Oliver Strange - Sudden Westerns 10 - Sudden Plays a Hand(1950) (17 page)

 
          
“That
was very kind of you, Mister Cullin,’ she said warmly. “Not a-tall, just
fairness,’ he replied, and then smiled. “What does Drait think about yore good
fortune?’

 
          
“We
haven’t discussed it yet,’ she answered. “I imagine that, like
myself
, he prefers to deal with facts.’

 
          
“You
have known him long?’

 
          
‘No,’
she replied shortly, and he did not pursue the subject.

 
          
He
offered no protest when she wished to return, but insisted on escorting her.

 
          
They
parted at the spot where they had met, and the clasp of her hand made his blood
burn. Holding it, he said: “I want you to think of me as a friend, one who will
always be ready to help you in case of need.’

 
          
Without
waiting for any response, he turned abruptly and rode away. For a moment she
sat gazing after him, astonished and rather impressed—as he had meant her to
be. He did not look back.

 
          
Riding
slowly back to Shadow Valley, she vainly endeavoured to arrange her ideas about
her late companion. Though he had clearly shown that he admired her, it had not
been done with the crude and offensive familiarity of Lamond. She liked him,
and yet….

 
          
The
Big C man was in no doubt about his feelings—he wanted this woman and would
have her, by fair means or foul. What she was to the nester he did not know,
but should it prove an obstacle that was just too bad—for Drait. He rode on
towards his destination, smiling grimly.

 
          
He
was welcomed with some surprise and no great show of amiability, but was
invited in and the customary bottle was produced.

 
          
“Well, Greg, you wouldn’t come all this way ‘less you wanted
somethin’,’ Bardoe began. “
Let’s have it.’

 
          
“My
dear Bull,’ the visitor protested mildly, and Bardoe stiffened; Cullin, in a
polite mood, was to be suspected. “The pleasure of seein’ you …’

 
          
“Take
a good long look an’ then gimme the real reason,’ the other said sourly.

 
          
“What
a doubtin’ Thomas you are, Bull,’ Cullin smiled. “But there was an item of news
I fancied might interest you; the S P is changin’ hands.’

 
          
The
other’s eyes narrowed. Was it a guess, or had something leaked out? “No,’ he
replied evenly. “The missin’ heir has been discovered—Pavitt’s grand-daughter.’

 
          
“A gal, after all, huh.
How should that interest me?’

 
          
“Jack
Gilman’ll have to go.’

 
          
“Can’t
see why—she’ll need a foreman.’

 
          
Will
she? Nicholas Drait is at present takin’ care of her,’ Cullen said carelessly.

 
          
Bardoe’s
eyebrows climbed, his mouth opened ludicrously as this statement sank in. “Are
you mad, or am I?’ he asked.

 
          
“Probably
both of us, but what I’ve told you is a cold fact.’

 
          
Bull
digested this in frowning silence. The girl he had lost was actually the
possessor of the S P ranch, and the man who had stolen her—as he put it—was
holding her. The shock was a staggering one.
If only he—but
that would not bear thinking of.
Cullin was astonished at the effect of
his news; Bull could not be so concerned about the foreman’s future.

 
          
“It’s
tough luck on Gilman,’ he remarked.

 
          
“To
hell with Gilman,’ Bardoe retorted. “It’s tough on me.’ “Afraid I don’t get
you.’

 
          
“Listen,’
Bull growled. “When Drait tried to bump me off that time up on Table Mesa, I
had a gal ridin’ behind me. I’d picked her up less’n an hour earlier, fair lost
an’ pretty well all in. Said she’d stampeded from the place she was workin’ an’
that she’d no folks an’ nowhere to go. I offered her a job as housekeeper at
the 8 B, an’ she agreed. It warn’t
no hardship to look at
her—young
an’ fresh, which is how I like ‘em.’ He leered at his
listener. “You know what
happened,
Drait did a pore
job but knocked me out. He took the gal—they were together when my fellas
catched him, an’ if it hadn’t bin for them two strangers—hell burn their
bones—she’d ‘a’ bin fetched back to me. I want her, which is somethin’ you
wouldn’t understand, an’ I mean to have her, ‘specially now; the S P would suit
me fine.’

 
          
It
was a tribute to Cullin’s faculty of self-control that he was able to present a
blank face during this brutal admission. But he had come to find a tool, and if
it was keener and more dangerous than he had looked for, so much the better.
When the work was done…

 
          
“You’ll
find Drait a hard nut,’ he remarked. I’ll expect he’ll marry her—now.’

 
          
“All
one to me,’ Bardoe chuckled. “I don’t mind a widow if she’s a good-looker.’

 
          
The
Big C man emptied his glass. “I wish you luck, Bull,’ he said. “Don’t try
anythin’ too raw an’ rely on gettin’ away with it; Midway is more than a mite
doubtful o’ Camort, an’ the Judge is jumpy. Losin’ Gilman an’ Vasco, we won’t
be too strong.’

 
          
“You
needn’t to worry,’ Bardoe grinned. “With that cursed nester attended to an’ me
in the saddle at the S P, we’ll have ‘em where’s the hair’s short.’

 
          
He
accompanied his visitor to the door, and sent a satirical grimace after him. “Eggs
me on, an’ then fobs me off,’ he mused. “Well, Mister Cullin, I dunno what yore
game is but I’m playin’ my own an’ may the Devil take you.’

 
          
Cullin,
riding with bent head, had plenty to occupy his mind. A bringer of news, he had
also learned some. Presently he laughed.

 
          
“He
downs Drait, an’ we hang him for it,’ he said, and this entirely satisfactory
solution restored his temper to almost normal. At the Big C he found Lamond
awaiting him.

 
          
“Want
yore job back? So Drait fired you. Why?’

 
          
“Double-crossin’
him, he said, but the real reason was he catched me sparkin’ the gal an’,
believe me, she’s worth a risk.’

 
          
“You
were lucky; me, I’d a’ beefed you,’ the rancher said.

 
          
“So
would he, but she begged him not to,’ Lamond grinned. “Said for me to leave the
country, but I’m stayin’; I mean to git him—an’ her.’

 
          
Again
Cullin schooled his features to impassivity. Here was a third string to his
bow, and he did not hesitate. “Awright, when you’ve settled with the nester
I’ll put you on the pay-roll.’

 
          
“That’s
a bet,’ the cowboy said jauntily, and went out.

 
          
The
rancher smiled contentedly. The wise man gets others to run the risks, an’
then, helps hisself to the stakes.’

 
          
NEARLY
two weeks passed and nothing occurred to disturb the serenity of Shadow Valley.
But the nester indulged in no false sense of security, and he was right—his
enemies were not idle. The first evidence of this was provided by the arrival,
in the early morning, of the sheriff, supported by a couple of deputies.
Hammering on the gate, he demanded admittance “in the name of the Law.’

 
          
Drait
and his wife came out of the house just as the procession arrived; they were
about to take their usual ride. The intruder surveyed them malevolently.

 
          
“Needin’
me?’ the nester enquired.

 
          
“You
betcha,’ Camort replied, and held up a paper. “This is a warrant.’

 
          
“
Another
?’ Drait grinned. Perseverin’ fella, ain’t you? What
have you cooked up this time?’

 
          
“Just
a little matter o’ liftin’ other folk’s cattle, that’s all,’ the sheriff
sneered, and turned to his assistants. “Take his gun an’ put the cuffs on him.
If he resists, shoot.’

 
          
Wall-eye
and his companion hesitated, and then began to dismount—slowly. Drait’s harsh
voice interrupted the operation. “Stay in yore saddles—you’ll be safer. I’m
comin’ with you, Stinker, free an’ armed. In case you got other ideas, let me
point out that Quilt is holdin’ a rifle on you, an’ if I nod, Midway will be
able to elect a real sheriff. As for yore hirelin’s, I could put ‘em on the
ground quicker’n they’d get there any other way. Next time you try to take me
by force, you’d better bring the force.’

 
          
Camort’s
face was poisonous. “
There won’t be no
next time,’ he
snarled. “We got the deadwood on you.’

 
          
It
was at this point that Sudden and Yorky rode up. Drait grinned. ‘Comin’ to town,
Jim? Stinker has issued an invite.’ He turned to Mary. “Yorky will take you
along the valley.’

 
          
In
a few moments they set out, the nester and Sudden in advance, with the sheriff
and his deputies following. Quilt convoyed them to the gate.

 
          
“Say,
Nick, let them polecats ride ahead, in case of an accident,’ he advised loudly.

 
          
“You’re
forgettin’ Stinker represents the Law, with a big L,’ his boss smiled.

 
          
“Mis-represents
it, you mean,’ the foreman snorted. “There’s another big hell a-gapin’ for him
if he tries any tricks.’

 
          
“Threats
from yore men won’t help you, or scare me from doin’ my dooty,’ Camort growled.

 
          
“Quilt
ain’t threatenin’ you, he’s just makin’ a promise,’ Drait returned lightly. “An’
he’s one o’ those unusual people who keeps ‘em.’

 
          
Comforting himself with the reflection that his turn was coming,
the sheriff dropped into a sullen silence which his underlings forbore to
break.
A few yards in front of them Nick and his companion conversed in
low tones.

 
          
The
usually busy street of Midway seemed strangely empty. Outside the bank, Drait
pulled up, slipped from his saddle, and went in. The sheriff uttered an
exclamation and put a hand to his gun-butt, only to fetch it away with celerity
when Sudden turned a chilly eye on him, the nester was back in a few moments. A
little further along they were welcomed with a whoop by Pilch.

 
          
“Lo,
Nick, you’ve won me ten bucks,’ he greeted. “I bet you’d face the music, come
free, an’ wearin’ yore gun.’

 
          
“Good
for you, ol-timer,’ Drait smiled. “Hope it ain’t one o’ my friends yo’re
saltin’.’

 
          
“Not
any; the victim is that happy-lookin’ guy behind you, with a star on his manly
buzzum.’

 
          
The
nester stole a glance at the sheriff, whose face resembled a miniature
thunder-cloud, and shook his head. Too bad to take advantage of a half-wit,’ he
said. “Where’s everybody?’

 
          
“Down to the court-room.
Say, they got it all arranged—jury
packed—Stinker would say “picked” but it’s the same thing, witnesses primed up,
and the Judge waitin’ to walk in, sober, if possible. But you’ll have a square
deal, son, or the fur’ll fly. I’ll have that ten now, Camort; fat men like you
is apt to die unexpected.’

 
          
The
money was handed over; Pilch owned the principal store and had influence in the
town, and the officer was well aware that his own popularity was on the wane.
He was relying on this trial to re-establish it.