Deadly Shadow Read online

  The Deadly Shadow

  In the winter of 1888, a gang of brutalized scavengers led by the notorious desperado Taw Johnson have just survived a bruising encounter with the North West Mounted Police. Johnson recognizes that as the frontier fills up, their lawless way of life will be under threat and decides that he and his men stand more chance of survival if they operate from Mexico. To get there means travelling through three territories and one state of the Union and he fully intends to loot and pillage every step of the way. In the course of their journey, they arrive at a small ranch, near the town of Chinook.

  Cathy Clemens is recently married and, with her husband buying supplies in town, temporarily alone on the ranch. Against good advice, Johnson makes the fateful decision to carry her off to satisfy his own needs. When John Clemens returns, he swears vengeance against the whole gang and sets off in pursuit. What the outlaws don't realize is that he has a particular set of deadly skills, honed over years of hunting both men and buffalo for pay. With his Sharps rifle, he becomes a deadly shadow, coldly picking the men off one by one. And then something strange takes place. Against all the odds, the impressionable Cathy finds herself attracted to Johnson and at the same time becomes ever more alienated by her husband's unrelentingly cruel behaviour.

  By the same author

  Blood on the Land

  The Devil’s Work

  The Iron Horse

  Pistolero

  The Lawmen

  The Outlaw Trail

  Terror in Tombstone

  The Deadly Shadow

  Paul Bedford

  ROBERT HALE

  © Paul Bedford 2016

  First published in Great Britain 2016

  ISBN 978-0-7198-2172-1

  The Crowood Press

  The Stable Block

  Crowood Lane

  Ramsbury

  Marlborough

  Wiltshire SN8 2HR

  www.crowood.com

  Robert Hale is an imprint of The Crowood Press

  The right of Paul Bedford to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by him

  in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988

  Chapter One

  It was the premature onset of winter in that year of 1888 that finally drove the band of scavengers across the Canadian border and down into Montana Territory. Its harsh effects always came unpleasantly early in the high latitudes. There was, of course, another reason for their departure. The lawless, brutalized bunch had stirred up more than enough trouble in Queen Victoria’s lands and it hadn’t all gone their way. They had originally numbered twenty riders, but after a bruising encounter with a North-West Mounted Police patrol, that figure had dropped to fifteen. Weeks later, the outcome of the vicious fight near Moose Jaw in Saskatchewan still rankled with some of the men.

  ‘It just ain’t fair, I tells you,’ muttered Kenny Packard angrily, as he massaged his aching thigh. The cold weather badly affected his partially healed flesh wound. ‘There never used to be any law up there and now it’s swarming with bastard redcoats. Where the hell do we go next time we need to lay low?’

  His nearest crony regarded him askance. ‘We weren’t exactly laying low. And in any case, I seem to recollect it was you on point that day. If you hadn’t been drinking Who-Hit-John all morning, we wouldn’t have ridden smack into that god damned Mountie patrol in the first place.’

  ‘Nah, nah,’ piped up another man displaying all the features of a simpleton. ‘It weren’t called “First Place”. It was something else ending in Jaw or Paw. You mark my words!’

  ‘I’ll mark your poxy face in a minute,’ responded the second speaker with casual belligerence and so the exchange went on and on.

  Some yards behind them, two men rode companionably knee-to-knee, all the while keeping their voices low.

  ‘For pity’s sake, Taw, why don’t we cut loose of these morons? They haven’t got an ounce of sense between them!’

  Taw Johnson regarded the other man amiably as he formulated a response. Johnson possessed a big open face with moderately intelligent eyes that seemed to sparkle when he was in conversation with someone that he liked. In fact, everything about him was big. Big boned, strongly muscled and barrel-chested, he rode a massive horse that had to be at least seventeen hands high. Glancing briefly at his bickering men, he then returned his full attention to his lieutenant, Clay Bassett.

  ‘Because when it comes to gunplay, as it always seems to, it pays to have plenty of bodies around to absorb the bullets. Besides, that fool Packard unwittingly got one thing right. Times are changing. There’s more and more folks heading West and that’ll mean more lawmen. It won’t just be Canada that’ll run us out. Hell, I hear tell that Montana’s going to be made a state soon. Then we won’t be able to move for marshals and sheriffs and stock detectives and even god damn Pinkertons. It makes me want to vomit, just thinking on it!’

  Bassett, lean and twitchy, hadn’t heard his boss talk like this before and he didn’t like it one little bit. ‘So where does that leave the likes of us? Living by our wits and guns is all we know.’

  Johnson drew in a deep breath and consciously relaxed a little. Before continuing, he checked around to make sure that they hadn’t been overheard. As expected, the other twelve members of his gang that were visible showed no apparent interest in their two leaders. They were otherwise occupied, either bickering with each other or dozing in the saddle as only those born to the life could manage.

  ‘I’ve never been to Mexico, but I hear tell that the law can be bought cheap down there. And you get some real warmth, which has to be better than this,’ he added, instinctively pulling his jacket tighter around him.

  Bassett couldn’t hide his surprise. ‘So what’s your plan? Because you always seem to have one.’

  The big man chuckled appreciatively. ‘I figure we learn from the Apache and Comanche and other wild tribes. Apparently they take whatever they can get in these United States of Assholes and sell it over the border. Except that whereas they also loot and pillage the Mexicans as well, we’ll keep our noses clean down there. That way we won’t wear out our welcome. That’s what we got wrong up north.’

  His sidekick’s eyes were like saucers as he took all this in. ‘Sounds like you’ve got it all thought out, but just how far is it to Mexico, anyhow?’

  For the first time doubt appeared on Johnson’s bluff features. ‘The truth is I don’t rightly know, but as far as everyone else is concerned we just keep heading south, which will make those simpletons think it’s downhill all the way. And one thing I do know,’ he added fiercely, ‘is that we’re going to take everything in our path that’s not nailed down and God help anyone who tries to stop us, because I’ve had a belly full of being poor!’

  Cathy Clemens regarded her husband with mixed feelings as he hitched his horse to the small flatbed wagon. Although the young woman had only been married to John for six months, she viewed the prospect of being separated from him for a couple of days with nervous pleasure. His patient, mostly kind and yet strangely controlling presence had begun to grate on her a little and there was a long, hard winter ahead. God knew how she was going to put up with him through the cold, dark days. She told herself that it would be different when they had a child to dilute the relationship, but as yet there was no sign of that happening.

  As he glanced over at her standing in the entrance to the two-roomed log cabin, she flushed guiltily. Those penetrating eyes of his seemed to bore right through her, reading her thoughts in the process. She favoured him with a bright smile, hoping to deflect any awkward questions. Only after tightening the last strap to his satisfaction, did he move over to her.

  John Clemens cut an imposing figure in his buckskin jacket. Six feet ta
ll with a lean, sinewy physique, he projected an image of competence . . . and possibly something else besides. When driven to anger, an indefinable aura of menace came over him. Cathy had only witnessed it once and didn’t care to again.

  ‘Remember what I said,’ he instructed firmly. ‘Stay close to the cabin and bar the door and windows as soon as it falls dark. And keep hold of that Winchester at all times.’

  ‘Even when I’m in bed?’ she queried frivolously, only to be rewarded with a dark scowl that immediately crushed her spirit. Deep down she felt that he meant well, but she was tiring of his repeated instructions.

  Rather than responding with some light banter as she might have wished, John instead took in the surrounding landscape with a great sweeping gesture. Their cabin sat in splendid isolation on a lush meadow in northern Montana. Low, gently undulating hills spread out in all directions, save to the north where there was a great stand of Ponderosa pine trees. A newly constructed corral along with a substantial barn showed that there had been a fair few dollars spent on the spread recently. On a thick section of timber nailed above the cabin entrance, the words New Haven were carved in bold letters, hinting that someone was quite possibly seeking exactly that.

  ‘This is untamed country and you’re going to be all on your lonesome until I get back,’ he replied more harshly than he had intended. ‘I know the redskins have been pacified and you’ll likely not see another soul, but I don’t want you taking any chances, you hear?’

  Cathy’s beautiful features registered hurt as she nodded silently. He sighed and consciously moderated his tone. He knew full well that his concern for her led to his being overpowering at times and he also knew why he did it. She sometimes seemed so innocent to the ways of the world, whilst he had seen more bloodshed in his time than any man should. There was also the fact that he took very literally the word ‘obey’ as uttered in the marriage vows.

  ‘Once I buy the stock and take on some hired men, things will be different, you’ll see. I just don’t want any harm to come to you, is all. By rights you should be coming to Chinook with me.’

  Cathy shook her head in a surprising display of determination. ‘You’ve put a lot of money and effort into these buildings. We can’t just abandon them, even for only two days. And you have to be the one to go into town to buy the supplies. They’d be too heavy for me to handle.’

  John looked her up and down attentively, as though he was storing a vision of her away in his mind. She really was stunningly attractive. Even the drab work clothes couldn’t hide her enviable figure. Her flawless skin had yet to suffer from the gruelling winters that he knew were ahead of them and he suddenly felt great warmth for her. It was just a pity that he couldn’t always show it. As all too often with John Clemens, action took the place of words. Abruptly taking hold of his young wife, he gripped her strongly and planted a fierce kiss on her full lips.

  She recoiled slightly under his heavily enthusiastic assault, before returning the pressure. Not for the first time, it occurred to her that it would be so nice if he could just display a little more tenderness. Then again, had she known the full truth of his past deeds, she quite probably wouldn’t have even married him!

  As the wagon rattled off along the almost non-existent trail towards the frontier settlement of Chinook, Cathy drew in a steadying breath and watched impatiently until her husband was completely out of sight. Only then did she let out a little whoop of joy and leap into the open, pirouetting a full 360 degrees. The silence was total and the reality of her temporary solitude held no fears. Instead, her heart beat fiercely as a surge of anticipation flowed through her. She had been looking forward to this moment for days. The prospect of luxuriating in the tin tub full of hot water, without John’s judgemental eyes on her, would be worth all the considerable effort of carrying and heating the liquid.

  Full of anticipation, the young woman turned back towards the south-facing entrance and just happened to glance over to the distant pine trees. What she saw caused her to freeze with shock. The very faintest wisp of smoke drifted across the treetops and was gone. For long moments she stared anxiously at the spot, but no more appeared and she soon began to doubt its very existence. Perhaps it had just been the treetops shimmying in the breeze or maybe even smoke from her own fire drifting skywards.

  Finally Cathy shook her head and consciously dismissed her fears. She had work to do before she could enjoy her longed-for treat and no optical illusion was going to spoil it for her!

  Chapter Two

  Taw Johnson sipped the hot coffee with exaggerated relish as he surveyed his surroundings. He and most of his men were lounging around in a clearing in the trees, eating and drinking. They had covered a lot of miles the day before and so he was cutting them some slack, before moving on into open country. Always on edge, Clay Bassett had drifted on ahead to reconnoitre and it wasn’t long before he returned with a gleam of anticipation in his eyes.

  ‘We got us a nice little homestead waiting beyond these pines, Taw. There’s a fire burning so it’s occupied, but from the lack of horses there can’t be many people to give us trouble.’

  Johnson’s eyes lit up with fierce anticipation and suddenly it wasn’t just the coffee that was warming his insides. Raiding was in his blood. ‘Well, whatever’s down there is about to get a change of owner.’ Tossing the dregs into the fire, he threw the tin cup at the nearest man and clapped his hands enthusiastically. ‘Saddle up, boys. We’ve got business elsewhere!’

  The wood, so filled with birdsong, suddenly rang with the excited cries of seasoned looters and pillagers, as all thoughts of coffee and beans were forgotten.

  Cathy Clemens eased her naked body into the steaming water and uttered a great sigh of satisfaction. The tub was facing the open door, so that she could gaze out on the lush grassland. With the hot liquid shielding her from the chill air, her sense of peace was absolute. She couldn’t remember the last time that she had felt so completely relaxed. For once, all and any chores were to be undertaken in her own good time, with no chiding husband lurking around to spoil it for her. Very slowly, the heat worked its magic. Her eyelids began to close, shutting out the primitive surroundings. The only possible thing likely to interrupt her tranquillity was the inevitable cooling of the water.

  The pounding of many hoofs around the cabin was so totally unexpected that the drowsy young woman violently jerked with surprise and slid under the surface. So it was that the first rider to swing past the entrance saw only an unoccupied tub. Gasping and spluttering, Cathy came back up for air and heard the excited voices of many men as they reined in around her home.

  Although she couldn’t possibly have realized it, the moment that would define her future was upon her. She could either freeze to the spot and accept everything that befell her or she could show some real grit and refuse to tolerate the frightening intrusion. Instinctively, Cathy Clemens chose the latter. Leaping out of the water, she slammed the door shut and slipped the solid wooden bar into place, mere seconds before one of the intruders reached it. Even as a heavy boot slammed ineffectually against the rough-cut timber, she raced back into the bedroom.

  Stark naked and trembling with a mixture of fear and anger, there were two immediate requirements on her mind: modesty and defence. Still dripping wet, the young woman hastily slipped into a calico dress and then reached for the Winchester that her husband had been so insistent on her having. As her left hand closed around its comforting fore stock, she heard a chuckle from outside the open window. Spinning around, Cathy was confronted by the head and shoulders of a complete stranger. He had obviously seen everything, because the unsettling mixture of both a smile and a suggestive leer registered on his broad face.

  Desperately working the under-lever of the rifle, she then vaguely aimed from the hip and fired. With a stunning crash the weapon discharged, although with what result she had no idea. Wreathed in sulphurous powder smoke and with her ears ringing painfully, she closed and bolted the single shutter. Th
e bedroom was plunged into darkness and as if in reaction, she began to shiver with cold. The only light now came from the one open window in the main room. After pumping up another cartridge, Cathy carefully padded across the dirt floor to secure it.

  Before she could get there, a fusillade of shots rang out directly beyond the window and bullets smashed into various timbers around her. As vicious splinters narrowly missed her, she shrieked involuntarily and dropped into a crouch. Never before in her life had she been shot at!

  Taw Johnson’s excellent reflexes came into play and he leapt aside from the window in the nick of time. As Cathy’s bullet sped off into the void, he watched as the window shutter slammed fast. With the vision of her voluptuous figure imbedded in his mind, Johnson shook his head in admiration. Then, as a volley of shots rattled off around the corner, his intrigue swiftly turned to anger.

  ‘Stop that god damned shooting!’ he bellowed out at his bewildered followers. ‘Jed, what did you see when you passed the entrance?’

  ‘An empty tub was all, boss,’ responded that individual.

  Johnson scratched his bristly chin with grubby fingers as he pondered the unforeseen situation. Then he broke into a broad smile. When something seemed too good to be true it usually was, but on this occasion it actually appeared as though his ship had come in.

  ‘Seems to me there’s just the one lone pilgrim in there. No sense in risking our lives storming the place,’ he announced somewhat theatrically. Then, raising his voice for Cathy’s benefit, he added, ‘So I reckon we’ll set the place afire. It’ll be the warmest we’ve been this month. Fetch some kindling, boys.’

  The chill that came over Cathy Clemens no longer related to her damp body. The prospect of being burnt to death filled her with abject horror. Surely no one would make good on such a threat. Manically clutching her rifle, the terrified young woman listened intently to the muted sounds outside. None of the intruders came near the remaining open window, but the gunfire had served its purpose and she too kept well clear. Then a whiff of wood smoke drifted through the shutter and her worst fear was confirmed.