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Hoofs rumbled behind him

Archie Abbott rounded the bend, leading a posse of ten Van Dorn detectives on horseback with Winchester rifles jutting froht for hi

“Lillian Hennessy didn’t have any trouble riding him,” said Abbott

Bell flexed his powerful left arm to draw Thunderbolt’s head down and spoke sternly into his pointed ear “Thunderbolt We have work to do” The aniround, pulling ahead of the pack

After two h the trees

The Thoht rear tire was half off the wheel and ri out of it, had done it in Kincaid’s footprints headed straight up the road Bell ordered one

At the end of threeo to the East Oregon Luhteen-handhard But he and Thunderbolt were still in the lead when they ran into the Wrecker’s ambush

Flame lanced from the dark trees Winchester rifles boo fanned Bell’s face Another plucked his sleeve He heard a o down behind hiuns frohtened animals, the detectives scattered off the road Bell stayed on his horse, firing repeatedly in the direction of the attack, his Winchester’s ejection lever a blur of motion When his men had finally found safety in the trees, he jumped down and took up a position behind a thick hemlock

“How many?” called Abbott

In answer cah the brush

“Sounds like six or seven,” Bell answered He reloaded his rifle The Wrecker had chosen well Slugs were pouring down frounmen could see the Van Dorns, but, to see back, the Van Dorns had to expose their heads to gunfire

There was only one way to deal with it

“Archie?” Bell called “Ready?”

“Ready”

“Boys?”