按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃Sackett？ The gunfighter？〃
〃They're all good with their guns。 This one is Tell Sackett。 He's been out California way。〃
The idea came to her that night。 She had been trying to think of some way to hurt the Sacketts； to get even with them。 Now here was Tell Sackett； the older brother； the one she had never met。 It was unlikely that he knew of her difficulties with Orrin。 The Sacketts wrote few letters； and from what she remembered Orrin had not seen his brother in years。 Of course； he might have seen him since she left； but there was a chance； and she resolved to take it。
The means was supplied to her also by way of a conversation overheard。 She had heard many such conversations without thinking of how they might be used。 The men were talking of the Apaches； of some children stolen by them； perhaps killed。 〃Two of them were Dan Creed's boys。 I don't know who the other one was。〃
The young Army lieutenant on the stage had made tentative efforts at a conversation with Laura； all of which she had studiously avoided。 At his next attempt she surprised him by turning with a faint； somewhat remote smile。
〃Is it true； Lieutenant； that there are Apaches about？ Tell me about them。〃
Lieutenant Jack Davis leaned forward eagerly。 He was a very young man； and Laura Sackett was a beautiful young woman。 It was true he had himself been on only two scouts into Apache country； but he had served with older； more experienced men who had talked freely； and he had listened well。
〃Yes； there are Apaches；〃 he said； 〃and it is true we might encounter them at any time； but the men on this coach are all armed； and are experienced fighting men。 You will not need to worry。〃
〃I was not worried about them； Lieutenant； merely curious。 Is it true that when attacked they retreat into Mexico？ Into the Sierra Madre？〃
〃Unfortunately； yes。 And the Mexicans are not helpful。 They refuse to allow any of our armed forces to cross the border in pursuit； although I believe there are some indications the two governments may work together against the Apaches。〃
〃So it seems likely that if a prisoner were taken over the border into Mexico you would not have much chance of recovering him； would you？〃
〃Almost none。 A few times exchanges have been arranged。 In a few cases individuals have traded goods or horses for a prisoner； but if the Apaches are pursued； they usually kill their prisoners。〃
Laura Pritts Sackett was thoughtful； and at the next stage stop she wrote her note to William Tell Sackett。 Unless she was pletely mistaken； he would e to Tucson at once； and unless she was equally mistaken； he would start at once for the Sierra Madres。 The rest would be up to the Apaches。
What the Apaches failed to do； if they failed； might be done by other means 。。。 for which the Apaches would receive due credit。
Skillfully； she drew out the young lieutenant； and his ments were added to from time to time by one or another of the coach passengers。 By the time the stage arrived in Tucson； Laura was well posted on the activities of the Apaches in Arizona Territory； as well as on the many times they had killed or kidnapped children； from the Oatman Massacre to the moment of her stage trip。
〃Supposing one man or several men … not soldiers … were to try to go into the Sierra Madres？〃 she asked Lieutenant Davis。
〃They would never return alive。〃 The lieutenant was positive。 〃They wouldn't have a chance。〃
One of the passengers； a bleak； hard…faced man in rough frontier garb； looked around at him briefly。 〃Depend on the man；〃 he said after a moment； but if he was heard his ment was not acknowledged。
That night； seated before her mirror； Laura Sackett knew she had found what she wanted。 To trap his beloved brother would be just as satisfying as to trap Orrin himself； or Tyrel； whom she blamed even more。
She wished only for one thing： to see their faces when they realized how their brother had been duped。
When that man at the stage station in Yuma told me there was a letter for me I thought he was surely mistaken。 Why； I couldn't recall getting more than three or four letters in my whole life； and nobody knew I was in Yuma … nobody at all。
None of us folks had been much hand to write。 Orrin and Tyrel had learned to write； but with me writing was an almighty slow affair； and not one to be undertaken lightly。 And we were never much on just exchanging letters unless there was something all…fired important。 But sure enough； this letter was for me； William Tell Sackett。 It read：
Dear Tell：
Our son； Orrin's and mine； has been taken by the Apaches。 Orrin is in Washington； D。C。 Tyrel is laid up。
Can you help me？
Laura Sackett
So old Orrin had him a boy！ Now； nobody had seen fit to tell me； but drifting place to place the way I'd been； it was no wonder。 And no need for me to know； when it came to that。
None of the family knew where I was； but that need cut no ice now。 When I'd needed help the whole lot of them had e a…running； and if the Apaches had Orrin's boy I'd have to move fast before they killed him 。。。 if they hadn't already。
A body never knew what the Apaches would do。 They might kill a child right off； or they might cotton to the youngster and raise him like one of their own sons； and with just as much affection and care。 A lot depended on how old the boy was； on how he reacted； and on how fast the Apaches had to move。
The Apaches； I knew； had respect for the brave。 They had no use for weakness or cowardice； and you'd get nothing but contempt by asking for mercy。
An Apache admired the virtues he himself needed in the life he led。 Bravery； fortitude； endurance； and the skills of the hunter and the hunted … these were important to him； these he understood。
Tucson lay still under a hot noonday sun when we dusted our hocks down the main drag； eyes open for a saloon or an eating house where there'd be shade； something to wet our whistles； and the trail gossip we were eager to hear。
We rode into town with care； for we were all men with enemies。 We rode with our guns loose in the holsters； ready to run or fight； as the case might be； but the street was empty； heavy with heat。
The temperature was over a hundred in the shade。
〃All this town needs；〃 John J。 Battles said； 〃is more water and a better class of people。〃
〃That's all hell needs；〃 Spanish replied。 〃Let's get into the shade。〃
We were hard and lonely men who rode a hard and lonely way。 We had known nothing of each other until this ride began in Yuma； and even now we knew scarcely more。 But we had sweated and thirsted together； we had hungered and fought； and eaten trail dust together； so now we rode as brothers ride。
We were men with sorrows behind us； and battles too； men with regrets behind us of which we did not speak； nor too often think。 With none to share our sorrows or regrets； we kept them to ourselves； and our faces were impassive。 Men with no one to share their feelings learn to conceal those feelings。 We often spoke lightly of things which we took very seriously indeed。
We were sentimental men； but that was our secret； for an enemy who knows your feelings is an enemy who has a hold on you。 Not all poker is played over a card table。