Gunsmith 360 : The Mad Scientist of the West (9781101545997) by J. R. Roberts Page A

not Miranda’s roan.
    He heard footsteps from behind, turned, and saw Miranda and Tesla running toward him, both carrying rifles.
    â€œWhat was it?” Miranda asked.
    â€œWas it the cat?”
    â€œYeah, it was,” Clint said. He looked down at the paw prints that surrounded the lean-to. The cat had circled the animals for a while before striking. The horses must have been reacting, must have been nervous, but the people in the house had been so involved in their supper and conversation that they hadn’t heard anything until it was too late.
    The mountain lion had literally ripped a chunk out of the horse’s neck, cutting its scream off. The cat hadn’t had time to do much else, but it must have carried a hunk away with it to feed on.
    â€œThat poor animal,” Tesla said. “I thought the cat wouldn’t come in the dark?”
    â€œIt must have been hungry enough to do it,” Clint said. “We’re going to have to watch the other two horses from now on.”
    â€œWhat do we do with this one?” Tesla asked.
    â€œWe’ll have to drag it away,” Clint said. “When we get it away from the house, maybe the cat will gorge itself on the carcass, and be satisfied for a while.”
    â€œBut . . . how do you move it?” Tesla asked.
    â€œWe’ll get some ropes, hook them up to the other horses, and drag it away. And we better get started before it’s totally dark. If that cat’s willing to hunt in the dark, there’s no telling where it is.”
    â€œWhere are the ropes?” Miranda asked.
    â€œOn the buckboard, holding the equipment in place beneath the tarp. We just have to untie it.”
    â€œLet’s get to it, then,” she said. “I think Mr. Tesla should stand by us with his rifle.”
    â€œSuits me,” Clint said. “Nikola?”
    â€œYes, all right,” Tesla said nervously. “I—I will watch your backs.”
    â€œRight now,” Clint said, “watch these other two horses while we get the ropes.”
    â€œYes, right.”
    As Clint and Miranda walked away, Tesla anxiously gripped and regripped his rifle.
    Â 
    The predator looked on, watched the two men and woman work on moving the carcass of the horse. He could have taken action then, but it was dark, and when he did move, it would have to be perfectly timed.
    So he waited.

TWENTY-NINE
    Roman, Lefty, and Donnie had to be careful not to run up on the back of Givens and the buckboard. On horseback, they were able to move a lot faster than the buckboard, so they had to stay back.
    â€œWe could go around them,” Donnie said at one point, “and get there first.”
    â€œWe could,” Roman said, “but that ain’t the plan, is it?”
    â€œBesides,” Lefty said, “we might get lost lookin’ for them. We don’t know if they’re in a settlement, a house, or just camped someplace.”
    â€œJust be patient, Donnie,” Roman said. “We’ll find ’em soon enough.”
    â€œOh hell,” Lefty said.
    â€œWhat?” Roman asked.
    â€œLook.”
    Roman looked ahead of them and saw the buckboard listing to one side.
    â€œShit,” he said.

    â€œShit!” Givens said as the buckboard leaned over.
    Joe and Les dropped down from their seat and looked at the wheel.
    Givens dismounted.
    â€œWhat happened?” he asked, hoping the wheel itself hadn’t broken. There was no way they’d be able to move on until they got another one from Gunnison.
    â€œDunno,” Joe said. “We’ll have to take a look.”
    â€œBut the wheel itself is in one piece?”
    â€œLooks like,” Les said. “Come on, Joe. We should be able to fix this quick.”
    Givens watched as the two men slid beneath the wagon, and then he looked behind him. He couldn’t see his three compadres, but he gave a helpless shrug anyway.
    As he watched the two men work