Buckskin Run (Ss) (1981)

by L'amour, Louis

  -Not yet, but I hear she has Henry Childs in mind."

  "Childs? Reckon she'd think of him. She's money-hungry , that woman is." He chuckled suddenly. "Hee, bee! I r eckon that would serve ol' Henry right! It surely would!"

  "Do you know him ?"

  Shipton's expression changed. "Me? No, I don't kno w him. Heard of him." Then he added, He ain 't safe t o know."

  "He's just a rancher, isn't he'?"

  Shipton shrugged. "Maybe he is, maybe he isn't. Som e folks get powerful unpleasant about those who ask questions."

  Nothing was to be done with Shipton present, yet Ro d was sure that somewhere in the vicinity of the basin h e would find a clue to the mystery of Buckskin Run. Thos e wagons had to have gone somewhere, and it would hav e taken an army of men or many teams to hoist the wagon s u ? the cliffs.' That possibility seemed out of the question.

  As for the run itself, those cascades could not be negotiated by a canoe, let alone three large wagons.

  Mounting up, he waved a hand at Shipton and rod e away. The man was a puzzle, but obviously knew mor e than he was letting on. Could he have been around at th e time? It was possible.

  By the time he arrived at the cabin he was sure of on e thing. However those wagons had escaped, they had no t come down this way. The wagons, he decided, were stil l there, and so was the gold.

  Riding u? to his cabin he swung down. Only then di d he see the big, bearded man seated on the bench in fron t of the house.

  'This looks like my day for visitors. Did you come wit h Shipton?"

  "Shipton'? You don't mean Josh is around? Now tha t does beat all! Wait until Em hears!"

  "I promised I wouldn't mention it."

  "Well, I surely won't. Any man who got away from tha t woman deserves his freedom, believe you me."

  The man stood up. "My name's Jed Blue. I'm an ol d timer here. Doubt if you heard of me, because I've bee n away for a spell. Trapped fur in this country. I come i n with Carson, the first time."

  "Had anything to eat?"

  Blue glanced at the height of the sun. "Reckon it's gettin' on to time." He followed Morgan inside. "You'v e made a lot of enemies, son."

  "I didn't ask for them."

  'Tha t: was a neat gun job you did on Beuben Hart.

  Don 't know's I ever saw it done better."

  "You saw that? Where were you ? On the stage?"

  "I was. There were some other folks on it, too, including Em Shipton and a gent named Brewer. They 'd been t o Santa Fe, seems like." He glanced at Morgan. "There wa s a girl on that stage, too. Name of Lorna Day.

  "Lorna? Here? But how -- ?"

  "She said she'd come on without waiting for word fro m you. She had nothing back where she came from. My feelin' was she thought she'd better make the tri ? whils t she still had the money."

  "But why didn't she say something' She must have see n me!"

  Jed Blue was slicing some beef from a cold roast. "Yo u got to think of her, and how it must've seemed. Women -folks are different than us, and she bein' from the East , and all.

  "Em Shipton, she'd been tellin' her what a bad hombr e you were and then she comes u ? when you've just killed a man.

  "That killing seemed like proof of all they'd been sayin g about you. She's down to Cordova now, and I figured I'd better break the news so you can plan on what to do."

  He paused. She may not welcome you with open arms.

  "It can't be helped. I must see her!"

  "You hold on. Just think about it a mite. In the fi rs t place, she's a mighty fetchin' young woman, and tha t Brewer may have some ideas of his own. He's a fine -lookin' man, and one who usually gets what he wants.

  You'd better set down and think this through before yo u go in there a foggin'.

  "Also, you've got to remember there will be folks expecting you now. They know this girl has come out to see you.

  Em Shipton will tell ever'body in town. So they may jus t be waitin' for you, son. You've got to think about it."

  Blue was silent for a moment and then he asked, "Thi s here Brewer, now. Does he wear a gun? D' you kno w anything about him'"

  "I never saw him with a gun, but I've only seen hi m once or twice.

  "I was wondering. Reminds me somewhat of a man I k new one time, a long way back."

  They were eating in silence when Rod suddenly looke d up. "You didn't ride all the way out here just to tell m e about Lorna."

  Jed Blue tipped back in his chair, his huge body dwarfing the table at which they sat. "Reckon I didn't, son. I w as sort of lookin' over the lay of the land."

  "In other words, you're gold hunting ?"

  Blue chuckled, plucking at his beard. "Right on th e point, ain't you? I like that. I like a man who comes righ t out with it. So if I find it, what then>"

  "You keep half."

  Blue laughed. "You do speak out. What if I don't aim t o give you none of it ?"

  Rod Morgan rested both hands on the table. He was no t smiling. "Friend, I'm grateful for telling me my girl frien d was in Cordova, but half of whatever you find is enough.

  The gold is on my land, but if you find it you keep half.

  You try to leave with all of it, and you'll have to shoot you r way out."

  Blue chuckled. "Of course, you might not find it so eas y as with Hart. I shuck a gun pretty good myself, and 1'v e had a bit more experience." He cut off a slice of beef an d placed it between two pieces of bread. "What you going t o do with your half ."

  "Buy cattle, stock this place, fix it u ? a mite, than hire a few hands."

  Blue nodded approving)y. "Canny. Makes sense. Eas y money is soon gone without a sensible plan." He looke d u ? at Rod. "Don't want a partner, do you? I'd like to work into a setup like this, and I'm a to ? hand, even though I d on't look it."

  I'd have to think about it," Rod said. He looked at th e big man again, puzzled by something he could not define.

  There was more to this man than there seemed on th e surface, but his impression was the man would be a squar e shooter. "It might be a good idea," he said, "but I wouldn't take any man in with me who didn't realize what he wa s getting into."

  "Son," Blue said, "don't you pay that no mind. I've ha d wool in my teeth. I'm not one to hunt trouble, but 1'v e stood alone many's the time. When I'm pushed I can bac k my play. You an' me together, we could show them a thing or two."

  Rod shoved back his chair. "I'm riding to town now.

  Want to come along'?"

  Jed Blue picked his teeth with a straw. He shoved bac k his own chair. "Don't mind if I do," he said. "I reckon I m ight as well get acquainted."

  As they passed through the bottleneck Blue gestured of f toward the open country. "There's a passel of mavericks i n the canyons and draws east of here. A couple of good me n could build a herd real fast."

  "That's a good way to get a chance to make hair bridles.

  You start that and they'd have us in a rockwalled garden."

  "No," Blue said seriously, "most of this stock is over a year old and unbranded. It's for anybody. A few weeks o f hard work and we could make a drive, sell out, and hav e some working capital."

  They rode in silence, Rod preoccupied with thoughts o f Lorna. It had been two years since he had seen her, bu t now that she was near he was excited, eager to see her , but worried, too. He knew now that he wanted her mor e than anything in life, realizing how much he had stifle d thoughts of her so he could build for their future. No w that she had come west, her mind had been poisone d against him, and she had seen him kill a man withou t knowing anything of what came before.

  Cordova lay flat and still under a baking sun. The mountaias drew back disdainfully from the desert town, leavin g it to fry in its own sweat and dust. A spring wagon wa s receiving a load of supplies in front of the general store , and a half-dozen horses stood three-legged at the hitchin g rail of the Gem Saloon. Jed Blue glanced over at Rod.

  "More than likely she'll be at Em Shipton's. It's abou t the on
ly place a decent woman can stay. Want me to rid e along?"

  "Wait for me at the Gem, if you can stand their whiskey."

  Turning the gray toward Em Shipton's, he felt all tigh t inside. He dismounted, stalling a little bit, afraid of wha t Lorna might say. All his hopes, all his dreams were boun d u ? in her. He walked u ? the slatted board walk an d entered the boarding house.

  Lorna was standing at the end of the table in wha t seemed to be serious conversation with Mark Brewer.

  "Rod! Oh, Rod!"

  Yet even as he moved toward her he saw her eye s change as they fell to his gun.

  He took her hands. "It has been a long time, too long."

  Suddenly she seemed uncertain, she half turned fro m him. "Mark? Have you met Rod Morgan'"

  "No, I'm afraid not." Brewer's voice was cool, but no t unfriendly. "How are you, Morgan'?"

  Rod nodded. She had called him Mark. "Very well , thanks." His tone sounded less cordial than he intended.

  "I am surprised to see you in town," Brewer commented. "You know, I suppose, that Dally Hart is gunning fo r you?"

  "Is he?" Lorna's hands had gone cold in his. She withdrew them gently. "But that isn't unusual in Cordova, is it? Hasn't someone been gunning for me ever since I s ettled in Buckskin Run ? And I don't mean the Harts o r any of the small fry."

  "Just who do you mean?"

  -If I knew that I'd go call on him and ask some questions. Now would you mind leaving us alone? I'd like t o talk to Lorna."

  Mark smiled, but there was a taunting amusement i n his eyes. "Now why should I leave you alone' Miss Day i s to be my wife."

  Rod felt as if he had been kicked in the stomach. Hi s eyes turned, unbelievingly, to Lorna's. Her eyes fell befor e his. Then she looked up.

  "Bod, I want you to understand. I like you ever s o much, but all this killing... I couldn't understand it , and Mark has been so kind. I hadn't seen you, and --"

  "There's nothing to explain." He was in control again.

  "You are as had as the rest of them. As for you, Brewer , you've done your work well. You've taken advantage o f the fact that Lorna doesn't understand the West, nor th e situation here. You sneaked, connived, and probably lied."

  "Don't try to bully me into a shooting, Morgan! I a m not even wearing a gun."

  Lorna was wildly furious. "Rod Morgan! To think yo u would dare to speak like that! Mark hasn't lied. He ha s been honest and sincere. He told me not to believe al l they said about you, but to wait and ask. He said I shoul d see what men like Henry Childs thought of you, and --"

  "Childs'? Childs, did you say? Didn't you know it wa s Childs and the Block C who was fighting me>"

  He looked over at Brewer. "You're welcome to her , Brewer. If she can go back on one man so easily, she wil l go back on another."

  "If I was wearing a gun --"

  "What then? If you like, I'll take mine off."

  "I am not a cheap brawler. You had better go now. I t hink you have made Miss Day unhappy enough."

  Rod Morgan turned sharply away, and started for th e door. Behind him he half-heard a stifled cry as if she wer e calling out to him, but he did not turn.

  He had just reached his horse when he saw Jed Blue.

  Without waiting for an explanation, he turned toward him , knowing what was about to happen.

  Son, Blue spoke quietly, "Dally Hart's over there. He says he'll shoot on sight."

  "Let him! I'm in the mood for it! If he wants trouble, h e sure picked the right time. I'm sick of being pushe d around, and if I'm to have the name of a killer I might a s well pay my dues."

  "Watch yourself, son!" Blue said. "There may be mor e than one. I'll try to cover you, but keep your eyes open."

  Rod Morgan started u? the street, spurs jingling as h e walked. Inside he was boiling, but he knew he mus t steady down, for Dally Hart was a dangerous man, muc h more so than his brother Reuben had been. Suddenly h e found himself hating everything around him. He had com e to the town a friendly stranger, asking no favors of anyone , and almost from the first he had faced dislike and eve n hatred. Someone, he was sure, was guiding the feelin g against him, disclaiming the stories yet repeating them , and that person could be he who had killed both Tolber t and Weisl.

  That person might also be the one who knew where th e gold was buried, knew what had happened so long ago i n Buckskin Run.

  But who could possibly know? How could he know ? He -... Or was it she'?

  At that instant Rod Morgan saw Dally Hart.

  The gunman had been standing behind a horse; now h e stepped into the open with his back to the sun, putting th e full glare in Rod's eyes.

  They were over a hundred yards apart, but Rod wa s walking swiftly. Sights and sounds were wiped from hi s world, and all he could see was the slim, tall figure wit h the high-crowned hat standing in the middle of the street.

  Vaguely, he was aware that men had come from th e stores and were lining the street, oblivious of the dange r of ricocheting bullets. Dust arose in little puffs as h e walked, and he could feel the heat of the sun on his face.

  His body seemed strangely light, hut each foot seemed t o fall hard to the ground as he walked.

  He was going to kill this man. Suddenly all the hatred , the trouble and c onfusion seemed to center o n the sli m man , the taunting, challenging eyes and the hatche t face who was awaiting him.

  He was sixty yards away, forty yards. Bod saw Dally's fingers spread a little. Thirty yards. The expression o n Hart's face changed; his tongue touched his lips. Rod wa s walking fast, closing the distance.

  Twenty yards, eighteen, sixteen --There were men, he knew, who, proud of their marksmanship, preferred distance for their shooting, but as th e distance grew less and less they became aware that a t short range neither m an was likely to miss. Luke Short , the Dodge City gunfighter, always crowded his foes , crowded them until they lost their poise and began to bac k u p to get distance.

  Fourteen yards -Dally Hart's nerve broke and he went for his gun.

  Incredibly fast, and the gun lifted in a smooth, unbroke n movement. It came level and flowered with sudde n flame, then his own gun bucked in his hand, and bucke d again.

  Dally Hart wavered, then steadied. Something was wron g with his face. His gun came u p and he fired. A blow struc k Morgan. His legs went weak under him, and he fire d again. Hart's face seemed to turn dark, then crimson, an d the gunman toppled into the dust.

  From somewhere behind him a gun bellowed and a s from a great distance he heard Jed Blue saying, That wa s one! who will he the next to die ?"

  There was a rectangle of sunlight lying inside the cabi n door, and beyond it Rod could see the green, waving gras s of Buckskin Run. He could hear the muted sound of th e stream as it boiled over the rocks, gathering force t o charge the bottleneck.

  He was home, in his own cabin. He turned his head.

  Everything was as he had last seen it, except for on e thing. There was another bed across the room, a be d carefully made up. The table was scrubbed clean, th e room freshly swept. He wondered about that, wondere d vaguely how long he had been here and who had brough t him back.

  In the midst of his wondering he fell asleep, and whe n he again opened his eyes it was dark beyond the door an d a lam ? glowed on the table. He could hear vague movements, a rustling as of garments, and he felt that if he la y still he would soon see whomever was in the room.

  While he was waiting he fell asleep again, and when h e awakened it was morning again and sunlight was shinin g through the doorway. Then he saw something else. Je d Blue was crouched near the window but well out of sight.

  The door was barred, and someone was moving abou t outside.

  Rod started to lift himself u ? when he heard a voice h e recognized as Josh Shipton's. "Halloo, in there? Anybod y to home?"

  Blue made no reply. It was grotesque to see the bi g man crouching i n silence. What was he afraid of? Wha t could Jed Blue possibly fear from Shipton? Yet it wa s
obvious Blue did not wish to be seen.

  After a while Jed Blue stood u p and, standing first t o one side and then to the other, peered out the window.

  After a careful look around, he unbarred the door. Ro d hastily closed his eyes, then, after a bit, stirred on the be d and simulated awakening. When he opened his eyes th e big, bearded man was standing over him.

  "Coming out of it, are you?"

  "What happened''

  "You killed Dally Hart, but he got two bullets into you.

  I was almighty busy for a few minutes, and had to pac k you out of town before I could patch you up. You lost a sight of blood, and the tri ? back here didn't do you an y good .

  "You were in it, too, weren't you? I thought I heard yo u shoot."

  "That Block C coyote Bob Carr tried to shoot you in th e back. After he went down I had to hold a gun on th e others whilst we rolled our tails out of town."

  "How long have I been here?"

  "A week or so. You were in a bad way."

  "Any other trouble?"

  "Some. Jake Sarran, that Block C ramrod, rode in her e with a dozen hands. Said as soon as you could ride yo u were to get out, and they weren't warning you again."

  "To Hell with that! I'm staying."

  "Want a partner? My offer still stands."

  "Why not? We're cut from the same leather, I think.

  Rod was silent. He wanted to ask about Lorna, but wa s ashamed to. He waited, hoping Blue would offer som e hint as to what had happened to her. Was she married?

  Rod sighed, trying not to think of her. After all, she ha d thrown him over for Mark Brewer. Still, he had to mak e allowances. After all, she hadn't seen him in two years , then to hear nothing but bad about him, and then to se e him kill another man --His thoughts shifted to the vanished wagons and th e gold, then to the strange actions of Jed Blue when Shipto n came around.

  Why had Blue not wished to be seen by Josh Shipton ?

  Or had there been others outside, and Josh simply th e bait to draw him out to be killed ? It was possible.

  Despite his curiosity he had no doubt there was a sensible explanation, and had no doubts about his ne w partner. After all, the man had saved his life, had gotte n him out of town when they would certainly have eithe r killed him or let him die. Few men would dare challeng e the power of the Block C, and from the memory of th e horses he had seen he knew the Block C had been out i n force.