The Floating Outfit 44 Read online

  ‘Call off the war?’ Lanton’s eyes were glaring. ‘Never. Did you see the way that girl looked at me. Like I was dirt under her feet. I’ll get the KH if it’s the last thing I do. I’ll take that ranch house, and break them both before I’m done.’

  ‘I’ve said my piece. You’re buying in on more grief than you know,’ Painthoss answered and put on his hat.

  ‘Where are you going?’

  ‘Over to my spread. You think over what I’ve just said.’

  Lanton watched the door swing to behind the tall man. He paced the room, seeing again that cold, beautiful face and the loathing in the eyes of the English girl as her tongue lashed at him. He swore even more than ever that he would take the KH, get Rene Hamilton alive and make her bow to his will.

  Halting by the table he looked down at Juanita. ‘Painthoss does not appear to like our company. At least I’m sure of one of my partners. Aren’t I, Juanita dear?’

  Juanita followed Lanton’s gaze to a strong looking door at the side of the room. She was remembering an Indian dark face with red hazel eyes. A pair of hands moving slowly in the Yaqui sign, promising to try and rescue her father.

  Her eyes held hatred of the fat man as she looked up at him. ‘Yes, you are. Aren’t you?’

  Twelve – Rene Finds Trouble

  Dusty was worried. It was ten days since Lanton’s declaration of war on the KH and he knew they could not remain here much longer. There was no reply to any of his messages, not that he expected any. The men who he telegraphed would do what they could for him but it would take time. Ole Devil might be needing his floating outfit at home and Dusty wanted to settle Lanton one way or the other before he left.

  The Syndicate men were quiet and had been for a week now. Twice before they’d made attempts at night to raid the KH house but the Ysabel Kid was sleeping days and riding the range by night. One attack he broke up himself with rifle skill and Comanche savagery, the second was handled by the full crew. The S Star gunmen had lost a few men but the KH was untouched by the flying lead.

  Gloria knew what was bothering Dusty as she joined him by the corral on the morning of the eleventh day. ‘What do you reckon Lanton aims to do, Dusty?’

  ‘Lanton’s hiring guns, that’s for sure. The Kid’s seen some of them coming from town. One of these days he’s going to make a hit at us with full strength.’

  ‘You can’t stay on indefinitely waiting for it.’

  ‘No, that’s what’s worrying me. We need every man here at the KH and Uncle Devil wouldn’t want us to pull out until this trouble was over and done with. But he may be needing us to home soon—’

  ‘You know we don’t aim to leave. I couldn’t get those five hellers away from here even if I wanted to. They say they’re waiting for the weddings so they can have a good feed.’

  ‘Who’s going to get married?’ Gloria inquired innocently.

  ‘Well, they do say romance is in the air.’

  Before Gloria could frame a suitable reply there was an interruption. Rene and Just came to the corral, the girl wearing a shirtwaist and jeans with a white Stetson on her head.

  Just caught a gentle dun from the remuda then snaked out his big black. Dusty watched the young cowhand saddling the black and asked, ‘You pair riding out?’

  ‘Sure, headed for town. Or on the town trail. We’re going up there on the rim to take a look over the basin.’

  ‘Very romantic.’ Dusty answered, helping to saddle the dun. He was not any too happy about the girl riding away from the ranch. She could make far too good a hostage if the S Star caught her. However, he knew she and Just wanted to be alone and there was little chance of that at the house.

  ‘We’ll be all right, Dusty,’ Just remarked. ‘There won’t be any of the S Star on that side. We’ll be back before dark.’

  ‘If you’re not we’ll be looking for you.’

  Just helped Rene mount the dun, then swung into the saddle of his black. They rode off side by side and Gloria asked, ‘Ain’t love wonderful?’

  ‘They say so. When’re you and Brit taking a ride together?’

  Rene and Just held their horses to an easy trot until they were well away from the ranch. Then they slowed down and came closer together, yet neither said a word for a time. The girl reveled in the freedom of being astride a good horse again. She loved to ride, although she had not ridden astride for many years. The double-cinched Texas saddle was made in a more comfortable manner than a hunting rig. It was like settling down in a chair and meant for long hours of riding.

  ‘What do you mean to do when the trouble is over here, Just?’

  ‘Been talking some to Brit about it. We figger on going into the cattle business together. I’ve got about enough money saved to buy a half share in a place.’

  Rene felt a momentary panic. She’d grown attracted to this tall, soft-spoken man and knew far more about him now. If he was going into the ranching business he would be leaving this area, for there was no room for any more ranchers in the basin.

  ‘Where will you have your ranch?’

  ‘S Star or Lazy F. Either one will do us if we can get it.’

  The girl felt much easier in her mind now. They were the KH’s close neighbors. If Just and Brit were only going there they would

  ‘But the Syndicate owns those two ranches,’ she gasped. ‘Santone’s dead already and I don’t think Lanton will be around to stop us. Like the Kid told you there’s only one way to handle his kind.’

  Rene knew all too well what that was. She could still remember the mad glare in Lanton’s eyes and knew he was ruthless, then she remembered the way Dusty Fog could move. That almost unbelievable speed with which he drew and shot his revolvers. After much prodding and pleading on the part of the others Dusty had given her a display of pistol handling which, to her eyes, was nothing short of marvelous. She’d seen trick shot performers who were not as skilled with their special weapons as this soft talking, small and insignificant man from Texas. She also knew that Mark Counter and Waco were almost as fast and good with their guns.

  She knew them all very well by now. One minute they were like very mischievous little brothers, the next like big, protecting brothers. In times of danger they were self-reliant, fast-moving, brave and decisive. At other times they acted more like wild, undisciplined boys. Yet through it all one thing remained unchanged, their loyalty to each other and their unswerving devotion to their leader, the Rio Hondo gun-wizard whose name was Dusty Fog.

  Once when Dusty was out on the range she’d heard the Kid singing a song, his voice a pleasing tenor. Without thinking what she was doing she began to sing it now:

  ‘He’s the fastest gun in Texas and the bravest of them all.

  In a street you’d walk right by him for he isn’t very tall.

  In trouble he’s the coolest, fights like a Comanche Dog,

  He’s from the Rio Hondo and they call him Dusty Fog.’

  Riding by the girl Just Smith looked at her and smiled.

  He did not mind her singing that song. Dusty Fog was his hero now as he’d been in the days of the Civil War when Just rode with a Georgia Brigade. He was happier now than he’d been for many long years. The Civil War cost his family their fortune and sent Just Smith west with but two skills, horsemanship and the handling of a gun. He’d gone into the trade of cowhand because it offered him freedom and a way of life. Learning his business on a Texas ranch and the great trail drives north had been a hard school. It gave a man many chances to show skill with both horse and gun. It was a way of life which sent many a deep south boy riding the same trail as Jesse Woodson James or Bad Bill Longley. Just was lucky in that he’d never been called on to use his gun apart from in the Concho Sheep war, until this. Now he was fighting to protect someone he loved and who, he hoped, loved him.

  It was this feeling of well-being which made Just careless. They were riding on a part of the range where the S Star men would be unlikely to appear and was not as watchful as he should have
been. The week of peace lulled him into a sense of false security. He reached for and took Rene’s hand in his as they approached a rocky outcrop.

  Four men erupted from the rocks, sending their horses leaping forward at Just and the girl. Just saw them too late, his hand going to his gun while his other hand slapped the rump of Rene’s horse. Willet was by Just’s side, swinging his gun down to smash on to the Texan’s hat. Just’s last conscious thought was that he’d given Rene a chance to escape, for her horse was leaping forward.

  It was there Just reckoned without Rene’s breeding and spirit. She did not come from a breed which tamely gave up anything they loved. Taken by surprise by the men’s attack she lost control of the horse when it shot forward. Only her superb horsemanship kept her in the saddle until she got the horse under control and looked back. Two of the men were coining after her and she saw Just lying on the ground. She brought her horse in a right turn and headed back for her man, her riding quirt gripped in her hand. One of the men was coming at her, hands reaching out. With grace she avoided his grip and slashed the quirt at him, feeling the hard leather bite into his face.

  The man howled, his hands clawing into the air and to his face, the other one spun his horse, but Rene was by him and hurling at Willet. The man who caught the blow from Rene’s quirt also swung his horse round, a livid weal along his cheek. He caught up with Rene just as she reached Willet and lashed at him with the quirt. The man swung his fist, smashing it brutally into the back of her head. Rene was knocked from her saddle, the world roaring round as she fell. She felt herself crash to the ground then all went black.

  The man dropped from his horse, his face red with anger. He bent over the girl and Willet roared, ‘Let her loose, Tom. Get away from her.’

  The man looked up at the gun in Willet’s hand, lined down on him and snarled, ‘She laid a quirt on me. I’ll kill !’

  ‘You’ll have to kill me first,’ Willet warned. ‘This is the gal the boss keeps talking about. We’ll take her back with us. Lanton should pay well for her.’

  ‘What about him?’ another man asked, pointing to Just Smith.

  ‘Kill him!’ The obvious answer came readily from Willet’s lips, then he thought again. Even as the man lowered his gun to shoot Willet changed his mind. ‘Hold it. We’d best take him along. Likely the boss’ll find something to do with him?’

  They threw the two unconscious forms across their saddles, then mounting their horses the men headed the range, making for the S Star.

  Lanton was standing with his partners on the porch of the S Star house when Snag Willet and the other men came in. The fat man stepped to the edge of the porch, looking at the girl, his eyes narrowing. Moving fast for so fat a man Lanton came off the porch and walked forward to pull the girl’s head back and look down.

  ‘What happened, Willet?’

  ‘Caught him and her out on the Azul Rio trail. Thought we’d best bring them both in with us.’

  Lanton’s face was glowing with hatred and lust as he looked at the girl. ‘I wanted to see her. Tell one of the men to get me a buggy ready and take me to town. You’ll ride with me. Tell Gogan and Winter I want to see them right away.’

  ‘What’s the game, Lanton?’ Painthoss came swinging from the porch.

  ‘I’m taking the girl to town. She’s going to marry me and we’re taking the KH as our home.’

  For a moment Painthoss’s leathery lack of emotion held, then he snapped: ‘Turn her loose or deal me out of the Syndicate.’

  ‘You’re forgetting what I know about you?’

  ‘I’m not forgetting. You can do what the hell you like about it. But you let the girl free. I’ll be waiting at the Flying P for the law.’

  The rancher walked towards his horse and unfastened it. Lanton stood watching, then his hand went under his coat and brought the gun out. Even as he lined the weapon Juanita screamed a warning. With a fast swing Painthoss went up into his saddle and set the spurs to his horse. Lanton’s gun swung after the man and cracked. Painthoss felt as if he’d been hit in the shoulder by a red hot iron. He swayed in the saddle but managed to keep on the horse, allowing it to run at full speed out on to the range.

  The other men poured from the bunkhouse, yelling and firing after the fast running horse but none of them scored a hit. Willet watched the swaying man. ‘Want for me to take the crew after him and finish him off?’

  ‘No need,’ Lanton replied, confident in his marksmanship. ‘He’ll not make it to his spread and I don’t want him dead around here.’

  In one thing he was right. Painthoss would not get to his spread. He was headed for the Azul Rio and the KH spread beyond it. He did not stop his horse until pain and dizziness made him halt. He stuffed a bandanna to his wound, took his rope and lashed himself into the saddle as best he could, then headed on again.

  Lanton watched Painthoss’s horse carrying into the distance without paying much attention to where it was going. Then he turned and walked back to the porch. His hand swung across Juanita’s cheek, knocking her down. ‘You lousy greaser bitch!’ he snarled and drew back his foot.

  Rene groaned, the fat man’s foot lowered and he came forward. Both Rene and Just were recovering. Lanton turned and went into the house, returning with a bottle of laudanum. Removing the cork he forced both Rene and Just to drink enough to keep them out of circulation for some time. A man came up with the buggy ready to travel. Willet and the two tall gunmen with him helped carry both the girl and Just to the buggy and after fastening Just’s hands securely dumped him into the back. They laid Rene down by his side and lashed them both into place.

  ‘Gogan, Winter,’ Lanton said, turning to the men. ‘I want KH taking in the morning. Have you enough men?’

  ‘Got fifty or more,’ Gogan answered. ‘Say, one of the bunch from the Lazy F was talking about a tunnel that leads to the KH. Carron heard Knight and Hamilton talk about it and tried to find it. He couldn’t. If we could find it !’

  ‘You could get enough men through to take the KH crew. Very interesting. Do you know about this tunnel. Juanita?’

  The girl was on her feet again, rubbing her cheek and looking her hatred at him. She did not answer but the look on her face told him all he wanted to know.

  ‘She knows it, boss?’ Gogan looked the girl over.

  ‘She does and she’ll take you through it.’

  ‘No!’ the word was torn from Juanita’s throat. ‘I won’t do it.’

  ‘Yes you will. Gogan, go down into the cellar and work the old greaser over. Don’t kill him too quickly.’

  Juanita’s hand clenched, tears running down her cheeks. She watched the gunman walking towards the cellar where her father was held and gasped, ‘All right. I’ll take you through.’

  ‘I thought so,’ Lanton jeered. ‘Keep her here tonight. Tomorrow see she goes through the tunnel first. Then fetch her back here for my wedding celebrations.’

  Lanton went to his buggy and climbed aboard. By his side Willet swung into his saddle. They left the ranch and headed for Azul Rio City. Gogan watched them go, then jerked his thumb towards the house. ‘Get in there, girl. Don’t you try anything. Say, Wint. I was thinking. Those bunch at the KH aren’t fools. They’ll be expecting an attack at dawn. What I reckon is cut round the hack of that bosque in the night and hide out. Well make the girl take us through on towards noon when they won’t be expecting it.’

  Lanton brought the buggy into Azul Rio just after dusk. He chose his time with care. There was a new spirit abroad in the town. People were not so willing to accept his domination and they would never agree to his keeping the girl prisoner. He chose the banker’s home instead of his more sumptuous dwelling. Ames came to the door at Lanton’s knock and looked out, then pulled the door back and allowed Lanton to come in, carrying the girl in his arms. Willet followed with Just Smith hanging over his shoulder.

  Tut him in the other room there,’ Lanton snapped. ‘I’ll take the girl into the bedroom upstairs, Ames. Willet, go
get the sheriff and the preacher.’ Ames led the way upstairs and opened the door into the spare bedroom, waiting until Lanton laid the girl on the bed. She was recovering from the effects of the drug. For a moment her eyes were dazed and dull, then slowly recognition came into them. More than recognition, hatred and loathing.

  ‘Where am I?’

  ‘Safe, my dear. Safe for as long as I make it so. Don’t distress yourself. I have a proposal for you. A proposal of marriage.’

  ‘Marriage. To you?’ the loathing in her voice made him writhe.

  ‘Yes, consider the advantages of being my wife. Wealth, security, the life of Just Smith.’

  ‘Just!’

  ‘Of course. We have him a prisoner here, securely fastened. Marry me and he goes free.’

  She looked at the fat face and shuddered at the expression on it. In the melodramas of the day she’d seen the same sort of situation and thought it laughable. It was not a laughing matter for her now. She knew that to save Just Smith she would make any sacrifice.

  ‘I can’t trust you. If I marry you Just will still die.’

  ‘Why should he?’ Lanton replied. ‘Murder isn’t easy to cover up, even out there. I stand to lose far more than I’ll gain by killing Smith.’

  Rene still did not trust Lanton. There was nothing she could do yet, not if there was to be a chance of escaping and helping Just. ‘I’ll do it. But if you don’t keep your word I’ll kill you.’

  Lanton smirked at the girl, his satisfaction at having the girl where he wanted her was filling him with delight. ‘By the way. One of my men will be with Smith all the time. If you try and escape or raise any alarm the man will shoot Smith through the stomach. Sleep well, my dear. As soon as the preacher arrives we will marry.’

  Downstairs Lanton found his plans running into their first snag. The sheriff was there with news.