Blood Feather by Don Bendell Read Free Book Online Page A

his hand up with a wave and ambled over toward Joshua and Lucky. The three shook hands and he sat down.
    â€œZach Banta,” Strongheart said. “What brings you to Cañon City? Long trip from Cotopaxi.”
    The old man signaled Annabelle over and patted the chair next to him. The three men rose as she sat down.
    When they’d sat again, Banta looked at each of the others slowly and replied, “Wal, I looked at the shelves in my store and most items seemed lonesome. Had a couple mice come outta holes, put their front paws on their hips, and kinda stare at me. Seemed right angry, I reckon. I figgered it was time ta go ta town and git some supplies.”
    The other three chuckled.
    Annabelle said, “Zachariah Banta, you devil you. You forgot to mention that you have spies all over Fremont County and wanted to know whenever Joshua got out of the hospital and came here.”
    The oldster never missed a beat. “I reckon that’s so. Look at me. I’m old. I wanted some young pup here ta load my supplies fer me. Other day, some old boy come inta Cotopaxi and compliments me on my fancy cowboy boots made outta alligator hide he reckoned. I told him, ‘Mister. I ain’t wearing boots. Ahm in mah bare feet.’”
    The group laughed uproariously while Zach carefully built another cigarette.
    The four spoke at some length, but Joshua Strongheart, though polite, was already formulating his plans. He and Lucky mounted up and followed Zach’s buckboard to the mercantile building not far down Main Street. They loaded Joshua’s supplies into the wagon.
    Then they rode west on Main Street as Joshua returned his horse to a large brick building with a gable front and two large signs reading G MAKLEY AND CO BLACKSMITH and ELKHORN FEED STABLE. The building was joined by a large corral.
    Lucky paid for the horses, and Joshua told the hostler he would escort Lucky to the stage depot and bring the mounts back. They rode south over toward the river and the depot.
    Lucky briefed Joshua a little more and told him he could charge whatever he wanted or get reimbursed for anything by the Pinkerton Agency in regards to hunting down Blackjack’s killer and effecting a rendezvous with Quanah Parker.
    Lucky cautioned, “You must stay with the modern times. Take zee train with your horse as often as you can. Eet will be much faster, and you do not have to worry about money.”
    Joshua smiled, saying, “Yes, Ma.”
    Lucky laughed and said seriously, “And whatever you do, do not drink again.”
    Joshua smiled.
    He replied, “Boss, I have not had a drink since that time you bailed me out of jail in Wyoming Territory. I will not drink again.”
    As he rode back toward the livery leading Lucky’s horse, he thought back to the last time he drank. He could not remember the horrible beating he gave to three men or his arrest. He awakened in jail and found out he had tried to defend the honor of a dance hall chippy who was simply enticing prospective customers. Joshua knew then that he had become a mean drunk and was apparently affected by alcohol consumption the way many Indians were. Although he was not happy with Joshua at all, Lucky took care of it. And Joshua vowed he would never touch alcohol again no matter what.
    He stopped at the café and went to the back door. Annabelle came out, and he pulled her into his arms. They kissed long and passionately.
    Surprised a little, she stepped back and looked up into his eyes.
    â€œI love you,” he said.
    Taken aback some, she smiled and said softly, “I love you, too, Joshua. This is so sudden it sounds like you are saying good-bye.”
    â€œNo,” he said, smiling softly, too, “I’m not, but on the train I started thinking. My work is so dangerous, and I do not want a wife who spends our whole marriage nursing me back to health. I have to leave today on a new mission and want us both to do a lot of