Lone McGantry: A Western Double by Wayne D. Dundee

Author:Wayne D. Dundee [Dundee, Wayne D.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781641199483
Publisher: Wolfpack Publishing
Published: 2019-09-17T12:00:00+00:00

"I can’t see shit. I wish I had me a pair of good field glasses," Casey Tull lamented.

Beside him, Jim Busse said, "They’re down there right where they been, back in the thick of those trees. They’re doin’ some movin’ around, but I can’t make out who’s who or exactly what they’re up to. They damn sure ain’t bedded down for sleepin’ like they ought to be at this hour."

The two men were positioned once more on the face of the north bluff, in a rocky pocket fifteen or twenty feet down from the crest. Below them everything not cast in shadow was bathed silver-blue by moon- and star-light. The current of the muddy Dismal made even the water dance with glittering highlights.

"What do you reckon they’re up to, anyway?" Busse wondered out loud.

"I wish I knew," Tull muttered. "Might be some trick of that damn McGantry... or leastways the plannin’ of one."

"You want I should throw a couple rounds back in there where they’re gathered — give ‘em somethin’ to think about ‘sides tryin’ to get cute?"

"You know we can’t be throwin’ rounds careless, for fear of hitting the lord or lady. How many times I gotta explain that?"

"I know, I know. It just gets mighty frustratin’, perched up here doin’ nuthin’. ‘Specially knowin’ they’re sashaying’ around down there probably plottin’ some trickery against us."

"I ain’t crazy about it either. But we gotta stay calm, let them be the ones who get stressed and maybe desperate. That’s how we’ll come out on top of this thing."

Knowing Tull’s attention was elsewhere, Busse allowed himself a wry smile. Tull lecturing him on staying calm, he thought to himself. Boy, that's rich.

A moment later, Tull surprised Busse even more by saying, "Tell you what. I ain’t ready for sleepin’ no how. You could probably use some, though. Whyn’t you go ahead on back to camp and catch some shuteye before sunup. I’ll stay here and keep an eye on things. If anything changes or it looks like something’s about to pop, I’ll signal and you roust up the others right quick, you hear?"

"You sure?" Busse asked cautiously.

"I said so, didn’t I? Go on, git."

Without hesitation or further question, Busse turned and began his ascent toward the crest of the bluff, thinking how good it would feel to stretch out in the warm confines of his bedroll. At the same time, he pondered the somewhat amazing fact that Casey Tull had just extended him a kindness. Who would have thought it possible? For a fleeting moment he actually considered waking his pal Horton when he got back to camp and breaking the news: Ol’ Hardass Tull was actually capable of friendly gesture.

For his part, Tull was also doing some pondering as Busse made his departure. After standing vigil over his own camp most of the night, how wise was it, he asked himself, to relinquish that vigil now and remain here on the bluff? If any of his men were really thinking about

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