Snake Vengeance

by Philip Harbottle

  ‘Wait here a moment, Val,’ he said briefly. ‘I’ll come back and get you.’

  ‘Yes — all right,’ she assented, and listened intently. She heard her father speed past her, and could also hear the shouts of men and the crackle of flames. Furiously she blinked her eyelids, savage with herself that she was quite unable to see anything — then Larry’s footsteps came back and his arm encircled her waist.

  ‘Things are OK,’ he said. ‘The ranch was fired at the same time as the outhouses and barns, but the boys put it out in time. They’ve also got the other half of the fire under control now. They don’t know who did it, but I can make a pretty good guess.’

  ‘Where’s Dad?’ Val asked anxiously. ‘Taking stock of what’s been lost. He’s sent one of the boys into town to fetch Doc Barnes to see you. Let’s be moving.’

  Val felt herself lifted from her feet and she was carried to the ranch house. She could sense its walls about her, and presently found herself sprawling in the soft comfort of her bed. A lucifer scraped, but she did not see the flame.

  ‘Larry … ’ she whispered. ‘You and Dad seem to be taking everything so casually in regard to my sight. Do you suppose that I might never … ’

  ‘Don’t worry,’ Larry said gently, patting her arm. ‘You’ll be OK, just as your dad promised. Just relax. I’ll bring you something to eat and drink; then I’ll get that squaw servant of yours to examine you for bruises.’

  Val relaxed, her hands to her throbbing eyes. At least the last traces of her violent headache seemed to have gone. She could think clearly, and, save for her tiredness, felt almost bodily fit. Except for …

  ‘I don’t believe it,’ she whispered. ‘Not that! It just couldn’t happen to me. To be in the dark for the rest of my life after all the things we’ve … ’

  She turned her face into the pillow and cried, only relaxing as she felt Larry’s hand gently drawing at her shoulder.

  ‘Easy does it, Val,’ he whispered. ‘Here, sit up. I’ve brought you something to eat and drink.’

  He was glad she could not see his expression as she drank the coffee he put into her hand. Her father came into the bedroom, moving silently as he studied her.

  ‘About time Doc Barnes showed up,’ he said grimly.

  ‘Hardly time yet,’ Larry said.

  ‘Dad, tell me the truth!’ Val turned toward the sound of his voice. ‘How badly damaged do you suppose my eyes are? You told me out in the desert you’d had the same thing, and that it passed off.’

  ‘Yeah — sure thing.’ King gave Harry a grim look. ‘It’ll do the same with you … Only thing you can do right now is finish your meal and then get to bed properly. Doc Barnes will be here soon. I’ll send in — ’

  ‘You needn’t bother, Dad. I’m not so incapable I can’t get undressed. Maybe I’d better begin getting used to it … ’ She pushed away the food that she felt at her hand. ‘Just leave me alone,’ she pleaded.

  Larry jerked his head and followed King into the living room. King closed the door and came over to the table, his face grim.

  ‘I’ve got all the facts now about the fire,’ he said. ‘Little doubt it was done by Sheriff Crawford and his boys. Not satisfied with leaving us to die, they also tried to burn down our spread and stampede the cattle. If my men in the bunkhouse hadn’t been running a late-night card-school, they’d have gotten away with it, too.’

  ‘But why did he fire the ranch?’ Larry asked coldly.

  ‘I think I know,’ King said slowly. ‘Even had we died, as Crawford figured, my foreman would have carried on with the ranch in my place. Some time ago I gave him the legal right to do that if anything ever happened to me and Val. Crawford, since he was thick with Makin — with whom I had the deed prepared — would know that. In other words, he didn’t want opposition from this thriving ranch because he’s also in cahoots with Simon Galt at the Double-L. It all fits, Larry. The sheriff knew Makin well; Simon Galt knew both men. Between them — the mayor thrown in — I fancy they are making a pile out of the gold mine attached to the Double-L, to say nothing of the cattle on the ranch itself. Wiping out my spread would have killed a good deal of rival trading … ’ He sat down heavily at the table, nursing his arm.

  ‘I’m going to get Crawford,’ Larry said, his eyes hard in the lamplight. ‘And if Val has been permanently blinded because of him, I’m going to put his eyes out in return — slowly. With a cigarette end, maybe. I’ll make him squirm … ’

  Larry stopped, controlling himself as there were sounds in the hall. Doc Barnes, not looking very pleased at the lateness of the call-out, came into the room.

  ‘What this time?’ he asked, dumping his bag on the table. ‘Your man just said it was urgent.’

  ‘It’s Val, Doc.’ King got to his feet again. ‘Something wrong with her eyes. We — were out in the sun longer than we should have been.’

  ‘Oughta have more sense,’ Barnes growled, as King opened Val’s bedroom door and then closed it again after him.

  Larry lighted a cigarette and drew at it viciously, a cruel twist in the line of his jaw. King drank two whiskeys and then mooched about the big room, unable to think of anything to say. It seemed that Barnes was taking an interminable time. When he emerged again it was fifteen minutes past midnight.

  ‘You’re a bright-looking pair of critters,’ he said frankly, snapping the catches shut on his bag. ‘Get some sleep — you look as if you need it.’

  ‘What about Val?’ Larry asked deliberately. ‘Is she going to be — ’

  ‘You can both stop worrying.’ Barnes gave a sympathetic smile for a moment. ‘She’ll be all right. Just sun-blindness. If she weren’t the darned healthy kid she is, it might have been permanent — but all the reactions are there. That headache she had probably helped to save her eyes. It worked like a kind of safety valve. In a couple of days she’ll be able to spot a coyote a mile away.’

  ‘Thank God for that,’ King whispered, all tiredness forgotten.

  ‘One thing I don’t get,’ Barnes said. ‘She’s got a sunburn fit to fry eggs on — and you two guys are pretty well blistered as well. How in hell did all this happen ?’

  ‘We were dry-gulched,’ King said bitterly. ‘One thing, Doc: don’t tell a soul that we’re here and alive. I don’t want our enemies alerted and mebbe striking again before we can act.’

  ‘OK. I don’t know anything,’ Barnes promised. ‘As for Val, she must stay with that bandage round her eyes for a couple of days, then she can take it off and see what happens. If nothing does., better send for me again, but unless I studied medicine for nothing you’ll not need to bother. ’Night to you both.’

  After the doctor had left King and Larry stood looking at each other. Then with one accord they hurried to Val’s room. As they entered they slowed up and smiled ruefully. Val lay still, her eyes bandaged and her breathing regular. The girl was fast asleep. On the table the oil-lamp still burned.

  ‘That’s one fine girl you raised, sir,’ Larry murmured. He tiptoed to the lamp and turned it out. Both men silently withdrew, closing the door carefully behind them.

  Back in the living room, King stifled a yawn. ‘We need to hit the hay to recover our strength. After that, what’s the programme? You still going to blind Crawford?’

  ‘No, I guess he’s escaped that,’ Larry answered, thinking. ‘But he’ll certainly pay for what he’s done. It seems to me now that only two men are standing in my way and preventing me getting the Double-L and the mine. One is Crawford and the other is Simon Galt. I haven’t had the chance to meet him so far — been too busy dealing with Makin. What sort of man is he?’

  ‘We haven’t had any supper,’ King said as if it had just dawned on him. ‘I guess we can stay up long enough to have a bite to eat. It’ll give me a chance to tell you what I know of Simon Galt.’

  Larry nodded as King turned and went looking in the kitchen, not wanting to rouse the Indian servant and his wife. In a few minutes he and King were busy with a meal
of reheated stew, and a large coffee jug.

  ‘Galt’s a greasy customer,’ King explained. ‘I’ve only met him twice. He’s an oddity out here because he’s a teetotaller — that’s one reason why you’ve never seen him in the Lucky Dollar. He has little need to come into town, since he can control everything from the Double-L.’

  ‘Where did he blow in from originally?’ Larry asked.

  ‘No idea — somewhere East. Next thing we heard, through the Buzzard’s Bend Times , was that he had bought the Double-L and the gold mine through Makin.’

  ‘According to Makin, my uncle owed Galt a lot of money, and the ranch and gold mine were in part-payment.’ Larry drank some coffee. ‘I’m pretty sure that story is trumped up … ’

  ‘Knowing Makin, I agree with you, son.’

  ‘In Makin’s office there ought to be some evidence somewhere to prove just how he stole the Double-L and the mine from me,’ Larry continued. ‘The sort of evidence that a marshal might find interesting, since he can override the local authority. If I could find such evidence I’d turn it in to the authorities in Prescott and get them to send a law officer here to look into matters.’

  ‘Yeah.’ King considered this as he chewed steadily. ‘But examining Makin’s office wouldn’t be so easy. You can be sure that Crawford will have it covered from every angle. There must be plenty in that office that can put Crawford in a tough spot too. Unless he’s already used his authority as sheriff to open up the office and remove anything that incriminates him.’

  ‘Possible,’ Larry admitted, thinking. ‘On the other hand, Crawford may know who will take over Makin’s practice when all the details are settled, and it may not matter whether this newcomer knows all about Crawford. In fact, that is the probable answer. I can’t see Crawford, as Makin’s best friend and sheriff of the town, allowing anybody to buy the practice unless he be one of his own flock of two-timers.’

  ‘Yeah — like Morgan Granville, mebbe. That guy struck me as a shyster, the way he tried to twist the evidence against you in court. But where does that get us?’

  ‘I’m going to shoot it out with Sheriff Crawford,’ Larry said deliberately. ‘Tomorrow evening, before witnesses, I’m going to accuse him of attempted murder — meaning ourselves and Val. If he shoots me, that ends it; if it’s the other way around, I’m going to try and take his place as sheriff. That will give me the chance to wipe the floor with this gang of crooks who’ve fouled Buzzard’s Bend for long enough.’

  ‘Crawford’s mighty useful with a gun,’ King said, frowning.

  ‘So am I.’ Larry got to his feet. ‘And it was Val who taught me.’

  *

  Throughout the next day Larry spent his time with Val. She was up and about as usual, apparently recovered from the ordeal in the desert except for her eyes. With them bandaged she had to feel her way about, or else be led — but it did not dampen her spirits. The assurances of Doc Barnes the night before had convinced her that her prison door would soon be open.

  During the day Larry took good care that he, King and Val remained indoors, and all members of the outfit had been warned not to reveal that the ranch house was occupied. That the Bar-6 had not been burned down was something of which Crawford must have been aware, but it did not particularly signify. And during the morning Larry dispatched one of the boys to town to purchase a couple of new .45s. When they were brought he spent the time, during the afternoon, trying them out in the one remaining ungutted outhouse, getting the feel of the weapons, Val seated nearby and listening to the impact of the bullets on an old frying-pan.

  ‘You seem to have got the hang of them, Larry,’ she said at last, as his arm came about her shoulder.

  ‘Just as well,’ he responded. ‘I’m going to need it for tonight’s shoot-out.’

  ‘Just how do you mean — shoot-out?’ Val asked.

  ‘Don’t you know? You’ve lived around here all your life, Val.’ Larry took the girl’s arm and walked her gently across the rear of the yard to the back entrance of the ranch house. ‘To shoot it out is quite legitimate. I read of it in those books of your dad’s when I was convalescent.’

  ‘I must read them sometime.’ Val hesitated. ‘That is, I will if I … ’

  ‘Don’t bring that up again,’ Larry said severely. ‘You’re going to be fine. As I was saying, shooting it out is about the same as a duel. You accuse your opponent of something and challenge him to shoot it out. If he refuses he’s stamped as a coward, so naturally he agrees. The people around are witnesses. There are so many paces — turn and fire. One or the other — sometimes both — gets the slug where it hurts most. If one dies it isn’t murder because each party has agreed to take the risk of dying.’

  ‘But, Larry, that means you might lose.’ Val seized his arm more tightly. ‘I’m sure there ought to be some other way of tackling things without risking your life.’

  ‘There isn’t, Val, and you know it! In this region you live or die by the gun: that’s one lesson I’ve learned well. I believe in justice enough to feel sure that I shan’t be allowed to die and a man like Crawford to live.’

  Val did not attempt to argue any more, knowing it was useless. It made it even harder for her when she had to stay behind at the ranch that evening with her father whilst Larry set off at nightfall. She wondered if he would ever return.

  Half an hour after he had departed she suddenly got to her feet from the chair beside the fireplace, and began fiddling with the bandage around her head.

  ‘Hold it, gal! What are you doing?’ her father demanded.

  ‘Taking this beastly thing off! I can’t stand it any longer! I’ve got to know whether I can see yet or not. If I can I’m going after Larry to watch what happens. If otherwise … But I’ve got to see!’ she finished desperately.

  ‘Wait! Doc Barnes said two days, and … ’

  With a sudden wrench she had the bandage free and stood with her eyelids closed, her hand gripping the table. She slowly opened her eyes. The first thing she saw was the seemingly dazzlingly bright light of the oil-lamp. It sent twinges deep into her eyes, and then abated. Breathless, she looked at her father’s fixed expression, at the fire, the familiar room.

  ‘Dad!’ she cried hoarsely. ‘Doc Barnes was right! I can see again!’

  She plunged forwards on to her knees and his arms gripped her shoulders gently. He took no notice of her sudden tears of relief.

  ‘Just as well, gal,’ he murmured. ‘That story I spun you about having had the same experience myself was just a lot of moonshine, to cheer you up.’

  ‘You old twister, you,’ she said, looking up with a rueful smile and dabbing at her tears with her handkerchief. Then she got quickly on her feet. ‘I’m following Larry,’ she said, speeding into her room for her mackinaw. ‘Are you coming with me?’

  ‘You bet I am!’

  *

  Meanwhile Larry had just reached town. He tied his horse’s reins to the rack outside the Lucky Dollar, and then went up the steps to the batwings. With a deliberate movement, he pushed them aside and, his new guns swinging low from his thighs, walked across to the bar counter.

  ‘Whiskey,’ he ordered, and surveyed the smoky room with its crowd of customers. It was not long before his gaze settled on Sheriff Crawford, paunchy and complacent, yarning with Hank and another puncher at a nearby table.

  Larry drank off his whiskey, refilled the glass, and then met Crawford’s gaze across distance. Crawford stared fixedly, took a quick drink, and looked again. He turned to Hank. He gazed too — and so did the third puncher. The noise of the saloon continued, regardless of the cold hate with which the three men measured each other.

  ‘Folks, your attention, please!’ Larry called suddenly, as he saw the mayor was not far away either.

  The murmuring of voices faded as Larry banged the bar counter with his gun butt. When complete silence had fallen he spoke again.

  ‘I suppose most of you here know what it means to shoot it out with a man, so I’m
telling you that’s what I’m proposing to do. The man I’m challenging is Sheriff Crawford. The charge I make against him is attempted murder — with torture thrown in.’

  Crawford got to his feet, his face black with fury.

  ‘How the hell dare you make a charge like that when you can’t prove it?’ he demanded.

  ‘Get wise to the law of shooting it out, Sheriff,’ Larry retorted. ‘I don’t need to prove anything. This isn’t a trial: it’s an accusation. You left Val King, her father, and me to die in the desert, buried to our necks in the sand. How we got away is none of your business, but because of it Val King is blind. On top of that you tried to set fire to the Bar-6. I’m challenging you to shoot it out with me, Crawford. If I win, it’s justice: if I don’t — well, it’s my funeral.’

  ‘It’s all a lot of dirty lies!’ Crawford shouted, striding over to the bar. How much of the tale was true, nobody could say … until Doc Barnes rose from a quiet corner.

  ‘Not quite, Crawford. Late last night, folks, I was called to the Bar-6 to treat Val King for sun-blindness, and I also know that her father, and Mr Ashfield here were severely sunburned and clearly exhausted. They spoke of enemies who had bushwhacked them, but they gave no names.’

  ‘I bet they didn’t,’ Crawford sneered. ‘Now they’re trying to pin it on me!’

  ‘There’s nobody else to pin it on,’ Larry said levelly. ‘Are you shooting it out, or are you scared?’

  ‘Scared!’ Crawford laughed shortly. ‘If you want to be rubbed out, fella, I’ll oblige you!’

  ‘Right,’ Larry agreed. ‘That’s settled. Better clear a space, folks … ’

  He paused and looked up. He could hardly credit it as he saw Val hurrying through the batwings and heading towards him between the tables, her father following behind.

  ‘Larry!’ she cried, seizing his arm. ‘Thank heaven I’m in time. I can’t let you take such a risk.’

  ‘But what’s happened? You can see again!’

  ‘Yes. I tried it out at home — and came straight here when I found I was all right.’