Lawless Trail by Ralph Cotton Page A

unhitched from the buckboard once they’d driven the rig a long ways on their false trail and left it sitting in plain sight. With their tracks covered, difficult to find in the coming night, Wes and the rest of the men had followed the doctor’s lead without question. Yet, after two hours of backtracking, the riders began to grow suspicious of how close they’d traveled back toward town.
    No one mentioned it until Wes himself saw the glow of torchlight appear, bobbing toward them across the flatlands floor. Still, the outlaw leader held his peace until he saw that the trail lying before them only wound down to the flatlands.
    â€œHold it, Doc,” he said to Bernard, drawing his horse to a halt on a ridge at the top of the winding trail. “It looks like we’re headed right smack back to Maley.” He raised his Colt from across his lap and cocked it. “You better tell me I’m wrong,” he warned, waiting for the doctor’s reply.
    â€œYou’re not wrong,” the young doctor said firmly, stopping his horse beside him, not the least put off by the cocked gun pointed at him. “This trail is the quickest way down to the flatlands, back to Maley.”
    Hearing him, the men drew their horses closer in around him and Wes.
    â€œWhat the hell’s he talking about ‘back to Maley’?” Rubens asked Wes.
    The doctor sat braced, tense, like a man anticipating an oncoming storm.
    â€œYeah, Doc,” said Wes, “what are you talking about?”
    â€œMaley is the safest place to spend the night,” the doctor said firmly. “That’s where I’m taking us.”
    â€œLike hell you are!” Bugs said, kicking his horse forward toward the doctor.
    â€œShut up, Bugs,” said Wes, grabbing his horse by its bridle and holding the young gunman back. Wes turned his eyes and gun back to the doctor. “Start talking, Doc,” said Wes, already making sense of the doctor’s words.
    Dr. Bernard nodded at the row of torchlights bobbing across the darkened flatlands below.
    â€œLook at them,” he said. “Every able-bodied man in Maley is riding with Garand’s detectives tonight. They’re coming to kill all of you and save me. My house is sitting empty. Inside, I have all the instruments and medicine and bandaging I need to prepare your brother for the trip to Mexico.” He paused, then added, “Which, I can assure you, will be much easier once the posse has given up and pulled back off your trail.”
    Wes considered it. His gun lowered an inch.
    â€œWho says we’re going to Mexico?” he asked.
    â€œEverything about you says you’re going to Mexico,” the doctor replied. “You need to get your brother in better shape first. Otherwise, he’s dead already.”
    Behind the doctor, Ty sat slumped in his saddle, Rosetta riding double with him resting back on her bosom. She led the spare wagon horse behind her, managing Ty’s horse with skill. She looked at Wes and nodded slowly, agreeing with the doctor.
    â€œDoc, you misled us. You should have told me to begin with we were headed back to Maley,” said Wes. “Not wait until we’re at a spot like this.”
    The doctor gave a slight shrug.
    â€œHad I told you where I was taking you, you wouldn’t have come, now, would you?” he reasoned.
    Wes and the men looked at each other.
    â€œThat’s what I thought,” the doctor said. “As it is, you’ve got from here down to the flatlands to think it over. If you don’t agree with what I’m saying, you can ride straight west to the border. You will still have thrown off the posse.” He paused to let it sink in, then said, “If you’re wise, you’ll follow me across the flatlands to my house.” He sat staring at Wes. “What say you?”
    Wes chuffed and shook his head.
    â€œDoc, I bet you keep all the poker players in Maley