Devil's Canyon by Ralph Compton

don’t choose to be part of this outfit,” Durham said. “Not unless I’m told where we’re headed, and what’s in it for me, once we get there.”
    â€œYou’ve been promised sufficient supplies to take you on to California,” said Collins, “and that’s all you have any right to expect.”
    â€œThat’s right,” Faro said, “and we reserve the right to withdraw
that
offer, if you’re unwilling to help us defend the wagons against Indians and outlaws. You’rewelcome to saddle your horse and ride on, but you get nothing.”
    â€œDamn you,” said Durham bitterly. “Damn all of you.”
    He said no more, but neither did he mount his horse and ride away.
    â€œNow,” Faro said, “if you’ll stay with the wagon, Collins, I’ll trail those four
hombres
and see that they don’t have any mischief planned somewhere ahead of us.”
    â€œVery well,” said Collins.
    The teamsters mounted their wagon boxes, Collins returning to Faro’s wagon. Durham mounted his horse, his hate-filled eyes on Odessa McCutcheon, as she climbed to the box of what had been his wagon.
    â€œI’m not finished with you,” Durham snarled.
    Odessa laughed. “You got that turned around all wrong, gamblin’ man. You was more than finished with Mamie and me when you left Amarillo like a scairt coyote. The truth is, we ain’t finished with you. You should have rode out while you had the invite.”

Chapter 4
    Faro had no trouble trailing the four riders, and it soon became obvious why they did not attempt to hide their trail. When Faro judged he had ridden more than twenty miles, the trail continued. The outlaws were counting on any pursuit being limited because of the possibility of bushwhackers. If the pursuers got too far ahead of the wagons, they ran the risk of being ambushed by Indians or outlaws at a point too distant for their companions to join them. Just on the chance the outlaws might have doubled back, Faro rode ten miles north without finding any sign. He then returned to the place he had left the trail of the outlaws, and rode ten miles south. There were no telltale tracks, so he rode back to meet the oncoming wagons. Levi Collins saw him coming and reined up. It was time to rest the teams. All of them—including Durham—gathered around to hear Faro’s report.
    â€œI rode a good twenty miles without getting close to them,” Faro said, “and then to north and south, without finding any sign they’d doubled back.”
    â€œWhat do you think it means?” Collins asked.
    â€œThey’re not ready to bushwhack us,” said Faro,“and by staying far enough ahead, they don’t figure we’ll force a fight.”
    â€œThey’re figurin’ that right,” Dallas said. “Best defense against an ambush is to ride the varmints down, before they’re able to find cover and dig in.”
    â€œDamn them,” said Shanghai, “they got us between a rock and a hard place. They’ll be knowin’ we can’t afford to leave the wagons and all of us go after them, nor do we dare split our forces.”
    â€œIn that case, Faro,” Collins said, “since we’re still in danger of Indian attack, I think your scouting ahead every day is a needless risk.”
    â€œMaybe,” said Faro, “but we need to know that these riders are still far enough ahead of us to rule out an ambush. We can’t be sure of that, unless I trail them. As for Indians, that’s a risk I’ll have to take.”
    â€œI can do some of the scouting,” Collins said.
    â€œThat’s generous of you,” said Faro, “but I can handle it.”
    Tarno laughed. “Faro ain’t much for blowin’ his own horn. What he won’t tell you is, for four years, he was a scout for John Mosby.”
    â€œMy God,” Collins said,
“The Gray