Double The Bounty

Chapter XXXII

Decker knew all along that for his plan to work the terrain was going to have to be flat and empty for miles. If there was a place for the Foxx boys Tomake a stand, they’d take it, and that would make his job much harder.

He kept riding, knowing that he was probably easy to spot now, but not caring. When they spotted him, they’d have to start galloping their horses as well, and the wounded Foxx brother would not be able to take that for very long.

It would have worked if it hadn’t been for the damned church.

Decker spotted the large stone structure and slowed John Henry down. There was no doubt in his mind that the Foxx boys would be in there. One of them was probably up in the bell tower right now, watching him.

He decided that there was no longer any rush to get to where he was going. The Foxx boys would be there whenever he arrived.

He reined John Henry in and sat staring at the church, which was less than a hundred fifty yards away. Already he could see by their tracks that they had gone into the church.

He had two options.

He could wait for them to come out.

Or he could go in after them.

In waiting for them to come out, it would be a question of who had the most provisions, especially water. Since he was traveling light—the women were carrying whatever stores they still had left— he certainly wouldn’t be able to outlast them—but then he wouldn’t have to. He’d only have to last until Rebecca and Felicia caught up.

That, however, would tell the Foxxes that all he had with him was two women, and that wouldn’t do. They might then decide to try and ride him down, knowing that he was saddled with two women.

Waiting was out. It would only bring the women into range.

That meant going in after them.

It was a large church, and there should only be two of them. Surely he could find a way in once he got close enough.

Of course, the trick was getting close enough. A man in the bell tower with a rifle could hold off ten men, and he was only one.

He turned John Henry’s head and urged him forward at a slow walk. He proceeded to walk in a wide circle around the entire church. If nothing else, it would confuse the men inside until he could figure something out.