The Last Ride of Caleb O'Toole by Eric Pierpoint Read Free Book Online Page B

Mountain Man.
    â€œTold you he was that same kid,” said Rat Face.
    Caleb searched the hay all around him. The Sharps that had fallen from his grip was buried beside him. Suddenly, he felt the heavy rifle and struggled to bring it to bear. In a flash, Snake was on him, jerked the Sharps from his hand, and tossed it aside. Then he shoved Caleb over toward Mountain Man. Caleb lashed out and caught the huge man with a solid kick in the shins, but Mountain Man held him in his fist and just laughed. Suddenly, he backhanded Caleb across the face. Caleb’s head exploded with light and he went flying, landing in a heap, his ears ringing from the blow. He tried to get back on his feet, but Mountain Man clamped a ham-sized fist around his throat. Caleb struggled to breathe, the blood roaring in his ears.
    â€œTumble! Get ’em!” Tilly managed to gasp as she struggled in Julie’s arms.
    Tumble charged from the stall and set upon the Blackstones in a barking rage, snapping his mighty little jaws at Mountain Man’s feet. Mountain Man kicked at Tumble and nearly dropped Caleb when Rat Face picked up a shovel and silenced the loyal mutt with a blow to his head. Tumble yelped once, then lay still.
    â€œAnd I sure remember that dang dog,” laughed Rat Face as he tossed the shovel aside.
    Caleb could feel the life squeezing out of him. Try as he might, he could not break from the big man’s grip. He punched at Mountain Man with both his hands, kicking out with his feet, fighting for his life. Finally, Mountain Man released him and he crashed to the ground, gasping for breath.
    â€œStop!” Julie ran to her brother. Blacktooth reached out and snagged Julie by the hair. “No…please…” cried Julie as she struggled in the big man’s grip.
    â€œWell now, looks like we got a whole family of brats here.” Blacktooth stared at Julie like a fox at a hen.
    â€œWhat do you think we should do with ’em, Eli?” said Snake, moving in for a closer look.
    â€œAsk me, it throws a kink in things,” said Rat Face. “I say we get rid of ’em.”
    â€œLook, I want none of this,” exclaimed Irishman suddenly. “You have my horse. Let me go.”
    â€œShut up!” Mountain Man lashed out and smacked Irishman across the head. “We better take care of ’em. Bottle Boy and the little princess here, they be witnesses, Eli.”
    â€œGot a point there, Davey,” growled Blacktooth.
    Caleb lay dazed, his ears ringing and his vision blurred by Mountain Man’s blow to his face. Through the haze, he saw Julie struggling in Blacktooth’s grip. Little Tilly sobbed as she lay in the straw of their stall. Tumble was crumpled up just a few feet away, blood pouring from a gash in his head. He could hear Dusty, tied up outside, screaming a high-pitched whinny.
    â€œPlease. We won’t say anything,” pleaded Julie as Blacktooth yanked her close.
    â€œYou leave my sister alone!” cried Tilly as she ran from the stall to Julie. Blacktooth grabbed Tilly and tossed her to Rat Face like a little rag doll.
    â€œHa! Look out for this one!” joked Blacktooth. “Hold on to her, Earl!” Rat Face grabbed Tilly and held her tight as she kicked and screamed.
    â€œNo!” cried Julie as she raked her fingernails across Blacktooth’s cheek, drawing blood.
    â€œFeisty little puma, you are.” Blacktooth laughed and wiped some blood from his face. “Looks like we’ve got a little business to take care of, my brothers. Let’s saddle up and take ’em out of town. Gag ’em first. Davey, get some rope.”
    â€œRight good idea, Eli.” Mountain Man grabbed some rope from one of the stalls.
    As Caleb felt his strength return, he saw the Sharps lying ten feet away, half hidden in some hay. The tip of the long barrel gleamed in the lantern light. He edged slowly toward it on his belly, thinking if he could