Murder Range

by Alan David

  ‘I don’t believe you’ve heard a word of what I’ve said,’ she accused.

  ‘That’s right,’ he confessed. ‘I’m just about all in. There’s nothing as wearying as a woman’s tongue. I expect you’re ready for a bath and a meal. I’ve got to see Gruber now, but I’ll take you to the hotel first.’

  They reined in outside the hotel and hitched their mounts. Several townsfolk were present on the hotel front, and there was an excited buzz of conversation. Lobo smiled tiredly. He guessed that most of these people had written him off as dead from the moment he had ridden out of town with Olly. Well, he thought, he had proved that one could fight Ridge and live.

  ‘I’ll clean up,’ she told him, ‘and wait for you to take me to supper.’

  ‘You may have to wait quite a while,’ he advised. ‘I don’t know how long Gruber will keep me. Then I’ve got to clean up. If I was you I’d go right ahead and eat. Perhaps Gruber has another job lined up for me. I’m a deputy, remember, and an honest man can’t call his soul his own.’

  ‘Then you’ll come and see me later? There is something else I want to talk over with you.’

  ‘There can’t be anything else,’ he protested. ‘You had a big say on the ride into town. What else could there be which you haven’t already covered?’

  Virginia Ridge was about to answer when she saw Stella Stadden emerging from the hotel. Lobo saw the change of expression on Ginny’s face, and swung around. He pursed his lips in a soundless whistle of admiration when he saw Stella.

  ‘Well,’ he breathed. ‘You’ve certainly spent my money wisely.’

  ‘I’ve been worrying about you ever since it got dark,’ Stella told him. ‘I wouldn’t have put it past Ridge’s gunmen to follow you until the sun went, then shoot you in the back.’

  ‘You two girls know each other?’ Lobo asked. He looked from one to the other. Both women were beautiful. Looking at them, Lobo felt his emotions stirring.

  ‘We have met before,’ Stella said coldly. ‘Did you ride in with her, Ben?’

  ‘I did,’ he replied easily. ‘Miss Ridge was coming this way, and didn’t like to travel alone.’

  ‘She’s never ridden alone before,’ Stella stated flatly. ‘Have you killed Buck Page? He hasn’t let her out of his sight once in two years.’

  ‘I’m right sorry to hear about your folks,’ Ginny said quietly. ‘If there’s anything I can do for you just let me know.’

  ‘There is one thing,’ Stella replied. ‘I could never get as close to your father as you can. Next time you see him you can gutshoot him for me.’

  ‘I don’t see why my father should take the blame for what some of his ex-riders have done,’ Virginia flared, and Lobo noted two red anger spots glowing in her cheeks. ‘The men who raided your place had been fired by my father because they wanted to ride out killing for him, but he didn’t want bloodshed.’

  ‘He brought those killers into the country in the first place.’

  ‘He didn’t want to, but with men like your father as neighbours, trying to steal range or stock, a big rancher has to take unpleasant measures to protect his interests.’

  Lobo stepped between the two angry women. He held up his hands placatingly. ‘Now, now,’ he soothed. ‘If I was you, Miss Ridge, I’d go book a room. I’ll see you later. Stella, perhaps you’d walk as far as the jail with me. I’ve got to see Gruber now.’

  The women turned away from each other. Virginia Ridge stamped furiously into the hotel. Stella turned about and fell into step with Lobo as he set off along the sidewalk.

  They reached the law office just as Barr emerged. The big deputy halted in mid-stride and shook his head in wonderment.

  ‘It beats me how you do it,’ Barr ejaculated. ‘I’ve been out to the Ridge fence several times, but I could never get any nearer to Ridge headquarters. I guess those fence riders didn’t take me serious when I said I was on law business.’

  ‘Folks have only to look at my face to see that I’m a serious-minded man,’ said Lobo. ‘They seem to know instinctively that I’m no joker. Did Olly get in all right with his prisoner?’

  ‘Yeah. That makes two Ridge riders in our calaboose. Things are looking up. We’ve never had Ridge’s men in before. How did you make out with the big man?’

  ‘Come on in and listen to my report,’ Lobo said. ‘It should make good listening.’

  Barr followed Lobo and Stella into the office, where Gruber sat in his wheel chair behind the desk. Olly was not present, Lobo noted, as he recounted his experiences out at the Big R. When he concluded his report Gruber grunted non-committedly.

  ‘Well, it’s something that Ridge is coming into town tomorrow. Though I can’t say I like his story of how he fired those riders before they attacked the Stadden place. We shan’t be able to prove otherwise, I’m thinking, so it’s likely he’ll get away with it.’

  ‘That’s how I figure it,’ said Lobo. He went on to tell the sheriff about his conversation with Ginny Ridge on the ride to Pommel. ‘What do you think about that?’ he asked. ‘Could Page manage to get Ridge riled up with these nesters? Is it possible for two factions to believe that the other is out to cause trouble? You’ve been here a long time, sheriff. Has Ridge changed his character since Buck Page came on the scene?’

  ‘I think he has,’ Gruber replied slowly. ‘I remember he used to have an open house and no fences, and he didn’t need an escort every time he came to town.’

  ‘So Page could be behind this. If he plans to marry Virginia and get control of the Big R, Reuben Ridge would have to be put out of the way before he could take over. If he killed Ridge there is a chance that he wouldn’t get away with it. But if he made Ridge think that the smaller ranchers were after his range and stock — he could stage a little rustling with his own gunmen, Ridge would fight. Then Page could put the heat on the smaller ranchers to make it appear that Ridge is a cold-blooded killer. It’s a deep game, but the stakes are high.’

  Gruber shook his head doubtfully. ‘I’d say it’s more likely that Ridge has gone bad.’

  ‘What have the prisoners to say?’ Lobo asked. ‘Have you questioned them?’

  ‘The feller Olly brought in from the Stadden place is a mighty sick man,’ Barr said. ‘He ain’t in no shape for talking. But the feller you arrested today is a different proposition. He’s a loud mouth. He reckons he’s going to kill you for busting his gunhand. I figger he’ll talk if a little pressure is applied to him. He might come up with a set of answers if he’s handled right.’

  ‘Then we’d better have a talk with him,’ said Lobo. ‘I figured he had too much mouth when he made his play at the fence. Perhaps we can persuade him to loosen up.’

  ‘No rough stuff,’ Gruber warned. ‘We’ve got to be careful. The man is a state prisoner. The days when you can rough up a man to get at the truth are coming to an end.’

  ‘We’ll be gentle,’ Lobo said. ‘Come on, Barr.’

  Barr got the keys and led the way into the jail block. He unlocked the cell door while Lobo stood looking in at the prisoner. It was the man Lobo had shot through the hand at Ridge’s gate. A bloodstained bandage was wound tightly around the man’s hand and wrist.

  ‘Get on your feet,’ Barr ordered as he opened the door.

  The prisoner got up, scowling when he recognised Lobo. He stood with his back to the far wall of the cell, favouring his shattered hand. His eyes were filled with hatred.

  ‘I want some information out of you,’ Lobo said. ‘I don’t care much how I get it. It’s up to you whether you get hurt any more or not. Just co-operate and you’ll walk out of court tomorrow a free man. But if you don’t come through then you’ll find yourself in the State Pen doing up to ten years.’

  ‘You’ve got nothing on me,’ the man protested loudly.

  ‘You call an attempt to murder a lawman nothing?’ Lobo’s face darkened. ‘If you don’t come clean I’ll add a few charges to the ones I’ve already got against you.’

  ‘That’s
perjury!’

  ‘It would be your word against mine,’ Lobo said calmly. ‘You’re a Ridge rider, and that name stinks around here. My evidence could put you away for fifteen years.’

  ‘Ridge takes care of his men,’ the prisoner retorted. ‘He’ll send a dozen riders into this town to take it apart. They’ll get me out of here as easy as busting beans out of a can.’

  ‘Who’s the boss of Ridge’s crew?’ Lobo demanded. ‘Does Ridge or Page give the orders? It is true that Page is duping Ridge and is causing all this trouble just to get his hands on the Big R?’

  ‘Ask Page. He’ll tell you. I don’t know nothing, being just a line rider. Why ask me?’

  ‘You know where your orders come from.’

  ‘Sure. They come from Ridge.’

  ‘Through Page?’

  ‘Sometimes. More often than not Ridge gives the orders.’

  Lobo thrust out his bottom lip. ‘I’m talking about war orders. That’s Page’s side of it, isn’t it?’

  ‘Sometimes. Like I said sometimes Page, sometimes Ridge.’

  ‘Who ordered the attack on the Stadden place?’

  ‘I dunno. I wasn’t on that one. Most of those fellers were killed by some gun wizard.’

  ‘I killed them,’ Lobo said quietly. ‘And I plan on sending a few more of you gunslicks the same way. That’s why I say you’d better lay your cards down on the table. Ridge doesn’t know it yet, but his days of riding roughshod are numbered. The law is coming to town, and to Ridge range.’

  ‘I can’t tell you any more, deputy. Like I said, I’m only a line rider.’

  ‘If I were in your boots,’ Lobo said in menacing tones, ‘I’d sit right down now and search my memory for any information that might walk me out of here. You have all night to think it over. I’ll see you in the morning.’

  Lobo left the cell and Barr locked the door. Lobo looked into the next cell. He shook his head slowly when he saw that the man was unconscious, groaning and twisting in agony that must be stabbing him to his very soul.

  ‘He’s been like that all day,’ Barr volunteered. ‘The Doc has been in to him twice. He’ll be like that for a week, Doc said.’

  Lobo walked back into the sheriff’s office. He shook his head in answer to Gruber’s questioning gaze.

  ‘I figure I’ve given him something to think about,’ Lobo said. ‘We’ll see what a lonely night will do to him. I’ve got an idea that might help us. Don’t let him come up before the judge tomorrow. I mean the one I winged today. If we keep him in here we can tell Ridge that he has talked. We can run a little bluff. We can say that he’s told us Ridge is the boss, or we can say that he said Page is the boss. That should cause a stir, especially if we locked up Page and Ridge. Which line do you figure we should take, sheriff?’

  ‘I don’t know.’ Gruber wheeled his chair back from the desk. ‘I think Ridge is the boss, and that Page has done a little on the side, on both sides, to stir things up. Page is definitely after getting the Big R, and my guess is that he doesn’t care much how he achieves it. I think his patience is running out. At first he could wait while things moved slowly. But now the war with Art Fuller is done he wants to push on a little faster. But that will likely prove his downfall. It means we’ll have to sit tight with our cards close to our bellies and wait until he shows his hand.’

  ‘We should do something now, sheriff. My experience yesterday has put a little stiffening into the men of this town. If time is allowed to pass they’ll forget, and Ridge or Page will have the advantage again. Something’s got to be done now.’

  ‘Well, Ben, there’s nothing more you can do today, that’s certain.’ Gruber wheeled himself towards the door. ‘This is the second good day you’ve had against the Big R. Olly and Barr are doing watch about in town. I suggest you go and get some shut-eye. You’ve done a lot of travelling today, and tomorrow is likely to be another hard one. Get some grub and a couple of beers, then turn in. See you in the morning. Watch your back, and sleep sound.’

  ‘Goodnight, sheriff.’ Lobo opened the street door and Gruber propelled himself out into the darkness of the sidewalk. He turned to Stella. ‘If you’re not too hungry yet I’ll step across to the hotel and get cleaned up before we go and eat. Then I’ll do what the sheriff suggested and have a couple of drinks before hitting the sack.’

  ‘You promised to go and see Ginny Ridge again,’ Stella reminded him, her voice expressionless.

  Lobo smiled wryly as he followed her out of the office. He detected jealousy in the girl’s tones. On the sidewalk he raised his eyes to the stars and sighed. As they walked along the darkened street he felt her hand slide through his arm. He sighed again. There was enough trouble before him without the jealousy of two intense females adding to their complications. He would have to be careful, he knew. Ginny Ridge had already informed him of the burning desires in her heart, and of the lengths to which she would go to realise them. It was possible too that she was the key to the whole trouble. So he would have to play carefully with her.

  Chapter Seven

  LOBO WAS OUT of the hotel early on the following morning. As he walked along to the jail to relieve Barr, he mulled over his latest conversations with Ginny Ridge.

  Barr was pleased to see him. The burly deputy stretched and yawned and hitched up his sagging gun-belts.

  ‘Gruber will be in about nine,’ Barr said. ‘There’ll be someone across from the restaurant with grub for the prisoners. The keys to the cells are in this top drawer.’

  ‘Has the one with the busted hand said any more?’ Lobo asked.

  ‘No. I don’t think he will either. He’s a real hard case. I reckon we should get him sent up for a couple of years. It would set an example for the others. They wouldn’t be so ready to shoot and kill if they thought Ridge could not save them from us. Well I’m off. I want some breakfast, then I’ll hit the sack until noon.’

  ‘See you later then. You know Ridge is riding in at noon.’

  ‘Yeah. Gruber said we are to stand by primed for trouble. Ridge always brings in a dozen riders for protection. See you at noon.’

  Barr went out. Lobo went through and looked at the prisoners. They were still asleep. He went back to Gruber’s desk and sat down. He scanned the various papers that littered the desk, and found a pile of dodgers in the right-hand drawer. He looked them through carefully, and was relieved to find that his face was not among the many notices.

  Ginny Ridge came into the office just after eight. She was neat and clean in her well brushed riding clothes. Lobo offered her a seat, which she rejected. She crossed to the desk, cleared one corner of it and sat down. Lobo watched her swinging one shapely leg.

  ‘I’ve been thinking about you, Lobo,’ she said.

  ‘And I’ve been thinking about you,’ he replied. ‘You might remember that my name is Ben.’

  ‘What do you think Gruber would do if he learned that you are Lobo Johnson?’

  ‘Not much,’ Lobo lied smoothly. ‘He hasn’t got a wanted notice on me. I’ve just been through his stack.’

  ‘I’ve got one of you. It’s an old one, but there’s no mistaking your face.’

  ‘So what are you going to do; blackmail me?’

  ‘I might at that. I would tell Gruber, you know, if it suited me.’

  ‘I’m well aware of it. But change the subject for the moment. How do we prove that Buck Page and not your father is behind all this trouble? Do you know there’s likely to be shooting when your old man rides in at noon? This town is all stirred up now.’

  ‘It was your action that did it,’ she retorted.

  ‘Well it was time someone showed them what to do. But the worst has yet to come. When it does the shooting will spread like wildfire. The whole county will go up in smoke.’

  ‘And Buck Page is behind it all. My father pays those gunmen, but they work for Buck Page.’

  ‘Have you told your father all this?’

  ‘He’s too stubborn to listen. The trouble is
he thinks he’s a good judge of men, and the last thing he’d do is admit that his judgment is wrong. So Page gets away with everything. He can’t lose.’

  ‘I suppose you know you’ll lose your father in the end. If the townsfolk or the law don’t get him then Page will. Page can’t take over the Big R until your father is dead.’

  ‘I know that.’ She sighed. ‘And I’m worried about you. Page wants you dead because he’s afraid of you. He may make a try for you today when they come in. Will you promise to stay by me until my father is ready to leave Pommel? They wouldn’t dare shoot if I was close to you.’

  ‘I would like that very much,’ Lobo replied, ‘but does it matter? If Page wants me he’s only got to send a couple of killers into town after dark and I’m buzzard meat come dawn. It’s as simple as that. But I figure that if Page wants me he’ll ride into town and call me out.’

  ‘I’ve told you he’s afraid. He’s not the Page you knew ten years ago. He’s changed a lot in the five years he’s been here.’

  ‘Men do change,’ Lobo reflected gravely. ‘I’ve been an outlaw for twenty years. Now I want to turn honest.’

  ‘Well you’ve made a good start. Lobo, I can help you to go straight. I’m in love with you. My father is a rich man. If I told him I loved you, he would help you. He’d buy us a ranch somewhere. Think of all the things we could do together.’

  ‘I’m honoured,’ Lobo said. ‘But I can’t consider your offer. I live in the shadows. Any law-abiding citizen can shoot me down in cold blood and get paid fifteen hundred dollars for doing it. I must never marry. There’s too much on my back trail. If I want to live into old age I’ve got to disappear into some remote part of the country. I’ve got to fade into oblivion. There’s not so much heat on me in these parts, but where I’ve just come from it was different. There were posses out after me nonstop. They never let up, and one day they’re going to catch up with me. It’ll end up with me dangling from a rope or stopping a bullet in the back.’