Diamond Fields and Death

Quickly Jim turned, glanced around for Rueben in the kitchen busily stirring up breakfast. Then he made his move toward Ed’s bunk and the wool bags. He unrolled them, knowing in advance what he would, or would not, find. The new Winchester .30-30 was gone! And one new box of shells was missing. Instantly Jim knew what the sounds in the night were, why the roan was gone, and exactly what the missing .30-30 meant. Ed was making his move on Rash! “Rueben! Get out and saddle up my horse! Hurry! I’ve got to ride out ’fore it’s too late. Ferget that breakfast. Move, man, move!” cried Jim, as he ran for his gun belt and .45 Colt. By the time he had it strapped on, plus his spurs, he was out the door. Rueben had his saddle off the tree and was putting feed in the trough to bring in the sorrel. “What’s up, Jim? Why all of a sudden you get in such a rush?” asked Rueben, as he caught up the sorrel and slipped the bridle over his ears. “Do you know something ’bout Mr. Ed?” “Maybe, Rueben, maybe. Jest could be too late. I think he’s making his move on Matt Rash! Couldn’t wait. Jest couldn’t wait! Jest had to take matters into his own hands. The ol’ hardheaded fool knew we had a better idea. Couldn’t wait! If I put my horse in a good lope, and keep it up all th’ way, maybe I’ve got a chance to find him ’fore it’s too late. Jest don’t know....” Jim tossed the saddle over the back of the sorrel, drew up the cinch, checked his rifle and scabbard, checked the field glasses in the saddlebags, looked for extra ammunition there, too, and hurriedly led the horse out of the shed. “I’ll go by Joe’s camp and let him know to watch fer anything going on. And to be ready to run down here with you, if he has to!” With that he stepped up on the sorrel and turned once more to Rueben. “Rueben, I’m going to try to stop Ed from killing Rash, or getting killed by Rash, whichever way it might turn out! If my thinking is right, he’ll be setting it up at Rash’s cabin. It’ll be close to noon before I can get up there. Now, don’t you open your mouth ’bout none of this! Stay right here at th’ cabin and don’t dare leave. Could be that Joe and Juan might jest come running in later and they’ll need you here. If things work out okay, I should be back here with Ed by mid-afternoon, or anyhow by dark. But if not, there most likely will be some shooting up there, and I don’t want any of you headin’ up that way, least not till tomorrow. If we don’t come in tonight, if it’s that way, you go down and get Charley Sparks to ride up with you. Be careful, Rueben!” allowed Jim, as he hurriedly stuck his spurs into the sorrel and dashed out across the sagebrush flats toward Cold Spring Mountain and destiny. The excitement of the sudden run caught on with the sorrel as he loped easily along, taking those long strides that cover the country quickly. Jim knew he could put the horse into a full gallop, but that would wear him down long before reaching the cabin at NS Creek. He would head straight to Joe’s camp and give the sorrel a couple of minutes rest there, but then it would be non-stop to the cabin…if they needed to go that far…a thought that entered Jim’s mind as he charged up the slopes of Cold Spring Mountain. What if he showed up in an all-out gunfight between Ed and Rash? What would happen if Jim arrived after it was over, and Rash was alive? Would Rash just as soon shoot Jim, too, since he surely knew he was a partner with Ed? Would Jim then have to kill Rash…maybe in self-defense? And just what would Jim say to Rash if they met up out on the range before anything had happened? He would simply have to turn Rash back off the mountain in some way. Maybe he could tell him that Tom Horn was just seen on the mountain and headed toward Rash’s cabin. Sure...why not? That just might save the day.