The men stirred in their bedrolls. Out by the cattle, more voices were shouting.
And now another man spoke from behind Will. “He ain’t kidding, you boys. We got you covered from all angles. My men, sound off!”
One by one, men called out from the darkness, moving clockwise around the camp’s perimeter, fourteen of them in all, covering Will and his friends from all angles.
Was this Teal?
Will tensed, knowing he didn’t have a chance. His only hope would be to turn on the men behind him, unload both barrels before they knew what happened, and charge in that direction, hoping to break through the line and escape into the bayou.
But what of the others?
Rufus might follow, but the others would get cut down. Of course, so would Will and Rufus, likely.
They were beaten.
As if reading his mind, the voice in the darkness called out, “Now, you know I’m telling the truth. Look, we don’t want to have to kill you boys. Put down your weapons and move toward the fire. We already got your night guard tied up.”
As Will listened, his bitterness shifted to curiosity. That voice…
“Come on now, you bunch of Jonahs. You’re whipped. Put down your guns, lift your hands high, and step into the light, or we’re gonna fill you full of lead.”
Bunch of Jonahs,Will thought.Fill you full of lead…
Will laid down his scattergun then lifted his hands into the air and stood. “Do as he says, men. The last thing I want my tombstone to read is ‘Killed by Benny Braxton.’ Talk about an inglorious epitaph.”
“What?” the voice in the darkness called back, sounding surprised. “Who are you? How do you know my name?”
“You spend three years riding with a man, you get to know his voice,” Will called back. “I’m a little perturbed that you don’t recognize mine.”
“Will?” Benny Braxton said, stepping into the flickering light of the dying fire. “Will Bentley?”
“That’s right, Benny. It’s me. Are you still going to shoot me?”
“Will!” Benny said, stepping forward to embrace Will. “What in the world are you doing down here in the Thicket?”
“I was fixing to ask you the same thing.”
“We got some catching up to do, brother,” Benny said. Then he called into the darkness, “Come out, men. And tell Juan to let that picket go.”
A moment later, Benny’s men stepped into the light. They were ragged and wraithlike, starved down beneath their gray uniforms.
They and Will’s crew eyed each other warily, but no one made any threats.
“Men,” Benny said, “this fella is my brother. Will Bentley, these are the men I ride with now. Sons of the Confederacy, every last one of them.”
Three of the men stepped forward immediately to shake Will’s hand. They knew him, and he knew them. At least in passing.
Another, younger man stepped forward, something like awe shining in his eyes. “You’re Will Bentley? Really?”
“That’s right.”
“The same Will Bentley that led the charge at the river depot?”
Will nodded.
“The same Will Bentley who got behind the bluebellies up in Indian Country?”
“That’s him, boys,” Benny announced, a big smile splitting his black beard now as he clapped Will on the shoulder. “This here is the genuine article, Will Bentley.”
