Let us do something, while we have the chance. Still don't own Chuck. And the people in my stories are fictional.

Chapter 11 End of the Trail

The Trail

The stampede was over running the position that Carlos and his men were holding. Sarah and one other wrangler were cut off on the trail to the Mesa. The chuck wagon with Max and his men were rapidly approaching Sarah's position.

The wrangler with Sarah flipped back over his horse, as a shot rang out. Sarah saw the chuck wagon coming up fast. She tried two shots into the buckboard but they seemed to have no effect.

LT was almost screaming at this point, "Sarah, move back and to the right. Head up the trail to the Mesa. Dave is up there with three others."

Sarah pulled Blue to the right and charged up the trail. She left Max and the rest far below. Carlos and his men were fighting their way back to their position. Max and his group were making the turn up the trail.

Philip and three of his men had moved in back of Chuck. They held their ground and got the two riders that were after Chuck.

Chuck weaved the best he could around the on-coming stampede. He was further up the canyon slope but behind Carlos. He spurred Nacoma on to race back at Carlos' position.

As the chuck wagon passed Carlos, Max had the Watts' and a shooter in the chuck wagon and two riders with him. They were racing up the trial.

When Mary slumped in Casey's arms, he spurred Shadow straight ahead. He shot the other rider leaving the Halversons on their own. Knowing the stampede was still coming, Casey continued for the wall. He saw his break. There looked to be a ledge at the wall about five feet off the ground. He stopped Shadow right before it and swung Mary on to the ledge. There were bushes around this part of the wall and they offered some concealment for Mary. He wanted some place to check her and see if she really was okay. Casey moved up ten yards and tied off Dusty to the bushes.

"This is Chief Scotts. Colonel, I got three riders coming down from the slope at your position."

"This is Ray. Mary, I have two rangers heading to your position."

"This is Casey. I think Mary was hit. I have her on a ledge just below my current position. Ray, the Halversons should be headed toward you."

"Scotts here. I have the two riders headed away from the Colonel's position and two headed toward him."

Casey grunted. He emptied the spent cartridges from the Colt and reloaded. Then he pulled the Winchester, got a cartridge in the chamber. 'Always wanted to try this.'

Timing is everything. Mary woke to watch Casey put the reins in his teeth. He had a weapon in both hands and charged the three on coming riders. Using the Winchester first, he dropped the closest rider. The other two riders began to shoot at Casey. Mary felt good enough to jump from the ledge, or at least until she fell to the ground. She got up and started running to her horse. Casey pumped two shots into the inside rider. The other rider was firing at a constant rate. He got off one shot that knocked the Colt out of Casey's hand. Casey brought the Winchester to position and shot the rider out of the saddle.

Mary got on Dusty and rode over to Casey. "Are you alright?"

Casey shook his hand, "Might have broke something. Still feels numb."

"This is Chief Scotts. Colonel, the Halversons turned back."

Chuck got to Carlos' position. Pointing up the trail, "Do we follow them?

"Yes, my young friend. We follow them. We will try to keep them busy with us while Sarah and Dave close in on them from the top." Carlos pulled out his Winchester and began to fire on the chuck wagon. The wranglers pulled theirs and kept a steady fire on the chuck wagon.

Chuck pulled his Winchester. While he really did not want to shoot with it and really had no intention of it, he wasn't willing to take a chance that something would happen and he would not be ready. They kept moving up the trail.

Sarah, Dave and one wrangler were on the right side of the trail coming out on to the Mesa. Two of the other wranglers were on the other side.

Sarah had them in her sights. She called out, "Put down you weapons and raise your hands."

Carlos and his men heard her and stopped firing. Chuck rode up a little further. Max had put his revolver away and was holding up his hands. The Watts and the other man from inside the wagon were standing beside it with their hands up. The other two riders wheeled their horses and started down toward Chuck. There were four shots that sounded like one.

Sarah turned, "Anyone else?"

Casey noticed the lull in shooting and then the four shots. He looked over at Mary. "How are you doing?"

"Hurts, probably ruined the shirt," Mary smiled.

Casey smiled, then immediately changed, "You have one chance. Put them down and put your hands up." His rifle pointed at the Halversons.

Mary's hand was a blur and pulled out her Colt, "Now."

The Halversons held up their hands. The two wranglers came up from behind and got their guns.

Pine Ridge

Medical evacuations were still underway. Most of the causalities in the canyon were air evacuated from the spot. Most of those were Max's riders. Only a couple of the rangers and only one marshal were air lifted. They had been shot in the arms or legs. The first wrangler hit had a vest and a very large bruise. Doc Adams was doing the initial triage on the group.

Sarah and the rest were doing a review. Sarah said, "The Halversons have been transferred to a special containment unit of the U.S. Marshals and they are in transit now."

John added, "Yes, we arranged something special for them. Beside the numerous indictments against them, they made the mistake of escaping from jail before their last sentence had been completed. And now we have their connection with Fulcrum. Well, let's say they should not expect to go riding again."

"Mr. de Brouget is being transferred right now to Mr. Johnson. He and his tactical squad are here to transport him. The other riders are also being transferred to Mr. Johnson," Sarah ended.

"Yes, well I would expect that once we connect the ranchers to their lawyers, we may be able to get other evidence to use in these cases." John said, "Sarah, John, Mary and everyone, I sincerely appreciate your efforts in bringing these people in. Carlos and Philip, remember the next time you are in town, I do want to get together. Finally Chuck, I think it is time to talk. I have arranged a flight for you, Sarah and Doc Adams. It is standing by at the base.

A/N I truly hope you enjoyed a little Western with Chuck and the crew. Please review.

The sequel is being posted. Chuck vs. the Trader