Oliver Strange - Sudden Westerns 10 - Sudden Plays a Hand(1950) (13 page)

 
          
“Too
obvious,’ Cullin decided bluntly.

 
          
It
was his way, and Bardoe did not take offence. He despised them all, but a
seeming comradeship made it less likely they would suspect him when stock was
missing, and he would have made friends with the Devil himself if it would put
anything in his pocket.

 
          
So,
for the time being, Shadow Valley suffered no molestation from without. Sudden
and Yorky had journeyed forth again, ostensibly to see some more of the
country, but actually to follow up the clue obtained in Rideout.
The rest of the outfit, having little to do save guard the gate,
smoked, lazed, and played one-cent poker.

 
          
The
nester and his wife took daily rides together, and the girl used them for her
purpose, only to realise that she was making no impression on her companion;
considerate, mildly-humorous, his attitude was that of a good-natured brother,
and it made her furious. She would have preferred his former harsh, dominating
manner. Once or twice she deliberately endeavoured to anger
him,
out she might have been trying to inflame an iceberg.

 
          
In
desperation, she resolved on a final test—to make him jealous; if this failed,
she had lost, for it would mean that his indifference was real. She began to
look a little more kindly upon Lamond when they chanced to meet, and it was not
long before the cowboy made an excuse to call at the house—when she was on the
veranda—and asked for Drait.

 
          
“I
am waiting for him now,’ she replied.

 
          
His
grin was impudent. “That’s all wrong,’ he said. “The fella oughta do the
waitin’.’

 
          
“Perhaps
that doesn’t apply in this wild land,’ she smiled. “Why not—we ain’t savages,
but I hope he
don’t
hurry.
Ain’t
seen much o’ you lately.’

 
          
Before
she could reply, Nick appeared. “Lookin’ for me, Beau?’ he asked.

 
          
“Like
to visit town, if I ain’t needed here,’ Lamond explained. “Quilt is foreman,’
the nester reminded. “If he doesn’t want you,
it’s
all
right winh me.’

 
          
The
cowboy nodded and rode away. “Wasn’t that a little severe?’ Mary questioned.

 
          
“He
knew damn well he was wrong,’ Nick returned. “When I make a fella foreman I
mean him to be just that.’ She understood; he was only annoyed because the man
was offering a slight to his immediate boss.

 
          
“I
don’t suppose he meant any disrespect to Quilt.’

 
          
“I
know the breed; puttin’ one over on the foreman is just pie to them, but none
o’ the others would ‘a’
tried
it.’

 
          
“You
don’t like him, do you?’

 
          
“No,’
he replied, with disconcerting candour, and went out.

 
          
He
left early on the following morning, and she rode alone up the valley. Ere she
had gone far, however, Lamond caught her up, and swept off his hat in a
theatrical bow. She ignored his greeting.

 
          
“Seein’
the Guardian Angel ain’t ridin’ herd on you today, I guessed I might be
welcome,’ he explained, with an engaging smile.

 
          
“Haven’t
you any work to do?’ she asked.

 
          
“Shore,
Quilt sent me to look over our han’ful o’ beasts, so we’re goin’ the same way.
You can help me round ‘em up.’

 
          
She
gave in, and as he could be quite entertaining when he chose, she was soon glad
of his company. The excitement of routing the cattle out of the brush brought a
sparkle to her eyes, colour to her cheeks, and the cowboy forgot his caution.

 
          
“My,
if you were married, you’d make a bonny widow,’ he said, with a look she could
not innerpret. Instantly her face froze, and she turned her pony. “I must get
back to the house; Lindy will be waiting for me.’

 
          
“Hey,
what’s yore hurry?’ he cried, but she had gone, and he swore at himself for a
clumsy fool. “She ain’t a biscuit-shooter, but what made her take it thataway?
I wonder if …’

 
          
The
girl returned home, angry with herself and the cowboy. She had no particular
liking for the man, and had merely designed to use him as a weapon, but his
remark had sent a shiver down her spine. Did he suspect anything? She told
herself that was impossible, but nevertheless, she was frightened; playing with
fire in a lawless land was a dangerous game.

 
          
That
same evening, Drait—on his way to the bunkhouse—observed a tall, furtive figure
slip out and disappear in the direction of the upper end of the valley.
Wondering what was taking Lamond there at such a time, he followed, the
darkness making it easy to do so undetected. Like two shadows they moved
soundlessly over the turf until they reached the newly-erected barrier, where
the leader uttered a low owl-hoot. Drait effaced himself behind a handy bush.
The call was answered by another, and then Lamond said:

 
          
“That you, Greg?’

 
          
“Shore,’
was the reply. “
Any news for me?’

 
          
“Yeah,
the cattle came from the S P.’

 
          
“How
d’you
know?’

 
          
“Overheard two o’ the boys talkin’.
Also, one yearlin’ had
the S P brand; we’re still eatin’ it, an’ the hide was burned.’ “Rustled, huh?’

 
          
“What
d’you guess
? Unbranded stock, smuggled in here at
dawn,’ Beau returned ironically.

 
          
The
Big C man swore. “So that’s his game, huh?
Goin’ to bleed us
one at a time, takin’ stuff that can’t be traced.
In’s a good plan,
Mister Drait, so long as you keep it dark.
Anythin’ else?’

 
          
“Well,
I dunno as it’ll interest you, but them new fellas, Green an’ Yorky, paid a
visit to Rideout an’ went to see the Weasel.’ “The hell they did.
What about?’

 
          
“Yore
guess is as good as mine,’ the cowboy replied. “No, Cullin, the bag is
empty—like my pocket.’

 
          
“Which
is allus empty,’ the rancher grumbled. “Here’s a fifty for you.’

 
          
“It’ll
be as welcome as a pretty woman,
which
reminds me, Drait
has certainly picked a Lulu; you oughta see her.’

 
          
Women—pretty
or otherwise—don’t attract me,’ Cullin said.
“So long.’

 
          
The
nester waited until the cowboy was well on his way, and then returned to the
ranch-house. So Green’s instinct had served him truly—Lamond was a spy, and had
come to him for that purpose. He glared grimly into the velvet blackness of the
night; in the morning he would deal with the matter.

 
          
He
rose early, breakfasted, and went to the bunkhouse; Beau was not there.
Re-entering the house, he became aware of a wheedling voice from the parlour:

 
          
“Aw,
honey, why don’t you come away with me? I can make plenty coin, an’ we’ll go
places, an’ see life. I’ll treat you right. Drait’s finished here….’

 
          
Lamond
had his back to the door, and was facing the girl across the table. Her widened
eyes warned him, and he turned to find the man of whom he was speaking. For a
moment both were silent,
then
the nester said quietly:

 
          
“Did
you wanta see me, Beau?’

 
          
The
cowboy’s expression showed relief—he had not been overheard. “Why, yeah, I’d
like to go into town.’

 
          
“To spend that fifty-dollar bill?’

 
          
The
man’s eyes narrowed, but he said jauntily, “I don’t get you; fifties an’
me
has bin strangers quite a while.’

 
          
“When
I took you on, yore tale was that Cullin had acted mean,’ Drait said slowly. “It
was all a lie, part of a plot to betray me. Don’t trouble to deny it; I heard
every word you told Cullin, an’ watched you receive the price of yore
treachery, you dirty Judas.’

 
          
Lamond
tried to brazen it out. “Anythin’ goes agin a cow-thief,’ he sneered. “Cullin
will smash you.’ Drait was pondering. “If I told the boys there’d be another
grave in the Valley. I don’t wanta pollute it with muck, but you deserve to
die.’

 
          
Mary,
who had wanched the scene as though petrified, now found her tongue: “No, not
that,’ she cried. “Please let him go.’

 
          
Drait’s hard, inscrutable gaze snruck her like a blow.
“You
wish it?’ he asked, and when she nodded dumbly, turned to the traitor. “Clear
out, with yore belongin’s,’ he grated. “An’ if this woman is one of ‘em, take
her.’

 
          
The
implied insult roused the girl’s spirit. “This woman is no man’s belonging,’
she flamed.

 
          
Her
words wiped the dawning grin from Lamond’s lips. Matters had gone well for him,
but his malicious desire to hurt would not allow him to leave well alone.

 
          
“Aw,
honey, after the good times we’ve had,’ he protested. “Take him up on that

 
          
He
got no further; the nester took one stride, his fist shot out, and with all the
urge of the body-movement behind it, caught the traducer full on the jaw. The
terrific force and precision of the blow sent the cowboy tottering back on his
heels to slump with a crash to the floor. For a long moment he lay there,
dazed, and then looked up into merciless eyes and the muzzle of a six-shooter.

 
          
“Take
that back, or by God

 
          
The
speaker’s face was instinct with the desire to kill, his finger nudging the
trigger. Lamond did not hesitate. “I was lyin’,’ he said sullenly.

 
          
Drait
pointed to the door. “I’m givin’ you fifteen minutes,’ he said harshly, and
looked at the girl. “It’s for you to choose.’

 
          
She
drew herself up. “In a choice of evils I prefer the brute to the liar,’ she
replied, and with a scathing glance, went out. “Settles that,’ the nester said.
“Yore time’s tickin’ away.’

 
          
The
cowboy climbed to his feet, and as he staggered out ofthe house got a final
warning: “Find another stampin’-ground; I don’t let a man off twice.’

 
          
Dry-eyed,
Mary sat in her bedroom, torn by emotions among which hatred of the opposite
sex easily predominated. She was further from her purpose than ever; any regard
her husband might have had for her must now have vanished, leaving contempt in
its place. But if defeat was bitter, it did not bring despair. Through clenched
teeth, she muttered, “
You’re
only adding to the bill,
Nicholas Drait.’

 
          
The
afternoon brought another surprise. Quilt was talking with Shorty at the
entrance to the valley when a hail from outside announced the advent of a
visitor. The foreman mounted the fire-step; Cullin and three of his men were
awaiting admittance.

 
          
“What’s
the meanin’ o’ this?’ the cattlemen demanded, pointing to the obstruction.

 
          
“Speaks
for itself, I’d say,’ was the answer. “But its main purpose is to keep out
coyotes—‘specially the two-legged variety what cover their faces an’ come
a-ridin’.’