Free the Rider Of Ruby Hills (1986) by Louis L'amour Page B

dark-faced cowhand looked up and drawled softly, "I know him, Emmett, an' when you tangle with him, be ready. He's the hombre who went into King Fisher's hideout in Mexico after a horse one of Fisher's boys stole off him. He rode the horse out, too, an' the story is that he made Fisher take water. He killed the hombre who stole his horse. The fellow was a fool halfbreed who went for his gun."
    "So he's chasin' you, Emmett?" Reynolds muttered. "Maybe that accounts for his bein' here."
    "An' maybe he's here because of Vin Carter," Berdue said. "If he is, that spells trouble for Pogue. That won't hurt us any."
    In the days that had followed the escape of Roily Burt, Haney had not been idle. He had thrown and branded several of the wild cattle and had pushed a few of them out into the open valley below Thousand Springs. There would be plenty of time later to bring more of them; all he wanted was for the brand to show up when the roundup was under way.
    Astride the palouse, he headed for the VV. The morning was warm but pleasant, and he rode down into the shade under the giant old cotton woods feeling very fit and very happy. Several of the hands were in sight, and one of them was the slope-shouldered Dahl, mending a saddle girth.
    Bob Vernon saw him, and his brow puckered in a slight frown. He turned and walked toward Ross Haney. "Get down, won't you? Sherry has been telling me something about you."
    "Thanks, I will. Is she here?" His purpose had been to verify, if he could, some of his ideas about that conversation he had seen and she had overheard at the spring. Also, he was curious about the setup at the VV. It was the one place he had not catalogued in his long rides.
    "Yes," Vernon hesitated, "she's here." He made no move to get her. Suddenly he seemed to make a decision. "I say, Haney. You're not coming with the idea of courting my sister, are you? You know she's spoken for."
    "That idea," Haney said grimly, "seems to be one everyone wants to sell me. First heard it from Star Levitt."
    Vernon's lips tightened. "You mean Star talked to you about Sherry?"
    "He did. And Sherry told me she was to marry him."
    Bob Vernon appeared relieved. He relaxed. "Well, then you understand how things are. I wouldn't want any trouble over her. Star's pretty touchy."
    "Understand this." Haney turned sharply around and faced Bob. "I was told that by Levitt and by Sherry. Frankly, the fact that she is engaged to him doesn't make a bit of difference to me. I haven't told that to her, but you're her brother, and I' m tellin' you. You don't need any long-winded explanations about how I feel about her. When I'm sure she's in love with him, I'll keep away. Until then, I'm in to stay!"
    Surprisingly, Vernon did not get angry. He appeared more frightened and worried. "I was afraid of that!" he muttered. "I should have known!"
    "Now, if you won't get her for me, I'll go to the house after her!"
    "After whom?" They turned swiftly to see Sherry walking toward them, smiling. "Hello, Ross. Who were you coming after? Who could ever make your voice sound like that?"
    "You," he said bluntly. "Nobody but you."
    Her smile vanished, but there was warmth in her eyes. "That's nice," she said. "You say it as if you mean it."
    "I do."
    "Boss?" A tall, lean, and red-headed cowhand had walked up to them, and when they turned, he asked, "Who has the Gallows Frame brand?"
    "Gallows Frame?" Vernon shrugged. "Never heard of it. Where did you see it?"
    "Up toward Thousand Springs. Seen several mighty fine lookin' bulls an' a few cows up thataway an' all wearin' that brand, a gallows frame with a ready noose hangin' from it. An' them cows, why they are wilder'n all get-out. Couldn't get nowhere near 'em."
    "That's something new," Vernon commented. "Have you seen any of them, Sherry?"
    She shook her head, but there was a strange expression in her eyes. She glanced over at Ross Haney, who listened with an innocence combined with humor that would have been a perfect giveaway to