Last Stand at Papago Wells (1957) by Louis L'amour

carried much food and they had been stretching it out as far as possible. That it had lasted this long was surprising, and at least partially due to the fact that there was too much else to worry about and so nobody had eaten more than a few bites. It was necessary to maintain a constant watch. Their position was secure only so long as they were vigilant, for they were in the arroyo and once an Apache was able to reach the edge of it all their positions became untenable.
    So then ... they might have to make a run for it after all.
    How slim their chances would be once they left this trough in the rocks he well knew. Beaupre and Lugo knew also, and Sheehan. How much the others knew he could only guess, but Kimbrough, Taylor and Zimmerman all wanted to be moving. Yet once in the open, tied down by the few horses they had, they would be sitting ducks for the Apaches. All the Indians needed to do was hang off on their flanks and pick them off as opportunity offered.
    No ... they must stay here.
    Even as he made the decision, he kept his mind open, hoping for a chance, for some other way out. South, as had been suggested? But what then? There was no place to go for many, many miles. Only an empty, deserted shore, sandy and miserable with intense heat, doubtful water supplies and only the faint hope of sighting a fishing boat from the south or a steamer headed for the mouth of the Colorado.
    "Well," Zimmerman asked, "what do we do? Stay here and starve, or make a run for it?"
    Grant Kimbrough glanced up at him from his seat by the fire, his face expressionless. "Yes, leader," there was a tinge of sarcasm in his voice, "we'd like to know? What do we do now?"
    "We sit tight."
    "Damn it, man!" Taylor sprang to his feet. "Are you crazy? We'll all starve to death or be picked off one at a time, like that poor soldier! I move we hit the desert and hit running!"
    "What about the women?" Cates asked mildly.
    Taylor's eyes shifted, and he looked angry, but he was a Stubborn man. "I move we run for it," he said.
    "How much chance would we have in the open?" Cates asked. "Not much, I'd say. And how much water could we carry?"
    "I'm ready to go any time," Webb said. "I don't believe there's more than half a dozen 'Paches out there."
    "We stay," Cates said. "We sit tight."
    "You stay!" Zimmerman was ugly. "I'm goin' and I'm goin' now!"
    "And I'll go with him!" Webb declared.
    "If you go," Cates said, "you'll have to walk. No horses are leaving here."
    Zimmerman turned slowly. He looked at Cates with a slow, measuring glance. "I say I'll ride out of here," he said softly, "and I think I'll ride that zebra dun."
    Grant Kimbrough leaned back on his elbow, a faintly amused expression on his face.
    Sheehan, Beaupre and Lugo were away on watch or sleeping. Lonnie Foreman was up in the rocks. Those who remained were against him, except perhaps the women. Logan Cates stood flatfooted, his feet a little apart. He was going to have to kill Zimmerman ... he could see it coming and he did not want to do it. The big soldier started forward and Webb moved a little to the left and Logan Cates stepped back a little, his hand poised over his six-shooter. "I'd get back if I were you," he said coolly. "I don't want to kill either of you. We need you."
    "We don't need you!" Zimmerman said, grinning. "And you won't draw."
    "That's right," Kimbrough said quietly, "he won't."
    It was unexpected ... Kimbrough's pistol covered Cates.
    "Grant!" Jennifer cried out. "No!"
    "They're right, Jennifer," Kimbrough said, "we've got to ride out of here. It's our only chance. Take his gun, Zimmerman."
    "No."

Last Stand At Papago Wells (1957)

    Junie Hatchett had Big Maria's shotgun and she was holding it as if she knew how to use it. The shotgun was aimed at Kimbrough and the range was no more than thirty feet.
    "You drop that gun, Mister Kimbrough, and you drop it now. You make yourself a move and I'll cut your head off. The second barrel goes for him." She jerked her head to