The Lone Star Ranger and the Mysterious Rider (8 page)

“I'm glad to meet you, Miss—Miss Jennie,” said Duane. “Euchre didn't mention your last name. He asked me to come over to—”

Duane's attempt at pleasantry halted short when Jennie lifted her lashes to look at him. Some kind of a shock went through Duane. Her gray eyes were beautiful, but it had not been beauty that cut short his speech. He seemed to see a tragic struggle between hope and doubt that shone in her piercing gaze. She kept looking, and Duane could not break the silence. It was no ordinary moment.

“What did you come here for?” she asked, at last.

“To see you,” replied Duane, glad to speak.

“Why?”

“Well—Euchre thought—he wanted me to talk to you, cheer you up a bit,” replied Duane, somewhat lamely. The earnest eyes embarrassed him.

“Euchre's good. He's the only person in this awful place who's been good to me. But he's afraid of Bland. He said you were different. Who are you?”

Duane told her.

“You're not a robber or rustler or murderer or some bad man come here to hide?”

“No, I'm not,” replied Duane, trying to smile.

“Then why are you here?”

“I'm on the dodge. You know what that means. I got in a shooting-scrape at home and had to run off. When it blows over I hope to go back.”

“But you can't be honest here?”

“Yes, I can.”

“Oh, I know what these outlaws are. Yes, you're different.” She kept the strained gaze upon him, but hope was kindling, and the hard lines of her youthful face were softening.

Something sweet and warm stirred deep in Duane as he realized the unfortunate girl was experiencing a birth of trust in him.

“O God! Maybe you're the man to save me—to take me away before it's too late!”

Duane's spirit leaped.

“Maybe I am,” he replied, instantly.

She seemed to check a blind impulse to run into his arms. Her cheek flamed, her lips quivered, her bosom swelled under her ragged dress. Then the glow began to fade; doubt once more assailed her.

“It can't be. You're only—after me, too, like Bland—like all of them.”

Duane's long arms were out and his hands clasped her shoulders. He shook her.

“Look at me—straight in the eye. There are decent men. Haven't you a father—a brother?”

“They're dead—killed by raiders. We lived in Dimmit County. I was carried away,” Jennie replied, hurriedly. She put up an appealing hand to him. “Forgive me. I believe—I know you're good. It was only—I live so much in fear—I'm half crazy—I've almost forgotten what good men are like. Mister Duane, you'll help me?”

“Yes, Jennie, I will. Tell me how. What must I do? Have you any plan?”

“Oh no. But take me away.”

“I'll try,” said Duane, simply. “That won't be easy, though. I must have time to think. You must help me. There are many things to consider. Horses, food, trails, and then the best time to make the attempt. Are you watched—kept prisoner?”

“No. I could have run off lots of times. But I was afraid. I'd only have fallen into worse hands. Euchre has told me that. Mrs. Bland beats me, half starves me, but she has kept me from her husband and these other dogs. She's been as good as that, and I'm grateful. She hasn't done it for love of me, though. She always hated me. And lately she's growing jealous. There was a man came here by the name of Spence—so he called himself. He tried to be kind to me. But she wouldn't let him. She was in love with him. She's a bad woman. Bland finally shot Spence, and that ended that. She's been jealous ever since. I hear her fighting with Bland about me. She swears she'll kill me before he gets me. And Bland laughs in her face. Then I've heard Chess Alloway try to persuade Bland to give me to him. But Bland doesn't laugh then. Just lately before Bland went away things almost came to a head. I couldn't sleep. I wished Mrs. Bland would kill me. I'll certainly kill myself if they ruin me. Duane, you must be quick if you'd save me.”

“I realize that,” replied he, thoughtfully. “I think my difficulty will be to fool Mrs. Bland. If she suspected me she'd have the whole gang of outlaws on me at once.”

“She would that. You've got to be careful—and quick.”

“What kind of woman is she?” inquired Duane.

“She's—she's brazen. I've heard her with her lovers. They get drunk sometimes when Bland's away. She's got a terrible temper. She's vain. She likes flattery. Oh, you could fool her easy enough if you'd lower yourself to—to—”

“To make love to her?” interrupted Duane.

Jennie bravely turned shamed eyes to meet his.

“My girl, I'd do worse than that to get you away from here,” he said, bluntly.

“But—Duane,” she faltered, and again she put out the appealing hand. “Bland will kill you.”

Duane made no reply to this. He was trying to still a rising strange tumult in his breast. The old emotion—the rush of an instinct to kill! He turned cold all over.

“Chess Alloway will kill you if Bland doesn't,” went on Jennie, with her tragic eyes on Duane's.

“Maybe he will,” replied Duane. It was difficult for him to force a smile. But he achieved one.

“Oh, better take me off at once,” she said. “Save me without risking so much—without making love to Mrs. Bland!”

“Surely, if I can. There! I see Euchre coming with a woman.”

“That's her. Oh, she mustn't see me with you.”

“Wait—a moment,” whispered Duane, as Jennie slipped indoors. “We've settled it. Don't forget. I'll find some way to get word to you, perhaps through Euchre. Meanwhile keep up your courage. Remember I'll save you somehow. We'll try strategy first. Whatever you see or hear me do, don't think less of me—”

Jennie checked him with a gesture and a wonderful gray flash of eyes.

“I'll bless you with every drop of blood in my heart,” she whispered, passionately.

It was only as she turned away into the room that Duane saw she was lame and that she wore Mexican sandals over bare feet.

He sat down upon a bench on the porch and directed his attention to the approaching couple. The trees of the grove were thick enough for him to make reasonably sure that Mrs. Bland had not seen him talking to Jennie. When the outlaw's wife drew near Duane saw that she was a tall, strong, full-bodied woman, rather good-looking with a full-blown, bold attractiveness. Duane was more concerned with her expression than with her good looks; and as she appeared unsuspicious he felt relieved. The situation then took on a singular zest.

Euchre came up on the porch and awkwardly introduced Duane to Mrs. Bland. She was young, probably not over twenty-five, and not quite so prepossessing at close range. Her eyes were large, rather prominent, and brown in color. Her mouth, too, was large, with the lips full, and she had white teeth.

Duane took her proffered hand and remarked frankly that he was glad to meet her.

Mrs. Bland appeared pleased; and her laugh, which followed, was loud and rather musical.

“Mr. Duane—Buck Duane, Euchre said, didn't he?” she asked.

“Buckley,” corrected Duane. “The nickname's not of my choosing.”

“I'm certainly glad to meet you, Buckley Duane,” she said, as she took the seat Duane offered her. “Sorry to have been out. Kid Fuller's lying over at Deger's. You know he was shot last night. He's got fever to-day. When Bland's away I have to nurse all these shot-up boys, and it sure takes my time. Have you been waiting here alone? Didn't see that slattern girl of mine?”

She gave him a sharp glance. The woman had an extraordinary play of feature, Duane thought, and unless she was smiling was not pretty at all.

“I've been alone,” replied Duane. “Haven't seen anybody but a sick-looking girl with a bucket. And she ran when she saw me.”

“That was Jen,” said Mrs. Bland. “She's the kid we keep here, and she sure hardly pays her keep. Did Euchre tell you about her?”

“Now that I think of it, he did say something or other.”

“What did he tell you about me?” bluntly asked Mrs. Bland.

“Wal, Kate,” replied Euchre, speaking for himself, “you needn't worry none, for I told Buck nothin' but compliments.”

Evidently the outlaw's wife liked Euchre, for her keen glance rested with amusement upon him.

“As for Jen, I'll tell you her story some day,” went on the woman. “It's a common enough story along this river. Euchre here is a tender-hearted old fool, and Jen has taken him in.”

“Wal, seein' as you've got me figgered correct,” replied Euchre, dryly, “I'll go in an' talk to Jennie, if I may.”

“Certainly. Go ahead. Jen calls you her best friend,” said Mrs. Bland, amiably. “You're always fetching some Mexican stuff, and that's why, I guess.”

When Euchre had shuffled into the house Mrs. Bland turned to Duane with curiosity and interest in her gaze.

“Bland told me about you.”

“What did he say?” queried Duane, in pretended alarm.

“Oh, you needn't think he's done you dirt. Bland's not that kind of a man. He said: ‘Kate, there's a young fellow in camp—rode in here on the dodge. He's no criminal, and he refused to join my band. Wish he would. Slickest hand with a gun I've seen for many a day! I'd like to see him and Chess meet out there in the road.' Then Bland went on to tell how you and Bosomer came together.”

“What did you say?” inquired Duane, as she paused.

“Me? Why, I asked him what you looked like,” she replied, gayly.

“Well?” went on Duane.

“Magnificent chap, Bland said. Bigger than any man in the valley. Just a great blue-eyed, sunburned boy!”

“Humph!” exclaimed Duane. “I'm sorry he led you to expect somebody worth seeing.”

“But I'm not disappointed,” she returned, archly. “Duane, are you going to stay long here in camp?”

“Yes, till I run out of money and have to move. Why?”

Mrs. Bland's face underwent one of the singular changes. The smiles and flushes and glances, all that had been coquettish about her, had lent her a certain attractiveness, almost beauty and youth. But with some powerful emotion she changed and instantly became a woman of discontent, Duane imagined, of deep, violent nature.

“I'll tell you, Duane,” she said, earnestly, “I'm sure glad if you mean to bide here awhile. I'm a miserable woman, Duane. I'm an outlaw's wife, and I hate him and the life I have to lead. I come of a good family in Brownsville. I never knew Bland was an outlaw till long after he married me. We were separated at times, and I imagined he was away on business. But the truth came out. Bland shot my own cousin, who told me. My family cast me off, and I had to flee with Bland. I was only eighteen then. I've lived here since. I never see a decent woman or man. I never hear anything about my old home or folks or friends. I'm buried here—buried alive with a lot of thieves and murderers. Can you blame me for being glad to see a young fellow—a gentleman—like the boys I used to go with? I tell you it makes me feel full—I want to cry. I'm sick for somebody to talk to. I have no children, thank God! If I had I'd not stay here. I'm sick of this hole. I'm lonely—”

There appeared to be no doubt about the truth of all this. Genuine emotion checked, then halted the hurried speech. She broke down and cried. It seemed strange to Duane that an outlaw's wife—and a woman who fitted her consort and the wild nature of their surroundings—should have weakness enough to weep. Duane believed and pitied her.

“I'm sorry for you,” he said.

“Don't be
sorry
for me,” she said. “That only makes me see the—the difference between you and me. And don't pay any attention to what these outlaws say about me. They're ignorant. They couldn't understand me. You'll hear that Bland killed men who ran after me. But that's a lie. Bland, like all the other outlaws along this river, is always looking for somebody to kill. He
swears
not, but I don't believe him. He explains that gun-play gravitates to men who are the real thing—that it is provoked by the four-flushes, the bad men. I don't know. All I know is that somebody is being killed every other day. He hated Spence before Spence ever saw me.”

“Would Bland object if I called on you occasionally?” inquired Duane.

“No, he wouldn't. He likes me to have friends. Ask him yourself when he comes back. The trouble has been that two or three of his men fell in love with me, and when half drunk got to fighting. You're not going to do that.”

“I'm not going to get half drunk, that's certain,” replied Duane.

He was surprised to see her eyes dilate, then glow with fire. Before she could reply Euchre returned to the porch, and that put an end to the conversation.

Duane was content to let the matter rest there, and had little more to say. Euchre and Mrs. Bland talked and joked, while Duane listened. He tried to form some estimate of her character. Manifestly she had suffered a wrong, if not worse, at Bland's hands. She was bitter, morbid, overemotional. If she was a liar, which seemed likely enough, she was a frank one, and believed herself. She had no cunning. The thing which struck Duane so forcibly was that she thirsted for respect. In that, better than in her weakness of vanity, he thought he had discovered a trait through which he could manage her.

Once, while he was revolving these thoughts, he happened to glance into the house, and deep in the shadow of a corner he caught a pale gleam of Jennie's face with great, staring eyes on him. She had been watching him, listening to what he said. He saw from her expression that she had realized what had been so hard for her to believe. Watching his chance, he flashed a look at her; and then it seemed to him the change in her face was wonderful.

Later, after he had left Mrs. Bland with a meaning
“Adios—mañana,”
and was walking along beside the old outlaw, he found himself thinking of the girl instead of the woman, and of how he had seen her face blaze with hope and gratitude.