Redemption's Edge Read Online Free Page A

canyon. You and I will cut right, go around the next hill. They know how to reach the hideout. We’ll meet up with them there.”
    Whitey never took his eyes off of the approaching Rangers while he waited for Deke to convey the orders. Within minutes, they were dashing up the hill, away from the lawmen, and heading toward an area Whitey hoped no one would follow—renegade Comanche country. Of course, that would put him and Deke in danger also, but he didn’t consider it to be any worse than what would await them in Austin if they were arrested.
    Dax caught up with Pat and paced him as their horses climbed the hill. “They’re making a run for it. Looks like they’ve split up with Whitey and one of the other men riding east while the others head west.”
    “We follow Whitey. He and his brother, Deke, are the ones we want. My guess is it’s the two of them who split off east.”
    The three rode hard, pushing their horses after an already long journey, determined to end the chase today by catching both Whitey and Deke. They cared little about the others.
    Pat stopped at the summit and watched as the two outlaws made their way around the back side of the hill, riding in and out of low shrub and live oaks, then venturing into open terrain. He pulled out his Spencer repeating rifle, took aim, and fired. The bullet ricocheted off a rock a foot from Whitey, causing the man’s horse to dance around before the outlaw got him under control and took off at a run again, Deke right behind him.
    “Damn,” Pat cursed as he slammed his rifle back into its scabbard and kicked his horse into a run.
    Dax and Luke had pulled ahead, both riding low, guns drawn. They didn’t slow as Whitey and Deke rode into a large copse of live oak and disappeared.
    “We’ll wait for them here.” Whitey dismounted and pulled out his rifle, resting it on a low hanging branch. Deke let his horse go and found a spot a few yards away, then waited.
    Within minutes, the sound of hooves pounding on the dry ground was followed by the three Rangers coming into sight. Whitey aimed and squeezed the trigger. The bullet flew true, catching Pat in the chest.
    He fell from his horse, clutching his chest as blood seeped through his shirt.
    Dax and Luke returned fire as they dismounted, pinning the outlaws down, and took positions behind a group of boulders.
    “You slip around to the right and go after Deke.” Dax waited for Luke to nod and start moving before he took off in the other direction. He skirted around another group of boulders and up an embankment where he had a good view of Whitey below. As Dax prepared to shoot, his boot slipped on loose gravel, sending him into a slide as a shot flew over his head. The outlaw had seen him. Dax stopped his downward momentum when he slid into another boulder. He scrambled onto his knees and peered over the large rock. Whitey had disappeared.
    Another shot rang out, followed by a grunt, and Dax knew that either Luke or Deke were down. He retraced his steps, following the path Luke had taken. He came upon his brother, standing over the fallen outlaw who lay motionless on the ground.
    “He’s dead.” Luke holstered his gun, then turned to his brother. “Whitey took off north. Do you want me to ride after him?”
    Dax glanced at the dead outlaw once more and shook his head. “We’d better see to Pat.”
    Pat lay writhing on the ground, his face ashen, as he tried to stop the awful pain in his chest. He choked as Dax knelt beside him and placed a hand under his head, his eyes scanning the wound. He knew there was no hope of saving their comrade.
    “Don’t leave me out here,” Pat gasped. “Take me home.”
    “To Austin?”
    “Montana.” Pat reached up to grip Dax’s shirt and pull him toward his face. “Promise me. Bury me on my land in Montana.” He let loose of the shirt and fell back. “Promise me,” he repeated again as his eyes searched Dax’s.
    Dax swallowed the lump in his throat and nodded.