Chapter 4: The Revelation
The sun was just starting to set, casting long shadows over the rocky terrain as Buck and Abilene made their way through a narrow pass between two towering cliffs. The landscape had grown harsher as they traveled, the rolling plains giving way to jagged rock formations and deep canyons. It was treacherous territory, the kind of place where an ambush could come from any direction.
Buck’s instincts were on high alert, his eyes constantly scanning the ridges above them, his hand never far from his revolver. Abilene rode beside him, her hands still bound, but her sharp gaze was just as watchful. Despite the tension between them, they had settled into a tense truce, each aware that the other was a necessary evil if they were going to make it to Bitter Creek.
But even as they moved cautiously through the pass, Buck couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being watched. It was a sense honed over years of tracking dangerous men and being tracked in turn. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end, and he slowed Midnight to a stop, raising a hand to signal Abilene to do the same.
“What is it?” she asked, her voice low, immediately sensing his unease.
“Something ain’t right,” Buck murmured, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the cliffs above.
“Stay close.”
Abilene’s eyes darted around, her muscles tensing.
“Think it’s Boone’s men?”
“Could be,” Buck replied, his voice clipped. “Or it could be someone else. Plenty of folks would want that bounty on your head.”
As if on cue, a gunshot rang out, the sharp crack echoing off the cliffs. Buck ducked instinctively, pulling Abilene down with him just as the bullet whizzed past where her head had been moments before. Another shot followed, and then another, coming from the high ground on either side of the pass.
“They’ve got us pinned!” Abilene hissed, her eyes wide with alarm as she crouched low beside Buck.
“Stay down,” Buck ordered, his mind racing as he assessed their situation. They were caught in a crossfire, the narrow pass offering little in the way of cover. The bounty hunters had the high ground, and that gave them a distinct advantage. If they didn’t move fast, they’d be sitting ducks.
Buck’s eyes flicked to the narrow trail that wound up one of the cliffs, barely visible in the gathering dusk. It was risky, but it was the only way out. He grabbed Abilene’s arm, pulling her to her feet.
“We’re going up,” he said, his voice leaving no room for argument.
“Are you crazy?” Abilene shot back, but Buck was already moving, dragging her toward the trail as more gunshots rang out around them.
“Trust me,” Buck snapped, pushing her ahead of him as they started up the steep incline. He kept his body between her and the gunfire, returning shots whenever he could, his aim steady despite the precarious footing.
The trail was narrow and treacherous, with loose rocks crumbling beneath their boots as they climbed. The bounty hunters above had realized what they were doing and were now concentrating their fire on the trail, trying to pick them off before they could reach the top. But Buck was determined, his focus laser-sharp as he pushed Abilene forward.
“Keep going!” he barked, firing a shot that took out one of the men perched on the ridge above. The man tumbled from his position, his scream echoing off the cliffs as he fell to the ground below.
Abilene gritted her teeth and kept climbing, her muscles burning with the effort. The trail was getting steeper, the rocks slick with dust and sweat. But she knew that if they stopped, they were dead. The air was thick with the smell of gunpowder and the dust kicked up by their boots, each breath a struggle as they fought their way up the cliffside.
Finally, they reached a small ledge near the top, just below where the bounty hunters were positioned. Buck pressed himself flat against the rock face, pulling Abilene down beside him as he reloaded his revolver. The gunfire above had slowed as the remaining hunters realized they were dangerously close to their targets, and Buck knew they only had a few seconds to make their move.
“On my signal,” Buck whispered, his voice barely audible over the pounding of their hearts. “We rush ‘em. No hesitating.”
Abilene nodded, her breath coming in short, sharp gasps.
“Ready when you are.”
Buck peered up at the ridge, counting the shadows of the men above. There were still at least three of them, maybe more, and they were positioned to cover each other’s flanks. It was going to be close, but they didn’t have a choice. He gripped his revolver tightly, every nerve in his body coiled like a spring.
“Now!” he shouted, springing up from the ledge and charging the final few feet to the top.
Abilene was right behind him, her hands still bound but her determination fierce. The bounty hunters were caught off guard by the sudden assault, and Buck took full advantage, firing off three rapid shots that dropped two of them before they could even raise their guns. The third man managed to get off a shot, the bullet grazing Buck’s arm as he tackled the man to the ground.
They rolled in the dirt, grappling for control of the gun. The hunter was strong, but Buck was stronger, using his weight to pin the man down before delivering a sharp blow to his head with the butt of his revolver. The man slumped, unconscious, and Buck quickly disarmed him before looking up to check on Abilene.
She was standing a few feet away, breathing hard, her eyes wide as she took in the scene. Buck straightened up, wincing as the pain in his arm flared. He looked down at the unconscious hunter at his feet, then at the two dead men lying nearby. It had been a close call—too close. But they were still alive, and that was what mattered.
“Let’s move,” Buck said tersely, wiping the sweat from his brow. “There could be more of them.”
Abilene nodded, her earlier defiance replaced by a grim determination. She followed Buck as they quickly descended from the ridge, moving deeper into the rocky terrain in search of cover. The adrenaline from the fight was still coursing through her veins, but she forced herself to stay focused. They weren’t out of danger yet.
As they made their way through the rocks, the landscape began to change, the cliffs giving way to a more mountainous region. The ground became uneven, the path less clear. The sun was dipping lower in the sky, and shadows began to stretch longer, swallowing up the light.
“We need to find shelter for the night,” Buck said, his tone brooking no argument.
“We’re too exposed out here.”
Abilene nodded again, silently agreeing. They were both exhausted, and the night would bring more dangers than just the bounty hunters. They needed a place to rest, to regroup and plan their next move.
It wasn’t long before they came across a narrow opening in the side of a cliff, partially hidden by overgrown bushes and twisted roots. Buck pushed the foliage aside, revealing a dark, narrow passage that led into the mountain. He hesitated for a moment, then gestured for Abilene to follow him inside.
“Stay close,” he warned, his voice echoing off the stone walls as they entered the cave. The passage was cramped and dark, the air cool and damp. But as they moved deeper inside, the space began to widen, opening up into a larger chamber that was dimly lit by the fading light from the entrance.
Abilene looked around, her eyes adjusting to the darkness.
“What is this place?”
“Looks like an old mining tunnel,” Buck replied, his voice thoughtful.
“Could be a good place to lay low for the night.”
They made their way further into the cave, the sound of their footsteps echoing off the stone walls. The chamber opened up even more, revealing several branching tunnels that disappeared into the darkness. The air was thick with the smell of damp earth and the faint scent of something metallic iron, maybe, or something else mined from the rock.
Buck and Abilene moved deeper into the chamber, their footsteps echoing eerily in the darkened space. The cave seemed abandoned, but Buck’s instincts were still on high alert. The deeper they went, the more he noticed signs that this place wasn’t as empty as it seemed discarded tools, fresh footprints in the dust, and the distant sound of something that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.
Then, as they rounded a bend, they came upon a sight that stopped them both in their tracks. The chamber they entered was enormous, the ceiling soaring high above them, but what caught their attention was the activity happening within. Lanterns hung from the walls, casting an eerie glow over a scene of bustling work men toiling away with pickaxes and shovels, loading carts with chunks of rock and ore.
But it wasn’t just any mining operation. This was something different, something darker. The men working looked worn, their faces gaunt and covered in grime, their movements sluggish as if driven by sheer desperation. And there, overseeing the operation, was a man in a fine suit, his hands clasped behind his back as he watched the workers with a cold, calculating gaze.
Buck recognized him immediately Mayor Boone.
Abilene sucked in a sharp breath beside him, her eyes widening in shock.
“That’s Boone,” she whispered, her voice trembling with barely contained rage.