On the Trail

Bret took Mary's hand in his own and said, "How are you holding up?"

Mary looked Bret in the eyes and said, "Nervous, but if you are who you say you are I'm willing to take a risk to escape."

Bret felt sure that "Smiling" Jack would send out one or two of his men to check the back trail to see if they had been followed and he would post a guard a little further out from the fire. "We will make our move tonight," he whispered into Mary's ear. "You will not be a **** in Mexio or anyplace else."

"How will we get away?"

Bret carefully reached behind his back and slowly pulled out a knife that he had hidden in a special sheath. "This is how we will effect our escape."

It didn't take long for Smiling Jack to send the remaining men out to their posts. "You know," he said to Bret and the teacher. "I'm thinking that maybe I should let the boys have their way with the teacher..."

"You could do that," Bret said slowly keeping an eye on Jack. "But then there would be no reward for her release; or mine for that matter."

"I'm just thinking out loud that's all," Jack said as he reached for the coffee pot that hung over the fire. "I'll give you the teacher when we get the money."

After an hour Jack went to relieve one of his men saying, "I can't wait for all that money to come my way."

Bret leaned close to Mary and whispered that as soon as the new guard got settled it will be time to make the move.

It was good that the new guard wasn't as talkitive as Jack allowing Bret to time his next move. The outlaw stood still taking a long drink of something most likely whiskey when Bret threw the knife catching the outlaw in the heart killing him.

"Come on, take his rifel and pistol," Bret said with some uregency. "We'll take as much food as we canand head up into the hills."

Mary grabbed the guns and the amunition while Bret grabbed a saddle bag and shoved the ammuniton and food into it. "I suggest that you take his pants," Bret said. "It will be easier to climb over the rocks in pants than a dress." He added.

Bert went through the mans saddel bags and tossed Mary a shrit and a jacket. There was no time to explain, just get what could be taken with ease and run.