Страница 43 из 78
But Ty didn't think Lucifer would make it. The path on the east face was too far, too steep, and the blood sign along the stallion's trail was almost continuous now. The land here was steep, rising sharply into one of the many low ridges that marked the plateau's rumpled surface.
I hope they catch you, Troon. I hope they cut off your-
Ty's bitter thoughts of vengeance were wiped from his mind the instant he saw over the crest of the ridge to the land below. Less than a quarter mile away, Ja
Turn around and hide, Ja
The stallion reached the edge of the ravine and threw himself toward the far side. His forelegs found purchase on the opposite bank of the ravine, but his left rear leg gave way when it should have provided support. He was too weak to struggle over the lip to safety. Kicking and screaming in a mixture of fear, pain and rage, the black horse skidded and rolled into the narrow, brush-choked bottom of the ravine twenty feet below. There he lay on his side, thrashing wildly in a futile attempt to regain his feet and scramble to safety.
Without pausing, Ja
There was only one way Ty could save Ja
Get out of there, you little fool! Ty screamed silently. You can't hold him. He'll beat you to death with those big hooves.
The ravine Lucifer was trapped in was a long crease ru
A man's screams told Ty that either Troon or a renegade had just been wounded. Ty's glance remained fixed on the ravine bottom where Ja
What the hell…?
Ja
A crescendo of triumphant whoops and shots told Ty that the chase was over for Joe Troon. Ty still didn't look up from the ravine; he wouldn't have walked across a street to aid the man who had captured Ja
Over the carbine's steel barrel, Ty watched while Ja
Ty could see the shudders of fear that rippled over the stallion with each stroke of Ja
Very slowly Ty eased his finger off the trigger and sank down behind the cover of a pinon tree that clung to the rocky ridge top. Screened by dark green branches, Ty pulled out his spyglass and looked off to the right. A single glance confirmed what his ears had already told him: Joe Troon had made his last mistake.
Ty looked around carefully and decided that he had the best position from which to protect the ravine. Pulling his hat down firmly, he chose a comfortable shooting position, shrugged out of his pack and put two open boxes of ammunition within easy reach. Stomach against the hard earth, green eyes sighting down the carbine's metal barrel, Ty settled in to wait and see if the renegades were going to come toward the ravine when they were finished looting and mutilating Troon's body.
Chapter Twenty-Six
"Easy now, boy. Easy… easy."
The ceaseless murmur of Ja
Very slowly Ja
Ignoring her own pain, Ja
"God, please let him be safe," Ja
Though Lucifer was no longer fighting her, he groaned with each heaving breath he took, for the cloth muzzle restricted his breathing. In the silence, the sound of the horse's labored breaths were like thunder. After a few minutes Ja