Part 35 (1/2)

Sometimes old memories are best left alone.

”Come on,” she said, tugging at his arm. ”Let's see how good a seamstress I am.”

Rani had taken insulated coveralls and cut and sewn a snow suit over the coveralls, making it out of bed sheets. Using white shoe polish, Ben had made snow boots out of insulated hunting boots.

His small pack was also covered with white fabric, as were his web belt, canteens, and ammo pouches.

”When are you leaving, Ben?”

”An hour before first light in the morning. I want to watch the smoke today, try to judge where they're going.”

She smiled despite her fears. ”Then let's make it a memorable evening, General.”

”Delighted, Miss Jordan.”

”Ms.”

”But of course.”

Jake Campo squatted in front of a roaring fire, trying his best to get warm while his men struggled with tarps and tents. He looked over at Texas Red. They touched glances and understood eachother.

Both knew coming into the snow and deep timber after Raines had been a terrible mistake. But they couldn't back out now. That would cause them the loss of respect from their men. The outlaws couldn't afford that.

They had to finish this thing once and for all.

Forty men, Campo was thinking. We lost eight teams of men and Raines didn't have to fire one lousy shot. And the desertions.

Jesus.

Guys were just quitting them left and right.

He looked around him at the cold camp.

Maybe, maybe if they were lucky, there was a hundred and twenty, maybe thirty guys left.

But he knew these were the hardcore men. Murderers and rapists and nut cases. Most didn't have enough sense to quit.

This would be the base camp for a week, maybe longer. They would search every square inch of these woods, chart it on a map, and then, if they didn't turn up Raines, move on. Jake knew they had plenty of food and sleeping bags and ammo. It was just a matter of finding Raines.

They would start in the morning.

Ben walked some twenty miles from the cabin before he began head-hunting. It was going to snow again that night, so he wasn't worried about tracks.

He drew close to the smoke that made up the western edge of the outlaws' perimeter and squatted down, uncasing his binoculars. Very carefully and slowly, he scanned the area that lay before him. He picked up the movements of a few men. He focused his binoculars and brought the men in closer. They were walking with their heads down, searching the snow for sign.

Ben eased back into the deep timber, watching the men walk through the small valley. He was careful to s.h.i.+eld his field gla.s.ses so the sun would not bounce off the lenses, giving away his position.

He watched them draw closer, than fan out, several hundred yards between each man.

He waited by the edge of the forest. He was not aware of it, but he was smiling.

The man working the most eastern area drew closer.

He was talking to himself. Obviously, he was not happy with his job.

”Son of a b.i.t.c.h,” the man muttered, his voice carrying to Ben. ”I'm gonna enjoy watchin'

Jake nail that b.a.s.t.a.r.d to a cross. I hope it takes him days to die.

Jesus!

it's cold out here.”

So Jake has plans to crucify me, Ben thought. I don't think I'd like that very much. I'll just see if I can't put a crimp in Big Jake's plans.

The outlaw came to the woods' edge and stood for a moment. The deep timber gave him some relief from the cold winds singing around the valley.

”I sure would like to take a p.i.s.s,” the outlaw muttered. ”But I'm afraid my p.e.c.k.e.r wouldfreeze and fall off.”

Then he cussed Ben Raines loud and long.

Ben hoped he enjoyed cursing him, for it was to be the last sound he would ever hear.

Ben was silent and deadly with his knife, slicing the man's throat with the heavy, razor-sharp blade.

He dragged the man into the timber and dropped him in the snow, his warm, pumping blood staining the whiteness scarlet.

”Halp!” Ben hollered, disguising his voice.

”Halp! I'm stuck, boys, Halp!”

”Leroy, you stupid ox!” a man's call drifted over the valley. ”What the s.h.i.+t is the matter with you now?”'

”Caught my foot in a wedge!” Ben hollered.

”Come help me.”

”All right, all right! Just don't pee on yourself.

We're a-comin”dis”

Ben heard the man say, ”You two keep on a-lookin'. Simmons, you and Bobby come with me.

Let's see what that dumba.s.s's got hisself into now.”

The three outlaws approached Ben's position, walking clumsily through the snow.