The Last Stand
Chapter 7
by
Four of Hearts
Matt sat crouched behind a large boulder overlooking the trail that wound its way through the optimistically named Gloss Mountains. Though really nothing more than a series of tall hills, they were the nearest you could come in these parts to actual mountains.
While attentive to the trail and every movement around him, Matt's thoughts were somewhat preoccupied with a certain beautiful red head and the impetuous kiss they had shared. The corners of his mouth lifted in a warm smile as he remembered the look on her face when their lips had parted. It was the same look he supposed he had worn-surprise and pleasure mingled with longing for more...and a very real fear that they may never see each other again if things went badly. He prayed fervently that wouldn't happen, but he was glad for that last bittersweet taste of the woman he loved before he rode out to face whatever hand destiny dealt them.
"You reckon they'll be here soon, do ya?" Festus whispered hoarsely as he crawled up next to Matt, making sure to stay low and out of sight.
Matt glanced up and nodded. "Yeah. Santiago's gonna want to hit Dodge about dusk when things have settled down for the day and people are at home. To do that he has to come through here pretty soon."
"Ya think we kin stop em' here?"
Matt looked earnestly at his friend and shook his head. "Nope. But I figure we can at least slow them down. Give everyone back in town a little more time to prepare."
Festus nodded and silently looked down over the trail. "Well, if'n they make it to Dodge, and I ain't sayin' they will, mind ya, but if they make it, they'll shore git a surprise. I were plumb flummoxed my ownself that the mayor know'd so much about defendin' and such. Sure am glad he does though. With him and the rest a workin' like turkeys back there, that San-ta-ge ain't gonna know what hit him."
A ghost of a smile lit Matt's face for a moment as he thought of the brave people, including the mayor, who had volunteered to stay behind and build defenses inside the town. People like Doc, and Sam…and Kitty.
Pushing that anxious thought aside his couldn't help but grin as he remembered Louie Pheeters promising to forego liquor completely until this was over. He had a feeling that would be easier said than done but he admired the man for trying.
"They're coming," Matt heard suddenly. Cautiously, he peered back over the rock and saw a number of riders heading boldly down the trail. His heart beat faster as he saw the size of the column. There had to be at least fifty or sixty men riding with the fearsome bandit. "Festus," he whispered urgently. "Pass the word. No one fires until I give the signal. We might be able to pick off quite a few if we let them get closer."
Festus nodded and scooted off, passing the word quickly to hold fire until they saw Matt's signal.
Glancing to his left and down a ways, Matt locked eyes with Quint Asper. Though Quint looked back unflinchingly, Matt saw a tightening around his eyes and the rigid set of his shoulders. He was as uncertain as Matt of their chances of coming out alive.
Down at the other end of the line, Carl Dean Halsted sat fearfully watching as the massive line of men came into view and began to make their way closer. Sweat streamed down his face at the sight of so many men, and though he knew Matt's order, his mind was in a panic. Raising his rifle, he aimed in the general direction of the small advancing army and began to fire.
Matt's heart froze as the first reports of rifle fire echoed off the rocks around him. Swiveling his head to the right, he saw Halstead, rifle raised and firing madly down on the approaching riders. He heard a cry as Halstead was hit in the chest dead center. Carl Dean Halsted was Dodge City's first casualty.
Waiting was futile now. Matt waved his arm and gave the signal to begin firing. One by one, the remaining Dodge men brought their arms to bear and began firing upon the bandits as they rapidly dove for cover amidst the rocks and boulders on the opposite side of the trail.
Quint rapidly crab walked over to Matt and pointed to a spot on the opposite side and to the left. "I'm gonna see if I can make my way over there," he yelled loudly enough to be heard over the escalating gunfire. Santiago and his men had found cover and were now returning heavy fire on the brave men of Dodge. "I thought I saw Santiago heading in that direction and if I can get there, I might be able to take him out."
Matt shook his head. "No, Quint. That's my job. You stay here and keep firing-pin them down."
Quint grabbed Matt's arm though, as he started to rise, and pushed him back. "Matt, I stand a better chance of getting over there than you do. Besides these men will listen to you, not me. You just give me some cover fire, okay?"
The blacksmith was right and Matt agreed regretfully. "Be careful."
Quint flashed a quick grin and took off. Fleet of foot and trained as a boy in the Comanche way of moving, Quint was soon across the trail and creeping silently upon six men who had taken shelter among a group of large boulders and were firing fast and hard up at the Dodge men.
To his dismay, Santiago was not among them, but these men needed to be stopped as well. Taking careful aim, Quint rapidly began to fire down upon the bandits.
In swift succession four men fell under his withering fire. As another one fell, Quint's rifle jammed. Throwing it down, he reached for his knife but he had barely touched it when the remaining man drew a bead on him and fired. Only his catlike reflexes saved his life, if not his arm. Feeling the burn as the bullet made its way through the flesh of his upper arm, Quint ducked back out of sight and quickly retreated back to the other side where Matt and the others were entrenched.
Matt saw him coming and laid down a blistering barrage of fire, providing cover until Quint made his way back. "How bad you hit?" he asked, noticing his bloodied arm.
"Just a flesh wound." Quint replied dismissively. "But I think we'd better think about getting out of here. I got five of them, but the rest are dug in tight and there's no way we can hold them off for too long."
Matt nodded as he took aim and fired at something he saw moving just below. "I think you're right. It's gonna be dark in a little while, and I know a way out of here that bypasses that trail. But we're going to have to leave someone here to keep firing occasionally to hide our retreat."
"I'll stay," Quint immediately volunteered.
But Matt shook his head. "You're hurt. Flesh wound or not, that arm's bleeding pretty bad. You wouldn't last long. I'd do it myself but I'm the only one who knows the way out of here."
"I'll do it," a voice came from his right. Matt looked up to see Nash McGuire coming towards him on all fours. "I ain't got nobody waiting on me back in Dodge. I figure I ain't got nothing to lose by staying here."
Matt clasped the man by the arm with a grateful smile. "I appreciate that, Nash. I figure it'll take us a couple of hours to get back down to where our horses are tied and get out. I'll have the men give you all their extra ammunition but the way we've been firing I doubt there's too much left."
"Don't worry none about me," Nash stated with more certainty then he felt. "Sides, ain't all of them fellers going be firing back at me. Their horses scattered when they took cover. Some of em's gonna have to go chase em' down. You just tar heel it back to Dodge. I got me a feeling that's where the real battle's gonna be."
Darkness settled on the landscape within half an hour. Gripping Nash's shoulder, Matt found it difficult to tell the man of his gratitude for the sacrifice he was making. "Keep their heads down," he managed.
Nash nodded with a brave smile as he watched Matt and the seven remaining Dodge men quickly leave, and under his protective fire, disappear from sight.
It took less time than Matt thought to reach their horses, but he knew that would be the last easy thing they would do before this was over. Swiftly mounting his horse, he waited till the others were aboard their own mounts and then turned and galloped off into the dark, leaving one brave man behind to his fate.
tbc
FoH
