Melinda Heads West Read Free Page A

carrying her. The woman had surprised him. But there would be no water or food when she awoke, so he fully expected the whining to begin at that time. He’d never met a female yet who didn’t pine for attention and special treatment.
    Boone momentarily thought about opening the tapestry bag and removing some of the contents while she slept, but … he’d made a commitment. And besides, if she found out, he’d never get the picture of his sister back. He smiled faintly, then crossed his arms and closed his eyes, looking for a few minutes’ rest.
    • • •
    Mindy awoke to a growling in her stomach and a terrific thirst, though, oddly enough, she didn’t feel the coarse ground beneath her. She could have been lying on a feather mattress. It was full dark and she could hear the men talking.
    “ … for a woman,” one of them was saying.
    Stanton’s voice was next, speaking low. “ … worth … her salt.”
    Speak up! Mindy fumed.
    “Done … well as … of the men,” he continued. Her pride took a lift.
    “It ain’t over yet,” said another voice. Mindy felt a tightening in her stomach and knew the voice immediately as that of The Tormentor. It rang clear and sharp, and instantly raised her hackles. “We might have made five or six miles this afternoon, but we’ve got close to thirty more to go. We’ll be carrying her before it’s over.”
    Mindy’s blood ran hot, and then cold. Her palms fisted and all physical troubles vanished. Why, the no-account simpleton didn’t know a thing if he thought she needed to be carried and worried over!
    “Forget about the woman,” whined another man. “What’re we gonna do about food?”
    “Yeah. I’m dead beat. I need something to eat and drink.”
    “Shut up, you two! For the last time!” Mindy heard a sound like a rock hitting hard dirt. Another followed.
    “Ow! Whaddya do that for?”
    “I’m tired of listening to the two of you complain. We’re all hungry! We’ll stay hungry ’til tomorrow when we get down in the lower region.” It was the leader of their small band, though Mindy couldn’t remember any decision that had actively made him such.
    She sat up slowly. “I have food.”
    “What?” A chorus of male voices.
    “I have food. It’s in my traveling bag. I’ll be happy to share.”
    The Tormentor stared. He stood and walked over to her, dropping the heavy bag at her feet.
    “Thank you.” Mindy said, as coldly as possible. She hadn’t forgotten his unflattering statements. She stepped aside a few paces and turned her back. After a bit of fumbling, she unrolled three cans of pork and beans from the clothes inside. She returned to the group and extended them to the man in charge.
    “What is that supposed to be?” asked the whiner. “I ain’t eating nothin’ that comes outta no can!”
    “Well, I’ve heard of it, but I ain’t never seen it,” said another man. “But if there’s real food in there, I’ll eat the can itself!”
    “Hold on,” said the leader. “First of all, there’s only three cans and there’s six of us. We’re going to have to split the food, but make sure nobody comes up short.” He looked over at the complainer. “If you choose not to eat, that’ll just be more for the rest of us.”
    “Well, hang on a minute. Open it up first, and let me take a look at it.”
    The whiner rose to a half-kneeling position as the leader of the dusty band took a long knife from a leather sheath strapped near his gun belt. As he carved open the lid to one of the awkward red cans, a rich aroma wafted through the air. Looking up with a slow grin, he dug into the other two, setting each newly opened can on the ground.
    The mood in the group distinctly changed, until he punctured the last container and a foul odor jumped out at them. “Whew-ee, boys!” he said, chucking the rank can over the edge of the rock cliff. That means we’re down to just two cans.”
    “Count me out,” said the complainer, stalking away from the