Free Westward the Tide (1950) by Louis L'amour Page B

swung down from the saddle and began loosening his cinch. "Howdy!" Stark called. "Who's the feller tied on behind?"
    The man walked up just in time to hear the question. He looked around the group, smiling widely. "Name of Ernie Braden! Mornin' folks!" he boomed. "I reckon we're all friends here! So you just call me Ernie!"
    Stark glanced at his empty hands, took his pipe from his mouth and spat, but said nothing.
    Braden picked up a cup and held it out to Sary Stark. "How's about some coffee, Ma'am? From those purty hands of yours, it'll seem plumb sweet!"
    Lute Harless walked up with the three Stark boys. Jeb sat down on the log beside his father. "Wished night would come. I'd sure enough like to know where we're headed!"
    Braden looked around and winked. "I could give you a hint," he said knowingly, "You ever hear tell of Shell Creek? That's my bet!"
    Buffalo Murphy stared at the fire, then he lifted his eyes, squinting at Braden. "You ever been to Shell Creek?"
    "No," Braden admitted, "I ain't. Only," he winked, "I hear a few things."
    "You tell 'em, too, I reckon," Jeb Stark said.
    Braden seemed not to hear. He glanced around at the group, slapping himself emphatically on the stomach. "Well, tonight's the big night! Election! Don't reckon there's any party lines here, but it's a mighty big thing, choosin' a leader. A captain, that is. We sure want to pick somebody who has the confidence of the leaders of this outfit. Then everything will go along much better."
    "I wonder who that would be?" Hardy asked innocently.
    "Well," Braden was thoughtful, "Stark here would be a good man, Harless another. Needs a man free of a wagon, of course, an' I reckon both Stark an' Harless are tied down."
    "That lets you out too, doesn't it?" Hardy suggested.
    "Matter of fact," Braden admitted, "it doesn't. I got me a good driver. He's helpin' with another wagon today, but actually he's with me. He'll be over before election time tonight. Name of Bunker."
    "Looks like you might be the likely choice for captain, then," Hardy suggested gravely. "That is, if you have the confidence of the leaders. How do you stand with Colonel Pearson?"
    Braden glanced around wisely, then held up two fingers. "Like that!" he stated emphatically. "We understand each other, the Colonel an' me!"
    "Well," Hardy said, "that sure is a relief to get that problem settled. Sure takes a load off my mind. Wouldn't do to get the wrong man as captain." He glanced around at Murphy. "Say, that reminds me: what ever happened to that wagon boss we had out of Fort Phil Kearney that time? The one we didn't like?"
    Murphy scowled thoughtfully. "That one? Why, sure! He was the one I shoved off the seat when we were swimmin' the river durin' flood. I sure hated to do it, but it saved shootin'."
    "That ain't the one." Ban was insistent. "I mean that tall one, with the sandy beard."
    "Oh, him?" Murphy slapped his leg. "Hell, how could you forget him? That was the one we tied on the buffalo bull! Last we seen of him was that bull, tearin' off with the herd, an' that wagon captain tied stark naked atop him! I reckon he's goin' yet!"
    Stark stirred the fire, and Braden stared at first one and then the other. "You're funnin'?" he suggested.
    "Funnin'?" Murphy looked up. "Of course we was funnin'! Got to do something along the trail for laughs! When you got a wagon boss you don't like, get shet of him, quickest way you know how!"
    Aaron Stark took the pipe from his mouth and glanced over at the tall young driver sitting beside Bill Shedd. "You're Tolliver, eh? Any kin to the Tollivers of Sandy Run?"
    Tolliver glanced up. "Yep, sure thing. We're full cousins. You know 'em?"
    "I should smile! My wife's sister married up with Clyde."
    "That would be Aunt Jane, then? That makes us practic'ly kinfolks."
    "I reckon."
    "Well," Braden suggested, "when election comes tonight we sure better pick the right man. Don't know," he said with a glance at Hardy, "if I'd care to be captain of this outfit,