Free the Man from the Broken Hills (1975) by Louis - Talon-Chantry L'amour Page B

me.
    "Twenty-three," I said casually. Deliberately, I put my hand in my pocket and took out several gold pieces. I wanted them to realize they were going to have to spend to win. At least, I'd know how badly they wanted to win, or if it was just an attempt to assert themselves.
    Tory saw the gold pieces. They were twenty-dollar pieces and I had a handful of them. What I held in my hand was a good year's pay for a cowhand, and they could see it.
    "Twenty-three dollars has been bid!Twenty-three ! Twenty-three once! Twenty-three twice! Twenty-three three times!"
    He paused, but Roger Balch was turning away and Tory was just standing there.
    "Going ... going ...gone ! Sold to the gentleman from Stirrup-Iron!"
    The big groups broke up and scattered around the room, gathering into smaller groups. I crossed to the auctioneer to get my box.
    Tory Benton was staring hard at me. "I'd like to know where you got all that money," he said belligerently.
    I took the box with my left hand, smiling at him. "I worked for it, Tory. I worked hard."
    With the box in hand, I crossed to the girl in the gingham dress. "This is yours, isn't it?"
    "Yes." She looked up at me. "Why did you do that? All that money?"
    "I wanted your box," I said.
    "You don't even know me."
    "I know you a little ... And I know a good deal about Tory Benton, and I know you came alone."
    "Thank you." We found a bench corner and sat down together. "I shouldn't have come," she said then, "but ... but I was lonely! I can't stay much longer."
    "We'll eat then," I said, "and I'll ride you home." She was genuinely frightened. "Oh, no! You mustn't! I can't let you do that!"
    "Are you married?"
    She looked startled. "Oh, no! But I justcan't ! You must understand."
    "All right ... part way, then? Just to be sure you're safely on the way?"
    "All right." She was reluctant.
    "I've told you my name. Milo Talon."
    "Mine is Clarisa ... call me Lisa." She mentioned no other name and I didn't insist. If she did not tell me, she had her own reasons.
    Her box dinner was simple, but good. There were some doughnuts that were about as good as any I'd ever eaten, and Ma made the best, yet my eyes kept straying across the room to where Ann Timberly sat.
    Fuentes crossed to me with Ben Roper. I introduced them, and Fuentes said, "I think we ride together tonight,si? "
    "I've got to ride along with Lisa," I said, "but only partway."
    "We'll follow," Ben said, "an' you watch your step. Roger Balch didn't like his man bein' beat. He just didn't want to spend that much to win."
    They drifted off a ways, and after a bit Danny Rolf joined them. The Balch and Saddler riders were bunching a little, too.
    Dancing started again, and I danced with Lisa, then left her talking to Ben and crossed the room to Ann. She turned as I came up and was about to refuse my suggestion of a dance when she suddenly changed her mind.
    She danced beautifully, and I did all right. I'd danced more in better places than most cowhands have a chance to, and I could get around pretty good out there, even without a horse. Mostly cowhands don't dance too well, but they don't mind and neither do the girls. The cowhands can always hold the girl while she dances.
    Everybody was having a good time. I kept my eyes open, but nowhere did I see a badge. If there was law anywhere about, it wasn't at this dance, which was something to remember.
    "Who is she?" Ann asked suddenly.
    "Lisa? She's a nice girl."
    "Have you known her long?"
    "Never saw her before."
    "Well! She evidently makes quite an impression!"
    "She didn't cuss me out," I said.
    Ann looked up at me suddenly. "I am sorry about that. But you made me very angry!"
    "So I figured. And when you get angry, you really get angry."
    "That was mean, what you did."
    "What?"
    "Bidding a quarter for my box. That was just awful."
    I grinned at her. "You had it coming."
    "That girl ... Lisa. How did you know which box was hers?"
    "Saw her bring it in, and then when they were putting it up for