Free Range War (9781101559215) by C. J. Cherryh Page A

a lead. Eventually, reluctantly, he slowed to a walk to spare the stallion from exhaustion.
    Seven of the eleven miles were behind him when a shot echoed off the surrounding peaks. A second blast thundered on the heels of the first.
    Fargo imagined the worst—that the pair had killed a cowboy. It turned out they hadn’t, but they had done something almost as bad. In half a mile he came on two cows; blood and brains were oozing from holes in the skulls, and flies were gathering.
    With newfound urgency Fargo hastened on. The punchers were bound to have heard the shots and would investigate.
    Around the next bend was a straight stretch. At the far end, brazenly riding down the middle of the valley, were Carlos and Alejandro.
    Fargo urged the stallion into a trot. They heard him and looked around and stopped. Aware that at any moment the cowboys might appear, he vented his anger the moment he drew rein. “What in hell do you think you’re doing?”
    Carlos and Alejandro swapped smirks.
    â€œYou saw the cows, did you not?” Carlos said.
    â€œWe killed them to show these gringos they can’t kill our sheep with impunity,” Alejandro boasted.
    â€œJackasses,” Fargo said. “The both of you.”
    Alejandro bristled with resentment. “We won’t have you insult us.”
    â€œNo, we will not,” Carlos said. “You’re not one of us. You are a gringo yourself, so naturally you take the side of those who would drive us out.”
    Fargo controlled his temper with an effort. “I haven’t taken anyone’s side, and you damn well know it.”
    â€œWe do not want you here,” Alejandro said. “It is Porfiro who likes you and allows you to stay with us.”
    â€œDo us a favor, gringo,” Carlos said. “Go away and leave us to our fight.”
    â€œThey’ll kill you for the cows,” Fargo said.
    Carlos snorted and patted his rifle. “Let them try. They will find that we are men and men are not afraid to die.”
    â€œThey want to drive us from our valley but it is they who will go,” Alejandro said.
    â€œThis is Porfiro’s fault,” Carlos said. “We should have confronted them the day we discovered they were here but he persuaded us not to.”
    â€œHe bends over backwards to be civil,” Alejandro threw in. “And now three of us are dead, and a lot of our sheep, besides.”
    â€œNo more,” Carlos said. “Today we show them that we are not cowards.”
    â€œAre you done preening?” Fargo said. “There are eight of them and two of you.”
    â€œSoon there will be less of them.”
    â€œIdiots,” Fargo said.
    â€œYou have delayed us long enough,” Carlos declared. He nodded at Alejandro and they continued to the south.
    Fargo quickly caught up. “Listen to me.” He tried one last appeal. “If you’re smart, you’ll make yourselves scarce before the Texans find those dead cows.”
    â€œEnough with the cows,” Alejandro said.
    â€œTiene vacas en el cerebro,” Carlos said, and both of them laughed.
    They neared the next bend. From around the other side rumbled the thud of hooves.
    â€œThey’re coming,” Fargo said the obvious.
    â€œGood.” Alejandro wedged his rifle to his shoulder. “Now we repay them for Ramon and the others.”
    In disgust Fargo reined to the west. He’d tried to talk sense into them and they’d thrown it in his face. The consequences were on their heads. He would go into the trees and swing north and let Porfiro know that he had done all he could.
    Sooner than he expected the cowboys swept into sight, all eight, with Griff Wexler in the lead.
    Fargo glanced over his shoulder to see what the sheepherders would do. They weren’t there. Their horses were, but Carlos and Alejandro had climbed down and were lying in the grass. He opened his mouth to shout a warning but it was too