Chapter 3

The boss for the mission approached the large mansion type building. This was going to be dangerous; the big boss didn’t take to kindly to being interrupted. He just hoped that the news he had didn’t get him gutted, shot or hung. It all depended just how foul of a mood the big boss was in.

As he got off his mount, he eyeballed all the men that were roaming the grounds. He saw several that were in the few trees, even more on the roof of the building. It was for sure that no-one was going to sneak in here.

A thought hit the man as he slowly walked to the front door. The blond man had moved much like the scouts that the army had employed years ago.

The boss thought back to before the whole operation had been moved from the town that they had taken over. It was a lot like their present situation, though now they didn’t have a crazy ex-Texas Ranger out gunning for them.

He himself, had been lucky to not be there when the men had been butchered in the camp. It had looked like the work of several men ‘til the old Indian scout had told them, it was only one. One, that was far more deadly than any they had gone against.

The whole operation, was quickly moved, less than a week later they were on their way. They had traveled for quite a while when they encountered the shanty mining town.

Only two weeks later, they damn near owned everything connected to the mine. Those that hadn’t signed had ended up as coyote food a few miles from the mine. True they had lost quite a few men, though the miners had the disadvantage of being trapped within a small area with no help. For them, as they lost members, they became weaker.

The boss smiled they had enjoyed the hell out of the few women that they managed to capture. Then again, the little bitches had also killed a few men themselves before they were put down.

A small smile came to his face, he had killed one of the last. Then again, she had cut his balls off, right before he slit her throat. Damn little bitch, even as she was dying, had stabbed him in his back.

Barely able to move his left arm, let alone feel a whole hell of a lot with it. Thinking back, he was glad the boss had as much help as he had. The stories about the men who were found later, still gave more than a few nightmares.

After being searched by a few huge burly men, the mission boss was led to a mall parlor. The man sat hoping that this wasn’t the last hour of his life. A few minutes later a short, rotund, balding man entered the room.

“Mr. Jones to what do I owe this visit? I take it the latest mission went well?” Tom Greely said holding a kerchief to his nose.

“Yes sir, though we lost more men than I thought we would, three ‘efore we even left. Hired a new man that rode into town, after he killed all three of our top men. They say he moved faster than anyone ‘ad ever seen.” Jones said.

Greely nodded he’d already been informed of those three idiots. “So why are you here?”

“The thing is boss; I know a killer when I sees one. Many, myself included, say that this man’s eyes are like looking into the eyes of death. This man is a stone-cold killer, though I feel that he is more. Sent him to ambush the front of the wagons. He’s the only one that came back, some story that the others fired early, not buying it.” Jones said.

Greely was nodding his head he’d not heard this bit, something about this man seemed familiar. As of yet Greely couldn’t put a finger on it. He had moved everything after he lost the outer encampment. His scout advisor had warned him that it would be advisable. As of yet the Indian hadn’t been wrong yet, he wasn’t about to doubt him.

“I suggest you keep an eye on the man to see if anything else rises suspicion. Go, I have to talk to Tanaka.” Greely said dismissing the man.

Jones hi-tailed it out of there, he’d been sweating a bit. Something was obviously going on; the boss had been distracted that was for sure.

Greely moved out of the parlor towards the back of the building. He knew he’d find Tanaka out back. Though not many of the men liked the Indian, they also made sure to leave him alone. Tanaka didn’t look like much; he was faster and deadlier than any of his men. They were after all the dregs of humanity, no better than gutter scum.

Greely exited the building walking toward the large Teepee situated there. With a wipe of his brow, Greely waited for Tanaka to appear.

A moment later a voice caused Greely to turn. “You are looking for me?” Tanaka said.

A thin smile crossed Greely’s lips, “we might have a problem with a new man that was hired. Seems he has killed more than a few of the men. I need you to find out what you can, before he is more trouble than we can handle.”

“The normal way? No one to see?” Tanaka asked., “Not yet, he just might be a gunfighter, a fast one from what I have heard. That we could use to our advantage.” Greely said.

Tanaka grunted as he took a step then seemed to vanish.

Greeley could only shake his head, he’d been staring at Tanaka, hadn’t seen the Indian move. With a slight shake, Greeley was thankful Tanaka was on their side.

A very thin smile came to Tanaka’s lips as he moved away. Good, the white man boss was still afraid of him. He himself, would gut the man when the time came. As of yet, no-one had a clue as to where the bastard, white man, was holding his mate and son.

For now, he was helping the white boss as he, Tanaka felt was the best. The white man was far smarter than most he’d met, though nowhere as deadly.

Tanaka nodded, the man who had taken the entire outer encampment, that was one that Tanaka had thought was another warrior from his tribe. It had been a big shock when, Tanaka only saw the spoor of a white man. Still it had slightly unnerved the warrior, tracker something very hard to do.

Tanaka mounted his paint, horse as he set off for the white man’s town. A place he avoided at all costs. Not that he was afraid, it was smart to not enter a place where there was an overabundance of enemy. Especially, all that were there, many happy to kill rather than anything else. No, he kept his time in that place to minimum.

Tanaka kept to the shadows as much as he could when he entered the town. The white boss had given Tanaka, a very detailed description. Moving toward the loudest building in the shanty town, Tanaka stopped short. What he was feeling, reminded him of several warriors he’d faced in the past. Was this a warrior hiding, disguised as a white man? Was that even possible?

A shake of his head, Tanaka decided that this would be more than worth the exposure. Well, as little as he could permit. A movement had Tanaka hiding as deep in the shadows as he could.

The blond man rode to the saloon, he needed sleep and a bath, well a chance to wash anyway. The wave of stench from the unwashed bodies, was enough to kill a buzzard a few times over.

A nod of his head he then rode by to the livery. He needed to get his ride taken care of first. He’d ridden the horse hard, time to reward him.

“Help you stranger?” Came a young voice.

A turn revealed a young boy standing in the doorway. “Yeah, need to stall my horse. Ya able to handle it?” The man said.

“Sure thing mister, cost ya. Two dollars a day, twelve for the week, if’n ya stay that long.” The youth said. “Need a name mister.”

“John,” the blond man said.

“Just” the youth started.

“Yeah, just John.” John said as he tossed the youth several silver dollars.

The youth’s eyes went wide as he nodded then seemed to vanish as a voice spoke behind John.

“Funny you, stabling a stolen horse.” The voice said, then there was the unmistakable sound of a revolver hammer being pulled back.

“Not a good idea.” John said his own hand on the butt of his colt.

“Oh? Why ya say that? I hold the advantage, though I’ve heard you’re fast. I always notice when another fast gun shows up. Tell you what, meet me in the street in an hour, we’ll see.” The voice said as the hammer was released.

John knew the speaker was already gone no need to react. This was going to upset his plans to try and fade into the background, especially when he killed the ass.

A shake of his was all the sign he gave of his mounting frustration. The plan had been simple enough, not his fault he’d been paired up with a bunch of trigger-happy morons.

That would have been easy enough to overcome, ‘til he discovered she was here. Here he thought, he had hidden all his tracks. He knew she was part Indian though was still unsure which tribe. She displayed skills almost equal to his own, skills he’d learned from three tribes.

John moved to the front of what was called the saloon. Yeah, a building with tables, chairs, a bar plus a lot of rot gut. Wouldn’t do to drink much of that swill.

An hour later, the streets cleared as the sound of jingling spurs was the only sound heard. John looked at the tall man in black britches, boots and shirt. A scar running across one side of his face, seemed to throb.

“Well, see you’re no coward, that’s good. Course that won’t matter, seeing as you’ll be face down soon. Seen your speed son, know mine, don’t see how you’re gonna beat me. Name’s Tom you?” Tom said.

“John, ne’er had any ask a name before, just wanted to get it done. Seem awful gentlemanly, to be a gun slinger.” John said.

“Well, well, so it seems we have a likened soul here, you son don’t appear to be one either.” Tom said. “Seems to be a shame to kill something that actually gives a little culture to this hell hole.”