Devil's Canyon by Ralph Compton

know,” Mamie said, exasperated, “but I hope he has. Perhaps one of them will shoot him.”
    *   *   *
    â€œI laid it on the line to Durham,” Slade told his outlaw companions. “If he don’t soon come up with some information we can use, we’ll ambush the lot of them, and figure it all out for ourselves.”
    â€œI think you just played hell,” said Hindes. “You’re givin’ Durham all the reasons he needs to double-cross us. Now he’s likely to throw in with them teamsters, to save his own hide.”
    â€œI got to agree with Hindes,” Withers said. “They ain’t been on the trail long enough for Durham to learn much.”
    â€œI’m agreein’ with Hindes and Withers,” said Peeler. “Damn it, this was all your idea, plantin’ Durham in their camp. Now that he’s there, give him time to play out his hand. If he double-crosses us, we can shoot him when we bushwhack the others.”
    â€œI’ll buy that,” Kritzer said.
    â€œSo all of you are lined up against me,” said Sladebitterly. “By God, we should have split up after Hindes shot that bank teller in Tucumcari.”
    â€œWe ain’t wantin’ to split up,” Withers said soothingly. “Hell, can’t we disagree with you, without you wantin’ to ride off and quit?”
    â€œYeah,” said Kritzer, “this is no time to fold. Usin’ Durham may not be a bad idea, but you’re goin’ at it wrong.”
    â€œThanks,” Slade said. “Why don’t
you
tell me how I should go at it?”
    â€œI will,” said Kritzer defiantly. “After we hit that bank in Tucumcari, Durham saved our hides. You made him one of us, you been usin’ him ever since, but you ain’t promised him a damn thing.”
    Hindes laughed. “Slade’s promised to shoot him if he don’t come through for us.”
    â€œMy point, exactly,” Kritzer said. “If a man’s takin’ a risk, he’s got a right to expect some reward.”
    â€œYeah,” said Withers, “and bein’ shot ain’t exactly a reward.”
    â€œI reckon I been overlookin’ that,” Slade said. “I’ll loosen the reins a mite, and maybe convince Durham he’s one of us. We got just a little over two thousand dollars from that bank job in Tucumcari. Each of us would of had five hundred, but bein’ fair, we got to cut Durham in. Five men thins the pot down to four hundred for each of us. Next time I meet Durham, I’ll see that he gets his share.”
    â€œWhat the hell?” Hindes bawled.
    â€œThat wasn’t exactly what we had in mind,” said Peeler.
    Withers and Kritzer said nothing. Slade laughed.
    *   *   *
    When Durham returned from his meeting with Slade, he looked grim. While nobody said anything, Shanghai, Tarno, and Dallas eyed the gambler suspiciously.
    â€œRemember,” said Faro, “when you sleep, spread your blankets near one another. We don’t know how soon the Utes will discover us, and I reckon they’d like nothing better than finding us sleeping under separate wagons.”
    Faro had seen to it that the wagons were in the open, away from underbrush or trees that might leave them partially or fully in shadow. The three men on watch were moving constantly, coming together only occasionally for brief conversations. It was near midnight when Faro heard movement.
    â€œDurham!”
    â€œDamn it,” said the gambler, “I have a cramp in my leg. I need to stand.”
    â€œNot near as bothersome as a bullet through the head,” Faro replied. “Stay put.”
    â€œIt’s time for us to begin the second watch,” said Collins. “We might as well get up.”
    â€œPlease, Mr. Duval,” Durham said, “since I’m on second watch, is it all right if I get up,