III
AND RIDES AN OUTLAW
Wrinkled, grizzled old half-breed Jose, his hands trembling witheagerness, stood in the smaller rose-garden culling the perfect buds, ajoyous tear running its zigzag way down each cheek.
"_La senorita_ ees come home!" he announced triumphantly as Lee drewnear on his way to the bunk-house. "_Jesus Maria_! Een my heart it islike the singing of leetle birdies. _Mira, senor_. My flowersbloomin' the brighter, already--no?"
Bud Lee paused. "So you know Miss Sanford then?" he asked.
Jose threw out his hands and opened his night-black eyes to their mostenormous extent. "Do I know God?" he demanded.
"Well," smiled Bud, "as to that. . . ."
"But, senor," cried the devout Jose, "like on holy days I feel thatDios comes to sit down in the corner of my heart, so without seeing _lasenorita_ I know she ees come home! She ees in the air like the lightof sun, like the sweetness of my roses!"
"You've known her a long time, Joe?"
"Seence she ees born!" and Jose, unashamed, wiped away a tear upon theback of a leathery hand. "Senor Sanford and me, senor, we teach herwhen she ees so leetle!" Jose's shaking hand was lowered until itmarked the stature of a twelve-inch pigmy. In all things must the oldfellow gain his emphasis by exaggeration which more often than not tookthe form of plain lying. "Never at all unteel one year ago does sheleave us and the _rancho_. We, us two who love her, senor, learn herto walk and to ride and to shoot and to talk. You shall hear her say,'_Buenos dias, Jose, mi amigo_!' You shall see her kees the cheek ofold Jose."
Again his leathery hand was put in requisition, this time to wipe cleanthe cheek to be honored. "And one theeng I tell you, senor," he addedconfidentially. "Her papa was a wild devil before her. Her mama eesgrow up on the ranch; and when she marry _el senor_ Sanford was like awild boy. And _mi senorita_, she ees the cross be tween a wild deviland a sweet saint, senor _Madre de Dios_! I would go down to hell forher to bring back fire to warm her leetle feet een weenter!"
Lee went thoughtfully on his way to the bunk-house. The cook, animportation of Bayne Trevors, a big, upstanding fellow with bare armscovered with flour, was putting on the breakfast to which a dozenrough-garbed men were sitting down.
"I've got orders for you fellows," said Lee from the doorway. "Theboss of the outfit, the real owner, you know, just blew in. Up at thehouse. Says you boys are to stick around to take orders straight fromheadquarters. You, Benny," to the cook, "are to have a man's-sizebreakfast ready in a jiffy."
Naturally Benny led the clamor with a string of oaths. What in blazesdid the owner of the ranch have to show up for anyway?--he wanted toknow. He accepted the fact as a personal affront. Who was thisowner?--demanded Ward Hannon, the foreman of the lower ranch, where thealfalfa-fields were.
Bud Lee explained gravely that the newcomer was some sort of relativeof old Luke Sanford, who had recently acquired a controlling interestin the ranch. Ward Hannon grunted contemptuously. "The Lord deliverus!" he moaned. "Eastern jasper! One of the know-all-about-it brand,huh, Bud? I'll bet he combs his hair in the middle and smokescigareets out'n a box! The putty-headed loons can't even roll theirown smokes."
"Don't believe," hazarded Lee indifferently, "from the looks of ourvisitor that--that the owner smokes anything!"
"Listen to that!" grunted Ward Hannon.
"Softy, huh?"
"Well," Bud admitted slowly, "looks sort of like a girl, you know!"
"Wouldn't that choke you?" demanded Carson, the cow foreman, a thin,awkward little man, gray in the service of "real men." "Taking ordersoff'n a fool Easterner's bad enough. But old man or young, Bud?"
"Just a kid," was Lee's further dampening news. And as he nonchalantlybuttered his hotcakes he added carelessly: "Something of a scrapper,though. Just put two thirty-two calibers into Trevors."
They stared at him incredulously. Then Carson's dry cackle led thelaughter.
"You're the biggest liar, Bud Lee," said the old man good-naturedly, "Iever focussed my two eyes on. I'll lay an even bet there ain't nobodyshowed a-tall up this morning."
"You, Tommy," said Lee to the boy at his side, "shovel your grub downlively and go hitch Molly and old Pie-face to the buckboard. That'sorders from headquarters," he grinned. "Trevors is to be hauled awayfirst thing."
Tommy looked curiously at his superior. "On the level, Bud?" he askeddoubtingly.
"On the level, laddie," was the quiet response.
And young Burkitt, wondering, but doubting no longer, hastened with hisbreakfast.
The others, looking at Lee's sober face questioningly, fired abroadside of inquiries at him. But they got no further information.
"I've told you boys all the news," he announced positively. "Lordy!Isn't that an earful for this time of day? The real boss is on thejob: Trevors is winged; you are to stick around for orders fromheadquarters. If you want to know any more'n that, why--just go up tothe house and ask your blamed questions."
Out of the tail of his eye he saw the swift approach of Bayne Trevors.The general manager's face was black with rage and through that darkwrath showed a dull red flush of shame. He walked with his two armslax at his sides.
"Give me a cup of coffee, Ben," he commanded curtly, slumping into achair. "Hurry!"
Benny, looking at him curiously, brought a steaming cup and offered it.Trevors moved to lift a hand; then sank back a little farther in hischair, his face twisting in his pain.
"Put some milk in it," he snarled. "Then hold it to my mouth. For thelove of Heaven, hurry, man!"
Then no man there doubted longer the mad tale Bud Lee had brought them.Down from Trevors's sleeves, staining each hand, there had come abroadening trickle of blood. Trevors set his teeth and waited. Bennyat last cooled the coffee and held it to his lips. Trevors drankswiftly, draining the cup.
"Get this coat off me," he commanded. "Curse you, don't tear my armsoff! Slit the sleeves."
Benny's big, razor-edged butcher-knife cut away coat and shirt sleeves.And at last, to the eager gaze of the men in the bunk-house, thereappeared the two wounds, one upon the outer right shoulder, the otherupon the left forearm.
It was Lee who, pushing the clumsy cook aside, silently made the twobandages from strips of Trevors's shirt. It was Lee who brought aflask of brandy from which Trevors drank deep.
And then came Judith.
They stared at her as they might have done had the heavens opened andan angel come down, or the earth split and a devil sprung up. Shelooked in upon them with quick, keen eyes which sought to take everyman's measure. They returned her regard with a variety of amazedexpressions. Never since these men had come to work for Bayne Trevorshad a woman so much as ridden by the door. And to have her standthere, composed, utterly at her ease, her air vaguely authoritative, avitally vivid being who might, suddenly, have taken tangible form fromthe dawn, bewildered them. Bud Lee had told of the coming of the BlueLake owner; he had not mentioned that that owner had brought hisdaughter with him.
"I am Judith Sanford," she said in her abrupt fashion, quite as she hadmade the announcement to Lee and Trevors. "This outfit belongs to me.I have fired Trevors. You take your orders straight from me from nowon. Cookie, give me some coffee."
She came in without ceremony and sat down at the head of the table.Benny gasped, stood for a moment rooted to the floor, and then,Judith's eyes hard upon him, hastily brought the coffee. From someemotion certainly not clear to him he went a violent red. Perhaps theemotion was just sheer embarrassment. He brought hot cakes with onehand while with the other he buttoned his gaping shirt-collar over abulging, hairy chest.
Men who had finished their breakfasts rose hastily with a markedawkwardness and ill-concealed haste and went outside, whence their lowvoices came back in a confused consultation. Men who had not finishedfollowed them. In an amazingly short time there were but the girl,Lee, Trevors and the cook in the room. Then Trevors went out, Benny athis heel
s. Bud Lee, moving with his usual leisureliness, was followingwhen Judith's cool voice said quietly:
"You, Lee, wait a moment. I want to talk with you."
Lee hesitated. Then he came back and waited.
The men outside naturally grouped about the general manager. His angryvoice, lifted clearly, reached the two in the room.
"I'm fired," said Trevors harshly. "As soon as I can get going I amleaving for the Western Lumber camp. Every one of you boys holds hisjob here because I gave it to him. Do you want to hold it now, with afool girl telling you what to do? Do you want men up and down theState to laugh at you and jeer at you for a pack of softies andimbeciles? Or do you want to roll your blankets and quit? To everyman that jumps the job here and follows me to-day I promise a job withthe Western. You fellows know the sort of boss I've been to you. Youcan guess the sort of boss that chicken in there would be. Now I'mgoing. It's up to you. Stick to a white man or fuss around for awoman?"
He had said what he had to say and, cursing when his shoulder struck aform near him, made his way down to the stables. Burkitt was ahead ofhim, going for the team.
"Well, Lee," said Judith sharply, "where do you get off? Do you wantto stick? Or shall I count you out?"
"I guess," said Bud very gently, "you'd better count me out."
"You're going with that crook?"
"No. I'm going on my own."
"Why? You're getting good money here. If you're square I'll keep youat the same figure."
But Bud shook his head.
"I'm game to play square," he said slowly. "I'll stick a week, givingyou the chance to get a man in my place. That's all."
"What's the matter with you?" she cried hotly. "Why won't you staywith your job? Is it because you don't want to take orders from me?"
Then Lee lifted his grave eyes to hers and answered simply: "That's it.I'm not saying you're not all right. But I got it figured out, there'sjust two kinds of ladies. If you want to know, I don't see that you'vegot any call to tie into a man's job."
"Oh, scat!" cried the girl angrily. "You men make me tired. Two kindsof ladies! And ten thousand kinds of men! You want me to dress like adoll, I suppose, and keep my hands soft and white and go around like abrainless, simpering fool! There _are_ two kinds of _ladies_, my finefriend: the kind that can and the kind that can't! Thank God I'm noneof your precious, sighing, hothouse little fools!"
Gulping down a last mouthful of coffee, she was on her feet and passedswiftly out among the men.
"You men!" she cried, and they turned sober eyes upon her, "listen tome! You've heard that big stiff rant; now hear me! I'm here because Ibelong here. My dad was Luke Sanford and he made this ranch. I wasraised here. It's two-thirds mine right now. Trevors there is a crookand I told him so. He's been trying to sell me out, to make such afailure of the outfit that I'd have to let it go for a comic song. Hegot gay and I fired him. He tried to manhandle me and I plugged him.And now I am going to run my own outfit! What have you got to sayabout it, you grumbling old grouch with the crooked face! Put up orshut up! I'm calling you!"
The men turned from her to Ward Hannon, the field foreman, who had beenTrevors's right-hand man and who now was sneering openly.
"I'm saying it's no work for a kid of a girl," grumbled Hannon. "Yourun an outfit like this?" He laughed derisively. "It can't be did."
"It can't, can't it?" cried Judith. "Tell me why, old smarty. Spit itout lively."
Jake Carson's shrill cackle cut through a low rumble of laughter."That's passing it to him straight," said the old cattleman. "What'sthe word, Ward?"
Ward Hannon shrugged his shoulders and spat impudently. "I ain'tsaying nothing," he growled, "only this: I got a right to quit, ain'tI? Well, I'm quitting. Any time you ketch me working for a femalegirl that can't ride a horse 'thout falling off, that can't see a pigstuck 'thout fainting, that can't walk a mile 'thout getting laid up,that can't. . . ."
"Slow up there!" called Judith. "Didn't I stick a pig already thismorning, and have I keeled over yet? Didn't I ride the forty milesfrom Rocky Bend last night and get here before sun-up? Listen to me,chief kicker: If you've got a horse on the ranch I can't ride I'll quitright now and give you my job! How's that strike you? I tell you theword on this ranch is going to be: 'Put up or shut up!' Which is it,Growly?"
Again the men laughed and Hannon's face showed his anger.
"Mean that, lady?" he demanded briefly.
"You can just bet your eyes I mean it!"
Hannon turned toward the stable. "All right. We'll see who's going toput or shut up!" he jeered over his shoulder. "You ride the Princejust two little minutes and I'll stay and work for you!"
Bud Lee from the doorway interfered. He was a man who loved fair playand he knew the Prince. "None of that, Ward," he called sternly. "Notthe Prince!"
But Judith, her eyes aflame, whirled upon Lee, her voice like a whip asshe said: "Lee, you keep out of this. The sooner you learn who'srunning things here the better for you."
"Maybe so," said Lee quietly. "But don't you fool yourself you canride Prince. There's not a man on the job except me that can ridehim." It was not boastfully said, but with calm assurance. "He's anoutlaw, Miss Judith. He's the horse that killed Jimmy Carpenter lastspring, and Jimmy----"
"Go ahead, Ward," ordered Judith. "You don't have to stop every timethe wind blows, do you?"
Even Bud Lee smiled. But old Carson spoke up, saying: "Bud's right,miss. And if Ward wants to know, he's a low-down dawg to try to turn atrick like this. . . ."
"Go ahead, Ward," Judith repeated. "I've got something to do to-daybesides play pussy-wants-a-corner with you boys."
Ward went, his eyes filled with malice. Two or three of the other menjoined their voices to Bud's and Carson's, expostulating, telling ofthat fearful thing, an outlaw horse. Judith maintained a scornfulsilence.
In due time Ward came back. He was leading a saddled horse, a great,wild-eyed roan that snapped viciously as he came on, walking with thewide, spreading stride of a horse little used to the saddle. Judithmeasured him with her eyes as she had measured the men in thebunk-house.
"He's an ugly devil," she said, and Lee, at her side, smiled again.But the girl had not altered her intention. She stepped closer,looking to cinch, bit, and reins. She commanded Ward to draw thelatigo tighter, and Ward did so, dodging back as the big brute snappedat him.
Judith laughed. "Look out, Ward," she taunted him. "He's after yourhair!"
Two men held the Prince. At Judith's command they shortened thestirrups and then blinded him with a bandanna handkerchief. Then,moving with almost incredible swiftness, she was in the saddle, thereins firmly gripped. The Prince, a sudden trembling thrilling throughhim, stood with his four feet planted. The girl leaned forward andwhipped the blind from his red-rimmed eyes.
"There's a good boy!" said Judith coolly. "Buck a little for the lady,Prince!"
Slowly the great muscles of Prince's leg and shoulder and flank corded.The trembling passed; he was like a horse carven in bluish granite. Heshook his head a little. Judith, her hand tightening upon the reins,held his head well up, the severe bit thwarting the attempt to get hisnose down between his forelegs.
Then suddenly, without sign of warning, the horse whirled, leaping farout to the left, striking with hard hoofs bunched, gathering himself ashe landed, swerving with the quickness of light, plunging again to theright. And again he stood still. Judith, sitting securely on hisrebellious back, laughed. Her laughter, cool and unafraid, sent astrange little thrill through Bud Lee--who, with fear in his heart, waswatching her.
"Look out for him now!" he called warningly.
In truth the Prince had not yet begun. He had tried a trick whichwould have unseated any but one who rode well. He knew that he had todo with something more than a rank amateur.
Now he plunged toward the corral, his purpose plain, the one desire inhis heart to crush his rider ag
ainst the high fence. But Judith'sspurs answered him, and the bit, savage in his jaws, brought him about,whirling, sidling, striking, bucking as only a strong, fearless,devil-hearted horse knows how to buck. He doubled up under her; herose and fell in a quick series of short jumps which tore and jerked ather body, which strove to tear her knees away from his sides and breakthe grip of her hand on the reins. But it seemed to the men watchingthat the girl knew before the horse which way he would jump, that sheknew how to sway her body with his so that she and he were not twoseparate beings but just one, moving together in some mad devil'sdance. The Prince, in the midst of the vicious bucking, tried to rear,seeking to throw himself backward; a quick, sharp blow of a loadedquirt between his ears brought his forefeet back to earth.
"Can she ride!" whispered Bud Lee. "I want to know!"
Again the maddened Prince reared and again she brought him to earth.Again he resumed the terribly tearing series of short, sharp bucks.And still, her hair tumbling, blown about her shoulders, she rode him.
Old Carson was muttering and pulling at his lip nervously. Out of thecorner of his mouth in a voice that was almost a whimper, he keptcursing and saying to Ward Hannon: "You skunk! You ornery skunk! Huntyour hole after this!"
Suddenly, with a quick, concerted action of spur, whip, and rein,Judith swung the Prince about so that he was headed for the openvalley, running toward the west, giving him his head only a little,driving him. He broke into a thundering run, snorting as, with maneand tail flying, he dashed through the men who fell away from hisfurious rush. And as he ran, Judith spurred him so that his onlythought lay in running away from the menace upon his back.
"She ain't giving him time to buck!" laughed old Carson hysterically."Mama! Ain't she sure enough--God! She's goin' to get a fall."
For horse and rider had come to the wide irrigating ditch which, sinceJudith Sanford had lived here, had been constructed to carry the waterof Blue Lake River down to the alfalfa-fields. She saw it when she wastoo close to swerve.
The men watching saw her lean forward in the saddle, gather her reins,lift her whip. Then the lifted whip came down, the spurs touched thePrince's sweating sides, the big horse leaped far and clear of theditch and there floated back Judith's laughter.
Three minutes later she rode back to the bunkhouse and slipped from thesaddle. Bud Lee, going to her, had his hat in his hand.
"Now, Ward," she said quickly, her breathing hurried, her cheeks red,"what do you say?"
"I said I'd stick if you rode him," muttered Ward. "And----"
"And," cried the girl with quick passion, "I'll tell you something.You're a great big lumbering coward! Stick with me?" She laughedagain, a new laugh, ringing with her scorn. "Here's your outlaw; I'vegentled him a bit. You ride him!"
His fellows laughed at Ward; for the field foreman was no horseman andthe timorous way in which he had brought out this snapping, viciousanimal had testified to the fact. He drew back now, muttering.
"Ride him!" cried Judith, her voice stinging him. "Ride him or get offthe ranch! Which is it?"
Ward Hannon, glad of the opening, answered surlily: "Aw! think I wantto take orders off'n a woman? You're right, I'll get off'n the ranch!"
"That's two down," said Judith. "Now, take this horse back to thestable; I'm going up to the office. You men come there in fiveminutes. If you want to stay, and are worth your salt, you can. OrI'll give you your time. It's up to you: it's a free country. But--"and she said it slowly, confronting them--"if you all throw me down andleave me short-handed without giving me time to take on another set ofmen, you are a pretty low-lived bunch!"
Then, without turning, she went swiftly to the ranch-house. Old manCarson wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"I remember hearing about Luke Sanford's girl," he said simply. "Thisis her, all right."
Judith of Blue Lake Ranch Page 3