COCHISE STATION 26

WHEN JEB ROLLED HIS WAGON AND TEAM INTO COCHISE STATION SLAUGHTER WASNT FIFTY YARDS BEHIND HIM COMMING FAST. ELLIS THE STATION MANAGER STOOD ON THE PORCH IN FRONT OF THE STATION WATCHING THE ACTION. " whats up jeb?" he called. " did alvord come by here?" jeb called. " he took the trail along the tracks to dragoon. he was in a big hurry." ellis pointed west. the trail along the tracks wouldnt handle a wagon. it was narrow and cut with many deep wash outs.viola slaughter reined in her sweating, heaveing team next to jeb s wagon. " i say, i say walker was that alvord a head of us?"slaughter stood up in the buggy when he talked. "that was him. ime headed to the ranch for a saddle horse. come with me and ill mount you!" jeb answered. "in case he dont stop in dragoon we will continue on to tombstone. if you catch up with him you need to convience him to leave the country!" slaughter sat back down as his wife loosened the lines on the team and they lurched forward. jeb pulled his team onto the road and struck a smart trott toward the ranch. he hated abuseing the mules but alvord was gaining ground.and now jeb was starting to boil. nothing made jeb madder than being abused. when he rolled the wagon into the ranch yard the mules were heaving for air. jeb didnt even check them but handed the lines to ignacio and jumped from the moveing wagon. he made a trotting dash to the barn and grabbed a rope. in just a few minutes he had caught a horse and saddled him. ignacio came from the house and handed him his rifle and his rolled up pistol belt with the weapon holstered. he took a moment to buckle it on then mounted and left there in a cloud of dust. going west out of the pass, if he hurried he would drop down to the railroad tracks hopefully ahead of alvord. when jeb came in sight of the train tracks his horse was about done in he slowed so as to not miss a trail in case alvord had passed by already. there was no tracks, alvord was stll between him and dragoon. jeb started back to dragoon , letting his horse set his own pace to regain his strength. jeb loosened his pistol in its holster and pulled the rifle from its scabbord and laid it across his lap. now there was no rush.