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

into the ranch yard. One end of the house was the bunkhouse, the center was the kitchen and dining room, and the other end housed the family. The home was built of logs with loopholes for defense. In every direction there was a good field of fire.
    There were several corrals, and Drumright always kept stock ready for use. He employed half a dozen hands on the premises, and his place had been a stopping point for travelers long before the stage line had started operation.
    Through his field glasses, Matt Coburn surveyed the ranch with care before he approached it. Drawn up for a breather on top of a small knoll, he took his time studying the layout to see that all was as usual. A few minutes later they wheeled into the yard, and Matt dropped to the ground. Drumright and two of his hands had come out to meet them.
    "Hank, can you give us a team?" Matt asked. "And give my people some coffee and sandwiches right now?" Drumright was not a man who asked questions. If Matt Coburn was riding shotgun there was a reason for it. He turned swiftly, "Joe ... Pete ... get that brown team out. I want them under harness in ten minutest"
    He turned to the passengers who were stepping down. "Co on in," he said. "There's always something ready at Drumright's."
    Charlie Kearns and Peter Dunning were crossing the yard toward the house when Matt helped Madge Healy down.
    Hank Drumright turned sharply, his hard eyes taking her in at a glance. He started to speak, but Coburn was first Matt had seen it coming, and headed it off. "Miss Healy is going to Carson with us, Hank She'll be coming back on the next stage. Sturd Fife an' Newt Clyde were down to see her off."
    Hank looked at him, closed his mouth, and strode over to the corral.
    Madge hesitated beside Matt, holding her skirt free of the dust with one hand. 'You needn't have said that, Matt I can fight my own battles.' And then she added, "I always have, I guess."
    Matt grinned at her. "Forget it, Madge. Newt and Sturd won't mind, and you'll have to admit they were down at the stage when you left. Besides, there's no two men in this country that Hank Drumright respects more."
    Pike Sides had moved up beside Matt, and now he said, "We aren't stopping at Strawberry? Is that the idea?" -
    "That's the idea:"
    It was smooth and fast, as Matt had known it would be. He stood at one side, shotgun in band, back to the wall and watching everything, a cup of coffee in his left hand.
    Hank Drumright prided himself on being prepared for any emergency, and always had. You paid, but you got the service you asked for, promptly and without questions. Newt Clyde had commented once that Drumright could have and would have outfitted a war party of Indians if they bad ridden up with the money to pay for it Madge was the first one outside, walking quickly to the coach. Kearns followed, watching her get into the coach. Peter Dunning came up more slowly and paused near Matt. "Is it true what they say about her Dunning asked.
    Matt glanced at him, his eyes cold. "Mr. Dunning, you look like a gentleman. I expect that you are."
    Dunning flushed and started to speak, but Matt had walked away. He was standing off to one side, midway between the coach and the ranch house, when Pike Sides came out.
    Pike hesitated, looking at the open space between himself and the coach, then at Matt Coburn. Deliberately, he took out a cigarette and lighted it, then he walked to the coach without another glance at Matt.
    On the box when the stage was rolling, Dandy asked, "What was all that about?"
    "Being careful. Pike Sides never rode a stage in his life unless there was a reason for it."
    "You think he's gain' to try his luck?"
    After a moment's consideration, Matt shook his head. "No. It's something else. There's too much going on, Dandy. I don't know what it is. I can't even guess why Madge is on the coach."
    Burke took the stage around a huge pile of boulders while Matt held his shotgun up in his hands, eyes alert for movement. They