Marta, what is wrong with you?” snapped Molly.
“I don’t have to listen to this!” she snarled getting to her feet.
Molly grasped her shoulders pushing Marta back into the chair. “You are going to hear me out! You may not listen but you are going to hear what I have to say.”
Marta looked up at Molly glaring then her eyes went to that table.
When Molly realized that Marta was not going to jump up and leave she released her from her grasp then sat down in the chair beside her. “Now I don’t know what’s going on but you are acting silly. No, more than that outright foolish and hateful,” declared Molly. “Don’t you remember saying, ‘for better or worse?'”
Slowly she turned to face Molly. “What about him? Doesn’t he have to keep his part?”
“Yes, but tell me when he hasn’t,” replied Molly. “Go ahead, tell me.”
“He’s never home,” she remarked.
“That’s nonsense and you know it, especially now that he has Mateo helping him.”
Tears were forming in Marta’s eyes. “The baby…I’m afraid, and, and I worry about Charlie.” With that she broke down and began to sob.
Molly pulled her close to hold her. “Trust, Marta. You must learn to trust in the Lord. He surely knows that I had to learn that lesson. It doesn’t help Charlie going out with you harping at him before he leaves. Because he faces evil men, he must have his focus on what he is doing, not the harsh words that leave your mouth when he leaves.”
Marta heaved a large sigh. “You are right Molly. I am so weak, and I know that God cares… Help me, Molly.”
All of the money taken from the bank was in camp so that was good. Charlie would have it back in the bank before the day was out. Now it was up to me to bring to justice the other two outlaws. I watched Charlie leave before mounting to track down the two men. It wouldn’t be hard, they could ride fast being bareback so I knew they would try to find a place to find saddle horses, or lay a trap for me following. One was hurting for I saw blood on the moneybag coming from where Charlie shot him in the hand.
I moved out, keeping Hawk to a walk. The tracks were easy to follow with the light snow on the ground and once in a while there would be a spot of blood on the white snow. I kept my eyes on the surrounding country looking for places where they might set up an ambush. I would see when they went off the road, but that might be too late.
It was cold, but not threatening snow of which I was glad. I wanted to catch these men today and I didn’t need a heavy snow to hide their tracks. Slowly moving up a ridge I stopped to dismount before reaching the top. Walking over to some boulders on the side of the road I peered over at the road and land below. There must be a stream for there was a grove of cottonwoods. Plus the rocks were large and scattered on both sides of the road. A perfect place for them to wait for me as they would catch me in a crossfire. I didn’t relish that thought.
I checked the action on my pistol making sure the cylinder was loaded with six shells, then I checked the Greener’s loads. Going back to Hawk, I pulled him over to a place between the boulders to keep him out of the wind, then I moved on foot toward the cottonwoods going way to the right. If they weren’t there I just lost some time, but I reckoned it was better to be safe than to catch a bullet and be left in the frozen road.
One thing about moving, I didn’t feel the cold get down in my bones, but with the snow it was hard to see rocks and I stumbled several times. That wouldn’t do, for it made too much noise. Finally, I moved into the cottonwoods from the west. I hadn’t gone but a few yards, when I saw the horses, grazing on some grass around the stream. There was no water flowing, what was there was frozen. One had to be in the rocks before me, the other somewhere across the road.
Moving slowly and quietly I left the cover of the cottonwoods, then saw movement. A man moved his head to look around the rocks. I came up behind him, I didn’t want to fire so I planned on getting close enough to thump him with the shotgun.
He turned and saw me. It startled him and I was shaking my head. “Don’t try it,” then lifted the Greener so those two black holes from the barrels would look him straight in the eyes. He started to lick his lips…