by A. J. Arnold
“Yeah, well, he’ll look better after he’s been with me awhile. I’ve not had him long.”
Diamond, trying to be casual, hoped he hadn’t said too much already. He untied the ropes that held the packs in place and turned toward the soddy with a heavy load.
“If you don’t mind,” Driscoll said, “I’d kinda like to see a bill of sale for that animal. And the paper receipt from your filing fee.”
“Sure, if you want to, but—”
Diamond turned back to face the sheriff with his hands full. Driscoll had his sixgun out of leather and was looking over the sight at Diamond’s heart.
“Look here, Mr. Diamond. I’m just not right with a man who wears his iron tied down like a gunfighter, a stranger whose eyes bore holes through the law like an outlaw’s. So until I feel easy, you unbuckle that belt and let her drop.”
Diamond recalled when Jake Strickland drew on him. He’d sworn not to let it happen again. Well, it just did. A fellow couldn’t trust anybody.
He smiled with a fake coolness. “Anything you say, Sheriff. I’m not about to argue with the end of a gun. But why? You don’t need to do this, I’d show you, anyways.”
He set his pack on the ground, loosening his belt and untying the leg thong with great care. It slid down around his feet.
“Just step away from the weapon,” Driscoll ordered. “That’s good. Now I’ll answer your question as to why, Mr. Diamond. That old brand on your hoss, all but overshadowed by the new one? It’s the selfsame mark some Texas rancher advised me to be on the lookout for.”
Diamond’s heart leaped into his throat as Jed Driscoll went on, staring him down all the while.
“Seems this gentleman was relieved of most of his remuda in The Strip. ’Course, I have no obligation to him. That’s as far out of Ford County as this is. Still, I’ll hang onto this gun ’til I’ve seen your proof.”
“All my papers are in my left shirt pocket,” Diamond said.
“OK. Only move one hand at a time. Take them out and hand them over. Real slow.”
Diamond obeyed with clammy fingers. He knew his papers were all in order. Driscoll had never seen him before. What in hell should he be so worried about?
“The bill of sale for the horse first.” The sheriff looked it over, his dull eyes suddenly sparkling.
“Well, I’ll be damned. Why didn’t you say Tom Dobbins sold you that bony heap? I know his signature well.”
Driscoll relaxed and slid his iron back into place. “I don’t need to see the rest you got there.”
Diamond’s mind worked hard and fast. If he could really get in good with Jed Driscoll, why, who knew what might happen? He might even feel free to go back into Dodge again.
“Mr. Sheriff, I’d be obliged if you’d look at the rest. Just so you know everything’s on the up and up.”
The lawman grunted and took the other papers.
“I also got an agreement with Tom,” Diamond said. “He holds title to the Broken M brand. They’s some real wild cows wearing that mark, west of here along the Colorado line. I’m to get half the increase for tending to them.”
Driscoll chuckled."I’m right sorry about this whole thing. Hope you won’t hold it against me, Diamond. But I learned not to take chances a long time ago.”
Diamond looked sourly at him, then relented.
“Now, about your lighting the fire, Mr. Sheriff. The invite still holds, if you hustle up.”
Diamond sat on the knoll outside the soddy, waiting for daylight—a habit he hadn’t changed since first using the place for a hideout. Only now he had yesterday’s strange happenings to contemplate as company.
He wondered if he’d done right in asking Jed Driscoll to stay over. But it would have been a hell of a lot more suspicious not to, he knew. Now if he could just get that sheriff on his way without any trouble.
Of course, Diamond had to credit himself as being practical enough also to see several advantages to the episode. Could be he’d done what he set out to, which was to make points with the law in Dodge—just in case he needed to go there again. In any case, he’d learned a sight more than what information he gave away.
Driscoll had talked far into the night. Diamond never before realized he was hungry to hear so much about people that he’d not yet even met—accounts of trailhands and the kind of trouble they got into when they came in after the long drive up from Texas...funny barroom stories about some of the girls upstairs in the cribs.
Mostly, Diamond wanted to hear about the local ranchers around Dodge City. But all the sheriff talked about was some new brand of outlaws working his territory. If Driscoll couldn’t show some results on this problem, he was afraid he’d soon be looking for a new job.
“The folk I work for are losing too many cattle,” the lawman had said.
“Hell of it is, I don’t know who’s taking ’em or where they’ve been sold. This here’s the end of my long trip to try and find out. I started southeast of Dodge. Traveled north, northwest, then west and southwest. Well, here I am. Kept my eyes peeled the whole time, but I’ve not found evidence that the cattle’ve been moved through. Onliest thing left is, they’re being sold in Dodge right under my nose.”
As Diamond sat facing the east, he knew who Jed Driscoll was up against-Glenn Saltwell, he’d have sworn against any holy relic. He knew it last night, the minute it rolled off the sheriff’s tongue, and he damned near died in the effort to hold back the name he knew so well.
Diamond shook it off as he watched the sky come pearl gray. Then rays of yellow-white stretched into pillars, thrusting into the void for mere seconds as the space between them slowly filled with light. When the orange sun peeked over the rim and glared at his face, he got up and went toward the soddy. Tune to make breakfast and rouse his guest.
He found the sheriff up and pulling on his boots. Diamond’s greeting was cheerful, but Driscoll’s responding grunt wasn’t. Only when he’d eaten everything and washed it down with three tins of coffee did he sound civil.
“You know, Diamond, it’ll be good for this whole part of the country to have a strong man ranching over here. Tunes, I thought maybe the local rustlers brought ’em this way to sell in Colorado. But now that you’re here, you can kind of keep an eye open for the movement of cattle.”
Jed Driscoll handed over his tin cup and went to the corral to saddle his horse.
“Well, nothing for it but to get on back to Dodge.”
The sheriff swung onto his mount, then looked down hard at Diamond.
“Don’t reckon I’ll ever find out about that young fellow my ex-deputy hanged—whether he deserved to die, or not. I’m wondering something else, too. Like what I’d find if I’d the time to ride north to Garden City and check out the hoss you traded to Tom Dobbins for that bonepile of yours.”
Blue eyes froze and stared the lawman down.
Driscoll shrugged. “But I’ve not got the time. Been gone too long with nothing to show. Be seeing you, Diamond.”
He turned his horse straight toward Ford County without a backward glance.
Chapter Sixteen
The next weeks went fast for Diamond, with plenty to keep both brain and body occupied. He kept replaying Sheriff Driscoll’s parting remarks in his head. Did the lawman know all along, or was he still not sure of his red-bearded host? Regardless, if and when he felt compelled to go into Dodge City, he knew he’d have to be a careful man.
His work with the wild cattle became still harder, because he tried to separate some mature animals he wouldn’t need for the breeding herd and hold them together. He felt determined to take some few cattle to Garden City and sell them before winter, so that Tom Dobbins would know this time he’d picked the right partner.
On a day in late fall Diamond pointed a small herd of fifty toward the north. A raw wind was blowing out of Colorado, making him wonder if he’d waited too long to start, and whether he could get all the steers to market without losing any.
What had been a short
day’s ride back with just his mount and Tom’s pack horse now took up two days of bone-wrenching labor. Furthermore, he couldn’t sleep any the first night, because the critters still had a wild streak and didn’t take kindly to being herded.
Late the second day Diamond began to worry. He wasn’t anxious to spend another sleepless night out in the open with all these cantankerous cattle. As he thought on it, a rider appeared, coming from the direction of Garden City.
Diamond strained his eyes, deciding the horse looked familiar ... just like that high-powered Appaloosa he’d seen in Dobbins’s corral. He stared again, not quite believing what he saw, but then he knew. Sean O’Malley was bearing down on him, with that infectious mile-wide grin.
“Howdy, Mr. Diamond. I come for to help you get ’em in.”
Diamond’s mouth flapped open, then snapped shut. “But how in hell did you know when I’d be coming? Or if I’d be coming? I never told anybody I’d bring in cattle this fall.”
Sean’s face was all white teeth as his smile grew. “We didn’t know when. But Tom said you’d need winter provisions, and I figgered you’d have to come in to get ’em. Just had me a feeling that his cattle was the only way you could manage to pay, so....”
He spread his brown hands out wide. “Come on, Mr. Diamond. If we hurry, we can get ’em in the hoss corral afore nightfall.”
Diamond felt too near dead to argue the breed’s logic or his sense of timing. Sean was so good on Tom’s top cutting horse that his friend wondered if he would’ve made it alone at all.
When Tom Dobbins at last slammed the gate behind the cattle, Diamond slid down off the saddle and took care of Bones.
“Started with fifty head,” he said wearily to Dobbins. “Don’t think I lost any along the way.”
“Great, great!” Tom rubbed his hands together in pure joy.
“There’s a buyer down from Denver, looking for cattle to feed the miners this winter. This is sure good luck for our partnership, Diamond. The first money ever out of those animals, and some for you for winter supplies.”
He paused to study Diamond’s haggard features. “You could use some fattening up before you go back. The wife’ll fix you a decent feed, and we got a cot in the shed off the kitchen where you can catch up on your shuteye. Give me a hand here, Sean.”
The breed and Dobbins straightened things up and hurried Diamond into the house.
The shed where Diamond slept was on the west side of the house. No trace of morning brightness reached his cot, so he didn’t wake ’til well past sunrise. When he emerged, the daylight momentarily blinded him. The first thing he saw was Mrs. Dobbins coming from the well with a bucket of water.
He hurried to carry it for her, saying, “Here. Let me take that.”
She smiled. “Thank you, but I’m used to it. Did you sleep well, Mr. Diamond?”
“Yes, Ma’am. Did I ever. Ain’t slept past sunup in I don’t know when.”
“Are you hungry? Tom’s already gone to open the store, but I’ll be glad to get your breakfast.”
She smiled again.
A touch of color went into Diamond’s face. “I hate to admit to hunger after that big meal you fixed last night.”
“But you’re hungry just the same?”
“Yes, Ma’am,” he confessed sheepishly.
“There’s coffee on the back of the stove.” Mrs. Dobbins nodded in the general direction as they entered the kitchen. “Help yourself while I get started. I’ve got eggs fresh from the nest this morning, if you like ’em.”
Diamond nodded as his mouth started to water.
“How many do you want?”
“Four. Sunny side up is fine,” Diamond answered, ignoring her quick stare as he lifted a coffee cup to his mouth.
Mrs. Dobbins turned to the stove, shaking her head. Her guest proceeded to talk about all he’d done to make the old soddy into the Running Diamond Ranch. Then he spoke freely of his hopes for the future.
Tom’s wife stopped him by handing him a plate full of eggs, a mound of fried potatoes, and several strips of side meat. She waited for Diamond to wolf it down.
When he finished, she said, “You know, now I understand more of the kindly words Nancy Blough spoke about you.”
Diamond’s breath caught a little. “What do you mean, Mrs. Dobbins?”
“Well, Nancy kept mentioning your strong, forthright personality. She couldn’t figure out how anybody could misunderstand either you or your motives.”
Diamond sighed. “How is Mrs. Blough? Have you seen her lately?”
“Yes.” Tom’s woman nodded. “My husband took me to Dodge City on one of his business trips just last week. I met Nancy in town, and we had a good, long visit.”
Her gaze wandered. “I wasn’t going to give you this until you and Tom had finished your business. But since we’re talking about Nancy, she left you a note. Let me go get it.”
She moved swiftly out of the room, leaving Diamond with jumbled thoughts and emotions. When she returned she held a sheet of white paper that had not been sealed, folded once in the middle. Diamond took it from her and read the rounded, school-girlish cursive:
Mr. B. Diamond,
This is to let you know that a man you well recall has lost his job with my neighboring rancher. This man is now in Dodge. From what little I can piece together out of different stories, someone is trying to ruin his reputation.
While no one believes all the awful stories, this man did cross a part-time deputy sheriff Thus, some people doubt him. At any rate, he is out of work and drinking quite heavily.
I thought you should know this and that you should be aware of the rumors. One says he is the head of a ring of cattle rustlers working this part of the state, and as far south as The Strip. I think that if something doesn’t happen to the man’s advantage, he’ll be in serious trouble.
The theft of livestock has reached epidemic proportions. My husband is convinced that a young man who once worked for him and was caught using a running iron on his steers is still around. He swears this person works hand in glove with the rustlers. I know you’ II be interested in my news.
Hope this finds you soon and in good health,
As ever,
Nancy Blough.
Diamond read it again, looking for the meaning between the lines. So old Henry was still his mortal enemy, despite the law’s letting up. But what else was Nancy saying? That it was Jake Strickland who lost his job? It had to be. Damn it all, it had to be!
Mrs. Dobbins watched his face as she poured more coffee. Finally she couldn’t stand it any longer.
“Mr. Diamond, I hope you and Nancy won’t mind, but I read the note. It wasn’t sealed, and I know Nancy well enough that I felt it would be all right.”
Diamond looked up sharply. But when he saw real concern imprinted on the woman’s face, he couldn’t be angry. Besides, maybe she’d heard or learned something that might help him.
He said, “I guess Mrs. Blough expected you’d read this, or she’d have sealed it. Do you know anything to make the note more clear?”
Tom’s wife wrinkled her brows in thought. “Can’t recall anything offhand. Reckon I don’t really know who Nancy was talking of—other than Henry.”
Diamond studied her plain, simple features. It was clear Mrs. Dobbins had no idea that one of the note’s subjects was drinking coffee at her table. And while he knew he could trust her, the fewer folk who knew his story, the less risk.
“Well, thank you all the same, Ma’am. Especially, thanks for breakfast at this hour. I still got some business to settle with Tom, so I’ll just get along to the store and talk to him.”
She nodded silently as he got up to leave. Diamond walked the short distance to Dobbins’s Hardware, taking the time to think as well as to stretch his muscles. By the time he entered the small business through the back storeroom, he’d made up his mind.
He’d take the bull by the horns and ride into Dodge. The more he pondered Nancy’s note, the more
he knew it could only be Jake who’d lost his job. What stopped him, however, was the reason why Strickland wasn’t fighting and why he’d hidden in a bottle. But if Diamond’s twice-over rescuer was in trouble and needed help, then danger be damned—Diamond aimed to give him a hand.
Trade was slow in the small town of Garden City, and Dobbins’s place was no exception. Tom was alone and eager to talk.
“So here you are, Diamond. I was wondering if I’d have to roll you out of that cot by force. Did you sleep good? Did my woman feed you? How does it feel to be a successful rancher?”
“Whoa, Tom.” Diamond held his hand up. He’d never seen his new partner so excited about the state of things.
“Yeah, I had a big breakfast. I’ve not slept so late since I was a little kid. But now I got a couple of questions of my own.”
Dobbins knew the look in Diamond’s eye. He had something on his mind. And he wouldn’t quit until he’d settled it.
“The floor is yours,” Tom conceded.
“Mrs. Dobbins said you made a trip to Dodge last week. Fact is, she brought me a note from—from somebody, and, well, I guess I got to ride in there and help out a friend.”
“Right,” Dobbins said, watching Diamond’s tight face. “Well, if your friend needs help, just go. I’ll lend you a fresh boss. You can do anything you need to around town first, and get an early start in the morning.”
“Thanks, Tom. I’ll need your horse, all right, because Bones needs rest. But I aim to start out right now.”
Tom’s mouth flapped open and shut again before his protest could fly out.
Diamond saw it and continued, “I know it’s too far for me to go before sundown. But if my friend needs me, the sooner I leave, the sooner I’ll get there.”
“You know your business better’n I do,” Dobbins sighed.
“There’s a bay over in the small corral. Treat him right, he’ll last all the way to Dodge and back, and still have something left. You need anything while you’re here?”
Diamond grinned his thankfulness at Tom’s total acceptance.
“Yeah, best give me a couple of boxes of shells for my sixgun, and two or three feeds of grain for your bay.”