Diablo (42 page)

“He came in with Mitch Evers and the girl,” one of the guards said. “But no one's seen them today. They sure as hell didn't go through here, though.”

Hildebrand cursed. “He must have made a deal with the law. Is there another way out?”

“Not that I know of, although there's been whispers from time to time. But I don't think Thompson would make any deal. He hates lawmen.”

“Then why are they all gone? Even Evers. Sneaking out in the middle of the night?”

“Thompson wouldn't do that,” the guard protested.

“Maybe Diablo took Thompson by force,” Hildebrand said. “You know Thompson hasn't looked too well lately.”

“But Mitch …”

Hildebrand shrugged. “He could be dead. I think we should warn the others. See if anyone knows about another entrance.”

Moses hesitated.

“You want to fight off a posse?”

“We can hold this place.”

“Not if there's another entrance you don't know about.”

Moses hesitated. “Okay. Go on in. Look.” He waved to the guard above, and Hildebrand and Yancy rode through the narrow trail into Sanctuary.

An hour later, they had gone through every inch of Thompson's house and office. No money anywhere, including the safe. At Hildebrand's urging, fifteen guests and six armed guards held a conference. Thompson had obviously deserted them and taken his money with him. One man allowed he had seen Thompson doubled over yesterday, and others suddenly voiced thoughts they had kept to themselves: Thompson was ill.

Which meant he couldn't travel fast, Hildebrand said. And Thompson must have money with him, and lots of it.
Their
money. He was a low-down double-crossing son-of-a-bitch.

They didn't have time to search for a secret exit. Hildebrand suggested they split up into two separate groups and search the area for tracks, one going to the left, one to the right. If one party found tracks, they would fire three rifle shots.

The “guests” at Sanctuary sacked the general store, looking for their guns; they found none there, but they did find a box of Winchesters and ammunition in Nat Thompson's basement, hidden behind several casks of wine. They emptied the general store, taking what they could and setting fire to the rest.

No man voiced a doubt now that Thompson had taken his family and fled, which meant the law must be on the way. In their collective anger, they also set fire to the hotel, Thompson's house, and the stable, though they took out the horses first and claimed them. Nat Thompson always kept a good supply for those who might need them.

The rest of Sanctuary would burn. Flames were already whipping from one structure to another.

The men mounted, money and revenge on all their minds.

Kane saw the glow behind them, the slight darkening of a clear blue sky. He spurred his horse forward until he reached Evers and gestured for the man to look behind.

Evers turned in the saddle, his lips frowning. “They've discovered we're gone,” he said.

Kane nodded.

Evers hesitated, then reached into his saddlebags and pulled out Kane's holster and pistol, handing it to him. “They might scatter or they might come after us,” he said, then added in a low, warning voice, “I'll still be watching you.”

Kane took the gunbelt and buckled it on. “What about a rifle?”

“Nat has an extra one on his saddle if you have need of one,” Evers said shortly, then added angrily, “This is all your doing.”

“Thompson's dying,” Kane said. “You know that. Your ‘guests' would have made a move sooner or later. They were just waiting for an opportunity.”

Evers glared at him, turned and trotted up to Thompson. The whole party had stopped, and they were looking back at the faint, fiery glow and the drifting smoke. Regret mixed with pain on Thompson's face. Robin's gaze was riveted on the smoke. Nicky looked at Kane, then away quickly. He wondered what she didn't want him to see in her face.

The loss of Sanctuary
was
at least partly his fault. It was bound to happen anyway, given Thompson's sickness, but he had hastened the event. He had accomplished his goal. Sanctuary was finished as a hideout. He had something to show to Masters. He should be pleased. Satisfied. Instead, he felt empty. Tired.

And it might be too late for Davy. He might also be responsible for leading Thompson and his family to their deaths. But he had no time to dwell on that. They were all running for their lives.

An hour later, they heard three shots, a space between each one. A signal. All of them drew up, listening.

Nat Thompson was barely hanging on. “They found the trail,” he said.

“Where are your damn Comanches?” Evers asked.

Nat shrugged. “You know they've always been more threat than actual use.”

Kane hesitated. “That shot was faint. They're a fair distance behind.”

All eyes went to Thompson. There was no way he could ride hard enough or long enough to keep in front of healthy men who were bent on catching them.

“Is there a good place to ambush them?” Kane asked. It was time, he knew, to take over. Up until now, there had been no reason to challenge Thompson or Evers. They were going where he wanted to go.

“About an hour ahead,” Evers said. “There's a hill, more like a pile of rock.”

“When we get there, you take Thompson and his family and go on,” Kane said. “I'll stay and delay them.”

“Hell, you will,” Evers said. “I don't trust you any farther than I can throw you.”

“Then you can stay with me,” Kane challenged.

Nat Thompson looked at his nephew, then niece. “I'll stay behind with Mitch. O'Brien will go with Robin and Nicky.”

There was a long silence. “I won't go without Uncle Nat,” Nicky said.

“Neither will I,” chimed in Robin.

The three men looked at each other helplessly.

Kane broke the deadlock. “Let's get to those rocks. Then we can argue it out.”

Nat Thompson nodded, somehow bringing an image of strength to the gesture. He set the pace again, a strong pace, the others deferring to what he could do. Kane didn't even want to think what it cost him. He swore silently.

He caught up to Nicky and rode alongside her. Mitch fell to the rear. Robin grinned at him. The boy seemed almost oblivious to the danger they faced; this journey was an adventure to him, and Kane understood. Robin didn't realize yet how ill his uncle was, or exactly how much was at stake. For Robin, leaving Sanctuary for the first time since infancy, it must seem as if a whole new world was opening before him.

Kane said a rare, brief prayer for him. He wanted that world to broaden for Robin—and for Nicky.

If only they survived the next few days.

The sun had started its downward descent when Kane and his companions reached the rocky formation that jutted from the ground. As large as a substantial hill, it appeared entirely composed of rocks and boulders.

Nat Thompson could barely sit his horse. He was swaying back and forth, obviously badly in need of the laudanum. “I can't go any further,” he said.

Evers dismounted, then helped his friend down. Thompson seemed to crumble for a moment, then stood and looked at the others. “I want to talk to Nicky and Robin alone,” he said. Kane's gaze met Evers's, and they both dismounted, walking their horses out of hearing distance, both of them judging the rock formation for places to hide. They were only too aware of the minutes ticking by, but neither said anything. Kane had never liked Mitch Evers, but he'd come to respect his loyalty to Thompson. Mitch could have ridden off, saved himself. He must know he would be prosecuted along with Thompson, or killed by the men they'd left behind. His options had become as slim as Kane's and Thompson's.

Evers had never said much, particularly to Kane, and he certainly wasn't going to start now. Instead, he climbed up into the rocks, obviously searching for good roosting places. If the men from Sanctuary followed their tracks, they would pass right below here. With rifles, a good shot could take down two or three before the others would have time to draw and aim. And then the sun would favor those in the rocks.

A second man could throw the pursuers into chaos. Kane intended to be that second man, no matter what anyone said. He followed Evers up into the rocks, and his gaze went toward the space Evers was studying. There was just enough room for a man between two boulders, both of which would serve as good protection. Unless someone climbed up from the other side.

Kane started searching himself. He found another good spot, one from which a shooter would have a clear view, rock barriers to duck behind and a good view to protect the other man. He saw Thompson below, huddled with Nicky and Robin. Kane suspected what he was telling them: that he was going to die soon in any case, that they must go on without him. Nat Thompson intended to stay here alone, and Mitch wasn't going to let him.

Neither was Kane, even though the thought of shooting someone again was sickening. He kept thinking that part of his life was over. He wondered whether it would ever be over. Probably not until he was dead.

One thing he knew for sure—he couldn't run away from this fight. He had set everything into motion. He was damn well going to see it through.

Kane looked down again. Robin appeared to reel from whatever Thompson was saying. Nicky put her arm around the boy and held him tight. Nat Thompson held out his hand to Robin in a gesture that touched Kane even though he couldn't hear the words. Thompson wasn't a sentimental man. Nicky stood straighter, and Kane wished he were there next to her, holding her.

Thompson signaled for Kane and Evers to join him, and they looked at each other. Understanding flickered between them, and Evers smiled briefly. They climbed down and joined Nat Thompson.

“I want you two to leave,” Thompson said. “Mitch, you get the hell out of here, maybe go to Mexico. Diablo can take care of my niece and nephew. I can't go farther, but I sure as hell can still shoot.”

“No,” Evers said. “We've been together twenty-five years. I'm not going it alone now. There's no way you can make me.”

A muscle throbbed in Thompson's cheek. He turned to Kane. “Take Nicky and Robin and get out of here.”

“Three of us have a better chance of stopping them,” Kane said. “Robin and Nicky will be safer if I stay here. They can take a note from me. Someone will hear shots—your Comanches, or …”

“Your posse?” Nat finished dryly.

The time for lying was over. “I'm not sure there is one,” he said, wishing to hell he'd given Masters more information.

Thompson blinked, then smiled slowly. “You're a devious son of a bitch,” he said. “But it doesn't matter now. I want you with them.”

Kane didn't like sending Nicky and Robin on alone any better than Thompson did. Their chances were better, though, if three men were to ambush the pursuers. “We can hold them up for days,” he argued. “They wouldn't know we aren't all still together, especially if we scattered our three horses after Nicky and Robin leave.”

There was a silence as the other two men considered his plan. After a moment, he asked, “How many do you suspect are behind us?”

“If the guards joined up with our paying guests, as many as twenty,” Thompson said.

“And they would,” Evers said, “once they realized you'd left. There's always been rumors about how much money you had stashed at Sanctuary. You had control only as long as they were afraid to cross you.”

“And now they feel I crossed them,” Thompson said.

Mitch shrugged his shoulders. “We all know they were just looking for a chance to take over Sanctuary. You didn't owe them a damn thing.”

“They may not view it that way,” Thompson said. He looked again at Kane. “I don't think Nicky will go alone.”

“She will,” Kane said slowly, “if she thinks your life depends on it.”

Thompson glanced up sharply at him.

“We tell them none of us will survive without help,” Kane said. “But we might be able to hold out if they can reach Gooden.”

Evers stared at him. “You really are a sneaky son of a bitch.”

If Kane's heart hadn't been so heavy, he might have appreciated the observation, coming as it did from a man who had helped create Sanctuary.

Nat looked at him. “It might work, but what about your friend?”

Kane met his gaze. “Hell, they'll have Sanctuary
and
a body. Nicky will tell them where they can find us.”

There was a silence. Then Evers spoke up. “Both Nicky and Robin can handle rifles,” he said. “I think Diablo's right. The longer we can hold them off, the safer they'll be. They would know if there were just one or two of us. Some might check ahead. But if we move around these rocks, they'll think we're all here.”

Thompson straightened his shoulders. “All right.” He turned to Kane. “You explain this to Nicky. I'm going to switch saddlebags with her. Mine has the money; hers has most of the ammunition. Mitch, you unsaddle the three horses and take the gear up into the rocks.”

Thompson leaned against the rocks for a moment, waving off Kane as he took a step forward. “What are you waiting for? We don't have time.”

Kane nodded. He headed toward Nicky and Robin, who were standing uncertainly near their horses. Nicky lifted her eyes to him, large beseeching eyes asking him to do the impossible. Robin had tears in his eyes, though he was trying his best to hold them back.

Kane reached out and put a hand on the boy's right shoulder. The hawk was perched on Robin's left shoulder. “You and that hawk have a lot in common,” he said. “Lots of courage. And now I'm going to ask you to do something very hard.”

“We're not leaving,” Nicky said flatly, obviously prepared for a fight.

Kane turned to face her. “The three of us can hold off an army for a few days,” he said, “but we don't have enough water or ammunition to last indefinitely. If you two stay here, we don't have a chance. The only one we do have, any of us, is if you ride for help.”