Devil's Canyon (21 page)

Odessa said nothing, but Faro thought she looked at Blackburn with more than a little interest.

“Isaac,” said Faro, “you'll ride the box with Dallas. Withers, you can ride with Shanghai, and Kritzer with Tarno. I generally take the lead wagon, with Levi Collins takin' over for me, while I'm scouting ahead. Any questions before we move out?”

There were none, and the wagons rumbled westward. There was a frosty bite to the wind, and far to the west, a band of dirty gray clouds hugged the horizon. Collins had been riding ahead, and rode back to meet them when they stopped to rest the teams.

“I hate to say it,” Collins said, “but those are snow
clouds. If it doesn't reach us before dark, it'll be here sometime tonight. It may snow for several hours or several days. Out here, you never know, so it's best to prepare for several days.”

“We've enjoyed weather like that on the Kansas plains,” said Faro. “At least, out here there's some cover. I reckon we'd better start lookin' for a place to hole up.”

“It's not a bit too soon,” Collins said.

“Take the wagon, then,” said Faro, “and I'll ride ahead and see what I can find.”

As the wagons again took the trail, Faro rode out. He veered a bit to the south, for the country in that direction looked rougher, lending itself to the possibility of a canyon in which they might wait out the storm. He had ridden not more than ten miles when he saw a line of trees ahead that he found lined a canyon rim. He rode to the east rim, and while there was protection from the elements and a stream along the floor, there was no graze.

“Damn,” said Faro softly, “there goes the grain.”

But the next canyon might also be lacking in graze, and it might be many miles ahead. He looked to the west, and not only did the gathering clouds appear darker than before, they seemed much closer. A man couldn't afford to gamble in snow country. Wheeling his horse, Faro rode back to meet the wagons. This would be their haven from the storm, if they could get there in time. Reaching the wagons, Faro rode back along the line with word of the sanctuary ahead. As far as the wagons were concerned, snow was the greatest hazard, for when it became deep enough, it concealed
broken terrain and drop-offs that could snap an axle or shatter a wheel. Faro allowed Levi Collins to continue with the wagon. They needed to veer slightly to the southwest to reach the lower end of the canyon, and knowing the way, Faro rode ahead. The storm clouds swept in more rapidly than any of them had expected, and a rising wind whipped showers of snow into their faces. Mules tried to balk and had to be driven onward. The fine snow showers soon gave way to big flakes that quickly made their presence felt, for the ground was white as far as the eye could see. Reaching the shallow end of the canyon, Faro waited, directing the wagons in. Collins took the lead wagon to the head of the canyon and the others followed.

“Unharness the teams,” Faro ordered. “Then those of us with horses will snake in some firewood.”

Shanghai, Tarno, and Dallas, familiar with what must be done, followed Faro back to the lower end of the canyon. They sought windblown trees, and it was a land that offered plenty of them. With axes from the wagons, they trimmed off enough branches to avoid the trunks' becoming entangled as they were dragged back to the canyon. The snow fell thicker all about them, and they had difficulty finding the canyon mouth.

“One more time,” Faro said, as they loosed the lariats.

Kritzer, Withers, Blackburn, and Snyder took axes provided by Levi Collins and began chopping the logs into manageable lengths. Faro, Shanghai, Tarno, and Dallas soon returned with more wood.

“We'll have to make do with this for a while,” said Faro. “Snow's gettin' deep, and it's almighty cold.”

“The snow may last only two or three hours,” Collins said, “or it may snow the rest of the day and all night. I suppose there's nothing predictable about this country except its unpredictability.”

“I never heard it put that way,” said Dallas Weaver. “Most of the snowstorms we've had to live with caught up with us on the Kansas plains. Only thing there was less of than shelter was wood.”

“Yeah,” Tarno said. “In snow time, we near 'bout had to take an extra wagon loaded with firewood.”

The McCutcheons soon had two roaring fires next to the canyon's west rim, and even with some snow blowing in, it was a protected camp.

“We'll have to keep the fires going,” Faro said, “with whoever's on watch tending them. If it snows long enough and deep enough, we may be killing wolves to keep them from our horses and mules.”

The snow continued for the rest of the day, with no indication as to when it might cease. Collins wasn't optimistic.

“I think we're in for a bad one,” he said.

“Thank God we pulled out when we had the chance,” said Felix Blackburn. “We'd have been out of ammunition and grub long before now.”

“Yes,” Collins agreed. “Even without the other problems we've had, the snow would have kept us from getting to you in time.”

“There are enough of us for two five-man watches,” said Faro. “We'll change watches at midnight, and here's the lineup. Collins, Blackburn, Tarno, Dallas,
and Withers, you'll take the first watch. Shanghai, Puckett, Snyder, and Kritzer, you'll be joining me for the second watch. Any questions?”

“Yes,” Durham said. “Am I not worthy of taking my turn?”

“Only if you can keep your mind on the business at hand,” said Faro. “Can you?”

“I'll try,” the gambler said, without the slightest embarrassment.

“Then you'll take the first watch,” Faro said, “answering to Levi Collins. But at the first damn hint of trouble, with you at the root of it, you'll answer to me. Take my word, there'll be more than a spanking awaiting you.”

“I reckon you don't want Odessa and me on either watch,” Mamie McCutcheon said.

“Frankly, no,” said Faro, “and you damn well know why, so we won't get into that. I want to remind you—all of you, in fact—that you're not to be up and moving about, if you're not on watch. Otherwise, you're subject to being shot or carried away by hostile Utes. In either case, you're in big trouble, because I'm not a patient man when carelessness is involved. Have I made myself clear?”

“Yassuh, massa,” Odessa McCutcheon said.

Mamie started to laugh, but it died away when everybody else remained silent. Even Durham wasn't amused. Angrily, Odessa drifted away, Mamie following.

*   *   *

“This is a cold damn camp,” Hueso complained.

“Sure as hell is,” said Sangre. “We should of moved on west an' found us a canyon.”

“I ain't wantin' to get too far ahead of them wagons,” Dog Face said. “I told you that. How do you feel, Slade?”

“Like you do,” said Slade wisely. “It won't snow forever.”

“Good old Slade,” Hueso said. “Always ready for some apple polishing.”

“I favor a man that can give me a straight answer without brayin' like a mule-headed
asno
,” said Dog Face. “Slade, when the snow lets up, I'll want you to ride back and bring me another report on them wagons.”

“
Sí
,” Slade said. “They're holed up somewhere.”

Sangre and Hueso glared venomously at Slade, who managed to avoid any obvious sign of smugness. Dog Face laughed, enjoying the animosity he had created. He was playing both ends against the middle, knowing that any one of the three might shoot him in the back if the spoils were sufficient and the opportunity presented itself.

*   *   *

Because of the storm, darkness came early to the canyon where the teamsters had taken refuge. It was near midnight before Hal Durham had a chance to speak to Withers.

“I need to know where you and Kritzer stand,” Durham said softly.

“You'll have to talk to Kritzer,” said Withers. “Me, I stand with the
hombres
that's givin' me a chance to get out of Ute country alive.”

“That's a damn lie, and you know it,” Durham hissed angrily. “You got your eye on that gold claim,
you and Kritzer, and you ain't rootin' me out. Either you work with me and we'll split, or I'll ruin you with Collins and Duval.”

“Go ahead, damn you,” said Withers. “You can't drag Kritzer and me into it without admittin' you was workin' with Slade and the rest of us.”

“I'll find a way,” Durham said. “You better talk to Kritzer, before you do anything foolish.”

“If I talk to Kritzer,” said Withers, “it won't be in your favor. Now leave me the hell alone.”

While Levi Collins wasn't able to hear the conversation, he was aware that it was taking place. When the watch changed at midnight, he mentioned it to Faro.

“Interesting,” Faro said. “If Withers and Kritzer are who we
think
they are, that's all it'll take to convince me that Durham's a Judas of the first water.”

“There's a chance that Durham believes they're here for the same reason he is, then,” said Collins. “That should create some conflict.”

“It should work to our advantage,” Faro replied. “If Withers and Kritzer become too friendly with Durham, then we'll know the three of them are up to no good. Call it a gut hunch, but I don't believe Withers and Kritzer will turn on us. Theirs was a life-and-death situation, here in Ute country, before we took 'em in.”

“The snow's about done,” said Collins. “We're lucky. It could have become a two- or three-day blizzard.”

“We'll still be here until the sun melts it and sucks up the moisture,” Faro said. “I'd say two days, at least.”

“The weather changes quickly in this high country,”
said Collins. “While it's bitter cold tonight, we may be sweating by tomorrow afternoon.”

But the weather was even more eerie than Collins had predicted, for during the night the snow changed to rain, and by dawn there was mud.

“We'll be here at least another day,” Faro said. “Maybe longer. One thing we can do to better our situation while we wait. We can lead the horses and mules out to graze, and save our grain.”

“An excellent idea,” said Collins. “I'll take charge of that, if you like.”

“Go ahead,” Faro replied. “Just don't go too far, and don't forget the possibility of Indians. Take four men with you.”

“I'll go,” said Withers.

“So will I,” Kritzer said.

“Let me go,” said Durham. “I want to get out of this canyon for a while.”

“I reckon I'll go along, too,” Dallas said, his eyes on Durham.

It seemed strange, after the howling snowstorm, to feel the morning sun warm on their backs. Collins and his men got the horses and mules headed toward the shallow end of the canyon, and Faro watched them go.

“That damn gambler's got somethin' up his sleeve besides extra aces,” said Tarno. “I hope you had some good reason for lettin' the varmint go along.”

“I did,” Faro said. “He went after Withers last night, but Kritzer's on second watch. I want Durham to spend a little time with Kritzer.”

Without going too far afield, Collins found suitable graze for the horses and mules. There was little to do
except wait, and Dallas remained with Collins. Seeking not to appear too obvious, Durham took his time getting to Kritzer. Withers made it a point to avoid both of them.

“That Durham's a nervy bastard,” Dallas said.

“You know what he's up to, then,” said Collins.

“Pretty much,” Dallas said, “but I think he's barkin' up the wrong tree. I got faith in Faro's hunches.”

“So have I,” said Collins. “I've heard it said if you give a man enough rope, he'll hang himself.”

Durham found Kritzer as unreceptive as Withers had been.

“I suppose Withers talked to you,” Durham said.

“Yeah,” said Kritzer, “and I ain't got a damn thing to say that he ain't already said.”

“Maybe you'd better think about it,” Durham said angrily. “I can talk to Collins or Duval and get both of you booted out.”

“Not without gettin' yourself booted out along with us,” said Kritzer triumphantly. “I done told Withers, and now I'll tell you. Duval treated us white, better than we deserved, and I'll risk gettin' booted out just to see you get yours. Withers and me aim to tell Duval and Collins what we once was, just so's we can tell what kind of Judas you are. The kind you've been since the day you throwed in with this outfit.”

“You're bluffing,” Durham scoffed.

“Try us, you slick-dealing bastard.”

“A word from either of you,” said Durham, “and you're dead men. I swear it.”

“We took your measure, and I don't think so,” Kritzer said. “We don't aim to turn our backs on you.”

“Damn it,” said Durham desperately, “I'm trying to help you.”

“You lyin' varmint,” Kritzer said. “You wouldn't hoist your own mammy out of a pit of rattlers, unless she paid you for the rope.”

Kritzer turned and walked away, leaving Durham clenching his fists and gritting his teeth in frustration.

Dallas laughed. “Durham ain't been told what he wanted to hear.”

“Whatever Withers and Kritzer have been in the past,” Collins said, “I believe we have just seen Faro Duval's judgment justified. I believe we'll know for sure before this day has ended.”

The showdown came just after supper, before the first watch began.

“Mr. Collins and Mr. Duval,” said Withers, “Kritzer and me has got somethin' we feel the need to say.”

“They've trumped up lies against me!” Durham bawled.

Clearly, he intended to shoot one or both men, as he snaked the Colt from beneath his coat. But Tarno Spangler had been quicker on the draw, and slammed the muzzle of his Colt against the back of Durham's head. He collapsed like an empty sack. The McCutcheon sisters knelt beside him, receiving looks of disgust for their concern.