Clayton returned to the street, met King and Tamara Wild at a waiting surrey. The Mexican driver stepped down from his seat and reached for Jack’s saddle bags to load. He raised his head momentarily as he took the bags. Clayton stared into the piercing dark eyes beneath the sombrero. His face was lean and dark and there was menacing in his closed lip grin. King introduced him as Manuel, but Clayton knew he had seen this man before and his name was not Manuel. Two years earlier, the G-man had broken up a smuggling ring along the Texas border. This man was part of that gang. Clayton wondered if "Manuel" remembered him. The steely dark eyes seemed to say he did, but perhaps he always looked this way. Play along! Probably a trap! Play along!
King and Tamara took the back seat and Jack sat up front with Manuel. Manuel, still silent, uttering no word, urged the team forward and tooled slowly down Main Street.
As the surrey approached the end of the street heading northeast toward Lucky King’s Crown 7 ranch, a large figure emerged from the shadows of an alley. He watched for a few moments, anger seething beneath his burly chest. Then he picked up the reins of his horse from a nearby hitch rail, climbed clumsily into the saddle and pointed his mount after the disappearing surrey and rode into the darkness of night.
The surrey lumbered along in the coolness of the night air. Manuel remained silent. Occasionally, he would glance at Clayton. His expression never changed. The G-Man was not about to push any situation or confrontation. He would quickly glance away each time Manuel gazed his way.
A time or two Clayton thought he saw a rider on the ridgeline above them. Then after a while, he was sure they were being watched by this rider. The rider would quickly disappear below the ridgeline and emerge again later on. Was this one of King’s men?" Was this part of a trap?" Play along! Play along!
Half an hour of traveling, land spreading out wide and open, the King range was vast and huge herds of cattle could be seen as dark shapes across the countryside. Manuel pulled the team to a halt and turned to King. "Senor, "Manuel said, pointing toward the ridge. It was the first time Jack had heard him speak to any one. His voice was raspy like a forced whisper as loud as he could. "Someone watch. Up there."
"I thought I saw him too, Manuel, but I don’t know why anyone would be following us. But hustle the team up anyway. It’ll be good to get to the ranch as soon as possible. I don’t think there is anything to worry about, Jack"He added and directed to Clayton. He smiled reassuringly at Tamara and patted her hand.
Clayton raised a brow, shrugged complacently, and sat back while Manuel whipped up the team.
*****
Chapter Twelve
Night Moves