DENTON CROUCH 14

the next day will and braxton starr had the prisoners loaded in braxtons wagon and was headed down the north side of the mountain toward san simone. there will would load his charges on a train and roll them into willcox. slaughter and chuy had returned to san bernadino. the day before as soon as they saw that will and denton had everything in hand.the wounded outlaw was beligerent to say the least. his friend charlie was constantly telling him to settle down. when braxton had returned with his wagon and team he had brought leg irons and hand cuffs. once loaded in the wagon will and braxton had taken the seat and started the team back toward paradise and san simone. denton rode along behind keeping a eye on the prisoners with his rifle resting across the front of his lap in the saddle. charlie was smiling and takeing in the trip with ease his friend jim belote not so much, he had a scowel on his face and fire in his eye. denton would have had no qualms if they stopped and hung belote at the first good pine tree. as they rode along dentons mind kept drifting back to jody at the hotel.he saw the relationship slaughter had with his wife, and how braxton acted and looked. the stress of law enforcement not weighing on them he decided he wanted that. but he had nothing to offer jody. not even a home of their own. he wasnt even sure if jody would have him. she was a bit youngeer than him and seemed pretty straight laced. she did show compassion when careing for him, but waould translate into something permanent? " denton! wake up and pay attention!" will calling out to him brought him back to the time at hand. belote had tried to stand up in the wagon but the leg irons and hand cuffs had hindered his excersise. charlie had jerked on belotes chains and told him to sit. when he looked at denton he got the impression denton would shoot first and not a bat a eye. the sad thing was denton realised that also. and he didnt liked knowing that about him self.he had never had that feeling before, and he wasnt proud of it. yep maybe time to quit.