Unshown Moments for The Wreckers, S13 (2)

Matt rode stiffly down the trail, looking for all the world like a outlaw going about criminal business, Frankie and Indio right behind him. But he was churning inside. He hadn't wanted to ride off and leave Kitty in Tate Crocker's clutches, but he hadn't had much choice. Any protest from him would've raised Crocker's suspicions and he couldn't afford that. Kitty's quick thinking had saved both their lives and Matt wasn't about to do anything to make her actions worthless.

Glancing behind him, Matt warily watched Frankie. He was dangerous. Though he didn't trust either man he was riding with, he trusted Frankie the least. That man was on the prod and just likely to cause Matt more problems than he already had.

When they got to Spivey, Matt looked cautiously around the town. Though by no means a regular visitor, there were a few people in town that might know him from the few times he had been there. Seeing no familiar face, he quickly dismounted in front of the stable and waited, hat brim low, while Frankie and Indio lit down and moved towards the front of the stable.

"Well, there." The toothless old man nodded when summoned from the interior of the stable. "What you got?" He gave Matt a long stare before turning his attention to the horses. The big man in the tan Stetson didn't look familiar but he also didn't look like he belonged with the likes of the other two.

"We got harness stock." Frankie told him. "It's good stock too." He jerked his chin up. "We expect good money for em."

"I'll be the judge of that." The old man turned hard gray eyes on Frankie before again looking at the horses, running his hands down their withers and looking at their mouths and feet. After several minutes of examination, he straightened up and turned back to the three men. "Fifteen each." He pushed out his chest as though he was giving them a prize.

"Fifteen?" Frankie moved in towards the old gray haired codger, an angry glare clouding his features. "No way, old man. They're worth fifty each if they're worth anything and we ain't takin' no less."

Matt watched the men, making no move to interfere. Despite his ruse, he wasn't a criminal and had no desire to partake in the selling of stolen horses. In his experience, both Frankie and the old man were out of line in their expectations. But he kept his mouth shut and his head down.

"I said fifteen." The old man pushed his gut out further than it already extended.

"And I said fifty." Frankie moved closer to the old man and the look on his face made it clear he wasn't going to accept the old man's offer.

Knowing he was alone with three probable outlaws the old man took a step back. "Well…" he looked down. "I guess, maybe, I could go twenty. But no more."

"I said fifty." Frankie growled.

"But I cain't sell them for that. They're stolen goods." The old man protested. "I'll be lucky to get my money back at twenty."

"I said fifty." Frankie's hand inched down towards his gun.

Indio, who was tired of the bickering and anxious to be out of the town decided it was time to step in. "Make it twenty five." He said in a low monotone voice. "We take twenty five."

"NO we won't." Frankie turned angrily towards him. "I said fifty and that's what we'll take."

"We take twenty five." Indio's chin came up and his black eyes darkened even more.

"I had all of you, I'm taking." Frankie snarled as he reached for his gun.

"Wait a minute." Matt stepped in between the two men, turning to Frankie. "You heard Crocker. We've got to sell these horses and get supplies. Nothing more."

Frankie stiffened as he looked up at the man he knew as Monk Wiley. He didn't like this man and he chafed at the idea of being ordered around by him. But he was smart enough to know that right then wasn't the time to deal with that. He'd take care of Monk Wiley later, after he'd dealt with Indio.

Turning back to the old stable man, he jerked a thumb towards the horses. "Thirty." He snapped, letting the old man with a single look, he'd take no less.

The old man looked at the three men surrounding him and decided he'd best take the offer if he wanted to live. "I'll get the money." He murmured as he turned for the barn.

"I go with you." Indio stated expecting no argument and receiving none.

As the two headed for the barn, Frankie turned sharply towards Matt. "You best remember, Tate Crocker's in charge of this gang, not you. And it was me Tate told to handle things."

Matt almost smiled as he stared at the smaller man in front of him. He understood the man was dangerous, but he wasn't afraid of him. He'd dealt with too many men like him in the past. "I'll remember." He answered curtly.

When Indio and the old man returned, Matt followed along as they moved down to the general store. Matt had been there before and he thought it best he not risk going in in case the store owner might recognize him. "I'll stay with the horses." He offered.

"Yeah," Frankie sneered, misunderstanding Matt's reasoning and sure he'd made the tall man understand that he was in charge.

Indio and Frankie didn't take long in the store and within an hour, the trio was on their way back to Crocker's hideout. As they rode, Matt watched his two companions carefully. He doubted the problems between them were through, and he was certain they'd come to blows again sooner or later. It was clear they hated each other. And if they did, he planned on taking any opportunity to use that to his advantage.

His opportunity came a few miles from the hideout when they stopped at a small creek to water their horses before continuing.

As Matt loosely held the reins of his mount and looked around him, he didn't see Frankie pull his gun and aim it at Indio. But he heard as Frankie cocked the gun and swiftly turned, pulling his own weapon. "Hold it!" He demanded. But he was too late. Frankie, thrown off by Matt, fired one shot, hitting Indio in the leg instead of the head. Instantly he aimed again, but Matt quickly fired, preventing him from firing again.

Making sure Frankie was dead, Matt swiftly made his way over to the injured man. "How bad is it?"

Indio carefully examined his leg before looking at Matt. "You saved my life." He stated.

"Yeah, well," Matt grabbed him by the arms and helped him up and over to Frankie's horse. "Maybe when the time comes, you'll remember that."

END