by Neil Hunter
‘Lew?’ Crown glanced at his partner.
‘He’s offerin’ fair wages.’
Crown inclined his head. ‘Looks like you got yourself a couple of hands,’ he said.
We shook hands. I took them over to the bar and bought them a beer.
‘You any kin to the feller that shot Cole Prentise over to Hope?’ Crown asked.
‘My brother Jacob,’ I said. ‘News gets around fast.’
Crown smiled. ‘You’d be surprised. We heard about it two days after it happened.’ He glanced at me. ‘We heard there was a feller had a run-in with Red Karver and come out best. That was over to Hope as well. Seems I recall the name was Tyler in that scrape too.’
‘My other brother Seth and me. Karver figured he wanted our mine but we changed his mind for him.’
‘You know, Joe,’ Riley said, Tm glad we’re working for this feller and not working against him.’
Crown drained his beer glass. ‘Me too,’ he said but I doubted if he was really bothered. From what I could see Joe Crown was a man who could look out for himself and I couldn’t see him backing down from any man. And that went for Riley as well.
We talked for a while, then I left them. I wanted an early night. Returning to the hotel I went up to my room and turned in. I slept well and woke just as dawn began to streak the sky. I washed and dressed, put on my gunbelt. I went down and made my way along to the eating house. Crown and Riley were already there and I joined them for breakfast.
I walked down to the bank after breakfast. Heath had an account-book filled out in my name, with credit to the amount of $8,200.
‘Your gold assayed out at $8,400,’ he told me. ‘I’ve deducted the two hundred you took yesterday.’
Those figures looked mighty comforting to me. I wondered just what that amount would look like after I’d made my cattle deal with the miners at Hope. I might make myself a pile. Then again I might end up with nothing.
From the bank I went to the store and had a big order of provisions made up. I also took some extra boxes of rifle and pistol shells. While I was there I spotted some made-up dresses on a rack and I went across and chose one that I liked the look of, took it over to the storekeeper.
‘You know Judith Thorpe?’ I asked him.
‘I do. Why?’
‘You think this will fit her?’
He grinned. ‘I’d better ask my wife.’ He called her out and told her what I needed to know. She took one look at the dress and nodded her head approvingly.
While the dress was being wrapped I picked out a box of good cigars for William Thorpe. I paid for everything and went down to the livery. Crown and Riley were waiting for me. I saddled up, put the dress and cigars in my saddlebags. The foodstuff was distributed between the three of us and I split up the boxes of shells three ways.
‘I hope we don’t have to use these,’ I said, ‘but if we run into any trouble I’ve only one rule — if the other feller is out for trouble, shoot first and we’ll hold the inquest later.’
We mounted up and rode out of town. Crown knew the way to Dodd’s ranch so he led the way. The day was fine and sunny. We rode steadily, without hurry. It took almost three hours to reach Dodd’s big Double-D spread. We crossed the dusty yard and reined in before the sprawling house. Dodd was a bachelor and his spread was an all-male preserve. Somehow it showed. The place was well kept but it was obvious that it lacked a woman’s hand.
Obvious too was the fact that Dodd did everything on a big scale. His barns and stables, his maze of corrals and cattle-pens, all were big, sturdily built to last a lifetime and maybe longer.
Dodd himself came across from one of the corrals where a spot of horse-breaking was going on. Today he was dressed for work in dusty, stained Levis and faded shirt, a battered hat tipped to the back of his head.
‘Glad you could make it, Mr. Tyler,’ he said. ‘I’ll fetch my horse and we’ll go take a look at some beef.’ He glanced at Crown and Riley. ‘Hello, Jim. How are you, Lew?’
‘Fine, George,’ Crown said.
‘You hired these boys?’ Dodd asked.
‘Last night.’
‘You couldn’t have chosen better,’ he said. He crossed to a hitch-rail and climbed onto a big black.
He led out of the yard and across country at a steady pace. We rode for about twenty minutes, eventually coming to a shallow green basin that held a bunch of about 250 head. We rode in amongst them. I ran my eye over them. They were all full-grown beasts but they weren’t old. There was some good meat on them. They were all healthy too. Well fed and watered.
'We’ve been trimming the herd for the winter,’ Dodd told me. ‘By next year this bunch will be too far gone for the first drives. The Eastern markets like young stuff. It’s not worth my while keeping these. We use a lot for our own meat, sell some in town. You can have as many of these as you want.’
‘What’s your price?’ I asked.
Dodd smiled dryly. ‘I can see you’re bound to get on.’
He started off by asking $22.50 a head. I didn’t figure on paying him that much. I’d already decided on my figure and I wasn’t going to pay a cent over it. We haggled some but Dodd saw that I wasn’t too keen on anything above the price I’d quoted and finally we agreed. I would take the 250 head at twenty dollars a head. We rode back to the house and Dodd made out a bill of sale and signed it. He would ride into town with us and we would settle the deal at the bank.
It was just after noon when we got the herd on the move. The beeves, fed and rested, caused us no trouble and we made good time, reaching Tarrant in the late afternoon. Crown and Riley stayed with the herd while I rode in with Dodd. We went to the bank and closed our deal. I was anxious to be on my way before dark and before I left Dodd said that if I wanted more cattle I knew where to find him.
I rejoined Crown and Riley and we got the herd moving, taking it round Tarrant. The two men knew their job well and I had little to do save working along with them. The trail was fairly level here and we had little trouble. We pushed the herd until dark and then we got them bedded down before we made camp for the night.
Riley assumed the position of cook without being told or asking. When we sat down to eat I found that he was more than fair at the job. We had beans and pancakes and bacon. And his coffee was of the kind that a man can get to like.
I learned a little of what Crown and Riley had done since they had teamed up before the war. Cattle had been their trade all along, save for a couple of forays into beaver-trapping and buffalo-hunting. During the war they had worked for the Union Army, supplying beef. The work had been hard and often dangerous, but, as Crown told me, that was the cattle business all the time, in war and peace. It was hard and dangerous any way a man wanted to look at it but it was a job he wouldn’t have exchanged for any you could mention.
We talked and drank Riley’s coffee until late. We had decided to run a night-guard on the herd and I had fallen for the first turn. I mounted up and rode out to where the herd was.
The night was clear and the air was chilly. I was glad of my heavy sheep-skin coat. I’d had it for a couple of years now and it had served me through two cold winters. As I circled the quiet herd I wondered what this coming winter would bring for me. I could come out of it a rich man. I could come out worse off than before. I thought of Seth and Jacob, of Joel, of old Sachs. I thought too of men like Red Karver and his like, wondering what might come my way from them. But most of all I thought of Judith and the fact that I would soon be seeing her again.
Chapter Six
The really hard work came once we started pushing the herd up into the hills. As we got higher the way became much more difficult. We managed but our pace was cut down to a slow walk. I took to riding on ahead, scouting out the way in front. It helped for I was able to seek out the best way for us to push the herd. On the second day, around midmorning, the sky darkened over and shortly after it brought cold rain. We pulled on our slickers and carried on. The beeves were none too pleas
ed about the rain and their mournful sounds of protest could be heard above the hissing downpour.
Night of the second day found us making camp in the slight shelter of a rocky overhang. We sat around the flickering cook fire and drank coffee. The air was penetrating, the rain unceasing. We were wet and cold and in no mood for idle talk. Even Riley’s cooking seemed to have suffered. His beans and bacon had been near to tasteless. As we huddled there, each man silently hanging on to his own thoughts, I wondered how long the rain would last. The ground was already sodden, the soil turned to sticky, clinging mud. Water cascaded down the hill slopes, making the way that much more treacherous. Up to now we had got by without mishap. I was hoping it would continue that way.
Riley was on first watch. When he had gone I pulled my blanket around me and tried to sleep. For a time I lay listening to the rain, the spitting, cracking of the fire. Then I must have drifted off, for the next thing I knew I was being wakened roughly, and Crown’s voice, low and hushed, was warning me to keep quiet.
‘What’s wrong?’ I asked.
Crown’s face was highlighted by the fire’s flickering glow. ‘We seem to have company,’ he said. ‘Only they appear to be more interested in the herd than us.’
I got out of my blanket and reached for my rifle, checking the action. Crown moved off, heading away from the fire, into the darkness and I followed him close. It was still raining, though now it had slackened off into a slow drizzle. I buttoned my thick jacket up around my neck, turning the collar up.
The herd was in a shallow, natural basin. It formed a long, wide oval, and had been ideal for our purpose. It had meant that whoever was on watch would be able to see the entire herd in one look.
Crown led me to where Riley was crouched beside a large rock, his hat pulled low over his eyes, shoulders hunched against the cold. He glanced round as we joined him.
‘I counted eight of them,’ he said, pointing to the far side of the basin.
As I looked, and saw the eight mounted riders, two more appeared out of the night. They were plainly outlined on the rim of the basin. It looked to me as if they were either fools or very confident of their ability to take the herd without trouble. Well, I was afraid they were going to be somewhat upset this night.
‘We’d better spread,’ I said. ‘Soon as they move for the herd I’ll give them one warning, then open fire if they don’t take heed.’
Crown nodded. Riley gave me a tight smile. Then they moved away from me, each going in a different direction.
Then, it was a matter of waiting. Our visitors seemed to be having some kind of debate. I never did find out just what it was they were talking about.
Of a sudden they started moving, urging their horses down the slope of the basin. I let them get so far down, then I stood up, my rifle ready.
‘All right, gents, that’s far enough. Back off and keep going. This herd’s spoken for. You’ve had your warning, take it. I start shooting in a minute.’
My words must have reached them for every man jerked his horse to a stop. But they didn’t back off. I heard a man laugh. It was a deep, heavy laugh, and it was followed by the wicked crack of a rifle. I saw a stab of orange flame, then heard the bullet smack against the rock close by my right side. I dropped to the ground, jerking my rifle up and loosed off a shot at the bunched riders.
And then the night opened up with gunfire, stabs of flame flickering, the whip-crack sounds of a dozen rifles. Crown and Riley laid down a deadly stream of fire from either side of me, and along with my own fire, we cut a bloody swathe through the ranks of the night-riders.
They returned our fire but they did little harm. I think we had taken them off guard. I don’t think they had been expecting such resistance.
I felt my rifle click on an empty chamber. Drawing into the lee of my protecting rock I thumbed fresh loads into the breech. But before I could rejoin the fight it was all over.
The rifle fire from across the basin slackened, then ceased. Hooves pounded the wet earth as the bunch of raiders rode off. Silence returned, only broken by the bawling of the unsettled herd. It was only later that I realized we had been firing over the heads of the herd. Why they didn’t stampede I’ll never know.
I stood up, sleeving mud from my face. Crown came out of the gloom, his face creased in a smile.
‘Man, did we shake ‘em up.’ He thumbed fresh loads into his rifle. ‘You hurt?’
I shook my head. ‘Only wet.’
Riley rejoined us. He had a slight cut on his left cheek, caused by a flying stone chip.
‘That took the edge off a dull evening,’ he said.
‘Any idea who they might be?’ I asked.
‘Most probably the Reevers.’
‘Who are they?’
Crown hunched his shoulders deeper into his coat. ‘Real bad hombres. Jack and Ollie. Been around this part of the country for a long time. They’ll do most anything if it’ll show a profit. Mostly though they concentrate on cattle. Rustling, brand-changing. You name it, they’ll do it.’
‘You think they’ll try again?’ I asked.
Riley nodded. ‘They’ll try. Only next time it’ll be in daylight and they won’t do any sneaking about. They’ll come at us like a bat out of hell.’
‘We’d better get some sleep,’ I said, ‘’cause it appears that tomorrow might be a busy day.’
Chapter Seven
The rain ceased just before dawn and with full light the sky showed clear and blue. It looked as if it was going to be a good day, as far as the weather was concerned at least.
We had a quick breakfast, broke camp, and got the herd on the move. Our job was made more difficult now because we had to be on the lookout for any signs of our night-visitors, as well as carrying out the normal tasks that went with driving the herd.
The land around us was dotted fairly heavily with trees and brush, and it was uneven land, given to much rising and falling, holding many hollows and shallow ravines. It was terrain that strongly suited the ambusher for it could hide an army from the sight of anyone passing by. It gave us some worry and I think we were thankful when the something we were waiting for actually happened.
It was close on noon. The sun was up and it was hot. We had halted the herd by a shallow pool to let them drink while we had a smoke. We might have been resting, but we were certainly not relaxed and though we were casual in our appearance we were fully ready when a bunch of seven riders broke out of a stand of trees a few hundred yards from us.
They rode our way slowly. Every one of them was armed with a rifle and had handguns on their hips. From what I could make of them they were a rough, hard crew. A couple of them sported bandages. It looked like we had scored a few hits last night.
I glanced over at Crown and Riley. They hadn’t moved yet but I knew they were ready to. I eased my horse over to them. Crown glanced at me.
‘It’s the Reevers,’ he said. ‘Jack is the thin one with the beard. The big feller with the green shirt is Ollie.’
I looked towards the drinking herd. Everything I had was in that herd. I wasn’t going to give it up to anyone.
‘Ever see a cavalry charge?’ I asked.
Riley chuckled. ‘No but I’ve always fancied being in one.’
‘Then let’s ride,’ I said and I gigged my horse forward with a yell, taking myself towards the advancing Reever bunch. Behind me Crown and Riley did the same.
I jammed the butt of my rifle against my hip and as soon as I was in range I opened up. My first shot took a thick-set, one-eyed man clear out of his saddle, dumping him face down in the dirt. I kept firing and close by I could hear the sounds of the rifles belonging to Crown and Riley.
A second man left his saddle and at that point the Reever bunch broke up, going every direction except up. Guns started going off, bullets coming close. I drew rein and steadied my aim on Ollie Reever. I could have put him down but my attention was distracted by Crown who suddenly toppled out of his saddle and sprawled face down on th
e ground.
I wheeled my horse over towards him. Another rider was heading that way. It was the man who had shot Crown. He was a burly, scar-faced individual and it looked as if he were intent on making sure that Crown was dead.
I jammed my rifle into its sheath and got my handgun out and then Scar was before me and he saw me. He swung his rifle at me, leveling it, and I put a bullet in him fast, saw him buckle at the waist, surprise on his face. His mouth worked in a wordless yell. He pushed himself upright again and tried to lift his rifle again. I was close by then and I shot him again, the bullet slamming him out of the saddle. He lit on his face, then flopped over onto his back, his legs kicking for a minute before he died, and I thought he was mean enough to get up and keep coming.
A wild yell brought my head up. The raiders were on the run and it was Riley making the noise. He was up in his stirrups, waving his hat at them.
I rode over to Crown and got down. He looked up at me and made to grin. His face was pale and shiny with sweat. He’d been shot through the fleshy part of the upper arm. There was a lot of blood, both back and front of the wound, and I took this to mean that the bullet had gone right through.
‘How you feeling?’ I asked.
He ran his tongue over his lips. ‘Thirsty,’ he said. ‘And I hurt.’
‘We’ll get you fixed up,’ I said. Riley was heading our way. ‘Figure you’ll be able to ride?’
‘Well I ain’t stayin’ here.’
‘I’ll get you some water. Then we’ll get you bandaged up.’
Riley bent over Crown for a minute. He opened Crown’s shirt. ‘Ain’t too bad,’ he said matter-of-factly.
I gave Crown my canteen. He drank deeply. ‘The hell it ain’t bad,’ he said. ‘They done shot my drinking arm. Don’t taste the same out of the left hand.’