Taek Won Do #2: Chains - TWELVE

As he led his horse up through the pines which dotted the sharply inclining foothills Milton Hare said, "You do pretty good in the wilderness for a Boston-bred girl."

Up ahead, one slender hand holding the reins of the chestnut mare she was leading, Katherine answered, "I didn't grow up in Boston. We lived on a farm in Kansas before my dad came into money. You ought to remember that, Milton, I've told you all...."

"Yes, all about you and your wonderful tousel-haired brother, Ollie, and what a plucky lad he was," said Hare. "It a shame his adult life never matched his childhood. He wasn't very wonderful and plucky the few times I saw him. Of course, when a man comes 'round begging for a handout, he's not at his...."

"That was my money," said Katherine. "The money father left. It wasn't yours, as you very well know, Milton."

"I ought to know. I've heard that plain enough."

In her other hand, resting on the palm, Katherine had a small silver compass. "You agreed to come, to help me find out what's become of Ollie. So I wish you wouldn't continually...."

"What else could I do but agree?" asked Hare. A small five-strip chipmunk skittered across his path and his eyes followed its zigazag progress off through the brush. "You were determined to come out here, with or without me. Didn't seem to me to be a good idea to let you do it alone. Though alone you'd probably better enjoy all your encounters with soldiers, barkeeps, cowboys, and...."

"You needn't worry, Milton," said Katherine. "I haven't seen anyone I want to sleep with."

Milton said nothing more of the next half hour. They moved into the pine woods, the trees slicing off much of the heat of the afternoon. The ground leveled a bit and the two of them returned to the saddles.

"We probably could have ridden all along," remarked Hare. "Those horses are more sure-footed than you give them credit for."

"Yes," said Katherine, "I tend to underestimate everybody, don't I?"

A few minutes further along Hare asked, "Do you think we can find the place where Ollie had his so-called claim?"

"Of course," answered his wife. "Ollie was very specific in his letters. Don't worry, I'll get us there."

"Did he even bother to mention those blood-thirsty Indians the major warned us about?"

"Utes. That's the name of the tribe. Utes."

"Utes." Hare shrugged. "I wasn't impressed by their name as much as I was by the suggestion that they were fond of killing palefaces."

"We're outsiders here," said Katherine. "I think people, especially people like Major Norton, tend to exaggerate the dangers when they talk to strangers."

"Or so we hope," said her husband.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJXOm7bvgn
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"I wish we wasn't tryin' t' be so quiet like," remarked Hopalong, leaning forward in his saddle.

"Why?" asked Craig.

"Lots o' them rabbit-eared squirrels hoppin' 'round," answered the fat man. "I'd sure like t' pop a few o' 'em." He fondly slapped his holster.

"Waste a' time," said Smokes.

"Fun, though," said Hopalong.

"Now ya talk 'bout waistin' time," said Craig as he slid his cigar-case out of a side pocket of his gray trousers. "I consider this here present enterprise t' be a pretty..."

"Ya oughta recollect more often," cut in sooty-haired Smokes, "that some time back we agreed I ran th' dang show." The sun flashed in the lenses of his spectacles when he turned to glare back at Craig. "I shouldn't hafta remind ya how we decided this-here particular issue."

"Shucks now," said Craig, mostly to himself.

Hopalong had his head tilted far back, watching gray squirrels chittering up in the pine branches. "Hoo-kay," he said. "Less 'spose them folks know where there's some gold. They ain't simple gonna hand it over to us."

"No, they sure ain't," agreed Smokes. "We-uns is a'gonna hafta take it."

"Meanin'" said Hopalong, "they's a'gonna end up said."277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRqU44rPqx

"Th' husband," said Smokes, "no matter what we find, he ain't a'gonna last too very long. Th' yeller-haired wench, though, I figure t' save her fer a rainy day---if ya take m'meanin." He laughed, something he rarely did.

Craig tilted his hat until the brim's shadow hid his eyes from sight. 277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ1GepkItWy

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