Absaroka Ambush Read Online Free Page A

notional. Some good, some bad. But an Injun don’t think like so-called civilized white folks do.” Snake looked at the young officer. “You been around many Injuns, sonny?”
    â€œI have studied them extensively,” Rupert said stiffly.
    â€œUh-huh,” was Snake’s reply.
    Preacher rode down the ridge and walked Hammer up to a group of women. The women stared at him, none of them ever having seen anything quite like Preacher.
    â€œHe’s a savage,” one whispered.
    â€œI think he’s cute,” another said.
    Soon there were women of all descriptions, sizes, and shapes surrounding Preacher. Even Hammer got a little nervous. Some of the ladies were beautiful, others were so ugly that they could stop a rampaging herd of buffalo with one look. There were ladies who were slim and trim and others of more than considerable heft. But Preacher was looking for the boss lady, and he knew there had to be one. Or two.
    â€œYou there!” a woman’s voice bellered out from the crowd. “Up there on that wild-eyed looking horse.”
    Preacher cut his eyes to a tall and full-figured female all decked out in a black dress. She was comin’ stridin’ through the crowd of women and they was partin’ the way like Moses done the Red Sea. The woman wasn’t no real looker—to Preacher’s eye—but she had her a commanding manner that he liked, and he knew he’d found one of the ramrods of the petticoat train.
    Hammer turned his head to stare at the woman and Preacher tightened up on the reins. If Hammer didn’t like somebody, he didn’t draw any distinctions about gender. He’d just as soon bite or kick a woman as he would a man.
    â€œAre you the famous mountain man everybody’s been bragging about?” the woman demanded, staring up at him, hands on her hips. “The one who is going to lead us across the wilderness?”
    â€œI don’t know about famous, lady,” Preacher matched her stare. “But I’ll get most of you acrost to the blue waters.”
    â€œMy name is Eudora Hempstead. And what do you mean by ’most of us?’”
    â€œI mean that not all of you ladies is gonna make it. And the whole kit and caboodle of you damn well better understand that now. Now gather around and hear what I got to say. But stay out of bitin’ and kickin’ distance from Hammer here. He’s like me; he ain’t the most cordial thing in the world. Now listen up: some of you will quit and try to find your way back. But you won’t make it back; Injuns will grab you and tote you back to their camp. That is, if you don’t give them too much trouble. You aggravate ’em and they’ll just rape you, kill you, and scalp you where you happen to be. If they make slaves of you, well, that ain’t such a terrible life. They’ll work you hard and only beat you occasional. Some of you are gonna die out yonder on the trail from stupid fool accidents, Injun attacks, snakebite, hydrophoby skunks, drownin’. One or two will go crazy in the head and wander off and get et up by a bear. And don’t think I’m funnin’ you, ’cause I ain’t. I’m just tellin’ you like it is.”
    A group of men had gathered around at the edge of the crowd of women. Preacher figured they were the ones the president’s man had hired. Preacher picked out two that he was going to unhire right off. One he knew slightly and the other had a shifty look to him. He pointed at the one he knew.
    â€œYou, Jack Hayes. Get gone from here and take that ratty-eyed friend of yours with you.”
    â€œI wasn’t hired by you, Preacher,” Jack said.
    â€œNo. But you’re gettin’ fired by me. Now hit the trail. If I see you in an hour, I’ll either shoot you or stomp you. Move.”
    Jack and his buddy left, but from the look in their eyes, Preacher sensed he’d not seen the last of