Nevada (1995) (33 page)

"Hey there, you Indian!" yelled Ben, and he climbed a corral fence
,
the better to tease her.

Hettie reined her mount and, wheeling him, trotted back, and sli
d
from the saddle.

"He's a--fine horse, Ben," she declared, patting the wet neck.

"Wal, he suits you, lass," said Tom Day, admiringly, as he took he
r
in from boots to sombrero.

"Miss Hettie, strikes me this hyar Arizonie has got into you
r
blood," added old Raidy, shaking his head dubiously. "Reckon I
d
on't like it. Day says it ain't safe for you to ride out alone.

So does Dillon."

"What do YOU say, Ben?" queried Hettie, archly.

"Not a darn thing. I quit long ago tryin' to run you," returne
d
Ben.

Dillon leaned against the corral, in the background, withou
t
entering into the conversation. The discoloration round his ey
e
had not wholly disappeared.

"Miss, can't you be happy ridin' on the ranch, without headin' of
f
into the woods?" asked Raidy.

"Do you think I'd ride inside a fence? Not much."

"Wal, Hettie Ide, I sure know what you need," declared Tom Day.

"To be spanked, I suppose," laughed Hettie. "But seriously, what'
s
the danger?"

"Wal, lass, mebbe there ain't any real danger," replied Day
,
thoughtfully. "But we're sort of locoed these days. Reckon it'
s
far-fetched to think hoss-thieves an' rustlers might take a notio
n
to steal you."

"Kidnap me for ransom?" queried Hettie, incredulously.

"Wal, yes, an' for other reasons, too," rejoined the old cattleman
,
significantly. "You don't 'pear to know it, but you're a might
y
handsome girl."

"Thank you, Uncle Tom. That's a fine compliment. But it's no
t
scaring me."

"Hettie, look here," interposed Ben, gravely, stepping to her wit
h
a piece of paper in his hand. "Read this."

Hettie took the coarse dirty paper and read:

Ben Id
e
Sir.

Fire your foreman Dillon or dig a grave for him.

X.

Without a word Hettie returned the slip to her brother.

"We found that nailed on the bunkhouse door," he said, angrily.

"It's a threat. Dillon recovered another bunch of my cattl
e
yesterday. Only a few head, but enough to make these rustler
s
sore. To-day we found where they'd been camping in an old cabin
,
on my own land. Of all the nerve! I've been reasonable about thi
s
cattle-stealing. I expected it. But when these thieves grab m
y
best horse and camp right under my nose--it's time for me to ge
t
sore."

"See, Miss Hettie," added Raidy. "That's why it ain't safe for yo
u
to ride out so far."

"I'll be careful hereafter," replied Hettie, soberly, handing he
r
horse over to Raidy. "Mr. Day, won't you stay for supper?"

"Sorry, lass, but I've got to be goin' home."

"Good-by then. Come soon again," said Hettie, turning away. Sh
e
was proceeding up the lane, revolving in mind that threatening not
e
Ben had showed her, when he caught up with her and fell into he
r
step.

"Hettie, on the square now--did you write this note and stick it u
p
on the bunkhouse?" he asked.

"Ben Ide! Are you crazy?" Hettie cried, incredulously. Then sh
e
burst out laughing. "Of all things! . . . Brother, I fear th
e
loss of your cattle and California Red has caused you to lose you
r
head."

"Forgive me, Hettie," returned Ben, contritely. "I imagined yo
u
might have done that, just to plague me. And honest, I wish yo
u
had."

"Ben, why in the world can you wish such a thing as that?"

"Because if you had I wouldn't worry. I hoped you'd done it.

Reckon I am loco, as these riders say. But, Hettie, I don't lik
e
this situation I'm in."

"Neither do I, Ben," retorted Hettie. "But nobody can tell yo
u
anything."

"Aw now, Hettie, that's not nice of you," said Ben, reproachfully.

"I told Ina about your affair with Dillon--YOUR side of it, min
d
you. She pitched into me like sixty. I can't stand havin' both o
f
you against me."

"We're not against you, Ben," returned Hettie, earnestly.

"Yes, you are," he said, doggedly. "An' I'm getting sore a
t
everybody. I'm going against your advice and Ina's, even To
m
Day's. I've offered a reward of one thousand dollars for th
e
return of California Red. Posted notices along the trails. To
m
didn't like that. Said some one would bring the horse back, the
n
steal him again."

"What did Dillon say?" asked Hettie, curiously.

"He approved my offering the reward. You know Dillon said he coul
d
get Red back. And he was away two days, after he returned fro
m
Winthrop. I don't know where he went. He's worked with most o
f
these outfits along the Mogollons. He knows them all, anyway, an
d
no doubt some of them are clanny with the horse and cattle thieves.

That's the worst of this country. You really don't know who i
s
honest. Well, Dillon came back and said he couldn't find ou
t
anything about Red. So I decided to offer a reward. And Dillo
n
himself took the notices out on the range."

"You'll get Red back," returned Hettie, hopefully.

"I've got another idea," he went on. "I want to send for severa
l
well-known sheriffs and put them on the track of these rustlers.

Pat Garrett, of New Mexico. If I could get him, and a couple fro
m
Phoenix, and hire a gang of hard-shooting cowboys, I'll bet they'
d
clean out the rustlers. But Tom Day yelled murder at the ver
y
idea. And Dillon, he hit the roof. Swore they'd burn me ou
t
instead of just rustling a few cattle. Few? By George! I'd lik
e
to know what Dillon would call a lot of cattle."

"Ben, you should listen to Tom Day, at least," replied Hettie. "H
e
knows the country."

"I'm listening, Hettie. But I want some action," he retorted. "I
f
I don't get Red back inside of ten days there'll be hell to pay b
y
somebody."

Marvie did not return to the ranch till late. Hettie sat u
p
waiting for him, trying to read, but mostly gazing into the woo
d
fire with dreamy, sad eyes. She heard his swift step on the porch
,
and a jingle of spurs, then a quick knock.

"Come in, Marvie," she called expectantly.

In he rushed, like the wind, but quietly, and he startled her wit
h
his pale face crossed by black smudges, and his piercing, radian
t
eyes. He carried a rifle and quirt and gloves in his hands; an
d
altogether he appeared a striking, thrilling figure. Hettie kne
w
before he spoke what had happened.

"She was there!" he whispered, dramatically.

"Marv, I knew that the instant you entered," said Hettie, with
a
smile. There was a contagion in his spirit.

"Hettie, I'm sure the happiest an' miserablest man in the world,"
h
e added.

"Sit down, Marvie, and tell me all about it."

"Not a great deal to tell, but what there is of it is tumble," h
e
returned, coming to the seat beside her. Then in a low voice, ful
l
of suppressed emotion, he went on: "Rose was there. She'd bee
n
there for hours, waitin', cryin', fearin' I wouldn't come. Sh
e
said her heart broke. She'd found out she loved me. I was th
e
only one who'd ever cared for her--been good to her. She said sh
e
could give me up--to save me disgrace--but she'd have to kil
l
herself. I swore I'd stick to her--marry her. I talked an'
t
alked. An' then I told her I'd fetch you down the trail nex
t
Wednesday. She was tumble scared at that. But I told her you'
d
help us. An' finally she agreed. She's to ride down a trail w
e
know, till we meet her. . . . That's all, Hettie. An' for God'
s
sake--"

Marvie broke off huskily, his voice failing.

Hettie impulsively kissed him. "Marvie, I think you're pretty muc
h
of a man," she said. "I'll go. And I'll find some way to solv
e
your problem."

He mumbled something incoherent and rushed out of the room
,
neglecting to close the door. Hettie watched him stalk away in th
e
moonlight, then shutting the door she drew her chair nearer th
e
fire and fell into grave and sympathetic pondering over Marvie'
s
love affair.

Chapter
fifteen.

Hettie, early riser as she was, outdid herself on this Wednesda
y
morning, which was the day on which she had agreed to ride dow
n
into the brakes with Marvie.

There were tasks to see to, some of which she performed before he
r
mother called her to breakfast. Hettie was still at the table whe
n
whoops outside alarmed her. Then she recognized Marvie'
s
"Whoopee!"

"Gracious! Is the poor kid celebrating the arrival of this day?"
e
jaculated Hettie, mirthfully.

Nevertheless, she ran out on the porch, followed by her mother.

"For the land's sake!" cried Mrs. Ide. "Has Marvie gone daffy!"

They saw him running wildly bareheaded, up the walk toward Ben'
s
house. Once up on the ridge, Marvie espied Hettie, and waving t
o
her he yelled:

"Look down in the pasture!"

Hettie did so, at least toward the near pasture, but as her vie
w
was most obscured by pine trees she did not see anything unusual.

"WHOOPEE!" yelled Marvie again. "Hey, Ben!"

Hettie realized now that something was up, so she started to ru
n
across the log bridge. When she got halfway she saw Ben rush ou
t
on the porch, in his shirt sleeves, rifle in hand.

"What's the matter, Marv?" he shouted.

"CALIFORNIA RED'S BACK!" bellowed Marvie, coming to a halt.

Hettie saw Ben start as if struck. Then he ran to meet Marvie.

Hettie lost little time getting over the bridge and across th
e
grassy bench. Breathless and excited she arrived in time to se
e
Ben sink down on a log, as if overcome. Ina came running in he
r
dressing-gown.

"Oh, Ben--who--what is it?" she cried, in alarm.

"Glory be! Ina, Red is back."

"That all? I thought we were attacked by rustlers. Marvie, yo
u
can yell like a demon."

"Ben, I'm--so glad," panted Hettie.

"Boy, you're not playin' a trick on me--because I was sore on you?"
i
mplored Ben of Marvie.

"Nope, I saw him sure. An' I was tickled to death."

"Aw! . . . Reckon Dillon fetched him back," sighed Ben, i
n
unutterable gratitude.