Free the Empty Land (1969) by Louis L'amour Page A

to ask."
    Harry Meadows smiled. "That will put you In Strawberry in time. You take care of Coburn an' we'll take care of the stage, an' you'll get your piece right off."
    That was the way they left it. Before sundown it was Scarff, the dark, hard-faced young man, who rode up to the ranch.
    "Light an sit," Laurie said. "It's hash-time."
    "Cot to make Confusion t'night. Cot some mail for Fife an' Buckwalter." He glanced at the brands on the horses, indicating them. "Seen some stock o' yours clean over by Sacramento Pass . . . just this side of Strawb'ry. Seems a far piece."
    "Rafter stock?" Laurie Shannon stared. "How many head?"
    "I on'y seen eight or nine brands . . . there was about fifteen in the bunch, though."
    Scarf hung up the dipper and swung to the saddle. "Cot to be ridin', ma'am. Thanks for the water."
    Joss Ringgold came up from the stable as the rider was leaving. "Who was that?" he asked.
    Laurie explained, and Joss was obviously puzzled. Dorset strolled up and stood listening. "Seems odd," Ringgold commented. "Water's good here, and so's the grass."
    "Do you suppose that old blue cow would try to go home ? I bought thirty or forty head from Steptoe Valley."
    "No accountin' for critters," Joss said thoughtfully. "That man was ridin' a mighty fine horse for a cowhand," he added.
    "He's carryin' mail for Confusion. At least for Fife and Buckwalter. He would need a good horse for that." Laurie turned on Dorset. "Free, how would you like to take a ride? Bring that stock back from Strawberry? You could spend the night there and start back the next day."
    "All right Sure." Free turned away quickly, then stopped. He seemed about to speak, then walked on without saying anything.
    Joss Ringgold watched him go frowning a little, but he made no comment Neither did Laurie Shannon, but when a girl has lived most of her life among riding men and stock, she notices things. Something was disturbing her, but she could not decide exactly what it was. Several times during the evening she caught herself pausing in whatever she was doing, and looking off into space with a frown on her face.
    It was not until she awoke the following morning that it came to her, and at first she could make nothing of it CHAPTER 8
    Matt Coburn did not believe that it was when his time came that he would die. With the harsh realism that was typical of him, he believed he would cash in his chips whenever he became careless.
    He was always aware that speed and accuracy were not enough, for one had to live with the kind of awareness a wild creature develops, sensitive to every change of shadow, every alteration of mood in those about him. His natural liking for his fellowman was tempered by a cynical knowledge that all men were liable to temptation.
    Now he turned again to glance at the back trail, but still there was no dust, and the fact worried him.
    His thoughts reached ahead, searching out every mile of the trail, considering the most obviously dangerous spots, and those which were potentially dangerous. Knowing that Harry Meadows was in the area was reason enough to expect the unexpected, for the man had a fox like cunning as well as a vanity as easily offended as a woman's. And Dandy Burke had outwitted him, left him standing in the road while the stage disappeared around a curve.
    Strawberry was a possibility, but by changing teams at Silver Creek Ranch he could bypass the stage station and gain several minutes on his time. His big silver watch told him that Dandy was already running a good five minutes ahead of schedule.
    If an attempt was planned for the pass, they would be waiting either just before the crest of the ridge or near the bottom of the pass. The latter would be typical of Meadows to hit them just when they were breathing a sigh of relief at escaping trouble.
    Beyond, there was a wide-open stretch which was relatively safe, and then came Connors' Pass.
    The Silver Creek ranch house was a long, low-roofed building with three doom opening