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[Continuing chapter seven]
The sounds increased in volume—and in anger, Patton thought—as they moved among the tall, sharp-scented pines. That’s a mob building, he said to himself.
The members of that mob were gathered in a spot where the trees had been felled on either side of the road—logged for firewood, perhaps; the stumps remained, a few of them visible amid the new forest of legs, human and equine, occupying the clearing. The men were all well-armed, Patton noted; all carried rifles and some wore pistols as well—a few even had revolvers. A belligerent handful even had two rifles in addition to their pistols. Their dress ranged from some kind of buckskin to a more formal dress he wore.
Two men who looked to be related stood at the point where the clearing narrowed and the road continued westward. One of the men had mounted a tall, broad stump the better to be seen. As Patton listened, he realized that the increasingly angry shouting was in response to this man’s attempts to control things.
“I say again,” the man shouted, “we don’t know who they are or how many they are! It’s foolhardy to rush off after them until we know more!”
This was howled down with much profanity. “We know all we need to know, Marshal!” one man shouted. The law’s in on this? Patton wondered. He felt a sinking feeling in his stomach; there was no doubt at all about who this marshal had been talking about a moment ago. And while Patton doubted that this mob, however well armed it might be, could defeat Colonel Walker’s force, it could still do some damage if it came upon the expedition unaware.
Why, though, were the Texans ready to take up arms against Walker? He was here to liberate them from British oppression; didn’t they know that?
“I warned you the Regulators wouldn’t lay down and stay down!” another man shouted. “We ain’t gonna let them get away with this!”
“Yeah!” his companion added. “Guvmint told us the Regulators was done with. And now you tell us we got to be careful instead of goin’ after them?” He thrust a long-rifle above his head. “I know those guys was Regulators! I recognized that bastard Pickett leading ‘em! I say we re-form the Moderators and kill them! Whether the guvmint helps us or not! Kill ‘em all!”
The men screamed their approval at this, and many of those who were dismounted climbed back into the saddle again. Some kind of pro-government gang, Patton thought. I have to find a way to warn Colonel Walker that he’s being chased.
“I’m sending someone to the nearest army post,” the marshal shouted. “We should wait until someone with authority to deal with this gets here.” The men ignored him, and continued to move westward along the road. The marshal and his companion—his brother?—consulted briefly. The younger man also wore a badge, Patton noted. Then they rode after the departing mob. Patton thought he heard the word “deputize” as the men vanished around a bend. The noise made by the horses and their shouting riders dissipated quickly, muffled by the woods. As silence descended on the clearing, Patton was aware of how close was the air, and fragrant with the smell of horses; sunlight slanting through the trees beyond the clearing highlighted clouds of dust raised by the vanished riders.
Sweet Jesus, Patton thought. There’s going to be a fight, and if we don’t find a way to pass those fellows, we’re going to miss it.
“Not to mention being unable to warn Colonel Walker,” Cleburne said, in his dry voice, when Patton rejoined him.
“What, you think he doesn’t have pickets out? Scouts in advance? A man as organized as Walker?” Patton thought a moment. “You’re right. We still have a duty to let him know. Let’s see what we can do about getting around those fellows before they get too far ahead of us to catch.”
“The woods looked awfully thick up my way,” Cleburne said. “I’m thinking we’d be better going south if we want to get past those lads. And I’d rather get past them than come up behind them and ask them to give way.”
“That’d be funny, wouldn’t it?” Patton asked, nudging his horse into movement. “They’re far enough ahead of us that we could probably stick to the road a while, couldn’t we?”
“I don’t think we can take that chance,” Cleburne said. “Those lawmen were the last to leave. I wouldn’t want to have to explain to them why we were following them, should we catch up to them too quickly.”
“But they’ll get to Walker first!”
Next Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
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