Oliver Strange - Sudden Westerns 10 - Sudden Plays a Hand(1950) (36 page)

 
          
“Bardoe.’
Sheer surprise kept Nick silent. “He’s a changed
man, but still feared, an’ I think he’ll make good. Bein’ peace-officer is no
picnic; I’ve had some.’ He smiled reminiscently as he recalled hectic months in
a tough little town on the Mexican border, months of almost daily danger.

 
          
Nick
was silent for some moments, and then, “Jim, how did you make Towler put Cullin
in the dock?’ He nodded sagely when he had heard the explanation. “Guessed you
warn’t
an ornery cow-wrastler,’ he said. “Well, havin’
cleaned up I s’pose you’ll be hittin’ the trail soon?’

 
          
“Not
till yo’re in the saddle again, or-timer.’

 
          
“I’ll
be damn lonely in the Valley,’ Nick said gloomily. “Time’s more than through,’
came
a voice from the door.

 
          
Outside,
Mary was waiting, anxious enquiry in her eyes. “He’s lookin’ better’n I
expected,’ Sudden promptly lied. “A mite
depressed,
mebbe. I guess
it’s
on’y heart trouble.’

 
          
“Only?’
she gasped in alarm, and then the dawning smile made his meaning clear. “Jim,
you’re a—dear,’ she cried, and hurriedly retreated.

 
          
She
found her patient lying back, eyes closed,
face
pale
as the pillow on which it rested. He seemed dreadfully still, and her heart
missed a beat. Had the visit been too much for him? Oppressed by the fear, she
sank on her knees by the bedside, and spoke his name. Slowly the heavy lids
lifted.

 
          
“Must
‘a’ dozed,’ he muttered. Why, what’s wrong.’

 
          
“Nothing—now,’
she replied, as the colour drained back into her cheeks. “I was alarmed. I
thought….’ A shudder shook her.

 
          
“Would
it ‘a’ mattered all that much?’ he asked.

 
          
The
barriers for her were down now. “I think—I would have died too,’ she said
huskily.

 
          
For
long breathless seconds he lay silent, trying to realise the joy that was
coming to him. Then, “
If
I tell you life can’t give me
a sweeter moment than this, Mary, you won’t—laugh at me?’

 
          
Her
head drooped. “So you knew?’ she said shamedly.

 
          
“I
suspicioned,’ he smiled. “My dear, you were wastin’ yore time; I reckon I loved
you—unknowin’—right from the start. When I found out what you meant to me, I
was scared to show it, in case. I couldn’t blame you, after—’

 
          
A
small hand closed his lips, and a passionate voice said, “You should have used
your quirt; it might have brought a vindictive little fool to her senses. Oh, I
hate myself when I remember. You were kind to me, and in return I’ve…’

 
          
“Saved
my life—yeah, I’ve the doc’s word for that—an’ given me the greatest happiness
I have ever known,’ he finished tenderly. The past is done, the future to face,
together, just the two of us.’

 
          
A
rosy face burrowed into the hollow of his shoulder. He drew her closer and
pressed his lips to the golden curls, as he whispered: “Girl, girl, but I’ll be
mighty good to you.’

       
The End