Terror at Tierra de Cobre by Michael Merriam

Author:Michael Merriam [Merriam, Michael]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9798986754376
Publisher: Queen of Swords Press

The women gathered in the town square preparing to defend Tierra de Cobre heard the keening and some of them dropped their weapons and fled.

Abigail looked toward the direction of the unholy howl. “Sweet Jesus.”

“What is it?” Clara stepped to Abigail’s side.

“Damned if I know, Miss Dashelle, but we'd best be ready for trouble.” She turned to the remaining women. “Everyone, pick a spot with some cover.”

Abigail walked down the street, Clara trailing in her wake.

“Do you have a plan?” Clara asked.

“Miss Dashelle, are you armed? Something a little more deadly than a pencil on your person?”

“Of course. I’m not an idiot.” Settling her open bag in the nook of her elbow, she drew a Remington double barrel derringer from inside, switched it to her other hand, and retrieved a Barlow knife from the bag, both weapons pearl-handled and ornate. She set the bag on the ground. “Will these suffice?”

“They’ll be good enough.”

Abigail turned toward the pond. She wished her companions would come riding up from the copper mine, ready to help her with whatever might be coming. She wished Sofia stood next to her. Even if she didn’t believe in this supposed monster, she knew the reality of magic. You couldn’t be around Sofia Podany without seeing magic in person: genuine, real magic.

As if thinking about her was a summoning, Sofia appeared from a side street, Daisy at her side.

“I’m guessing you know what caused the hell-shriek?” Abigail said.

“Yes. The power our unknown fiend wields over mortal men is not absolute. It can be broken. The beast was unhappy when I broke off the enchantment on one of the men in the prison.”

Abigail snorted in laughter. “You never do things by halves, do you? Should we rally the rest of our companions before the thing sweeps down on us in retribution?”

Sofia frowned. Abigail thought she might be looking at something in the distance only she could see. “No. I suspect it will try to scout us first by cover of night.”

“It’s always at night,” Abigail muttered.

“Why?” Clara asked.

Sofia shrugged. “Some monsters cannot abide the light. Or it is because they know we fear the dark, are more vulnerable at night.” She smiled at Abigail. “How goes turning our flock of desert doves into a fighting force?”

Abigail glanced over her shoulder at the woman who had chosen to fight. Temperance, shotgun at the ready, stood a dozen or so paces between Abigail and the women of Tierra de Cobre. A handful stood steady behind Temperance; a few others peeked up from their cover, weapons clutched in their hands. She would work with these women. The rest could reload guns, tend to the wounded, or hide away in the cellars. “If nothing else, the shriek quickly weeded out the ones who won’t stand and fight.”

“Yes, several of them did run screaming at the first sign of trouble,” Clara said.

“Glad I could help find the fighters among them.” Sofia turned to Daisy. “Come, we must prepare.” Without another word, Sofia walked toward the saloon, Daisy trailing in her wake.

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