the Strong Shall Live (Ss)
Transcript of the Strong Shall Live (Ss)
theStrongShallLive(Ss)(1980)L'amour,Louis
Published: 2010
TheStrongShallLive
LouisL'amour*
"You'reSaidToBeAToughMan,Cavagan.I'veHeardItUntilI'mSickOfIt,SoI'veBroughtYouHereToSeeHowMuchIsToughAndhowmuchisshantyIrishbluff.We'releavingyouhere."
ThosewereSutton'sruthlesslastwordsbe-foreridingoff.Cavaganstoodinthesearingdesertheatatthebottomofthedeepsandpits,sixtymilesfromwater,hishandstiedandhisbodystifffromrepeatedbeatings.
Sixtymilesfromthenearestwater.Onfoot,inonehundredandtwentydegreeheat.OnlyonethoughtgaveCavaganhisdrivingstrength:
"Ishalllive!IshalllivetoseeSuttondie!"
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FOREWORD:
Thisbookisapartialanswertothosereaderswhohavebeenaskingwheremyshortstoriescouldbefound.ApreviouscollectionappearedasWARPARTY,andnowthese.
Afewofthestorieswerewrittenlongago,othersquiterecently.Allare,Ibelieve,illustrativeofthetitleofthecollection.
Notlongagoawriter,attemptingtofindaprogressioninthe
developmentofmystoriesaccordingtoapatternofhisowndevising,predictedthatsoonIwouldwriteastorywithanethnichero.Hewasoverthirtyyearslate.Merrano,inthisvolume,isonesuchcase,althoughtherewereothers.
Mystorieshavenothingtodowithrace,creed,ornationality.Theyaresimplystoriesofpeopleonthefrontier,andthosepeoplewereofallkinds.Ifsometimestheyresembleoneanotheritissimplyapatternimposeduponthembythecountryandthetime.
Thefrontierwasitselfselective.Ittendedtoeliminatetheweakandtheinefficientbyonemeansoranother.
Inthesestoriesthereareno"heroes"intheusualsense,althoughintheHomericsensetheremaybe.Thesearestoriesofpeoplelivingouttheirlivesagainstabackgroundthatdemandedalltheycouldgiveandoftenabitmore.Theywerepeopletryingtofindacceptablepatternsofbehaviorinatotallynewenvironment,drawingupontheirpastbutadjustingthemselvestonewsituationsandattitudes.
Thefrontierdemandedtheybeself-reliant.Group-thinkingandpeerbehaviorhadonlyalimitedapplication.
TheWesthasbeenportrayedaslawless.Thisisliterallyuntrue.Thepioneersbroughttheirchurch,theirschools,andtheirtownmeetingswiththem.Necessarily,therewerealterationsinthelawstheyestablishedtoconformwithchangedconditions,butthelawwasthere.Itistruethereweremanyfreespiritswhoresentedthis,andtherewereotherswhocamewestintendingtodoastheypleased.TheexistenceofBootHillsinmanywesterntownsisampleevidenceofhowthefrontiercopedwithsuchproblems.
Ithadbeenthecustomofmen,fromthebeginningoftime,tosettledisputesbycombat.Fromtheclubandspear,menprogressedto
thelanceandtheswordandthentothepistol.Senators,cabinetofficers,admiralsandgeneralsregularlysettledtheirdisputeswithweapons.TherewereundoubtedlyasmanyduelsintheearlyAmericanNavyasinanyregionoftheWest.StephenDecatur,oneofourearlynavalheroes,killedasmanymeninduelsasdidBatMasterson,who,incidentallywounduphisdaysasasportswriteronaNewYorknewspaper,anddiednotwithapistolinhishands,butatypewriter.
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THESTRONGSHALLLIVE
Thelandwasfirebeneathandtheskywasbrassabove,butthroughouttheday'slongridingtheboundmansaterectinthesaddleandcursedthemforthievesandcowards.Theirblowsdidnotsilencehim,althoughthebloodfromhisswollenandcrackedlipshaddriedonhisfaceandneck.
OnlyJohnSuttonknewwheretheyrodeandonlyheknewwhatheplannedforCavagan,andJohnSuttonsatthinanddryandtallonhislong-limbedhorse,leadingtheway.
Ninemeninall,temperedtothehardwaysofanunforgivingland,menstronginthestrengthsneededtosurviveinalandthatheldnoplacefortheweakorindecisive.EightmenandaprisonertakenafterabitterchasefromthepleasantcoastallandstotheblazingdesertalongtheColoradoRiver.
Cavaganhadfoughtonwhentheothersquit.Theydestroyedhiscrops,toredownhisfences,andburnedhishome.Theykilledhishiredhandandtriedtokillhim.Whentheyburnedhishomeherebuiltit,andwhentheyshotathimheshotback.
Whentheyambushedhimandlefthimfordead,hecrawledintotherockslikeawoundedgrizzly,treatedhisownwounds,andthencaughtahorseandrodedowntoSutton'sRanchandshotouttheirlightsduringthevictorycelebration.
TwoofButton'smenquitinprotest,fortheyadmiredagameman,andCavaganwaswinningsympathyaroundthecountry.
CavaganwasablackIrishmanfromCountySligo.HismotherdiedontheAtlanticcrossingandhisfatherwaskilledbyIndiansin
Tennessee.AtsixteenCavaganfoughtintheTexaswarforindependence,trappedintheRockiesfortwoyears,andinthewarwithMexicoheservedwiththeTexasRangersandlearnedthevalueofaWalkerColt.
Atthirtyhewasamanhonedbydesertfiresandedgedbycombatwithfist,skull,andpistol.BackinCountySligothenamehadbeenO'Cavaganandthefamilyhadareputationwoninbattle.
Sutton'smensurroundedhishouseasecondtimethinkingtocatchhimasleep.Theyfiredatthehouseandwaitedforhimtocomeout.Cavaganhadsleptonthesteephillsidebehindthehouseandfromthereheopenedfire,shootingamanfromhissaddleandcuttingthelobefromSutton'searwithabulletintendedtokill.
Nowtheyhadhim,buthesatstraightinthesaddleandcursedthem.SuttonhecursedbuthesavedabitforBeefHannon,theSuttonforeman.
"You'reabigman,Beef,"hetaunted,"butuntiemyhandsandI'llpoundthatthickskullofyoursuntiltheyellowrunsoutofyourears."
Theireyessquintedagainstthewhiteglareandtheblisteringheatfromoffthedunes,andtheytriedtoignorehim.Amongthesanddunestherewasnobreeze,onlythestiflingheavinessofhot,motionlessair.Wearilytheirhorsesploddedalongtheedgeofadunewherethesandfellsteeplyoffintoadeeppitamongthedunes.JohnSuttondrewrein."Untiehisfeet,"hesaid.
JuanVelasquezswungdownandremovedtherawhidethongsfromCavagan'sfeet,andthenstoodback,forheknewthemannerofmanthatwasCavagan.
"Getdown,"SuttontoldCavagan.
Cavaganstaredhiscontemptfromtheslitswherehiseyespeeredthroughswollen,blackenedflesh,thenheswunghislegacrossthesaddle,kickedhisbootfreeofthestirrupanddroppedtotheground.
Suttonregardedhimforseveralminutes,savoringhistriumph,thenheputtheflatofhisbootagainstCavagan'sbackandpushed.Cavaganstaggered,foughtforbalance,butthesandcrumbledbeneathhimandhefell,tumblingtothebottomofthehollowamongthedunes.
Withhishandstiedandhisbodystifffromthebeatingshehadtakenheneededseveralminutestogettohisfeet.WhenhestooderecthestaredupatSutton."ItiswhatIwouldhaveexpectedfromyou,"hesaid.
Sutton'sfeaturesstiffened,andhegrewwhitearoundthemouth."You'resaidtobeatoughman,Cavagan.I'veheardituntilI'msickofit,soI'vebroughtyouheretoseehowmuchistoughandhowmuchisshantyIrishbluff.Iamcurioustoseehowtoughyouwillbewithoutfoodorwater.We'releavingyouhere."
Hannonstartedtoprotest.HehadhimselftriedtokillCavagan,buttoleaveamantodieintheblazingheatofthedesertwithoutfoodorwaterandwithhishandsbound...aglanceatSutton'sfaceandthewordsdiedonhislips.
"It'ssixtymilestowater,"hemanaged,atlast.
JohnSuttonturnedinhissaddleandmeasuredHannonwithaglance,thendeliberatelyhefacedfrontandstartedaway.Reluctantly,theothersfollowed.
JuanVelasquezlookeddownintothepitatCavagan.HecarriedarawwoundinhissidefromaCavaganbullet,butthatpitwasseventyfeetdeep.Slowly,thinkingashedidit,JuanunfastenedhiscanteenandwasabouttotossittoCavaganwhenhecaughtSutton'seyesonhim.
"Throwit,"Suttonsuggested,"butifyoudoyouwillfollowit."
Juanbalancedthecanteenonhispalm,temptedbeyondmeasure.Sixtymiles?Withthetemperatureatonehundredandtwentydegrees?Reluctantly,here-tiedthecanteentohissaddlehorn.Suttonwatchedhim,smilinghisthinsmile.
"I'llrememberthat,Juan,"Cavagansaid."Itwasagoodthought."
JohnSuttonturnedhissquarethinshouldersandrodeaway,theothersfollowing.Hannon'sshoulderswerehunchedasifexpectingablow.
Whenthelastofthemhaddisappearedfromsight,Cavaganstoodaloneatthebottomofthesandpit.
Thiswas1850andeventheIndiansavoidedthesandhills.TherewasnolawwestofSantaFeoreastofthecoastmountains.CavaganhadsettledonlandthatSuttonconsideredhis,althoughhehadnolegalclaimtoit.Otherwould-besettlershadbeendrivenoff,butCavaganwouldnotbedriven.TomakemattersworsehecourtedthegirlSuttonhadmarkedforhimself.
Cavaganstoodinthebottomofthesandpit,hiseyesclosedagainsttheglareofthesunonthewhitesand.Hetoldhimself,slowly,harshly,thathewouldnot,hemustnotdie.Aloudhesaid."Ishalllive!Ishallseehimdie!"
Therewasaburningfurywithinhimbutacautionbornofexperience.Shadewouldcomefirsttothewestsideofthepit,sowithhisboothescrapedasmallpitinthesand.There,severalInchesbelowthesurface,itwasalittlecooler.Hesatdown,hisbacktothesun,andwaited.
Morethansevenhoursofsunlightremained.Toattemptclimbingfromthepitoreventofightthethongsonhiswristswouldcausehim
toperspireprofuselyandlessenhischancesofultimatesurvival.Fromthismomenthemustbepatient,hemustthink.
Sweatdrippedfromhischin,histhroatwasparchedandthesunonhisbackandshoulderswasliketheheatfromafurnace.Anhourpassed,andthenanother.Whenatlasthelookeduptherewasaninchofshadowunderthewesternlipofthepit.
Hestudiedthewayhiswristswerebound.Hishandshadbeentiedtothepommel,sotheywereinfrontofhim.Heliftedhiswriststohisteethandbeganeversogentlytoworkattherawhideknots.Ittooknearlyanhour,butbythetimehiswristswerefreetheshadehadreachedthebottomofthepit.Hecoiledtherawhideandslippeditintohispocket.
Theeastslopewassomewhatlesssteep,witheachstepheslidback,butwitheachhegainedalittle.Finallyheclimbedoutandstoodinthefullglareofthesettingsun.
HeknewwherethenearestwaterholelaybutknewSuttonwouldhaveitguarded.Hisproblemwassimple.Hehadtofindwater,getoutofthedesert,thenfindahorseandweapons.HeintendedtodestroySuttonashewoulddestroyarabidwolf.
Shadowsstretchedoutfromthemountains.TothenorththemyriadpinnaclesoftheChocolateMountainscrownedthemselveswithgoldfromthesettingsun.Hestartedtowalk.
Itwasnotsixtymilestothenearestwater,forCavaganknewthedesertbetterthanSutton.Westofhim,butinadirectionhedarenotchance,laySunsetSpring.Brackishwater,andoffthelineforhim.
Twenty-fivemilestothenorthwestamongthepinnaclesoftheChocolateswererocktanksthatmightcontainwater.ACahuillaIndianhadtoldhimofthenaturalreservoir,anduponthisfeeble
chanceherestedhislife.
Hewalkednorthwest,hischancesathousandtoone.Hemustwalkonlyintheearlyhoursofthemorningandaftersundown.Duringthedayhemustlieintheshade,ifhefoundany,andwait.Towalkinthesunwithoutwaterwastodie.
Thesandwasheavyandateachstephesanktohisankles.ChoosingadistantpeakintheChocolateshepointedhimselftowardit.Whenthestarscameouthewouldchooseastaraboveitforaguide.Atnightlandmarkshaveawayoflosingthemselvesandwhatwasfamiliarbydaybecomesstrangeandunfamiliarinthedarkness.
Toreachthevicinityoftherocktankswasonething,tofindthemquiteanother.NearsuchtanksintheTinajasAltasmenhaddiedofthirstwithinafewfeetofwater,unawareofitspresence.Suchtankswerenaturalreceptaclescatchingtherunofffrominfrequentrains,andsoshaded,thatevaporationwasslow.Astherewasnoseepagetherewasnovegetationtoindicatethepresenceofwater.
Theshadowsgrewlongandonlyafaintafterglowremainedinthesky.OnhisrightandbeforehimlaythevalleydividingthedunesfromtheChocolateMountains.Nowtheairwascoolandhereandthereastarappeared.Desertairisthinanddoesnotretaintheheat,henceitsoonbecomescool,andinthemiddleofthenight,actuallycold.ThesewerethehoursCavaganmustuse.
Ifhecouldnotfindthetanks,oriftherewasnowaterinthem,hewoulddie.Cavaganwasamanwithoutillusion.Hisgreatstrengthhadbeensappedbybrutaltreatment,andhemustconservewhatstrengthremained.Locatinghispeakandastaraboveit,hewalkedon.Alongtimelater,descendingfromthelastofthedunes,hetookadiagonalcourseacrossthevalley.Twicehepausedtorest,soakingupthecoolness.Heputasmallpebbleinhismouthtostartthesaliva
flowing.Foratimeithelped.
Walkinginheavysandhehadmadebuttwomilesanhour,butonthevalleyfloorhemovedfaster.Ifhereachedthetinajasandtheyheldwaterhewouldhaveachievedonegoal.However,hehadnowayofcarryingwaterandthenextwaterholewasfar.Notthatonecanplacerelianceonanydesertwaterhole.Oftentheywereuseduporhadgonedry.
Hisbatteredfacethrobbedwitheverystepandhisheadached.ThepinnaclesoftheChocolatesloomednearer,buthewasnotdeceived.Theyweremilesaway.
AnhourbeforedawnheenteredawashthatcamedownfromtheChocolates.Hewasdeadtired,andhisfeetmovedawkwardly.Inelevenhourshehadprobablytravelednomorethantwenty-threeor-fourmilesandshouldbenearthetanks.Hefoundaledgethatofferedshadeandstretchedout.Hewassoonasleep.
Theheatawakenedhim.Hismouthwasdryasparchmentandhehaddifficultyinmovinghistongue,whichseemedawkwardandswollen.Aglanceatthesuntoldhimitwasnoonornearlyso.AccordingtotheCahuillaheshouldbewithinafewyardsofwater,certainlywithinamileorso.Inthatmazeofcliffs,boulders,rockslabs,andarroyos,clutteredwithcanelikeclumpsofocotillo,hewouldbefortunatetofindanything.
Animalswouldcometowaterbutmanydesertcreatureslivedwithoutit,gettingwhatmoisturetheyneededfromsucculentplantsorcacti.Someinsectssoughtwater,andhehadnoticedbeesflyingpasttakingthestraightlinethatusuallyledtohiveorwater.
Histhroatwasrawandhismindwandered.Faroff,overthedeserthehadrecentlycrossed,layalovelybluelake,shimmeringamongthe
heatwaves...amirage.
Lyingdownagainhewaitedfordusk.Hewassweatingnolongerandmovementwasaneffort.Hehadbeenalmostthirtyhourswithoutwaterandinintenseheat.
Itwasalmostdarkwhenheawakenedagain.Staggeringtohisfeethestartedtoclimb.Thecoolnessrefreshedhimandgavehimnewstrength.Hepushedon,climbinghigher.Hisvisionwasuncertainandhisskullthrobbedpainfully,butattimeshefeltanalmostdeliriousgaiety,andthenhewouldscrambleuprockswithzestandabandon.Suddenlyhesatdown.Withashockofpiercingclarityherealizedhecoulddie.
Herarelythoughtofdying,althoughheknewitwasexpectedofhimasofallmen,yetitwasalwayssomebodyelsewhowasdying.Suddenlyherealizedhehadnospecialdispensationagainstdeathandhecoulddienow,withinthehour.
Itwasfaintlygrayintheeastwhenhestartedagain.Amazingly,hefoundthetanks.
Asheeptrackdirectedhim.Itwasahalf-shelteredrocktank,butitwasdry.Onlyafaintdustingofsandlayinthebottom.
Afewminuteslater,andalittlehigherup,hefoundasecondtank.Itwasbone-dry.
Soonthesunwouldriseandtheheatwouldreturn.Cavaganstaredattheemptytanksandtriedtoswallow,butcouldnot.Histhroatwasraw,andwhereitwasnotrawitfeltlikeoldrubber.Hislegsstartedtotremble,butherefusedtositdown.Heknewifhesatnowhemightnever
getup.Therewasaqueernessinhim,astrangelightnessasifheno
longerpossessedweight.Throughthesemi-deliriuminducedbyheat,thirst,andexhaustionthereremainedahardcoreofresolution,thefirmnessofacourseresolveduponandincomplete.IfhequitnowJohnSuttonwouldhavewon.Ifhequitnowthedesertwouldhavedefeatedhim,andthedesertwasafriendlyplacetothosewhoknewhowtolivewithit.
Cunningcametohim.Tothosewhoknewhowtolivewithit,notagainstit.Nomancouldfightthedesertandlive.Amanmustmovewithit,givewithit,livebyitsrules.Hehaddonethat,sowhatremained?
Hiseyespeeredintothegrowinglight,refusingtofocusproperly,histhoughtsprowlingthefoggylowlandsofhismind,seekingsomeforgottenthing.
Thinkback...therocktanksoftheChocolates.TheChocolates.TheChocolateswerearangerunningparalleltotheduneswhichtheMexicanscalledthealgodones.Bitbybithisthoughtstriedtosortoutsomethingheknew,butsomethingwasmissing.SomethingelsetheCahuillahadsaid.ItcametohimthenliketheIndian'svoiceinhisears."Ifthereisnowaterinthetanks,thereisaseepinthecanyon."
AlmostduewestwasthecanyonthroughwhichrantheoldIndiantrail...maybefivemiles.
Itwastoofar.Andthenhegotupwithoutdecisionandwalkedaway.Hewalkedwithhisheadup,hismindgoneoffsomewhere,walkingwithaquick,livelystep.Whenhehadwalkedforsomedistancehefellflatonhisface.
Alizardonarockstaredathim,throatthrobbing.SomethingstirredCavagan'smuscles,andhegothishandsunderhimandpushedhimselftohisknees.Thenhegotup,weavingalittle.Itwasdaylight.
Abeeflewpast.
Heswayedalittle,browpuckered,abeeflyingstraight...hiveorwaterorahivenearwater?Hetookafewhesitantstepsinthedirectionthebeehadflown,thenstopped.Afterabitanotherdronedpastandhefollowed,takingasightonaclumpofocotillosomedistanceoff.Hestumbledandfell,scarcelyconsciousofituntilhearoseandstaredathispalms,laceratedbythesharpgravel.
Whenhefellagainhelaystillforwhatmusthavebeenaconsiderabletime,finallybecomingawareofawhistlingsound.Hepushedhimselfup,listening.Thesoundremindedhimofacricket,yetwasnotacricket.Helistened,puzzledyetalertedforsomereasonhedidnotunderstandHemovedthen,andunderaclumpofgrease-woodsomethingstirred.Hefroze,thinkingfirstofarattler,althoughtheheatwastoogreatforonetobeoutunlessinawell-shadedposition.Andthenhiseyecaughtamovement,andheknewwhythesoundhadalertedhim.Itwasatinyred-spottedtoad.
Longagohehadlearnedthatthered-spottedtoadalwayslivedwithinthevicinityofwaterandnevergotfarfromit.
Awkwardlyhegottohisfeetandlookedcarefullyaround.Hiseyescouldnotseemtofocusproperly,yetdownthecanyonheglimpsedsomegalletagrassandwalkedtowardit,comingupontheseepquitesuddenly.
Droppingtohiskneeshescoopedwaterinhispalmanddrankit.Acoldtrickledownhisthroatwaspainfulontherawflesh.Withgentlefingersheputwateronhislips,bathedhischeeksandfacewithit,thendrankalittlemore.
Somethinginsidewascryingoutthathewassafe,butheknewhewasnot.Hedrankalittlemore,thencrawledintotheshadeofarockand
layonhisbackandslept.
Whenheawakenedhecrawledoutanddrankmoreandmore,hiswater-starvedbodysoakingupthemoisture.Hehadfoundwaterbuthadnomeansofcarryingitwithhim,andthecanyonoftheseepmightwellbecomehistomb,hisopentomb.
Cavagangotouttherawhidewithwhichhiswristshadbeenboundandriggedasnareforsmallgame.Inplacingthesnarehefoundsomeseeds,whichheate.Hedrankagain,thensatdowntothinkhiswayforward.
Fromwherehenowsatthereweretwopossibleroutes.NortheasttowardtheColoradowasRedButteSpring,butitwasatleasttwenty-fivemilesawayandinthewrongdirection.
ThetwelvemilestoChuckawallaSpringbegantoloomverylarge,andleavingthewaterhehadfoundworriedhim.TheChuckawallaMountainswereathinbluelineonthenorthernhorizon,andevenifhereachedthemthenextspringbeyondwasCornSprings,justasfaraway.Yetthelongerhewaitedthemorehisstrengthwouldbedrainedbylackoffood.Hehadneverknown*suchexhaustion,yethedarenotwait.
Onthesecondmorninghissnarecaughtakangaroorat,whichhebroiledoverasmallfire.Whenhehadeatenhegotupabruptly,dranksomemore,glancedatthenotchintheChuckawallasandstartedwalking.
Attheendofanhourherested,thenwentonataslowerpace.Theheatwasincreasing.Inmid-afternoonhefellonhisfaceanddidnotgetup.
Morethananhourmusthavepassedbeforehebecameawareoftheintenseheatandbegantocrawllikeablindmole,seekingshade.The
plantsabouthimwerelessthanafoothigh,andhefoundnothing,finallylosingconsciousness.
Heawakened,shakingwithchill.Themooncastaghostlyradianceoverthedesert,theclusteredcanesoftheocotillolookingliketheheaddressesofgiganticIndians.Hegottohisfeet,awareofastirringinthenight.Hewaited,listening.Afaintclickofahoofonstoneandthenhesawadesertbighornsheepwalkintothewashandthenheheardafaintsplash.Rising,hewalkeddowntothewashandheardascurryofmovementasthesheepfled.Healmostwalkedintothespringbeforehesawit.Hedrank,thendrankagain.
LatethenextafternoonhekilledaChuckawallawithawell-thrownstone.Hecookedthebiglizardandfoundthemeattenderandappetizing.Atduskhestartedagain,crossingasmallsaddletothenorthsideofthemountains.Itwastwelvemilesthistime,anditwasdaybreakbeforehereachedCornSprings.Herecognizeditbytheclumpofpalmsandmesquiteinthewashbeforereachingthespring,someclumpsofbaccharis,clustersofsmalltwigsrisingtwotothreefeet.Andthenhefoundthespringitself.Afterdrinkinghecrawledintotheshadeandwasasleepalmostatonce.
Heopenedhiseyes,awareofwood-smoke.Rollingoverquickly,hesatup.
Anoldmansquattednearakettleatafirenearthespring,andontheslopeacoupleofburrosbrowsed.
"Lookstomelikeyou'vehadatimeofit,"theoldmancommented."Youetanything?"
"Chuckawalla...hadakangarooratacoupleofdaysago."
Theoldmannodded."Etchuckatimeortwo...ain'tasbadassomefolksmightfigger."
Cavaganacceptedabowlofstewandateslowly,savoringeverybite.Finally,placingthehalf-emptybowlonthegroundhesatback."Don'tsupposeamanwithapipewouldhaveacigarettepaper?"
"YoustartedthatMexwayofsmokin'?Ain'tforit,m'self.Givemeapipeever'time."Theoldmanhandedhimhistobaccopouchanddugintohisduffleforarolledupnewspaper."Don'ttearthereadin'ifyoucanhe'p.Abodydon'tfindmuchreadin'inthedesertandsometimesIreadthroughanewspaperfiveorsixtimes."
Cavaganwipedhisfingersonhispantsandrolledasmokewithtremblingfingers.Thenheputthecigarettedownandateafewmorebitesbeforelightingup.
"Comefar?""Fifty-five,sixtymiles."
"An'nocanteen?Youhadyourselfatime."TheoldmansaidhisnamewasPearson.Hevolunteerednomorethanthat.Nordidheaskquestions.TherewerenotfourwhitemenbetweentheSanJacintosandtheColoradoRiver.
"I'vegottogettothathotspringthissideofthepass,uptherebytheSanJacintos,"Cavagansaid."IcangetahorsefromtheCahuillas."
Theoldmanstirredhisfireandmovedthecoffeepotcloser."Youlistentomeyouwon'tgoback."
"YouknowwhoIam?"
"Gotnoidea.Figgeredyoudidn'tgetwhereyouwasbychance.SixyearsIbeenprospectin'hereaboutsan'Iain'tseennobodybutaChemehuevioraCahuillainthisherecountry.Amanwouldhavehimselfanoutfit,gun,knife,canteen.Strikesmesomebodyleftyououthereapurpose."
"Ifyoucouldletmehaveacanteenorawatersack.Maybeaknife."
"Howd'youfiggertogetoutofhere?"
"WesttotheHayfields,thenShaver'sWellandtheYumastageroad."
Pearsonstudiedhimoutofshrewdoldeyes."Youain'tnopilgrim.Youmadeitthisfaronnervean'savvy,somayhapyou'llgoalltheway."
Hetampedhispipe."Tellyousomething.YoufightshyofthemHayfields.Seenacoupleofgentssettin'onthatwaterwithrifles.Abodycouldfiggertheywaswaitin'forsomebody."
TheoldmanhelpedCavagantomorestew.HerarelylookeddirectlyatCavagan.
"AretheyontheHayfieldsorbackupthedraw?"
Pearsonchuckled."Youdoknowthiscountry.They'reontheHayfields,an'couldbetheydon'tknowthesourceofthatwater.Couldbeyou'refigurin'amanmightsliparoundthem,getwater,andnobodythewiser."
"IfamanhadawatersackhemightgetasfarasHiddenSpring."
Theoldmanlookedupsharply."HiddenSpring?Neverheardofit."
"SouthwestofShaver's...maybethreemiles.BetterwaterthanShaver's."
"YoumustbeCavagan."
Cavagandidnotreply.Hefinishedthestew,rinsedthebowl,thenfilledhiscoffeecup.
"NobodyknowsthiscountrylikeCavagan.That'swhattheysay.NobodycanrideasfarorshootasstraightasCavagan.Theysaythat,too.TheyalsosayCavaganisdead,leftinthealgodoneswithhishandstied.LotsoffolkssetstorebyCavagan.ThemCalifornios,theylikehim."
Cavagansleptthedayaway,andthenightfollowing.Pearsonmadenomovetoleave,butloafedabout.Severaltimeshecooked,andhewatchedCavaganeat.
CavaganfoundhimstudyingsomeIndianwriting."Can'tmakeheadnortailofit,"Pearsoncomplained."IfthemCahuillascan,theywon'tsay.'*
"ThiswasdonebytheOldOnes,"Cavagansaid,"thePeopleWhoWentBefore.I'vefollowedtheirtrailsinthemountainsandacrossthedesert."
"Theylefttrails?"
"AmancangofromheretotheCahuillavillageatMartinez.ThetrailfollowsthecanyonbackofthevillageandgoesbackofSheepMountain.There'sabranchcomesdownbackofIndianWellsandanothergoestotheIndianvillageatthehotspringattheentrancetoSanGorgonioPass.There'sawayoverthemountainstothecoast,too."
BackbesidethefireCavaganaddedcoffeetowhatwasinthepot,thenmorewaterbeforeputtingitonthefire.Pearsonwatchedhim."Metadamnfooloncewhothrowedoutthegrounds...throwedawaythemother.Neverseenthelike.Can'tmakepropercoffeeuntilshe'stwo,threedaysold."
Helithispipe."Amanlikeyou,hemightknowalotaboutwaterholes.Worthalottoaman,knowin'thingslikethat."
"TherocktanksintheChocolatesaredrythisyear,"Cavagansaid,"butthere'saseepinSalvationPass."Hepokedtwigsunderthecoffeepot."Twenty,twenty-twomileseastofChuckawallathere'saredfingerofbutte.Maybeaquarterofamileeastofthatbuttethere'salittlecanyonwithaseepofwatercomin'outoftherock.Goodwater."
"PlaceMicethatcouldsaveaman'slife,"Pearsoncommented."Goodtoknowthingslikethat."
"TheCahuillasusedtheoldtrails.Theyknowthesprings."
WindwasrustlingthedrypalmleaveswhenCavagancrawledoutintheearlydawnandstirredthecoalstolifetomakecoffee.
Pearsonshookouthisboots,thenputonhishat.Whenhehadhisbootsonhewenttothelimbwherehispantswerehungandshookthemout.Ascorpionaboutfourincheslongdroppedfromatrouserlegandscamperedaway.
"Lasttimeitwasasidewinderinmyboot.Abodybettershakeouthisclothesbeforeheputs'emon."
Pearsonslippedsuspendersoverhisshoulders."Figgeryou'llhitthetrailtoday.Ifyourustlethroughthatstuffofmineyou'llfindyouawatersack.Crossin'thatol'seabottomoutthere,you'llneedit."Hehitchedhisshoulderstosettlehissuspenders."Stillfindshellsalongthatol'beach."
"Cahuillassayashipcameinhereonce,alongtimeago."
"Iftheysayit,"Pearsonsaid,"itdid."
Cavaganfilledthebagafterrinsingit,thendippeditinwaterfromthespring.Evaporationwouldkeepitcool.
Pearsontookalongknifefromhisgear."Nevercateredtothatonem'self,butabodyneverknowswhenhe'llneedanextry."
Cavaganshoulderedthesackandthrusttheknifeintohisbelt."Lookmeupsometime,"hesaid."JustaskforCavagan."
Pearson'sbackwasturned,packinggear,whenCavaganspoke.Helethimtakeadozensteps,andthensaid,"YougettoLosAngeles,yougototheCalledelosNegros.AskforJake.Heowesmemoneyan'Iexpecthemighthaveapistol.Getwhateveryouneed."
JohnSuttonsatatdinneratoneendofalongtableinhisranchhouseatCalabasas.Thedinnerhadbeenenhancedbyaturkeykilledthedaybeforeatacienagaafewmilesaway.Hewasrestless,buttherewasnoreasonforit.Almostamonthhadgoneby.HismenhadreturnedtothealgodonesbutfoundnotraceofCavagan.Norhadtheyexpectedto.Hewouldhavediedoutonthedesertsomewhere.
JuanVelasquezsawtheridercomeupthecanyonasheloafednearthegate,standingguard.Atthegatetheriderdismountedandtheireyesmetinthegatheringdusk."Buenosnoches,Senor,"Juansaid."Ihadexpectedyou."
"So?"
"IhaveanuncleinSonora,Senor.Hegrowsold,andheasksforme."
"Adios,Juan."
"Adios,Senor."
CavaganwalkedupthestepsandintothehousewhereJohnSuttonsatatdinner.
*
ONENIGHTSTAND
StephenMalonewastall,handsome,immaculate,andbroke.Helayonhisback,handsclaspedbehindhishead,tryingnottothinkaboutbreakfast.ThreeweeksagohehadbeenplayingleadrolesinHeartsOfOak,Hamlet,andDavyCrockettonsuccessivenights.Thenthebookingsranout,theplayclosed,andthemanagerskippedtownwiththecompanyfunds,leavingthemstranded.
Forsometimehehadbeenawareofvoicesinthenextroom.Agirlwasspeaking."Hecan't!Hewouldn'tdare!"
Theman'stonewastouchedwithdespair."Theysayhe'skilledfourteenmen.ForthekindofmoneyMasonwouldpay,theKidwouldn'thesitatetomakeitfifteen."
Therewasapause."EvenbeforemyhandwascrippledIcouldn'tmatchhim.NowIwouldn'tstandachance."
"ButPa,ifHickokcomes--?"
"IfhecangethereintimeIHe'snotthekindtoforgetwhatIdidforhim,butunlessheshowsupI'mfinished.Else,I'dgiveathousanddollarstoseeBillHickokwalkthroughthatdoorrightnow!"
StephenMaloneknewacuewhenheheardone.Hesteppedintothehallandrappedonthedooroftheirroom.
"Who'sthere?"Itwastheman'svoice.
"BillHickok."
Thedooropenedandhewasfacingathinoldmanwithgrayhair,andapretty,dark-hairedgirl."Youaren'tBillHickok!"Themanwas
disgusted.
"No,"Malonesaid,"butforathousanddollarsIwillbe."
"You'reagunfighter?"Elsedemanded.
"I'manactor.ItismybusinesstomakepeoplebelieveIamsomebodyelse."
"Thisisdifferent.Thisisn'tplayacting."
"Hecouldkillyou,"Elsesaid."Youwouldn'thaveachance."
"NotifI'magoodenoughactor.NotmanymenwouldtrytodrawagunonWildBillHickok."
"It'safoolidea,"themansaid.
"Sothere'sanelementofrisk.I'veplayedHamlet,Macbeth,andShylock.WhynotWildBill?"
"Look,son,you'veundoubtedlygotnerve,andprobablyyou'reafineactor,butthismanisakiller.Oh,Iknowhe'satinhorn,butyouwouldn'thaveachance!"
"NotifI'magoodenoughactor."
"He'stalkingnonsense,andyoubothknowit!"Elseprotested.
"ToplayHickok,son,you'vegottobeabletoshootlikeHickok."
"OnlyifIplayitbadly.YousaytheKidisatinhorn,I'lltrusttoyourjudgmentandmyskill."
Bradywalkedtothewindow."Itmightwork,youknow.Itjustmight."
"ItwouldbesuicideI"Elseobjected.
Bradyturnedfromthewindow."IamEmmettBrady.Thisismydaughter,Else.FrankMasonwantsmyrange,andthePiocheKidisafriendofhis.Hewasbroughtheretokillme."
"Thepleasurewillbemine,sir,"Malonebowed.
"Didanyoneseeyoucomeintothehotel?"Bradyasked.
"Onlythemanatthedesk.Itwastwoo'clockinthemorning."
"Thenit'sallright.JimCooleyisafriendofmine."
"GethimtospreadthestorythatHickokisintown,andoncethestoryisaround,I'llmakemyplay."
"It'sridiculous!"Elsedeclared."WhyshouldyouriskyourMeforus?"
"MissBrady,asmuchasI'denjoyposingasSirGalahad,Icannot.I'mnoknightinarmor,justastrandedactor.Butforathousanddollars?Ihaven'tmadethatmuchinawholeseason!"
"You'vegotsand,Malone.Else,fetchJimCooley."
"You'vestilltimetobackout,"Elsewarned.
"IamgratefulforyourconcernbutthiswillbethefirsttimeIhavebeenofferedonethousanddollarsforasingleperformance."
Returningtohisroom,Maloneopenedhistrunkandchoseablondwigwithhairtohisshoulders.-Heselectedadroopingmustache."...AndthebuckskinjacketIworeasDavyCrockett.ThenI'llremovetheplumefromthishatIworeinShenandoah--"
ThePiocheKidstaredcomplacentlyintohisglass.Bradywasanoldmanwithabadrighthand.Hewasnothingtoworryabout.
JimCooleycamethroughtheswingingdoors."Givemeashot,Sam."Heglancedaroundtheroom."Waituntilyouboyshearwhoisintown!WildBillhimself!Rodeinlastnight,allthewayfromKansasbecauseheheardhisoldfriendEmmettBradyneededhelp!"
ThePiocheKidwentsickwithshock.SomebodywasaskingwhatBradyhadonHickok."Nursedhimbacktohealthafteragunshotwound.Hickoknearlykilledacoupleofhorsesgettinghere.He'ssleepingitoffoveratthehotelnow."
WildBillHickok!TheKidhadn'tbargainedforthis.Hetookuphiswhiskeyandtosseditoff,buttheshudderthatfollowedwasnotcausedbythewhiskey.
"Sam...?"Hepushedtheemptyglasstowardhim.
Hecouldfeeltheexcitementintheroom.Theywerethinkingthey'dseethePiocheKidshootitoutwithWildBillHickok,themostfamousofthemall.
SomebodymentionedthefourteenmentheKidwassupposedtohavekilled,buttheKidhimselfknewtherehadbeenbutfour,andtwoofthosehadbeendrunkencowhands,andoneofthemadrunkenfarmerwhohadneverheldapistolbefore.
Suddenly,desperately,hewantedout.Howhadhegotintothis,anyway?Hickokcouldshoot!HerecalledthestoriesofHickok'sfamoustargetmatcheswiththerenownedMajorTalbot,atCheyenne.
"He'sthebest,"Cooleywassaying."Eyesinthebackofhishead,seemslike.RememberthetimehekilledPhilCoe,thenturnedandkilledamanrunningupbehindhim?"
CooleysmiledattheKid."Shouldbesomething,youandhim.You'vekilledmorethanhehasifyoudiscountthosehekilledwhileasharpshooterintheArmy.ButIdidseehimtakefouratonce.Killedtwo,athirddiedlater,andthefourthwasneveranygoodforanythingafter."
Cooleyfinishedhisdrink."I'mgettin'outofhere.I'veseentoomanybystandersgetgut-shotSorryIcan'twishyouluck,Kid,butBill'safriendofmine."
Menmovedtothetables,awayfromthebar.Onehastilypaidforhisdrinkandleftthebar.TheKidwasalone,isolated,cutoff.
Whatthehellwashappening?ThiswasHickok!Ifhewonthey'dallslaphimonthebackandbuyhimdrinks,butifhelostthey'djuststareatthebodyastheywalkedby.Hemoppedhisface.Hewassoakedwithsweat,andheknewwhy.Hewasscared.
Masonwasatthedoor."He'scomin',Kid.BesomethingtobeknownasthemanwhokilledWildBill."
Malonepausedinthedoortowaveatsomeonedownthestreet,thenhewalkedtothebar.Alleyeswereonhim."Rye,ifyouplease."
Samputabottleandaglassbeforehim.TheKidlickeddrylipswithafumblingtongue.Desperatelyhewantedtowipehispalmdryonhispants,buthewasafraidHickokwouldthinkhewasgoingforagun.Nowwasthetime.Heshouldopentheball.Sweatdrippedfromhisfacetothebar.Heopenedhismouthtospeak,butMalonespokefirst.
"Bartender,I'dliketofindtwomenforalittlejob.I'llpayadollareach.It'sadiggingjob."
"Yousaid...adiggingjob?"
"That'sright.Iwanttwomentodigaholeabout--"heturneddeliberatelyandlookedrightattheKid,"--sixfeetlong,sixfeetdeep,andthreewide."
"Whereaboutsdoyouwantitdug?"
"OnBootHill."
"Agrave?"
"Exactly."
Sammotionedtotwomenatanearbytable.'Tom?Joe?Mr.Hickokwantsacoupleofmen."Hehesitatedeversoslightly."Todigagrave."
"Andtomakeaslabforamarker,"Malonesaid.
Samwaslovingeverymomentofit."Youwantanameonit?"
"Don'tbotherwiththename.Withintheweektheywillhaveforgottenwhohewas,anyway.JustcarveonitheshouldhaveleftbeforeTHESUNWENTDOWN."
Hefinishedhisdrink."Goodafternoon,gentlemen."Hestrolledtothedoor,pausedbrieflywithhishandonthedoor,thensteppedoutontheboardwalkandturnedtowardthehotel.
Withinthesaloonachaircreakedassomeoneshiftedweight.TheKidliftedafumblinghandtobrushawaythesweatfromhisfaceandthehandtrembled.Hetossedoffhisdrink,spillingalittleonhischin.Neverhaddeathseemedsoclose.
Whatkindofadamnedfoolwashe,anyway?WhatdidhehavetodowithBrady?LetMasondohisownkilling.Suddenlyallhewantedwastobeaway,awayfromthosewatchingeyes,staringathim,so
willingtoseehimdie.
WhatdidheoweMason?Allhehadtodowascrossthestreet,mounthishorseandride.Behindhisbacktheywouldsneer,butwhatdidthatmatter?Heowedthesepeoplenothing,andtherewereathousandtownslikethis.Moreover,he'dbealive...alive!
Hewantedtofeelthesunshineonhisface,thewindinhishair,todrinkalong,colddrinkofwater.Hewantedtolive!
Abruptly,hewalkedtothedoor.Hehadseenmendie,seenthemlietormentedinthebloodydust.Hedidnotwanttofeelthetearingagonyofabulletinhisguts.
TherewasHickok,hisbroadbacktohim,onlyafewpacesaway.Aquickshot...hecouldalwayssayHickokhadturned.
Sweatdrippedintohiseyes,dimlyherememberedeyesinthebackofhishead.OnthatotheroccasionHickokhadturnedsuddenlyandfired...deadcenter.
TheRidletgoofhisgunasifitwereredhot.
Yethecouldstillmakeit.Hewasaprettygoodshot...well,afairshot.Hecould--
Twomenemergedfromtheliverystable,eachcarryingashovel.TomandJoe,todigagrave...hisgrave?
Hecrossedthestreet,almostrunning,andjerkedloosethetie-rope.Hemissedthestirrupwithhisfirsttry,madeitonthesecond,andwasalmostcryingwhenhehitthesaddle.Hewheeledthehorsefromthehitch-railandlefttownatadeadrun.
Hissaddlewashotfromthesun,buthecouldfeelit.Thewindwasin
hisface...hewasfree!Hewasriding,hewasliving,andtherewerealotofothertowns,alotofcountry.
Bradyturnedfromthewindow."He'sgone,Else.Malonedidit."
"Mason'sleaving,too,"sheadded.
ThedooropenedbehindthemandStephenMalonesteppedin,removinghishat,thenthewigandthemustache."That'sonepartIneverwanttoplayagain!"
"Here'syourmoney,son.Youearnedit."
"Thanks."
"Whatwouldyouhavedone,Malone,"Cooleyasked,"iftheKidhadcalledyourhand?"
"Done?Whythis--!"
Hisdrawwassurprisinglyfast,andhefiredatCooley,point-blank.Cooleysprangback,shocked.Hishandsclutchedhisabdomen.
Hishandscameawayandhestaredatthem.Noblood.No--I
Malonewassmiling.
"Blanks!"Cooleyexclaimed."YoufacedtheKidwithnothinginyourgunbutblanks!"
"Well,whynot?Itwasallpartoftheact"
*
TRAILTOSQUAWSPRINGS
JimBostwickwaspackingagrouch,andhedidn'tcarewhoknewit.Therainthatbeganwithacloudbursthaddegeneratedintoagully-washingdownpourthatforforty-eighthoursshowednoindicationofletup.Bostwick,ridingaflea-bittencantankerousroan,washeadedforthemountainstofileaclaim.
Rainslanteddismallyacrossthecountrybeforehim,poundingonhisbackandshoulders,beatingontheyellowslickeruntilhisbackwasactuallysore.Underaloweringgrayskytheraindrewametallicveiloverthecountry,turningtheroadintoamuddypathacrosswhathadbeendeserttwodaysagoandwouldbedesertagainwithintwohoursaftertherainended.
Bostwicksworeattheroanwhomerelytwitchedhisears,beingfamiliarwithcowhandsandtheirways.Heknewthecussingdidn'tmeananything,andheknewthemanwhorodehimtookbettercareofhimthananyriderhe'dhad.
Bostwicksworebecausehewantedbreakfast,wantedadrink,becausehehadn'tsleptthenightbefore,becauseheneededashaveandhisfaceitched,andhesworeongeneralprinciples.
HisbossontheSlashFivehadgivenhimfivedaysoffinwhichtofileonhisclaim,getdrunkorwhateverhepleased,anditlookedlikeitwouldrainthewholefivedays,whichBostwicktookasapersonalaffront
Bostwickwasacowhand.Notatophand,justagood,six-days-a-week,fourteen-hours-a-daycowhandwhocouldhandlearopeorabranding-iron,digpestholes,mendfences,cleanwaterholes,shoeahorse,andplayafairhandofbunkhousepoker.
Hewastwenty-nineyearsold,hadnevermarried,andhemadefortydollarsamonth.Severaltimesamonthhemanagedtogetgoodanddrunk.Andeverydrunkbeganorendedwithafist-fight.Todatehewasbreakingevenonthefights.
HeworeagunbuthadneverdrawnitinangerinhisMe.Hehadkilledonlyonemanheknewof,anIndianwhowastryingtostealhishorse.ThatwaswhenhewassixteenandcomingWestinacoveredwagon.
Atfiveelevenandweighingonehundredandseventypoundshismethodoffightingwassimple,towadeinswinginguntilsomethinghitthedirt,eitherhimortheotherfellow.Hefoughtbecauseheenjoyeditandnevercarriedagrudgethatlastedlongerthantheheadache.
Therain-blackenedlavaflowonhisleftendedandthetrailcurvedarounditintoahuddleofnondescriptbuildings,forthemostpartunpaintedandweather-beaten.ThiswasthetownofYellowjacket.
Themainstreetwasempty,emptyexceptforacoveredwagonwhoseoffwheelswereonhigherground,givingaprecarioustilttothewagonbed.Amaninatatteredslickerstoodbeforethewagontalkingtoagirlwhosefacewasbarelyrevealedthroughthepartedcanvas.
"Hedoesn'tplantogivethemback,Ruthie,"theoldmanwassaying."Hedoesn'taimtoevergivethemback.Hesaysweowehimbecausehefedthem."
Thethin,querulousvoicecarriedthroughtheraintoBostwickwhoturnedhiseyestothem.Therewassomethingaboutthelargedarkeyesandthethinchild'sfacethatdisturbedhim.Ashedrewabreastofthemtheoldmanlookedupathimoutoffadedblueeyes,thenbacktothegirl.
"You'dbettergetintothewagon,Granddad.Wecan'tdoanythinguntilthestormbreaks."
Bostwickrodetotheliverystable,strippedthegearfromtheroanandrubbedthehorsereasonablydrywithhandfulsofhay,buttheungratefulbeastnippedathiselbowandashedepartedthestall,tookaplayfulkickathimthatheevadedmorefromhabitthanattention.Withoutlookingbackhesloggedthroughthemudtothesaloon.Therewasnosoundfromthewagonashewentby.
TheYellowjacketSaloonwasabarfifteenfeetlongwitharowofbottlesbehind,mudmixedwithsawdustontheplankfloorandapotbelliedstoveglowingrubyredlikeanexpectantboil.Behindthebartherewasabigmanwithapolishedfaceandahandlebarmustache.HishairstartedmidwayonthetopofhisheadandwasJet-black.Hehadbig,squarefistsandhishandsandarmswerewhiteasawoman's.
Amandozedinachairagainstthewall,hishatoverhiseyes,anothersleptwithhisheadonacardtable.Attheothertablefourmenplayedalacklustergameinadesultoryfashionwithadog-eareddeckofcards.Fromtimetotimeoneortheotherofthemwouldturnhisheadtospitataboxofsawdust,andfromtimetotimeoneof
themhitit.
Bostwickremovedhishat,slappedtheraindropsfromitwithablowagainsthislegandsaid,"Gimmeashotofrye."ThebartenderglancedatJim'sbrokennoseandpouredthedrink.
AmaninaMackinawwhosatneartheglowingstovetookhispipefromhismouth."Justthesame,Ithinkit'smightymeanofhimtotaketheirhorses.Howaretheygoingtogetoutof
here?"
Amanwithastreakedblondmustacheglancedcynicallyatthefirstspeaker."YouknowPennock.Hedoesn'tplanforthemtoleave,nota-tall!"
"Heseenthatgirl,"themanintheMackinawsaid."Ain'tmanywomencometoYellowjacket.Besides,thatoldmanwasallsettofileonSquawSprings,andPennockfiguresthat'shis'n."
JimBostwickdownedhisdrink.SquawSprings?Thatwastheclaimhe'dplannedtofileon.
Heletthebartenderrefillhisglass."HefiledonSquawSprings?"
"Pennock?Whyshouldhe?Who'sgoingtobuttinwhenhesaysit'shis'n?Theysaythatgunofhispackssevennotches,orcouldifhewishedit."
"Itcould,"thebartendersaid."Weallknowtwonotchesthatcouldgoonit.SandyChasetriedPennock'sgameandcameupaloser."
"Oughttobealawagainstkillin'whentheground'sallfrozeup.Gravediggin'nopleasureanytime,butinfrozenground?"
"Makesforshallowgraves,"somebodysaid,"betterwhenJudgmentDaycomes."
"Thatgirlain'tnomore'nsixteenorseventeen.It'sadamnshame."
"YougotellthattoPennock."
Nobodyrepliedtothat.Well,itwasnoneofhisfuss.Besides,theyplannedtofileonhisclaim,asdidPennock.
"Where'sthegrub-pile?"heasked.
"Twodoorsdown."Heglancedagainatthebrokennose."Youa
fighter?"
Bostwickbuttonedhisslicker."OnlywhenI'mpushed."
HestartedforthedoorandheardthemanintheMackinawsay,"HekilledChaseoverawoman.Whatwastheotheroneabout?"
"FelleraimedtofileonSquawSprings.Pennockbroughtsomesortofachargeagainsthim,andthefellergotriled.Figuredhewasatoughcaseandmaybeinhishomecountryhewas."
"Hewastoofarfromhome,then.I'mmothuntinganybeefwithCapPennock!"
Jimpulledhishatlowoverhiseyes.Shouldershunchedagainsttherain,hesloppedthroughthemudtothelightalreadyshowingfromtheboardinghousewindow.Thecoveredwagonwasdirectlyacrossthestreetand,asheglancedover,hesawthegirlgettingdownfromthewagon.Avertinghiseyesheduckedintothedoor.
Abig-bosomedwomanwithared,Irishfacepointedatthemat."Wipeyourfeet,an'wipe'emgood!"
Meekly,Bostwickdidashewastold.Takingoffhishatandslickerhehungthemfrompegsnearthedoorandseatedhimselfatthelongtable.
"You'reearly,stranger,"theIrishwomansaid,"butyoulookhungry,sosetup.I'llfeedyou."
Bostwicklookedupasthedoorclosed.Itwasthegirlfromthewagon.Shehaddarkhairandlargedarkeyes.Herfacewasovalandquitepretty.Shehadacoffeepotinherhand.Shelookedathim,thenturnedhastilyawayasifshehadseentoomanyofhiskind.Bostwickflushed.
"Ma'am?CanIbuysomecoffee?Grandad'shavingachill."
"Ishouldn'twonder,sloppin'aroundintherainlikehe'sbeendoin'.Youtwogoin'topayCapPennockwhatheasks?"
Herlips,delicateasarosepetal,trembled."Wecan't.Wejustdon'thaveit."
Thewomanfilledthecoffeepotandwavedpaymentaside."Youtakeitalong,honey.Iwouldn'tknowwhattochargeforthatlittledabofcoffee."
"ButI--!Idowanttopay."
"Yougoalongnow.It'sallright."
Whenthegirlhadgone,shebroughtfoodtoBostwick."It'sashame!"shesaid."Adownrightshame!"
JimBostwickhelpedhimselftoaslabofbeefandsomemashedpotatoes."WhoisthisPennock?"heasked,withoutlookingup.
Thewomanturnedtolookathim,seeingonlythetangledhair,theblunt,wind-carvedunshavedfeaturesandthebroad,powerfulshoulderstaperingtonarrowhips,shoulderscladinacheapcoatandawoolshirt.
"He'sthetownmarshal.More,he'sthebossaroundhere,andfolksknowit."
"Nobodystandsagainsthim?"
"Sometried.Thingshappenedtothem.CapPennockisahardman."
Hewasgettingboredbythatrepeatedcomment."Whendidthosefolksgethere?"
"Yesterday.Pennocktooktheirhorses,impoundedthemforbeinginthestreetallnight.Backwhentheminingboomwason,thetowncouncilpassedthatrulebecausethestreetsweresocrowdedatnightabodycouldn'tgetthrough.AftertheboomdiedpeopleforgotaboutituntilPennockwaselectedmarshal,thenhedugintothetownlawsanddugupalotofregulations,allofwhichshowprofitforhim."
ThedooropenedandthemanintheMackinawcameinfollowedbyhisblond-mustachedfriend.Jimwasawareoftheirattention.
"Howdy,Kate!"
"Howdy,Harbridge!Howareyou,Grove?How'sEmmadoin'?"
"Ailin',"Groverepliedcheerfully.
Thebartendercameinandbehindhim,anotherman.TalkaroundthetablediedandBostwicklookedup.Thenewcomerwasabigman,heavy-shoulderedwithboldblackeyes.Instinctively,BostwickknewthiswasPennock.ThemansatdownnearhimandinstantlyBostwickfeltthestirringofaninnerrebellion.Therewassomethingdeepwithinhimthatdeeplyresentedsuchmen.
Bostwickwas,asmanyanAmericanhasbeenbeforeandsince,amanwhoresentedauthority.
Heknewitsnecessityandtriedtoconformbutwhenthatauthoritybecamedomineering,asthismanobviouslywas,Bostwick'sresentmentgrew.
Morethanthat,verybigmenwhousedtheirsizetooveraweothers,irritatedhim.Thatfactaccountedforthefactthathehadlostasmanyfightsashehad,forhewasalwayschoosingthebiggest,toughestones.Largemenputhimonedge,andhewasonedgenow.
"Strangerintown?"Pennockaskedabruptly.
"No."Bostwickcouldnothavetoldwhyhechosetodeliberatelyantagonizetheman."Ibeenintownmore'nanhour."
Pennockdidnotreply,butBostwickwasawareofasubduedstirdownthetable.HereachedoverandtookthecoffeepotalmostoutofPennock'shandandfilledhiscup.Thebigman'seyeshardened,andhestudiedBostwickcarefully.
"Don'tlookatme,"Jimsaid,"Iputmyhorseinthebarn."
SomebodysnickeredandPennocksaid,"Ididn'taskaboutyourhorse.Seemstome,stranger,you'resomewhatontheprod."
"Me?"Bostwicklookedsurprised.'I'mnothuntin'trouble.I'mnotexpectin'trouble,either.Ofcourse,ifIwasanoldmanwithaprettyyoungdaughterImightfeeldifferent."
Pennockputhiscupdownhard."Idon'tlikethatremark.Ifyou'rehuntin'troubleyou'resureheadedrightatit."
"Iain'thuntin'trouble,butthere'snolawagainstamanthinkin'outloud.I'mjustoftheopinionthatatownthatwillmaketroubleforasickoldmanandhisdaughterisprettysmallstuff."
"Nobodyaskedyou,"Pennocksaid.
Pennockhadanuglyexpressioninhiseyes,butBostwickwassuddenlyawarethatPennockwasinnohurrytopushtrouble.Thatwasaninterestingpoint.Becausehewasastranger?Becausetheattackhadsurprisedhim?BecausePennockwasasure-thingmanwhohadnodesiretotackletoughstrangers?Itwasapointworthyofsomethought.
Talkstartedupagain,andKatecamearoundandlaidanenormousslabofapplepieonBostwicks'plate.Whenhelookedup,shewassmiling.
NomansuchasPennockjusthappens.EachhasapastandperhapssomewherebackdownthelinePennockwaswanted.Ormaybehehadtakenwaterforsomebody--
"Pennock?"hemuttered."Thatnamedoessoundfamiliar."Bostwicklookedhimovercoolly."Beenaroundherelong?"
Pennock'slipsthinnedout,yethefoughtbackhisanger."I'llaskthequestionshere.WhatdoyouwantinYellowjacket?"
"Justpassin'through."
"Adrifter?"
"No,I'mwithabigoutfitsouthofhere,belowtheBradshaws.TheSlashFive."
Grovelookedupatthementionofthename."Ain'tthattheoutfitthattreedWeaver?"
Ithadbeenafightwithsometinhorngamblers,butBostwicklied,"Wedidn'tlikethetownmarshal.Hegaveoneofourboysaroughtime,sowejustnaturallymovedin."
Kateasked,"Whathappenedtothemarshal?"
"Him?Oh,wehunghim!"Bostwicksaidcarelessly."Thatis,wehungthebody.Ifigurehewasalreadydeadbecausewedroppedalooponhimanddrughimmaybethreehundredyardswithsomeoftheboysshootin'intohimaswedrughim.Hewasabigfeller,too."
"What'sthatgottodowithit?"Pennock'sfacehadlostcolorbutnone
ofthemeannessinhiseyes.
"Huh?Oh,notmuch!Onlythembigfellersdon'thangsogood.Bodiesaretooheavy.Thisfeller'sheadpulledoff.Wouldyoubelieveit?RightoffI"
PeteandShortywouldgetabootoutofthatstory.Justwaituntilhetoldthem!They'dneverhunganybodyordraggedanybody.AcoupleofthetinhornstriedtoshootitoutbutShortywas,foracowhand,mightygoodwithagun.Henailedone,andPetewoundedtheotherone.Thentheyhadpitchedalltherestofthetinhorns'gearintothestreetandranthemoutoftownintheirsockfeet.
Hewasawaretheotherswereenjoyinghisbaitingofthetownmarshal.Hewasenjoyingithimself,andwithagoodmealinsidehimhehadlosthisgrouch.ButnoneofthiswasgettinghimanywhereclosertoSquawSprings--norwasitgettingthatgirlandhergrandadoutoftrouble.
ItwasthenherememberedtheywereplanningtofileonSquawSpringsthemselves,soifsomehowhegotthemoutoftrouble--
Hestoppedabruptly.Nowwhosaidhewasgettingthemoutoftrouble?Whatbusinesswasitofhis?Amancouldgethimselfkilled,buttingintosuchthings.
Butsayinghedidgetthemoutoftrouble,thentheywouldbegoingafterthesameclaimhewanted!
Itwasagoodclaim.Thespringhadafineflowofexcellentwater,andthelandlaywellforfarmingorgrazing.Amancoulddosomethingwithit,fruittrees,maybe.AplacelikehisfolkshadbackEast.
Pennockwantedthatclaim,too,andanywayamanlookedatitPennockwasintheway.
CapPennockfinishedeatingandwentoutside,ignoringBostwick.Pennockstoppedoutsidetheboardinghousewindowpickinghisteethwiththeivorytoothpickthathadbeenhangingfromhiswatchchain.Hewaslookingacrossthestreetatthecoveredwagon.ThatdecidedBostwick.Hewouldgetthemoutoftroublefirstandthendecideabouttheclaim.
"YoubetterlayoffPennock,"Harbridgewarnedhim."He'sakiller.He'llbeouttogetyounow,onewayortheother.
"He'llgetoutthatbookofcitylawsandfindsomethinghecanhangontoyou."
Bostwickhadasuddenthought."Istherejustoneofthemlawbooks?Imean,doesanybodyelsehaveacopy?"
"Ihave,Ithink,"Katereplieddubiously."Myoldmanwasmayorduringtheboomdays.Ibelievehehadone."
"Youhavealook.I'lltalktothatgirl."
TherewasworryinKate'seyes."Nowyoubecareful,youngman!Don'ttakePennocklightly!"
"Isurelywon't.Iain'tanxioustogethurt.Yousee,"hesaidruefully,"IhadmyheartsetonSquawCreekmyself!"
Hesplashedacrossthestreettothewagonandrappedonthewagonbox.Duskwasfallingbuthecouldseeherexpressionchangefromfeartoreliefasshesawhim.
"Ma'am,howmuchdoesthatmarshalwantforyourhorses?"
"Hesaidfiftydollars."
"How'syourgrandad?"
"Notverygood."Shespokesoftly."I'mworried."
"MaybewebettergethiminsideKate'shouse.It'scoldanddampouthere."
"Oh,butwecan't!Ifweleavethewagonthemarshalwilltakeit,too."
"Yougethimfixedtomove,"Bostwicksaid."Youleavethatmarshaltome."
WhenheexplainedtoKatesheagreedreadilybutthenwondered,"Whataboutthewagon?"
"I'llfindaway,"hesaiddoubtfully.
"Ifoundthatbook,"Katesaid,"forwhatevergooditwilldoyou."
Itwasnotreallyabook,justafewhandwrittensheetsstapledtogether.Itwasheadedboldly:CityOrdnances.
Bostwickwasaslowreaderatbest,butheseatedhimselfandbegantoworkhiswaythroughthehalf-dozenpagesofwhatalong-agotowncouncilhaddecreedforYellowjacket.
Later,whenhehadgrandadsafelyinstalledintheroomwhereKate'shusbandhadoncelived,hehadalongtalkwithKate.
"I'lldoit!I'lldoitormename'snotKatieMulrennan!"
Watchinghischancetomoveunseen,Bostwickranthroughthemudandcrawledintothewagon,burrowingdownamidstthebeddingandoddsandendsofhouseholdfurniture.Hehadbeentherebutafewminuteswhenheheardasplashingofhoofsandarattleoftrace-chains.Pennockwas,ashehadexpected,hitchinggrandpa'steamtothewagon.
Crouchingbackoftheseat,hewaited.PennockhadlearnedofhismovinggrandadIntoKate'sbuthadnoideaBostwickwasinsidethewagon.
Itwasdarkandwet,andthebigmanwaswatchinghisfootingashestartedtoclamberintothewagon.Hemissedseeingthehandthatshotoutofthedarknessandgrabbedthelinesfromhishand,northefootuntilitsmashedintohischest.
Pennockletoutachokingyellandgrabbedatthelegashetoppledbackwardintothemud.
Scramblingtotheseat,Bostwickslappedthehorseswiththelines,andtheheavywagonstartedwithajerk.
Behindhimtherewasanangryshout.GlancingbackBostwicksawthebigmanlungeafterthewagon,thenslipandfallfacedowninthemud.Thentheteamwasrunning,andthewagonwasoutoftownonthetrailtoSquawSprings.
JimBostwickdroveforthirtyminutesuntilhecametowhathewaslookingfor,anabandonedbarnthathadstoodtheresinceboomdays.Hedroveoverthegravelapproachandintothedoorintheendofthebarn.Fortunately,somebodyhadusedthebamduringthesummerandtherewashayinthemangers.Heunhitchedthehorsesandtiedthemtothemanger,andthengoingoutside,heeliminatedwhattrackshecouldfind.Therainwoulddotherest.
Whenhehadfinishedhewentbacktotownridingonehorseandleadingtheother.Hetookthemtotheliverystable,thenscoutedtheboardinghouse,butasKatehadforetold,mostofthetownspeoplewerepresent.
Whenheentered,CapPennockhalf-startedtohisfeetbutBostwickhadathumbhookedinhisbeltnearhisgun,andslowlyPennocksat
downagain.
"Youtheonewhodrovethatwagonoff?"
"Iwas.AndIwascompletelywithinmyrights."
AstonishmentreplacedangeronPennock'sface."Whatdoyoumean...rights'?"
"Youquietdown,Pennock.We'vegotbusiness."BostwickglancedatKate."Areyouready,judge?"
"Judge?"Pennock'shandsrestedflatonthetable.Helookedlikeanoldbullatbay."What'sgoingonhere?"
KateMulrennanbangedthetablewithahammer."Court'snowinsession!"
Pennocklookedfromonetotheother."Whatkindoftomfooleryisthis?"hedemanded.
"Itmeans,"Bostwickreplied,"thatthetowncouncilmetthisafternoonandappointedmethetownmarshalaccordingtotheregulationsetforthinthecityordnancesofYellowjacket,whichdecrees--readit,Katie."
TheaforesaidtowncouncilshallmeetonthefifthdayofJanuary,orassoonthereafteraspossible,andshallappointajudge,atownmarshalandtownclerk.TheseofficialsshallholdofficeonlyuntilthefifthofJanuaryfollowing,atwhichtimethecouncilshallagainmeetandre-appointorreplacetheseofficialsastheyshallseefit.
Bostwick'seyesneverleftPennock.Itwasthefirsttimetheman'sbluffhadbeencalled,andhewasexpectingtrouble.Appointedtotheofficealmostthreeyearsbefore,hehadrunthetownashesawfitand
hadpocketedthefines.
"Thatmeans,"Jimwenton,"thatyouarenolongerthetownmarshalandIam.Italsomeansthatfortwoyearsyouhavebeenactingwithoutauthority.Astherewasnomeetingofthetowncouncilinthattimewewillwaivethatpartofit,butwemustinsistonanaccountingofallthefinesandmoniescollectedbyyou."
"What?You'reapackofcrazyfools!"
"Accordingtoregulationsyougettenpercentofallcollected.Nowwewantanaccounting."
CapPennockclutchedtheedgeofthetable.Monthaftermonthhehadbulliedthesepeople,finingthemaswellasstrangers,andnomandareddenyhim.NowthisstrangerhadcometoYellowjacketandinonedayhispowerhadcrumbledtonothing.
Buthadit?Needheletitbeso?WatchingPennock,Bostwickjudgedthathehadbeenwaryoftacklingatoughmanwhomightbeagunfighter,butdrivenintoacorner,Pennockhadnochoice.Itwasrunorfight.
"Ihaven'tthemoney."Pennockwasverycoolnow."Soyou'llpayhellcollectingit."
"Wethoughtofthat,soyouhaveachoice.Payuporleavetowntomorrowbynoon."
"SupposeIdecidetopaynoattentiontothiskangaroocourt?"
"Thenitbecomesmyjob,"Bostwickrepliedquietly,"asthenewlyelectedtownmarshal..."
CapPennockgottohisfeet.Bostwickhadtohandittohim.Whenthe
chipsweredownPennockwasgoingtofightforwhathehad."Youwon'thavetocomelookingforme,Bostwick.I'llbeouttherewaitingforyou."
PennockstartedforthedoorandKatecalledout,"Holdupaminute,Cap!Youowemeadollarforgrub.Nowpayup,youcheapskate!"
Pennock'sfacewaslivid.Hehesitated,thenlividwithangerhetossedadollaronthetableandwalkedout.
"Well,Jim,"Harbridgesaid,"yousaidifitcametothisthatyou'dhandleit.Nowyou'vegotittodo.
"He'sadangerousmanwithagun.SandyChasewasgood,buthewasn'tgoodenough.Ineverwould'vehadthenervetogothroughwiththisifKatehadn'ttoldusyou'dfacehim,ifneedbe."
"Areyoufast?"Groveasked.
"No,I'mnot.ProbablyI'mnofasterthananyofyou,butI'llbeoutthereandhe'dbettergetmequickorI'lltakehim."
Bostwickdislikedtobrag,butthesemenneededtobelieve.IfhefailedthemtheywouldtakethebruntofPennock'sanger.
Whentheyhadtroopedoutoftheroomandgonetotheirhomes,Bostwicksatdownagain,suddenlyscared.HelookeduptoseeRuthwatchinghim.
"Iheardwhatwassaid.You'vedonethisforme...forus,haven'tyou?"
Bostwick'shardfeaturesflushed."Ma'am,Iain'tmuch,andI'mnobraverthanmost,it'sjustthatwhenIseeamanlikehimsomethinggetsintome."
"Iwishwehadafewmorelikeyou!"Katesaid.
Shegesturedtothetable."Youset,I'vesomemoreofthatpie."ShelookedaroundatRuthie."You,too,youlooklikeyoucoulddowithsomenourishment."
Whenthesunhungoverthestreet,Bostwickstoodinadoorwaythinkingwhatadamnedfoolhewas.Why,Shorty,wholaidnoclaimstobeinggoodwithagun,wasbetterthanhewas.Yethehadwalkedintothiswithhiseyesopen.
Hemustmakenoeffortatafastdraw.Hewasnotfast,andhewouldbeafooltotry.Hemustacceptthefactthathewasgoingtobehit,andhemusthopethatthefirstshotdidn'tkillhim.
Hemighthavetimeforoneshotonly,andhemustbesurethatshotwouldkill.JimBostwickwasamanwithoutillusions.Heknewhewasgoingtotakesomelead,andhehadtobepreparedforit.Yethewasatoughman,hardyearsofworkandbrutalfightshadprovedthat.Hewasgoingtohavetotakesomeleadandkeepa'comin'.
Hewasagoodshotwithapistol,betterthanmostwhenshootingattargets,onlythistimethetargetwouldbeshootingback.
Thesunwasbakingthewetnessfrom.thestreetandfromthefalse-frontedbuildings.Somewhereapianowasplaying.Hesteppedintothestreet
"Bostwick!"
Thecallwasfrombehindhim!CapPennockhadbeenlurkingsomewhereneartheliverystableandhadoutsmartedhim,playedhimforasucker.
Capwasstandingthere,bigandrough,apistolinhishand.Andhe
wassmilingatthesuccessofhistrick.Capfired.
Takeyourtime!Thewordsranginhismindlikeabell.Heliftedhisbone-handledgunandfiredjustasCapletgowithhissecondshot.SomethingsluggedBostwickinthelegasherealizedCaphadmissedhisfirstshot!
HiseyeswereonthattoothpickonCap'swatch-chain.Hesqueezedoffashotevenashefell,thenhewasgettingup,bracinghimselfforacarefulshot.
Capseemedtobeweaving,turninghissidetohimlikeamanonaduelingfield.Bostwickfiredfromwherehisgunwas,shootingasamanpointsafinger.Thistimetherewasnomistake.Wherethetoothpickhadhungtherewasawideningstainnow,andhefiredagain,thenwenttohisknees,losinghisgriponhisgun.
Somewhereadoorslammed,andheheardrunningfeet.Hereachedoutforhisgun,buthishandclosedonnothing.Hesmelledthewarm,wetearthonwhichhisfacerested,andhefeltsomebodytouchhisshoulder.
"Ithinkhe'swakingup,"somebodysaid,somewoman.
HemovedthenandabedcreakedandwhenhiseyesopenedhewaslookingupataceilingandheheardRuthiesaying,"Oh,Katie!He'sawakeIHe'sawake!"
"Awakeandhungry,"hegrumbled.
HelookedatRuthie."How'syourgrandad?"
"Hedied...onlyalittlewhileafteryourfight.Hesaidyouwereagoodman."
"CapPennock?DidI--?"
"Youhithimfourtimes.He'sbeenburiedthesetwoweeks."
"Twoweeks?YoumeanI'vebeenheretwoweeks?"
"Youhave.Twoweeksandaday,tobeexact."Shetookhishand."Jim?KatetoldmethatyouplannedtofileonSquawSpringsyourself."
"Forgetit.Thatwillbeagoodplaceforyouandasforme,I'mjustaforty-dollar-a-monthcowhand."
"Wecoulddoittogether."
"Well,youknowhowfolkstalk.Youbeingayounggirl,andall."
"Whatifweweremarried?"shesuggesteddoubtfully.
"Well,"headmittedcautiously,"thatmightdoit."Hestolealookatherfromthecornersofhiseyes."Didyouevertakeagoodlookatme?EvenwhenI'mshaved--"
"Youareshaved,silly!"Shelaughedathim."Kateshavedyou.Shesaidshealwayswonderedwhatyoulookedlikeunderallthatbrush."
Heliftedahand.Itwastrue.Hehadbeenshaved."Youthinkyoucouldmarryamanlikeme?"
"Well,"shesaid,"justtostopthetalk--"
*
MERRANOOFTHEDRYCOUNTRY
NobodyeventurnedaheadtolookhiswayasBarryMerranoenteredthestore.Theyknewhewasthere,andtheirhatredwasalmosttangible,hefeltitpushingagainsthimashewalkedtothecounter.
Mayer,whokeptthestore,wastalkingtoTomDrake,owneroftheTDandconsideredthewealthiestmaninthevalley;JimHill,acknowledgedtobeitsfirstsettler;andJoeStangle,fromtheheadofthevalley.AfteramomentMayerleftthemandwalkedovertohim.
Thestorekeeper'slipsofferednowelcomingsmilealthoughBarrythoughthedetectedafaintgleamofsympathyintheman'seyes.
Inalowvoice,Barrygavehisorder,andseveraltimestheothersglancedhisway,fortheycouldstilloverhearapartofwhathewassayingandhewasorderingthingstheycouldnolongerafford.
"I'llhavetoaskforcash,"Mayersaid."Withthedrouthandall,money'sshort."
Barryfeltasuddensurgeofanger.Therewasamomentwhenhethoughttobringtheirworldcrashingaboutthembyaskinghowlongithadbeensincetheothershadpaidcash.Heknewwhatitwouldmean.Suddenlytheywouldbefacedwiththeharshrealityoftheirsituation.TheMirrorValleycountrywasbroke...flatbroke.
Nosoonerhadthefeelingcomethanitpassed.Hehadnodesireforrevenge.Theyhatedhim,andheknewwhytheyhatedhim.TheyhatedhimbecausehewasthesonofMiguelMerrano,theMexicanvaquerowhomarriedthemostbeautifulandsought-aftergirlinthevalley.Theyhatedhimbecausehehadtheaudacitytoreturnaftertheyhaddrivenhisfatherfromthearea.Theyhatedhimbecause
whentheybuiltafencetokeephiscattlefromwaterhehadfoundwaterelsewhere.Worstofall,hehimselfhadkeptupthefencetheybuilt,buildingitevenstronger.
Theyhatedhimbecausehehadthenervetotellthemtheywereruiningtheirland,andthatdrouthwouldcomeandtheircattlewoulddie.
"That'sallright,"hetoldMayer,"IhavethemoneyandIcanpay."
Hetookhisorderandpaidforitwiththreegoldpiecesplacedcarefullyonthecounter.JoeStanglelookedatthegold,thenstaredathim,hiseyesmean."I'dliketoknow,"hesaid;"whereagreasergetsthatkindofmoney.Maybethesheriffshoulddosomelookingaround!"
Barrygatheredhisarmfulofgroceriesandputthemhiaburlapsack."Maybehecould"--hespokegently--"andmaybeyoucould,too,Joe.Allyou'dhavetodowouldbetouseyoureyes."
Hewentout,thenreturnedforasecondandathirdload."Thatgreaserfatherofyoursknowedwhathewasdoin'whenheboughtthatland,"Stanglesaid.
"Thelandmyfatherboughtwasthesamesortoflandyouallhave.Oncetherewasgoodgrasseverywherebutyouoverstockedyourlandandfeditoutofexistence.Thenthebrushcameinandtheunderlyingrootskilledoffmoregrass.Whenthegrassthinnedoutyourstockstartedeatingpoisonweeds.There'snothingwrongwithyourlandthatafewgoodyearswon'tcure."
"Weheardallthatpreachin'before.Nogreaser'sgoin'tocomearoundandtellmehowtorunmyrange!JimHillan'mewererunnin'cattlebeforeyouwasbornI"
Merranotookhislastarmfulofgroceriesandturnedtowardthedoor.Whitewithfury,JoeStanglestuckouthisfootandBarrytrippedandsprawledonthefloor,spillinghisgroceries.
Nobodylaughed.TomDrakethrewanirritatedglanceatStangle,butsaidnothing.
BarryMerranogotup.Hisfacewasverycoldandstill."Thatwasacheapthingtodo,Stangle,"hesaid."There'snotmuchmaninyou,isthere?"
Hadhebeenslappedacrossthemouthitwouldhavebeeneasiertotake.Stangletrembled,andhishanddroppedtohisgun.OnlyJimHill'sgrabbinghisarmpreventedhimfromshootingMerranointhebackashewalkedoutthedoor.
"Yellow!"Stanglesneered."Yellow,likeanygreaser!"
"You'rewrong,Joe,"Hillsaidquietly,"he'snotyellow,norwashisoldman."
"Herun,didn'the?"Stanglesaid."Hequit,didn'the?"Hisvoicewashoarsewithhatred.
"Yes,heleft,butifIrecallcorrectlyhebackedyoudown,Joe."
Stangle'sfacewaslivid,butHillturnedhisbackonhimandaskedMayer,"I'llhavetoaskforcreditagain,Mayer.Canyoucarryme?"
"Ialwayshave."Mayertriedtosmile.Hehadcarriedthemall,buthowmuchlongerhecouldaffordtodoithedidnotknow.OnlythecashBarryMerranohadspentwithhimenabledhimtomeethisownbills,butscarcelythat.
BarryMerrano'sbuckboardrattledoutoftown,hittingthelong,dry
roadtoWillowSprings.ItwasalmostsundownbutheatlayoverMirrorValleylikeasoddenthing,dusthangingheavyintheair.Itwasalwaysherenow,thatdust.Afewyearsback,hismothertoldhim,thisvalleyhadbeenagreenandlovelyplace.Therehadbeenfatcattlearoundthen,anditwashereshehadmethisfather,thatpleasant-faced,friendlyMexican--slim,wiry,andelegant--anditwasheretheyhadcourtedandheretheyweremarried.
"I'mgladshedidn'tlivetoseeit,"Barrymuttered,"itwouldhavebrokenherheart."
Intherushtogetrichfrombeefcattlethegrass.hadbeenovergrazed,andthecreosote,cat-claw,andtarweedhadstartedtomovein.Thegrasshadgrownthinner.Ithadbeeneatendown,andworndown,windhadwhippedthedustfromaroundtherootsandrainshadwashedouttheclumpsofgrass.Thewaterholes,onceplentiful,neverseemedtofilluporremainfullanymore.
"Climate'schanging,"DrakehadsuggestedtoHill,andthelatternoddedhisagreement.
"Don'teverrecallitbeingsodry,"Hilladded.
TheywatchedwithsullenimpatiencewhenBarryMerranoreturnedtooccupyhisfather'sranch.Andtheyturnedawayincontemptwhenhetoldthemtheclimatewasnotchanging,buttheyweresimplyrunningmorecattlethantherangewouldsupport.
WillowSpringsloomedbeforehim,andBarrykepthiseyesaverted.ItwasatWillowSpringswherehisfatherandmotherfirstmet.Ithadbeengreenandlovelythen,andthepoolhadbeenwideanddeep.Nowmostofthewillowsweredeadandwherethepoolhadbeen,theearthwascrackedandgray.Therehadbeennowatersinceearlysummer.
TurningrightatWillowSpringshisroadbecameaclimb.Itwasonlyatrail,twowindingrutsacrosstheparchedplain.AheadofhimhesawTheFence.
Alloverthecountryitwasknownbynoothername.ItwassimplyTheFence,onlynowadaysitwasmentionedrarely.
SevenranchershadbuiltTheFence,andtheyhadbuiltitwhenBarryrefusedtoleave.
ThatwasfouryearsagobuttoBarryitseemedlonger.Hehadreturned,knowingeverydetailofthehatredMirrorValleypeoplehadfeltforhisfather.Hewasdeterminedtofaceitdownandwinaplaceforhimself;andthelandhisfatherlefthimwasallhehad.HeturnedupthedrawtowardthehouseMiguelMerranohadbuiltinthebasinundertheshoulderofTableMountain,
Threedaysafterhisarrivaladozenhorsemenhadriddenupthedrawtotellhimhewasnotwanted.TheywantednoMexicansinMirrorValley.
Hehadwaitedinthedoor,listening.Andthenhesmiled,lookingmuchmorelikehisIrishmotheratthatmoment."I'msorryyou'vehadyourridefornothing,"hesaid."I'mstaying."
"Getoutorwe'llrunyouout!"Stanglehadshouted.
"Thenwhywastetimetalking?"Merranosuggested."Whydon'tyoustartyourrunning?"
Withanoath,Stanglehadreachedforhisgun,buthishandgotnofartherthanthebutt,thenvery,verycarefullyhemovedhishandaway.NotoneofthemsawwhereMerranohadheldtheshotgun,butsuddenlyitwasthere,inMerrano'shands.
"Sorry,gentlemen,butIdon'tlikebeingshotatIamnotamanofviolence,butI'veseveralthousandroundsofammunitionandIhitwhatIshootat
"I'venoticedthatashotgunhasadepressingeffectonviolentmen,asnobodycantelljustwhoisgoingtogethimselfrippedopen.Now,gentlemen,I'vealotofworktodo.DoyougocheerfullyordoIhavetostartagraveyard?"
Theywent,andJoeStanglewasnotthelasttoleave.
ThreedayslatertheybuiltTheFence.TheybuiltitacrossthedrawthatledfromMerrano'sadobeinthebasintotown.Theybuiltithorse-high,hog-tight,andbull-strong.ThensixmenwaitedwithriflesforsomebodytotrycuttingTheFence.
BarryMerranocamedownthedrawinhisbuckboard,andtheypickeduptheirriflesforakilling.BeforehecametoTheFence,Barrypulledupandtumbledarollofbarbedwirefromthebackofthebuckboard.Then,astheywatched,suddenlyfeelingveryfoolish,BarryMerranobuilthisownfence,higher,stronger,andtighter.Inplaceoftheirninestrandsofwireheputupfourteen.Inthefortyfeetofwidthacrossthedrawheputupninepoststotheirfive.Thenhegotintohisbuckboardanddroveaway.
CabCasady,forty-five,andaccountedoneofthetoughestmeninthevalley,laughed.Justassuddenlyashebeganlaughing,hestopped."We'reapackoffoolsI"hesaidwithdisgust."Andforone,I'mashamedofmyself!I'mgoinghome!"
Avoidingeachother'seyestheotherswenttotheirhorses,mountedupandrodeaway.TheFencewasatopicnolongermentionedinconversation.
YetallwonderedwhatMerranowoulddo,fortherewasnowayoutof
thebasinunlessonewalked.Forthreeweekstheywaited,andthenonedayBarryMerranodroveintotownforsupplies.Whentheyrodeouttosee,TheFencewasstillintact.
JimHill,althoughhewouldnotadmitit,wasrelieved.Yetliketheothers,hewascurious.Hemountedupandscoutedaroundthecountry.Itwasalmostamonthafterthatherodeintotown.HehadadrinkintheFaroHouseandsaid,"DoyouknowwhatthatMexdid?He'sboredhimaholethroughtheNeck!"
AnybodybutJimHilltheywouldhavecalledaliar.TheNeckwasawallofrockthatjoinedthebulkofTableMountaintotherestoftherange,yetwhentheyrodeouttoseeit,therewasablackholeinthatredwallofrock.
Howcouldithavebeendone?Itwasimpossible,yetithadbeendone.
Nobodymentionedfencingthetunnelmouth.
AfewdayslaterwhenhepassedWillowSprings,BarryMerranosawarideremergefromtheshabbylittlegroveandstartacrossthetrail.Whenshesawhim,shepulledup.
ItwasCandyDrake.
Hestoppedthebuckskinswhenhedrewclose."Howareyou,ma'am?"Hetouchedhishat.Hestartedtocommentontheheatandthedrouthbutthoughtthebetterofit.Insteadheindicatedthepinto'sleg."Iseethatlegiscomingalongallright."
"Yes,itgotwelljustlikeyousaiditwould."
Hewantedtotalk,yetwantedtoavoidanythingthatmightgiveoffense.CandyDrakewastheprettiestgirlinMirrorValley.Hehadtalkedtonooneinalmostthreemonths,andheadmittedtohimself
thathehadbeeninlovewithCandyDrakeforthreeyears.
"Thedrouthcamethewayyousaiditwould,too,"shesaidalmostaccusingly."Everythingseemstoturnoutthewayyousayitwill."
Heflushedslightly."Anybodywhotookthetimetolookcouldseethiscountrywasintrouble,"hesaid."Thiscountryhadbeensoovergrazedtherewasnograsstoholdwhatmoisturewegot.Mostofitcouldhavebeenpreventedifworkhadbeenstartedacoupleofyearsago."
Hetookoffhishatandranhisfingersthroughhisthick,darkhair."NobodywouldlistentomewhenIofferedtohelp.IwasjustthatdamnedgreasersonofMollyO'Brien's,sowhatcouldIknow?"
Therewasabitternessinhisvoicethatcamethroughnomatterhowhardhetriedtoholditback.Hehadlivedtooclosetothisfortoolongatime.
MirrorValleyhadbeenoutragedwhenprettyMollyO'BrienhadmarriedMiguelMerrano.Hehadbeenatop-hand,hiredonlyfortheroundup.PeteDrakehadhiseyesonMolly,andsohadothers,butshehadmadepromisestonooneuntilshemetMerrano.
MiguelboughttheTableMountainplaceandforfourbitteryearsstruggledagainstthehatredandtheprejudicedirectedagainstthem.Finally,whenyoungBarrywasalmosttwo,theyhadgoneaway.
Surprisingly,theyprospered.BarryheardmanytalesofMirrorValleyashewasgrowingupbutnothingofthereasonforleavinguntilhewasfifteen.Hedeterminedthentoreturnandfightitoutifittooktwentyyears.
"Myfathercertainlyshouldknowhowtoruncattle,"Candyprotested."He'sraisedmorecattlethanyouhaveeverseen."
"I'mtwenty-six,"Barrysaid,"andI'vealottolearn,butsimplygrowingolddoesn'tmakeonewise.Yourfathercameintoarich,newcountryandnothingcouldconvincehimitwouldnotalwaysstayrich.
"Theotherswerethesame.Theyranmorecattlethantherangecouldsupport.OncewhenIwasvisitingatyourplaceItriedtosuggestsomechanges,buthejustthoughtmeafool."
"ButBarry,"sheprotested,"millionsofbuffalousedtorunontheseplains,sohowcouldtheybespoiledbyafewthousandcattle?"
"Yourfathersaidthesamething,"Barrysaid,"butyoubothforgetthatthebuffaloneverstoppedmovingastheygrazed.Theywereconstantlymovingandastheymovedon,thegrasshadachancetogrowbackbeforetheyreturnedagain.Nowtherangeisfencedanddiecattlearecontinuallyfeedingoverthesameground."
Candywasexasperated."Wealwayshavethesameargument,"sheprotested."Canyoutalkofanythingelse?"
"Manythings,ifyou'lllisten.Candy,whydon'tyoucomeovertomyplaceandseeforyourself?"
"Toyourplace?"Shewasshocked,yetastheideatookhold,shewasintrigued.Likeallinthevalleyshewascurious.Whatwashedoingbackthere?Nobodyhadvisitedthebasinsincehetookover,andtheyallknewBarryMerranopaidcashforeverything.Howcouldhedoit?
Thatherancattle,theyallknew.HehaddrivencattleintoAragontosellandAragonwasoutofthewayforpeoplefromthevalley.Theyknewhedidittoavoidmeetingthem.
"Itwouldn'tbeproper,"shesaid,butasshesaiditsheknewitwasafeebleexcuse.Shehaddonemanythingsthatwereoftenconsideredimproper."Anyway,thatdarktunnelwouldfrightenme.Howeverdid
youmakeit?""Itwasnothard.Wanttocome?"Herfather'sdisapprovalandwhatmightbeconsideredproperwasopposedtohercuriosity,whichresultedinasweepingvictory...forhercuriosity.
Interestedinspiteofherself,shefollowedalong.Hedrovethebuckskinsintothedarktunnel,andshefellinbehindthem.Thebuckskinstrottedalongundisturbedbythedarknessuntilroundingasmallcurvetheysawlightbeforethem.Whensheemergedfromthetunnelshepulledupwithagasp.
Thefirstimpressionwasofsize.Shehadthoughtofthebasinasasmallplace,yettheremusthavebeenthousandsofacreswithinthatcircleofhills.Whenshelookedagainshesawnothingwasasithadbeen.
Thebasin,incontrasttothecountryshehadleft,wasgreenandlovely.Awindingroadledtoastonecottagethatstoodonawideledgeandoneithersideoftheroadtherewerefencedfields,theoneontherightofclover,ontheleftofcorn,andthecornwasshoulderhighassherodepastitonherhorse.
Theoldtreessherememberedfromatimeshehadcomehereasachild,whenitwasabandoned,buttherewereyoungertrees,includingasmallorchard,carefullysetout.Thevalleyof.thebasinitselfwasgreen,withhereandthereasmallpoolthatcaughtthesunlight.
"Isthatgrassdownthere?"
"Mostofit.Someisblackgrama,someiscurlymesquitegrass.IthasalwaysgrowninthiscountrybutIamcarefulnottoovergrazeit.ThebasinopensattheotherendintoacanyonandthenintoLongValley,theoldNavajosheeprange.ImadeadealwiththeNavajotograzesomeofit.Irunaboutfifteenheadtothesectionbutactuallymostofthiswillsupporttwiceasmany."
Herfathershouldseethis,shethought.Hewouldneverbelieveitifshetoldhim.
"Butwhataboutwater?Wheredoyougetwater?"
"Thiscountryneverhasenough,andmostoftheraincomesinlatesummer.WhenIcamebackIalreadyknewtheproblemIfaced.Ididsomeblasting,builtthreedamsthefirstsummer,dammingthreedrawsthatopenintothebasin.WhereverIfoundalowspotImadesomekindofareservoir.NowIhaveacoupleofsmalllakesbehindthedamsandtherearepoolsscatteredalloverthebasinanddownintoLongValley.Towardtheendofsummermostofthemdodryup,butbythattimetherainsarenotfaroff.
"Inthiscountrywaterrunsoffthehillslikeoffatinroofsoyouhavetosavewhatyoucan.Ofcourse,I'vedrilledacoupleofwells,too."
Amazed,shelistenedwithonlyhalfherattention.Suddenly,shewasfrightened.IfJoeStanglesawthisplacehishatredandenvywouldbedoubled.
Shethoughtofsomethingshehadwonderedabout."Barry?Howeverdidyoumakethattunnel?"
Hechuckled."Candy,overtwo-thirdsofitwasabig,naturalcave.Ipaceditoff,thenwentontopandmeasuredtherockandfoundIonlyhadalittlewaytogoandmuchwasanup-thrustfrombelowthatIcouldtakeoffwithapick.
"Asfarasthegrassgoes,Inevergrazemuchstockonitatanyonetime,andIshiftthemaroundtogivethegrassachancetogrowback."
"Don'tyouhavetroublewitholdTwoMoons?"
"Notatall.IexplainedwhatIhadinmind,andheunderstoodright
away.TheNavajohavealwaysunderstoodgrazingprettywell,andIofferedthemafairprice."
Astheywalkedbackhereyesstrayedtowardthehouse.Shewouldhavelikedtoseetheinside,buthedidnotsuggestit.
Hestrippedtheharnessfromtheteamandturnedthemintothecorral,thensaddledahorse."It'sgettinglate,"hesaid,"I'llridehomewithyou."
TheridetotheTDwassilent,forneitherfeltliketalking.Barrywashappyandmiserableatthesametime.HewasinlovewithCandy,butherfatherhadbeenoneofthosewhotriedtodrivehimofftheplace,andherfatherhadlenthistacitconsenttobuildingTheFence,ifnomorethanthat.
Thefeelingagainsthimhadgrownstrangerratherthanotherwise.Theincidentinthestorewouldmakethemturnevenfurtheraway,andasnoneofthemlikedhim,mostwouldbeonlytooquicktoaccepthiswalkingawayfromStangleascowardice.
Whentheydrewupatthegatehesaid,"Iwishyou'dcomeagain.Andbringyourfather."
"Hewouldn'tcome,Barry."Shewaspuzzledaboutherfeelingstowardhim.Hehadtalkedmorethaneverbefore,andforthefirsttimeshehadseensomethingofthekindofmanhewas,yetshecouldnotquiteunderstandhim.Hewas,shesuspected,amuchmorecomplexhumanbeingthananyshehadknown.
"You'rebeautiful,Candy."Thewordscamesosuddenlythatshelookedup,surprisedbythem."You'resobeautifulithurts.Iwish--"
Adarkfigureloomednearthegate."Candy?Isthatyou?Who'sthatwithyou?"
"Price?IwasjustsayinggoodnighttoBarryMerrano."
"Who?"Astonishmentmingledwithanger.
"HasthatdirtyMexbeenbotherin'you?Ifhehas,
I'll--!"
"IsimplyrodehomewithMissDrake,"Barrysaid."There'snoreasontogetexcited."
PriceTaylorshovedopenthegateandcameout."Listen,greaser!Youturnthathorseandcutlooseforhome!Don'tyoubetellin'menottogetexcited!I'lltakeyouoffthathorseandbeatyourskullin!"
"Price!"Candyexclaimed."Thisisoutrageous!"TaylorwasbesideBarry'shorse.Hewasalarge,somewhattop-heavyyoungman.AsforemanoftheTDhehadbecomealmostoneofthefamilyandhehadlonglookeduponCandyDrakeassomeoneveryspecialandreservedforhim,althoughhehadhadnoencouragementfromherandcertainlynonefromTomDrake,whowouldhavebeenappalledatthethought.SeeingherinthemoonlightwithMerranoturnedhimugly.
"Thisisnobusinessforwomenfolk:!Yougetalongtothehousenow.I'lltakecareofthisI"
HereachedabighandforBarryandBarrywent,muchfasterthanTaylorexpected.AsTaylorlaidholdofhimBarryswunghisotherlegoverthesaddleanddrovehisheelintothebiggerman'schest,sendinghimstaggering.Thenhedroppedtotheground.
Coolly,hewaiteduntilTaylorrecoveredhisbalance."I'dratheryou'dgoalongtothehouse,"Barrysaid,"butifyouwantalickingyoucanhave
it"
"Alickin'?Me?"Taylor'ssizehadwonseveralbrawlsforhim,andhefanciedhimselfatoughman.
HestartedforMerranoandastiffleftstoppedhim,smashinghislips.Taylordroppedintoahalf-crouch,armswidetograpple,andmovedin.Barrycaughtthelargerman'ssleeveandjerkedhimforward,off-balance,thenkickedhisfootfromunderhim.Taylorsprawledforward,fallingonhishandsandknees.
Merranostoodwaiting,andTaylorcamehalferect,thenlaunchedhimselfinalongdive.Merranosidesteppedandwaited.
Slowly,carefully,Taylorgotupfromtheground.Puttinghisfistsinfrontofhiminanawkwardsimulationofaboxer,hemovedin.MerranomovedtothesideandTaylorcaughthimonthecheekbonewithaclumsyswing,butMerranostoodhisgroundandstruckthreehard,fastblowstothebody,thenanuppercutthrowninclosethattippedTaylor'schinback.
Taylorboredin,swingingwildly.AnotherpunchcaughtBarrybutagainhefailedtostepbackand,movingin,sankawickedrightintoTaylor'sbellyandhookedalefttohisface.
Taylorturned,BarryfeintedaleftandTaylorpawedattheairtoknockthepunchdown,butthefeintwasfollowedbyastiffleft,thenanotherandanother.Taylorwasbig,butlackedanysemblanceoffightingskill.Hecamein,legsspreadwide,swinging.Barryhithimwithaleft,thenknockedhimdownwitharight.TaylorgotupslowlyandBarryknockedhimdownagain.
Taylorgottohiskneesbutwasunabletogettohisfeet."I'msorry,Taylor,butyouaskedforitYou'reagameman,butyou'renofighter."
Taylormadeittohisfeet,weaving.Barrythrustoutahand."AsfarasI'mconcerned,there'snohardfeelings.Willyoushake?"
PriceTaylorignoredtheout-thrusthand.
Barryswungtothesaddle."I'msorry,Candy.Ididn'twantthistohappen."
"You'dbettergo,"sherepliedcoldly.
Heswunghishorseandrodeaway,cuttingacrosstheplains,grayandemptyunderawideWhitemoon.
Taylorwipedhisface."YoumustthinkI'manawfulbust,gettin'whippedthatway."
Candyshookherheadsoberly."No,Price,Idon't,butIthinkwe'veallmadeanawfulmistake!"
Taylorgrunted."LookslikeImadeone,anyway."
WhensheopenedthedoorintothewidelivingroomoftheranchhouseCandywassurprisedtofindfiveorsixmentalkingwithherfather.JimHillwasthere,andJoeStangle.AlsotherewereCabCasady,RockDulin,VinnieLake,HardyBensonandabig,powerfulmanwhomshedidnotknow.
"We'vegottofigureoutsomethingorwe'refinished,"Bensonwassaying."Mycattlearedyinglikeflies!"
"Mine,too,"Stanglesaid,"waterholesaredry,andthere'snograss."
"Ifyouaskme,"Dulincommented,"itain'tonlythedrouth.There'sbeensomeruslin'."
"There'sbeennorustlinginthiscountrysincewegotridofBert
Scoveyandhisoutfit."
"Thatgreaseralwayshasmoney,"Stanglesaid."Where'shegetit?"
"IfyoucouldseethatBasinRanchofhis,"Candyinterrupted,"youwouldn'twonder.Youshouldallhavelistenedtohimalongtimeago."
Herfatherlookedupsharply."Candy?Whatmakesyousaythat?Whendidyouseeit?"
"Today,"sherepliedcalmly."HeinvitedmetoseeitandIdid."
"Youwentintothebasinwiththatlow-downMex?"
"Holdonaminute,Tom!"Stangleliftedahand."Youmeanhe'sgotgrass?"
"Yes,hehas!"Candywaspleasedwiththeeffectofherwords."Thewholebasinisgreenandbeautiful!He'sgotwater,andlotsofit.He'sdammedsomeofthedraws,he'sdugoutsomepools,andhehasalotofwater.He'sevengotagraincrop!"
"Grain?"Hillexclaimed."Youmeanhe'sfarmin'?"
"Notfarming,justraisingenoughforhisownstock.Hetoldmehefedduringthewinterorjustbeforetakingthemtomarket."
"Youactuallysawwaterandgrass?"Hillasked."He'sdonenothingyouallcouldn'thavedone,andhe'sdoneitallinfouryears!Certainly,Isawit!"
"Youtakin'upforhimnow?"Dulinasked."No!Iamjusttellingyouhe'sprovedhiscase.Hewasright,andyouallwerewrong."
Stangleleanedforward,intent."Where'dyousaythatwaterwas?In
CottonwoodDraw?"
"He'sdammedbothCottonwoodandSpringValley.He'splantedseedlingtreesaroundthemtoholdthebanksandhelpconservemoisture."
"Well!"Stangleslappedhisthigh."That'sit,men!Thatsettlesourproblem!"
"Whatdoyoumean?"Drakelookeduphopefully.
"He'sgotwater.Whydon'twejusttakedownTheFenceanddriveourcattleinthere?Thatsneakin'Mexican'sgotnorighttoallthatwaterwhenourcattlearedyin'!"
Casadylethischairlegsdownhard."Youmeantosayyou'dhavethegalltoaskhimforwaterafterthewaywe'vetreatedhim?"
"Asknothin'!"Stanglesaid."JustteardownTheFenceandletourcattlein.They'dfindthewaterandgrasssoonenough."
"Wecouldn'tdothat,"Drakeprotested,"itwouldn'tberight."
"Right?"Stangle'svoicewashoarsewithbitterness."Areyousoanxioustogobroke?Youwanttowatchyourcattledie?"-
"You'ddoathinglikethat?"Casadydemanded,hiseyesgoingfromonetotheother.
"Iwould,"RockDulinsaid."Areyoutoonicetosaveyourcows?"
CandystaredatDulin,appalled."No,Rock,"Casadysaidquietly,"I'mnottoonice.Ihope,however,thatIknowsomethingoffairplay.We'vebuckedthatkidandmadehislifepurehell.Wetriedtodrivehimoutandhestuck.Wefencedhimoutofourcountryandstillhestayed.Hetriedtotellus,andweweretoodamnedhardheadedto
listen.Now,youwouldruinwhathehasdone.Howlongwillthatlittlegrasslastifweturnourherdsinthere?We'vegotsevenoreightthousandheadbetweenus."
"Idon'tknow,andIdon'tgiveadamn!"Stanglesaid."He'sgotnoplacehereinthefirstplace.I'vegotmycattletosave,andI'llsavethem."
"Hewon'tstandforit,"Hillreplied."He'llfight."
"Ihopehedoes!"Stanglesaid."Himandhishighfalutinways!Handin'goldrightoverthecounter!Throwin'itrightinourfaces!"
"Whatifhedoesfight?"Drakeasked.
"Youfoughtinjunstogetthere,didn'tyou?"Dulinsaid."YoukilledsomeofScovey'sboys?"
CandyDrakestaredinshockeddisbelief."Youcoulddoathinglikethat?JoeStangle,whatkindofamanareyou?Towreckallhe'sdone!Todestroyeverything!"
"Itwouldsaveourstock,MissCandy,"Bensonprotested."We'vefamiliestothinkabout.Yourpa'sinthesamefixIam,andI'mheadoverheelsindebt."
"Whatwouldyoudoifhewasn'tthere?WhatifI'dnotbeensofoolishastotellyou?"
"Butheisthere,"Dulinreplied,"andthankstoyou,weknowwhathe'sgot.Theremaybewaterenoughtokeepourstockaliveforamonth,andbythentherainsmightcome.I'mforit."
"SoamI!"Stangledeclared.
"Itisn'tright,"Drakeprotested."Ifhehaswaterit'sduetohisown
hardwork,andthewater'shis."
"Well,Tom,ifyouwanttogobroke,thechoiceisyours,"Stanglesaid."I'llbedamnedifIletmycattledie.Ifyouhadawaterholeyou'dletmeuseit,wouldn'tyou?Whyshouldhebetheonlyonewho'sfencedin?"
Casady'sdislikewasobviousashestaredatStangle."AndjustwhobuiltTheFence?Seemstomeyouhadahandinit,Stangle."
"Thatcutsnoice."Stanglewavedahand."We'lltearitdown.We'llrunourcattleinthere,andthenwe'llseewhathappens.I'mnotgoingtoletmycattlediebecausehekeepshiswaterfencedup."
"Ireckonthatspeaksforme."HardyBensonspokereluctantly."I'mindebt.I'llloseallIhave."
"Thatsaysitforme,"VinnieLakeadded.
Cabgottohisfeet."Howaboutyou,Tom?"
Drakehesitated,beforehiseyesthevisionofhisdyingcattle,thesizeofthebillheowedMayer.
"I'llstringwiththeboys,"hesaid.
ForamomentCasadylookedaroundattheirfaces."I'drathermycattledied,"hesaid."Goodnight,gentlemen!"
Dulinstartedtohisfeet,hishandreachingforhisgun."I'llkillthat--"
"Betternottry,"Hillsaiddryly."YouneversawthedayyoucouldmatchCabwithagun."
Helookedaroundattheirfaces."Idon'tknowthatIlikethis,myself."
"It'ssettled,"Stangledeclared."Dulin,Lake,Benson,Drake,andHill.Howaboutyou,McKesson?"
"Sure,I'llridealong,trailmystockwithyours.IneverlikedthatMex,noway."
TomDrakeglancedathimthoughtfully.CurtMcKessonwasanewmaninthevalley,abig,sombermanwithabrooding,sullenface.Drakehadseenhimangrybutonce,butthathadrevealedhimtohaveavicious,murderoustemper.Hehadbeatenahorsetodeathbeforeanyonecouldinterfere.Hedislikedtheman,anditdisturbedhimtoseehowMcKesson'seyesfollowedCandyeverymoveshemade.Thelightinthemwasnotgoodtosee.
JoeStanglegotup,satisfactionshowinginhiseyesandvoice."WecanmeetatWillowSpringsMondaymorning.OnceTheFenceisdownandthecattlestartedforwatertherewillbenostoppin'them."
Candywatched,feelingsickandempty.Shewantedtoprotestbutknewtheywouldnotlisten.TheirowndesperationcoupledwithStangle'shatredandDulin'ssullenbrutalityhadledthemintosomethingmostofthemwouldlivetoregret.Nowtheywereonlythinkingaboutdelayingtheirbadtimes.Onebyonetheyfiledoutandwhentheyhadgonesheturnedonherfather.
"Dad,you'vegottostopthemIYoucan'tletthemdestroyallthatpoorboy'swork!"
"Poorboy,isit?He'sgotnorighttoallthatwaterwhenourcattlearedying!"
"Whodammedthosedraws?Whathaveyoudonetotrytosaveyourcattle?Allyou'vedoneissitherewiththerestofthemandsneeratwhathethoughtandwhathedid!"
"Bequiet!"Drake'svoiceboomed,hisguiltmakinghimevenmoreangry."Iwon'thaveyoutakin'upforthatMexican.Norisityourplacetoquestionmyactions."
"Dad"--Candy'stonewascold--"You'dbetterunderstandthis.BarryMerranowillfight.Ifhefights,somebodywillgetkilled.IfIwereyouI'ddoalotofthinkingbeforeyoustartanything.Itisn'tlikeitwaswhenyoudroveoutthoserustlers.Thecountryhaschanged."
Despitehimself,heknewwhatshesaidwasthetruth.Heshookhisheadirritably."Nonsense!He'syellow!Hewon'tfight."
Hehesitated,thinking.Thenhesaid,"Hewon'tfight.JoeStanglemadeafoolofhimandhedidnothing,nothingatall!"
"Thenyou'dbettergoouttothebunkhouseandtakealookatPriceTaylor.Pricethoughthewouldn'tfight,too."
"What?Whatdoyoumean?"
"Barryrodehomewithmetonightandwasleavingmeatthegate.Hehadbeenagentleman,nomore.Pricejumpedhim,andBarrygavehimabeating."
"HewhuppedPrice?Girl,you'recrazy!""Golookathim.AskPriceifhe'syellow.Also,Iseemtorememberyoutriedtofrightenhimawaybefore,andhedidn'trun.Hehadonlyanideatofightforthen.Nowhe'sgotaplaceworthhaving!"
Shepaused."Rememberthis,Dad.He'llfight,andsomebodywillgetkilled."
"Bah!"Drakesaid,buthewasdisturbed.Sheknewherfatherwellenoughtoknowthathebadnotlikedtheactiontakentonight,yetthesewerethemenheknew,menhehadworkedbeside,menwith
whomhehadsharedtrouble.Hehadgonealongbecauseitofferedawayoutofbankruptcyandfailure,andbecausethereseemednoalternative.
TomDrakehadfoughtIndians,outlaws,andrustlers,andnowhewouldfighttoholdtheplace,butheknewinhisheartthatifhewereMerrano,hewouldfight.HedidnotapproveofkillingandhebelievedMerranowouldrun,yetnow,listeningtohisdaughter,hewasnolongersosure.
"Dad?"Candyspokequietly."Iwantyoutounderstand.IfyougothroughwiththisI'llgoandfightbesideBarryMerrano.Iwilltakearifleandstandbesidehimandwhathappenstohimwillhappentome."
"What!"Hestaredathisdaughter,consternationinhiseyes.Inthatinstanthelookednotonlyintohisdaughter'seyesbutintothoseofhiswife,andsomethingmore,hesawareflectionofhimself,thirtyyearsbefore.
Withoutanotherword,Candyturnedandlefttheroom.Thebigoldmanbehindherstaredafterher,hurt,confusion,anddoubtstrugglinginhismind.Hesatdownsuddenlyinthebighidechair.Suddenlyhefeltoldandtired,staringintothefire,tryingtothinkthingsoutandseeingonlyhisdyingcattleandthefailureofallhehaddone.
Thecrackedmudinthedried-upwaterholes,theleaflesstrees,allhisyears,allhisstruggle,allhisworkandhisplansgone.
ThatwasFridaynight.EarlySaturdaymorningabuckboardleftMirrorValleyandbouncedoverthestonesandthroughthethickgraydusttowardWillowSpringsandtheturnofftoMerrano'stunnel.ClydeMayerhadmadeadecision,andhewasfollowingthrough.HeknewnothingoftheactiontakenbytheranchersattheTDranch.He
wasthreatenedbyforeclosurebythewholesalers,andinthisemergencyhewasturningtotheonemaninthevalleywhoseemedtohavemoney.
Thetunnelwasunguarded,andheturnedinhesitantly.WhenheemergedintothebrightsunlightBarryMerranowasstandinginthedoorofhishouse.Thesoundofhoofsinthetunnelwasplainlyaudiblewithinthehouseatanytime.
Mayerpulledupintheranchyardandtiedthelinestothewhipstock.Hegotdowncarefully,forhewasnotasagileashehadoncebeen.
"Howdy,son!"HepeeredatBarryoverhisglasses."Reckonthisvisit'sasurprise."
"Comein,"Barryinvited."I'mjustbackfrompatchingaholeinadam.Abadgerdugintoit,andthewaterstartedtodrainout."
"My,my!"Mayerlookedaroundslowly."Yourmotherwouldberightproud,youngman!Rightproud!Shewasafinewoman,yourmotherwas!"
"Thanks.That'salwaysgoodtohearfromsomebodyelse.Shewasagoodmothertome."
Whentheywereseatedovercoffee,Mayersaid,"Son,I'vecometoyouforhelp.Thewholesalershaveshutoffmycredit,andtheyaredemandingmoney.Iamlowonstock,andtherancherswillbecominginforsupplies."
"Howmuchdoyouneed?"
"Anawfullot,son.I'dneedfivethousanddollars.I'dsellyouahalfinterestinmybusinessforit.IknowI'vebeenfoolishtoextendcredit,butthesearegoodmen,son,andbasicallytheymeanwell.Everyone
ofthemwillpayoffifitisthelastthingtheydo,butthatwon'thelpmenow...northem."
"Ifyoudon'tgetthemoney,yougobroke?"
"That'sright."
"Thenwhathappenstotheranchers?"
"They'dstarveorgetout.Thedrouth'shitthiscountrysobadthereisn'taheadofcattlefittosell.Itwilltaketworeallygoodyearstogetthemoutoftheholethey'rein.They'dneverbeabletostickitout.Theyhavenofood,nofeed,nowater."
Merranostaredintohiscup,hisbrown,wind-tannedfacethoughtful.Afteramomenthesaid,"Allright.I'llbuyahalfinterestinyourstoreononecondition.Idon'twantanybodytoknowaboutit."
Mayerhesitated."Whataboutcreditforfeeranchers?Theyaremyfriends,andI'dhatetoturnthemdown."
"Don't.Givethemwhattheyneed.Somebodyhastohavefaithinthiscountry.Maybeafterthistheywilllearntheirlessonandhandletheirstocksensibly."
Mayerstoodup,hisreliefobvious."Idon'tmindtellingyou,son,Iwasscared.Ihadn'tanywheretoturn."
Hestartedforhisbuckboardandpausedbeforegettingintoit."Son,youbecareful.ThatJoeStangleisamightymeanman,andsoisDulin,"
"Thanks.I'llkeepmyeyesopen."
AfterMayerhadgoneBarryreturnedtothehouseandgothisWinchester.Thenheslippedonhisgunbelt.Itwastimetobegin
movingthecattleofftheLongValleyrangeandbackintothebasin.Nousetoletthemfeedtheretoolong.InafewweekshewouldtakethirtyheadovertoAragonforsale.Itwouldsaveonfeedandwaterandgivehimalittlemoreworkingcash.
Hehadsaddledupandwasabouttomountwhenheheardarattleofhorse'shooves.ItwasCandyDrake.
Atherexpressionhecaughtherhand."Candy?What'shappened?"
Swiftly,thewordstumblingintooneanother,shetoldhimofthemeetinganditsresult."Please,Barry!Don'tthinktoohardofFather!Allhecanseenowishiscattledying!"
"Iknow,"heagreed."ThetroubleisthatthelittlewaterIhavewouldn'thelpmuch.Withthatmassofcattlecomingin,mysmallerpoolswouldbetrampledintomudwithinhoursandthebiggerpoolsbehindthedamswouldlastnotimeatall.Itwouldsimplyaddmyruintotherestofthem.Believeme,Candy,I'dliketohelp.
"Thereisaway,iftheywillwork.There'swaterintheWhiteHorseHills.Itwouldtakealotofwork,buttheycouldgetatit."
"Theywouldn'tlisten,Barry.Notnow."
"There'sonlyonethingIcandonow,Candy.Theybrokemymother'sheartonthisground,andtheyturnedFatherfromalaughter-lovingyoungvaquerointoamoroseandlonelyman.
"There'sonlyonethingIcando,andthat'swhatyourfatherwoulddooranyofthemenwithhim.Iamgoingtofight."
Hewavedahand."There'sfouryearsofblood,sweat,andbustersinthis.DaysandnightswhenIwassobitterlylonelyIthoughtI'dgoinsane.Ibuiltthosedamswithmyownhands.Igatheredthestones
forthishouse,cutandshapedtheplanksforthefloors.Imadethechairs.Thesethingsaremine,andI'llfighttokeepthem.
"IfasinglecowcrossesTheFence,thatcowwillcrossovermydeadbody,butbelieveme,itwon'tbelyingtherealone.Candy,ifyoucantalktoyourfather,tellhimthat.Bloodwon'tsavehiscattle,butifitisbloodhewants,that'swhathewillget."
"They'llkillyou,Barry.Therearetoomanyofthem."
"Iwon'tbealone.Thismaysoundsilly,butmymotherandfatherwillbewithme.Thislandwastheirsbeforeitwasmine.Theghostsofathousandothermenwhofoughtfortheirhomeswillbethere,too!"
"Barry,ItoldFatherthatifhecameI'dfightwithyou."
Surprised,helookedupather."Yousaidthat?"
"Idid,andImeantit."
Speechless,hehesitated,thenshookhishead."No,asmuchasI'dlikeit,Ican'tletyoufightagainstyourfather.Thisismyfight.Iamobligedforthewarning,butyou'dbetterrideonnow.Butnomatterwhathappens,I'llnotforgetthis."
"Allright,I'llgo,butBarry,becareful!JoeStanglehatesyou!Andthatotherman,CurtMcKesson...hefrightensme!"
Foralongtimeaftershewasgone,Barrysatstaringdownthevalley,thinking.Hewouldleavethecattlewheretheywere.
Accustomedtoworkingandplanningalonehenowturnedallhisthoughtstodefense.Itwasaproblemhehadconsideredsincehisfirstday,andhispositionwasexcellent.TableMountainandtheNeckbarredaccesstoMirrorValley,andonlythetunnelandTheFence
offeredingress.IntheotherdirectionlaythecanyonthatopenedintoLongValley,andhehadnoworriesaboutthatdirection.Itwasaseventy-mileride,muchofitthroughthereservationlands,togettothatapproach,andtheIndianswouldresentanyarmedbandcrossingtheirlands.
Despitetheselfishnessofthosewhowoulddestroyallhehadbuilttosavetheirowncattle,hecouldfeelsympathyforthem.Heunderstoodwhatitmeanttoacattlemantoseehisstockdying,yetthewaterhehadwouldsavethemforafewdaysonly.
Theywereclutchingatstraws,eggedonbythehatredofJoeStangleandbyDulin.BehinditwastheleftoverhatredfortheyoungMexicanwhohadmarriedprettyMollyO'Brien,thegirltheyallwanted.
Withcoolcalculationhebegantostudyhisproblem.
BynoononSaturdayhebeganwork,usingadouble-jackandadrill.Theseholesheloadedwithpowder,determinedtoblastitshutifneedbe.Itwaslateafternoonbeforehecompletedthework.
FromthetopofTableMountainhestudiedtheMirrorValleycountrywithafieldglasshisfatherhadgivenhim.Hecouldseethedustcloudsthattoldofmovingcattle.NocattlehadyetreachedWillowSprings,whichCandyhadtoldhimwouldbetherendezvouspoint.YetbySundaynightheknewthecattlewouldbemassedattheopeningofthedraw.
Returningtothehouseheloweredaheavyloggateacrossthetunnelmouth.Mountinghishorseandleadingapackhorse,heheadedforTheFence.
Oncetherehestudiedtheterrainwithcare.TheFencewasstrong,andhisinnerfencewasstronger.Tearingitoutwouldbenosimplejob.Climbingthemountainhedugtworiflepits,oneforward,theother
somedistancefurtherback,whichhecouldreachbyahiddenroute.Ineachheleftammunition.
NoweightofcattlecouldpressdownTheFence.Itmustbetorndownorblastedout.UsingacrowbarfromthepackhorsehepriedlooseanumberofbouldersandtumbledthemdownthesteepsidesofthedrawtoaplacebehindTheFencetowidenanddeepenthebarrier.
Furtherback,wherethedrawopenedintothebasinheduganotherriflepitandtumbleddownmorestones,buttheretheyweremorewidelyspacedandlessofanobstruction.Notuntildarknesshadfallenandhecouldseethedarkmassofadvancingcattledidheceasework.
Despitethefactthathefearedtoleavethebarricade,hewentbacktothehouseandpreparedameal.Hewassittingdowntoeatwhenheheardacallfromthetunnel.
"Merrano?"Theshoutreachedhimclearly."ThisisCabCasady!Iwanttotalk!"
Pickinguphisrifle,hisgunbeltsstillhangingfromhiships,hewalkedtotheloggate."What'stheproblem?"heasked.
Thebigmangraspedthelogs."Merrano,damnit,I'mnotalker!Idoclaimsomesenseofwhat'sright,andIain'thavin'nopartofwhatthey'retryin'todo.Igotariflehereandplentyofshells.Icametolendyouahand!"
"Youmeanthat?"HerecalledwhatCandyhadsaidofthisman.
"Isuredo,boy!You'vegotsand,andbytheLordHarryIwanttoshowthesebullheadsthatatleastoneofuswon'tbestampededbynohate-filledcoyotelikeJoeStangle!"
Barryputdownhisrifleandunlatchedthegate."Comein,Cab!I
won'ttellyouhowgooditistoseeyouI"
Thetwomenwalkeduptothecabin.OvercoffeeandsidemeatBarryexplainedhisdefenses.Casadychuckled."I'lllikeseein'theexpressiononJoeStangle'sfacewhenhegetstoTheFenceI"hesaid.
Theytookturnsguardingthedrawbutnotuntildaylightdidthecattlemenstarttorideup.Barrywasatthecabinandhehadwelcomedanothervisitor...twoofthem,infact.
ClydeMayer,drivinghisoldbuckboard,ariflebetweenhisknees,droveupthehillwhenthegatewasopened.BesidehimontheseatwasCandyDrake.ShesetherlipsstubbornlywhenshesawBarry.
"Ifyouwon'tletmeshootIcanatleastmakecoffeeandgetfoodforyou.You'llhavetoeat."
"Allright,I'mnotsorryyoucame.Comeon,Mayer,we'dbetterheadbackforthedraw."
Heturnedtothegirl."Candy,watchthetunnel.Ifyouhearanybodycoming,andyoucanalwayshearthem,tellthemtogoaway.Fireacoupleofwarningshotsandiftheydon'tleave,lightthefuses."
Herfeatureswerestiffandwhite,hereyeslarge."I'lldoit,Barry.They'venobusinesscominghere."
Daywasbreakingintothatgrayhalf-lightthatprecedesthedawn.CabCasadyrosefrombehindaboulderandcametomeetthem."Howdy,MayerIYoujoinedthearmy?"
"Ihave."
Casadywasalarge,broad-shoulderedmanwithtwinklingblueeyes."They'recomin'now,"hesaid."Webetterlooktoit."
"Letmedothetalking,"Barrysuggested."Maybewecanavoidshooting."
"Idoubtit,"Cabsaid."Stanglewantsblood."
Whenthelittlecavalcadeofridershadapproachedasfarashethoughtwisehefiredashotthatbroughtthemupstanding.
"Youboysbetterridehome.Nobodyiscomingthroughthewire,todayorever.Idon'twanttokillanybody,butI'mprotectingmypropertyagainstarmedmen."
Casadystoodup."I'mhere,too,boys.Thefirstmantotouchthatwiredies!"
ClydeMayercalledout."Hill?Isthatyou?I'mnofightingman,Hill,butbygravythere'sgoingtobesomejusticeinthiscountryIYoutakemyadviceandridehome."
"Mayer?"Hill'stonewasincredulous."Youturnedtraitor,too?"
"I'mupholdingjustice,andifyou'vehalfthesenseIgaveyoucreditforyou'llturnaroundandridehome.IlikeyouHill,butyoulayahandonthatwireandmybulletwilltakeyourightbetweentheeyes!"
Therewasahurriedconferenceamongtheriders."Theycan'tstopus!"Stangleprotested."They'rebluffin'!"
"Countmeout,"PriceTaylorsaid.
"Youyellow?"Dulinsneered.
"YouknowI'mnotyellow,"PriceTaylorsaidcalmly,"butI'vebeenthinkingallthewayouthere.Merranowhippedmefairandsquare,andwhenIwasdownhedidn'tputthebootstomebutsteppedbackandletmegetup.Hemadegoodwhenwealllaughedathim,andhe's
standinghisgroundnow.AsforMayer,thereain'tafairer,moredecentmanaroundthanhim,andI'llbedamnedifI'llshootathim!"
"Thenwhydon'tyoujoinhim?"Dulinsneered.
Priceturnedonhim."Youcalledit,Rock!That'sjustwhatI'lldo!I'vemadesomebadmistakesandI'mnoskypilot,butInevergangeduponamanwithguts.I'lljoinhim!"
Hewheeledhishorseandstartedforthebarrier.Heliftedahand."Don'tshoot,Merrano!I'mjoinin'you!"
RockDulinsworeviciouslyandsuddenlyhewhippeduphisrifleandfired.
PriceTaylorlurchedinthesaddle,thenslippedoverontheground.
"Damntraitor!"RockDulinsaid."That'llshow'em!"
TomDrakestareddownatthebodyofPriceTaylor.Hehadrearedtheboy.Hehadhelpedhimmounthisfirsthorse.Hestaredaroundhiminshockedbewilderment."Whatarewedoing?"hesaid."Men,whatarewedoing?"
DroppingfromhishorsehestumbledtothebodyofPriceTaylor.
JimHillwaswhitetothelips.HardyBensonstaredafterTomDrake,hisfacestupidwithshock.Helookedasifhehadawakenedfromanightmare.HeturnedhiseyestoRockDulin."Thatwasmurder!"hesaid."Nothin'butmurder!"
Dulinturnedlikeananimalatbay.Hiseyeswentfrommantoman."What'sthematter?Areyouallturnin'yellow?Youstartedouttodoit,nowyou'requittin'!"
Hillsathishorse,hisrifleinhishands."PriceTaylorwasagoodman.
Hehadarighttohisfeelin'sasmuchasus.Dulin"--hiseyesfastenedontheotherrancher--"youan'Stangledowhatyouwant,butyouliftagunatme,myboyswillstringyoutothenearestcottonwood,an'that'swhereyoubelongIWe'vebeenapackoffools,thelotofus!"Heturnedinthesaddle."Comeon,boys,start'emforhome!"
AstheJimHillhandsbegangatheringtheherd,TomDrakeglancedonceatthedraw,thenturnedtohisownboys."AcoupleofyoupickupPrice,"hesaid.
LouBarrowlookedoveratDrake."Boss,Pricewasagoodman.Toogoodtogetshotintheback."
"Iknow,butthere'sbeentroubleenoughtoday."HewalkedhishorsetowhereJimHillandHardyBensonsat."Iseemtobegettin'oldthesedays,Jim.I'vebeenlettin'thingsgetoutofhand."
"Yeah.Well,thiswit,Tom.We'rebroke."
Silently,thegroupsscattered,drivingtheircattle.Dulinspoketothisoneorthatonebut,wasignored,cutoff,leftoutoftheirthinking.
HeturnedincoldfurytoStangle."Igotanotiontocutthethingmyself!"
"Don'ttryit,"Stangleadvised."Ifhedidn'tgetyou,Cabwould.Wecangetevenlater."
AsthethreemeninsideTheFencewatchedthemgo,onesaid,"Itwillbegoodtogetsomewarmgrub."Theyturnedtheirhorsesandrodetowardthehouse.
"Dulinhasalwaysbeenakiller.HeshotamaninagunfightoveratTrinidadafewyearsback,"Cabsaid."CurtMcKessonisanotherofthesamestripe."
Mayerwenttohisbuckboard."I'llbeleaving."
"Watchyourself,"Casadyadvised.
"Theydaren'tbotherme,"Mayersaid."Withoutmetheycan'teat."
Candywaslasttogo,andBarryrodealongwithher.Atthegatesheturnedtosaygood-bye,andheshookhishead."Imusttalktoyourfather,"hesaid.
"Doyouthinkthat'swise?"
"Maybenot,buthe'sgotachancetosavesomeofhiscattle,ifhewilllisten."
Drakedidnotlookupwhentheyentered.Hewasseatedinhisoldhide-boundchair,headhanging.
"Father?Here'ssomeonetoseeyou."
Helookedup,raisinghisheadlikeacorneredbear."Howdy,Merrano.You'relookin'atanoldfool."
"Drake"--Barrysquattedagainstthewall--"ifyouwillworktosaveyourherdyoucanstilldoit"
"Itwouldhavetobesoon,boy.They'redyin'likeflies."
"HaveyoubeenupintheWhiteHillslately?"
"TheWhiteHills?Notinfiveorsixyears.Nothin'uptherebutpinonan'juniper."
"Ithinkthere'swaterupthere,"Barrysaid."OnetimedowninTexasIsawthembringinanartesianwellincountryjustlikethat.Ifyoudrilledawelljustbelowthatoldtrapper'scabinIthinkyou'dstrike
water."
"Neverheardofanywellsdrilledinthiscountry,"hesaiddoubtfully.
"I'vedrilledfour,"Merranoreplied,"allwithwater."
Drakestruckamatchandheldittohispipe."Well,it'shightimeIowneduptothinkin'Iwastoosmart.Weolddogsfiguredweknewallthetricks."
Hepuffedonhispipe."MindifIrideoverandhavealookatyourplace?Candy'stoldmeaboutit."
"Youcomeatanytime.Asforwell-drilling,I'vegotanoutfitIhauledhitwoyearsagofromAragon."
Herodewarilyonhishomewardway.DespitethepeacefuldiscussionwithDrakeheknewthatStangleandDulinwerestillhisenemies.Thetwohadriddenofftogether,andCurtMcKessonhadriddenwiththem.
WhenTomDrakerodetothebasinthenextmorning,JimHill,VinnieLake,andHardyBensonrodewithhim.TheygreetedBarrywithnomorethananod,andhemountedthesteeldustandledthemacrossthebasin.Drakepulledinsuddenly,pointingtoamoundofearthrunningdiagonallyacrossashallowplaceonthehill.
"What'stheobjectofthat?"heasked.
"Waterwasstartingtomakeawashrightthere,"Barryexplained,"soIputinthatlittlespreaderdam.Causesthewatertodivideandspreadoverthehillsideandsoreachestherootsofmoregrass.
"Downbelowwheretherewasanaturalhollow,Idugitoutalittlemorewithascraper.NowI'vegotapoolalthoughitisdryingupnow."
"MorewaterinthatpoolrightnowthanI'vegotonmywholeplace!"Hillsaid.
Barryledthemfromplacetoplace,showingthemthelakeshehaddammedinthedraws,andthevariouspools.Thefirstofthewells,wherehehadawindmillpumping,showedagoodflowofwater.Thesecond,somedistanceaway,wasartesian.
Thebasinlookedgreenandlovely,andhegesturedwithawaveofthehand."That'smostlyblackgramaandcurlymesquitegrass.Iletthecattlerunthereafewweeks,thenmovethemtoanotherpastureandletthisgrowback.Ionlyrunaboutathirdofthestockyouhaveonthesamenumberofacres,thatwaymystockisalwaysfat."
"Myplaceisallgroweduptochollacactusnow,"Drakesaid.
"Burnthatfield,"Barryadvised,"theasheswillhelpthefieldandthefirewillburnthedryneedlesoffthechollaleavingthegreenpulpbehind.Thatgreenpulpisfairlygoodfeed.TheNavajostaughtmethat"
"ThenI'vegotenoughchollaonmyplacetofeedallthestockinChristendom,"Hillsaid.
"Son,"Drakesaid,"you'vedoneajob!Weshouldhavelistenedtoyoualongtimeback."
ThedayspassedswiftlyandBarryworkedhard,buthewaslonely,andeventheworkfailedtohelp.EachtimehereturnedtothehousehekeptlookingforCandyasherememberedher,makingcoffeeinhiskitchenduringthefight.Atnight,alonebythefire,heseemedtoseeherthere.Thenonedayherodehishorseupthedrawandstopped,astonished.
TheFencewasgone!Rootedout,wireandpostsgone,andthepost
holesfilledin.Theremightneverhavebeenafencethereatall.Hepushedhishatbackonhishead,andshookhishead."Mom,"hesaidaloud,"you'dhavelikedtoseethis!"
CandyDrake,ridingherpinto,decidedtoheadforthebasin.SheknewallaboutTheFencebeingdown.Theburningofthechollahadworkedandwouldbethemeansofsavingatleastsomeofthecattle.Now,iftherainscameintimeorthedrillersstruckwater,theyhadafightingchance.
Yettroublewasmounting.LouBarrow,filledwithfuryatRockDulin'skillingofPriceTaylor,hadgonetotown.Barrowhadmadearemarkaboutkillers,andDulinhadgoneforhisgun.Barrowwasatoughcowhandbutnogunman,andDulinputthreebulletsintohim.Miraculously,Barrowlived.
RockDulinswaggeredabouttown,hisranchforgotten,hisstockdying.JoeStangleandCurtMcKessonwereusuallywithhim.
Candydecideditwastimethewomentookahand.AliceBensonagreed,andsodidthethreeLakegirls.Theyorganizedabigdanceandcelebrationforthepurposeofgettingeverybodytogetheragainandwipingoutoldscores.CandyhadtakenituponherselftoridetothebasinandinviteBarryMerrano.
Inotherpartsofthevalley,eventsweremovingIntheirownway.McKessonhadriddenovertoStangle's,andthetwosatintheuntidylivingroomoverabottleofwhiskey.Withnothingonwhichtofeed,JoeStangle'shatredhadturnedinward.FordayshehadbeenbroodingoverthethoughtofBarryMerrano,nowthetalkofthevalley.JoeStangle'shatredwasoflongstanding,forhehadwantedMollyO'BrienandthenshehadmarriedMiguelMerrano.ThefactthatMollyhadneverevennoticedhisexistencemadenodifference.Deliberately,heprovokedtroublewithMiguel,confidenttheMexican
wouldbackdown.
Thetroublewas,hedidnosuchthing.ThedarklyhandsomeyoungMexicanhadsimplysteppedbackandtoldhimtogoforhisgunwheneverhewasready.
SuddenlyJoediscoveredhewasnotatallready.Itwasonethingtotacklewhatyouthoughtwasapuppydog,quiteanotherwhenyoufoundyourselffacingawolfwithfangsbared.Stanglelookedacrosseightfeetofflooranddiscoveredthatcourageknowsnoraceorcreed.
Hehadbackeddown,andalthoughitwasnotmentioned,heknewhewasdespisedforit.HishatredforMiguelMerranofloweredwiththecomingofhisson.
Now,bothmenweredrunkornearlyso.HulkingCurtMcKessonreachedforthebottleandsodidStangle.JoegothishandonitasdidCurt.Inasuddenburstoffury,StanglejerkedthebottlefromMcKesson'shand.
McKesson'ssullenanger,neverfarfromthesurface,explodedintorageandhestruckwiththebackofhishand,theblowknockingStanglesprawling.McKessonwasnotwearingagun,havingputitasideintheotherroom.
JoeStangle,blindwithfury,sawnothingbutthegreathulkingfigure.Allhisbottled-upragefoundsuddenreleaseinthis,andhisgunslidintohishand,thumbingthetriggeragainandagain.
Thethunderousroarofthesix-gunfilledtheroom,andwithittheacridsmellofgunsmoke.Thenthesounddied*thesmokeslowlycleared,^andJoeStanglelurchedtohisfeet.
OneglanceatCurtMcKessonwasenough.Thebigmanwasliterallyriddledwithbullets.Avertinghiseyes,JoeStanglepickedupthe
bottleanddrainedoffthelastofthewhiskey.Withoutabackwardglance,hewalkedoutthedoor.
Drunkashewashisnaturalcunningwarnedhimhehadnochanceofgettingawaywithwhathadbeenthekillingofanunarmedman.StepswerebeingtakentoelectasheriffandoncethatwasdoneneitherhenorRockDulinwouldlongremainatlarge.Mountinghishorsehestarteddownthevalley,filledwithasullenfeelingthatsomehowitwasallBarryMerrano'sfault.
Thetrailhewasriding,drunk,andfilledwithsullenrage,intersectedthatofCandyDrake.
Unknowntoeitherofthem,BarryMerranohadriddenoutofadrawandglimpsedthepintoatadistance.Adeepcanyonlaybetweenthemalthoughtheywerelessthanamileapart,butwithluckhecouldovertakeheratWillowSprings.
Asherodehesangasonghehadhimselfcomposed,asongmadeupduringhislonelinessandwhenhedesperatelyneededsomethingcheerfulofwhichtothink.
"Oh,gather'roundcloserandfillupyourglasses,
AndI'lltellyouthestoryofJohnnyGo-Day.
Hewasayoungcowhandwhorodeallthemustangs,
AndnobroncotheybredcouldJohnnydismay!"
InthecancerofenvythatfesteredinthemindofJoeStanglewasahatredforallbetterofformoreattractivethanhimself.Mostofall,afterBarryMerrano,hehatedCandyDrake.
Shewasagirlwhospoketoeveryone,butStanglehadnoticedthat
shedidnotparticularlyenjoyspeakingtohim.Hefailedtorealizethiswasduetohisownsurlymanner,andthefactthathehadbeenknowntomakeunpleasantremarksaboutgirlsandwomen.Hesimplybelievedshethoughtherselftoogoodforhim.
RidingatacanterCandyapproachedWillowSpringsrecalling,asshedrewnear,thatherfatherhadtoldhertheyhadstruckwateratthis,thefirstwellattemptedinthevalley.Ridinguptowherethedrillrigstillstood,sheswungdown,lookingatthepoolofmuddywaterandconsideringwhatthiscouldmeantothevalley.
ItwasBarryMerrano'sdrillrigthathadbroughtinthiswell,anditwasonhisadvicetheyhadfedthechollatotheirstockthatsavedsomuchofit.Theprejudiceagainsthimhadvirtuallydisappeared.Itcouldmeananewlifeforhim,andmightmean--
Shedidnothearthehorsestopattheedgeofthebrush.JoeStanglehadseenherarrive,knewshewasintherealone,inthegatheringdusk.Hedugintohissaddlebagforthepinthecarriedthereandtookapullatthebottle.Hewasleavingthecountry,anyway,andhe'dshowherwhatwaswhatBeforeanybodyknewwhathadhappenedhe'dbelonggone.
Hepushedhiswaythroughthewillows,andCandyturnedsharplyattheunexpectedcracklingofthedrybrushandsawJoeStangle.
Hewasnotabigmanbuthewashairy-chestedandbroad.Hisfacewasswollenandthefleshsoddenfrommuchdrinking,andhewasobviouslyinanuglymood.
Hehadalwayswantedthisgirl,andnowhereshewas,withherprideandherstuck-upways,rightinhishands.Hestartedtowardher.
Candyrealizedherdanger,butshewasnotgiventoscreaming.Shebackedawaywarily,wishingherhorsewerecloser.Ifsheturnedher
backtorunhewouldcatchherbeforeshehadtakenthreesteps.
Hedidnotspeak,justwalkedtowardher.
"What'sthematter,Joe?Haveyoulostsomething?"
Hemadenoreply,continuingtoadvance.Shesteppedbackandherbootslippedinthemudandshefell,rollingquicklyawayandscramblingtoherfeet.
Drunkhemightbe,buthecouldmovequickly."Damnyou!Youstuck-up--!"Shedodgedaway,buthegrabbedatherandcaughtherwrist"I'llshowyouwhat--!"
Inthatinstanttheyheardavoicetheybothknew.
"Oh,therewasayoungcowhandwhousedtogoriding,
TherewasayoungcowhandnamedJohnnyGo-Day!
Herodeablackponyandheneverwaslonely,
Forthegirlsneversaidtohim'Johnny,go'way!'
Whentheyheardhisbrightlaughtertheirheartsfollowedafter,
Andtheycalledtohim'Johnny!
Oh,Johnny,comestay!'"
Stangle'shandclampedoverthegirl'smouthbeforeshecouldcryoutawarning.Thepintostoodinplainsight,butJoeStangle'shorsewashiddenbeyondthebrush.
Holdingherwithonepowerfularmandhand,alegpressedbeforehersandjammingherbackagainstthedrillrig,withhisfreehandhe
drewhissix-shooter.
Thesongendedandtheyheardthesaddlecreakashedismountedandthenashestartedthroughthewillowsthesongcontinued.
"Herodetotowndailyandalwaysrodegaily,
Andliftedhishatashecanteredalong!"
JoeStangleliftedhissix-shooter,tookcarefulaim,andsqueezedthetrigger.
Thefiringpinclickedonanemptycartridge.HehademptiedhisgunintoCurtMcKesson!
AttheclickofthecockinghammerBarrystoppeddead,andwithanoath,JoeStanglethrewthegirlfromhimandgrabbedfeverishlyathiscartridgebeltformoreshells.Inhishastehedroppedthefirsttwoshellsbutthrusttheothersintoplace.
Wildwithfear,Candydroppedtothegroundandbegantoscrambleaway,cryingout,"Lookout,Barry!It'sJoeStangle!"
Barrygrabbedforhisgun,stilltieddownwiththerawhidethongheworewhenriding.Heslidthethonganddrewswiftly.
Droppingtooneknee,theotherlegthrustoutbeforehim,hewaited.HecouldhearthebreathingofCandyDrake,butinthedarknessofthewillowgrovehecouldseenothing.Pickingupastickhethrewittooneside.Nothinghappened.
Hemovedslightly,gatheringhimselftoleapaside,andatthesoundastabofflameseemedtoleaprightathiseyesandabulletstruckatreebehindhimwithanuglythud.Hefiredinreply,andhisbulletricochetedoffthedrillrig.
Hefiredagain,holdingalittlelowerandtheshotdrewastartledmovement.Heleapedaside,gunpoisedforanothershot.Therewasaninstantofsilence,andthenashot.Thebulletmissedbyafractionofaninch.
Candylayhuggingtheground,andBarrycouldseehernow.Carefully,heshiftedpositiontogetfurtherawayfromhersoasnottodrawfireinherdirection.
HatredandfearweredrivingJoeStangle,buteventhecourageofacorneredcoyotehadabreakingpoint.Theliquorfumeshadclearedfromhismind,andherealizedBarrywasoverthere;hehadagun,andhewasplayingforkeeps.
Suddenlywhatcouragehehadwentoutofhimlikeagustofbreath,andlikeashadow,hefadedbacktowardthebrushandhishorse.Hewanteddesperatelytokill,buthedidnotwishtobekilled.Hewantednothingsomuchastogetasaddleunderhimandbeoff.Healmostmadeit.
Merrano,hearinghimatlast,lungedthroughthebrushafterhim.StanglereachedhishorseandMerranoslidtoastop,andJoeStanglesawhimandtriedonelastshot.Itwasthere,andhehadtotry.
Barryfiredatthesameinstant,thenhefiredagain.JoeStangle'shorseleapedaway,andJoeStangle,shotthroughthebelly,allthehatredoozingawaywithhislife'sblood,swayedonhisfeet,thegunslippingfromhisfingers.Thenhefell.
BarryMerranoturnedandstartedbackthroughthewillowsandthenofasuddenheseemedtostepintoaholeandhefell.
Thecleanwhitebedandthedoctorwhowasputtingthingsawayinablackbagwereasurprise.Candywasthere,andCabCasady.
"Stangle?"Hestartedtorise.
"He'sgone,Barry.HehadalreadykilledCurtMcKessoninsomekindofdrunkenfight,andwasleavingthecountry."
"Dulin?"
Cabshiftedhisfeet."IcomebyandhelpedCandygetyouhome.ThenIwentdowntotownandrunintoRockDulin.HepickedafightandIhadtoshoothim."
Cabstartedforthedoor."Youtwomighthavesomethingtotalkabout,"hesaid."Iwanttogowatchtherain.Seemslikeit'syearssinceI'veseenany."
*
THEROMANCEOFPIUTEBILL
TomGalwayrodethesorreloutofthejuniperanddownthehillsidetowardtherockhouseonthecreek.Hewasstilltwohundredyardsoffandcuttingacrossafieldbrightwithlarkspur,paintbrush,andsegolilywhenhesawPiuteBillcometothedoor,aWinchesterinhishands.
Galwayrodeuptothedoorandhookingonelegaroundthesaddlehornhereachedforthemakings."You'regoingtoneedthatrifle,Bill..Thatis,ifyou'reuptochasingsomehorsethieves."
"What'shappened?"PiuteBillpushedhishatbackonhishead,thenputtheWinchesterdownbesidethedoor.HeacceptedthetobaccosackGalwayhandedhim."Youlosin'stock?"
"ThoseboysoveryonderintheRubiesranofftwentyheadofhorseslastnight.Ifiguretogoget'em."
"Allright,"Billtouchedhistonguetothepaper."Mustbeeightornineofthemupthere.Whodoyoufiguretotakealong?"
"Youandme.Nousetoclutterthingsup.AllIwantissomebodytokeepthemoffmyback."
"Sureenough.WaituntilIsaddleup."
Hecamebackfromthecorralleadingapainthorsewithoneblueeyeandonebrowneye.TomGalwaywassittingontheporchwaitingforhim,withagourddipperinhishand.
"There'sajuginside,"PiuteBillsaid."Myownmake."
PiuteBillthrewhissaddleonthepaint"Ain'tbadwhiskey,atthat.I'm
beginningtothinkthatalkaliaddsalittlebitetoher."
"Couldbe."Galwayheftedthejug,thenthrewitoverhisbentarmanddrank."Couldbe,"herepeated."Youknow,Bill,I'mbeginningtothinkthatwhatyouneedisawoman.Somebodytosortofcookthingsupandkeepthingsrevvedupamite.Thenyoucouldgivemoretimetomakingwhiskeyandherdingcattle."
PiuteBillglancedathimsourly."I'mdoin'allright.Youready?"
Galwayputthejugdowninsidethedoorandpulledthedoorshut.Thenheswungintothesaddle,andtheystartedoffatawalkacrosstheflower-blanketedmeadow.
"Cassidywillbethere,"PiuteBillsaid,"andGorman,too."HeglancedsidewiseatGalway."YoubetterwatchCassidy.He'safairhand."
"Noman'sgoin'torunoffmystock.Iroundedupthosehorsesoutontherange.Wildstock.Ibroke'emmyselfandgentledthemdown.Cassidy'sgothisbusinessandIhavemine.Aslongashestaysontheothersideofthecreek,Iwon'tbotherhimbutwhenherunsoffmystockhe'dbetterhunthimselfahole."
Thetrailledupashallowgulchborderedbyjuniperandbrush."Youknow,Bill,"Galwaysaid,"themoreIthinkofyouhavingawomanaround,thebetterIliketheidea."Hesquintedagainstthesunastheytoppedoutontheriseandlookedthecountryoverwithcare."Beasortofacivilizinginfluence.Youain'tgettingnoyounger,andyou'vebeenlivingaloneinthatshackforsometimenow.Ifigureawomancouldsortofrevthingsuparoundandkeepyouwashedbehindtheears."
"Youmean,"Piutecommentedsourly,"youfiguretodropovertimetotimeforhomecookedmeals.Iknowyou.Iain'tbeenridin'the
rangewithyouthesepastfourorfiveyearswithoutcuttin'yoursign."
"I'monlythinkingofyou,"Galwaysaid,keepinghisfacestraight."YoujustthinkofthatschoolmarmovertoSummit,"Galwaycontinued,.ignoringtheinterruption."That'sarightsolidbitofwoman,andIhearshe'sagoodcook."
"You'dbetterbethinkin'ofDiggerCassidy.He'snosofttouch,andifhestoleyourhorseshewantedthembad.HeputleadintoDeanRussellovertoBattleMountain,twoorthreemonthsago.Ifyourecall,hewasoneoftheroughestofthatCharlestonoutfit."
"Gorman'sjustasgoodwithagun."
"There'saslick-earkid,too.NamedRobbins.HeshotupasaloonovertoTenMilelastweek."
"Heardabouthim.Hefilesnotchesonhisgun."
"Oneofthem,huh?Ineverknowedofanyrealbadmanwhodonethat.He'satinhorn."
Thegulchdownwhichtheyhadbeenridingopeneduponawide,whitesaltflatandtheycutacrossonanangle,walkingtheirhorsestoraisenomoreofthewhite,smotheringdustthannecessary.Theskywasclearandhot.Theirlipsbecameparchedandwhite,theireyessmartedfromsweat.Heatwavesdancedovertheflats.Theyrodeinsilence,eachbusywithhisownthoughts.Thelurkingdevilinthepaint'sblueeyewentdullwiththeheatandthesloggingpace.
Itwastwohoursbeforetheytoppedasmallriseandleftthedesertbehindthem.Thesagebrushsmelledgoodaftertheparchedstillnessofthesaltflats.
Cottonwoodsshowedsomedistanceoffandtheypointedtheirhorses,
ignoringthetrailofthestolenstock,knowingthementheypursuedwouldalsoneedwater,andthetrackswouldbeginagainwhentheyfoundit.Thehorses,smellingwater,quickenedtheirpace.
Itwasasmallbutcoldstream.Menandhorsesdrank.TomGalwaysatdownonarottingtreetrunkandscannedthearea.Horseshadbeenheldhereonlyafewhoursbefore.Theirtrackswereinthemudandinthegrass.
"Abouttwomiles,isn'tit?Thecabinsetsoutintheopen."
"Yougotanyideas?"
"IwanttotalktoCassidy."
"Youwanttotalktohim?Doyoureckonhewillsetaroundandtalkwhenheknowsyou'rehuntin'him?"
TomGalwaywasrunningthisshowandPiuteBillfiguredheknewwhathewasabout,buttalkingtoCassidyatsuchatime?Itdidn'tmakemuchsense.TherehadbeenagooddealoftalkaboutTomGalwaysincehehadriddenintotheRubyCreekcountry,andalotofwonderingabouthim.
"He'lltalk,"Galwaysaid.
CassidyandGormanwereknownmen,bothofthemhadbeeninvolvedinshootings.Withthemwouldbeatleastsixothers,allusedtofightingforwhatevertheygot.Untilnowtheyhadconfinedtheirraidstothebigoutfitswhereweeksmightgobybeforeatallyshowedthatstockwasmissing.ApparentlyTomGalway'sstockhadbeentoomuchofatemptation,andGalwaywasnewintheRubyCreekcountry.Inthethreeorfouryearshehadlivedtherehehadkeptoutoftrouble.Hehadbeenahardworker,andobviouslyatophandwithhorses.
WalkingtohishorseGalwaytooktwostripsofrawhidefromhissaddlebagsandtiedhisgundowntohisthigh.Thenhetookoutanothergunbeltandholsterand,afterstrappingiton,tieditdownalso.ItwasthefirsttimePiutehadeverseenamanweartwoguns,althoughhehadheardofsuchthings.
PiutestudiedGalway.Hewasalean,brownman,tannedbysunandwind.Therewasascaroveroneeyeandanotheralongthejawbone.Piuteturnedhishorseandstartedupstream.Galwaycantereduntilbesidehim.
"There'stimberalongthestream,"hesaid,"fiftyyardsfromthecabin.Iftheyopenfirewe'lltakecoverthere."
Piutecouldn'tquitemakeup'hismindaboutGalway.Heglancedattheyoungermanbutsawnosignsofnervousnessorexcitement.Nomorethanifhewasgoingafterabunchofcows.
Hismindturnedtootherthings.MaybeGalwaywasright.Maybehedidneedawoman.Itwaslonelythereinthecabininthecreek.Hewasahealthyman,fortyyearsoldnow,andhehadanicebunchofcattleandafewheadofhorses.Theranchwasdoingwell,iftheydidn'tstartrustlingthissideofthecreek.Hefiguredhecouldmakeawifecomfortable,andhewasn'tacantankeroussort.
Thecreekturnedwestandtheyenteredthecanyon.Therewasanarrowopeninglinedwithaspenandafewspruce.Thetreesfellbackandthetwomencanteredoverthemeadowtowardthecabin.Itwasasquat,stonecabinwithacorralalmostdirectlybehinditinwhichGalwaycouldseehishorses.Nearthestonecabinwerethreeotherhorses,ground-hitched.
Pullingupaboutadozenyardsfromthedoor,twomencameout,followedbyathirdandafourth.ThefirstwasGorman,thesecond
Robbins.TheothertwoGalwaydidnotknow.Thesquat,bull-likefigureofDiggerCassidywasnowheretobeseen.
"Howdy,"Galwaysaidcasually.HiseyesscannedtheirfacesandsettledonGorman."Where'sDigger?"
"Whatd'youwantwithhim?"Robbinsdemandedbelligerently.
"Shutup,RobbinsI"Gormanspokesharply."Illdothetalking."
HelookedatGalway,thenatPiuteBill,whosepainthadbeenstoppedabouttenfeetbehindandwelltotherightofGalway."Whatdoyouwant?"
"IthinkDiggermadeamistake."Galwayspokegently."Hedroveofftwentyheadofhorsesforme.Nicemeadowhere,butI'dratherhavethemclosetohome.ThoughtI'djustrideoveranddrivethemback."
"Youthoughtwhat?"Robbing'faceflushedred."Justwho--I"
"ShutupI"Gormansaidimpatiently.
Therewassomethingherehedidnotlike,andGormanhadpursuedalongoutlawcareerbybeingcautious.Onlytwomen,andtheylookedlikefighters.PiuteBillheknewabout,andhewasnomantotriflewith.
Theotherman,astranger,seemedtobetakingthelead,andhisquiet,confidentmannerdisturbedGorman.
"You'llhavetotalktoCassidy,"Gormansuggested."He'stheboss."
"Iknow,"Galwayreplied,"butIcan'twait.YoutellCassidythatTomGalwaycameforhishorses.He'llunderstand."
"YouknowCassidy?"
"Ido.What'smore,Diggerknowsme.YoutellhimIcameformyhorses.Ifhewantsmeforanything,I'llbeatmycabin.Tellhimtocomewheneverhe'sready...dayornight."
HedidnotturnhisheadbutspoketoPiute."Kickthosecorralbarsdown,Bill.Wecan'tstaylong."
Robbinshadenough.Hesteppedforward."Youkeepyourhandsoffthatcorral,"hesaid,"andyou,Galway!Yougetgoin'whileyou'reable!"
Gormanwasinaquandary.Theywerefourtotwo.Still,thismansaidheknewCassidy,and--
PiuteBillhadignoredRobbins.Herodetothecorralandleanedtowardthebars.Robbins,hisfaceflushedwithanger,turnedbacktoGalway."Stophim!OrI'llkillyou!"
TomGalway'slipssmiled,buthiseyesdidnot"Gorman,thiskid'saskin'forit."
Robbins'handstreakedforhisgunandGal-way'ssorrelsidesteppedsuddenlyatatouchofthespur.Galwayfired...thenagain.
Robbins,hisgunhalf-drawn,stoppeddeadstill,staringatGalway,hiseyesblankandunseeing.
Swearingviciously,Gormanwentforhisgun,trappedintoagunbattlehehadnotwanted.Galwayfired,knockingonemanintothecabinwallwherehefell,knockingthemanbesidehimoffbalance.
PiuteBill,halfbehindthem,turnedatthefirstshotandfiredatGorman,whowentdown,hisfingersdiggingintotheearth.
Thelastmandroppedhissix-shooterasifitwerered-hotand
flattenedagainstthewall.Galwaylookedathimoverhisgun.
Thehorseswereoutofthecorralandstartingtowardthebottleneckopening.
PiuteBill'sWinchesterwasready,andGalwaylookedatthelastman."YoutellDiggerCassidytostayonhisownsideofthecreek.TellhimGalwaysaidthat,GalwayofTombstone!"
Heturnedhishorseaway,watchingtheman."AndyoutellDiggerIdidn'tstarttheshooting.Itwasthatfoolkid,Robbins."
Thehorseswouldheadfortheirowncorral,nowthattheywerefree,buttheycouldalwayshurrythemalongabit.
Theywerealmostoutofthebottleneckwhenasharp,femininevoicecamefromtheaspens."Allright!Holdupthere!"
Abuxom,determined-lookingyoungwomanofperhapsthirtysteppedfromthetrees.Sheheldadouble-barreledshotgunasifsheknewhowtouseit.
GalwayandPiuteBilldrewupwarily.Amanwithashotgunwasbadenough,butawoman--
"What'sthetrouble,ma'am?"Galwayaskedpolitely."Canwedosomethingforyou?"
"Youkilledmymanbackthere,andifyouthinkyou'regettin'offscot-free,thinkagain!"
PiuteBillstartedtospeak,thenswallowedandlookedhelplesslyatGalway.
Liftinghishandslowly,TomGalwayremovedhishat."Now,I'msorrytohearthat,ma'am,butthosemenstolemyhorsesandwhenI
cameafterthemtheymadethemistakeoftryingtoshootitout."
Henotednosignoftears."Ma'am?Whichonewasit,Robbins?"
"Thatpuppy?"Contemptwasinhertone."Hekilledafewtenderfeetandfiguredhewasatoughman.MymanwasNedWavers."
"We'realmightysorry,ma'am,"Galwaysaidgently."Wecameafterourhorses.We'dnointentionofkillinganybody."
"Butyoudid!"Therewasnogriefinhertone,justahardmatter-of-factness."Nedwasn'tmuch,"shesaid,"buthemademeahome,andwhenhewasn'tdrunkhetookcareofme.NowI'llbelefthereforCassidyandthatbullyin'TintoBill."
TomGalwaysmiled."Why,ma'am,ifyouwouldrathernotstayhere,andifitisahomeyou'relookingfor,we'vegotoneforyou!"
Shewas,Tomdecided,quiteaprettywoman.Moreover,shelookedneat,andclean."Ofcourse,"headded,"you'dhavetobeabletocook."
"Thereisn'tabettercookwestofthePecos,"shesaidflatly,"andIcanmakepies--"
"Ofcourse,"Galwaysaid,smiling,"andwe'vegotjusttheplaceforyou!It'saprettylittlestonehousebyacreek,andagood,thoughtfulmantogowithit."
"Hey!"TherewassheerpanicinPiute'seyes."Look,youcan't--I"
"Agood,thoughtfulman,ma'am,andagoodprovider.He'soneofthefinesthuntersaround,alwayshasmeatforthetable."
Theshotgunlowered."What'sgoingonhere?"Thewomanwaspuzzled."Somehow,Idon'tunder..."
"Ma'am"--TomGalwayrestedhispalms,oneatoptheother,onthesaddlehorn--"ma'am,thisgentwithmeisPiuteBill.He'saknownandrespectedman.Nowhe'samiteontheshadysideofforty,butsteady.Hecanforkabroncwithanyman,oneofthebesthuntersaroundandhe'sgothimthatstonecabinIspokeof.
"Itneedsawoman'stouch,that'sall.Therightwoman.Needsawomanlikeyou,aprettywomanwho'sneataboutthehouseandwhowillcookhischuckandkeeptheplacerevvedup.Iknowhe'dbespeakin'forhimself,buthe'sashyman,notgiventotalkingmuch."
"Tom!Listen!ForGod'ssake!"HisvoicetrailedoffhelplesslyasGalwaycontinued.
"Hemakesalittle'shinenowandagain,butI'veneverseenhimdrunk.Don'tdrinknomorethantobesociable.Heownssevenhundredheadofsteersandamilkcow."
"Didyousayamilkcow?"Thewomanlookedthoughtful."Ifhe'sgotamilkcowhe'sasightmoreofaplannin'manthanmost.Mister,Ireckonyou'vetalkedmeintoit!"
"Mountup,then!"Galwaysaidcheerfully."MountuprighttherebehindPiuteandputyourarmsaroundhimandhangontight.BythetimeyougettohisplaceonthecreekIthinkhe'llbeconvinced!"
PiuteBill,hiseyesviciousandhisfacered,helpedtheyoungwomanupbehind"him.SheflashedasmileatGalwaywhichsuddenlyfaded.
"Nowseehere!Nedwasn'tmuchandhebeatmewhenhewasdrunk.Iwasn'tsorrytolosehim,himbein'whathewas,butwewereallmarriedup,fittin'andproper!"
"Ofcourse,ma'am!"Galwaylookedshocked."I'llrideintoTenMileassoonasIgetyoutothehouse.Wewillhaveapreacherouthere
beforesundown.Thebarkeepwastellin'metherewasapreachertherenow.I'llgethim.Meanwhile,"headded,"youbetterjustbakeaweddingcake.Somehowwithoutacakeaweddingdoesn'tseemreal,doesitnow?"
"Maybethepreacherwon'tcome?"Billsuggestedhopefully.
"He'llcome!"Galwaysaid."I'llseetothat!"
"Ijustbetyouwill!"Piutesaidsavagely.
Whistling,TomGalwayturnedhissorreltowardTenMile."Horse,"hesaid,"I'dmakeapoorCupidbutsometimesthere'sthingsamanjusthastodo.Andbesides,shehadascatter-gun."
WhenGalwayrodeintoTenMiletheonlysignoflifewasaroundtheGoldCampSaloon.Galwaytiedhishorseandpushedthroughthebat-wingdoors.Thereweresixmenintheplace.Onesataloneatatable.Hewasared-hairedman,shortandstocky,withapiouslook.
Galwaysteppedtothebar,noticingoneofthemenwasDiggerCassidy,anotherwasTintoBill.
"Rye,"Galwayordered,andjerkingathumbtowardtheredheadheasked,"Isthatthepreacher?"
"Itis."Thebartenderlookedupcuriously.
"Ifyou'vegotahorse,"hesaidtothepreacher,"bettergethimsaddled.I'vegotaweddingforyou."
"Awedding?Ofcourse,but--?"
"Everythingisgoingtobealllegalandproper,thiswomanwantstomarrythisman,andbythistime,"hechuckled,"he'llbewantingtomarryher.Ifshedoesn'thavehimconvincedbynowshedoesn'thave
thetakingwaysIthinkshehas.Shelookedtomelikeawomanwithamindofherown."
"Who'sgettin'married?"thebartenderasked.
"PiuteBill.He'sbeenlookingforawifeforalongtime."
"Who'smarryin'him?Thereain'tmore'nthreeorfoursinglewomeninthecounty!"
"PiuteBill,"Galwayrepliedcarefully,"ismarryingMrs.NedWavers."
TintoBillchokedonhisdrink.DiggerCassidyturnedforthefirsttimeandlookedrightatTomGalway."Who?"hedemanded,unbelievingly.
"Mrs.NedWaversandPiuteBill,"Galwayrepeated.
"Theyaregettingmarriedthisevening.SoonasIcangettheparsonupthere."
"Butshe'smarriedI"TintoBillsaid."She'sgotahusband,andanytimeshehasn't,IguessI'dbefirstinline."
"Theremustbesomemistake,"Cassidysaid.ThelightwasnotgoodandGalway'shatshadedhisfacesomewhat."NedWaversis--"
"Dead,"Galwayreplied."Mrs.NedWavershasbeenawidowforalmostfourhours."
DiggerCassidyspokesoftly."YousayNedWaversisdead."
"That'sright,Digger.Seemssomeofyourboysdroveoffsomehorsesofminelastnight,soIrodeovertodrivethemback.RobbinsmadeafoolplayandGormanandWaverstriedtobackhimup."
Silencefilledtheroom.Thepreacherswallowed,andthesoundwasloudintheroom.
"Mrs.Waversdidn'twanttobeleftbehindandasshekindofhititoffwithBilltheydecidedtogetmarried."
HewaswatchingCassidy,andafewfeettooneside,TintoBill."Bytheway,Cassidy,Itoldthatotherfellow,theonewho'salive,tosuggestyoukeeptoyoursideofthecreekandI'dkeeptomine.Iwenttoagooddealoftroubletocatchandtrainthosehorses,andIdon'twanttolosethem."
NeitherCassidynorTintoBillhadmoved.Withoutturninghisattentionfromthem,Galwaysaid,"Rev'rend,getyourhorse.I'llbewithyouinaminute."
Thepreachervanishedthroughthedoor.
Cassidyspokesuddenly."Youcan'tgetawaywiththis!Idon'tcareifyouareGalwayofTombstone!"
"Takeiteasy.Ifweshootitoutnow,I'llkillyou.Maybeyou'dgetme,butthatwouldn'thelpyouany.You'dbejustasdead,andInevermissednobodyatthisrange."
"Whyshouldyougetkilledoverhorsesyoudidn'thavenobusinessstealin'andawomanwho'sobviouslybeenlivingadog'slife?"
"Ididn'tstealyourdamnhorses!"Cassidysaid."ItwasthatfoolRobbins!"
"Icanbelievethat,"Galwayagreed."Infact,I'dofbetmoneyonit.Sowhyshouldweshootitout?Itmakesnosense.NowI'mgoingtoleave.I'vegottogetthatpreacherbackuponthemountainbecausethat'sadecentwomanyonder."
"Damnit,Galway!"Cassidyprotested."Whycouldn'tyouhavecomewhenIwastohome?OnceIknewthosewereyourhorsesI'dhavedriventhemback!"
"Allright,"Galwaysaid,"I'lltakeyourwordforit."Deliberatelyhestartedtoturnhisbackandwhenhedid,TintoBillwentforhisgun.
Galwaypalmedhisgunandshotacrosstheflatofhisstomach.Tinto,hisgunup,firedintotheceiling,tooktwoslowstepsandfellonhisface,hisgunskiddingalongthefloor.
DiggerCassidystoodverycarefullynearthebar,hishandsinplainsight.
"Lookstome,Digger,"Galwaysaid,"likeyou'refreshoutofmen.Whydon'tyoutryMontana?"
Heturnedabruptlyandwalkedout.
DiggerCassidymovedtothebarandtookupthedrinkthebartenderpouredforhim."Damnhim!"hesaid."Damnhimtohell,buthecansurehandleagun!"
Hedownedhisdrink."Bartender,"hesaid,"ifyouevergoontheroad,steerclearofhotheadedkidswhoSlinktheyaretough!"
TomGalwayrodeuptothestonecabinwithasaddle-sorepreacherjustaftersundown.PiuteBill,inacleanshirtandafreshshavewasseatedbythefireplacewithanewspaper;fromthestovecamearattleofpans.
ThefutureMrs.PiuteBillturnedfromthestove."Youboyslightan'set.Itsurelyisn'trighttohaveaweddingwithoutacake!"
"Icouldn'tagreewithyoumore,ma'am!"Galwaysaid."Nobodylikes
goodcookingmorethanme."
PiuteBillstaredatGalway,thevenominhiseyesfadingunderaglintofhumor."Youdurnedcatamount!Youdurnedconnivin'Irishson-of-a-..."
"Ssh!"TomGalwaywhispered."There'sapreacherpresent!"
*
HATTAN'SCASTLE
Hattan'sCastle,atoweringpinnacleofrockthatpointsanarrestingfingeratthesky,looksdownonasolitaryframebuildingwithasaggingroof,aruinedadobe,andseveralweed-coveredfoundations,allthatisleftofatownthatonceaspiredtobeacity.
Onalowmoundaquarterofamileawayarethreemarkedgravesandseventy-twounmarked,althoughbeforetheirwoodencrossesrottedawayadozenothershadcarriedthenamesanddatesofpioneers.
Eastoftheruinedadobeliesalongandwidestonefoundation.Arounditthereisalitterofbrokenbottlesandascatteredfewthatthesunhasturnedintocollector'sitems.Twentyfeetbehindthefoundation,lyingamongtheconcealingdebrisofapack-rat'snest,isawhitenedskull.Intheexactcenterofthatskullaretworoundholeslessthanahalf-inchapart.
Severalyearsagothescatteredbonesoftheskeletoncouldstillbeseen,buttime,rain,andcoyotesbeingwhattheyare,onlytheskullremains.
Amongthescatteredfoundationsareoccasionalcharredtimbers,half-burnedplanks,andotherevidencesofanancientfire.OftheonceboomingtownofHattan'sCastlenothingmoreremains.
In1874,aprospectorknownasShortyBeckerdrankastolenbottleofwhiskeyonthespot.Drunk,hestaggeredtotheedgeofthenearbywashandfellover.GrabbingforahandholdhepulledlooseaclumpofmanzanitaandthetownofHattan'sCastlewasborn.
Undertherootsandclingingtotherootswereflecksandbitsofgold,andShortyBecker,suddenlysober,filedononeoftherichestclaimsinthestate'shistory.
Nineteenotherluckygentlemenfollowed,andthenanumberwhowereonlyfairlylucky.Hat-tan'sCastlewentfromnothingtoapopulationoffourthousandpeopleinsevendays,andthreethousandofthefourcametolie,cheat,steal,andkilleachotherandtheremainingonethousandoddcitizens,ifsuchtheymightbecalled.
Spawnedfromanexplosivesinkofsinandevil,thetownlivedinanarchybeforethecomingofJohnDaniel.Whenhearrivedthetownhadfounditsmaster.WithhimwerethehulkingBernieLeeandaviciouslittlemurdererwhocalledhimselfRussChito.
MarshalDaveAllenwentoutinaburstofgunfirewhenhehadwordswithJohnDaniel.Danielfacedhimbutfiredonlyoneshot,theotherswerefiredbyRussChitoandBernieLee,inambushonoppositesidesofthestreetandtakingthemarshalinadeadlycrossfire.
ShortyBeckerwasfounddeadtwodayslater,aguninhishandandabulletinhisbrain.JohnDaniel,aself-appointedcoroner,pronounceditsuicide.BeckerwasfoundtobecarryingawillnamingDanielashisonlyfriendandheir.
Danielturnedtheworkingofthemineovertoothers,andopenedthePalaceSaloon&GamblingHall.FromtheBarbaryCoastheimportedsomewomenandapairofbartendersskilledintheapplicationofmickeys,knockoutdrops,orwhatevermostsuitedtheoccasion.
FouryearspassedandHattan'sCastleboomedinlust,sin,andmurder.Theminescontinuedtoprosper,buttheminersandownersremainedtospend,todrink,andtodie.Thefewwhohoardedtheirgoldandattemptedtoleavewereusuallyfounddeadalongthetrails.Buzzardsmarkedtheirgoingandifabodywasfounditwasburiedwiththeusualsanctimoniouscommentsandsomehurry,dependingontheconditionoftheremains.JohnDaniel,aloof,cold,andsupercilious,ruledthetownwitharodofiron.
ChitoandLeewereathisrighthandbuttherewerefiftyothersreadytodohisbidding.Immaculatealways,coldlyhandsomeanddeadlyasarattler,JohnDanielhadanairofauthoritywhichwasquestionedbynone.Oftheseventy-fivegravesonboothillatleasttwentyhadbeenputtherebyhimorhishenchmen.Thatnumberisconservative,andofthosefoundalongthetrailatleasthalfcouldbecreditedtoJohnDaniel'scohorts.ThenBonCaddocametotown.
HewasWelshbyancestry,butwhatmorehewasorwherehehadcomefromnobodyeverknew.HearrivedonaSunday,ahugemanwithbroad,thickshouldersandbighands.Hisjawwaswideandhardasiron,hiseyesachillgrayandcalm,hisheadtoppedwithawirymassofrust-coloredhair.TheclaimhestakedfourmilesfromtheCastlewasgoldfromthegrassrootsdown.
WithintwohoursafterthestrikeRussChitodroppedinatthePalace.JohnDanielstoodattheendofthebarwithaglassofsherry.
"Boss,"Chitosaid,"thatnewfellerintownstruckitrichupLonetree."
"Howrich?"
"Theysaytwentythousandtotheton.TherichesteverI"
JohnDanielmentallydiscounteditbyhalf,possiblyevenless.Even
soitmadeitextremelyrich.Hefelthispulsesjumpwiththerealizationthatthiscouldbewhathewaswaitingfor,tohaveenoughtobefreeofallthis,tobuyahomeonNobHillandlivethelifeofagentleman,withnomoreRussChitostodealwith.
"Invitehimin.TellhimIwanttoseehim."
"Ididtellhim,andhetoldmewhereIcouldto."RussChito'seyesflickeredwithanger."I'dliketokillthedirtyson!"
"Wait.Iwanttotalktohim."
BonCaddodidnotcometoRattan'sCastleand'hisgolddidnotleavethecountry.Everystage,everywagon,andeveryriderwascheckedwithcare.NothingleftthecountrybutBonCaddocontinuedtoworksteadilyandhard,mindinghisownaffairs,uninterestedinthefleshpotsoftheCastle.HewascoldtoalloffersfromJohnDaniel,andmerelyattendedtobusiness.Effortstoapproachhimwereequallyunsuccessful,andridersalwaysfoundthemselveswarnedawaybyanunseenvoiceandariflethatofferednoalternative.
Atthebeginningofthethirdmonth,JohnDanielcalledCherryCreslintohisoffice.Shecameatonce,slim,beautifullycurvedandseductivehiherstrictlyprofessionalway.
"Youliketoride,"Danielsaid,"soputonthatgrayhabitandridemyblack.Howyoudoitisyourownaffair,butgetacquaintedwithBonCaddo.Makehimlikeyou."
Sheprotested."Sorry,John.Getoneoftheothergirls.Iwantnopartofthesedrunken,dirtyminers."
"You'lldoasItellyou,Cherry,andyou'lldoitnow.Thismanisneitherdrunkennordirty.Heisbig,andtough,and,Ithink,dangerous.Also,hecaresnothingforgamblingorwhiskey."
Shegotup."Allright,I'llgo.Butyou'llwishyou'dneversentme.I'msickofthesejobs,John!Whydon'twecashinourchipsandpullout?Let'sgotoNewYork,orSanFrancisco."
"Getstarted.I'lltellyouwhentogo,andwhere."
ThecanyonoftheLonetreewaswarminthespringsunshine.Thecottonwoodswhisperedsecretstoeachotherabovethestreamthatchuckledhumorouslytothestones.Therewasnoothersoundbutthetrillingofbirds,andonthebankabovethestreamthesoundofCaddoworking.
Heworeasix-shooter,andariflestoodnearby,andjustoutofsightinthetunnelmouthwasashotgun,arevolvingweaponmadebyColt
Standingwithhisfeetwideapartintheirheavyminer'sboots,hemadeacolossalfigure.Hewasfreshlyshaved,andhisshockofrustyhairwascombed.Hisredflannelshirtwasopenattheneck,andhishugeforearms,bulgingwithrawpower,showedbelowhisrolled-upsleeves.CherryCreslin,Impressedbyfewthings,wasawed.
Atthesoundofhoovessplashinginthewater,helookedaround.Thenhesawtheriderwasawoman,andabeautifulwoman,atthatHesmiled.
LongbeforehehadcometoHattan'sCastlehehadheardofJohnDaniel,andknewhiseverytrick.Moreover,heknewthiswomanbynameandknewshewasreputedtobeJohnDaniel'sownwoman.Hecouldsee,asshedrewnearer,thatshewasgenuinelybeautifulanddespitethehardlinesthatshowedthroughherlovelyskin,therewaswarmththere,butarestrained,carefullycontrolledwarmth.
"Goodmorning,BonCaddo."Hervoicewaslowandlovely,anddeepwithinhimsomethingstirred,andhetriedtobringupdefensesagainstit.Shewasallwoman,thisone,nomatterwhatelseshemightbe.
"Hello,Cherry."
"Youknowme?Idon'trememberyou."Shelookedathimagain."Idon'tthinkIcouldforget"
"You'veneverseenme,Cherry,andI'veneverseenyou,butI'vebeenexpectingyou."
Hegesturedtoaseatunderatree."Won'tyougetdownandstayforawhile?It'squitepleasanthere."
"You--you'vebeenexpectingme?"Shewasirritated.Shewasaccustomedtohandlingmen,tocontrollingsituations.Thisman,sherealized,wasdifferent.Notonlywasheaphysicalgiantbuthewasintelligent,and...sheadmitteditreluctantly...hewasexciting.
"Ofcourse."Hesmiledpleasantly.Hehad,shethought,atrulybeautifulsmile."JohnDanielhastriedeverythingelse,hasn'the?Everythingbutyou...andmurder."
Herfeaturesstiffenedandhereyeswenthard,butshedidnotpretendtomisunderstand."Soyouthinkhesentme?YouthinkIamthekindofwomanamancansendonsomedirtybusiness?"
Heleanedonhisshovel."Yes,"hesaid,andshestruckhimacrossthefacewithherquirt.
Hedidnotmovenorchangeexpressionalthoughtheredlineoftheblowlayvividlyacrosshischeekandlips."Yes,"herepeated,"butyoushouldn'tbe.You'vegotheartandyouhavecourage.You'vejustbeenridingwiththetide."
"You'reveryclever,aren'tyou?"
"No.Butthissituationisn'tveryhardtounderstand.Norareyou,
CherryCreslin.It'sapity,"hecontinued,"thatyou'retiedupwithsuchamurderinglot.There'salotofwomaninyou,andyou'dmakesomemanawomanworthkeep-tag."
Shestaredathim.Thesituationwasoutofhand.Itwouldbedifficultnowtogethimbackintherightvein.Orwasthistherightone?
"Youmayberight,"shesaid,"maybeI'vebeenwaitingforyou."
Helaughedandstuckhisshoveldownhardintothepileofmuck.Thenhewalkedovertoher,andtheblackhorsenuzzledhisarm."Notthatway,Cherry.Behonest.I'mriotsoeasy,youknow.Actuallytheonlywayistobehonest."
Shemeasuredhim,searchingherself."Honest?Idon'tknowwhetherIcouldbe.It'sbeensolong."
"Ah,nowyouarebeinghonest!Ilikethat,Cherry."Heleanedhisbigshoulderagainstthehorse'sshoulder."Infact,Cherry,Ilikeyou."
"Likeme?"Astrangeemotionwasrisingwithinher,andshetriedtofightitdown."AndyouknowwhatIam?"
"Whatareyou?Awoman.Perhapsnoworseandnobetterthananyother.Onecannotalwaysmeasurebywhatapersonseemstobeorevenhasbeen.Anyway,itisalwaysthefuturethatcounts."
"Youbelievethat?Butwhatofawoman'spast?"
BonCaddoshrugged."IfawomanlovedmeI'dstartcountingthedaysofherMefromthetimeshetoldmeshelovedme.Iwouldjudgebywhathappenedafterthat,althoughI'dbeahardjudgefortheafteryears."
Shewasirritatedwithherself.Thiswasnotwhatshehadcomefor.
"Howdidwestarttalkinglikethis?Ididnotintendtogetintoanythinglikethis."
"Ofcourse.YoucametogetmetofallinlovewithyouoratleasttoluremedowntothatsinkholeatHattan'sCastle.Youmightmanagethefirst,butnotthelast."
"IfyouwereinlovewithmeandIaskedyoutocome,wouldyou?"
"Certainlynot.Doingwhatawomanasksisnotproofoflove.Ifamanisn'thisownmanheisn'tworthyoflove.No,I'dusemyownjudgment,andmyjudgmenttellsmetostayawayfromHattan'sCastleandthePalace."
Hiseyesseemedtodarkenwithseriousness."WeofWelshorIrishblood,Cherry,sometimeshaveapowerofprophecyorintuition,callitwhatyouwill,andminetellsmethatwhenIcometoHattan'sCastleitwillmeanblazinghellanddeath.Forme,thetown,orbothofus."
Somethingcoldandfrighteningtouchedherandsuddenlysheputherhandonhis."Then,thendon'tcome,BonCaddo.Don'tcomeatall.Stayhere,orbetterstill,takeyourgoldandgo."
"Youadvisemethatway?WhatwouldJohnDanielsay?"
"Hewouldn'tlikeit,"sherepliedsimply."Hewouldnotlikeitatall.Butitismybestadvicetoyou."
"Ishallstayuntilmyclaimisworkedout.I'llnotbedrivenoff."
"MayIcomebackagain?"
"Comesoon.Comeoften."
Caddowatchedhergoandthenreturnedtohiswork.Therewouldbe
trouble,ofcourse.HedoubtedthatCherrywouldtellJohnDanielofherfailure.Notyet,atleast.Shewouldcomeback,andperhapsagain.Ifshecontinuedtofail,JohnDanielwouldtrysomethingelse.
Threetimesshecameinthedaysthatfollowedlandeachtimetheytalkedlonger.InevitablythedaycamewhenshereturnedtoHattan'sCastletofindJohnDanielawaitingher.Whentheireyesmetsheknewshewasintrouble.
"Well?"Hisquestionwasachallenge."Whenishecomingin?"
"Heisnotcomingatall."Therewasnouseevadingtheissue.Shehadprobablybeenspiedupon."Heisnotcoming,butIamleaving.We'retobemarried."
"What!"Ofallthings,thiswastheleastexpected."Doyouthinkyoucantrickmethatway?Marryhimandgetitallforyourself?"
"You'dnotunderstand,John,butIlovehim.He'sarealmanandafineman,sodon'ttrytostopme."
"Try?I'llnotjusttry,I'lldoitI"Hiseyeswereugly."Hereafteryouwillstayintown.Ishallfindothermeansofhandlingit."
"Sorry."Shegottoherfeet."Iamgoingbacktohim."
Hestruckheracrossthemouthwiththebackofhishandandshefelltothefloor,atrickleofbloodrunningfromhermashedlip.Shelookedupathim."Youshouldn'thavedonethat,John.Iamsorryforyou,orIwouldbeiftherewasadecentboneinyourbody."
Furious,hestrodefromtheroomandreturnedtothePalace.ThefirstpersonhesawwasChito."Allright.YouwanttokillCaddo.Godoit."
Withoutanotherword,RussChitolefttheroom.FromherwindowCherrysawhimgoanddivinedhispurpose.FilledwithterrorsherushedtothedoorbuthulkingBernieLeestoodthere."Youain'tgoin'noplace.Getbackinside."
Shesteppedback.TherewouldbenochancetowarnCaddo.Chitowouldbehalfwaytherebynow,andhewouldkillwithoutwarning,andfromambush.
AtthePalaceJohnDanielstaredfromthewindow,thinking.Theboomwasoverhere,anyway.Hewouldselloutandgoaway.Withinthepastfewmonthsthepopulationhadfallenbyathird.Itwastimetomove.WiththegoldfromCaddo'sclaimhecouldleaveallthisbehind.HewouldgotoSanFranciscoastheyhadplanned,andhewouldtakeCherrywithhim.Onceawayfromallthisthefoolishnotionswouldleaveherhead.Shewouldbehiswomanagain.
Duringthemonthstheyhadbeenassociatedhehadneverwonherlove,anditgalledhimtothinkthatBonCaddohad,orsoitseemed.
JohnDanielhatedallthatresistedhim;anythinghedidnotorcouldnotpossessandcontrol.
Theafternoonworeon,andhepacedthefloor.Chitohadnotreturned.Ofcourse,hewasacarefulman.Hewastakinghistime.Still--
Inherowncabin,Cherrypackedherbelongingsandwaited.Shefeared,shedoubted,yetinsidetherewasakindofstillness.Terrortherewas,andfearforthemanshenowloved,butthroughitalltherewassomethingelse,akindofconfidence,abeliefthatsomehow,someway,BonCaddowouldtriumph.
AtthePalaceSaloonJohnDanielwasnolongerpatient.Helitablackcigarandmutteredunderhisbreath.Hewalkedtothedoorandlooked
downthestreet.TherewasnosignofChito.
Darknesscameandhewenttohisoffice.Thesaloonbusinessbeganbutinadesultoryfashion.Thewholetownseemedtobewaiting,watching,wondering.Seveno'clockpassed,theneight.JohnDanielwalkedintothesaloonandlookedquicklyaround.Manyofthefamiliarfacesweremissing.Ninecameandwentandsuddenlytherewasacrashofglass.Mensprangtotheirfeet,staring.Wherethealleywindowhadbeenwasagapinghole,andsprawledonthefloorinsidewasRussChito.Hehadtakenashotgunblastthroughthechest.
Menrushedtohim,andonlyJohnDanielremainedwherehewas,white-faced,hiscigarclampedinhisteeth.
ThentheswingingdoorspartedandBernieLeetotteredintotheroomandfellsprawlingonthefloor.Hewasalive,butbrutallybeaten.
JohnDanielreachedbehindthebarandtookupasparepistol.Methodically,hecheckedit,thentuckeditbehindhisbelt.Hisownguninhishand,hestrodedownthestreet.
Cherrywasgone.
Herhousewaslighted,thedoorstoodopen,butCherrywasgone.
JohnDanielswore,shiftedthecigarinhisteeth."Pete!Dave!Ed!Cherry'sgoneandIwantherback,andIwantBonCaddodead!"
Suddenly,fromdownthestreetavoiceshouted"Fire!"JohnDanielrushedtothedoor.Oneglimpsewasenough,downthestreet,inadirectlinewithhissaloon,adesertedshackwasablaze.
Aglancetoldhimthatwiththewindtherewasnochance.Thatwholesideofthestreetmustgo,andheownedeverybuildingthere.
Suddenlyhebecameawarethatnobodywasmovingtofighttheblaze.Theywerewatching,andafewwerethrowingwateronbuildingsacrossthestreet,buildingshedidnotown.Heyelledatthem,buttherewasnoresponse.
Cursing,heturnedonhisheelandwentintothePalace.Ragefilledhim,abitter,futilerage.
Hewaswhipped...whipped.Buthestillhadthemoney.
Hewenttohissecretdrawerandtookoutthegold.Hewenttohissafeformore,carefullychangedintobillsforeasiercarrying.Therewasmoregoldunderthefoundationbutthatcouldwait.Now,whiletheotherswatchedthefire,hewouldgo.
Fromhisroomhebroughtapairofsaddlebags,kepthandyforthepurpose,andintothemhestuffedbillsandgold.Straighteningupheturnedswiftlyandstartedforthebackdoor.Afewstepsbeyondwasthestableandhisblackhorse.
Hestoppedabruptly.BonCaddostoodinthedoor."Goingsomeplace,John?"heaskedmildly.
JohnDanielstoodstock-still,caughtinmid-stride.Forthefirsttimeheknewfear.
Hewasalone.RussChitowasdead.BernieLeewasbeatenwithinaninchofhislife.Theotherswerescattered,huntingforCaddo.AndCaddowashere.
JohnDanielhadalwaysaccountedhimselfabraveman.Hewasnotafraid,buttherewassomethingindomitableaboutCaddo.
"Allyourlife,JohnDaniel,you'velivedbymurderandrobbery,andyou'vegottenawaywithit.Nowyourtownisburning,Daniel,and
you'regoingwithit."
JohnDaniel'shandreachedforabottleattheendofthebarandthrewit.Thebottlemissed,shatteringagainstthewall.BonCaddostartedforhim.
JohnDanielmovedtomeethim,sincetherewasnoescape.Hestruckoutviciously,andCaddotooktheblowcominginwithoutsomuchasawince.ThenCaddostruckinreturn,andtheblowmadeDaniel'skneesbuckle.
Caddomovedafterhim,coolly,relentlessly."Likehittingwomen,John?Howdoesitfeeltobehit?Doyoulikekilling,John?Howdoesitfeeltodie?"
Inawildburst'ofpanic-bornstrength,JohnDanielstruckout.TheblowcaughtCaddocominginagainbutthepowerofitstaggeredhimandhetrippedoverafallenchair,fallingtothefloor.
JohnDaniellungedforthebackdoorandmadeit.WithCaddocomingafterhimhereachedthestable.
Hishorsewasgone!
Trapped,heturnedswiftly,reachingforhisgun.InfrontofBonCaddoaredeyewinked,thenwinkedagain.ThunderroaredinJohnDaniel'searsandaterribleflameseemedtorushthroughhim.Hedidnotseetheredeyewinkagainforhewasfalling,falling,alreadydead,intothebrokenbranchesofamanzanita.
ThereisaplaceintheTontoBasinwherealong,lowranchhouselooksoutuponavalley.Cottonwoodleaveswhispertheirsecretsaroundthehouseandontheverandaawomanwatchesherhusbandwalkingupfromthebarnwithhistwotallsons.Insidethehouseadaughtersingssongsmorehauntingthanthosehermothersanginthe
Palace,longago.Thebigmanwhosehairisnolongerrustred,pausesbyherside.
Beforethem,diepeaceofthemeadows,andthetallsonswashingforsupperinthedoorsidebasins.Inside,thesongcontinues.
"It'sbeenagoodMe,Mother,agoodlife,"hesaysquietly.
Fartothenorththereisanadobewallwithabulletburiedinit,abulletnobodyeversaw.Asmashedelbowbone,coverednowbythesandofthewash,liesamongthedebrisofapack-rat'snest,andwherethemanzanitagrewthereisawhitenedskull.Intheexactcenterofthatskullaretworoundbulletholes,lessthanahalfinchapart.
*
DUFFY'SMAN
Duffy'smanhadbeenonthejobjustsixdayswhentroublestarted.
Duffy,whowasolderthanthegnarledpin-oakbythewaterhole,knewtherewouldbetroublewhenhesawClipHartridinguptothestable.Duffyhadcoveredalotofmilesinhistime,andhadforgottennothing,manoranimal,thathehadseeninhistravels.
ClipHarthadkilledamansevenyearsbeforeinElPaso,andDuffyhadseenithappen.Sincethentherehadbeenotherkillingsinothertowns,andthreeyearsinthestatepenforrustling.FromtimetotimeHarthadbeeninvestigatedinconnectionwithrobberiesofonekindoranother.
Hartwasolder,heavier,andhardernow.Hehadthecoldlywatchfuleyeofahuntedman.ThereweretwomenwithhimandoneofthemrodeacrossthestreettothePineSaloonandstoodalongsidehishorse,watchingthestreet.
Hartlookedatthesignontheliverystableandthenatthefatoldmaninthebigchair."YourDuffy?"Hartmeasuredhimashespoke.
"I'mDuffy."Theoldmanshiftedhisbulkinthepolishedchair."WhatcanIdoforyou?"
"Theuseofyourstable.I'vesevenhorsescomingintonight.They'llbekepthereinyourstable,saddledallthetime."
Duffyshiftedhimselfinhisseat."Noneofthathere.I'llnotwantyourbusiness.Nothere."
"You'llkeepthem.Youdon'tmoveveryfast,Duffy."ClipHartstruckamatchontheseatofhispantsandhelduptheflame."Yourbarncan'tmoveatall."Heliftedtheflamesuggestively."Where'syourhostler?"
Duffyturnedhisheadonhisfatneck.Hewasnofool,andheknewHartwasnotbluffing.Heopenedhismouthtocallforhishostler,andasheturnedhisheadhesawhimthere,standinginthedoor,hishandsonhiships.
Duffy'smanwastall,lean,andwide-shouldered.Hisfacewasstill.Sometimeshiseyessmiled,rarelyhislips.ThestubbleofbeardhehadwornwhenDuffyhiredhimwasgonenow,butheworenohatandhestillworetheworn,badlyscuffedshoes,unusualfootgearinacountryofbootsandspurs.
Therewasasmallscarononecheekboneandsometimelongagohisnosehadbeenbroken.Hewasprobablytwenty-fivebuthelookedolder,andtheyearsbehindhimhadprobablybeenruggedyears.
ClipHartstaredathim."There'llbesevenhorsesbroughtheretonight.Keepthemsaddledandreadytogo.Understand?"
Duffy'smanjerkedathumbatDuffy."Itakemyordersfromhim."
Hart'sangerflared.Hewasamanwhocouldnotacceptresistanceofanykind.ItdrovehimtoakillingfuryandDuffyknewit,andwasworried."You'lltakemyorders!"Hartsaid."Getbackinside!"
Deliberately,thehostlerglancedatDuffyandtheoldmannodded.Duffy'smanturnedonhisheelandwentbackinside.
"You'llgetpaid,andplenty,"HartwastellingDuffy,"butnoarguments,understand?"Then,histonethickwithcontempt,headded,"Whointhistowncouldmaketroubleforus?"
WhenHartcrossedthestreettothesaloon,Duffy'smanreturnedtothedoor."Yougoin'totakethat?"
"We'venochoice.I'mnogunslinger.There'snomorethansevenmenintownrightnow,allquiet,peacefulmen.Anyway,theirwomenfolkswouldbescared.We'vebeenexpectin'somethingofthekindforalongtime."Helookedaround."You'renewhere.Thosemenarebad,realbad."Duffy'smanmerelylookedathim."Arethey?"
heasked.
Hewalkedbackintothestableandclimbedtotheloft,forkinghayintothemangers,thenputcornintosevenfeedboxes.Walkingouthesaid,"I'lleatnow,"slippingintohiscoatashespoke.HedidnotlookatDuffy.Thethreehorseswerestillacrossthestreet.
Therewasasignthatsaidma'skitchenandwhenhewentinsidethereweretwotableseightfeetlongwithabenchalongeachsideandateachend.ClipHartwassittingattheendofonetablewithhisbacktothewall.Duffy'smansatdownalongsidethetableneartheoppositeend.
HehadbeenbornintheWestbutleftwithhismotherwhenhewastenandhadgrownupinthestreetsofNewYork.Atfifteen,aftertwoyearsworkingonafishingboathehadshippedoutaroundtheHorn.HedealtmonteinaBarbaryCoastdive,foughtaseriesofbareknucklefights,andwonthem.HehadbecomefriendlywithJemMaceandlearnedalotaboutfightingfromhim,themasterboxerofhistime.AtseventeenhewasonawindjammerintheChinaSea.BackinNewYorkagainhefoughtseveralmorebareknucklefightsandwoneachtime.
Discontentedwithhislifehefoundaninterestinbooksandbegantostudywithaneyetobetteringhimself,althoughwithoutanydefiniteidea.RunningoutofmoneyheworkedhiswayWestontherailroadandfinally,deadbroke,hedroppedoffthestageinWestwater.
Westwaterhadonerestaurant,onesaloon,aliverystable,ablacksmithshop,acrossroadsstore,andastagestationwhichdoubledasapostoffice.
Juliecamearoundthetableandputaplatebeforehim.Hethankedherandwatchedherfillthecup.ShewasaslendergirlwithIrishblueeyes,blackhair,andafewfreckles.Shelefthimandwentaroundthetable,pickingupseveraldirtydishes.ItlookedlikeatleastthreemenhadleftwithoutfinishingtheirmealswhenHartcamein.
"Morecoffee!"Hartlookedatthegirlashespoke,boldlyappraising.Whenshewenttofillhiscupheslippedanarmaroundherwaist.
ShesteppedawaysoquicklythatitjerkedHartoffbalanceandhisfaceturneduglywithanger."PutthatpotdownandcomehereI"hesaid."Keepyourhandstoyourself!"Julieflared.'I'llserveyou,butIwon'tbepawedbyyou!"
ClipstartedtorisebutDuffy'smangrabbedthetableandshovedhard.
TheendofthetablehitHart'shipashewasturningtorise,anditcaughthimoffbalance.Hestaggered,thebenchbehindtrippedhim.Hefellhard,hisfeetflyingup.
Duffy'smanstoodoverhim."Letheralone,"hesaid."Amaninyourbusinesscan'taffordtofoolaround."
"You'retellin'memybusiness?"Hegatheredhisfeetunderhimbuthewasinnopositiontoargue,andsomethinginthefaceofDuffy'smanwarnedhim.
Atthesametimeherealizedthatwhatthehostlersaidwastrue.Hecouldnotaffordtroublehereandnow.Hecouldwait.Hegotcarefullytohisfeet."Aw,Iwasjustfoolin'!"hesaid."Noneedforhertobesopersnickety."
Thenashestartedtobrushhimselfoff,hisangerflaredagain."YoushovedthattableI"heexclaimed.
"Youcatchonfast."Duffy'smanspokecalmly,standingtherewithhishandsonhiships,justlookingatHart.Theoutlawgrewmoreandmoreangry.Atthesametimehefeltanimpulsetocaution.Notroublehereandnow.Thatcouldwait.Withoutanotherwordhedrewbackhisbenchandsatdown.Whenhehadfinishedeatinghethrewahalf-dollaronthetableandwentoutwithoutsomuchasabackwardglance.
Juliefilledhiscupagain."Hewon'tforgetthat."
"Iknow."
"He'llkillyou.He'skilledothermen."
"Maybe."
Duffy'smanfinishedhismealinsilence,everconsciousofherpresence.Whenhegotuphedroppedtwobitsonthetabletopayforthemeal,thenwenttothedoor."Youbecareful,"shewarned.
Hecrossedthestreetandsawthehorsesthemenhadriddenintotownweregone.Itwasdarknow,buthecouldstillseeDuffyseatedinhisbigoldchair.
"Horsescome?"
"Notyet."Duffy'schaircreaked."Whathappenedoverthere?"
"HegotfreshwithJulie,andIshovedhimdownwithatable.Hedidn'tlikeitverymuch."
"He'llkillyou."
"I'mnotreadytodie."
"Takeahorse,"Duffyadvised.'Takematlittlebay.Ifyouevergetthemoneyyoucansendittome.Ifnot,forgetit.Ilikeyou,son."
"Idon'tneedahorse."
"Youwon'thaveachance."
"Yougohome,Mr.Duffy,anddon'tcomeouttomorrow.Leavethistome.It'smyfight."
Duffy'schaircreakedashegotup."Thebay'sintheboxstallifyouwantit."Hepausednearmecornerofthebam."Haveyougotagun?"
"No,Idon'tthinkI'llneedone."Hewassilent,andhewasawarethattheoldmanhadnotmoved,butstoodthereintheshadows.
"ThewayIseeit,"hesaid,"they'vegotthistowntreed.Theycando
astheyplease.FirsttheyWilluseitasawaystationforfreshhorses,thenthey'lltakeoverthetown'sbusiness,thenthepeople.Menwillbekilledandwomentaken."
"Maybe."
"Yougohomenow,Mr.Duffy.Youstayoutofthis."
Duffy'smanlistenedtotheslow,retreatingsteps.Duffymustbenearlyeighty.Thestorekeeperwaswellpastsixty.Thetoughyoungmenofthetownwereallgoneonacattledrive.Theywouldbebacknextyear,ormaybetheywouldnevercomeback.Thehardshipsofacattledrivebeingwhattheywere.Itmadenodifferencenow.Hewasamanwhoknewwhathadtobedoneandhewasnotaccustomedtoaskingforhelp.
HesatdowninDuffy'schairandwaited.Therehadbeenamaninarailroadconstructioncampwhowasalwaysquoting,andthosequotationshadawayofstickinginthemind.Duffy'smanstirredinthechair,rememberingonethefellowhadlovedtoquote.Timeandagainhehadsaidit.
Theytellus,Sir,thatweareweak,unabletocopewithsoformidableanadversary.Butwhenshallwebestronger?Willitbenextweek?Willitbenextyear?Willitbewhenwearetotallydisarmedandaguardstationedineveryhouse?Shallwegatherstrengthbyirresolutionandinaction?Sir,wearenotweakifwemakeproperuseofthosemeanswhichtheGodofnaturehasplacedinourpower.
Thewordshadanicesoundandhesaidthemaloud,butsoftly,listeningtothesmoothsoundofthemonhislips.HehadtheIrishman'sloveoffinesoundingwordsandtheIrishman'saptitudeforrebellion.Heleanedbackinthechairandclosedhiseyes.Thefellowintheconstructioncampwhoquotedthat,hehadbeenbetterthana
book,andallheneededtostarthimoffwasabitofryewhiskey.
Itwaspastmidnightwhenthehorsescame.Tworidersledthemupunderthetreesandthen
acrossthestreettothestable.OnemanremainedoutsideinDuffy'schairwhiletheotherhelpedDuffy'smantietheminthestalls.Theywereallfine,beautifullybuiltanimals.
Themanwasstockyandnotverytall.Heliftedthelanterntothehostler'sface."New?"
"Drifting."
"Youtakegoodcarethesehorsesareready.Youdothatandyou'llhavenotrouble.Youmightevenfindafewextrabucksinyourkickwhenthisisover.Doyouhearme?"
"Ihearyou."
Themanwalkedbacktothedoorbutdidnotstepoutintothelight.Therewasalanternoverthedoorthatwaskeptburningallnight,anditthrewapaleglowaroundthestabledoor.
Duffy'smanwatchedtheglowoftheircigarettesandthenhewenttotheharnessroom.Therewereseveraloldsaddles,oddsandendsofharness,andinacorner,behindadustyslickertherewassomethingelse.
ItwasaColtrevolvingshotgun.
Hepeeredoutacrackofthedoor,thenputthelanternonthefloorbetweenhimselfandthedoor.Takinguptheshotgunhewipeditfreeofdust,thenhetookitapartandwenttoworkonit
SeveraltimeshewenttothedoortopeeroutAfteralmosttwohours
ofworkhehadtheshotguninfiringcondition.Thecylinderwouldnolongerrevolveofitselfbutcouldbeturnedbyhand.Duffy'smanfedshellsintothefourchambers.Theywereoldbrassshotgunshells,andhehadloadedthemhimself.Thenhestoodtheshotgunbackinthecornerandhungtheslickeroverit
Theshort,stockymanwasinthechairnowandtheotheronewasasleeponthehayjustinsidethedoor.Duffy'smanstoppedinsidethedoor."Whattimetomorrow?"heasked.
Thefellowlookedaroundathim."Maybenoon.Why?"
"Wonderin'ifIshouldfeedthemagain.Theywon'trungoodonafullstomach."
"Say,that'sright.Feed'emnow,Is'pose.Allright?"
"Yeah."
Duffy'smanwalkedbackinsideandfedthehorses."Theytellus,sir,thatweareweak,"herepeated,"butwhenshallwebestronger?"
Hethoughtitoverashestoodthere,rubbingthesorrel'sneck."Ithasanicesound,"hetoldthehorse,"anicesound."
Hewalkedtothedoor."Soonbedaylight,"hesaid,"thesky'sturninggray."
"Yeah."Thestockymangottohisfeetandstretched.Duffy'smanhithim.
Itwasabackhandblowwithhisleftfistthatcaughtthestretchingoutlawinthesolarplexus.Duffy'smansteppedaroundinfrontofhimandwiththepracticedeaseoftheskilledboxerheuppercutwiththeleftandcrossedarighttothechin.Theoutlawneverhadachanceto
knowwhatwashappening,andtheonlysoundwasagaspatthebackhandtothesolarplexus.
Duffy'smanpulledhimoutofsightbehindthedoor.Thenhetiedhishandsandfeetandstuffedadirtyragintohismouthforagag,tyingitthere.
Leaningoverthesleepingoutlawheverygentlyliftedtheman'shandandslippedaloopoverit.Hiseyesflaredopenbutthehostlergraspedhisupperarmandflippedhimoveronhisfacebeforeherealizedwhatwashappening.
Shovingtheman'sfaceintothehayandearth,hedroppedononekneeontheman'sbackandjerkedhisotherwristovertoreceiveasecondloop.Quickly,withasailor'sskillwithknots,hedrewthewriststogetherandboundthemtight,thentiedhisfeetandgaggedhim.
Theymight,hethought,getthemselvesfreejustwhenhewasmostbusy.Hedraggedthemtothecenterofthebarnwheretherewasnoloft.Itwasalmostfortyfeettotheridgepole.Climbing
theladdertothelofthethenmountedaladderthatledtotheroofandriggedtworopesoveracrosspiece,thenwentbacktothefloor.
Theoutlaws,bothconsciousnow,staredathim,horrified.
"Goingtohangyou,"hesaidcheerfully,grinningattheiragonizedexpressions."Butnotbythenecks...unlessyoustruggle."
Twentyminuteslaterhelookedupatthemwithappreciation.Morethanthirtyfeetabovethehardpackedearthofthebarnfloorhehadsuspendedthetwooutlaws.Eachmanhadaloosenoosearoundhisneck.Iftheystruggledtogetfreeandtheknotsstartedtosliptheywouldhangthemselves.
"It'suptoyou,"heexplained."YoucanhangtherequietlyandwhenthisshindigisoverI'llletyoudowneasy.Youstruggleandyou'llbothbedead."
Hestrolledtothedoor.SmokewasliftingfromMa'sKitchenandJuliewassweepingoffthestep.Hewalkedacrossandsheglancedup,smilingathim.Hesawhereyesgopasthimtothebarndoor.Thechairwasempty.
Shegotthecoffeepotandfilledhiscup,stealingaglanceathisface,whichrevealednothing.Shehadheardtheriderscomeinwiththehorses,andsheknewitmeantabankholdupsomewherenear.
Theoutlawscouldruntheirhorsesattopspeed,switchtofreshhorsesandbeofftothemountains.Thefreshhorseswouldassurethemofescape,foranypossewouldhavetoruntheirhorseshardtotrytocatchthem,andthosehorseswouldhavebeenextendedtotheutmostbeforereachingWestwater.
Duffy'smanateinsilence.Whenhearosehedroppedaquarteronthetable."Betterstayinsidetoday,"hetoldJulie,"andtellMa."
Shestoppedattheendofthetable."Whateveritisyou'replanning,"shesaid,"don'tdoit.Youdon'tknowClipHart."
"ThereareClipHartswhereveronegoes.Ifyoustartrunningthere'snoplacetostop.IhaveittodoorIhavetorun,andIdon'truneasy.
"Anyway"--hespokeinalightertone,notlook-fagather--"amanhastostopsomewhereandmakeastart.Thisseemsasgoodaplaceasany.Amanmightevenstartaranchofhisown."
"Thattakesmoney."
"Amanwhoisgoodwithanaxmightmakesomemoneycuttingties
forthatbranchlinethey'reabouttobuild.Theywillneedties,"headded,"orthey'llhavetoshipthemalongway."
Hewentoutwithoutlookingback,butheheardMasay,"Ilikethatyoungman."
Julieanswered,"Hewon'tlivelongifhebucksClipHart."
AtthefootofthestepsDuffy'smanstopped,thinking.Howdidonemanhandlesevenmen?Andhowfarbehindtheoutlawswouldthepossebe?HowlongwouldittakethemtogettoWestwater?
Duffy'smanconsideredahalfdozenwaysofdelayingtheoutlawsandstillstayingalive.Tyingtheirhorseswithhardknots?Theywouldcuttheropes.Openingfireastheyenteredthestreet?Hedidn'thaveshellsenoughtokillthemallifhescoredwitheveryshot,andtheyweretoomany.Hewouldhimselfbedead.
Therewasnoway.Hehadbeenfoolishtobeginwhathecouldnotend,andhewasverygladhehadnottriedtoenlisthelpinhisfoolhardyscheme.Ithadbeenalltooeasytothinkofdoingsomething,alltooeasytosaytheywouldneverbestronger.
Nonetheless,havingstartedit,itwasnotinhimtoquit.Whathehadbegunhewouldfinish,andhewouldhopetodoenoughdamageintheprocessthattheywouldcomenomoretoWestwater.
Itwasnaturalthathedidnotconsiderhisownsituation.Notthathehadnotthoughtofitbefore,buthehadknownwhathischanceswere,andnowthathehaddecidedtogoaheadhesimplywouldhavenochanceatall.Atleast,noneworthconsidering.
Finally,hebroughtthehorsesoutandtiedthem,accordingtoplan,atthehitch-rail.He'tiedthemwithslipknots,tyingClipHart'shorsealittleclosertothestableandjustalittleapartfromtheothers.Thenhe
broughttheshotgunfromtheharnessroomandplaceditbesidethebamdoor,butoutofsight.
Heknewthenhehaddonewhathecoulddo,andtherewasnothingtodobutwait.HedroppedintoDuffy'schairandrelaxed.
Wordseemedtohavegottenaround,fornooneappearedonthestreet.Thestorewasopen,aswasthesaloon,butnobodywasineitherplace.SeveraltimesJuliecametothedoorandlookedacrossthestreetattheyoungmaninthechairbythebarndoor.Eachtimehewaswhittling.Onceheevenseemedtobeasleep.
Itwasalmosteleveno'clockwhentheyheardthemcoming.Theythunderedacrossthebridgejustoutsideoftownandcameracingaroundthebendandthroughthetrees.Theycameatadeadrun,piledofftheirhorsesandrushedforthefreshhorsesatthehitch-rail.Hartreachedhishorseandgrabbedattheslipknot,andDuffy'smanhithim.
Therewasnowarning.Duffy'smanhadtiedthathorsewithinaneasystepandhislefthookcaughtHartonthechinandhewentdown,spunhalfwayaround,andgrabbedforhisgun.
Duffy'smanslappedawaythegunhandandsmashedHartwithabig,work-hardenedfistKnockinghimbackagainsttherailheproceededtoslughiminthebelly,thenonthechinwithbothhands.Hartwentdown,batteredandbleeding.OnlythendidDuffy'smandisarmhim.
Theotheroutlawshadleapedfortheirsaddlesandnosoonerdidtheyhitleatherthanallhellbrokeloose.Thehorseswerebig,fresh,andfullofcorn,andtheybegantopitchmadlyasifonsignal.Agirthbroke,andthenanother.Menplungedintothedust,andastheyhit,menrushedfromthestoresandranamongthem,clubbingwithgunbarrelsandriflebutts.
Duffyhimselfwasthere,movingwithsurprisingagilityforoneofhisageandbulk.Onlyonemanmadeabreakforit.Hewasnearthestableandhiscinchdidnotbreak.HegothishorseturnedandashedidsoheliftedhispistolandtookcarefulaimatDuffy'sman.
Thehostlersprangfortheshotgunbesidethedoor,knowinghewouldneverreachitintime.ThenarifleshotrangoutandasDuffy'smanswungaroundwiththeshotguninhishands,hesawtheoutlawtopplefromhissaddleintothedust.
HeglancedaroundandsawJuliestandinginthedoorwithanoldSharps.50inherhands,athinwraithofsmokeissuingfromthemuzzle.
Assuddenlyasthat,itwasover.ClipHartwasstaggeringtohisfeet,hisjawhangingandobviouslybroken.Therewasadeepcutoveroneeye,andhistriggerfingerwasbroken,apparentlywhenhefellorwhenthegunwasslappedfromhishand.
Onemanwasdead.Duffyhimselfhadkilledhimwhenhesteppedfromthestore.ThemanJuliehadshothadabrokenshoulderandanuglywoundwherethebullethadrippedtheflesh.Theothershadachingheadsandoneabrokencollarbone.
Herdedtogetherinfrontoftheliverystable,theywerestandingtherewhenthepossearrived,staringattheircaptorswhoprovedtobefouroldmen,twoboysoffourteen,agirlwithanapron,andDuffy'sman.
"Theyheldupourbankandkilledacashier,"themanwiththebadgetoldthem."Ifthey'dgottenonthosefreshhorsesthey'dhavegottencleanaway.Whathappened?"
Duffyhadbeenremovingsaddlesfromthehorsesandnowheliftedasaddleblanketandliftedanugly-lookingcockleburwithbloodonitsstiffspines."Somebody,"hesaid,"putoneoftheseundereach
blanket,andthencutthecincheshalfwaythrough."
ThebadgewearerlookedatDuffy'sman."Youdidthat?"
"Pickedthemeanest-lookingburrsIcouldfind.WhatelsecouldIdo?I'mnogunfighter!"
ThesherifflookedatHart."Well,you'resomekindofafighter,andwhateveritis,you'lldo.Thanks."
Duffylookedathisholster."Thoughtwewastooold,didyou?Well,wegotfightleftinusyet,ain'tweboys?"
Thestorekeepergesturedtowardthesaloon."I'mstandingforthedrinks,youngorold."
"Haveyourdrink,"Duffy'smansaid,"I'llbealongsoon."
HelookedoveratJulie."AsIsaid,thisseemedagoodplacetostop."
"Areyouagoodmanwithanax?"
"Iam.Butyouknow,itgetsmightylonelyupthereinthemountains.AnditwouldhelpifIhadsomebodytocookforme,too."
"Canyoucookatall?"
"No,ma'am."
"Ican."
Hegesturedtowardthechurch,half-hiddenamongthecottonwoods."Thepreacherwillbehometomorrow.Weshouldmakeanearlystart."
"Iwillbeready."Suddenly,shewasembarrassed.Shedriedherhands
onherapron."Yougoalongandhavethatdrinknow."
Atthesaloonthemenliftedtheirglassestohim."Notme,"hesaid,"Imightneverhavedoneitbutforsomethingaspeakeroncesaid."
Heliftedhisglass."Wedrinktothespeaker.ToPatrickHenry,"hesaid.
"ToPatHenry,"theyreplied.
*
BIGMAN
CherryNoblerodeintoWagonstoponablademule.Hewassixfeetseveninhissocks,andhehabituallyworeboots.Heweighedthreehundredandthirtypounds.Heswungdownfromthemuleandleditandhisthreepackanimalstowater.Ashestoodbythetroughwithhismules,thebystandersstaredinunadulteratedamazement.
Noblelookedup,smilinginafriendlyfashion."What'soffthere?"Heindicatedthecountrytothewestwithabobofhishead.
Fromwherehestoodnothingwasvisibletothewestbutthesunsettingoveraweirdcollectionofredspiresandtabletoppedmountains.
LayBentonreplied."Nothin'butwilderness,someofthewildest,roughestcountryonearthandsomebloodthirstyIndians."
"Nopeople?"
"None."
"Water?Andgrassmaybe?"
"Couldbealittle.Whoknows?"
"Thenthat'swhereI'llgo.I'llgotheresowhenfolksdocomethere'llbeaplacewaitingforthem.Soonerorlaterpeoplecometomost"everyplace,andmostlywhentheygettheretheyarehotandtired.I'llhavegrass,water,andbeefawaiting."
"You'dbecrazytotry,"Bentonsaid."NowhitemancouldliveinthatcountryeveniftheIndianswouldlethim."
CherryNoble'slaughboomed,hisfacewrinklingwiththememoriesofoldsmiles."They'llletmestay,andIguessthere'snoplaceamancan'tliveifhesetshismindtoit."Heslappedabulgingsaddlebag."KnowwhatI'vegothere?Cherrypits,that'swhatIWhenIstopIplantoplantcherriesIAin'tnobetterfruit,anywhere,andthat'swhypeoplecallmeastheydo.Noble'smynameandfolkscallmeCherry.YoucouldtrailmeacrossthecountrybythetreesI'veplanted."
LayBentonwasatrouble-hunter,andhedidnotlikeCherryNoble.LayhadbeenthebiggestmanarounduntilNoblearrived,andhestillconsideredhimselfthetoughest.Thebigman'seasygoodhumorirritatedhim."Ifyougointothatcountry,"hesaidcontemptuously,"you'reafool!"
"'Bettertobeafoolthanaknave,'"quotedNoble.Hewassmiling,buthiseyesweremeasuringBentonwithsuddenattentionandknowledge.
Bentoncametohisfeetreadyfortrouble."Whatwasthatyoucalledme?"
CherryNoblewalkedtothefootofthestepswhereBentonstood."Friend,"he"spokegently,stillsmiling,"Ididn'tcallyou,butifyouheardyournamejustkeepa-coming."
Bentonwasirresolute.Somethingintheeasymovementandconfidenceofthebigmandisturbedhim."Youdon'tmakesense!"hesaidirritably."What'sthematter?Areyoucrazy?"
Noblechuckled,hisbighandsonhiships."Nowastothat,"hesaidjudiciously,"there'sadivisionofopinion.Somesayyes,somesayno.Me,I'venotrightlydecided,butatanyrateI'mnotaverywiseman.
"FellerbackinMissouriwhenIwasabouthip-hightoashortburro,hegivemefivebooks,hedid.Hesaid,'Son,youtakethesebooksand
youreadthem.Thenyoureadthemthroughagainandthenyouponderon'em.Afterthatyougivethemtosomebodyelse,butthere'llbesomethingthatwillstaywithyouallthedaysofyourlife.I'mgivingyouthegreatestgiftanymancangivetoanother.'"
CherryNobleputonehugebootedfootonthestep."NowIreadthemtherebooks,andmoretimesthantwice.OnewastheBible,mightygoodreadingwhetheramanisofareligiousturnornot.AnotherwasabunchofpoetrylikebyamannamedShakespeare.Thatoneonlymadeoccasionalsensetomeuntilthethirdtimearoundandtheneverythingbegantofallintoplace,andit'sstayedinmymindeversince.Thentherewasabookonlaw,orthat'swhatIwastold,byBlack-stone.Seemedtomethatbookmadealotofsense,andmostlyitwasrulesandideasonhowfolkscangetalongtogether.TherewasanotherbyamannamedPlatothatseemedtomeconversationswithsomeotherfolks,butonethatworriedmesomewasanaccountofthedeathofthisSocrates.
"Seemstheyhadsomethingagainsthim,andthepowersthatweresaidheshouldtakepoisonhemlock.Well,fromtheaccountofwhathappenedafterwarditseemedtomethemanwaswritingaboutsomethingheneveractuallysawbecausewehaveasightofpoisonhemlockinpartsofthecountrywhereI'velivedandit'saveryagonizingdeath,nowaysocalmandeasyasthismanseemedtohaveit.
"Mantoldmelater,amanwhowasuponsuchthings,thatPlatowasn'teventherewhenithappened.Idon'tthinkamanshouldwritethingsunlesshecanwritethetruthaboutit,orasnearashecancometoit.TheotherbookwassomesayingsbyJefferson,Franklin,andthelike,thesortofconclusionsanyreasonablemancomestoinalifetime.
"NowIreadthosebooksuponesideanddowntheotherandnothing
inthosebookstoldmeIwascrazyandnothinginthemtoldmeIwasawiseman,either.So"--hesmiledcheerfully--"Ijustlet'errest,an'that'sagoodwaytodowitharguments."
NoblemountedthestepsandwentintothestoreandBentonstaredafterhim.Hespatintothedust.Nowwhatkindofamanwasthat?
Hack,anotherofthebysitters,glancedslylyatBenton."Hesureisbig,"hecommented.
"Sizedoesn'tmaketheman!"Bentonsaidcontemptuously.
Theoldermanchuckled,lookingBentonupanddown."Nowthat'swhatI'vealwayssaidI"Hackagreed."That'swhatI'llalwayssay!"
ThedooropenedandNoblesteppedout.Hehadtwoonehundredpoundsacksofflourunderonearmandheldanotherbythetop.Hewalkedtohispackmulesandbeganstrappingonthesacks.Thenhewentaroundtothecorralandreturnedwiththreehorses.Bringingoutmoresupplies,hestrappedthemonthepacksaddleshehadbroughtalongwiththehorses.
Bentonhadthefeelinghehadcomeoutontheshortendoftheexchangeanddidnotlikeit.Norwashesurejusthowithadhappened.HewatchedNobleloadingupwithgrowingdispleasure."SomeMormonstriedtosettleoverthereonetimeandtheinjunsrun'emout.TheGreenboyswentintherewithcattle,andtheGreenswerekilled.Youain'tgotachancebackintherealone.TherewassixorsevenoftheGreens.
"Besides,"heargued,"howwouldyoumakealiving?Supposeyourcherriesgrew?Wherewouldyousell'em?"
CherryNoble'schucklewasrichanddeep,"Why,friend,Idon'tworryaboutthat.TheLordwillprovide,saysI,andwhenfolkscomethey
willfindtheearthfloweringlikethegardensofparadise,withfatblackcherriesgrowing,andifbychancetheinjunsgetmemytreeswillstillbegrowing.ForIsayhewhoplantsatreeisaservantofGod,whichIheardsomewherelongago.Evenifthere'snofruitonthelimbsthere'llbeshadeforthewearyandacoolnessinsummer."
"Youtalklikeadamnedskypilot,"Bentonscoffed.
"Well,I'mnotone.NoramIreallywhatyou'dcallareligiousman,noralearnedone.Thatfellerwhogavemethebookssaid,'Son,itisn'thowmanybooksyouread,it'swhatyougetfromthoseyoudoread.YoureadthosebooksIgaveyouandneitherlife,nordeath,normanwillholdanyfearsforyou.'That'swhatthemansaid,andheseemstohavebeenright."
"You'llneedalotmorethantalkifthosePiutesjumpyou!"Bentonreplied.
Noblechuckledagain."Iftheydon'tunderstandthatkindoftalkIcanalwaysusethisI"Hepickedanemptywhiskeybottlefromthedustandflippeditintotheair.Asthebottlereacheditshighpointhepalmedhissix-shooterandfired.
Theshotsmashedthebottle,hissecondandthirdshotsbrokefragmentsofthebottleintostillsmallerfragments.
LayBentonsatdownonthetopstep,shockedandalittlesicktothestomach.Tothinkhehadbeenhuntingtroublewithamanwhocouldshootlikethat!
Nobleswungintothesaddleonthebigmule,ahugeandhandsomecreaturewhoonlyswishedhistailatthegreatweight."Comevisitme,"heinvited,"whereyoufindmetherewillbegreengrassandtrees,andifyougivemetimetherewillbeblackcherriesripeninginthesun!"
"He'llgethimselfkilled,"Bentonsaidsourly.
"Maybe,"Hackagreed,"butinjunstaketohiskind."
Theywatchedhimridedownthedustystreettowardthetrailwest,andheonlystoppedonce,toletRuthMcGanncrossinfrontofhim.ShewasgoingovertotheBorderhousetoborrowacupofsugar...atleastthatwaswhatshesaid.
Theysawthathespoketoher,andtheymightaswellhaveoverhearditbecauseoldmanBorderrepeatedthewords.
Nobledrewupandgallantlysweptthehatfromhishead."Beautybeforeindustry,ma'am.YoumaypassbeforeIraiseadustthatmightdimthoselovelyeyes."
Shelookedupathimsuspiciously."MynameisNoble,"hesaid,"andIhopethatsometimesIam.TheycallmeCherrybecauseit'scherriesIplantwhereverI'vetimetostop.Andyourname?"
"Ruth,"shereplied,hereyestakinginthegreatexpanseofchestandshoulder,"andwheremightyoubegoing,ridingoutthatway?"
"LiketheHebrewchildren,"hesaid,"Igointothewilderness,butIshallreturn.Ishallcomebackforyou,Ruth,andthenyoushallsaytomeasdidRuthoftheBible,'Witherthougoest,Iwillgo;andwherethoulodgest,Iwilllodge;thypeopleshallbemypeople,andthyGod,myGod.'"
Ruthlookedhimovercoolly.Seventeenandpert,shehadhairlikefireseenthroughsmoke,andeyesofhazel.Theprettiestgirlinallthatcountryitwassaid,butwitheyesfornoman."Oh,Iwill,willI?You'veasmoothtongue,bigman.Whatelsedoyouhave?"
"Twohandsandaheart.WhatelsewillIneed?"
"You'llneedahead,"sherepliedcalmly."Nowbeoffwithyou.Ihaveworktodo."
"Wellspoken!"HereplacedhishatonhisheadandasRuthpassedonacrossthestreet,headded,"'Fareyouwell,hereafterinabetterworldthanthis,Ishalldesiremoreloveandknowledgeofyou.'"
RuthMcGannturnedonthestepsoftheBorderhouseandwatchedhimdisappeardownthetrail.Itwasonlyadimtrail,fornotmanywentthatwayandfewerreturned."Whowasthat?"sheasked."Ihaven'tseenhimbefore."
"Somestranger,"Bordersaid,"butamightybigman.AboutthebiggestIeverdidsee."
Ruthcrossedtheporchandwentintothehouseforhercupofsugar,astrangething,asoldmanBordercommented,forhermahadboughtabarrelofsugaronlyafewweeksbefore,lookingtoaseason'scanning.Thestorywastoldaroundthesewingandtheknittingcirclesfordaysafter,andaroundthehorsecorralsandintheblacksmithshopaswell.Shewaschidedaboutherbigman,butRuthofferednoreply.
Amonthpassed,andthensixmonths,andthenPortGiddingscameinwiththreeriders.TheyhadcrossedtheroughcountrytothewestandstoppedbytheMcGanns."Wildcountryyonder,"Portsaid,"butrightinthemidstofitwefoundNoble.Heaskedtoberememberedtoyou,Ruth.Hesaidtotellyouwhenhisplacewasinbettershapehe'dbecomingforyou."
Hereyesflashed,butshesaidnothingatallOnlywhentheytalkedshelistenedandwentonwithhersewing.
"Thewaythatvalleyhaschangedyouwouldn'tbelieve,"Giddingssaid."He'sbrokensodonmorethanahundredacresandhasitplantedtocornandoats.He'sgottwohundredcherrytreesplantedand
sprouting.ThenheroundedupthosecattletheGreen*boyslost,andhe'sholdingthemonmeadowsthickwithgrass.He'susingwaterfromthoseoldMormonirrigationditches,andhe'scutalotofhay.
"Bestofall,he'sbuiltastonehousethat'sthebestI'veseeninthiscountry.Thatmansuredoesworkhard."
"WhatabouttheIndians?"McGannasked.
"That'sthepeculiarpart.Heseemstohavenotroubleatall.Helocatedtheircampwhenhefirstrodeintothecountry,andhewentinandhadalongtalkwiththechiefandsomeoftheoldmen.He'sneverbeenbothered."
CherryNoblecouldnothavetakenoathtothatcomment.TheIndianslivingnearbyhadcausednotrouble,norhadhemadetroubleforthem.Thesamecouldnotbesaidforpassingwarparties.AraidingbandofPiuteshadcomeintothecountry,stealinghorsesfromtheotherIndiansandatthatverymomentNoblewashunkereddownbehindsomerocksatawaterhole.
Luckily,hehadglimpsedtheIndiansatthesametimetheysawhim.Hehadreachedtherocksaroundthewaterholejustintime.HeshotthenearestIndianfromthesaddleandtherestofthemwenttotheground.Noblegotthemuledownonitssideandoutofriflerange.HereadiedhisWinchesterandreloadedhissix-gun.
Itwasalong,slow,hotafternoon.Therewasnowaternearerthanfifteenmilesexceptwhatlayinthewaterholebehindhim.HeknewthatandsodidthePiutes,onlyhehadthewaterandtheydidnot.
Sweattrickleddownthebigman'sneck.Hetookapullathiscanteenandputareassuringhandonthemule.Theanimalhadbeentrainedfrombirthforjustthiseventualityandlayquietnow.
TheycamesuddenlyandwitharushandNobletookhistime.Hedroppedone,thenswitchedhisrifleandmissedashotastheydisappeared.
TherewereatleastfiveIndiansstilloutthere.Abuzzardsoaredexpectantlyoverhead.Hemovedsuddenly,furtherintotherocksandonlyintime.Awarrior,knifeinhand,doveathimfromarockandNoblethrewupahand,graspingtheIndian'sknifewristandliterallythrowingthemantothegroundnearthepool.
NobleputagunonhimandtheIndianlookedupathim,judginghischances."Nogood,"Noblesaid."You,"hegestured,"drink!"
TheIndianhesitated."Drink,damnyou!"AndtheIndiandid,thenagain.
"Nowgetupandgetout.Tellthemtoleavemealone.Iwantnotrouble,doyouhear?Notrouble.
"YoustealevenoneheadfrommeandI'llhuntyoudownandkillyouall."HowmuchtheIndianunderstoodhehadnoidea."Nowgo!"
Theywent,wantingnomoreofthisbigmanwholivedalone.
Noblereturnedtohiswork.Thereweremoretreestoplant,avegetablegardentofence,trapstobesetforrabbitsthatwereplayinghavocwithhiscrops.
Fourdayslater,asiftestinghim,hefoundseveralsteersdrivenoffandtrackedthemtotheircamp.Theyhadeatenheavilyandweresleeping,doubtingonelonemanwouldattempttopursuethem.
Hewentintotheircamponcatfeet.Hegatheredtheirriflesandwastakingapistolfromoneofthemwhenthemanawakened.HiseyesrivetedonNoble'sfaceandhestartedayell,butthepistolbarrel
acrosshisheadstoppedit.
Walkingoutoftheircamphegatheredtheirhorsesandledthemtowherehishorsewaited.Surprisingly,theywerestillasleep.Perhapssomewhereintheirraidingtheyhadfoundsomewhiskey,fortheyslepttoosoundly.
Pickingupanarmfulofbrushhetosseditonthefireandatthefirstcrackleofflametheycameawake.Hewaswaitingforthemwithaguninhishand.
Theystartedtoriseandheshouted,"No!Youstay!"
Theywaited,watchinghim.Theyweretoughmen,andthankGod,oneofthemwasoldenoughtohavejudgment."Notrouble!"hereiterated."Iwantnotrouble!"
"Mycow,"hegestured,"allmine!Yougonow.Don'tcomeback!"
Theoldestofthewarriorslookedupathim."Yousaywecomeagain,youkillall."
"Idon'twanttokill.WhiteStoneCalfismyfriend.Youcanbefriendalso."
"Yousayyoukill.Canyoukillme?"
"Icankillyou.Idonotwishto.Iamamanwhoplantstrees.Igrowcorn.IfanIndianishungry,Iwillfeedhim.Ifheissick,Iwilltrytomakehimwell,butheharmsmycrops,ifheattacksmeorstealsmycowsorhorses,Iwillkillhim.Somehavealreadydied,howmanymustdiebeforeyouunderstandme?"
"Wewillgo,"theIndiansaid."Youwillgiveusourhorses?"
"Iwillnot.Youhavetakenmytime.Itakeyourhorses.NexttimeI
shalltakemorehorses.Yougo.Ifyoucomeagain,comeinpeaceorIwillfollowtoyourvillageandmanywilldie."
Thefollowingyearthereweretworaidsintothearea,buttheyrodearoundthebigman'sland;andwhenthenextwinterwashardandthesnowswereheavyandicywindsprowledthecanyonsherodeintotheirvillage,andtheywatchedhimcome.
Hebroughtsidesofbeefandasackofflour.HerodetotheIndiantowhomhehadtalkedanddroppedthemintothesnowbeforehim."Notrouble,"hesaid,"Iamfriend."
Heturnedandrodeaway,andtheywatchedhimgo.
GiddingsstoppedagainattheMcGannhome."DroppedbytobuysomestockfromthatNoblefeller.Gotfiftyheadofgoodbeeffromhim.Ireckonhe'sgotatleastthreehundredheadofyoungstuff,andhe'skeptafewcowsfreshformilking."
"Didyousaymilking?"McGannwasincredulous."Ineverheardofamanmilkin'acowwestoftheRockies."
"He'sdoingit."GiddingsglancedslylyatRuth."Hesayswomenfolkssetstorebymilkcows.Gives'emrealbutterandcream.Forawomanwhobakes,hesays,that'sabighelp."
Ruthseemednottohear,continuingwithhersewing.
"Hischerrytreesaregrowing,andtheylookmightynice.Longrowsofthem.He'sputinakitchen-garden,too.Seemshecamepreparedwithallkindsofseed.Heeatsmightygood,thatfeller.Cornonthecob,cabbage,peas,carrots,onions,lotsofotherstuff.He'sfoundalittlegold,too."
ItwasthislastitemthatreachedtheattentionofLayBenton.Itwas
justlikethatcrazyman,hethought,tofindgoldwherenobodyelsehadevenlookedforit.HisgrudgeagainstNoblehadgrownasstoriesofhisimprovingranchcontinuedtospread.Hetookthatsuccessasapersonalaffront
LateonanightafteranotherofGiddings'visits,LaymetwithGeneNeversandAbSlade."He'sgotgold,horses,cattle,andsomecashmoneyGiddingspaidhim.Mustruntosevenoreighthundreddollars."
"Howdoyoufiguretodoit?"Sladeasked.
"Takenochances.Welayforhimandshoothimdown.There'snobodytherebuthimandeverybodywillthinkinjunsdoneit."
Atdaylighttheyrodeoutoftown,andGiddingssawthemgo.HestoppedbytheMcGannhouse."Ishouldn'thavementionedthatgold,"hesaid."Benton,Slade,andNeversrodeoutoftown,thencircledandheadedwest."
"Youthinkthey'regoingafterNoble?"McGannasked.
"Whereelse?Bentonneverlikedhim,andweallknowwhatBentonis."
Ruthsatquietlysewinganddidnotlookup.Giddingsglancedather."Youdon'tlookworried,"hecommented.
Shelookedupathim."WhyshouldIbe?Ifamancan'tlookafterhimselfofwhataccountishe?"
"Bytheway,"Giddingssmiledather."Hesaidforyoutogettoworkonthattrousseau."
Hereyesflashed."Doeshethinkmeafool?"
ThreedayswentbyandtherewasnochangeinRuth,oriftherewasitwentunnoticedbyoldmanBorder,whomissednothing.Except,headded,thatlatelyRuthhadbeenwateringherflowersnineortentimesaday,andeachtimeshetookalongtimeshadinghereyesdownthetrailtowardthewest.Thetrailwasalwaysempty,andthepurplehillsofeveningtoldhernothing.
BentonmighthavebeenloudmouthedandAbSladeacoward,butGeneNeverswasneither.Hewasanexperiencedoutlawandstockthief,andhehadkilledseveralmen.
BentonwantedtoslipuponNobleandshoothimdownfromambush,butNeverswaspractical."Hellhavethatgoldhid,andwe'llneverfindit."
"Maybeweshouldcatchhimandburnhimalittle.Makehimtalk."
Neverswasimpatient."Don'tbeafool!Hiskindnevertalk."
AtthelasttheydecidedthatwasthewaytodoitTheyslippeddownnearthehouseandwerewaitingwhenNoblewenttothespringforwater.Ashestraighteneduphiseyecaughttheglintoflightonariflebarrel,andhewasunarmed.
Hemadeaverybigtarget,andhewasnofool.Thesemenhadcometorobhimfirstandthenkillhim.Haditbeenonlythelatterhewouldalreadybedead.Hethoughtswiftlyandcoolly.Theonlyreasonhewasalivewasbecausetheyneededhimtolocatethegold.
Asthethreesteppedintotheopenhiseyeswentfromonetotheother.Neverswasatoncethemostdangerousandthemostreasonable.Sladehungback,eitheroverlycautiousoracoward.ThatBentondislikedhimheknew.
"Howdy,gentsIWhyalltheguns?Youbeenhunting?"
"Wewerehuntingyou,"Bentonsaid.
"Alongwaytocomeandabigriskforwhatthereisinit,"hesaid.
"Where'sthegold,Noble?"Neversasked."Itwillsavetroubleifyoutellus."
"Mostlikely,butIneverpaidmuchmindtotrouble.Kindoflikeditnowandagain.Keepstheedgeonaman."Ifhecouldjustgetwithinreach--
Hemovedtowardthedoorandinstantlythegunslifted."HolditnowI"Bentonwaseagertoshoot
"Justaimin'tosetmybucketinside.Nousetotalkouthereinthesun.Iwasjustfixin'tohavebreakfast,soifyouboysdon'tmind,we'lljusthavebreakfastfirstandthentalk.I'mhungry."
"SoamI."Slademovedtowardthedoor.
"Ab,"Neverssaid,"yougoinsideandpickuphisguns.Movethemintothefarthestcorner,behindwherewewillsitWewillletthismanfixourbreakfast,likehesays.I'mhungry,too."
AbSladewentinsideandNobleknewwhathewasdoing,hecouldfollowhiseverymove.Hecametothedoor."Allright,justaWinchesterandacoupleofforty-fours."
Theywentinside.PuttingdownhisbucketNoblewenttowork.Hehadnoplan,noidea.Hewouldfixbreakfastaspromised.Besides,hewashungryhimself.
Theystayedacrosstheroomfromhim,butNeverswasveryalert.SeveraltimeshemighthavesurprisedtheothersbutnotNevers.
"Ifoundgold,allright"--hetalkedasheworked--"butnotmuchofit
yet.Youboyscametoosoon.YoushouldhavewaitedanothermonthortwowhenI'dcleanedupthesluiceaftersomelongruns.I'djustfinishedthesluiceandnowit'saloss.Toobad."
"Whytoobad?"Bentonasked.
"Theclaimwillbelost.Nobodycouldfinditbutme,andafteryouboyskillmeyou'llhavetoskipthecountry.You'llneverdareshowfacearoundWagonstopagain,sothegoldwon'tdoyouanygood."
"Weain'tleavin',"Sladesaid."We'llsayitwasinjuns."
"Thatwon'twork."Nobleslappedsomebeefinthefryingpan."I'mfriendswithalltheIndians.Infact,they'redueoverherenow.Ipromisedthemsomebeefandsometobacco."
Neversglanceduneasilyoutthedoor.GiddingshadsaidthatNoblewasfriendlywiththeIndians.Supposetheyappearednow,andsuspectedsomethingwaswrong?
Nobleknewwhatwasinhismind."Youboysmayhavetokillyourhorsesgettingoutofherebecausethoseinjunswillberightafteryou.I'vebeenhelpingthemthroughsomehardtimes."Heforkedbeeffromthepan."Howyoufiguringongettingout?Unlessyouknowthecountryyou'reinatrap."
"Southwest,"Bentonsaid,"toArizona."
"See?Youdon'tknowthiscountry.TheColoradoCanyon,lookslikeit'samiledeep,liesrightintheway."
GeneNeverssworementally,rememberingthatcanyononlythen.Hehadneverbeensouthfromhere,onlyeastandnorth.WagonstopwaseastandtheIndianswerenorth.Forthefirsttimehewasworried.
"You'dbettergetoutside,Ab,andwatchforthoseIndians."
"They'retouchy,"Noblesaid,"shootoneofthem,andthey'llreallycomeafteryou."
Hedishedupthefood,placingplatesbeforeNeversandBenton.Bothmenhaddrawntheirgunsandplacedthemonthetablebesidetheir
Elates.CherryNoblenotedthefactandturnedbacktothefireplace.
BesidethewoodpilewastheoldburlapsackinwhichhehadthegunshehadtakenfromthePiutes.Anoldblanketwaspartlythrownoverit.Inthatsacktherewereweapons...butweretheyloaded?Couldhe,heaskedhimself,besureofgettingaloadedweaponifhedroppedtoonekneeandgrabbed?Therewasnocertainty,andtherewouldbenosecondchance.
Carefullyheplacedtwocupsonthetableandpickedupthecoffeepot.Neverswatchedhimwithhawkeyesashefilledthecups.ThentheytooktheircupsintheirlefthandsandasNoblefilledhisowncupinspirationcame.Hereachedforaspoonandaccidentallyknockedittothefloor.Stoopingtoretrieveit,hehurledhimselfagainstthelegsofthetable.
Histhreehundredandthirtypoundshitthetablelikeanavalanche,smashingitbackintothetwooutlaws.Neversgrabbedwildlyathisgunanditexploded,sendingabulletintothewallasthetablehithimwaist-high.HewassmashedbackwardandwithBentonslammedagainstthewall,theboilingcoffeecascadingoverthem.
Leapingup,NoblesentahugefistthatsmashedintoBenton'sface.Hisheadhitthewallwithathud.Neverspulledfreeofthetable,gaspingforbreath,andlungedatNoblesendingthembothcrashingtothefloor.Neversswungwildly,andtheblowcaughtNobleonthechin.Hemightaswellhavehitastonewall.
Jerkingfree,Neversgrabbedforhisgunwhichlayonthefloor.NeversgotahandonthegunandNoblegrabbedforBenton'sgun.Neversfiredwildlyandmissed,thenfiredagainanddidn'tNoblefeltthebullethithimandfiredinreturn.
HesawNeversfallandheardrunningfeetasAbSladerushedthedoor.Heturned,swaying,andfiredasSladeframedhimselfinthedoor.
Sladefell.Fullyconscious,slumpedagainstthedoorjamb,hesaid,"YougotGene?"
"Yes."
"AndBenton?"
"He'soutcold."
Sladestaredathim,almostpleading."Itried,didn'tI?Theycan'tsayIwasyella,canthey?"
"Youtried,Ab.Youreallytried.Youcouldhaverun."
"Tellthemthat.TellthemI--"Herolledover,outofthedoorwaytothehard-packedearthoutside.
HediedlikethatandCherryNoblewentbackinside.
OnthesixthdayafterBenton,Slade,andNeversrodeoutoftown,RuthMcGannwalkedupthestreettothestore.Shelingeredoverhershopping,listeningforthenews.Therewasnone.
Thensomebodyinthestreetletoutayell.Thestoreemptiedintothestreet.
Therewasnomistakingtheriderontheblackmule.Behindhimthere
werethreehorses.Twowithemptysaddles,thethirdwitharidertiedtohishorse.Thatrider'sfacewasbatteredandswollen.CherryNobledrewupbeforethestore.
"Theycamehuntingme.Twoareburiedbackyonder.Ifanybodywantstocollectthem,theycan.Icaughtonebutnotbad.NotenoughtoworryaboutThisone"--heindicatedBenton--"putthemuptoitandashesortoffiguredhimselfafighterIturnedhimlooseandlethimhaveatit.Hedidn'tcutmuchiceasafighter."
Ruthsteppedofftheporchandwalkedawayinthedust.CherryNobleglancedafterher,threwonelonginglookatthesaloonandthebeerhehadwantedforthelastthirtymiles,andfollowed.
Hecaughtherinthreelongstrides.Shehadshortenedhers,justalittle.Hewasatalossforwordsbutfinallyhesaid,"I'vecomeback."
"Soyouhave,"sherepliedcoolly.
"Wecanbemarriedbythepreacher,andstartforhomeinthemorning.It'salongride."
"DoyouthinkI'msuchafool?"sheburstout."YoutoldGiddingsIshouldstartatrousseau!"
"Wasthatfoolishofme?Ruth,IlovedyouthemomentIsawyouandknewthatformetherecouldbenoother.Ruth,willyoumarryme?"
"Youtoldhimtotellmetostartmytrousseau!"sherepeated."Didyouthinkmesuchafool?"
"Why,Ijustthought--"
"You'rethefool,"shesaid,"Istarteditthemorningaftermeetingyouinthestreet."
"'Women,'"Cherrystartedtoquote,"'are--'"
"Foryou,"Ruthsaidsweetly,"thewordhasnowbecomesingular...sodonotsay'women'!"
*
THEMARSHALOFSENTINEL
Ateighto'clockMarshalFitzMoorelefthishouseandwalkedoneblockwesttoCard'sSaloon.ItwasalreadyopenandFitzglimpsedCard'sswampersweepingdebrisfromthepreviousnight.Crossingthestreetthemarshalpausedattheedgeoftheboardwalktorubouthiscigaronthetopofthehitchingrail.Ashedidsoheturnedhiseyesbutnothishead,glancingswiftlyupthenarrowstreetalongsidethesaloon.Thegrayhorsewasgone.
FitzMoorehesitated,consideringthis,estimatingtimeandprobabilities.Onlythendidheturnandentertherestaurantjustaheadofhim.
TheFredHenrygangofoutlawshadbeenoperatinginthiscorneroftheterritoryformorethantwoyears,butthetownofSentinelhadthusfarescapedtheirattention.FitzMoore,whohadbeenmarshalofSentinelformorethanhalfthattime,hadtakencaretostudythemethods,ofHenryandhismen.Inrecentraidsthemarshalhadbeenslainwithinminutesbeforetheraidbegan,orjustatthemomentthegangarrived.
Apersistentpatternofoperationhadbeenestablishedandinvariablytheraidshadbeentimedtocoincidewiththeavailabilityoflargesumsofmoney.SuchatimehadcometoSentinel,asFitzMoorehadreasontoknow.
So,unlessallhisreasoninghadfailed,thetownwasmarkedforaraidwithinthenexttwohours.Andhewasmarkedfordeath.
FitzMoorewasatall,sparemanwithadark,narrowfaceandcarefullytrimmedmustache.Normallyhisfacewasstillandcold,onlyhiseyesseemingaliveandaware.
Asheenteredtherestaurantheremovedhisblack,flat-crownedhat.HisfrockcoatwasunbuttonedofferingeasyaccesstotheSmith&WessonRussian.44.Thegunwasbeltedhighandfirmlyonhisleftsidejustinfrontofhishipbone,butttotheright,holsterataslightangle.
Threemenandtwowomensatatalongcommunitytablebutonlyonemurmuredagreeting.JackThomasglancedupandsaid,"Goodmorning,Marshal,"histonelowandfriendly.
Acknowledgingthegreeting,themarshalseatedhimselfatthefarendofthetableandacceptedthecupofcoffeepouredbytheChinesecook.
Withhismindclosedtothedriftofconversationfromthefarendofthetable,heconsideredthesituationthatfacedhim.Hisdaysbeganinthesameidenticalmanner,withasurveyofthetownfromeachofthesixwindowsofhishouse.ThismorninghehadseenthegrayhorsetiedbehindPeterson'sunusedcorral,whereitwouldnotbeseenbyacasualglance.
Withfieldglassesthemarshalexaminedthehorse.Itwasstreakedwiththesaltofdriedsweat,evidenceofhardriding.Therewerestillsomedark,dampspotsindicatingthehorsehadbeenriddennotlongbefore,andthefactthatitwasstillbridledandsaddledindicateditwouldberiddensoonagain.ThebrandwasaRockingR,notalocalbrand.
WhenFitzMoorehadreturnedtohislivingroomhehadseatedhimselfandforanhourheread,occasionallyglancingoutofthewindow.Thegrayhorsehadnotbeenmovedinthattime.
Ateightwhenheleftforbreakfastthehorsewasstillthere,butbythetimehehadwalkedablockitwasgone.Andtherelingeredintheaira
faintsmellofdust.
Wherewasthehorse?
Downthearroyo,ofcourse,asitgaveeasyaccesstotheforestandthemountaincanyonswheretherewasconcealmentandwater.Takingintoconsiderationthecoolnight,thesweat-streakedhorse...notlessthansixmilestothepointofrendezvous.
Theriderofthegrayhadobviouslybeenmakingafinalcheckwithalocalsourceofinformation.Toreturntotherendezvous,discussthesituationandreturn,gavehimroughlytwohours,perhapsabitmore.Hewoulddealinminimums.
Themarshallightedacigar,acceptedafreshcupofcoffeeandleanedbackinhischair.Hewasamanofsimpletastesandmanyappreciations.Heknewlittleofcattleandlessofmining,buttwothingshedidknow.Heknewgunsandheknewmen.
Hewasawareofthecoolgrayeyesoftheyoungwoman,theonlypersonpresentwhomhedidnotknowbysight.Therewasaboutherahauntingfamiliaritythatdisturbedhim.Hetastedhiscoffeeandglancedoutthewindow.Reasonwarnedhimheshouldbesuspiciousofanystrangerintownatsuchatime,yeteveryinstincttoldhimheneednotbesuspiciousofher.
TheEmporiumBankwouldbeopeninaboutanhour.AfewminuteslaterBarneyCardwouldleavehissaloonandcrossthestreetwiththereceiptsfromSaturdayandSunday.Itcouldbeaconsiderablesum.
TheEmporiumsafewouldbeunlockedbythattimeand,astheyhadbeenacceptingmoneyfromranchersanddustfromminers,therewouldbeplentyofcashonhand.Inapproximatelyonehourtherewouldbenolessthantwentythousanddollarsinspendablecashwithineasyreachofgraspingfingersandreadyguns.
TheHenrygangwould,ofcourse,knowthis.Bynowtheywereinthesaddle,leavingtheircamp.
HedidnotknowthenameofthestrangerwhoplayedpokerwiththeCatfishKid,buthehadknowntheface.IthadbeenthefaceofamanhehadseeninTascosawithFredHenry,thebanditleader,sometwoyearsago.TiedtothiswasthefactthattheRockingRwasabrandregisteredtooneHarveyDanuser,aliasDickMawson,thefastestgunhandintheHenryoutfit.
Hewassuddenlyawarethataquestionhadbeendirectedtohim."Whatwouldyoudo,Marshal,"JackThomaswasasking,"iftheHenrygangraidedSentinel?"
FitzMooreglancedattheendofhiscigar,thenliftedhiseyestothoseofJackThomas."Ithink,"hesaidmildly,"Ishouldhavetotakesteps."
Themarshalwasnotaprecipitateman.Reputedtobebothfastandaccuratewithagun,hehadyettobeprovedlocally.Once,notsolongago,hehadkilledthewrongman.Hehopednevertomakesuchamistakeagain.
SofarhehadenforcedthepeaceinSentinelbyshrewdjudgmentofcharacter,appreciationofdevelopingsituations,andtacticalmovesthatinvariablylefthimincommand.Authorizedtoemployanassistant,hehadnotdoneso.Hepreferredtoworkashelived...alone.
Hewas,heacknowledged,butonlytohimself,a.lonelyman.IfhepossessedanycapacityforaffectionorfriendshipithadnotbeenobvioustothepeopleofSentinel.Yetthiswasanaddedstrength.Noonepresumedtotakehimlightlyorexpectfavoritism.
Longagohehadbeenconsideredabrilliantconversationalistand,inatimewhenacowboy'ssaddlebagsmightcarryavolumeoftheclassics
asoftenasNedBuntline,hewasknownasawidelyreadman.HehadbeenacaptaininthecavalryoftheUnitedStates,acolonelinaMexicanrevolution,ashotgunmessengerforWellsFargo,andadivisionsuperintendentfortheButterfieldStageLine.
Naturally,heknewoftheHenrygang.Theyhadbeenoperatingforseveralyearsbutonlyoflatehadtheyshownatendencytoshootfirstandtalklater.Thisseemedtoindicatethatatleastoneoftheganghadbecomearuthlesskiller.
Threemarshalshadbeenkilledrecently,eachoneshotintheback,anindicationthatamodusoperandihadbeenestablished.Firstkillthemarshal,thenrobthetown.Withthemarshaloutofactionitwasunlikelyresistancecouldbeorganizedbeforetheoutlawshadescaped.
FitzMooredustedtheashfromhiscigar.Hethoughtthegrayhorsehadbeenstandinglongenoughtoletthesweatdry,whichmeantthehorsehadbeenriddenintotownbeforedaybreak.Atthathoureverythingwasclosedandhehadseennobodyonthestreet,andthatseemedtoindicatetheriderhadgoneinsomewhere.Andthatmeanthenotonlyknewwheretogoatthathourbutthathewouldbewelcomed.
SotheHenryganghadanaccompliceinSentinel.Whentheriderofthegrayhorselefttownthataccomplicehadundoubtedlybeenawake.Witharaidimminentitwasunlikelyhewouldriskgoingbacktosleep.Whatmorelikelyplaceforhimtobethanrightinthiscafe?Herehecouldnotonlyseewhowasaroundbutwouldhaveachancetojudgethetemperofthemarshal.
Hadanyoneenteredbeforehearrived?FitzMoorekneweveryoneintheroomexceptthegirlwiththegrayeyes.Shewaswatchinghimnow.
Eachoftheothershadareasontobehereatthishour.BarneyCardhadopenedhissaloonandleftittotheministrationsofhisswamper.JackThomasdirectedthedestiniesoftheliverystable.JohnnyHaven,whenhewasn'tgettingdrunkandtryingtotreethetown,wasahardworkingyoungcowhandandthoroughlytrustworthy.
TheolderofthetwowomenpresentwasMaryJameson,aplumpandgossipywidow,thetown'smilliner,dressmaker,andNiagaraofconversation.
Whenshefinishedherbreakfastshewouldwalkthreedoorsdownthestreetandopenhershop.
Butwhatofthegirlwiththegrayeyes?Herfacewasbothdelicateandstrong,herhairdarkandlovely,andshehadanairofbeingtothemanorborn.Perhapsitwasbecauseshedidpossessthatair,likesomeonefromthemarshal'sownpast,thatsheseemedfamiliar.Andalso,hethoughtreluctantly,shewasjustthesortofgirl--
Itwastoolatenow,andtherewasnousethinkingofit.Hewasnotfoolenoughtobelievetherecouldbeanysuchgirlforhimnow.Notafteralltheseyears.
Therewasanantagonisminhereyesthathecouldnotaccountfor.Hewasaccustomedtotheattentionofwomenbutnotantagonisticattention.
ThemarshalglancedthoughtfullyatJohnnyHaven.Theyoungcowboywasstaringsourlyathisplateordevotinghisattentiontohiscoffee.Overhisrighttemplewasaswellingandacut.This,coupledwithahangover,hadleftJohnnyinadisgruntledmood.Lastnighthadbeentheendofhismonthlyspree,andtheswellingandthecutwereevidencesofthemarshal'sattention.
Johnnycaughtthemarshal'sglanceandscowled."Yousureleavea
manwithaheadache,Marshal.Didyouhavetoslugmewithagunbarrel?"
FitzMooredustedtheashfromhiscigar."Ididn'thaveanaxhandleandnothingelsewouldhavebeensuitableforthejob."Headdedcasually,"Ofcourse,Icouldhaveshotyou."
Johnnywasperfectlyawareofthefactandsomemarshalswouldhavedoneexactlythat.ComingfromFitzMooreitwasalmostanapology.
"Isitsoeasytokillmen?"Itwasthegirlwiththegrayeyeswhospoke,hertonelowandmodulatedbutshadedwithcontempt.
"Thatdepends,"FitzMoorerepliedwithdignity,"onwhoisdoingtheshootingandthecircumstances."
"Ithink"--andtherewasaflashofangerinhereyes--"thatyouwouldfinditeasytokill.Youmightevenenjoykilling.Ifyouwerecapableoffeelinganythingatall."
Thedepthoffeelinginherwordswassoobviousthat,surprised,Johnnyturnedtolookather.Herfacehadgonepale,hereyeslarge.
Themarshal'sexpressiondidnotchange.HeknewJohnnyunderstood,asanywesternerwould.JohnnyHavenhadhimselfgivencauseforshootingonmorethanoneoccasion.HealsoknewthatwhatMarshalFitzMoorehadjustsaidtohimwasmoreofanexplanationthanhehadgivenanyman.FitzMoorehadarrestedJohnnyHavensixtimesinasmanymonths,foraftereverypaydayJohnnycametotownhuntingtrouble.YetFitzMooreknewthatJohnnyHavenwassimplyawildyoungsterwithalotofgoodstuffinhim,onewhosimplyneededtamingandasenseofresponsibility.
Thegirl'stonecarriedananimosityforwhichnoneofthemcouldaccount,anditleftthemuneasy.
BarneyCardgottohisfeetanddroppedadollaronthetable.JohnnyHavenfollowedhimout,andthenthemilliner.JackThomasloiteredoverhiscoffee.
"ThatHenryoutfithasmeworried,Marshal,''hesaid."Youwantmetogetdowntheoldscatter-gun,justincase?"
FitzMoorewatchedBarneyCardthroughthewindow.ThesaloonkeeperhadpausedonthewalktotalktoJohnnyHaven.UnderthestubbleofbeardJohnny'sfacelookedcleanandstrong,remindingthemarshal,asithadbefore,ofthefaceofanotheryoungman,scarcelyolder.
"Itwon'tbenecessary,"FitzMoorereplied."Illhandletheminmyownway,inmyowntime.It'smyjob,youknow."
"Isn'tthatabitfoolish?Torefusehelp?"
Thecontemptinhervoicestirredhim,butherevealednothing.Henoddedgravely."Isupposeitmightbe,ma'am,butIwashiredtodothejobandtaketherisks."
"FiguredI'doffer,"Thomassaid,unwillingtoletthematterdrop."Youtellmewhatyoufiguretodo,andI'llbegladtohelp."
"Anothertime."Themarshaltastedhiscoffeeagainandlookeddirectlyatthegirl."YouarenewinSentinel.Willyoubestayinglong?"
"No."
"Doyouhaverelativeshere?"
"No."
Hewaited,butnoexplanationwasoffered.FitzMoorewaspuzzled
andhestudiedherfromthecornersofhiseyes.Therewasnosoundintheroombutthetickingofthebig,old-fashionedclock.
Thegirlsatverystill,thedelicatelineofherprofilebringingtohimafaint,lostfeeling,anostalgiafromhisboyhoodwhensuchwomenassherodetohounds,whentherewasperfumeontheair,bluegrass,picketfences...
Andthenheremembered.
Thomasgottohisfeet.Hewasabig,swarthyman,alwaysuntidy,abulgeoffatpushinghiswidebelt."Youneedanyhelp,Marshal,youjustcallonme."
FitzMoorepermittedhimselfoneofhisraresmiles."Ifthereisanytrouble,Jack,"hesaidgently,"youwillbethefirsttoknow."
Theclocktickedoffthesecondsafterthedoorclosed,andthenthemarshalbrokethesilence.
"Whyhaveyoucomehere?Whatcanyoudointhisplace?"
"AllIhaveishere.Justalittlewestofhere.Ileftthestagetohirearig,andthenIheardyournameandIwantedtoseewhatmannerofmanitwouldbewhowouldkillhisbestfriend."
Hegottohisfeet.Atthatmomentheknewbetterthaneverwhatlonelinesscouldmean.
"Youjudgetooquickly.Eachmanmustbejudgedagainstthecanvasofhisowntime,hisownworld."
"Thereisonlyonewaytojudgeakiller."
"Wait.WaitjustalittlewhileandyouwillseewhatImean.Andplease...stayoffthestreettoday.IfyouneedarigIwillseeyouget
aresponsibleman."Hewalkedtothedoorandpausedwithhishandontheknob."Heusedtotellmeaboutyou.Wetalkedoftenofyou,andIcametofeelIknewyou.Ihadhoped,beforeithappened,thatsomedaywewouldmeet.Butinadifferentworldthanthis.
"WhatwillhappentodayIwantyoutosee.Idonotbelieveyoulackthecouragetowatchwhathappensnortoreviseyouropinionifyoufeelyouhavebeenmistaken.Yourbrother,asyouwereadvisedinmyletter,waskilledbyaccident."
"ButyoushothimIYouwereinagreathurrytokill."
"Iwasinthemidstofagunbattle.Heranupbehindme."
"Tohelpyou."
"Ibelievedhimtobeahundredmilesaway,andinthetownwherewewereIhadnofriends.Itwasquick.Atsuchatime,oneacts."
"Killfirst,"shesaidbitterly,"lookafterward."
Hisfeatureswerestiff."Iamafraidmatiswhatoftenhappens.Iamsorry."
Heliftedthelatch."Whenyouseewhathappenstoday,trytoimaginehowelseitmightbehandled.IfyoucannotseethisasIdo,menbeforenightcomesyouwillthinkmeevenmorecruelmanyoudonow.Butyoumayunderstand,andwherethereisunderstandingthereisnohate."
Outsidethedoorhepausedandsurveyedthestreetwithcare.Notmuchlongernow.
AcrossfromhimwasCard'sSaloon.Oneblockdownwashisofficeandacrossthestreetfromthissmallhome.Justalittlebeyondwasan
abandonedbarn.Hestudieditthoughtfully,glancingagainatCard'swiththebankdiagonallyacrossthestreetfromthesaloon,rightpastthemilliner'sshop.
Itwouldhappenhere,uponthisdustystreet,betweenthesebuildings.Heremenwoulddie,anditwashasmissiontoseethatgoodmenlivedandhadtheirpeace,andthebadwerekeptfromcrime.Asforhimself,hewasexpendable...butwhichwashe,thegoodorthebad?
FitzMoorekneweveryalley,everydoor,everycornerinthisheat-baked,alkali-stampedclusteroflifethatwouldsoonbecomeanarena.Hiseyesturnedagaintothebarn.Itprojectedseveralfeetbeyondtheotherwisecarefullylinedbuildings.Thebigdoorthroughwhichhayhadoncebeenhoistedgapedwide.
SolittletimeI
Heknewwhattheysaidabouthim."Ain'tgotafriendintown,"hehadoverheardMrs.Jamesonsay."Livestohisselfinthatoldhouse.Gotitfullofbooks,folkssay.Butkillyouquickasawink,hewould.He'scold...mightycold."
Washe?
Whenfirsthecametothetownhefounditashambles,wreckedbyapassingtrail-herdcrew.Ithadbeenterrorizedbytwodozengamblersandgunmen,citizensrobbedbycardsharpsandthieves.Robberyhadbeentheorderofthedayandmurderalltoofrequent.Nowithadbeensixmonthssincethelastmurder.Didthatcountfornothing?
Hetookoutafreshcigarandbitofftheend.Whatwasthematterwithhimtoday?Hehadnotfeltlikethisinyears.Wasitwhattheysayhappenstoadrowningmanandhiswholelifewaspassingbeforehiseyes,justbeforetheend?OrwasitsimplythathehadseenJulia
Heath,thesumandtotalofallhehadeverwantedinagirl?Andrealizingwhoshewas,realizedalsohowimpossibleithadbecome?
Theyhadtalkedofit,heandTomHeath,andTomhadwrittentoJulia,suggestingshecomewestbecausehehadfoundthemanforher.AndtwoweekslaterTomwasdeadwithhis,withFitzMoore's,bulletinhisheart.
Themarshalwalkedalongthestreetoffalse-fronted,weather-beatenbuildings.Squalidanddismalastheymightseemtoastrangertheywerethecenteroftheworldforthosewholivedinthecountryaround.Herewheremountainsanddesertmet,thetownwaschanging.Itwasgrowingwiththehopesofitscitizensandwiththechangingoftimesandneeds.Thisspring,forexample^flowershadbeenplantedintheyardofahousenearthechurch,andtreeshadbeentrimmedinanother.
Fromahaphazardcollectionofbuildingscateringtotheneedsofatransientpeople,thetownofSentinelwasacquiringasenseofbelonging,aconsciousnessofthefuture.Thedaysofcattledrivesweresoontobegoneandwheretheyhadwalkedmenwouldbuildandplantandharvest
FitzMooreturnedintotheemptyalleybetweentheEmporiumandthegeneralstore.Thoughtsofhisproblemreturned.Withthemarshaldeadthetownwouldbehelplessuntilmencouldgather,choosealeader,andact.Forthemomentthetownwouldhehelpless.
Buthowdidtheyplantokillhim?Thatithadbeenplannedhewassure,butitmustbedonesoonandquickly,forthemarshalwouldbethefocalpointofresistance.
Theloftoftheabandonedbarncommandedaviewofthestreet.Theoutlawswouldcomeintotownridingtowardthebarnandsomewhere
alongthatstreetthemarshalofSentinelwouldbewalking,coveredbyahiddenrifleman.
Heclimbedupthestairstothebarnloft.Thedustonthestepshadbeendisturbed.Atthetopaboardcreakedunderhisboot.Aratscurriedaway.Theloftwaswideandempty,onlydustandwispsofhay,afewcobwebs.
Fromthatwidedoortheraidmightbestopped,butthiswasnottheplaceforhim.Hisplacewasdownthereinthathot,dustystreetwherehispresencewouldcount.Muchremainedtobedoneandtherewasbutlittletime.
Returningtohisquarters,FitzMoorethrustanextragunintohispocketandbeltedonathird.Thenheputtwoshotgunsintoawoolsack.Nobodywouldbesurprisedtoseehimcarryingthesack,forheusedittobringfirewoodfromthepilebackofCard's.
JackThomaswasseatedinachairinfrontoftheliverystable.BarneyCardcamefromthesaloon,glancedatthemarshalasiftoassurehimselfofhispresence,thenwentbackinside.FitzMoorepaused,relightinghisdeadcigar,surveyingthestreetoverthematchandunderthebrimofhishat.
ThetopicofwhatmighthappenhereiftheHenrygangattemptedtoraidwasnotanewone.Therehadbeenmuchspeculation.SeveralmenasidefromThomashadbroughtupthesubject,tryingtofeelhimout,todiscoverwhathethought,whathemightplantodo.
JackThomasturnedhisheadtowatchthemarshal.Hewasabig,easygoingmanwithareadysmile.Hehadbeenoneofthefirsttoofferhisservices.
JohnnyHaven,seatedonthestepsofthesaloon'sporchlookedupatthemarshal,grinning."How'sthetownclown?"heasked.
Moorepausedbesidehim,drawingdeeponthecigarandpermittinghimselfaglancetowardtheloftdoor,almostsixtyyardsawayandacrossthestreet.Deliberately,hehadplacedhimselfinlinewiththebestshootingposition.
"Johnny,"hesaid,"ifanythinghappenstome,Iwantyoutohavethisjob.IfnothinghappenstomeIwantyouformydeputy."
YoungHavencouldnothavebeenmoreastonished,buthewasalsodeeplymoved.Helookedupatthemarshalasifhethought.hismindhadbeenaffectedbytheheat.Asidefromthewordstheveryfactthatthemarshalhadventuredapersonalremarkwasastonishing.
"You'retwenty-six,Johnny,andit'stimeyougrewup.You'veplayedatbeingthetownroughnecklongenough.I'velookedthetownover,andI'vedecidedyou'rethemanforthejob."
Johnny...Tom.Hetriedtoavoidthinkingofthemtogetherbuttherewasaconnection.Tomhadbeenagoodman,too.Nowhewasagoodmangone.Johnnywasagoodone,noquestionaboutit.Hehadheardmanystoriesofhowdependablehewasoutontherange,butJohnnywaswalkingthehairlineofthelaw.Asteptoofarandhecouldbecomeanoutlaw.
JohnnyHavenwasprofoundlyimpressed.Tosaythathebothrespectedandadmiredthistall,composedmanwasnomorethanthetruth.AfterMoorearrestedhimthefirsttimeJohnnyhadbeenfuriousenoughtokillhim,buteachtimehecameintotownhefoundhimselfneatlyboxedandhelpless.
NorhadMooreevertakenunfairadvantage,neverstrikingoneblowmorethanessential,neverkeepingthecowhandinjailanhourlongerthannecessary.AndJohnnyHavenwashonestenoughtorealizehecouldneverhavehandledthesituationaswell.
Angerhaddissolvedintoreluctantadmiration.Onlystubbornnessandtheprideofyouthhadpreventedhimfromgivingupthestruggle.
"Whypickonme?"Hespokeroughlytocoverhisemotion."Youwon'tbequitting."
Therewasafaintsuggestionofmovementfromtheloft.Themarshalglancedathiswatch.Twominutestoten.
"Johnny--?"ThesuddenchangeoftonebroughtJohnny'sheadupsharply."Whentheshootingstartstherearetwoshotgunsinthissack.
Getbehindthewatertroughanduseoneofthem.Shootfromunderthetrough,it'ssafer."
Tworiderswalkedtheirhorsesintotheupperendofthestreet,almostablockaway.Twomenonpowerfulhorses,muchbetterhorsesthanwereusuallyfoundonanycowranch.
Threemoreridersemergedfromthespacebetweenthebuildings,comingfromthedirectionofPeterson'scorral.Oneofthemwasridingagrayhorse.TheywerewithintwentyyardswhenBarneyCardcamefromhissalooncarryingtwocanvasbags.Hewasstarringforthebank,andoneoftheridersreinedhishorsearoundtocomebetweenCardandhisgoal.
"Shotguninthesack,Card."Themarshal'stonewasconversational.
Then,sunlightglintedonariflebarrelintheloftdoor.FitzMooretookonestepforwardanddrew.Thethunderoftheriflemergedalittlelatewiththebarkofhisowngun.Therifleclattered,falling,andanarmfelllooselyfromtheloftdoor.
Themarshal'sturnwasabrupt,yetsmooth."Allright,Henry!"Hisvoiceliketheblareofatrumpetinthenarrowstreet."You'veasked
forit!Nowtakeit!"
Therewasnorequestforsurrender.Theropeawaitedthesemen,deathrodetheirhandsandtheirguns.
Asonemantheywentfortheirguns.Themarshalleapedintothestreet,landingflatfootedandfiring.Theinstantofsurprisewashis,andtheyweremountedonnervoushorses.Hisfirstshothadkilledthemanintheloft,thesecondkilledFredHenry.
Behindandtohisrightashotgun'sdeeproarblastedthesun-filledmorning.Themanonthegrayhorsediedfailing,hisgunthrowingauselessshotintothehot,stillair.
AriderleapedhishorseatthemarshalbutFitzMoorestoodhisgroundandfired.Therider'sfaceseemedtodisintegrateundertheimpactofthebullet.
Andthentherewassilence.Theroaringofgunswasgoneandonlythefaintsmellslingered,theacridtangofgunpowder,ofbloodinthedust,thebrightercrimsonofbloodonasaddle.
JohnnyHavengotupslowlyfrombehindthehorsetrough.BarneyGardstaredaroundasifjustawakened,thecanvasbagsathisfeet,hishandsgrippingtheshotgunJohnnyhadthrownhim.
Therewasababbleofsoundthenandpeoplerunningintothestreet,andagirlwithgrayeyeswatching.Thoseeyesseemedtoreachacrossthestreetandintotheheartofthemarshal.
"Onlyoneshot!"BarneyGardexclaimed."Igotoffonlyoneshotandmissedthatone!"
"TheHenrygangwipedout!"yelledanexcitedcitizen."WaituntilThomashearsthat!"
"Hewon'tbelistenin',"somebodysaid."Theygothim."
FitzMooreturnedlikeaduelist."Igothim,"hesaidflatly."Hewastheirman.HetriedallmorningtofindoutwhatI'ddoiftheyshowedup.Besides,hewashostlerattheliverystableatthetimeoftheholdupattheSprings."
AnhourlaterJohnnyHavenfollowedthemarshalintothestreet.Fourmenweredead,twowereinjail.
"Howdidyouknow,Marshal?"
"Youlearn,Johnny.Youlearnoryoudie.That'syourlessonfortoday.LearntobeintherightplaceattherighttimeandkeepyourowncouncilYou'llbegettingmyjob."Hiscigarwasgone.Hebittheendfromanotherandcontinued.
"JackThomaswastheonlymantheriderofthegrayhorsecouldhavevisitedwithoutcrossingthestreet.Nooutlawwouldhaveleftthehorsehewouldneedforaquickgetawayonthewrongsideofthestreet."
WhenhereturnedtotheeatinghouseJuliaHeathwasathertableagain.Shewaswhiteandshaken.
"Iamsorry,Julia,butnowyouknowhowlittletimethereiswhengunsaredrawn.Thesemencametostealthemoneyhonestmenworkedtoearn,andtheywouldhavekilledagainastheyhavekilledbefore.Suchmenknowonlythelawofthegun."Heplacedhishandsonthetable."Ishouldhaverecognizedyouatonce,Julia,butIneverimagined,afterwhathappened,thatyouwouldcome.IhadforgottenaboutTom'sranch.Hewasproudofyou,Julia,andhewasmybestfriend."
"Butyoukilledhim."
MarshalMooregesturedtowardthestreet."Itwaslikethat.Gunsexploding,amandyingalmostatmyfeet,thensomeonerushingupbehindmeinatownwhereIhadnofriends.Ifiredatamanwhowasshootingatme,turnedandfiredatonerunningup"behindme.Ikilledmybestfriend,yourbrother."
Sheknewnowhowitmusthavebeenforthisman,andshewassilent.
"Andnow?"sheaskedfinally.
"MyjobgoestoJohnnyHaven,butIshallstayhereandtrytohelpthetowngrow.Thisfightshouldenditforawhile.Inthemeantimethetowncanmature,settledown,andbecomeaplacetoliveininsteadofjustaplacetocampforthenight"
"I--Iguessit'sworthdoing."
"Itis."Heputdownhisunlightedcigar."YouwillbedrivingovertosettleTom'sestate.Whenyoucomebackyoumightfeellikestoppingoffagain.Ifyoudo,I'llbewaitingtoseeyou."
Shelookedathim,lookingbeyondthecoldness,thestillness,seeingthemanherbrothermusthaveknown."IthinkIshallIthinkIwillstop...whenIcomeback,"
Outinthestreetamanwasrakingdustovertheblood.Backofthebarnanoldhencackled,andsomewhereapumpbegantocomplainrustily,drawingclearwaterfromadeep,coldwell.
*
BLUFFCREEKSTATION
ThestagewastwohourslateintoBluffCreekandthestationhostlerhadrecoveredhispain-wrackedconsciousnessthreetimes.Aftertwofutileattemptstomovehimselfhehadgivenupandlaysprawledontheroughboardsofthefloorwithabrokenbackandanuglyholeinhisside.
Hewasamanofmiddleyears,hisjawunshavedandhishairrumpledandstreakedwithgray.Hissoiledshirtandhomespunjeansweredarkwithblood.Therewasoneunlacedbootonhisleftfoot.Theotherbootlaynearafireplacegraywithancientashes.
Thereweretwobenchesandafewscatteredtools,someoddbitsofharness,anoverturnedchair,andatableonwhichweresomeunwasheddishes.Nearthehostler'srighthandlayaSpencerrifle,andbeyonditadouble-barreledshotgun.Chithefloornearby,withineasyreach,adoublerowofneatlyspacedshotgunandrifleshells.Scatteredaboutwereanumberofusedshellsfrombothweapons,mutemementosofhisfour-hourbattlewithattackingIndians.
Now,forslightlymorethantwohourstherehadbeennoattack,yetheknewtheywereoutthere,awaitingthearrivalofthestage,anditwasforthishelived,tofireawarningshotbeforethestagecouldstopatthestation.Thelastshottheyfired,fromaSharps.50,hadwreckedhisspine.Thebloodywoundinhissidehadcomeearlierinthebattle,andhehadstuffeditwithcottontornfromanoldmattress.
Outside,graycloudshunglow,threateningrain,andoccasionalgustsofwindrattledthedriedleavesonthetrees,orstirredthemalongthehardground.
Thestagestationsquattedindwarfishdiscomfortatthefootofabluff,
thestationwasconstructedofblockspickedfromtheslide-rockatthefootofthebluff,anditwasroofedwithsplitcedarlogscoveredwithearth.TwosmallwindowsstaredinmutewondermentattheemptyroadandattheraggedbrushbeforeitwheretheIndianswaited.
ThreeIndians,hebelieved,haddiedinthebattle,andprobablyhehadwoundedasmanymore,buthedistrustedcountingIndiancasualties,foralltoooftentheywereoverestimated.AndtheIndiansalwayscarriedawaytheirdead.
TheIndianswantedthestage,thehorsesthatdrewit,andtheweaponsofthepeopleinside.Therewasnowaytowarnthedriverorpassengersunlesshecoulddoit.Thehostlerlayonhisbackstaringupattheceiling.
Hehadnofamily,andhewasgladofthatnow.RubyhadrunoffwithatinhornfromAltasomeyearsback,andtherehadbeennowordfromher,norhadhewishedforit.Occasionally,hethoughtofher,butwithoutanimosity.Hewasnot,heremindedhimself,aneasymanwithwhomtolive,norwashemuchofaperson.Hehadbeenasimple,hardworkingman,inclinedtodrinktoomuch,andoftenquarrelsomewhendrinking.
Hehadnoillusions.Heknewhewasfinished.Theheavyleadslugthathadsmashedthebaseofhisspinehadkilledhim.Onlyanironwillhadkeptlifeinhisbody,andhedoubtedhisabilitytokeepittheremuchlonger.Hislegswerealreadydeadandtherewasacoldnessinhisfingersthatfrightenedhim.Hewouldneedthosefingerstofirethewarningshot.
Slowly,carefully,hereachedfortheshotgunandloadeditwithfumbling,clumsyfingers.Thenhewedgedtheshotgunintoplacehitheunderpinningofhisbunk.Itwasaimedatnothing,butallheneededwastheshot,thedullboomitwouldmake,awarningtothose
whorodethestagethatsomethingwasamiss.
Hemanagedtoknotastringtothetriggersoitcouldbepulledevenifhecouldnotreachthetrigger.Hisextremitieswouldgofirstandthenevenifhisfingerswereuselesshecouldpullthetriggerwithhisteeth.
Exhaustedbyhiseffortshelaybackandstaredupatthedarkeningceiling,withoutbitterness,waitingforthehigh,piercingyellofthestagedriverandtherumbleandrattleofthestage'swheelsasitapproachedthestation.
-Fivemileseast,theheavilyloadedstagerolledalongthedustytrailaccompaniedbyitsfollowingplumeofdust.Thehumped-upcloudshunglowovertheserratedridges.Uponthebox,KickapooJacksonhandled"thelinesandbesidehimHankWellswasridingshotgun.Wellswasdeadheadingithomeastherewasnothingtoguardcomingwest.Hehadhisrevolvingshotgunandariflewithhimfromforceofhabit.Thethirdmanwhorodethetop,lyingbetweensomesacksofmail,wasMarshalBradDelaney,aformerbuffalohunterandIndianfighter.
Insidethestageastocky,handsomeboywithbrownhairsatbesideaprettygirlinrumpledfinery.Bothlookedtiredandwere,butthefactthattheywererecentlymarriedwaswrittenalloverthem.HalfthewayfromKansasCitytheyhadtalkedoftheirhopesanddreams,andtheirexcitementhadbeeninfectious.Theyhadenlistedtheadviceandsympathyofthoseatopthecoachaswellasthosewhorodeinside.
ThetallmanoffortywithhairalreadygrayatthetempleswasDr.DaveMoody,headingfortheminingcampsofNevadatobeginanewpracticeafterseveralyearsofsuccessfulworkinNewEngland.MajorGlenFaradaysatbesidehimatthewindow.FaradaywasaWestPointman,nowdischargedfromthearmyandenroutewesttobuildaflumeforanirrigationproject.
MaHarrigan,whoranaboardinghouseinAustinandwasreputedtomakethebestpieswestoftheRockies,satbesideJohnnyRyan,headedwesttothefatherhehadneverseen.
KickapooJacksonswungtheConcordaroundabendandheadedintoanarrowdraw."Neverlikedthisplace!"heshouted."Toohandyforinjuns!"
"Seenanyaround?"Delaneyasked.
"Nope!ButthehostleratBluffCreekhadhimabrushwiththemawhileback.Hedriv'emoff,though!That'sagoodman,yonder!"
"That'shiskiddownbelow,"Wellssaid."Doesheknowthekid'scomin'west?"
"Know?"Kickapoospat."Ryandon'tevenknowhe'sgotakid!Hiswiferunoffwithano-accountgamblerafewyearsback!Whenthegamblerfoundshewascarryin'anotherman'schildhejustupandlefther.Shehadn'tknownaboutthekidwhensheleftRyan."
"Sheneverwentback?"
"Tooproud,Ireckon.ShewaitedtablesinKansasCityawhile,thengotsickly.Reckonshedied.Thefolkstheboylivedwithaskedmetobringhimbacktohisdad.Ol'Ryanwillsurebesurprised!"
ThegradesteepenedandJacksonslowedthestageforthelongclimb.BradDelaneysatupandsurveyedthesage-coveredhillswithawaryeye,cradlinghisWinchesteronhisknees.Nochanceofsurprisingthemheredespitetheirslowpace.HeretheIndianswouldbeintheopenwhichwouldmeansuicideforthem.HankWellswasaseasonedfightingmanandtherewasn'tabettermanwiththeribbonsthanoldKickapoo.
DowninsidetheyhadDoc,whohadfoughtintheWarBetweentheStates,andthemajor,whowasaveteransoldier.Thenewlymarriedkidhandledariflelikeheknewwhatitwasmeantfor,andunlesstheywerecompletelysurprised,anybatchofraiderswouldrunintotroublewiththisstage.
AtBluffCreekallwasquiet.DudRyanstaredupintothegatheringdarknessandwaited.FromtimetotimehecouldputaneyetoacrackandstudytheroadandtheareabeyonditTheywerethere...waiting.
DelaneyandWellswouldberidingthestagethistrip,andtheywerecannymen.Yettheywouldnotbeexpectingtroubleatthestagestation.Whentheyrolledintosightofittherewouldbealetdown,aneasing-off,andtheIndianswouldgetoffavolleybeforethemenonthestageknewwhathitthem.
WithBradandHankoutofthepicture,andpossiblyKickapooJackson,thepassengerscouldbeslaughteredlikesomanymice.Caughtinsidethesuddenlystalledstage,withonlyitsflimsysidestoprotectthem,theywouldhavenochance.
Onlyonethingremained.Hemustsomehowremainalivetowarnthem.Awarningshotwouldhavetheminstantlyalert,andHankWellswouldwhipuphisteamandtheywouldgothroughandpastthestationatadeadrun.Towarnthemhemustbealive.
Alive?
Well,heknewhewasdying.Hehadknownfromthemomenthetookthatlargecaliberbulletinthespine.Withoutrancorheturnedtheideaoverinhismind.Lifehadn'tgivenhimmuch,afterall.Yetdyingwouldn'tbesobadifhefeltthathisdyingwoulddoanygood.
Thetroublewas,nomanwaseverreadytodie.Therewasalwayssomethingmoretodo,somethingundone,evenifonlytocrossthe
street
Behindhimtheyearsstretchedemptyandalone.EventhegoodyearswithRubylookedbleakwhenhethoughtofthem.Hehadneverbeenabletogiveheranything,andmaybethatwaswhyhedrank.Likeallkidshehadhisshareofdreams,andhewasreadytotaketheworldbythethroatandshakeituntilitgavehimthethingshedesired.Onlystronger,moreablemenseemedalwaystogetwhathewanted.TheirwomenhadthegoodthingsandtherehadbeennothingmuchhecoulddoforRuby.Normuchforhimselfbuthardworkandprivation.
Atthat,Rubyhadstuckbyhimevenafterhebegantohitthebottletoohard.Sheusedtotalkofhavinganicehousesomewhere,andmaybeoftraveling,seeingtheworldandmeetingpeople.Allhehadgivenherwasaseriesofsmallminingcamps,ramshacklecabins,andnothingmuchtolookforwardtobutmoreofthesame.Hisdream,likesomanyothers,wastomakethebigstrike,butheneverhad.
ThetinhornwasaslicktalkerandRubywaspretty,prettierthanmost.Hehadtalkedmightybigoftheplaceshewouldshowher,andwhattheywoulddo.EvenwhenDudfollowedhimhomeonenightandgavehimabeating,Rubyhadcontinuedtomeethim.Thentheyranoff.
Atthetimetheyhadbeenjustbreakingevenonwhathemadefromoddjobs,andthenhegotasteadyjobwiththestageline.Herushedhomewiththenews,foritmeanthe'dhavechargeofthestationatHaverHill,acool,pleasantlittlehousewheretheycouldraisesomechickensandhaveaflowergardenaswellasaplacetoraisegardentruck.Itwasalwaysgiventoamarriedman,andhehadlandedit.Herushedhomewiththenews.
Thehousewasempty.Hehadneverseenitsoemptybecauseherclothesweregoneandtherewasonlythenote...hestillhadit...
tellinghimshewasleavinghim.
HegaveupHaverHillthenandtookaseriesofbadstationswheretheworkwashardandtherewasmuchfighting.Hissalarywasn'tbadandhehadsavedsomemoney,boughtafewhorses,andbroketeamsduringhissparetime.Thestagecompanyitselfhadboughthorsesfromhim,andhewasdoingwell.Forthefirsttimehemanagedtosavesomemoney,togetahead.
TherewasnowordfromRubyalthoughheneverstoppedhopingshewouldwrite.Hedidnotwantherback,buthehopedshewasdoingwellandwashappy.Also,hewantedhertoknowhowwellhewasdoing.
Hedidhearaboutthetinhorn,anditwasfromBradDelaneythathegotthenews.ThetinhornhadshowedupinElPasoalone.FromtherehedriftednorthtoMobeetie,andfinallytoFortGriffin.Therehehadtriedtooutsmartamanwhowassmarter,andwhencaughtcheatinghetriedtooutdrawhim.
"Whathappened?"Dudhadasked.
"Whatcouldhappen?Hetackledamanwhowouldn'ttakeanythingfromanybody,somefellowwhousedtobeadentistbutwasdyingoftuberculosis.Thatdentistputtwobulletsintothattinhorn'sskull,andhe'sburiedinanunmarkedgraveinBootHill."
DudRyanwrotetoElPasobuttheletterwasreturned.TherewasnotraceofRuby.Nobodyknewwherethetinhornhadcomefromandthetrailendedthere.RyanhadaboutconvincedhimselfthatRubywasdead.
Hetriedtomove,buttheagonyinhisbackheldhimstill.Ifonlyhecouldlivelongenough!Wherethehellwasthestage?Itshouldhavebeenalonghoursago.
Hegroundhisteethinpainandsethismindontheonethought:Live!Live!Live!
Delaney,Wells,andoldKickapooweretoogoodtodieinanambush.Theywerestrongmen,decentmen,thekindthecountryneeded.Theywouldn'thavelethimdown,andhe'dbedamnedifhewouldfailthem.
I'mtough,hetoldhimself,I'mtoughenoughtolast.
Hetriedandafteramomentsucceededinliftinghishand.Hisfingerswereclumsyandhishandfeltcold.TherewerenoIndiansinsight,buthedarednotfire,anyway,forhecouldneverloadthegunagain.Hejusthadtowait...somehow.
Hecouldnolongermakeoutthesplitlogsintheceiling.Theshadowsweredarkernow,andtheroomwasdarker.Wasitreallythatmuchlater?Orwashedying?Wasthispartofit?
Oncehethoughtheheardafar-offyell,andhegrippedthetriggersoftheshotgun,buttheyellwasnotrepeated.Hislipsfumbledforwords,fumbledthroughthethickeningfoginhisbrain.Live!hetoldhimself.You'vegottolive!
"Ruby,"hemuttered,"'sallright,Ruby.Idon'tblameyou."
Heworkedhismouthbuthislipsweredry,andhistonguefeltheavyinhismouth."Live!"hewhispered."Please,God!Letmelive!"
Somethingstirredinthebrushacrosstheway,andtheshadowofmovementcaughthiseye.AnIndianwaspeeringtowardthestation.AndthenwildandclearheheardKickapoo'syell."Yeeow!"
DudRyanfeltafiercesurgeofjoy.He'smadeit!BytheLordHarry,he'd--IHetriedtosqueeze,buthisfingersfailedhimandhishandfell
away,felltothefloor.
Hecouldhearthepoundofhoovesnow,andtherattleofthestage.
Herolledover,thestabbingpainfromhisbrokenspinewrenchingascreamfromhim,butinalast,terribleburstofenergyhemanagedtograsptherawhideinhisteethandjerkdown.Thetwinbarrelsoftheshotgunthundered,anenormousbellowofsoundintheemptyroom.Instantlytherewasacrashofsound,therollingstage,riflesfiring,andallhellbreakinglooseoutside.
KickapooJacksonwasrollingthestagedowntheslighthilltoBluffCreekwhenheheardtheroarofthegun.BradDelaneycameuponhisknees,rifleinhand,butitwasWellswiththerevolvingshotgunwhosawthefirstIndian.HisshotgunbellowedandDelaney'sriflebeatoutarapidtattooofsound,andfrombelowpistolsandariflewerefiring.
Theattackbeganandendedinthatbriefinstantofgunfire,fortheIndianswerenofoolsandtheirambushhadfailed.Swiftly,theyretired,slippingawayhithegatheringdarknessandcarryingthreedeadwarriorswiththem.
Jacksonsawedtheteamtoahalt,andDelaneydroppedtothegroundandsentthreefastshotsaftertheretreatingIndians.
DocMoodypushedopenthedoorandsawthedyingman,therawhidestillgrippedinhisteeth.Withagentlehandhetookitaway.
"Youdon'tneedtotellme,Doc.I'vehadit."Sweatbeadedhisforehead."I'veknownfor...hours.Had--hadto...warn-----"
HankWellsdroppedtohiskneesbesideRyan."Dud,yousavedusall,butyousavedmorethanyouknow.Yousavedyourownson!"
"Son?"
"Rubyhadaboy,Dud.Yourboy.He'sfournow,andhe'soutsidetherewithMaHarrigan."
"Myboy?Isavedmyboy?"
"Ruby'sdead,Ryan,"Delaneysaid."Shewassendingtheboytoyou,butwe'llcareforhim,allofus."
Heseemedtohear,triedtospeak,anddiedthereontheflooratBluffCreekStation.
DocMoodygottohisfeet."Byrights,"hesaid,"thatmanshouldhavebeendeadhoursago."
"Guts,"HankWellssaid,"Dudneverhadmuchbuthealwayshadguts."
DocMoodynodded."Idon'tknowhowyouboysfeelaboutit,butI'madoptingaboy."
"He'llhavefourunclesthen,"Jacksonsaid."Theboywillhavetohaveafamily."
"Countusinonthat,"thenewlywedsaid."Wewanttobesomethingtohim.Maybeabrotherandsister,orsomething."
They'vebuiltamotelwherethestagestationstood,andnotlongagoagrandsonandagreat-grandsonofDudRyanwalkedupthehillwheresomecedargrew,andstoodbesideDudRyan'sgrave.Theystoppedonlyafewminutes,enroutetoafamilyreunion.
Therewerefifty-ninedescendantsofDudRyan,althoughthenamewasdifferent.OnediedintheArgonneForestandtwoonabeachinNormandyandanotherdiedinahospitalinVietnamaftersurviving
anambush.Therewereelevenphysiciansandsurgeonsatthereunion,oneex-governor,twostatesenators,alocomotiveengineer,andacrossingguard.Thereweretwobusdriversandaschoolteacher,severalhousewives,andacountrystorekeeper.Theyhadonethingincommon:TheyallcarriedthebloodofRyan,whodiedatBluffCreekStationonalateOctoberevening.
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