Cowboys -- Fiction; Montana -- Fiction; Ranch life -- Fiction; Western stories
“I've got this to say!” Mere type cannot reproduce the malevolence of
Dunk's spluttering speech. “I've sent for the county sheriff and a dozen
deputies to arrest you, and you, and you, damn you!” He was pointing
a shaking finger at the older members of the Happy Family, whom he
recognized not gladly, but too well. “I'll have you all in Deer Lodge
before that lying, thieving, cattle-stealing Old Man of yours can lift a
finger. I'll sheep Flying U coulee to the very doors of the white house.
I'll skin the range between here and the river--and I'll have every one
of you hounds put where the dogs won't bite you!” He drew a hand across
his mouth and smiled as they say Satan himself can smile upon occasion.
“You've done enough to send you all over the road; destroying property
and assaulting harmless men--you wait! There are other and better
ways to fight than with the fists, and I haven't forgotten any of you
fellows--there are a few more rounders among you--”
“Hey! You apologize fer that, by cripes, er I'll kill yuh the longest
way I know. And that--” Big Medicine again laid violent hands upon Dunk,
“and that way won't feel good, now I'm tellin' yuh. Apologize, er--”
“Say, all this don't do any good, Bud,” Weary expostulated. “Let Dunk
froth at the mouth if he wants to; what we want is to get these sheep
off the range. And,” he added recklessly, “so long as the sheriff is
headed for us anyway, we may as well get busy and make it worth his
while. So--” He stopped, silenced by a most amazing interruption.
On the brow of the hill, when first they had sighted Dunk in the hollow,
something had gone wrong with Miguel's saddle so that he had stopped
behind; and, to keep him company, Andy had stopped also and waited for
him. Later, when Dunk was spluttering threats, they had galloped up to
the edge of the group and pulled their horses to a stand. Now, Miguel
rode abruptly close to Dunk as rides one with a purpose.
He leaned and peered intently into Dunk's distorted countenance until
every man there, struck by his manner, was watching him curiously. Then
he sat back in the saddle, straightened his legs in the stirrups and
laughed. And like his smile when he would have it so, or the little
twitch of shoulders by which he could so incense a man, that laugh
brought a deeper flush to Dunk's face, reddened though it was by Big
Medicine's vigorous slapping.
“Say, you've got nerve,” drawled the Native Son, “to let a sheriff
travel toward you. I can remember when you were more timid, amigo.” He
turned his head until his eyes fell upon Andy. “Say, Andy!” he called.
“Come and take a look at this hombre. You'll have to think back a few
years,” he assisted laconically.
In response, Andy rode up eagerly. Like the Native Son, he leaned and
peered into eyes that stared back defiantly, wavered, and turned away.
Andy also sat back in the saddle then, and snorted.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account