Chapter 12

Hunter sat watching as Keaton argued with another boy that they had recently taken on. He thought it wise to keep his mouth shut so he tried to stay out of it. Keaton paced around the snide little bastard. The boy just acted like he was some badass that shouldn't be worried. Hunter turned back to his horse when he heard the shot. He kept his back to the others and closed his eyes. He turned to see Keaton kicking the now dead boy. He spit on him before some of the others began to drag him away to bury him. Hunter took a deep breath as Keaton angrily walked over.

"Another one. God, this shit just ain't working out. I just knew that he would fit in. Smart ass."

Hunter just nodded.

"Hickok, I heard of a wagon train passing nearby with bout fifty head. Be ready to ride in an hour."

Hunter watched as Keaton walked back off into the midst of the others. He looked at each one. The would be gang was now up to about fifteen men. He had to get away from this. Another man named Derek walked over to stand beside Hunter.

"I been with Keat for a year now. I think he's making a mistake with you."

Hunter turned and glared at the man.

"Nothing to say. You never got nothing to say. See that's the problem. I don't trust a man that don't talk. Sides your so called father shot my father down like a dog. So begs my pardon, I don't like you. You look just like the no good son of a bitch. I'm watching you, Hickok. I'll get my payback one way or another."

Hunter tried to stay calm as the man finally moved on. He didn't know how he was gonna get out.

"Mount em up. We heading out earlier than I thought."

Hunter checked his gun and got on his horse. He felt the sweat rolling down his back. He not only had to watch for others defending themselves and killing him, he had to watch his back for members of the gang as well. He was spurred his horse on behind the others as they rode out to the unsuspecting wagon train.

It didn't really take long before the wagons came into view. Four men rode along herding the cattle. Keaton looked down the line at his men. He smiled and nodded. Hunter raced down with his gun drawn. He shot but he always shot wide. The battle ensued for a while. Hunter watched as innocent after innocent fell dead. He felt himself falling into hell. He had to do something. He saw a man draw on a young boy. Hunter rode his horse over and kicked the man down. He shot him and pulled the boy over. He whispered for him to lay and be still. He looked around unseen. He saw another one of the gang aim for a man and wife. Hunter aimed and shot him dead. He told the couple to do the same and also about the child hidden. He mounted his horse and rode again through the chaos. At the end when the smoke cleared, Keaton's men rounded up all the cattle. They herded them onward toward their hideout. Hunter looked back over his shoulder quickly. He had managed to save five people. He turned back around to pay attention to the herd.

Keaton rode back into camp from town the next day ranting and raving. All the men stopped to watch him as he carried on until one finally spoke.

"What's going on, Keat?"

"This!" He said dropping posters down.

All the men walked over to look. Someone had recognized five of them from town. Hunter didn't see his name but he was relatively new. He stepped back.

"I thought we killed them all! How the hell could this happen?!" Yelled another man.

"I'm done. I'm high tailing it away from here!" Yelled another.

"I'll be damned if I find the end of a noose! I'm with you!"

Keaton shot his gun in the air grabbing all their attention.

"No one is fucking quitting this! You hear me! No one!" He yelled.

The men quieted down and waited.

"Now it seems we may have a little problem here. We may have a rat in our midst. Someone with enough compassion to help some of those fucking people. I will find out who. Any one care to step forward and just get it over with?"

All the men looked at each other. Hunter remained quiet. He tried to act nonchalant.

"I will find out. Til then, no one leaves this camp unless I say so. If you do, you'll be shot dead. No questions asked."

Hunter backed to the back of the crowd. He may have just screwed up. Big time.

Cody rode into town first with Penelope. The others waited outside of town not wanting to draw too much attention. Jimmy and Lucas came in next. Cody was waiting for them at the saloon. Noah and Silas came in town last. They went to the mercantile to snoop around and then maybe the sheriff's. Cody watched as Jimmy and Lucas made their way up to the bar. He noticed several men stop and stare at Jimmy. The light shining off his twin pistols.

"She safe?" Asked Jimmy.

"Oh yeah. No one will ever know."

"Thanks." Said Lucas.

"She will be fine. Mags will watch her like her own. I trust her completely."

"Hear or see anything unusual?" Asked Jimmy as a man walked out the saloon rather quickly.

Cody watched him go.

"Nothing until you came walking in. Seems people take notice."

"Good. Might work in our favor."

"I'd watch yourself, Jimmy. This whole town acts jumpy."

"I'll be fine."

"We are supposed to meet Noah and Si at the back of the livery in just a few." Said Lucas.

"Cody, take Luke with you. Go see if Noah found anything. I think I'm gonna sit here for a while."

"Maybe I should stay with you." Said Lucas.

"Son, I think it'd be best to stay out of sight away from me. Pull that hair up and stick to Cody."

"But, what about you? You need help. You can't hear and see..."

"That's enough. Go with Cody before someone takes a closer look."

Lucas reluctantly nodded as he left with Cody. Jimmy ordered a drink and went to sit with his back against the wall in the far corner so he could watch the door.

Lucas stopped in a nearby alley. He tied his hair up on top his head and shoved his hat down. Cody walked up to him. He pulled out a pair of glasses. Lucas glared at him.

"Put them on. Listen, your Dad had somewhat of a reputation that I know that you are vaguely aware of. You need to stay hidden so they can't use it against him if it comes down to that. He's playing a dangerous game but if someone knew your brother in Leadville by him looking like your Dad then he's laying his cards down on the table that someone here knows him as well. Trust me, your father's reputation is bigger than either of you boys think."

Lucas nodded and slipped the glasses on. Cody motioned him out to head to the livery. Silas was waiting in the back but Noah wasn't there.

"Si?" Asked Cody.

"Pa will be here in a few. We heard a rumor and he just wanted to follow up."

"Good or bad?" Asked Lucas.

Si took in his new look. He smiled but looked down. He cleared his throat.

"Bad."

"Spill it." Said Lucas.

"We don't know for sure but we know your brother is in town or was in town. He started working for a cattle outfit."

"That ain't bad if he's still there."

"Not quite. Folks around here think they are cattle rustlers but no one has ever tried to prove anything. Pa went to talk to the sheriff. The people seem scared to talk about it."

"Shit." Said Cody.

Noah took that chance to walk inside. The group turned to look at him. He stopped and looked right at Lucas.

"Si tell you?"

They both nodded.

"It's true. He rides with them." Noah said handing posters over.

Cody flipped through as well as Lucas. Lucas felt like he was dying as he looked from page to page. They said the five noted were wanted for murder.

"I don't see his picture." Said Cody.

"No, he wasn't named at the last robbery but folks survived. Normally no one does. I went to talk to one of them. I described Hunter and he was the one that helped them. He was there with them though. No questions about it."

"Why doesn't he run? He needs to get away from them. That ain't who he is." Said Lucas.

"Probably because he can't." Said Cody.

"And if they find out what he's doing, he's a dead man." Said Noah.

"Shit." Said Lucas.

"One more thing I heard." Said Noah.

"Can it get any worse?" Said Lucas.

"He's going by Hickok."

Cody shook his head. Lucas stared at his hands.