THE TRAIL TO TOMBSTONE 26

jonas horse was about done in.. the bully had pushed the animal hard the past few days with little to no water or feed.. but he knew there would be frsh horses at the jk. if this one fell dead he didnt care. on his last legs the horse under him staggered into the jk yard. dale stepped out the cabin door" come on in i got some breakfast and coffee left over. let your pony rest a bit" he was being friendly. jonas brushed by dale and poured himself a cup of coffee and put some bacon in a sliced biscuit. dale watched the rude behaviour with a sour face. " you come far?" dale asked before jonas answered he heard billy ride into the yard. he went to dale and brushed by him going out the door. billy ws tying his horse next to jonas give out mount. "hey cookie, bring that bundle of cash over here!" jonas called. billy feined surprise and raised his hands at the sight of jonas holding a pistol. he started walking toward him slowley. but before he was half way there a voice called. "hold it amigo. we are here." jonas looked to the south end of the yard and saw the vaqueros lined up faeing him, pistols in hand. he quickly stepped bacl and grabbed dale and held him in front of him for sheild. " give me a fresh horse, ime leaveing here and takeing the money cookie has and this man , you put your guns down!" from around the corner of the house stepped antonio, in his hand he held the long wicked knife that billy had seen before. he quickly stepped behing jonas and drove the knife its full length up to the hilt in jonas back! jonas wilted , he released dale and his knees buckled. as he sank to the ground. antonio put his foot against jonas back and jerked his knife from jonas back. as jonas fell he looked back at antonio in disbelief. blood filled his mouth, he gurgled and lay over in the dust, dead. antonio leaned down and wiped the blood from his knife on jonas shirt then when he stood back straight he spit on jonas body and walked away. as he passed dale and billy he quietly said " i go to mexico now." he mounted his horse and joined francisco. then as on the group turned and started south. francisco rode over to dale and billy " we will return in a few months. i hope you all will be well." he spun his horse and went to catch up with his crew. later dale and billy sat at the kitchen table. theyhad drug jonas body a good ways from the house and buried him, stacking rocks on top of the mound to discourage coyotes. dale was stareing at the pile of cash in front of him. "were the mexicans happy with their share?" he asked. " more than happy,, all we gotta do now is get you well and get the cattle makkeing more calves!"billy grinned. " and no more horse races!" dale declared.