THE GRAVE 18

in the glow of a kerosene lantern, shug was saddling his horse he thought to himself" one good thing this horse is well rested," as he pulled the cinch snug he heard a foot step behind him. he turned to find carrie standing there. "when will you be back?" she asked. he voice heavy with concern. "i dont know, when i catch blake i guess. his voice was hard. he was a different man as carrie had ever seen before. his face muscles were taught and strained. the easy relaxed man she had seen for months was gone. a deadly apache warrior stood before her. " dont go shug, i need you here."SHE ALMOST BROKE DOWN IN SOBS. " it was my fault , i need to catch him." shug simply said. " do you know who that man he killed last night was?" carrie asked. " i didnt know his name but i know him, he was one of those who were harrasing you. but it makes no difference.it was my job to keep everybody in town safe and comfortable, i didnt do it. i got to make it right." shug wasnt weakening. " i say deputy, i say, you sure you dont want a possee? it wont take but a few minutes to swear one in." slaughter stood behind carrie with his wife next to him. shug shook his head" i might get some one else killed. i can track faster by my self. thank you" shug steped up to slaughter and tried to hand him his deputy s badge" here you need to appoint some one while ime gone, some one more responsible." " you keep that, i got more badges. you need that to make what you do legal. bring him back or at the least get him to leave the country."slaughter instructed. his wife looked at him hard. shug stepped on his horse and adjusted his rifle in the boot under his leg. he nodded and rode by them " see ya" was all he said. mrs. slaughter looked at her husband" you just told him to kill some one you realize that dont you?" " yes, but what ever he does will be legal." slaughter turned away. carrie leaned aginst the door post crying. mrs slaughter put her arm around her and turned her back out side. shug kept up a steady trott. when he reached the spot blake had almost rode over them during the night he got down and leading his horse started scouting for tracks. presently he found where a horse was digging deep into the soil and throwing up clods of red dirt. "ok white man ime comming." shug said to him self.