Quentin decided to let the others focus on the door of the cabin. He shifted his aim to the window firing slit. He fired steadily, working the lever and aiming, trying to send some rounds through the small opening. He figured being prone with his rifle, he should be scaring the daylights out of the one behind the window if not scoring a hit.

The fusillade continued and after some more shots, the return fire from the cabin stopped. The front door opened just a crack though no person could be seen, Thurlow's now familiar voice cried out.

 " STOP SHOOTING! JUST HOLD ON!"

Benjamin did not believe for a minute they were now going to give up, they only had a hanging awaiting them when they got back. They've murdered too many people.

"YOU KEEP SHOOTING, YOU'LL HIT THE KID!"

Kid? There was somebody else in there? Barlow bellowed out a command, "HOLD YOUR FIRE, MEN!"

Suddenly indeed a kid, to be specific a young girl was shoved out but not like she could run, there was a rope around one of her ankles.

"SO HERE IS THE DEAL, CAPTAIN! IF YOU DON'T SADDLE UP AND RIDE OFF OVER THAT RIDGE TO THE WEST, WE ARE GONNA KILL THIS CHILD! THAT'S IT, NO PALAVER! YOU GO OR SHE DIES!"

Benjamin was inwardly cursing, was there nothing these bastards wouldn't do. It was no bluff, they had nothing to lose by piling on more murders. But if the troopers did do exactly as Thurlow said, what was to prevent the deserters from murdering the child anyhow? Dammit all!

As he exchanged frustrated glances with Cantrell, it suddenly came to him. Odds were the deserters did not even notice the civilian in their midst. They knew they were being chased by the Army, in their soldier uniforms, yes and the two scouts. But not this rancher. He had an idea. It was still a bad risk but at least a chance. Letting these men go on their merry way, that was not an option.

"ALRIGHT, DON'T YOU SHOOT HER! WE WILL GO!" he called back to Thurlow.

Then he looked at Cantrell, "What if we all head on out like they want, but you stay low. Don't mount up with us. I don't think they even realize you are with us. In the far distance you looked like just another trooper. They know MacIntosh and his Indian but you....we can gamble they don't. You stay behind. And when they then attempt to leave, you surprise'em."

"It might not work, but you and I both know in the end they'll do evil to that girl. What'd ya think?"

The man was a civilian, he couldn't order him to do a damn thing.

Quentin had crawled back below the fold in the ground he had been using for cover. He thought about Barlow's suggestion and nodded. "I like it..." Cantrell crawled back along the rear of the scattered troopers but paused to look at Barlow.

"Just so we're clear...I kill them both if I can to save the child?"

(Barlow Response)

Cantrell checked the amount of ammunition he had on him and was satisfied. He pushed a few more rounds in to reload his Winchester and continued crawling. moving past the end of the firing line and making his way to the side of the house, picking a low scrub bush to crawl into from behind and settle on his stomach. He had a good view of the front of the house, but someone coming out would have to really be looking to see him in the brush. Cantrell reached up and tugged his hat off, laying it aside so as not to give a silhouette as he settled in behind his rifle, looking down the sight while he waited...

The rancher had wisely remained hidden, Benjamin was going to gamble the deserters had not seen him. They were focused on the cavalry detachment. So the plan might just work. He could come up with nothing better, that assumed Cantrell would go along with it, it put a lot of pressure on the man. Not just his own personal safety but the child's too. It would be a bitter victory if an innocent girl was killed while settling their account with the deserters.

Fortunately the rancher agreed, "I like it."

The officer nodded, "Then we do this. Good luck."

"Just so we're clear...I kill them both if I can to save the child?"the other man asked.

"I am not taking these bastards back alive. They had their chances," Barlow answered grimly.

And with that he barked out orders to his troopers.

"Alright men, fall back to the horses. Mount up, we're leaving!"

One veteran trooper looked puzzled, "Now?"

"Yes, dammit! You heard the order. We are leaving!"

The cavalry did as told, Barlow right with them, beating a retreat back to the horseline. They mounted up then, Barlow within calling distance of MacIntosh by now. That man was still parleying with the Indians. Either he was a golden tongue or these Indians were not on the warpath. Maybe a little of both.

"Mr. MacIntosh, you and your man, mount up. We are going to retreat. No arguments, we are leaving! Tell the Indians we mean them no harm, we are not looking to go after them. Let us both leave in peace."

As for that Apache, Barlow had no clue where that man was. And there was not the time to search for him.

By then everybody was mounted and awaiting their officer to show them the way. Barlow waved them on then headed for the agreed upon ridgeline in the distance. The deserters had gotten their way.

For now, you bastards, for now, thought Benjamin. If this scheme didn't work, then he'd continue to pursue them until this was brought to a finish, they were not going to get away with all this. Come hell or high water.

***

The trio of Indians were confused as to what all was going on amongst these white eyes but then who could understand the strange ways of these people? The blue coats were leaving and leaving in a hurry. The men in the cabin were still inside, only that white girl was visible. Their spokesman had enough for now. They would head back to the rest of the men and talk about it all. And wait and watch from a distance. For now this was a white eyes affair.

"We go then," he informed the grizzled scout and then they turned around and rode off toward where they had come.

The cavalry detachment and MacIntosh joined up on the far ridgeline. Barlow pausing to allow the deserters, who he was sure were still watching them from the safety of the cabin, see them clearly and then with a wave of his hand and a comand to follow him, the veteran officer led the troopers out of sight on the blind side of the crestline. While he had paused, he had also checked on the Indians. The trio who had talked with his scout had rejoined their fellow tribesmen. And there they sat. Like vultures maybe.

Benjamin now spoke to MacIntosh, "So what was up with the Indians? What did they want? Plainly they had no interest in tangling with the US army."

"I'm hoping our rancher, who seems like he knows what he's doing is gonna be able to surprise the deserters when they come out. They can't possibly just stay holed up in that cabin, they have to make a run for.........Canada I'm guessing."

"But for now, we wait...we wait and we listen. I don't even want to peek over that ridgeline for now. Unless shooting breaks out," he briefed the scout.