CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Throwing up a hand, Cole signaled for the others to stop.
“What is it?” asked Whit, reining in his mount beside Cole.
“A rider.” He pointed to a distant plume of dust moving across the plain.
Whit reached behind and pulled out a long leather case from inside his bedroll. He hastily unscrewed the top and tipped it. A brass telescope slid out, which he put to his right eye, twisting the barrel to focus in on the rider. “Yes, it’s as you say. A single rider, red-headed and coming this way.” He collapsed the telescope and dropped it back into its case. “Simpson, go and intercept him, find out who he is and why he’s in such a hurry.”
“Yes, sir,” said Simpson and spurred his horse into a gallop.
“That’s a mighty fine piece of equipment,” said Cole, nodding to the telesco
