Part 41 (1/2)
”Joe Sikes.”
”And yer left him back there, guarding the girl?”
”He stayed; them was the orders, while I was to bring back the team; but I reckon he won't need to do no guardin' to speak of, fer we run inter a bunch o' fellows.”
”Mendez's outfit?”
”You got the right dope, marshal, so I reckon I ain't spillin' no beans. It was the Mex all right, an' some o' his bunch.”
”And Lacy didn't know they were there?”
”I reckon not; leastways he never said so, an' they'd only come a few days.”
”How many are they?”
”Maybe a dozen; I don't just know. I saw eight, or ten, round the bunk-house, besides ol' Mendez an' that dude lieutenant of his, Juan Cateras. I ain't got no use fer that duck; I allers did want ter soak him. Then ther' was others out with the cow herd.”
”They had a bunch o' cattle?”
”Maybe three hundred head, run in from Arizona. I heard that much, but I don't talk their lingo.”
”What was done with the young lady?”
Moore spat vindictively into the sand, digging a hole with his heel.
He had talked already more than he intended, but what was the difference?
”Cateras took her,” he admitted, ”but I don't know whar. I rather liked that girl; she's got a h.e.l.l ov a lot o' sand, an' never put up a whimper. I tried ter find out whar she was, but n.o.body'd tell me.
Then I had ter pull out.”
Westcott interjected a question.
”Did you learn if there was any other prisoner there?”
”Not that I heard of. Who do yer mean?”
”A man named Cavendish.”
”No, I reckon not.” He turned back to the marshal.
”What are you guys goin' ter do with me?”
”That depends, Matt. When a lad is straight with me, I generally play square with him. All this took place in Sunken Valley?”
”Yep; whar'd you hear it called that?”
”Oh, I know more'n some ov you boys think I do. That name's been floatin' 'bout fer some time. I've even got the spot located--it's straight south thar a ways. But you've been in it, an' I never have.
Here's whar you can serve the law, an' so get out of yer own trouble if yer so minded. It don't make a h.e.l.l ov a lot o' difference to me whether yer speak up or not, but it's liable to ter you. What do yer say?”
”Fire away; I reckon I'm up against it anyhow.”