Pinfire Lady Strikes Back Read online

  It was then that Abbie realized just who had delivered her from the awful fate that Bart Bradshaw had in store for her and she clutched Yellow Flower in gratitude, trying meanwhile to avoid breaking into tears. The Indian girl patted her gently, murmuring some words of sympathy, and then, urging Abbie to mount her bay, she led the way into the tangle of hills, deliberately going over rocky places that would leave no trace of their passing. Finally, she halted and helped Abbie down. Reaction had set in and she shivered while at the same time her sun-burnt skin felt it was on fire. Abbie was so stiff that she moved like an old woman and when Yellow Flower offered her the canteen she would have drank the whole contents if not restrained.

  Abbie was preparing to try and don her clothing when Yellow Flower signalled her to wait. The Ute girl vanished into the night and returned shortly bearing handfuls of leaves, which she crushed and mixed with a small quantity of animal fat obtained from a pouch. Then she proceeded to gently rub the creamy mixture all over Abbie’s face and body. The white girl noted that the salve had an immediate soothing effect and in a very short time the burning sensation had ceased.

  The application of Yellow Flower’s ointment enabled Abbie to literally slither into her clothing and, after doing so, the two girls curled up and attempted to get some much-needed sleep. Abbie was so tired that she ignored her normal bedtime precautions but she was quite safe in the location chosen by the Ute girl and they had an undisturbed night.

  In the morning they broke their fast by sharing a can of baked beans, some dried-out biscuits and water from their canteens. Then Abbie insisted that she check their firearms, not only her 12mm pinfire but also the .36 Navy Colt that Yellow Flower had taken from one of the dead rapists. Abbie unloaded the latter pistol and showed the Ute girl how to load it with powder, wad and ball and how to cap the nipples. Yellow Flower watched Abbie intently and nodded to show that she understood the procedure.

  Abbie would have liked to question her as to why she had not gone back to the ranch but found it too difficult since they did not have a language each understood. She could only assume that they had a mutual bond since in turn they had both rescued each other. Abbie next decided that they had to develop some common terms, starting with their names. She pointed at herself and said, ‘Abbie! Me, Abbie!’ Pointing at the girl, she raised her eyes to make a soundless question. Yellow Flower caught on and gave a long Ute reply, and Abbie realized that she would have to rename her Indian friend. She frowned in thought and then smiled.

  Having read Mr Longfellow’s account of ‘Hiawatha’ shortly after it was published, Abbie decided that she had the perfect name. Mini-Ha-Ha was far too long so, pointing at herself once more, she again said, ‘Abbie,’ then pointing to Yellow Flower she said, ‘Minny’ and again ‘Minny’. Frowning a little, the Ute repeated the name and in this fashion Abbie acquired a friend and companion named Minny.

  Glancing through the trees at the position of the sun, Abbie decided that it was still early mid-morning and it was time that she and her companion planned the next part of their tasks to free Dora and get back at least some of the stolen horses. Thinking back to Bradshaw’s jeering comments, Abbie came to the conclusion that he intended to return to view and get satisfaction from seeing the effect on her of being exposed to the searing heat of the desert sun for a full day. His previous visit had been in late afternoon, as best she could estimate, therefore she and Minny had several hours in which to launch a rescue operation.

  Smoothing out an area of sand, she drew a sketch map drawing triangles and using stones to represent the Ute camp and the ranch. Then she marked a long line to indicate the trail south. Two stick figures were the two rapists and a line through them and pointing to Minny showed their fate. In a similar way Abbie showed herself as staked out and rescued and close by a valley with Dora bound and gagged. This last part she explained using mime to imitate Dora’s predicament. Finally, Abbie tried to determine the number of enemies immediately opposing them. A series of stick figures represented Bradshaw, and being on the safe side, five figures to represent the men in the valley and a sixth one, the person who had bashed her on the head and rendered her unconscious. Abbie had long since come to the conclusion the scene she had seen in the little valley had been posed, which in turn suggested that she had been under observation for some time before her capture.

  She decided that to launch a rescue it would be important to make a wide detour and get ahead of where Bradshaw and his men were camped in the little valley. This she imparted to Minny via her sand map and suggested that the Indian girl plan the route to bring them out ahead of the gang. There was one other thing puzzling Abbie. Where were all the other raiders and the horses that had been stolen? These problems, however, she put out of her mind for the time being in order to concentrate on the immediate task at hand.

  Minny knew exactly what was expected of her and, moving cautiously but confidently, took them both on dim trails that kept them well to the west of the main north–south route. Finally, in the early afternoon Minny called a halt and, pointing north with her left hand, whispered one word, ‘Badsaw’, which Abbie took to be the Ute rendition of Bradshaw.

  CHAPTER THREE

  Their three horses were tethered in a small grove of trees, and with Minny leading they crept silently through the bushes until they were on the brush-covered edge of the small valley. Peering very cautiously, Abbie observed the scene below her. Six men were lounging around the fire; four were playing a listless game of cards while Bradshaw and one other were laying on their backs dozing – the remaining figure, that of Dora, sat without a gag but bound hand and foot against a sandy bank. Abbie and Minny waited patiently.

  Finally they were rewarded by the appearance of yet a seventh outlaw who rode in from the north and dismounted by the group. The two watchers distinctly heard him render his report to Bradshaw, ‘Well, Boss! There’s nary a sign of anyone amoving down the trail from Harding’s ranch. So I guess that pinfire she-cat was the only one who got quickly on our trail. I didn’t go up the hill ter check on her but there was no noise so maybe she’s croaked!’

  One of the card players interjected in a challenging voice. ‘So let’s get this little personal vendetta over with! El Caudillo is gonner be wondering what the hell has happened to us. An’ I for one don’t intend to cross that one!’

  ‘Goddamit, Wolf! Jus’ shut your goddam mouth or I’m likely to shut it for you. I told the Chief that I had a little personal score to settle when we planned this raid an’ he knew we’d be a little late getting to La Cruz. We’ll soon get there an’ can turn over this piece of merchandise,’ pointing to Dora, ‘get our money for it and the horses an’ all relax in the cantinas.

  ‘Now who’s coming with me ter check on my piece of fried meat? She should be a lovely sight by now!’ None of the men volunteered and so Bradshaw called out one name: ‘Felipe! You’re the youngest and therefore probably the most agile. You can help me up the hill. Agreed?’

  Felipe muttered an almost inaudible ‘Sí, señor!’ and reluctantly got to his feet. With Bradshaw, he crossed to where the horses were tethered and, selecting two, they mounted and rode north to the hill where supposedly Abbie was still staked out.

  Abbie motioned to Minny and they worked their way along the rim to where it was decided that Dora would not be in danger from crossfire, and then both slipped and wriggled down the sandy sides to stand upright in the little valley. Hearing noise during their last several feet of movement the outlaws looked up, momentarily frozen by the girls’ sudden appearance in their hide-out. Then they sprang to their feet, drawing their pistols and cursing at being surprised. Abbie and Minny had already drawn their guns and Abbie in particular was firing and hitting with her usual deadly accuracy while Minny also fired, though in truth, her shots were going wild but had the effect of causing the outlaws to distribute their return fire.

  Two of Abbie’s selected targets were already down and still and a third stood empty-handed clutchi
ng his stomach before sinking to his knees. Minny had fired four shots and one by chance had hit one of the gang in the shoulder, prompting him to drop his pistol. The fifth member of the unsavoury bunch was unhurt and, as Abbie swiftly reloaded, he scrabbled around seeking his pistol, a cumbersome pepperbox. Not having time to complete her reloading, Abbie drew her Bowie knife and threw it underhand as Billy Curtis had taught her. The 10in blade skimmed through the air and sliced into the outlaw’s solar plexus. He gave a surprised grunt and collapsed, clasping her knife as though determined to retain his new possession.

  Grey gun-smoke twirled up from the valley as Abbie, having completed her reloading, ran forward, retrieving her Bowie from the dying outlaw. Then, crossing to where Dora lay, she quickly severed her bonds.

  The two rescuers helped Dora to her feet, where she stood swaying for a moment as she attempted to get the blood coursing through her veins. Turning to Abbie with tears rolling down her cheeks and her bottom lip trembling, she said, ‘I knew you wouldn’t forget me, Captain!’ Then with a touch of her old wry humour, ‘What took you so long?’ And she threw herself into Abbie’s arms while at the same time drawing Minny to her so that the trio stood for a moment locked in a tight embrace.

  Suddenly the emotion of their reunion was shattered by a familiar harsh voice. ‘How touching! Now I’ve got you all together in one group! Move aside, you two.’ Looking up. they saw Bart Bradshaw with his pistol drawn in his right hand while with his left he gesticulated to emphasize his command that Dora and Minny move away from Abbie. Reluctantly. the two latter girls did as they were ordered. leaving Abbie standing by herself facing Bradshaw flanked by Felipe, the young Mexican outlaw.

  ‘Now, you hellcat, I’ve finally got you where there’s no escape. Sure you can go for that pistol if you’ve got a mind to do so but at the slightest move you’re going to get it. Felipe! Keep those other women covered!’

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Felipe raised the double-barreled 10-gauge shotgun that he carried but, rather than obeying Bradshaw’s command, he swung it suddenly to cover his late leader. ‘No señor! I think that it is you who must drop his gun. I stand with these ladies!’

  Bradshaw cursed and started to turn towards his erstwhile follower, and Felipe pulled both triggers of his shotgun. Almost cut in two by the volume of buckshot, the outlaw’s body was thrown several feet by the violence of the impact. Turning towards Dora, Felipe said, ‘Señora Harding. Did I not promise you that no harm would come to either you or your friends? See. I have kept my promise!’

  Abbie looked enquiringly at Dora, who nodded, ‘Felipe is right, Abbie. He was the only one who tried to comfort me while I was held captive. He would whisper encouragement and loosen my bonds whenever he could and brought me water while the others were content to see me go thirsty. Felipe is OK!’

  Abbie turned back to Felipe and suggested that he explain why he had joined the raiding party that had attacked the ranch. Felipe described how his sister Juanita had been chosen by El Caudillo to be his ‘favourite’ woman, that is his mistress, until he would become tired of her and hand her over to his men. The Mexican boy thought that it would go badly with his sister if he did not volunteer. ‘El Caudillo he is one very evil man, señorita. Everybody fear him and his anger!’

  Attention was then given to the one other remaining member of the outlaw band who still stood holding his shoulder, which had been shattered by Minny’s bullet. Both Dora and Abbie were prepared reluctantly to tend the unsavoury captive’s wound but Minny shook her head violently as she burst forth with a stream of voluble Ute pointing to the outlaw’s belt. The others looked to where she was pointing and saw the black-haired scalp hanging from his belt still showing signs of fresh blood, which indicated that it must have been taken recently.

  Minny spoke excitedly in her own language and from the gestures it was evident that she was demanding the death of the wounded outlaw. In response to her outburst, both Abbie and Dora were shaking their heads, being reluctant to be considered cold-blooded executioners. Meanwhile, the outlaw taking advantage of the fact that their attention was not on him, had been edging further away from the group towards the saddled horses. Suddenly he made a dash for freedom.

  Felipe reacted fastest. Pulling a large knife from his belt, he hurled it as the fleeing man attempted to mount a dirty grey gelding. The Mexican lad’s aim was true and his knife buried itself to the haft between the outlaw’s shoulder blades. He clung to the saddle for a moment and then his fingers loosed their grip and he slumped down and lay in a huddled heap between the legs of the horse.

  ‘Felipe!’ cried an outraged Abbie. ‘You didn’t have to kill the man. He was our prisoner and couldn’t get very far!’

  Felipe explained why he had reacted so quickly. If his fellow countryman, whom he called Juan, had succeeded in escaping he would have headed straight for La Cruz and El Caudillo would have mounted an immediate expedition to avenge the deaths of Bradshaw and his men. Furthermore, and in Felipe’s mind, of far more importance, the bandit chieftain would have undoubtedly exacted some terrible punishment upon Juanita, the boy’s sister.

  Mollified by the Mexican’s explanation, Abbie said no more about the matter and also ignored the sight of Minny doing some kind of victory dance around the corpse. ‘All right, people! Let’s strip these bodies of any worthwhile guns and ammunition and get away from this valley; there are just too many dead around here to make it a jolly campsite.’

  The four of them worked quickly, removing gun-belts and powder flasks and placing them together with the firearms in a pile. They found that they had a mixed hoard of flintlock and percussion-lock long guns and handguns. Three Colts and a British Adams were the only handguns worth keeping and two of the relatively late model rifles. The remainder were thrown into the undergrowth and then the four, now well-armed and having retrieved their patient horses, moved to a different camp site chosen by Minny. Abbie decided to hold a council of war to determine their next step.

  Her decision, however, had to be deferred as Minny placed an ear on the ground and indicated by sign language that many horses were on the trail. Before the quartet had time to react, she listened again and pointed to the north, suggesting that the newcomers were coming south from the far-off ranch.

  Abbie had them move to a defensive position overlooking the trail and there they waited until the oncoming strangers hove in sight. At last a compact body of riders appeared, headed by none other than Jack Harding, hatless, but with a white bandage almost like a turban swathing his head.

  Abbie fired three shots in quick succession, the universally acknowledged signal of recognition, and the column of riders brought their mounts to a halt in a flurry of dust. ‘Hallo, Jack!’ she cried, waving her arms in the air, and her actions were copied by Dora and her companions.

  Dora ran forward and threw herself into Jack’s arms, smothering him with kisses. Abbie followed more casually, appraising the host of riders accompanying her foreman. Minny was quickly surrounded by a group of young Ute braves who eyed her up and down, noting enviously the weaponry she was carrying, and Felipe hung back, not too sure how all these people would react to his presence.

  It was quickly decided by the two leaders, Abbie and Jack, to establish camp and, after posting guards and cooking a hasty meal, to have a discussion as to the next step that should be taken by the column.

  They all gathered in a circle around a smouldering campfire. Abbie, seated next to Jack and Dora, looked around her at the assembled people, more than a little surprised by the number and who was there.

  Going clockwise on Jack’s left there were eight men from the ranch and it was two of their number who were on guard. Beyond them were six volunteers from Abbie’s gold mine and beyond them a medley of people who had come to assist their former wagon captain. They included the Smiths, Bobby and his mother; Anne Marlowe, accompanied by a tough bearded stranger introduced as ‘my man’; and Jacob Levy. Minny’s contingent consisted of hers
elf and seven capable-looking young braves, a couple of whom had already salvaged two of the discarded long guns that had been thrown away from the valley of the dead outlaws.

  Continuing around the circle, there were three townspeople from Colorado City, with whom she only had a nodding acquaintanceship, and to complete the assembly before her, Wilf Bateson and his team of five gunners, together with their two-pounder mountain gun. Jack had already explained to Abbie that Bateson had contacted him when the column was being organized and offered his services together with his artillery piece. Jack had welcomed the addition since, as he said, ‘You never know when a bit of heavier firepower will come in useful!’

  There was one other. Felipe sat close to Abbie as inconspicuously as possible, still uncertain of how he was being received and frequently casting a wary eye upon the Ute braves. Altogether there were now, including herself, just shy of forty people available for further action.

  Abbie opened the proceedings by describing lucidly what had happened since she had left the ranch. She did not dwell upon Minny’s horrible experience, neither did she call it rape since she did not know how revealing that crime would affect the girl’s future. Minny had merely been attacked and she had been lucky enough to rescue her before much harm was done. Likewise, she glossed over her own experience, stressing only that Minny had rescued her. With regard to Felipe, she described in great detail how he had been forced to ride with the outlaws and had him wriggling with embarrassment as she detailed how he finished the career of Bart Bradshaw.