Slocum #395 : Slocum and the Trail to Yellowstone (9781101553640) by Jake Logan Page A

those two robbed and killed their Texas boss after he made a big cattle sale in Montana and they were started back home. He’s still missing, best I know.”
    â€œSo they wanted to join Sundance’s outfit, huh?” Houston nodded as if considering the matter.
    â€œYou know Sundance? Would he have taken them on?”
    â€œI know some things about him. He’s kinda choosy and stays with Mormon help, figures he can trust them better. You know more than that?”
    â€œYeah, I’ve met those famous outlaws, Cassidy and Sundance. They came by Wilma’s place. Later, Smith and Ward showed up. Those two got caught in a bad storm and I met them when they came to the cabin for shelter. Montana law wants them. It sounds like they got drunk and told those two killers about me being up here.”
    Houston agreed. “What now?”
    â€œBury them or feed them to the magpies.”
    Houston frowned at his answer. “They must have horses nearby. Cowboys never walk far. We’ll toss their corpses over them, tie them on, and I will deliver them to some authority,” Houston said. “Don’t worry, I won’t implicate either of you. Now, what are the two of you going to do?”
    â€œEat some supper,” Wilma said. “I’ve got some good beef to cook.”
    â€œWonderful,” Houston said.
    â€œSounds good,” Slocum said. “Tomorrow we’re going to look for those two killers out in the badlands. I understand that they have a place out there near some hot springs.”
    â€œA vast area. When you come back, look me up.”
    â€œWe will,” Wilma said, and Slocum agreed.
    â€œMy dear lady, how unfortunate that you had to be in the midst of all this bloodshed.”
    â€œPard.” She shook her head as she was on her knees making a fire. “I’ve been in lots worse places. Thank you anyway.”
    â€œOf course, I imagine you have been. All the same, I regret their imposition on all of us.”
    â€œYou be careful too,” she said. “You two can go find their horses. Going to take me a half hour to get this cooking going.”
    She made supper while Slocum found and brought in the two horses. Then the two men used the outlaws’ bedding to wrap their bodies in. With the corpses laid out, they planned to load them onto the horses in the morning after breakfast.
    Houston was shaken by the whole thing when he spoke during supper. “I don’t mind taking them to the law, but why would men become killers for such trivial prices?”
    Slocum shook his head “No telling. Sounded easy enough. I just appreciate you taking charge of them.”
    â€œNo problem, chap. It has been rather adventuresome.” Houston beamed.
    Â 
    After breakfast the next morning, Slocum and Wilma loaded the two bodies onto their owners’ horses and tied them down, then parted with Houston. Slocum watched the Englishman ride off leading the corpse-bearing animals and his mule. Wilma slipped under Slocum’s arm to join him. “Now, ain’t he a dandy,”
    â€œA real one.” Slocum laughed. Houston knew that Slocum had no business messing with the law up there, even if the shooting had been self-defense. The man had done him a big favor handling it and freeing them to go look for the pair of killers. Finding those two would not be easy, but Slocum was sure he’d find someone who knew where they were hiding.
    â€œYou know, you could go home and be safe,” he said to Wilma as he finished cinching his horse and dropping the stirrup. Jennifer’s horse was packed and they were ready to ride off.
    â€œI’d rather rough it with you.” She wrinkled her nose at him and grinned.
    He smiled at her. Under her weather-beaten felt hat, her face beamed with a freshness and her brushed hair looked bright. No way was she going to be separated from her source of pride: him. With a knowing wink, he nodded that