Jon Reskind - Caesar conquers book III

Sonofabitch, he thought as he drove toward the inn, following Clifford in his pick-up, he'd think of some way to counter that Lydia bitch's lesbianistic piracy! He wasn't about to give up his little Annie after just turning on the nympho sex in her! Not by a damn sight!

His powerful legs trembled as he climbed from the car and walked toward the inn, a combination, he realized, of no sleep and the wild fucking of lecherous young Lydia Newell taking their toll. Christ, that part of it had almost been worth the fee, he luridly thought, but not quite. His niece's sixteen-year old, rounded white tail of the pair, had a lot more lustful miles in it, and somehow he intended to reclaim its hot, youthful beauty…!

"What the hell's going on, Blakely?" the big man growled, grabbing a chair at Mark's table and dropping down onto it. "What's this about a posse?"

The young deputy sheriff glanced at Steve Foster across from him, then calmly advised the arrogant police chief of his plans and how he'd selected the other hunters. Finally, he added: "No liquor, Link… not on this mission."

"Wh-What the hell's it going to be, a meeting of the A.A. for Christ's sake?" the big man spat, his blood-shot, mean eyes and whiskey-flushed face twisted in a half-grin. "Hell, a man needs a nip or two out there to keep him going, Deputy. I don't know about any of the rest, but I'm taking a pint with me…"

"Then, we'll count you out of this expedition, Link," Mark said, with a matter-of-fact pencil-strike through the police officer's name on the paper. "I said, there'll be no booze on this posse…"

"And who the hell are you to give the orders in my town, Blakely?" the barrel-chested man angrily snarled, kicking back his chair and standing, his huge hands balling into ham-like fists.

The sound of male voices around them suddenly died into silence, but in several reminiscing minds, a shivering, similar occurrence of years past was vividly recalled! It too, had dealt with a Blakely, Mark's father, and this very same police chief had been his antagonist! Even Mark couldn't help but note the shuddering parallel, for it'd been shortly following his dad's public beating of Morgan that he'd been accidentally shot and killed while riding in a hunting posse… and by the huge man who stood ragingly before him!

With every ounce of effort he could muster, Mark forced his own anger under control as he stared unflinchingly upward into the big man's fury-reddened face. "It may well be your jurisdiction in town, Link, but outside those city limits, it's mine… and we'll do this my way! That's final! There'll be no liquor before or while we ride! If you're agreeable, we want you with us… and that's the way it is, Link!"

The powerful man's strained breathing filled the room. There was no question to any tensed occupant there but that he was struggling desperately to determine his next move, though they could hardly reason how or why he decided as he did. Only the big police chief, himself, realized that he couldn't chance discovery of the three wanted teenagers hiding in the hills. But there were other ways… one in particular that was evilly forming in his enraged brain. He'd been shamed in front of everyone, just as the sonofabitch's old-man had publicly shamed him… and no one could do that to Link Morgan and get away with it…!

Mark carefully watched the other, trying to anticipate any sudden move he might make. And then, he heard the massive man's sudden release of breath, indicating that the immediate crisis might be passed.

"All right, Blakely… okay," Link Morgan huskily said. "You win this round. I-It's more important that we finish off that Goddamned wild-pack first… then, you and me… we'll settle our differences man to man, once and for all! Agreed?"

Mark shrugged his young, broad shoulders. "If that's what you want, Link. I'm ready anytime… after this Caesar menace is done away with."

"Good… then, let's get to destroying the fucking mutt-rapist and his pack!" the big man growled. "I'm ready…!"

"And so are the rest of us, Mark!" Frank Clifford put in. "Okay," Mark nodded, getting to his feet. "We'll use cars as far as Frank's ranch. The horses are there waiting for us. Any questions…? Then, let's go…!"

The sun had reached slightly beyond its zenith when Jean Blakely and Carol Foster in shirts, slacks and rubber-soled tennis shoes, all that Jean could find, alighted from their car. Jean had driven the vehicle into the deserted old quarry at the base of an easily accessible foot-hill, confident that it was not apt to be discovered there. She had kept presence of mind enough to bring along a canteen filled with water, which she could carry over her shoulder, and both girls had stuffed crackers in their pockets, just in case…

Moving upward at an untiring gait, the young wives talked sparingly, as if conserving their energies. Often, they stopped to listen to the great silence growing heavier around them as they ascended, hoping to hear a bark or howl which could give them a direction to follow. But they heard nothing, with the exception of the ever-increasing, hushed wildness surrounding them.

If nothing else, Jean thought, following a little apprehensive twinge at one point when she glanced back, the hushed tranquillity was certainly conducive to looking into one's soul! And that, she had been doing for the past hour as they climbed… wondering how it was all going to end, and what was to happen between Mark and herself. There was no question in her mind but that she loved him as much, perhaps more, than ever… though he might well come to hate her for what she was doing! But even so, she had to do it, had to try and protect her animal-lover… the handsome dog that had brought her such unequalled, sensual pleasure these past days… and nights! Dear God… she couldn't imagine him dead… murdered… a bullet ripping into his beautiful loving body and perhaps from Mark's very rifle…!

"Hey…! Maybe, we should take a little rest, honey?" Carol said, catching hold of her arm and moving around to look into her face. "Y-You're crying! What is it, baby…? Don't worry, we'll find him in time…"

Jean sniffled loudly and nodded her head, making the pony-tail she'd quickly formed her long blonde-hair into, bob cutely to her dark-eyed friend. "I-I was just thinking, is all," she said, finding a hankie and blowing her nose.

Carol took the canteen and drank from it, then passed it to Jean who capped it without drinking. The willowy brunette was looking back toward the general direction of the route they'd followed, an anxious expression momentarily clouding her attractive face. Jean saw it, then watched the girl look upward at the position of the sun.

"I-It's getting on," Carol said. "Did you bring a watch?"

"No."

Again, her vivacious partner looked skyward. "Must be around four-o'clock. Still some four hours or more of daylight. D-Do you think you can remember the way back, Jean?"

For a moment, the blonde wife didn't answer. Then: "I'm not sure… but Caesar'll know the way, once we find him!"

Carol uncontrollably snapped a sharp, discerning glance at the other, reading the desperation in Jean's wide, blue eyes. God, they appeared almost vacant for one brief second, and she couldn't help but wonder if the reoccurring effects of the LSD wasn't again creeping over her! Oh Lord, she hoped not! And there was a storm brewing off to the east, heavy, dark menacing clouds that were rapidly moving in their direction! Damn… had they made a foolish mistake coming into these deceiving hills this way…?

"M-Maybe, we should start back down, Jean," the lithesome brunette suggested in a catching voice. "It's getting late, and there's a storm coming, see…?"

Jean looked at her in surprise, almost as if she could hardly believe her friend's words. She began to answer by shaking her head. Then: "I have no intentions of going back down until I find him, Carol! I've got to warn him, don't you understand? You go back if you want… take the water… but I'm going on… right down through that gully and up that furthest hill! I don't know whether I'm right or not, but it has a remote look… wild and forbidden enough to be the sort of place he would go…!"