Free Chaparral Range War (9781101619049) by Dusty Richards Page A

nod, Guthrey quickly agreed. “Do you think the boy’s hip is broken?”
    â€œI can’t be sure, but I’ll treat him as though it is just to be certain.”
    â€œThen he has to stay here for some time?”
    â€œYes. Definitely. He doesn’t need to be shaken apart, and a ride home in a buckboard would do that.”
    Guthrey turned to Cally. “Do you have any money?”
    â€œSome.”
    â€œHere.” He reached into his pocket and gave her three ten-dollar gold pieces. “Don’t protest. You need to stay here. I’ll go back to the ranch. Me and that old man can see about your cattle. I’ll come back and check on you two in a week.”
    â€œBut—”
    Waving his hands at her, he put down her protests. “No buts, I’m heading back to the ranch. You stay here. In a week we can see how he’s doing.”
    â€œPhil?” She pulled him down by his sleeve and kissed his cheek. The site burned like a brand. She whispered, “Thanks. You two be careful out there.”
    â€œI bet we know how. Will I need anything to cook for the two of us?’
    â€œMaybe some flour. Do you make biscuits?”
    â€œNot as good as you do. I’ll get some flour on the way back. Listen for what they do about that shooter. And I’ll see you in a week and you can tell me what’s going on.”
    â€œOh, please be careful.” The worry in her eyes knifed him.
    Hell with it. He took a deep breath and kissed her hard on the lips, then turned on his heels to go get Lobo saddled and head back to the ranch. As he passed, he said, “Thanks, Doc,” over his shoulder.

EIGHT
    T HE SIGHT OF the Bridges Ranch in late afternoon brought a little relief to the soreness in Guthrey’s aching back muscles. Part of his back problem came from loading and unloading Dan into and out of the wagon, but he could stand all that and would soon forget it if the boy turned out to be all right.
    He saw Noble McCoy come out of the house, back his butt to the wall, and roll a cigarette to wait for Guthrey. When he had dismounted Lobo, Guthrey began to strip out the latigos and called out to him, “Everything all right, Mr. McCoy?”
    â€œWhere’s Dan and Cally?”
    â€œDoc said Dan needed to stay bedfast for a while. I made Cally stay there to look after him. You got anything that you need me to do, Mr. McCoy?”
    â€œHell, my name’s Noble. I ain’t no
mister
.”
    â€œThat’s fine. Just call me Captain or Guthrey.” He shook the man’s hard, calloused hand.
    â€œAll right, Cap’n. You and me need to keep an eye on the stock, huh?”
    â€œWe need to find that calf that’s got Whitmore’s brand on it and sucking one of the kids’ cows.”
    â€œHoly jiminy, did they do that?”
    â€œThat was what Dan roped the day he had the wreck. His reata broke in the process of his horse falling down and then rolling on him. I caught the calf and got the short length of rope off him so he didn’t hang up. Then I brought Dan to the house and three of Whitmore’s riders tried to cut us off. I got one, took him to Soda Springs. The other two rode off.”
    â€œWhat did you do with him in Soda Springs?”
    â€œI locked him in the jail. Then I spoke to Judge Collier before Killion got back into town. The judge said they’d hold him until his trial for attempted murder and terroristic threatening.”
    Noble nodded as if satisfied about the deal. “I heard tell the judge is a tough ole buzzard. He ain’t a territory man either. He’s a federal judge. They never could agree on judgeships in the legislature, so they got all of them from the federal system.”
    â€œHe isn’t that old. He sounded fair enough to me.”
    â€œI was going to wrangle up some supper for myself when I heard you coming. Two minds are powerful smarter than one. What are we going to