Destiny of Eagles (22 page)

“What is a roughrider?”

“My definition would be a warrior for justice,” Roosevelt replied. “You say that Aaron Childers is one of the bandits. Do you know the names of the other two?”

“Yes,” Falcon said. “One of them is Aaron's cousin, Dalton Yerby. The other is Percy Shaw. Shaw is no kin to either of them.”

“How is it that you know them?”

“Their names came out in the trial.”

“What trial?”

Falcon told how six men had robbed a bank in Belfield.

“I shot two of them,” he said. “Ethan Yerby and Corey Childers. Ethan was Dalton Yerby's brother, Corey was Aaron Childers's brother.”

“Did you kill them?”

Falcon shook his head. “No, I just wounded them, and not too severely. Frank Childers came back for them and we wound up capturing him and the two wounded men. Aaron, Dalton, and Percy Shaw got away.”

“Bully for you,” Roosevelt said enthusiastically.

“Yes, well, I was too little, too late. They killed Sheriff Billy Puckett. Puckett was a friend of mine . . . had been a friend of my father's actually. He was a good man who deserved better than to be shot down by the likes of that bunch of thieves and outlaws.”

“So now Aaron is trying to get Frank out of prison. What about the other two?”

Falcon told about the jail break on the very day they were to be hanged. He concluded the story by telling that Corey and Ethan had both been killed by Luke Douglass.

“I thought they killed him.”

“They killed each other.”

“Good for Mr. Douglass. So, what do we do now, and when do we start?”

“We?”

“Yes, of course we. I'm going with you.”

Falcon shook his head. “No, you aren't,” he said.

“But of course I am,” Roosevelt insisted. “In the first place, as I am sure you are aware by now, Anna is of some . . . personal concern to me. And of course, Judge Heckemeyer is my friend, which means I have every obligation to go. And the fact that these three men once launched a personal attack against me gives me every right to go.”

“You aren't going with me,” Falcon said again.

“Come on, Falcon, be reasonable. If Frank Childers is released from prison and joins with the other three, that would be four of them. Four against one? Even for you, the odds are quite formidable.”

“You aren't going, Teddy, and that's it.”

“Would you give me one reason why not?” Roosevelt asked.

“Destiny,” Falcon said.

Roosevelt got a strange look on his face. “Destiny? What do you mean by destiny?”

“I told you before, Teddy, you are a man of destiny. Don't ask me how I know it . . . maybe I've been around the Indians so long that I have the medicine. I just know that if something happened to you because of me, I would be cheating not only you, but the world.”

Roosevelt laughed nervously. “That's nonsense,” he said.

“No, it isn't,” Falcon insisted. “And what's more, you know it isn't.”

“Even so, that isn't reason enough to keep me from going with you.”

“Then how is this for a reason? If you insist on going with me, I'm going to crack you over the head.”

“Oh? I believe I've already given you a demonstration of my ability to defend myself,” Roosevelt said pointedly.

Falcon laughed. “That you have, Teddy, that you have,” he said. “And that's why I know I will be able to keep you from joining me.”

“What do you mean?”

“Because I won't fight fair. I'll wait until your back is turned, and I'll club you with my pistol.”

Roosevelt rubbed the top of his head; then he laughed, a high-pitched but rich laugh.

“Falcon, my friend,” he said. “You make a good argument. All right, I will not try to go with you. At least, not in person. But I will be with you in spirit and prayer.”

“That's all I need,” Falcon said.

Aaron Childers was about half-a-mile out of town, but he chose a position that would give him an unrestricted view of the judge's house. Pulling a spyglass from his saddlebag, he climbed up a little hill alongside the trail, lay down on a rock, then looked through the lens.

There it was, in the right front window, a splash of red.

Happily, he climbed back onto the horse and rode quickly back out to the cabin where Dalton and Percy were watching over Anna.

“He's a-goin' to do it!” Aaron shouted as soon as he got back.

“How do you know?” Dalton asked. “Did he give you the money?”

“No, not yet he ain't,” Aaron said. “But he's goin' to, 'cause he's got 'im a red cloth hangin' in the front winder just like we told 'im to.”

“When do we get the money?” Percy asked.

“Just hold your horses on the money,” Aaron said. “We'll get the money after we've got Frank back.”

“Seems to me like it ought to be the other way around. We should get the money first, then go get Frank.”

“I'm the one making the decision here,” Aaron said. “And as long as I'm making the decisions, we're goin' after Frank first.”

“All right,” Percy said. “But after we get him, then I think maybe we ought to take us another vote on seein' just who is in charge. 'Cause so far, your bein' in charge ain't worked out all that good.”

“All right,” Aaron said with a little chuckle. “Soon as we get Frank, we'll take another vote if that's what you want.”

“Yeah,” Percy said. “That's what I want.”

“Percy, you dumb ass,” Dalton said. “If we take a vote with his brother here, who do you think is going to win?”

“I . . . I don't know,” Percy said. “I guess I just wasn't thinkin' is all.”

“That's your problem. You never think. Besides which, he seems to be doin' all right now, don't he? The judge hung up the red cloth, which means he's goin' to do it all. He's goin' to turn Frank a-loose, and give us the money to boot.”

“Yeah, but what about them other times when nothin' Aaron did went right?”

“I tell you what, Percy, you don't have to stay around,” Aaron said. “Fact is, why don't you just light out now?”

“Before I get my share of the money?” Percy replied. He shook his head. “No, there ain't no way you're a-goin' to get rid of me that easy.”

“Then keep your mouth shut and do what I tell you,” Aaron said. He looked over toward the bed where Anna sat. “And keep an eye on her, if that's not too big a job for you.”

“Listen, she's smarter'n you think. She tricked me,” Percy said.

“Hell, Percy, she doesn't have to be very smart to trick you. You're one of the dumbest sons of bitches I've ever met,” Aaron said, and Dalton laughed at the quip.

“You got no call to be a-talkin' to me like that,” Percy said.

“I'm goin' to the prison to meet Frank when they let him out,” Aaron said. “You two stay here and stay out of trouble.”

“We'll be here when you get back, Aaron,” Percy said.

“Yeah, I know you will. The question is, will she?” He looked at Anna. “Are you going to give us any trouble?” he asked.

“Oh, don't worry about me,” Anna said sarcastically. “I'll have a nice supper cooked for you when you get back.”

Aaron laughed. He said to Percy, “I'm takin' your horse.”

“What?” Percy said. “What do you mean you're takin' my horse?”

“How else are we goin' to get Frank back here?” Aaron replied. “We sure ain't goin' to ride double.”

“But you can't just take my horse.”

“Oh, take it easy,” Aaron said. “We'll get Frank a horse soon's he gets back.”

“I'll go out with you, Aaron,” Dalton said. “I 'spect I'd better get on up the hill and keep a lookout for a while. Wouldn't want someone dropping in on us all unexpected.”

Both Aaron and Dalton left the cabin, and Percy walked over to the front window to watch them leave. It was a long moment before he spoke.

“I don't care who he is, he don't have no right takin' my horse like he done,” Percy said in a voice that was bitter with hatred.

“I can't believe he treats you the way he does,” Anna said. “Aren't you all supposed to be partners?”

“Yeah, we are supposed to be partners,” Percy said. “But Aaron, somehow he's got the idea that he's the only one that knows anything. And he's always bossing me'n Dalton around.”

Anna forced herself to smile. “I admire the way you stand up to him, though. You are much more defiant than Dalton.”

“Defiant? What does that mean?”

“It means you are showing him that you are a man, and you can't be treated like a puppy dog.”

“Yeah,” Percy said. “Yeah, that's the way I feel about it too.” He smiled. “You mean you can tell that?”

“Of course I can tell it.”

“Ole Aaron, he don't know who he is dealin' with,” Percy said. “One of these days I'm going to set him straight.”

“I know you will,” Anna said.

Percy stared at Anna for a long moment. “What are you doin'?”

“I beg your pardon?”

“You're butterin' me up, ain't you? You're just tryin' to get on my good side so you can trick me again.”

“No, I'm not, Percy,” Anna said.

“Yes, you are. You done it before.”

“I'm sorry about kicking you and trying to escape. I was frightened and I didn't know what was going to happen to me. Now that I know you a little better, I'm not quite as afraid.”

“Yeah? Well, you'd better be afraid of me, woman,” Percy said forcefully. “ 'Cause if you try anything funny again, I'll kill you.”

“You don't want to do anything like that, Percy. If you kill me, my father won't pay the money.”

“Yeah, well, uh, just don't you try anything else,” Percy insisted.

* * *

Falcon MacCallister was having lunch when an officer of the prison came into the café and crossed over to his table.

“Mr. MacCallister?”

“Yes,” Falcon said.

“I'm told by the warden that you are to be informed as to the exact moment Frank Childers will be released.”

“Yes.”

The officer shook his head. “I don't know what got into the judge ordering him released. If you ask me, the son of a bitch should've been hung a long time ago.”

“When is he scheduled for release?” Falcon asked. He knew that the officer was curious and wanted Falcon to tell him what was going on, but he didn't take the bait.

“At one-thirty this afternoon,” the officer said. “Will you be there to meet him?”

“No,” Falcon said.

“Then I don't understand. What do you have to do with his release? Does Childers know you are here?”

“No, he does not know and he isn't to be told,” Falcon said. “Do you understand me? No one is to be told that I am here.”

“All right, if you say so. I'd sure like to know what's going on, though.”

Although Falcon wasn't going to say anything at all about why he was there, he decided that he should give the man a little information in order to keep him from asking questions that might get out of hand.

“I'm on a mission for the court,” Falcon said. “At this point, that is all I can tell you. I'm sure that, as an officer of the law, you have had to keep secrets before, secrets that, if they got out, could cause someone to lose their life.”

“Yes, sure, of course I have,” the officer said.

Falcon smiled disarmingly. “Good. The court asked the warden to select a man of honor and trust. I'm glad to see that the warden chose wisely.”

“Don't worry,” the officer said, an ally now rather than an inquisitor. “Your secret is safe with me.”

“Can I buy you a beer?”

“Thank you, no, I have to get back to duty at the prison.” The officer started to leave, then he turned back. “Good luck to you.”

“Thanks.”

* * *

Aaron Childers was standing across the street from the prison gate. Leaning against a telegraph pole with his arms folded across his chest, he monitored the comings and goings at the gate.

Most of the arrivals were people who were going about some aspect of business . . . a grocer arrived with a wagon full of groceries for the prison kitchen. A preacher arrived, and a couple of off-duty guards departed.

In every case those arriving or departing had to show identification to the gate guard before they were allowed to pass.

At exactly one-thirty, Aaron saw his brother. Frank walked, unaccompanied, down a long sidewalk that led from the main building to the wall and front gate. Aaron could see him through the gate.

Reaching the front gate, Frank showed the guard a paper. The guard looked at it, nodded, and another guard opened the gate. Frank stepped through it, then stood outside, looking around nervously, as if unsure that it was real, that he was actually free.

“Frank,” Aaron called. He didn't leave his position by the telegraph pole.

Hearing his name called, Frank looked across the street and, seeing his brother, smiled and hurried across to him.

“It's good to see you,” Aaron said.

“Damn! I knew it had to be you,” Frank said.

“What had to be me?”

“I didn't know a thing about this until about fifteen minutes ago,” Frank said.

“Fifteen minutes ago?”

“A guard came up to me and told me I was being set free today. At first I didn't believe him. In fact, I'm not sure I believe it now, but here I am.”

“What do you say we get out of here?”

“I say let's go,” Frank said. He looked back at the prison edifice. “I can't get away from this place fast enough.”

“Come on, I've got a couple of horses back at the livery stable. We've got places to go.”

“Places to go and a horse to ride. You've no idea how good that sounds. By the way, where's Corey?”

“What do you mean, where's Corey? Don't you know?”

“I heard you broke him and Ethan out of jail,” Frank said.

“Yeah, we did. But the two of 'em got theirselves killed.”

“Oh,” Frank said. “Nobody told me that.”

“Come on, we've got a long ride ahead of us.”

“Where are we going?”

“We're going to collect five thousand dollars,” Aaron said.

* * *

At one-fifteen, Falcon climbed into the hayloft of the livery and looked down the street toward the front of the prison. From here he had an excellent view of everyone who entered or left the prison. And true to the warden's word, Frank Childers exited the gate exactly on time.

Falcon stayed where he was for a few minutes, watching to see if anyone met Frank. At first, he didn't see anyone there, and he worried that perhaps he had made a mistake. Then, across the street, leaning against a telegraph pole, he saw what he had been looking for.

Aaron Childers stepped away from the pole and shook Frank's hand. The two men chatted for a moment, then started up the street toward Falcon, approaching the livery.

Falcon stepped back away from the upstairs loading window to avoid any possibility of being seen from the street. Standing in the shadows, and partially obscured by the stanchion to which the block and tackle for handling the hay was attached, Falcon watched them all the way into the livery barn.

He could hear them talking as they came in.

“So, who's riding with you now?” Frank asked.

“There's only the four of us,” Aaron said. “Me'n you, Dalton and Percy.”

Frank chuckled. “Percy is still with us?”

“Yes, well, where else would he go? He doesn't have sense enough to get in out of the rain,” Aaron said derisively.

“You got that right,” Frank answered with a chuckle.

“The horses are back here.”

The two brothers continued talking as they walked to the back of the livery. As they moved farther toward the rear of the barn, though, distance rendered their voices first indistinct, and then inaudible.

Falcon stayed in place until the two brothers passed under him a second time, now mounted.

“How far is it?” Frank asked.

“We'll get there tomorrow,” Aaron said.

“I don't have any trail gear.”

“You can use Percy's,” Aaron said. “It's on the saddle.”

Falcon watched the two men ride through the shadows, then out into the brightness of day. He waited until he was sure they were well clear before he climbed down to saddle Diabo.

Falcon walked Diablo out of the barn, then bent down to study the hoofprints left by the two horses. One of the animals had a small nick on the U of the shoe of the left rear foot. The other one had a somewhat larger chunk on the left forefoot. Smiling, Falcon stood up, then swung into his saddle. These two couldn't make it any easier to trail them if they were notching trees along the way.

* * *

Back at the cabin, Dalton and Percy had switched roles. Percy was now outside, watching the approach to the cabin, while Dalton was inside, keeping an eye on their prisoner.

Anna had managed, by continually working with the ropes, to free her hands. Keeping an eye on Dalton, who was frying bacon, she started working on the ropes that bound her ankles. It was risky because Dalton kept looking back over his shoulder to check on her. Each time he did, Anna would quickly pull her hands back up behind her.