Chapter 3 #2
“Wait… I do know where you can find them! They’ll be heading for the border!
There’s a stop-off point near Great Falls.
If you leave now, you can get to them before they pass.
I can give you the exact location.” It’s the voice of a desperate man that we’re hearing, and I turn to Tate to give him his order.
“Head to the bunkhouse. I want Seth, Otis, Derrick, and two cattle lorries ready to leave straight away.”
“Gotcha, boss,” he tips his head at me, and when Finn automatically goes to leave with him, I call him back.
“You wait here. I got a different job for you.”
“Speak,” my attention immediately goes back to Trevor.
“There’s a small ranch three miles west of the entrance to the 15. That’s where you’ll find ‘em,” He’s got a fearful quiver in his voice, but he starts to look more relaxed as I take in what he tells me, and nod my head.
“Arm or leg?” I ask again when he’s finished, knowing that that relief of his is about to be short-lived.
“I told you where they are. You can’t…”
I move closer to the worthless piece of shit and throw my fist at his jaw to shut him up.
“I told you you’d be punished for fucking with me. The fact you just told me how to rectify it earned you your choice. Arm or fucking leg?” I repeat myself, losing my fucking patience and desperate to get on the road.
“Arm.” Trevor closes his eyes, knowing it’s a pointless fight.
“Untie him,” I nod my head at Wade, who gets straight to work, and when Trevor starts to struggle Cole helps wrestle him to the floor, then rests his knees on the back of his legs and uses his knife to cut through the rope.
When he’s done, Wade helps pin him down while Cole stretches out Trevor’s right arm.
“Wait, wait… that’s my roping arm. Do the left.” He looks up at me, pleading with his eyes and sounding pathetic.
“Nah,” I shake my head and smile wickedly.
“Your daddy was a rustler, you fix for the rustlers, and although I doubt you could ride a pony through a parade, I’d rather not take my chances.
” I shove his face into the floor with my boot, and nod to Cole, who stretches Trevor’s arm out as far as it will reach between the jaws.
Then, making sure he’s well clear himself, he forces it down to set off the spring release.
The sound of Trevor’s bones crunching and the agonized scream that comes from his throat fill the cabin, and I release his head so I can see the pain on his face, too.
I wait until those screams turn into moans. It’s important that he hears me give Finn his next instruction.
“You’ll find another trap in that cupboard over there. I’ll call you when we get to the location. If he’s telling the truth, you can release him and drop him off at the hospital.”
“And if he ain’t?” Finn asks, with a snigger.
“Then you get that trap out the cupboard, set it on his leg and wait until I get back.”
I wait for Finn to nod and let me know he understands, before I slap Wade on the chest. “Let’s go get our herd back.” I head for the door, and when I open it I’m not at all surprised to see Mitch waiting outside.
The old man’s been working the bunkhouse since he was a boy, and he may not be a Carson by blood, but he picks up the same respect as one from anyone who works here.
“Pops send ya?” I check, lighting up a smoke and looking up at the stars. It’s a clear night, and the sky is full of ‘em.
“Nah, I rode out with Tate and Finn to pick him up. Figured when you sent ‘em, something was gonna go down, and I didn’t wanna miss out.”
I laugh at the old man. He’ll never change, and I’m glad for it as I’ve learnt more from him than my father ever cared to teach me.
“I know where the herd is. We’re setting out now, if you wanna come?” I offer. Mitch may not be as young as he used to be, but he’s as handy as any man I got.
Rustlers are ruthless men; it never hurts to have experience on your side.
“I heard,” he chuckles to himself, and it tugs at my curiosity.
“Whatcha finding so funny?” I stare back at him.
“You just remind me of your Uncle Jimmer, is all,” he lights up a smoke of his own.
Pops would hate to hear him say that. It’s been a long time since my dad spoke to his brother.
They fell out years ago after he left the ranch and decided to become an outlaw.
I can’t remember him, I was only two years old when he left Montana, and he’s never cared to visit since.
I figure he wouldn’t get a warm welcome from Pops anyway.
He never did forgive him for bailing on our family, and I hope I’ll be able to find the strength to do better if Cole sees through on his word.
“That a good or bad thing?” I ask,
“For the ranch, it’s a great thing. For folk like Trevor, in there, not so much,” Mitch sniggers
“You go get your cattle back, son. I’ll stay here with the young ‘un. And Garrett…” When I turn back to look at him, I know exactly what he’s gonna say.
“Whatever it takes.” I finish his sentence before he can. And watch the smile crack on his face.
“Whatever it takes.” He pulls his hat lower to cover his eyes, before heading inside the cabin.