FifteenPainful progress across the plains
Simms leaned forward in his saddle and regarded the broken bridge for a long time, lost in thought. Cartwright scrambled around close by, muttering oaths more to himself than to anyone, kicking at stones, which caused tiny plumes of dust to rise. As this drifted across to Simms, the detective coughed, forcing the young lieutenant to stop and scowl. “This has been broken deliberately, Goddamnit!”
“Seems that way.”
“What in the hell do we do now?”
“Go around, I guess. Find a way across.”
“Where? What if there isn't one?”
“Bound to be. Somewhere.”
“We could take it slow, lead the horses by hand, climb up the far side and—”
“It'll never happen. The horses will stumble, turn an ankle, maybe worse. Either way, we'd be stuck in the bottom with now
