BORDER SEARCH 11

del wasnt sure what to do but he felt andy was in the cross hairs of the bandits aim. del brought up his horse and began saddling him. just as he pulled the cinch snug maxine sat up in her bed. "where you going?" she asked in a groggy voice, andy may need some help you stay here, i mean it stay close. the bandits just rode through town following andy." del swung up on his horse then pulled his rifle from the scabbord. " i want to go! wait for me!" maxine blurted out. "NO! stay here. theres no time. watch for your brother!" del spun his horse and slapped him down the hind leg with the rifle"leave here!" he yelled as the horse jumped ahead and broke into a run. the dust still hung in the air that was stired by the bandits as the followed andys wagon.it was breaking day light as del neared the group. ahead he just make out the top of andy s wagon. the bandits were clustered in the road as the road side was lined with cactus and mesquite. as del caught up he heard on of the bandits yelling at andy. andy answered with a gun shot. one of the bandits horses went to bucking, the rider grasping anything he could to stay aboard. del was in rifle range so he rode behind a big mesquite tree and lay the barrel of his rifle on a limb. he took a deliberate aim on the back of the biggest bandit. andys rifle boomed again and one of the bandits threw his hands up and fell to the ground just a instant before del squeezed his trigger. the bandit slumped forward then slide to the ground. the bandits were milling in the road not knowing where to turn. the loose horses swirling around and raiseing dust. andys rifle boomed another bandit fell then dels rifle cracked, a miss, but the bandits had had enough, they tore a hole in the brush and cactus and left. the loose horses stopped in their tracks. three bodys lay in the dust. andy stepped out from his wagon rifle in hand and walked to the loose horses and gathered up thier reins. del rode up his rifle resting in the crook of his arm. "you ok?" he asked. " better than them"andy pointed to the dead men. the next hour was spent dragging the bodys out of the road and letting the harnes back out to fit the captured horses. "what were they after this time? you didnt have anything left for them to steal unless it was your little mules. del asked as they worked. "whats plata? they kept yelling that."andy answered. "plata? thats silver, who knew you had that?"del asked. " you, maxine and the store keeper in ruby." andy told him. "well some one blabed to the wrong people. get going, i better go check on maxine. i told her to stay put but she hasnt done anything i told her yet." del mounted and turnned toward ruby and waved at andy as he left in a lope.