As Moser put pressure on the stirrup as he began to mount I saw a slight giving. Luciana must have felt it for she pushed against the saddle throwing herself off to the right. When she did that the saddle came off on top of Moser; Mateo didn’t tighten the cinch.
When Luciana went off the side, I rushed forward, leaping up to grab the man with Enrique pulling him, Enrique, and saddle off his mount. The horse kicked a couple of times then ran off. As I struggled to get up from underneath the load, I heard shots, then the sound of horses running away. Glancing up, I saw the third man fleeing on horseback down the street.
Getting to my feet first, I saw the man beginning to rise. I saw the Greener laying at my feet. Quickly I picked it up, then gave the man a thump on the head. Mateo had come up, followed by Doc. They were bending down next to Luciana. I heard a groan from her as Doc began to check her over. Enrique had scrambled up and rushed to his father, putting his face into Mateo’s chest, slightly sobbing.
My eyes moved over to Moser, on the ground, not moving. I assumed he was dead. With Luciana falling off the other side of the horse, Mateo took a chance and fired, the bullets striking Moser in the gut, then a second one in the neck. He died quickly.
Mateo and Enrique stooped down next to Luciana, who was conscious. Doc Jones muttered something to them that I didn’t catch, then got up to approach me.
“He dead?” he questioned pointing at the man on the ground. I lifted the barrel of the shotgun to my head motioning that I gave him a little tap. “How about you? You all right?”
I nodded, then asked, “How’s Luciana?”
“She may have a broken arm, but other than that she’s fine. A little traumatized, but she’ll make out all right. I told Mateo to take her down to the office where I can examine it more closely.”
By this time Mateo had helped his wife to her feet. He looked my direction and I nodded. “Go ahead, I’ll take this miscreant to jail, and check on Alejo while I’m there.”
The Saga of Miles Forrest
Reaching down I grabbed the man by the back of the collar to pull him to his feet. He was moaning and whining about his head hurting and that he had his rights as a citizen. I didn’t pay him much mind as I pushed and prodded him toward the jail.
“Lucas!” I hollered entering the office. “Open a cell, I’ve a customer for yuh.”
I could hear the cell door opening then saw Lucas holding the door open. I pushed the man on through and then went in behind him. He started for the cot, but I banged him on the knee with the Greener. “Nope, not until I get a few answers from you.”
When I swung the shotgun up to hold it on my shoulder his eyes widened. I reckoned he thought I was going to kabonk him one on top of his old coconut and he threw his hands up over his head. “Yuh got a name?”
“I don’t have to tell you,” he muttered, still wide-eyed.
“Nope, but it’s easier to do while yuh have some teeth,” I replied, giving him a quick smile and moving the shotgun slightly. I wasn’t going to knock his teeth out, but there was no need him knowing it.
“Hendricks, Ben Hendricks,” he gritted. “Why’m I in jail?”
Now, he had to be kidding me, or was he that that stupid. “For starters, kidnappin’, then resistin’ arrest,” I informed him. “When I get over to the desk, I’ll think of some more to add to the list,” I paused to let that sink in, then added, “‘nough to put you away for ten years or more.”
“Where’s Moser?”
“Why thought yuh knew; he went out and bought himself some real estate, small plot, but it’ll fit him right proper.”
“That Mex kill him?” he snarled, until I brought the Greener down to lightly thump him on the noggin.
I moved up close to him. That’s Marshal Ramirez to you, now who was the man that rode away?” When he didn’t answer I gave another little thump. He still didn’t answer, just moved away until he was hugging the wall.
Turning away from him, I walked out of the cell locking it. “That’s all right, I’ll be bringin’ Amos Martin to visit yuh, and I just hope that the woman survives,” I added to give him something to gnaw on.
“No, you can’t…