THE TRAIL TO TOMBSTONE 17

the next morning billy came up to the house leading dales horse. shug sat to one side watching. dale came out of the house setting his hat carefully on his head. he was pale but seemed steady. he slowley mounted and got set, both feet in the stirrups. " are you sure you want to do this dale?"billy asked dale was gathering up his reins and he nodded and quietly said"yep" then reined his horse around toward shug. shug turned and started to the last place he had seen the trail.. as they rode away billy opened the gate to the corral so the horses could get out and graze. they hoped the horses would stay in the area until they got back from tombstone. shug didnt babey sit dale. he hit a ground covering shuffle on the trail. he wasnt mistaken, the trail turned and pointed toward tombstone.billy brought up the rear watching dale. but dales back was ram rod stiff and he never made a sound. shug s short chunky roan never wavered. he just shuffled along with endless energy. at the mid way point shug pulled up. he turned toward the other two." lets take a little break. i need a drink and roany needs to draw a long breath. dale slowley slid to the ground billy was there to support him but after moment dale hobbled to a flat rock and lowered himself onto it. billy turned and uncinched the horses and took down the canteen he carrried.. handing it to dale he watched him gulp big swallows of the cool liquid. dale never said a word but it was plain to see he was struggling to stay with the group. shug never said a word, he simply stood and began snugging up the cinchas on the roan, billy took the hint and did the same. just as he finished cinching up dales bay he felt a presence behind him. he turned to see dale standing there. " stay close til i get on and set will you?" dale asked low. he stepped to the horse and stood there a few moments then with strength no one knew he had he hopped up and stabbed the stirrup with his left foot and slowley pushed his right leg over the horses rump and settled into the saddle. his face had gone white. but he picked up his reins and nodded to billy. billy turned to his horse and mounted . he was a ways behind because shug and dale were already shuffling on down the trail.he had to strike a trott to catch up. it was after dark when they rode into tombstone.they had made a two day trip in a little over 14 hours. it was showing on dale. shug went right to the ok corrall and pulled the gate open for the other two riders to enter. there was a lot of empty stalls along the west wall. when dale got down he found a seat on a wagon tounge while billy and shug unsaddled the horses. a light came on in the stable office and the door opened and a man with his night shirt tail flopping behind came down the steps just as billy yelled "hey here is your horse dale" dale got up and weaved over to the stall where billy stood. sure enough the little match race horse stood there. the stable man rushed up with shug quietly walking behind him. " hey! i was told there might be some guys here causing problems over this horse. ill have to go get the law if you dont move along"the hostler was trying to be important. shug stepped up" who told you that? just so you know im am the law. that horse was stolen from these guys ranch. now who brought the horse here?" the hostler stood shocked. he stared at shug a moment in the lantern light. " some guy who said judd was going to pick this animal up and pay the bill>" dale spoke up" ill pay the bill but this horse dont go anywhere with anyone except one of the three of us. understood? if it does ill have you charged as a horse theif also" shug nodded as well as billy." now, we are going to bed. we will be back here in the morning and everyone of our horses including this one better be here."dale slammed his fist onto the top of the stall to emphasis the point. the hostler turned without a word and trudged back to his office. billy stepped up and said" lets go wake up mrs. cashman and go to bed." the three headed across the street to the boarding house.