| FIT TO BE TIED Before Fargo could strain against
the ropes over his wrists, Sutton grabbed his arms and gave them a yank. He moved
Fargo's hands back and forth. "It's a bit loose."
Garson snickered. "Retie the knots, and add another rope for
insurance." He smiled at Fargo. "Hope you don't hold it against
me."
Fargo spat. "Go to hell."
Once Sutton was done, Garson tested the ropes himself. "Good job,
Billy."
Sutton puffed out his chest. "Anything you want, just give the
word, Mr. Garson. Thanks to you, we'll all be rolling in gold soon."
"You're mad," Fargo growled.
"Yes sir," Tuck Garson said to no one in particular.
"Tomorrow it starts. Months and months of planning will be put to the
test. We're about to do what no one else has ever done, boys. We're going to
lock horns with the U.S. government." Garson's eyes widened with insanity.
"And by the time we're through, the plains will run red with blood." |
WATCHING AND
WAITING....
As they moved on, Fargo noticed the woods were unnaturally quiet. The birds, the
squirrels, even the insects were still, as if all of nature were holding its collective
breath. The tension was contagious. Fargo shucked the Henry from its saddle
scabbard and rested the stock on his leg.
Suddenly Lucy drew rein and extended her arm toward a dense cluster of Sitka
spruce. "I saw something move!" she whispered.
"What was it?" Fargo asked, bringing the Ovaro to a stop
next to the Palomino.
"I can't rightly say. But I think it was on two legs."
"You think?" Fargo tucked the Henry to his shoulder and
kneed the stallion forward a few yards. He estimated they were well over a mile from
the meadow. It was doubtful the warriors had overtaken them, let alone circled
around in front of them without him being aware of it.
"See anything?" Lucy nervously asked.
Fargo shook his head. He was about to chalk it up to her imagination
when he glimpsed a pair of dark, fierce eyes fixed on him from within the undergrowth.... |
| BEAR
TRAP Fargo
wheeled his horse past the cub as a tremendous roar resounded, and he looked back to see
the monstrous mother grizzly charging at him, intent on ripping him to ribbons.
"Damn!" Fargo said, and lashed the stallion into a full-out-run.
In an amazing display of speed, the grizzly was actually gaining on them.
Fargo goaded the Ovaro to go faster. At breakneck pace they flew through the forest,
vaulting obstacles and avoiding deadfalls. "Fargo looked back over his
shoulder, and he couldn't believe what he was seeing.
The grizzly was twenty feet behind them. Then fifteen. Then ten.
The bear's maw opened, revealing teeth covered in frothy blood.
With a roar, the beast leapt at him.... |
