Decision at Salt Lake: Western

By Neal Chadwick

Decision at Salt Lake: Western

by Neal Chadwick

 

 

 

The size of this book is equivalent to 120 paperback pages.

 

Joe Carey is on the run and ends up in the hell of the great salt desert of Utah. After a raid by Indians, he remains badly injured and is found by Mormons. But when Carey falls in love with one of their women at the Salt Lake, his doom is preordained...

• Language: English
• Publisher: BEKKERpublishing
• Release date: Dec 29, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215185735

Book preview

1

I was on my way south. This year I was a little late for that, but something always comes up. I had spent the summer in Montana working on some ranches.

It's a wonderful place to live up there in the summer, but anyone who spends the winter there is a fool - or has no choice.

But I had another choice and so I had set off without knowing exactly where to go. Only the direction, that was certain.

One day went by like the other and the weather got worse every day.

I don't know exactly how long it took me to reach northwestern Utah. In any case, it was no small feat - and I'm used to all sorts of things.

After all, I make my living sitting in the saddle.

Winter had set in early this year. The first thin layer of snow had fallen over the hills, and it was lousy cold.

It was late afternoon when I saw the man at the campfire he had lit in the shelter of a group of leafless and crippled trees.

It had certainly been laborious to start a fire in that damp wind.

At the first moment I stumbled.

I saw one man, but five horses.

The area could be overlooked from afar, so it seemed impossible to me that any more men could be hiding somewhere nearby.

I approached and gave him a friendly greeting.

When you meet a person again out here in the wilderness after days or even weeks, you don't just ride on without exchanging a word with each other. But at the same moment, when I went to the brim of my hat with two fingers of my right hand and nodded to him, my counterpart reached for the Winchester rifle that he had leaning against his saddle within reach.

Now I was looking directly into a gun muzzle, but that couldn't faze me. Perhaps I would have acted the same way in his place. Out here, you have to be on your guard.

Unfortunately, you can't tell from the tip of a person's nose whether he's a scoundrel or a decent guy. I waved it off, but my right hand moved imperceptibly near my hip, where the handle of my revolver peeked out from under the hem of my jacket.

Take it easy, mister, I don't want to hurt you!, I heard myself say.

I studied the features of my counterpart, whose face was marked by a black beard and alert, intelligent eyes that gave a harried impression.

This man was afraid, that much was clear to me. He eyed me intently for a few moments and seemed undecided. Then he relaxed a little.

What do you want from me?

You're the first person I've seen in two weeks. I shrugged my shoulders casually. So I thought I'd say hello. Now that I've done that, I guess I'd better ride on! I pulled my horse around on the reins and prepared to let him trot away.

Just a minute, mister!

The man was already at my back. I turned to face him, remaining aware of the fact that all this time he had not lowered the barrel of his Winchester a millimeter.

What else? I think everything is settled between us. So farewell, sir!

Are you part of the McCrane Ranch crew?

No.

You don't work for Noah McCrane? I shook my head.

No. I don't know any man by that name.

I don't think so!

You can believe me or not. I don't really care!

Hmm...

He now seemed more thoughtful than before and indeed the barrel of his Winchester now lowered.

Then he muttered, Would you like some coffee, mister...

Carey. Joe Carey is my name, I introduced myself. And I'll gladly accept your invitation. I let my horse approach a few strides and then got out of the saddle.

Then we stood eye to eye as the snowflakes trickled down on us.

I reached out my hand to him.

With whom do I have the honor?

With Chip Barrows, it came back.

If I had gone back to my horse at that moment and then put a few miles between me and this man at a fast gallop - I could have saved myself a lot of trouble.

But at that moment I had no idea of what was yet to come. I was lured by the smell of the warm coffee hanging over the fire and the prospect of being able to talk to someone.

And so I stayed.

Do you have a cup? he asked.

Yes.

That's good, we would have had to share mine otherwise. I tied my horse up with the others, took the saddle off his back, and got the tin bowl out of the saddle pack. A short time later, I huddled around the campfire and had Chip Barrows pour me some hot coffee.

That felt good.

The brew warmed me up again from the inside.

We exchanged a look that was difficult to interpret. I didn't know what it was yet, but I already had a clear feeling: something was wrong with Chip. I should have listened to my instinct, but afterwards you're always smarter.

I pointed to the horses.

Are you a knacker?

He looked a little angry.

Do the animals look like this, perhaps? he grumbled.

No. I was kidding.

Hmm... Wasn't a very good one though!

What are you then? Horse trader? He nodded, albeit hesitantly.

Yes, that's one way to put it... He laughed silently to himself.

Then he looked up and there was a sudden bright flash in his eyes.

Do you want to buy one of the nags from me? I'll give you a good price!

I shook my head.

No, thank you.

I took another look at the horses. They were good animals, but I had to be careful with my money. After all, it should last for quite a while.

2

The twilight settled grayly over the land. We had talked