Deadly Sins-Greed

Chapter 16

Hank was proud of his kill. They were all hungry. Charlie's berry hunting and plant eating didn't seem to fill their stomachs as well as meat would. Charlie was in charge of Heath's recovery. Therefore, he rarely left his side to hunt. That left the hunting up to Cotton and Hank. Cotton was a good hunter. After all, he was taught by Heath. That didn't stop the boy from getting distracted at times when something would capture his interest.

Due to this, Hank told him to hunt away from him. He also told Cotton to stay in familiar territory so he wouldn't get lost. Cotton was obedient to what he was told. What Hank didn't count on was that obedience was defined differently than how he'd meant Cotton to interpret it.

Cotton walked up to the familiar cabin and knocked. He figured Hank and Charlie would be happy to have something different for dinner tonight. Besides, if Heath were awake, he'd want something too.

Betty answered the door. Her eyes widened at seeing Cotton standing there. His grin told her that nothing was wrong but he was proud to have found the cabin.

"Cotton, what are you doing here?" Betty whispered as she pulled Cotton into the small cabin. She peered around the outside quickly. She hoped that Ward had not seen the boy come up to the cabin.

"Ma'am." Cotton took of his hat as he spoke to Betty. He had been taught manners by all three women he grew up with. He planned to keep his mama, Leah and Hannah proud that he kept up with what he was taught. "Heath is healing up. Fever is gone now. Figure that he will wake up soon. I didn't know you were here."

Betty sat Cotton down at the old wooden table. She poured him a cup of coffee. "What was you wanting here?"

"I came to see if Miss Nora would give me some canned peaches. I saw some when I was here last." Cotton had no idea that Nora resented the group. He was innocent to a lot of things including holding grudges. "I think Heath would like that. I could cut some wood to pay for them."

"No need in that." Betty was hoping Nora was still sound asleep. "I'll get you some. Remember, Heath is my boss too. I owe him that much."

The baby had been born three days ago. Nora seemed to be wore out from the experience of giving birth to a large eight pound baby boy. She named the boy after Ward and his father. Ward Harvey Whitcomb was a healthy boy to be proud of.

Betty bundled up biscuits, canned peaches, and a few ears of corn. "Now, you best be getting out of here. Ward don't want you around. You know how he is."

"Yes, Ma'am. I thank you." Cotton walked to the porch that was on the back of the small cabin. He placed his hat on his head as he wandered off towards the cave.

Ward stood behind a large tree holding two rabbits he had retrieved from the snares he had set. He growled out as he watched his mother in law send the idiot off with food from his own pantry. Ward didn't care that Betty had brought most of the food with her when she came. As far as he was concerned, it was his food now. The idiot had no rights to it. Nor did the bastard he was taking it to.

Ward had been more the elated to see the healthy son born to him. Yet, he still wanted riches the easy way. In his mind, his family deserved that. He envied how people, who knew Heath, admired the blond bastard. No one admired him even his own mother in law would choose Heath over her own son in law. Well, that would change when Heath Thomson was hanging from a noose while Ward counted the money collected for him.

Following Cotton to the cave hide out was easy. Had Heath been well enough, he'd have been more cautious than the men inside the cave. Ward knew better than to march into the cave and try to take Heath. The men may not have thought of anyone following Cotton. That wouldn't stop them from protecting Heath until their last breath or until his. He did notice Hank standing at the entrance of the cave with a rifle. He also knew the Indian would hear if he approached. Ward realized his best chance of getting to Heath was to wait until the blond was up and about on his own. The men would let their guards down and then he'd get Heath Thomson and the reward for him.

Knowing Heath's shooting arm was not so good, Ward figured he had the advantage over the blond. After all, the reward was dead or alive. It didn't much matter to Ward how he brought Heath in as long as he got the thousand dollars Heath's hide was worth.

Usually, Ward wasn't much for patience but he'd wait Heath out. The patience would pay off this time. Unlike last time, the thousand dollars would be invested in what Ward was sure was a good investment. Nora and Harvey would have a good life right beside of him.

Heath woke to the smell of rabbit roasting. He sat up weakly as he stared at his surroundings.

"Glad you are back with us, my friend." Charlie held a tin cup filled with water out to Heath.

Heath refused to allow Charlie to help him drink. He took the cup in his shaky hand before taking a small drink. He'd been shot before. He knew better than to gulp down the water no matter how thirsty. He knew slow sips were best.

"How long have I been out of it?" Heath sat up and pushed himself against the cave wall.

"Four days." Charlie answered. "I think you didn't take care of your wound as you should since coming here. Setting up this cave before you began practicing shooting with your left hand then wearing yourself out by hunting and scouring for food. Not a good practice when you should've been resting."

"I reckon you're right." Heath sighed. "Thanks for helping me out."

"Cotton brought home a special treat for us. Biscuits, corn, and even peaches. He said that Betty, Hank's mother, was at Nora's cabin. She gave him the food." Charlie pointed to the large man standing guard over the cave. "Hank got us rabbit for dinner."

"Smells good." Heath tried to ward off the stiffness of his back. "I bet Ward didn't much like sharing his food with us."

"Probably was my ma's food in the first place." Hank answered as he walked inside the cave. "Gettin' dark out. Guess were safe for now."

"Ward didn't know." Cotton spoke up as he pulled the ears of corn from the fire. He had saw Leah make corn in a fire with the husks still on. He did the same. "Mrs. Betty gave me the bundle and told me to leave. I think Nora and Ward have them a baby now. I heard a cry as I left. Sounded like a baby."

"Well, I'll be. I guess that makes me an uncle." Hank chuckled. "Hope he took after my sister and not Ward."

"Well, I hope he or she took after Ward or your sister in looks and not the uncle." Heath teased as he winked at Charlie.

"Shoot. Nice to see you using that smart mouth of yours again, Boss." Hank helped Cotton pull the husks off the roasted corn. "You did real good getting extra food for our celebration dinner, Cotton."

"What are we celebratin'?" Heath asked as he took the plate of rabbit, corn, and sweet peaches offered him.

"You living, my friend." Charlie patted Heath's well shoulder as he settled down to his own meal.

Each evening, Ward made his way to watch the cave for Heath emerging. Nora and Betty were busy taking care of the new baby to notice Ward being gone longer than usual when he was out hunting.

Around the sixth evening of Heath's recovery, Ward's patience won out as Heath emerged from the cave. Charlie, Hank, and Cotton were out scouting the area to ready to leave the cave. They were making sure there was no posse out searching for them. Truthfully, Heath knew that if a posse had been after them, they'd have found them long ago. Heath wanted some time alone after having the three men under his foot constantly in the cave. Therefore, he sent the three to scout the area.

The blond stretched his wary body. The sun peeking through the trees warmed Heath's tired body. He didn't put on his gun belt. He knew that his right shoulder wouldn't allow him to shoot with his gun yet. Instead, he tucked a gun on the inside of the waist of his pants. Heath didn't plan on using it. Habit wouldn't let the boy go anywhere without a gun on hand. Heath placed the well worn jacket over himself before he emerged from the cave.

"Hold up, Heath." Ward stepped out of the wooded area around the cave. He held a rifle in his hands. "You're worth a lot of money. I can get the money if your dead or alive. I don't care which. That's your choice."

"Ward, I warned you about your greed. I don't feel like killing you today. Go home to your wife and child. Don't go borrowing trouble." Heath sighed out. "You have enough blessings. You should start countin' those blessings."

Ward scowled when Heath turned around to head back into the cave. The bastard had the audacity to not fear Ward. He wasn't taking him seriously. Ward would show Heath Thomson how serious he was. He pulled up the rifle and cocked it.

"Time to die." Ward warned Heath.