Echo Canyon

Part 2

Jackie peeled her eyes open and rubbed the sand out of them. Her head was pounding. God, she didn't think it had ever hurt this bad before. Her side ached as she sat up, dust cascading off her like a waterfall. Her memory hit her all at once, a tidal wave of pounding and shouting and gunshots. Suddenly very wide awake, she looked around. Bailey stood nearby, digging her nose into some shrubs. What was left of her herd was grazing in the distance. What was left wasn't much. Jackie frowned, looking off towards where the bandits had gone. There was no sign of them other than the hoofprints half blown away in the dust.

"Well, Bailey," she stood up, groaning as her side barked in protest. "Let's never do that again."

The horse snorted as if in agreement. Slowly, painfully, Jackie hauled herself into the saddle and they trotted to the herd. A few minutes later, they were on their way again.

The water tower of Talonstone came into view soon after, followed by the wooden buildings all pressed together. Aaron Long's ranch sat on the outskirts of town, close to the sheriff's office. Of course it was. The bastard probably worried himself to sleep every night wondering if his money would still be there the next day. Jackie steered the cattle into Long's pen, slid out of the saddle with expert grace, and walked up to the front porch, not bothering to tie Bailey to a post.

She knocked lightly on the door and pounded when there was no answer. A moment later, a frumpy, annoyed woman answered the door. Wisps of her grey hair had fallen out of her tight bun and framed her face like a mane. She looked Jackie up and down, taking in the dust covering every inch of her like a second skin, and wrinkled her nose in disapproval. Jackie resisted the urge to tell her off.

"What do you want?" the woman asked.

"I'm here to talk to Mister Long," Jackie said, her face the portrait of boredom. If the woman couldn't bother to pretend to be nice, Jackie wouldn't either. It had been a long day.

The woman disappeared into the house without inviting her in. Jackie crossed her arms and leaned against the doorframe, peering into the ranch house. The interior was dim, but even the darkness couldn't hide the ornate furniture decorating the house. The cleanliness of the house seemed out of place with the wilderness on the other side of the walls, but maybe she was the one who was out of place here. It was no wonder Jackie would be speaking to Long outside.

"Ah! Miss Evecker! Nice of you to arrive," a male voice called from the dimness before Aaron Long stood before her. "I wasn't expecting you to arrive this late...or missing half of my animals."

"And I wasn't expecting to get ambushed by bandits," Jackie said. "But that's life."

Something like anger flashed in his eyes, but Jackie pretended not to notice. "Where are my cows?"

"I told you. Bandits came and took them! They could be anywhere as far as I know. Now, sir, if you don't mind, I'd like what I'm owed."

"You want me to pay you for losing my herd? Did the outlaws steal your sanity along with the cows?" his laugh had no amusement. "Get off my property, girl."

"Not until I receive my compensation," Jackie crossed her arms. "I brought you one third of the herd. I've counted, so don't try to cheat me. I expect payment for that third."

Long's eyebrows knitted together and he pulled out a handful of coins. He counted out a few and dropped them into her waiting hand. She counted them and frowned.

"Eight dollars? I brought you thirty-four cows! That's worth at least twelve!" Jackie said.

"You'll get the rest if you bring me the animals. Those cows are worth more than your life," he said. She frowned at the insult and opened her mouth to make a retort, but the man continued. "You're lucky I'm giving you anything at all!"