Chapter 4

The rhythmical beat of the horses' hooves echoed against the rocky walls, as they passed through a canyon. Brody had kept a slow and steady pace throughout the night, mindful of not pushing the horses too hard in the darkness, risking any injury. The sun had cleared the horizon by now and Buck counted the hours they had been in the saddle by the numerous pains in his body.

Although used to being in the saddle for long stretches of time, he didn't usually have his hands tied behind him. His back and legs ached from continually having to grip and reposition himself, to keep his balance, so as not to fall from the saddle. Sharp, needle like pains intermittently shot through his hands and up his arms, as the ties about his wrists cut off his circulation and his fingers were becoming increasingly numb. He silently cursed Jimmy for his proficiency at tying knots.

Brody maintained a surly disposition, having hardly spoken two words to Buck since they had left Jimmy lying in the clearing. Buck was glad of the man's lack of communication but it gave him time to brood on the situation. The uncertainty of Jimmy's condition weighed heavily on him and he wished he could be reassured that his friend was alive and well.

It was around mid morning when Brody brought the horses to a stop. He wordlessly dismounted and tied his own horse off to a shrub then moved to the side of Buck's horse. Buck looked down at the man and suddenly saw a chance. As Brody approached he struck out with his leg, landing a blow on the bounty hunter's shoulder and kicked his horse forward. The startled horse began to move but Brody managed to grab one of the reins, yanking it to a stop. Buck suddenly felt a firm grip around his arm as he was dragged from the saddle and landed, with a heavy thud, on the hard ground.

Brody stood over him, teeth gritted, staring down menacingly and drew his gun and pointed it at Buck's head.

"Now, I thought we had an understanding, injun" he hissed. "I thought you understood that I was the one in charge around here and that all you have to do is come along nice and quiet and the sooner this'll be over for both of us. It would be a real shame if I missed out on that $2,000 because I was forced to shoot ya! It's a lucky thing that Neville wants you brung in alive because, in my experience, it's a lot simpler to be able to sling a body across a saddle."

Buck glared up at the man with eyes dark and hard, his chest rising and falling in deep breathes, in part from the exertions of his actions and also from sheer infuriation that his attempt at escape had failed.

Brody saw the defiance in Buck's face and fought the temptation to inflict some serious injury on the half-breed. He had been in this profession for some time now and over the years he had developed numerous strategies to keep his captives in line, while allowing him to satisfy his own gratuitous needs for physical domination. His ruthless reputation was fully earned and the sheer number of wanted men he had brought in, to face some form of justice, were testimony to his dogged determination. After a few days of being denied food and water and the usual liberties, he usually found most to be acquiescent, if they were still alive.

Fury burned in Brody's eyes as he re-holstered his gun and grabbed the front of Buck's shirt with both hands and pulled him to his feet. Buck could feel the bounty hunter trembling with pent up aggression and anticipated the blows that were to come. He was surprised when Brody did not hit him but dragged him away from the tethered horses into a more open space.

"On your knees, boy," he instructed Buck, who took a nervous step backwards which only infuriated Brody further. "I said, on your knees," he snarled, through clenched teeth, placing a firm grip on Buck's shoulder and pressing downwards with considerable strength. Unable to resist the force, Buck apprehensively sank down onto one knee and then cautiously dragged his second leg into position until he was kneeling in front of Brody.

"Now, that wasn't so hard, was it?" Brody sneered sarcastically. "You just stay nice and still 'cos after that little stunt you pulled back there I'm feelin' kinda jumpy and when I get nervous I tend lose a bit of self control, if you get my meanin'. So you stay nice and still and there won't be any doubt."

There was something in the man's demeanour, which Buck found unreadable. Outwardly he seemed calm and in control but a nervous energy emanated from him, making Buck extremely wary.

"What's this?" Brody suddenly reached out and yanked the medicine pouch from about Buck's neck. Buck gasped partly in response to the physical nature of the action but also in shock at having one of the few things he truly valued removed.

"I asked you a question, boy," Brody snarled, as he pulled the ties at the top of the pouch apart, while Buck looked on aghast. "Well?"

"My medicine pouch," Buck told him glumly.

"What's it for?"

Buck knew it was pointless trying to explain to a man like Brody so simply said, "For medicines, to protect me."

"Don't seem to be doin' you much good at the moment, do it?" Brody laughed, emptying out the contents. Buck watched forlornly as the items fell to the ground or were blown away on the breeze and the pouch tossed casually aside.

Buck let out a sigh of relief as Brody moved off, back towards the horses. He watched as the bounty hunter removed a few items from his saddle bags and then return and start to make a small fire, a few feet in front of him. Next, Brody retrieved a coffee pot from his saddlebag and poured in some water from his canteen and placed it on the now steadily burning flames. Settling himself on the ground, next to the fire, he removed a package from inside his jacket pocket and unwrapped a sandwich and placed it on the ground. As the coffee came to the boil, the aroma filled the air. Buck could only watch as Brody poured himself a cup and inhaled deeply and let out an exuberant, "Aaah!"

After taking a sip of the coffee Brody lifted the sandwich to his mouth and peered over the crust of the bread, at Buck, with a look of satisfaction, before he sank his teeth into the bread and meat. Buck watched, trying to ignore the rumblings in his stomach, attesting to his hunger. He hadn't eaten or drunk anything since his meal with Jimmy back at the camp and he had endured a long, arduous ride through the night.

His stomach wasn't his only concern. By now his knees and back were beginning to ache, from being in a kneeling position for a while. He felt his knees begin to tremble with the pressure and his body begged him for some respite, as sharp pains shot up his thighs and down his spine. Brody was watching him keenly, through squinted eyes, as he finished off the last remnants of the sandwich and drained his coffee cup.

Suddenly Buck found himself unable to hold the position any longer and his legs began to buckle and he sat back on his heels. Brody sprang instantly to his feet and in two, long strides was stood besides Buck.

"Now, I thought I told you to stay put," he snarled.

"I can't …," Buck groaned, letting his head fall forward.

Brody grabbed his hair and yanked his head back. "Up on your knees, injun," he said venomously, pulling him upwards. Buck strained against his hold but had to concede defeat and, with considerable effort, managed to get back into a kneeling position.

Brody allowed himself a small smile at his success. He'd never brought an Indian in before and had been sure this one might give him some trouble. It didn't usually take him long to break his captives, bringing them to the brink of their stamina, through exhaustion and hunger. This particular one was young and fit and should prove a challenge but Brody felt he'd won a small victory. The half-breed was being surprisingly compliant.

Giving Buck a sardonic pat on the shoulder Brody moved back to his spot and poured himself another cup of coffee. "I'll just enjoy this and then we'll be on our way again," he said, cheerfully. "We've got a way to go yet and don't want to be wasting too much daylight. Besides the sooner we get where we're goin' the sooner I get paid and the sooner you, well, …" He paused dramatically and shook his head and took another drink of his coffee. He sipped the coffee slowly, making a freat show of taking his time until he eventually tossed the last few drops to one side. He stretched his arms above his head and then got to his feet. "Don't you move now, boy. I'm just gonna get the horses," he told Buck, taking his gun from its holster and checking its chamber.

Buck watched Brody move away and took a deep breath and his shoulders sank with a release of some of the tension he'd been feeling. Although he was shaking, with the physical toll on his body, he resolved not to show any weakness in front of Brody. If he could endure the test the Kiowa had set him then he should be able to handle anything this man threw at him, he reasoned. He'd done that for Ike and now, because of his actions after Ike's death, he was being tested again. The thought of his friend gave him a jolt of strength and determination to see this through and maybe his family would be able to find him in time before … well, he couldn't think about that now. He had to stay focussed and get through whatever Brody did with him. He closed his eyes and pictured Ike, giving him one of his broad, affable grins. Yes, he could do this for Ike.

He was so engrossed in his own thoughts he didn't here the bounty hunter return but he suddenly sensed him. He opened his eyes to find Brody standing in front of him, arms folded across his chest, looking at him curiously. His upper lip twitched into a sneer and he grabbed Buck by the upper arm and hauled him to his feet, causing shooting pains to course through his aching legs but he merely stared impassively at Brody. This only proved to infuriate him and Buck found himself being manhandled towards his horse with excessive physicality, which he bore with self-controlled stoicism.

As they neared the horses a realisation dawned on Buck. "I need to go," he stated.

"You ain't goin' nowhere except where I tell you to go," Brody told him forcibly.

"I mean I need to answer a call of nature," Buck replied flatly.

"Ain't my problem. Just remind me to keep down wind of you," Brody answered as he held out a stirrup for Buck.

Buck looked at him incredulously.

"Come on now, boy. You're holdin' us up here," Brody said, giving him a shove closer to the horse. One look at the cold, flatness in his eye told Buck there was to be no reasoning with the man. Reluctantly he raised his foot to the proffered stirrup and with another shove from Brody found himself back in the saddle.

Brody looked up at him. "Now, we can do this the easy or the hard way. You gonna behave yourself or am I gonna have to tie you to your saddle? Your decision."

Buck responded by wordlessly staring ahead, his mouth in a grim, hard line.

"Don't mind tellin' you, I think you made the right decision, there, injun," Brody smirked, patting Buck's knee and letting out a low, laugh as he made his way to his horse, while still holding firmly onto the reins of Buck's horse.

As the horses moved off, Buck swallowed down the frustrated emotions that threatened, determined to see this through with as much dignity as he could muster, if only for the sake of Ike's memory.