Song of Eagles Read Online Free Page A

he dared not leave the saddle. He’d never be able to get back on the deck if he did. Through waves of hot pain, he cut lengths of rope and tied himself in the saddle.
    â€œAll right, Sundown,” Jamie gasped. “You know the way home. Take me to Kate.”
    Two of Jamie’s great-grandsons spotted the slow-walking horse and the big man slumped unconscious in the saddle. When they realized who it was, they ran right down the middle of the main street, yelling and hollering at the top of their lungs. Matthew and Dr. Tom Prentiss came running up to Jamie and cut the ropes holding him on his horse. The doctor took one look at the hideous wounds in his back and shook his head.
    â€œGather your kin, Matthew,” he said.
    Later, Matthew stepped into the doctor’s outer office, a telegram in his hand. His brothers and sisters turned to him. Matthew’s eyes were bright with anger. He held up the wire. “This is from a sheriff friend of mine over near the Utah line. Seems as though a posse of men from some ranch called the N Bar N, headed by several newly appointed deputy federal marshals, think they got lead into Falcon. Happened yesterday or the day before some miles north of here. What they done was they mistook Pa for Falcon.”
    Joleen said, “There’ll be blood on the moon when Falcon hears of this.”
    â€œFor a fact,” Matthew said. “My friend is gonna send me more information as he gets it. How’s Pa?”
    â€œDying,” Ian said, then put his big hands on his face and wept openly.
    Jamie Ian MacCallister, the man called Bear Killer, Man Who Is Not Afraid, Man Who Plays With Wolves, died on August the first, 1876, at eight o’clock in the morning. He was buried that afternoon, on a ridge overlooking the town of Valley. Overhead, circling and soaring high above the ridge, several eagles screamed.
    The next day, James William Haywood, Jamie’s grandson, opened Jamie’s will in front of the family. He had read it the night before and was shocked right down to his boots at the enormity of Jamie’s wealth.
    â€œYour father,” he told the gathering, “was more than likely the richest man in all of Colorado. He was worth millions of dollars. He drew up a map of all the places where he cached bags and boxes of gold and silver. During the wandering of your great-grandfather, the man called Silver Wolfe, he discovered a cave of Spanish treasure. He gave that to Jamie, and now Jamie is giving it to all of you. You children of Jamie and Kate MacCallister just might be the richest family in all of North America.”
    After the reading of the will, Jamie Ian met with Matthew in Falcon’s Wild Rose Saloon and said, “Now, brother, you want to tell the truth about Falcon?”
    â€œHe’s in Utah. He’s going after Nance Noonan and those posse members. He’s going to destroy the N Bar N and then burn down the town. Right down to the last brick and board.”
    â€œThere were federal marshals in that posse.”
    â€œYou think Falcon gives a damn about that?”
    Jamie Ian sighed and shook his head. “I reckon not.”
    â€œJoleen summed it up the other day. There’s gonna be blood on the moon before this is over.”
    The brothers walked out to stand on the boardwalk, looking up at the ridge where their mother and father and grandfather lay in peace.
    â€œYou think Pa would have done what Falcon is about to do?” Jamie Ian asked.
    â€œIt’s exactly what Pa would have done.”

Three
    John Chisum took a final drag on his cigar and stared at Falcon through the cloud of smoke. After a moment he leaned forward and stubbed the butt out in a silver dish.
    â€œThat’s a hell of a story, Falcon. I just can’t believe old Jamie was backshot by those murdering cowards like that.”
    Falcon nodded. “Believe it, John.” He drained his whiskey and said in a husky voice, “But