The Bounty Hunters

Rellis moved suddenly toward the chair, but Fly

The rifle barrel swung back toward Rellis, even while his hand was still on the stock, and came down across his skull. He didn't go down, but staggered backward with Fly

Fly

Joe Madora came out of the chair. "Some other time, John. You look a mite too nervous to be wielding scissors." He nodded to the broken glass from the hand mirror. "David, you just acquired seven years of the worst kind of luck."

Fly

Willet said now, "He's not going to forget that. Dave, you don't know that man."

Madora said, "But he knows Dave now."

2

They rode out of Contention toward the cavalry station which was two miles north, up on the San Pedro. It was a one-troop post and Fly

They rode relaxed, walking the mares, Fly

Madora said, "Remember Anastacio Esteban?"

Fly

"He came through here yesterday with about the whole tribe. Four or five wagons of big and little Estebans hanging on every place you looked."

"Here? They live down in Sonora. Soyopa."

"I know it," Madora said. "They were up the line for some shindig. You know Anastacio made a lot of friends when he was packin' mules for the army. It don't take much to get him back for a celebration."

Fly

"He mentioned he saw you."

"His brother Hilario is the alcalde now. Least he was six months ago when I passed through."

Madora nodded. "The quiet one."

"Unlike his brother," Fly

"No; his daughter was. Did you meet her?"

"I think so."

"You don't think so about her. You either did or you didn't."

"Anita?"

"Nita," Madora said. "She could stand a few more pounds, but she's much woman the way she is."

"She was along?"

"Taking her father's place. They passed through here just yesterday. You might catch up with them…depending when you leave."

"We might," Fly

He had become acquainted with the good-natured Anastacio while still in the army, during the time Anastacio transported supplies for them; Anastacio the mule ski

"Deneen's here already," Madora observed, as they rode into the quadrangle of Camp Contention; a scattering of cottonwoods behind a row of drab, wind-scarred adobes, a flagpole, then a long low stable shed facing the adobes.

"That's his bay over there in the end stall the trooper's wipin' down," Madora said. "When Deneen's standin' next to it you got to blink your eyes to tell which is the genuine horse's-ass, and then you can never be dead sure."

At the end of the stable shed, a dozen or more figures sat about a smoking fire. The sun was behind them and Fly

"My boys," Madora said.

Fly

Madora said, "You remember him?"

"Three-cents," Fly

"That red son's better than a bloodhound," Madora said.

A sign marked the adobe headquarters. Black lettering on a whitewashed board to the right of the door: TROOP E-SIXTH U.S. CAVALRY.

A trooper who had been at parade rest by the door took their reins and they went inside.

By the left wall, an officer, holding a kepi in his hand, came up quickly off the bench that was there and Fly

"Bowers?"

The young man nodded.

"Dave Fly

The officer nodded again, taking the outstretched hand. His grip was firm and he returned Fly

"We had a divisional commander named Bowers."

"He was my father."

"Good soldier."

"Thank you."

Then Fly

Bowers nodded. "With Lieutenant Woodside."

"Have you seen him yet?"

"Only for a few minutes."

"He hasn't explained anything, then."

"I don't see the necessity of an explanation," Bowers stated. "I've already received my orders."

"May I see them?"

Bowers hesitated.

"Look, I'm on your side."

He drew a folded paper then from inside his jacket. "You are mentioned here," Bowers said quietly. "I assumed, though, that this would be discussed in a more private ma

"I won't tell a soul," Fly

Madora moved next to him then, to look over his shoulder. "That's a nice hand," he said.

Fly

"Well, don't get it too close or you're liable to smell something else," Madora said. They read the orders in silence.

FROM:.R.L. Deneen, Col. ept. Adjutant, Department of Arizona n the field, Camp Contention, Arizona Terr. O: egis Duane Bowers, Second Lt. th Cav. Reg. hipple Barracks, Prescott, Arizona Terr. UBJECT: ransfer and Reassignment 17 Oct. 1876 As of this date, R. D. Bowers is formally assigned to the office of the Departmental Adjutant, Department of Arizona, and is hereby instructed to report to Camp Contention, Arizona Terr., for detailed instructions concerning the following outlined orders: