless mounts.

  Fargo pushed on. When he was within sight of the canyon, he drew back into the trees and hurried to where he had left the Ovaro. Shock stopped him dead in midstride.

  The pinto was gone.

  Once again Fargo searched for sign. He worried that the Nez Perce were to blame, in which case recovering the pinto might prove impossible. But no, boot prints showed where a white man had led the stallion off.

  But now a new mystery presented itself.

  Fargo figured one of Gore’s men found it and took it into the canyon. But no. The tracks led away. Fargo followed them and came to a spot where another man and two horses had been waiting. The pair climbed on and rode off, taking the Ovaro with them.

  “What the hell?” Fargo said out loud. If Gore and his men weren’t to blame, then who was?

  Fargo could push on after the pinto, or he could pay Gore and company a visit and help himself to one of their animals. He liked that idea, and bent his steps toward the canyon.

  A mount wasn’t his only reason. They had taken his Colt and Henry, and he wanted the rifle and six-shooter back. Some might argue that one gun was as good as any other, but that wasn’t true. When a man was used to a gun, it became part of him. He was better with it than with any other. Fargo had used his Colt for so long, he would feel awkward using any other.

  Giving the mouth of the canyon a wide berth, Fargo started up the slope. No one was keeping watch, which surprised him.

  Learning from his mistake, Fargo was alert for a sentry at the top. But this time no one was there.

  Worming from boulder to boulder, Fargo smiled when the peal of metal on rock confirmed they were still hard at work. Removing his hat, he risked a peek. They were all there, including Rinson, Perkins and Slag.

  Fargo remembered Gore saying they’d work all night. That gave him hours to spare. He would wait until dark, then sneak down. He made special note of who had his Henry—it was Stern—and who had his Colt—none other than Victor Gore.

  Grateful for the chance to rest, Fargo used his arm for a pillow and closed his eyes. He was battered and sore and his ribs wouldn’t stop hurting. He intended to lie there a bit and then keep watch until sunset. But the next thing he knew, he opened his eyes and the stars were out.

  Fargo bit off a few choice words. He had fallen asleep. Mad at himself, he wedged his hat on and inched to the edge for another look. A fire blazed at the bottom of the canyon. Clustered around it were the old trapper and his gold hounds. They had stopped work to eat supper. Judging by their smiles and mirth, they were having a fine time. In a couple of months they would be back in civilization, as rich as could be.

  But not if Fargo could help it.

  Turning, he crawled until he was near the bottom, then rose and stealthily descended to the valley floor. The smart thing was to wait until most of them were asleep but since they planned to stay up all night, what good would it do?

  Fargo couldn’t stop thinking of the settlers and the danger they were in. He must warn them. He snuck to the bend and peeked past it.

  Gore and his hirelings were about done eating. Wood was added to the fire, and soon they were at the vein, their picks and shovels flailing, their shadows flicking on the rock wall.

  The horses were picketed between Fargo and the vein. Easing down, he crabbed toward them, careful to stay close to the wall. Whenever one of the cutthroats so much as raised his head, Farg
o froze. Only Slag glanced in his direction; but Slag was mopping his sweaty brow with a sleeve.

  Several of the horses realized Fargo was there. But the trapper and the gun sharks were so intent on the gold, they didn’t catch on.

  His confidence climbing, Fargo crawled faster. He was almost to the first horse when it stamped and whinnied. Amazingly, once again no one paid attention.

  Gold had that effect. It dazzled the mind. It made men forget themselves and think only of the riches the gold would bring. Perkins, in fact, was holding a lump of gold-laced quartz in the palm of his hand and running his fingers over it as if caressing a lover.

  The horses had been picketed to prevent them from running off. But it was the work of an instant for Fargo to slash the first rope with his Arkansas toothpick. He moved to the next animal, and then the third. He had cut four of them loose when Victor Gore unexpectedly straightened.

  “We’re making good time, boys. By morning we’ll have the gold ready to load on the wagons.”

  “You did say we’re not to leave a single settler breathing, right?” Perkins asked.

  “Do you disagree?”

  “Hell, no.” Perkins laughed. “I’ve never had a problem killing folks. Or anything else.”

  Gore turned. “Mr. Larson, would you be so kind as to fetch more burlap bags.”

  “Right away.” Larson nodded and hustled toward the horse string.

  Fargo tensed. The bags must be bundled on one of the horses, but which one? He couldn’t tell from where he was lying. He hoped it was a horse at the other end.

  Larson came almost straight toward him. Fortunately, he was staring at the ground. Then, when only a few feet away, he glanced up—and stopped in his tracks.

  “Mr. Gore! Rinson! It’s Fargo! He’s here!”

  18

  Larson should have gone for his six-shooter. His shout bought Fargo the split second he needed to surge to his feet, the toothpick low at his side. Larson’s hand swooped to his revolver but by then Fargo was next to him. The razor-sharp double-edged blade lanced up and in. Larson gasped and stiffened and was dead on his feet.

  There were bellows of outrage and fiery oaths from the others. Then, almost as one, they clawed for their own hardware.

  Fargo snatched Larson’s revolver. It was a Smith & Wesson. The barrel was longer than his Colt’s and the grips were different but the caliber was the same. It bucked when he squeezed off a shot and the nearest man clutched at his chest and crumpled.

  Whirling, Fargo ran to one of the horses he had cut loose. The shot and the shouts had spooked it and it was turning down the canyon. A bound brought him alongside.

  As six-guns boomed and lead buzzed, Fargo leaped, caught hold of the saddle horn, and swung astride the saddle. A hard jab of his spurs brought the animal to a gallop. Swinging onto the side, Comanche fashion, he raced toward the bend. His skin crawled with the expectation of taking a slug but he wasn’t hit.

  “After him!” Victor Gore roared. “Don’t let him get away!”

  In a thunder of hooves Fargo was around the bend and momentarily safe. Swinging back up, he rode for his life. He wished he had the Ovaro under him. The horse under him was fast but not as fast as his stallion.

  In no time Fargo was out of the canyon and flew into the trees. Bringing the horse to a stop, he looked back.

  Riders swept out of the canyon in pursuit. When they didn’t spot him, they drew rein.

  “Which way did he go?” one shouted. It sounded like Stern.

  “Shut up and we can hear him!” Rinson snapped.

  Fargo patted his horse to keep it still.

  “I don’t hear anything,” Slag hollered.

  Perkins’ voice rose. “I bet he’s making for the dirt-pushers. He’ll warn them we’ll be coming for their wagons.”

  “Let him!” Rinson said, and uttered a hard laugh. “Do you honestly think they’ll believe him? They trust us, remember.”

  “What do we do, then?” Slag asked.

  “We go back and get the rest of the gold out,” Rinson said. “Come morning, we’ll be ready for the wagons, just like Gore wants.”

  Fargo stayed where he was until they filed into the canyon. Then he raised the reins. His natural impulse was to fly through the woods to reach the valley as soon as possible but it was dark and the war party was out there, somewhere.

  It seemed to take forever.

  A lone campfire in the center of the circled wagons served as a beacon. No one challenged him as he rode up.

  Passing between two of the covered wagons, Fargo wearily drew rein. Sleeping forms were all around. The saddle creaked as he stiffly climbed down.

  The guard didn’t appear.

  Fargo reckoned the man Rinson had left behind must be sleeping. He quietly stole to a row of figures next to the Winstons’ wagon. The largest was snoring loud enough to cause an earthquake. Dropping to one knee, Fargo shook his shoulder.

  “Lester, wake up.”

  The big farmer snorted and muttered and went on sleeping.

  “Lester, damn it.” Fargo shook harder and this time Lester rolled onto his back and his eyes blinked a few times.

  “What? Who? What time is it?”

  The position of the Big Dipper gave Fargo some idea. “About one in the morning. You need to get up. You have trouble on the way.”

  Rubbing his face, Lester sluggishly rose onto his elbows. “What are you talking about? What kind of trouble?”

  “Gore and Rinson are coming here to wipe your people out.”

  Lester stopped rubbing. “Say that again? I must be befuddled by sleep. Or else I’m dreaming.”

  “Gore and Rinson aim to kill all of you.”

  “All of us?”

  “I know I sound loco but I’m serious, damn it. Gore has found gold. He needs a way to transport it out. So he’s taking your wagons.”

  For fully half a minute the farmer simply stared. Then he cleared his throat and said, “I’ve had a hard day and need my sleep.”

  Exasperation made Fargo boil. “Damn you, listen to me. Gore didn’t come back to this part of the country just to see it again. He was after the gold all along. He found a vein back when he was a trapper and now he needs your wagons to get the ore out.”

  “You don’t say,” Lester said. “But if Victor found gold that long ago, why did he wait all this time to come back for it?”

  “He didn’t want his scalp lifted.”

  Lester smiled a tolerant smile. “Let me get back to sleep and we’ll talk about this in the morning.”

  “They’ll be on their way by then.”

  “And take how long to get here?”

  “If they start at sunrise they can be here by midmorning.”

  “Then we have plenty of time, don’t we?” Lester started to lie back down but Fargo gripped his wrist.

  “Why won’t you believe me?”

  “I didn’t say I didn’t. I didn’t say I do. But if I understand you, you’re saying that Gore tricked us into coming to this valley. You’re forgetting that I was the one who insisted we come. Victor tried to talk me out of it.” Lester gave a strange sort of laugh.

  “He’s clever,” Fargo said. “He got you to think it was your idea when it was his doing all along.”

  “No, it wasn’t.”

  “Please,” Fargo said. “Don’t do this.”

  “Let me sleep.” Lester sank back down. “I’m plumb worn-out and can’t think straight.”

  “But Gore and Rinso—” Fargo began.

  “We’ll talk in the morning.” Lester rolled onto his side so his back was to him. “I’ll listen to whatever else you have to say then.”

  Fargo’s anger turned to fury. He had gone through a lot to warn them, and now the lunkhead wouldn’t listen. Then again, he could understand why Lester thought his story was far-fetched. How could he convince him? he wondered. The answer was like a slap in the face. He shook Winston’s shoulder again.

  “You’re becoming a n
uisance.”

  “The man Rinson left to guard you. Where is he?”

  “We don’t know. He rode off shortly before sunset. Said he saw some riders in the trees. He never came back.”

  “And you didn’t send anyone to look for him?”

  With an exaggerated sigh, Lester rolled onto his back. “Of course we did. I went myself, with some others. But there was no sign of him. We planned to search again once the sun is up.”

  Fargo glanced at the ring of covered wagons. “So who is standing guard tonight?”

  “We’re taking turns. I believe Floyd should be on watch. But it’s been so quiet, it wouldn’t surprise me if he fell asleep.” Lester rolled over once more. “I’d very much like to do the same. Good night.”

  Fargo checked an impulse to swear a mean streak. He rose and tied the horse to the rear wheel.

  Suddenly a warm hand closed on his wrist and warm breath fanned his ear. “Welcome back, handsome. Did you miss me?” Rachel whispered.

  “Didn’t you hear what I just told your father?”

  “Sure I did. But we have the rest of the night and everyone is asleep.” Giggling softly, Rachel tugged on his arm. “Come on. Let’s go for a stroll.”

  Fargo couldn’t believe it. These people had blocks of wood for brains. Here he was, trying to save their hides, and they treated him as if he were a simpleton.

  “Come on,” Rachel said again, pulling.

  Fargo let her usher him around to the other side of their wagon. There she stopped and gazed off toward the timber.

  “If we hurry, we can be back in an hour or so.”

  “You don’t care that Gore and Rinson aim to kill all of you?”

  “Not until the middle of the morning. Your very own words.” Rachel grinned and took a step.

  Fargo shook his head in bewilderment. Now was hardly the right time. Then again, everyone else was asleep, and Gore and Rinson wouldn’t be there for eight or nine hours yet. “Why go anywhere?” he whispered, and didn’t budge.

  Rachel regarded him uncertainly. “Then where?”