I landed hard, but with someone shooting at me I didn’t linger on the ground. Dakota had already begun pulling Hoffner back behind some boulders and I followed as fast I could. Another bullet hit the rock next to me as I dove behind it. Malone had now committed a federal crime. Glancing over at Dakota I saw that he was working to stop the bleeding. Clyde was hit high on the shoulder.
“He’ll be all right if I can get the bleeding to stop,” Dakota informed me. “The bullet’s still in him and I’m not about to start cutting on him. He needs a doctor.”
Malone was somewhere in the rocks above us. I was hoping he would stay where he was, but then again, where was he? I peered out from behind the boulders and was greeted by another shot, nearly clipping my ear. I couldn’t get a location on him except he was over there somewhere, and he had us pinned down good.
“Malone!” I yelled. “You’re under arrest. I don’t want to have to kill you, so just throw your weapons down and come on out.”
For that remark I received a laugh and a couple of quick shots fired my direction.
Dakota moved up by my side. “Finally, got the bleeding to stop,” he said. “Where is that hombre?”
“Want to take a peek?” I said in jest.
He pointed toward some rocks across from us. “I’m going to try to make it to those rocks. See if you can spot him as I move.”
“I’m not able to look around this boulder so you’re on your own. When you move I’ll try to take a shot,” I paused. “Yuh better be faster than that bullet.”
For that remark I received a dirty look from Dakota. “Ready?” I tried again to peer around the boulder receiving a bullet for my action, but when the shot was fired Dakota took off. Another shot missed him and he was safe behind the rocks. Malone fired again. He at least had two of us to practice on.
I looked at the rocks around us. There must be another way through since Clyde was camped somewhere around here. He walked out from this location. Glancing at him he seemed to be resting easy. I went to him. “Clyde, Clyde, where’s your camp?” I figured if I could find his camp there may be a way to move to the right of Malone.
He remained unconscious. I moved back to the boulder where I was standing then began to move around the side. There was another shot, I stared at Dakota. Then another shot. Neither had been fired at us. We looked at each other, but neither of us moved. After several minutes I chanced a look. There was not a shot. We still held our places thinking that perhaps he was moving trying to find another position…but the shots?
Several minutes had transpired and I didn’t like the wait. I finally decided that I would move out from my safety spot when I heard the sound of horses walking. I gave Dakota a puzzled look.
“Senor Miles, you can come out now. Theese man no longer wants to fight.”
It was Mateo. I had forgotten that he was going to follow me. Stepping out I heaved a big sigh then gave him a wide grin. He had Malone lying over the saddle all tied down. I could see blood dripping from him to the ground. “Dead?” I inquired.
Mateo looked at him. “Maybe soon. He is only shot in the leg, but it is bleeding rather bad.”
“My friend,” I said moving toward Mateo. “You’re not my idea of an angel, but I’ll take whatever help the Lord sends.”
This brought a grunt from him along with a large grin. “Mi esposa, Luciana, may not agree with your assessment.” We all chuckled with the thought of Mateo as an angel, then Dakota left to go check on Clyde. Since he was shot in the shoulder I hoped he could ride as far as Thompson’s ranch, then someone could ride for the doctor.
It took all three of us to get Clyde settled up in the saddle. Dakota didn’t think he could hold the reins or onto the horn, so he mounted behind him. We turned our horses and started out for the ranch house when…