“John,” Katie interjected in a startled voice. “There has got to be another way. We can get him back to town. With care…?”
“With care, he’d last an extra week.” His listless voice was even and unemotional. As a soldier, Saints had made a final request. And whether he liked him or not, he was a comrade in arms.
Cruz put his hand on his arm. “Would you allow me to do this?”
“No. Thanks, Chico—but, no.”
16
Later, as they were standing around at the edge of the clearing, Katie came to Trent. “Why would Saints be here?”
“I don’t know, Katherine.” His voice was tired. “I do know he and the colonel were cooking up some plan for moving out here. Maybe he was coming to see me.”
He stood with hands on hips as the men with Cruz scouted around the area. They came back with the report he expected.
Nothing.
After burying Saints, Katie and the men sat resting beneath the trees. The sun was starting to dip toward the west, and darkness comes early to the forest. It would soon be time to go, but there was a curious reluctance among them to leave this place.
“I don’t know. Maybe there is a clue here, and we just can’t see it.” His voice was skeptical. “I know one thing. Our man is getting a lot messier in his work.”
“Which means?” She was still queasy from seeing the young girl, and then Fred Saints.
“Maybe he’s losing control. It’s possible this has come on him just this past couple of years. If so, he’s killing more frequently. It’s as if he is feeding on it. But it’s starting to take more to satisfy him. He’s starting to hurry. And if he is losing control, maybe he’ll make a mistake. I just hope I’m close when he does.”
She tossed a small stick toward the fire they’d built for coffee. “The words Saints said to you didn’t make sense.”
“I know. The word Army. But it made sense to him. I think he was amazed. You know, he and I did some training together. He was a good man in the forest, although maybe not one of the best. Whoever killed him, laid an ambush and got him cold. He never saw who hit him.”
A sudden glimmer of light dawned in Trent’s eyes. “Maybe that’s it. If he wore camouflage, then you might not see him. Maybe that’s what he meant by army.”
Everyone was looking at him expectantly. “Before the Fall, there was a lot of really neat high tech stuff in the ranks. I noticed a few of them in the packs of the patrol we came in with.”
“Like?” Katie interjected.
“Like a gadget that will tell your position within five feet at any spot in the world, goggles that turn night into day, clothing that changes color like a chameleon. Heat sensors that let you find a man in the dark. You put all that stuff with a man that is an expert in the forest anyway…?”
She was shaking her head. “But there’s no Army around here. Gunny is missing, and the Green Jeans patrol was wiped out.”
“Maybe. Maybe not.” Cruz was unconvinced. “Besides, they don’t have to be Army. Anyone could have these things, now.”
“I need to spend some time in the forest. Alone. If I cannot see him, maybe I can feel him, smell him, or even hear him. This has gone on too long. I have to try something.”
“What about Reeves? You don’t want to have trouble on two fronts. You can’t trail this killer if you’re worrying about your back trail.” Chico’s voice hardened. “How about we take care of Reeves for you?”
“No.” At the man’s startled glance Trent held up his hand. “I’ve something better for you to do, Chico. If your men are willing, pull as many off the ranch as you can spare and put them on the trails. Two-man teams. I want to know who’s moving and where they are going. If we see Starking, we’ll ask him for help, too.”
“You think Starking would help?” Chico’s voice was skeptical.
He shrugged and gave a wry smile. “Won’t know until we ask.”
“And Pagan?”
“No,” he said, “Pagan is my responsibility. I’ll take care of him. And you’re right. It has to be done first.” He stood and adjusted his gun belt. “We’ll go to town tonight.”
17
It wasn’t until later that he remembered the dispatch. He opened the courier pouch, and retrieved a short, cryptic message.
Trent,
Moving your way with settlers in one month. If Springs not suitable, suggest alternate site to Lt. Saints. Charley Walsh closed saloon. Probably coming your way.
So, that was it. More settlers. He sighed tiredly, then in frustration, balled up the paper and sent it winging into the bushes. This wilderness haven was going to be knee deep in people before long, many of them young women. And the killer was still loose.
JUSTICE
1
John Trent paused at the edge of the valley, testing the air like a prowling wolf. Katie kept glancing at him. He could see she was unsure of him. The night was warm and muggy. Their clothes felt damp in the cloying heat. An occasional flash of lightning would briefly illuminate the sky to the west, followed by a low growl of thunder.
They walked silently through the glade, moving toward the back of Murdock’s saloon. He’d tried to persuade Katie to stay away, but she’d stubbornly insisted. They found the back door locked, but as they turned to go around the building, it opened a crack, creaking slightly in the stillness.
Murdock’s husky voice broke the stillness of the night. “Get in here. We’ve been expecting you.” Once inside, she closed the door and turned up an oil lamp to look them over. “Must have been one hell of a week.”
He looked toward the front of the bar. “I’m looking for Pagan.”
Murdock ignored him and smiled. “Trent, you look like you been caught in a stampede of Arkansas Razorbacks, and Katie looks like the cat that ate the canary. I’d say the negotiating is over between you two?”
He ignored her baiting. “Is Pagan here?”
“Nope,” the big woman said. “Just some of his boys. Red Seaver is in there and Jumbo Smith. Jumbo is about the same size as Big Waters, only meaner. You’ll notice by the names they use, they ain’t the sharpest knives in the drawer.”
Trent looked a question at her.
“Big Waters is the one that walks on crutches now, being as someone got mad and broke his leg.” Murdock’s voice was quiet and sarcastic at the same time.
Katie broke in. “Have you seen my father?”
“I don’t know how to make this easy, girl.” Murdock reached out and brought Katie to her. “Hon, your father always was a stubborn man. He met up with Pagan and Red a few days ago. After they beat him around a bit, they came to the saloon. Red went back out and shot him. I’m sorry, Katie. He’s dead.”
Katie went pale in the subdued light. Her eyes went round, then closed in pain. “I should’ve stayed.” Her breath caught in a stifled sob. “I should’ve been here.”
“It wouldn’t have helped. The preacher’s whole flock was around. They didn’t help none either. We buried him behind the church, thought that’d be best.” Murdock continued to hold Katie as tears coursed down both their cheeks.
“Hey.” Murdock grabbed Trent’s arm. “By the way, some no-good bum is out there. He claims to know you. Name’s Walsh. Pesky little fella. I kinda took a shine to him, so don’t shoot him.”
He turned his stony gaze toward the door.
“You two stay here.” He opened the door a crack, and then turned and asked Murdock, “Where do you keep the Ithaca?”