Rawhide

(For those of you prone to nightmares, here is a warning: this chapter contains some scary stuff so if you don't want to read the whole chapter, go to the end of the chapter and I've written up a small summary.)

Chapter 6

From their position up on the cliff where they were being held, Gil Favor could see the rustlers down below in the canyon moving about the cattle. Jennie stood about 6 feet away holding a shotgun pointed steadily at the three prisoners. If only we could divert her attention somehow, Favor thought. Rowdy and Pete had the same thought on their minds as they watched the activity below.

Apparently, as battered as Rowdy and Pete looked, they weren't seen as much of a threat and so were not tied as Favor was. Pete sidled closer to Favor while Jennie wasn't looking. She quickly whirled when she saw movement but seeing no trouble brewing, watched the cattle below again.

Favor felt something cool touch his wrist. He looked at Pete in surprise and Pete motioned for the trail boss not to say anything. Pete smoothly and quietly cut through the ropes around Favor's wrists with his knife. The rustlers had failed to look in his boot.

The ropes fell behind Favor but he kept his hands behind his back. Now what? his eyes seemed to question Pete. Pete winked at the trail boss and a small smile played on his lips. He nudged Rowdy with his elbow and the ramrod nodded. What are they up to? Favor thought curiously. They better not try anything foolish.

Suddenly Rowdy fell to the ground with a groan. He clutched his stomach and writhed around on the ground, moaning all the while. Even Favor was convinced there was something wrong with his ramrod. "Rowdy!" Pete's voice filled with concern.

Jennie held the shotgun on Rowdy and Pete. Favor noted that she looked a bit bewildered. "What's the matter with him?" she asked.

"It's…uh…his stomach! Yeah, I think he mighta drank some poisoned water. Help me with him!" Pete said urgently.

For one split second, Jennie lowered the shotgun. That second was all that Favor needed. He leaped to his feet and wrestled the gun away from her.

Rowdy got to his feet and dusted off his shirt. Pete patted him on the back, smiling. "You! You tricked me!" She yelled in rage. She tried to pounce at Rowdy but Favor held her back.

The trail boss turned her around so she faced the gun that he held. "Alright now, miss. Just keep quiet. This gun's liable to go off and we wouldn't want that now, would we?"

Her blue eyes burned pure hate as she glared at Favor. "You won't get away with this! My men are all over this canyon!" She said defiantly.

Favor gave a small nod. "That may be, but nobody steals my herd. Nobody." He turned to Pete and Rowdy. "Rowdy, go back and get the boys. Sneak in the way you came in and make sure every man is armed."

"Right, boss." Rowdy turned and left quietly into the rocks.

"Pete, I want you to keep an eye on those men down there. If any of 'em decide to come up here, give a warning."

Pete nodded and he too left. The rustlers had taken their guns - the shotgun that Favor was watching Jennie with was the only firearm available until Rowdy came back with the drovers. Pete settled down behind a rock and watched the rustlers below intently. Let's hope Rowdy gets back before they notice something' wrong, he thought.

Quince looked up from the weeds he was ripping out of the ground. He quickly sat up when he saw the approaching rider. "It's Rowdy!" He yelled to the other drovers.

Rowdy pulled Fox to a sliding stop and dismounted before the horse had come to a complete stop. "Mr. Favor's holding that lady rustler prisoner. They took mine and Pete's guns so all's the boss's got is a shotgun. We gotta hurry before they notice. Come on!" Rowdy explained urgently. "Any of you got an extra gun?"

"I do." One of the drovers replied. "Here." He quickly handed the gun to Rowdy, who gratefully took it.

"Hey, where's Ramirez?" Rowdy asked looking at each drover's face. A murmur swept through the drovers and most delivered a shrug of the shoulder or a shake of the head as an answer. Why would he leave now? "Doesn't matter. Let's go."

Gil Favor pushed his hat back, still holding the shotgun in one hand. He had placed Jennie Cratcher in a position as to where the rustlers down below could partially see her and not suspect anything - that is, until one of them decided to come up. Wish Rowdy would hurry up. Although he wasn't looking at her at the moment, he could feel Jennie's eyes boring into him. How could a girl as good looking' she is get into a mess like this? He shook his head. No use in trying to figure it out. He had asked himself the same question many a time when he had run across similar situations. Of course, it wasn't always cattle rustling. Sometimes there was a girl working in a saloon who obviously didn't belong in such a place - not that any of them did - but Favor had asked himself the same question before and never come up with an answer.

A shout and a clatter of rocks brought him out of his thoughts. Pete! Farther below he could see Pete trying to divert the attention of a man heading up towards where Favor was with Jennie. Pete threw several large rocks toward the man and several others who were coming to his hiding place behind the boulder. Two of his rocks struck their intended targets. The third knocked the gun out of the other man's hand.

By now, the others had been alerted and were leaving the rustled herd, and making their way towards Pete's hiding place. Favor saw Pete ducking behind rocks and boulder making his way to the other side of the canyon and nearer to the herd. Shots rang out and bullets ricocheted off the rocks. For one fearful moment, the shots ceased and Favor didn't see Pete. Then he saw the scout dive behind the nearest boulder. More shots rang out.

A gun clicked and Favor froze. He hadn't heard the rustler named Bryson sneak up behind him. "Alright, trail boss, just lower the shotgun and maybe I won't decide to ventilate your skull."

"Oh no, we couldn't have that now could we?" Favor said sarcastically as he laid the shotgun on the ground.

"That's a good boy. Now kick it toward the lady." Bryson ordered. Seeing no other choice, Favor complied. "You alright, Miss Jennie?" Bryson asked. He stepped closer to Favor and the trail boss could feel the gun being pressed into his ribs.

Jennie snatched up the shotgun and pointed at Favor who now had his hands raised. She nodded. "Fine, Bryson. You did a good job."

Bryson beamed. "Thank you, Miss Jennie."

Favor felt the pressure of Bryson gun muzzle lighten slightly. He whirled and made a grab for the gun. Bryson, surprised at the sudden movement, was knocked to the ground. The two wrestled for the gun. Bryson still had a hold on it and Favor squeezed his wrist trying to make him drop it. It went off. Once! Twice! The second shot went wild and ricocheted into the canyon below. Even above all the noise from the rustlers still trying to get a shot at Pete and the fight he was involved in, Favor could hear the cattle bellowing below and begin to run. They're stampeding! He could only pray that Pete had made it out of the way in time.

He managed to knock the gun free from Bryson's but it landed far. It lay near the edge now. Favor made a pounce for it but a left hook from Bryson flipped him back. They rolled, delivering blow after blow to each other. They were getting treacherously close to the edge. Suddenly Favor felt Bryson slide. H was going to go over! Favor saw the fear-filled eyes of the rustler just before he fell prey to the pounding hooves of the cattle below.

Jennie screamed. "Bryson!" Tears streamed down her cheeks and she faced Favor, holding the shotgun pointed at his stomach. The look in her eyes was one of madness. Favor had seen that look before. When he was child there had been a mad dog running around loose. It had gotten away from the man who was supposed to have shot it. The dog had been mad. Gone mad from rabies people said. It sought to kill. It had wanted the taste of blood on it's lips - and it had almost been a 12-year-old Gil Favor's blood. The same look of insanity that he had seen in that dog's eyes was the same.

"You killed him! You killed him! You'll pay, Mr. Favor! You'll pay for it!" She screamed hysterically. She cocked the shotgun.

"No, he isn't, Jennie! You killed Bryson. You pushed him into this!" A voice called out.

Confusion swarmed in Jennie's eyes as she whirled to face the voice but in doing so her shoe slipped on a rock near the edge. Favor grabbed for her flailing hands before she tumbled below. Her unearthly scream echoed through the canyon even after she reached the bottom.

A hand rested on Favor's shoulder and he found himself staring into an unfamiliar yet sympathetic face. "I didn't know she was so close to the edge," the stranger whispered hoarsely.

(Chapter Summary: Pete, Rowdy and Favor get the drop on Jennie. Pete goes down to keep an eye on the rustlers and watch while Rowdy goes to fetch the other drovers. Pete is spotted later and through all the noise, Favor doesn't hear Bryson sneak up behind him. A fight ensues and Bryson goes over the edge. Favor sees insanity in Jennie's eyes just as she's about to shoot him. A voice calls out and she whirls. She meets the same death as Bryson.)