Chapter 17: Never Underestimate an Old Fool

Broudy leveled his gun on Corbain, a slow twisted grin splitting his face. Micah was slumped against the rocks cradling his wrist and listening to the bounty hunter confront the outlaw leader. "I've been trailing you for months. I believe we've got a score to settle." The bounty hunter rubbed his scarred face.

"I knew I should have killed you in that desert two years ago when I had the chance," Lloyd replied. "So what are you waitin' on? You've got the advantage. Or did you think I was going beg?"

Broudy gripped the pistol and his mouth thinned. "Oh, no, you're not gonna get off that easy. I spent six months recovering from the bullet you left in my gut, and this little memento," he said rubbing the scar. "I've spent a lot of time thinking about you and I figure you owe me big time."

"Well, I'm getting a little bored with this conversation Broudy. What is it you want exactly?"

"For starters, I'll take the fifty thousand dollars you and the convict retrieved from the cave." Corbain's brow arched. "Didn't think I knew about that did you?"

"What are you talking about Broudy?" Micah asked, leveraging himself to a kneeling, cradling his arm.

"Careful Marshal," Broudy warned. "Wouldn't want you to have another accident. I guess it doesn't really make much difference if you know now. It was a pretty clever plan, I have to admit Corbain. Shall you tell him or should I?"

Corbain shrugged. "Seems to be your show."

Broudy merely smiled. "Five years ago Roark and Corbain planned to heist a cache of money hidden aboard an army supply wagon. Seems Corbain's gang was making it a little too unfriendly to ship it through the regular routes, so a big wig named Riley made a little deal with one of the lieutenants at the fort by the name of Parker to smuggle the money across the desert. Of course neither Parker nor Corbain had planned on a band of renegade Apaches to ruin things. That was a bit of bad timing," Broudy laughed.

"I remember hearing about that attack," Micah acknowledged. "Seven soldiers were killed and everything was burned down to the ground, but there was no mention of any money."

"No one was supposed to know about it. Rumor had it the money was destined for Mexico to support the revolution."

"Whatever the case, it sure sparked a whole mess of trouble with the army. As I recall, they brought in a whole company of soldiers to flush the renegades from the mountains. So how did you learn about this secret shipment," Micah asked dryly.

"Well now, that's a very interesting story too Marshal." Broudy looked at Corbain. "Do you remember a low life by the name of Gessip?" Broudy asked the outlaw.

Lloyd merely shrugged.

"Well he remembers you, quite clearly. I trailed him on a bounty six mouths ago. Had a very interesting story to tell in exchange for his freedom. Too bad he met with an untimely accident though."

Broudy went onto explain. "Gessip was a solider at the fort and had learned about the cache shipment when he'd overheard a very private conversation in the storage room between Lieutenant Parker and a messenger that had arrived at the fort a few hours earlier. Gessip had been hiding in there trying to filch a few bottles of contraband whiskey when the two men had come in. Gessip was buddies with Roark and told him about the shipment.

Roark and Gessip knew they couldn't pull the job alone so Roark set up a deal with Corbain and his gang to help. Roark was already in deep trouble with Corbain over some bad gambling debts he couldn't pay off when the army started cracking down on his illegal Indian trading operation. It was only later, after the mess with the Apache ambush, did the army figure out Roark had been the front man for it all.

Gessip had arranged for Roark to be the scout the day the money was to be moved. Gessip was supposed to be one of the men on escort duty that day too, but managed to get himself locked up in the stockade for some minor infraction the night before, so Roark was left alone. The plan was for Roark to lead the supply wagon into a trap with Corbain and his mean waiting, but unfortunately the Apaches found them first.

Roark managed to grab the money and stash it before the army found him. Everyone else from the wagon was dead except for Lieutenant Parker who was missing. The Army thought he'd been taken and killed by the Indians. Then all hell broke loose. A short time later, Corbain and his men were forced to clear out of the area for good after two of his men were killed by an army patrol. A few days later, in the infirmary, Roark was arrested for the illegal Indian trading and sent to prison. When Roark killed a guard later and was being shipped to Galveston to be hung, Corbain must have thought this was probably the last chance he'd get to retrieve the money."

"So why are you telling me all this?"

"It ain't gonna matter Marshal. You see, you're not gonna be around to tell anyone."

"Broudy, shoot me down and you'll only be buying yourself a rope."

The bounty hunter gripped his gun tightly. "Oh, but you've got it all wrong. You see Marshal, the way I figure it, it's all gonna be in self defense."

"What do you mean?"

"It's easy. Corbain got the jump on you, and I had to take him out. All nice and legal. Meanwhile, I have fifty thousand dollars in lost money no one's going to go looking for."

"No one's going to buy that."

"Who's going to argue without witnesses?" He then turned to Corbain. "Now where's the money?"

Lloyd laughed. "If you're so smart, figure it out for yourself."

"Oh don't worry, I will. It can't be far."

Micah grimaced, hunched up against the rocks. Broudy laughed smugly. "Look at you. Nothing but a worn out old fool. You should have quit while you were ahead."

Micah had turned sideways resting his good shoulder against the rock, looking the epitome of an aged and useless lawman. He slid his good hand down along the edge of the sling cradling his wrist.

Broudy was smugly amused. Micah watched his eyes.

"So long, Marshal," Broudy said.

Just then Micah reached into the sling to where his pistol was hidden and pulled the trigger. As the bullet exploded through the sling he replied, "Never underestimate an old fool with nothing to loose."

The bullet slammed into Broudy's chest. The bounty hunter looked at the aged marshal in surprise before slumping lifeless against the rocks.

Corbain immediately dived for Broudy's gun. Micah fired but missed and then had to scramble for cover as Corbain returned fire. Micah found himself backed up onto a ledge behind a boulder. His boot heel dislodged several pebbles that fell over the edge. Micah looked down to see the thirty foot drop below. He was pinned. A bullet ricocheted off the rock next to him and he ducked.

"Nice trick back there Marshal, much obliged."

"Give it up, Corbain," the Marshal said.

"Thanks, but no thanks."

"You'll never get out of here!"

"From where I'm standing I would say I've got a better than even chance."

Seeing the Marshal trapped, Corbain pressed the advantage inching his way slowly towards him. Micah saw him coming and fired again, but the bullet hit harmlessly against the rocks. That's when Micah knew he was in big trouble as he opened the chamber of his gun. It was empty.

Micah knew the boulder would not provide him with cover for much longer. Corbain climbed up onto some nearby rocks, still keeping himself well concealed until he could get the Marshal in his sights. "Broudy was a fool to underestimate you. I won't be doing the same."

It was then Micah spotted movement from the ledge directly above where the outlaw was concealed. But for Lucas to gain the advantage, Micah knew he'd have to draw Corbain out into the open first. Thinking fast, he inched over to the other side of the rock. There was a five foot gap between this one and another smaller group a little further away. In order for Corbain to get a clean sight on Micah, he was hoping Corbain would be forced to move out from under the ledge. Micah dived for the other set of rocks. A bullet ricocheted within inches of his head.

Once behind the other group of rocks, Micah pulled the trigger to the empty chamber and waited. Corbain heard the empty click. He then pulled the trigger again.

Corbain smiled. "Out of bullets or another trick Marshal?"

Micah kept silent.

Corbain moved cautiously out from underneath the ledge though making sure he stayed low and out of sight of the Marshal. Lucas waited until he was in position, then jumped down. The two men crumbled to the ground in a heap of arms and legs. Corbain managed to get to his feet, but Lucas grabbed him from behind locking his arms around the outlaw's biceps.

Corbain struggled to break free slamming Lucas backwards against the rocks, then elbowed Lucas in his already bruised ribs. Lucas grunted and Corbain twisted free.

Lucas advanced again, tackling Corbain. The two rolled back and forth in the dirt. Both were big men, evenly matched. Corbain reached up and grabbed Lucas by the chin trying to push him away, while Lucas pressed the outlaw's shoulder's to the ground.

It was then Corbain's fingers felt the handle of Broudy's gun. Quickly he grabbed it and slammed it against Lucas' temple. Lucas managed to deflect it slightly, but it was enough for Corbain to push away and scramble to his feet. Corbain fired wildly, but Lucas rolled out of the way at the last second as the bullet impacted in the dirt.

Armed once again, Corbain headed down the path back towards the clearing, but Lucas was in hot pursuit. It was then he spotted Broudy's horse. Lloyd veered to the left and started crossing a sloping stretch of granite, but Lucas caught up with him a second later and tackled him. Both men tumbled off the rock and onto the clearing below.

Lucas landed awkwardly on his side, knocking the wind out of him. Corbain, less than ten feet away, rolled over and got to his feet, swinging the gun towards him.

Suddenly, from across the clearing, a single shot rang out. The impact hit Lloyd in the chest spinning him about. The outlaw went down.

Lucas looked up startled to see Will leaning on one knee about fifteen feet away balancing himself on one hand and holding a gun in the other. As he watched his uncle fall, Will dropped the pistol and collapsed.

Lucas rose slowly to his feet breathing heavily. Cautiously, he walked over to Corbain and checked for a pulse before approaching the younger outlaw.

Will was on his back, his face very pale. "My uncle…is he?" Lucas knelt down beside him and nodded. Will swallowed hard. "And Mark?" he said weakly.

"He's okay, thanks to you."

Will sighed in relief before his head lulled back limply, slipping back into unconsciousness.

It was then Lucas spotted Mark hobbling over to him. When he reached his Pa, Mark threw his arms around his waist.

"I'm all right son," Lucas reassured him.

He then looked down at Will. "Is he gonna make it?" Mark asked anxiously.

"I don't know son," Lucas replied honestly. "But we'll do our best."

A few minutes later, Micah joined him. "You all right, Lucas boy?"

"I am now," he said giving his son's shoulder a hearty squeeze. It was then he noticed the rather large hole in Micah's sling. Lucas poked his finger through it. He eyed the old marshal coyly. "That was my best shirt."

Micah smiled back. "I'll try to remember that the next time someone tries to retire me before my time."

Lucas tiredly raked his fingers threw his hair. "Come on Mark. I think it's time to go home."