Slocum 394 : Slocum and the Fool's Errand (9781101545980) by Jake Logan Page A

around here.”
    â€œSuit yerself. I’ll have the stall clean for you when you get back.”
    â€œThank you kindly.”
    Slocum had ridden a light gray spotted stallion into town. The horse wasn’t going to win any prizes, but it was hardy enough to brave the desert and had done just fine when tracking down Bill and his men. In fact, the stallion was so agreeable when he was saddled that Slocum felt badly for making him stare at such a jackass liveryman for most of the day.
    â€œMr. Slocum!” someone shouted.
    When he led his horse outside and saw who was rushing across the street, Slocum practically jumped into his saddle.
    â€œWait! John!” Still cradling his arm, Jack Halsey picked up his pace as if he had every intention of throwing himself in front of Slocum’s horse.
    â€œAw, hell,” Slocum muttered to himself.
    Jack was pale and covered in sweat. The wind that ripped through the middle of town cut Slocum to the bone, but acted like a splash of cold water on Jack’s face. “Wonder if I could impose on you for a moment of time?”
    â€œYou can speak pretty well when you’re not hollering like a lunatic,” Slocum pointed out.
    â€œYeah, well, it ain’t every day that I get my fingers chewed off. Maybe you would’ve handled it better?”
    â€œI’d like to think so,” Slocum replied, “but I see your point. What do you need?”
    â€œI could use a ride to collect my horse and gear.”
    â€œSo you do have a horse?” Slocum asked.
    â€œYes, sir. I was camping a few miles outside of town when I was attacked. Damn wolves caught me when I was out collecting firewood. Didn’t see my horse right away and thought it might have been killed so I started running here before I lost the strength to do much else. Maybe my horse is dead, but maybe it ain’t.”
    â€œYou had plenty of strength when I saw you.” Since he hadn’t had another destination in mind apart from getting away from town for a little while, Slocum asked, “Where was your camp?”
    â€œAbout three miles north of here. I can direct you when we get closer. If it’s too much of an inconvenience, I understand.”
    â€œNah, I was headed out anyways. The least I can do is take you back to your horse so you don’t have to leave town the same way you came.”
    â€œYeah,” Jack chuckled. “Nobody wants that.”
    Slocum offered a hand to the other man, who reflexively started to take it with the one that was bundled up like a baby. Gritting his teeth, he curled that arm around so Slocum could take hold of his elbow and steady him while Jack climbed onto the stallion’s back. It was a long, arduous process but he eventually settled into the saddle behind Slocum. They caught the attention of more than a few locals as they rode out of town.

6
    Jack had picked a spot for his camp nestled between a cluster of low boulders that would have provided a nice wall against the cold night winds as he slept. It also would have lit up like the Fourth of July once a fire was started in the ring of rocks that had been built there. Once they were within ten yards of the boulders, Slocum reined his horse to a stop so Jack could climb down. He would have gotten a little closer, but the other man had become too fidgety to tolerate for one more second.
    Hunching over to study the ground as he walked, Jack held his arm against his belly and paced a small tract of land. “Damn wolves didn’t kill my horse. Not right here anyway.”
    Slocum looked down from where he sat and found the scuff marks on the rocky ground to mark the places where a shoed animal had walked. “Did you come from the west?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œThen that’s where your horse went. At least,” Slocum said as he pointed to the tracks he’d found, “if that was your horse.”
    It took a few seconds for Jack to see the tracks that