Red West III.

Chapter twenty eight - Constraint

"Shit," the Riders' leader cursed. "How much of a lead they have?"

"Eight hours, at least."

Surprised Ryo jumped on his feet: "Damn it, we should have been faster."

"Preparations are just as important as speed," Cullen stated in a cold tone.

"Spare me another lecture, please," the younger Rider requested annoyed.

"It doesn't matter," Leo cut in. "We must go after them."

"Right away?" Jane looked at him worried. "There's barely an hour of day light left."

"I know... But we must act fast or we'll lose him."

Both Cullen and Ryo nodded in a rare harmony.

Leo grabbed his fiancée's hand. "Jane, you should rather..."

"I know," she interrupted him softly. "I'll stay here with Koki."

"Exactly. We'll let you know as soon as possible."

She smiled sadly. "I'm counting with that..."

He grabbed Jane's face between his palms and kissed her lips softly. "Stay safe."

"You too. And... Remember what I said."

***

They left the majestic outlines of the Rocky Mountains far behind as the sturdy stagecoach hurled forward to the open plains of south Montana. The cold wind was blowing along the road throwing dust in faces of men who accompanied the coach in saddles. It was slowly getting dark and they would need to stop for the night soon. It would be too risky to continue riding for various reasons.

Marshal Botkin drew the curtain down over the small window and focused on the chained prisoner sitting on the opposite bench between two of his deputies. Akanishi was leaning back with is eyes closed, but he was sure that the young gangster was not sleeping.

Usually, all the captives were transported on the cart behind the coach, but Botkin did not want to let this man out of his sight. If he was right and there were more of the Riders in Bozeman, they had definitely started following their track by this time. So if possible, he wanted to take all the precautions, which would prevent this man from slipping out from his fingers. And to drive to their destination as quickly as possible, of course.

"Who was Kamenashi to you?" he asked from a sudden impulse.

On that, his prisoner opened his eyes and stabbed him with a dark look. Well, well. No other question, with which he kept bothering Akanishi in regular intervals, awoke any reaction.

"Officially, he was employed by the Indian Office, but... Was he a member of your gang as well?" Botkin pressed on.

"I'm not interested in talking with you, Botkin," Akanishi said stiffly. "If you're so bored, chat with your deputies," and with that he closed his eyes again.

So, it was a hit to the bull's eye, Marshal thought.

This arrogant, reckless man was a mystery to him. Akanishi was lying all the time, but at the same time, he was telling the truth. He also carried some great pain with him, which sometimes soaked through that dispassionate mask of his, but he did not seem to wait for any rescue. He was reconciled and calm.

Well, soon, they were about to see if he would keep on this attitude also during his trial and execution...

***

With his eyes closed, Kame listened to the night woods and to soft swishing of the nearby waterfall, trying to ignore everything else including the ties around his wrists. It was hard, but he was trying to clear his mind off all thoughts and meditate just as Cloud Dancing had taught him. He was hoping that in such a calm state he could finally find a way out from his situation.