Page 1 of Wagon Train Redemption
One
“Stop right there!” Carson’s voice rang out over the almost deserted campsite, jerking the two men to a halt and rocking them on their feet. “Toss your guns aside.” He moved closer to Angela who sat by the fire. He’d stop them from getting any nearer to her, although they were almost within touching distance and he was ten feet away. Not good odds but he wouldn’t let them harm her.
The smaller man’s eyes widened at the sight of the red serge Carson wore. He didn’t don it every day while traveling with his family. Some days it was too hot, and he preferred a blue cotton shirt. Good thing he’d decided to wear it today.
“We ain’t done nothin’.” The bigger of the pair grumbled. His gaze slid to Angela. The way he licked his lips sent a spasm clear through Carson, the feral gleam in his eyes causing him to clench his teeth.
“Now!” His pistol aimed at the closest man. He wouldn’t shoot. Unless he had to.
The second scoundrel shifted, putting the pair further apart and making it harder for Carson to cover them both.
“Angela, go to a wagon.”
She jerked from the log stool, leaned as far away as she could from the unwelcome visitors, and scurried away.
Carson squeezed the trigger, and the bigger man jumped as dirt blasted up an inch from the toe of his dirty boot.
“Awright. Awright.”
Both guns hit the dirt.
“Face down on the ground.”
“Aww, that ain’t fair.” The smaller man whined like a baby.
Carson spared a glance over his shoulder to check on Angela. She peeked out from the back of the nearest wagon.
Why was she here? He thought everyone had gone into town. Another question followed on the heels of that one. Was this really the awkward, shy, backwoodsy girl who’d been brought into the family shortly before he left? No more pigtails. No more clumsiness around people. No more tongue-tied, wide-eyed gawking. Not that he meant she was talkative, nor could he say exactly what he meant. He directed his attention back to the men stretched out on the ground.
He tied both the hands and feet of the pair and dragged them to their feet. “Where are your horses?”
They glowered at him.
They had mounts. He’d spotted them late yesterday. Even from a distance, he could see the men weren’t floating near the top of society. But now he had a better look at them and decided they were dragging bottom. Weathered as old lumber. Dirty and smelly. At one time, they’d probably been buffalo hunters or even Indian hunters.
“Don’t matter to me if you have to walk to town.” He pointed them in that direction. Not that they could walk with their feet tied. But did he want to untie them?
A horse galloped over the hill, the rider wearing red serge.
“’Nother Mountie.” The bigger man growled. “They’s crawlin’ ’bout like fleas on a mangy dog.”
As the rider drew closer, Carson saluted Constable Patton by way of greeting. “Surprised to see you. What brings you out here?”
“These two.” Patton jerked his head toward the trussed-up pair. “They robbed a family toward the river.” Dismounting, he nodded toward the dipper in the water bucket, and Carson handed him a drink. He downed it greedily and wiped his mouth. “Robbing them wasn’t enough though. They did unspeakable things and left them for dead.”
The constable curled and uncurled his fists as he scowled at the pair. Carson didn’t need any more information than Patton’s reaction.
“I tended the young couple and took them to the nearest town to recover before I set off after these despicable scoundrels. I’ll take them off your hands.” He studied the surrounding area. “Where’s their horses?”
“Can I give you something to eat before you ride away?”
Patton looked from the prisoners to the pot simmering over the coals. His gaze rested on the big coffeepot.
Understanding how welcome the brew was after hours of hard riding, Carson added, “Coffee’s not fresh, but it’s hot.”
“You two might as well sit down,” Patton ordered. “I’m going to enjoy coffee and a bite to eat before we leave.”
“We’s hungry too.” The voice hovered between a whine and a growl as if the bigger man couldn’t decide to beg or threaten.
