DENTON CROUCH 9

the next morning while will was putting a skimpy breakfast to gether denton walked out to where he had last heard the night riders the night before. they had stirred up the ground pretty good not makeing any attempt to hide their trail. denton was still sore but getting up and walking around seemed to help.. the trail went east toward the chirichaua mountains. back at the breakfast fire he explained to will what he saw." i dont know of any trails up into the mountains at this point, do you?" will shook his head" i dont know or have heard of anything here. you either gotta drop down to the san bernadino ranch of slaughters to go around them or head toward dragoon to the north and go up pinery canyon.either way its going to take them awhile to get past that mountain." with breakfast put a way they saddled their horses and struck the trail east .other than keeping the trail in sight it was a pretty boreing ride into the sunrise. they held their horses to a ground eating running walk, trying to save them as much as possible. denton found himself thinking about a little ranch in this part of the valley it was fairley flat, the gramma grass was thick and tall and it was a peacefularea. he found himself looking for a likely spot to build a headquarters. but when will held up his hand and brought them to a halt, his mind cleared. will pointed to the trail they were following"some where a couple three split off. i missed it, how bout you?" denton shook his head. he didnt want to admit he had been day dreaming. " ill go back a ways and see where they split off." dento wheeled his horse back the way they had come and struck a trott. after about a quarter mile he found where one horse had split off and gone east to the base of the mountains. he was watching the back trail in all probability. denton went farter and found where another horse had left the trail and headed north into the valley. he spun his horse and struck a lope to tell will about the probable ambush. the out laws knew they were being followed. just before he came in sight of wills horse he could hear the popping of firearms. he pulled up and got a sight on the outlaw on the north side of will and started stalking his way to the spot he thought the shooter was. will was down in a sall wash out with a mesquite bush on the bank. he was holding the outlaws at bay. but for how long.? in front of denton was low rise of ground, as he drew near he heard the pop of a rifle. he stepped down and snagged his bridle reins in a catclaw bush and started creeping forward. before he realized it he was standing a few feet behind the shooter. he eased up and put the barrel of his rifle behind the ear of the shooter. he froze. " lay it down boy and dont touch it again." denton almost whispered. the shooter paid the rifle down and started to raise his hands above his head then he rolled to his back and in one rapid movement grabbed for a hand gun on his belt. but it was wasted movement. dentons rifle roared and gapeing hole appeared in the mans skull.bone, blood and brains spattered behind him on the rocks. without a second thought denton looked in the direction that the shooter had been fireing. just past will four men were scrabling for their horses. dropping to one knee denton took aim and let go a round. dust kicked up short of the out laws but they hurried a little faster annd tore off into the desrt headed up into some of the roughest part of the mountain. . down below will stood up and collecting his horse started up the slope to denton.when he got to denton he said" thanks pard, they had dead for sure.. you know this bird?" he pointed to the corpse. " no i dont remember seeing him around. i havent searched him for any identification yet."dento suddly felt dizzy and useing his rifle as a support sat down with a plop. " rest up while i see what we got here. then i better get you some place to get some rest." will knelt down and started going through the pockets of the dead man. later that after noon the two law men rode into the san bernadino ranch yard. slaughter sat on his porch his goatee a blazeing white but mhis black eyes were as active as ever. within a hour will had made arrangments for denton to stay over and had traded for a fresh horse. he left at a long trott in the direction the outlaws took. when dento had laid his head back on the pillow of the bunk he ws given his eyes flittered shut in just a second. slaughter looked down at him " rest easy deputy, you deserve it i believe."