The Collected Short Stories of Louis L'Amour, Volume 2 (27 page)

“I want a home too, Johnny. So do you. Every man west of the Brazos would like one, but Gil Mason made it. He realized his dream, and then he was murdered, Johnny. I want to know what happened.”

“He'd kill me!”

“Johnny, most people around here take you for nothing but a drunk. I know better, Johnny, because I've looked into the past. You were a top hand, Johnny, one of the very best. You rode with all the good ones and you were one of them. It took a man to be what you were, Johnny, and it took a man to win the kind of respect you had. What happened, Johnny?”

Greier shook his head, staring at the full glass in front of him.

“Johnny, in a little while there's a stage coming in. On that stage, a pretty young girl will come in. She is Mary Mason's daughter and she is coming home to live on the ranch with Med Sowers. She's never seen him. She doesn't know what she's gettin' into. She's been away at school all these years.”

Johnny stared at the glass, then pushed back a little from the table. “There wasn't many of us here then, an' Med Sowers had all those gunmen around him, men who would kill you at the drop of a hat.

“There was no law here then. The country hadn't been organized. A man did whatever he wanted, and Med Sowers had the power.”

Johnny stared at Bowdrie out of red-rimmed, bloodshot eyes. “I knew what happened. I seen it comin', an' I did nothing.”

“What could you have done?”

“I dunno. Maybe nothing. I was nowhere as good with a gun as any one of that outfit. I seen Sowers watchin' her, and I could see what was in his mind. I started out to the ranch to warn Mason, but it was too late. That was the day they done it.

“Med will kill me for talkin', but I guess my time's about up, anyway. Med Sowers killed Mason for his woman.”

He stared into the glass. “He taken her to his place an' kept her there. She lived a dog's life. He sent her girl away to school and held that over her, that if she didn't go along, he'd see the kid killed.

“Later he said he might as well raise him another woman. ‘Let her grow up,' he said, ‘and then she'll be mine.'

“First chance she got, Mary ran off. He followed her an' killed her. Afraid she'd do it again and talk to somebody.”

There was a chorus of wild yells from the street, and the pounding hooves of racing horses.

“That's him. That's Med now, he an' that murderin' bunch of his. Dick Rubin, Hensman, Morel, and Lute Boyer. Rubin an' Boyer were with Med Sowers when he killed her.”

Chick Bowdrie heard another sound above their yells. It was the incoming stage. Under the deep brown of his face, Bowdrie paled. His thoughts raced. What could he do? What could he legally do? There had been no law then, but there was now, and she was Sowers' ward.

The chances were that the girl on the stage was Carlotta, mentioned in the letter. Now she would face what her mother had faced, and there was as yet no evidence beyond the word of Johnny Greier, even if he lived to speak.

Bowdrie walked outside and leaned against the awning post. It was the first time he found himself wishing he was not an officer of the law. He might walk out there, pick a fight with Sowers, and kill him.

He shook his head. That was no way to think. That was what the old Bowdrie might have done, the one before McNelly recruited him.

The stage rolled to a stop in a cloud of dust, the door was opened, and a girl got out.

Chick Bowdrie straightened with an indrawn breath. She was the image of the girl in the picture he had, a very pretty girl, every inch the lady.

Then his eyes shifted to Med Sowers. He saw the shock of recognition as the big man saw the girl's mother in her face. Then the shock faded, giving place to triumph and a sort of animal eagerness. Sowers pushed forward. His checkered shirt, far from clean, was open halfway down, revealing a massive hairy chest.

“Howdy, Mary!” he said. “I'm Med Sowers, your guardian!”

Mary? Why Mary?

She smiled brightly, but Bowdrie was close enough to see the dismay in her eyes.

“I am glad to see you,” she said. “I do not remember you, of course. I was so very young.”

“Think nothin' of it.” He hitched his belt over the bulge of his stomach. “We'll make y' feel right t' home. You just wait'll we get to the ranch. You cost me a sight of money, but I reckon it'll pay off now.”

“Thank you.” She turned to the tall, good-looking young man standing slightly behind her. “Mr. Sowers, I would like you to meet Stephen York, my fiancé.”

Med Sowers' hand stopped even as it started for the handshake. His face went dark with angry blood. “Your
what
?” he bellowed.

York stepped forward. “I can understand your surprise, Mr. Sowers, but we thought it best to tell you at once. Miss Mason and I wish to be married.”

“Married?”
Sowers was ugly with rage and frustration. “I'll see you in hell first! I didn't spend all that money gittin' her eddication for you to take her away!”

Chick Bowdrie stepped into the center of the gathering crowd. “What did you raise her for, Sowers?” he asked.

Med Sowers turned impatiently, seeing Bowdrie for the first time, but realizing for the first time also that an interested crowd had gathered. “Who're you?” he demanded.

“Just a very curious bystander, Sowers.” His eyes moved slowly over the faces of Rubin, Morel, Hensman, and Boyer. “I find it odd that you should be so mad because your ward has found her a young man.”

Bowdrie indicated York. “He looked to me like a right nice young man who would do right by the girl, and also,” he added, “one who would go a long way to protect her.”

Med Sowers was aware of the waiting, somewhat puzzled crowd. Perhaps only one or two aside from Sowers and Bowdrie knew what was implied.

Sowers made up his mind quickly. “Well, no wonder I was surprised! Here I've had no word … you kind of sprung it on me, Mary. I guess I kicked up the sod, some.” He grinned at York. “Better let her get out to the place an' git settled, then we can get acquainted. If you're the right man, I couldn't be more pleased.” He turned, reaching for her suitcase. “Well, let's get out to the ranch!”

Chick caught the girl's eye and shook his head ever so slightly. Her brow puckered, but she turned to Sowers.

“Oh, please! I want to stay in town tonight! I am so tired! Anyway, I have some shopping to do, some things I need.”

Sowers hesitated, fighting back the angry protest before his lips could shape it.

Bowdrie turned to walk away and found himself facing Dick Rubin. “Get out of town!” Rubin said. “Don't let me find you around after daybreak.”

Rubin did not wait for a reply, but moved away into the crowd. As Rubin moved off, Bowdrie noticed the other passengers who had descended from the stage. They were city men. One was tall, gray, and handsome, the other a shorter man with a broad, tough jaw and a cigar clenched in his teeth.

The shorter man was already leading the way toward Bowdrie. “Chick Bowdrie? I'm Pat Hanley, Pinkerton agent. I'm employed by Tugwell Gatesby here. Do you have some news for us?”

“Not very much, Hanley, but if you would like to help, you can get at the records of the stage company. I think Sam Gatesby arrived here from El Paso, and was taken into the hills and murdered. I believe I know by whom. Can you check and see if he arrived here?”

Whatever happened, Chick knew, must happen quickly now. Sowers would not take defeat. Yet despite his wealth, whatever was done now must at least have the cloak of legality. Formerly there had been no law but Sowers' own; now the country was settling up and there were different standards.

Chick did not discount the danger to himself. He had interfered in a situation in which he had no part that they could see, as his status as a Texas Ranger was not known. Sowers could not know who he was or why he had asked his question, but the question itself was a threat.

Stephen York was in an even more precarious position. Chick was sure that before the night was over one of Sowers' men would pick a quarrel with either him or York, and try to kill whichever one it was … with maybe a stray shot to kill the other by “accident.”

With Sowers and York, Mary Mason had gone to the two-story frame hotel. Morel, Hensman, and Rubin had gone into the Lone Star. Hanley had gone to the stage station and Gatesby to the hotel. Chick Bowdrie started to move toward the hotel himself, when he saw Lute Boyer watching him. As their eyes met, Boyer walked over to him. He had a lean, cadaverous face and eyes that always held contempt.

“I've been lookin' forward to runnin' into you sometime, Bowdrie,” he said. “I nearly came up with you down around Uvalde, and again at Fort Griffin. I've heard you're good with your guns.”

“Your friend Rubin warned me to get out of town before daybreak,” Bowdrie said.

Lute Boyer drew the makings from his pocket and began to build a cigarette. “Wait'll Dick learns who you are. He ain't even guessed, and you a Texas Ranger!”

“Lute, you ain't done all the guessin' that's comin' to you. Let me give you some advice. Don't you be the one they send to get Stephen York.”

The Herrick House was not much of a hotel. A frame building with a large lobby and a rarely used bar. The Lone Star drew the town's liquor business. There were thirty rooms in the ramshackle old hotel. One of these was where Chick Bowdrie was staying. In others Gatesby, Hanley, York, and Carlotta Mason were staying. She was now known as Mary Sowers.

Med Sowers was seated in the lobby when Bowdrie came in. As he started for the stairs, Sowers sprang to his feet. “Don't go up there!” he said angrily.

Chick Bowdrie had found few people whom he disliked profoundly, but this man was one of them. He had never wanted to kill a man, but if ever one deserved killing, it was Med Sowers.

“Don't be a fool!” he said impatiently. “This is a hotel, and I live up there! Dozens of others do, too.” He paused briefly. “Smarten up, Sowers. You aren't runnin' this country anymore. You've a lot to answer for, and your time's up.”

He turned on his heel and started up the steps. He heard Sowers move, and he turned around. “I could kill you, Sowers. You'd better wait.”

He went to Stephen York's room.

The tall young man was standing in front of the mirror combing his hair. His coat was off and he wore a shoulder holster, something rarely seen. He turned as Chick entered, and they stood facing each other.

“I'm glad she found herself a real man,” Bowdrie commented. “She's going to need him!”

“You know about me?”

“It's my business to know. Two years back, some of the riverboat companies hired a special officer from Illinois and sent him to New Orleans to put a stop to the robbin' and murderin' of their passengers. In four months he sent thirteen thieves to prison, and there were several who chose to fight it out and were buried.”

Chick pulled a chair around and sat astride of it; then he related the story of the Mason ranch, his quest for evidence, and all the indications that Medley Sowers was the guilty man. He revealed how Sowers planned to keep the daughter even as he had enslaved the mother.

He explained about the murder of Samuel Gatesby, and why Tugwell Gatesby and Pat Hanley were here. “Let's go see them,” he said.

Hanley was explaining something to Gatesby as they reached the room. “Your hunch was right,” he advised Bowdrie. “Samuel Gatesby arrived here three days after leaving El Paso. Hicks remembers him well. Gatesby rented a horse from Dick Rubin after inquiring as to the location of the Mason ranch.”

“Something I was about to explain to Hanley when you gentlemen arrived. The man you call Sowers is wearing a Chinese charm on his watch chain that I gave Sam in sixty-seven. I recognized it this afternoon.”

Bowdrie turned and left the room, walking down the hall to Carlotta's room. That was how he thought of her, despite the fact she had been using another name, that of Mary Sowers.

He tapped, there was no reply, and he tapped again more sharply. Hanley stepped into the hall and looked his way. Suddenly apprehensive, Bowdrie opened the door.

The room was empty!

“Hanley! York! She's gone!”

He hit the steps running and reached the lobby in time to hear a clatter of hooves. As he stepped into the street, he saw Sowers go by with Lute Boyer. The girl was between them.

As he ran out to the street, he saw Morel across the street in an alley lifting a rifle to his shoulder. His reaction was immediate, and as the rifle settled against Morel's shoulder, Bowdrie's bullet took him right between the eyebrows.

It was two hundred yards to the livery stable, and his own horse was unsaddled. A fine-looking black horse stood at the hitching rail, and without hesitation he loosed the slipknot and swung into the saddle. He was going down the street on a dead run when the others rushed from the door.

There was an outburst of shooting behind him and a bullet whined near his head. Ahead of him was the dust of the kidnappers of Carlotta.

If Sowers had time, there was no telling what he might do. Money and his followers had made him confident. For twenty years he had been the local power, and he could not grasp the fact that an era had ended.

Dick Rubin and Hensman were still in town. Between them they might wipe out York, Hanley, and Gatesby. With nobody to press charges, they might evade punishment and go on as they had.

If Sowers reached his ranch, where more of his outlaw hands waited, there was no telling what he might do. The townspeople had no idea of the evidence against him. With the witnesses eliminated and everybody believing that Mary Sowers was his ward, they could go scot-free.

The black horse had heart, and he loved to run. He ran now.

Yet Bowdrie saw that overtaking them would be impossible. They had turned from the trail into a maze of canyons, and with the coming of darkness Bowdrie could not hope to keep to a trail. Yet, details were beginning to appear that were familiar. He had ridden over this country when he first discovered the Mason ranch and the remains of Gil Mason.