Valley Of the Sun (Ss) (1995) by Louis L'amour Read Free Book Online

him thoughtfully .
    "Yuh know where Ruth Kermitt is?" .
    "Yeah." .
    "Then take me to her. I'll talk there." .
    Leading the black horse, Ward McQueen . f ollowed Kim. The young man walked alongside him, his left side toward McQueen, who grinned to himself at this precaution .
    "Yuh don't take no chances, Sartain," he said. "But I think we're on the same side." .
    Kim's hard face did not relent. "I'll know that when yuh tell me where yuh got that hoss." .
    McQueen tied the horse to a hitching rail, followed Sartain into a small hotel, and into a back parlor, a small, comfortably furnished room. There was a girl sitting on the divan, and she rose quickly when they came in .
    McQueen halted, his face suddenly blank. He had expected anything but the tall, lovely girl who faced him. Probably twenty years old, she was erect, poised, and lovely, her black hair gathered in a loose knot at the nape of her neck, her blue eyes wide .
    Kim spoke, his voice flat. "This hombre hones to talk with yuh, ma'am. He rode into town on Dan's hoss." .
    "Ma'am," McQueen said quietly, "I'm afraid I'm bringin' bad news." .
    "It's Dan! Something's happened to Dan!" Ruth Kermitt came toward him quickly. "What is it? Please tell me now!" .
    McQueen's face flushed, then paled a little .
    "He's--he's been killed, ma'am. Shotffwas .
    Her face turned deathly white, and she fell back a step, her eyes still wide. Swiftly, Kim crossed to her side .
    "Ma'am," he said. "Better hold yoreself together. We got to get this hombre's yarn. He may need killin' hisself." He spoke this last in a low, dangerous tone .
    Briefly, with no details, McQueen explained, saying nothing about the herd except to mention the names of the men riding with it .
    Kim stared at him. "A herd of three hundred white-faces? And with Red Naify? Who're those others yuh mentioned?" .
    "Baldy Jackson and Bud Fox. Good men. Naify told us the other riders rode off and left 'em." .
    "Like the devil they did!" Kim snapped .
    "Somebody's lyin', ma'am!" .
    "We'd better get Iver," Ruth said hesitantly. "He always knows what to do." .
    Ward McQueen shook his head. "If yuh mean Iver Hoyt, ma'am, I wouldn't get him. He's a crook, tryin' to rustle them cattle hisself." .
    Ruth stiffened and her eyes flashed .
    "You don't know what you're saying!" she said . s harply. "He's been a very good friend! My only friend, aside from Kim here. And he wasn't found riding Dan's horse!" .
    "I reckon not," McQueen replied . g rimly, "but he--" .
    The door opened suddenly to interrupt him, and Iver Hoyt stepped in, two men crowding in behind him .
    "Ruth!" he said, "Dan's horse is outside!" His eyes found Ward McQueen and his lips tightened. "Ruth, who is this man?" .
    "Don't yuh remember me?" McQueen said gently. "That Texas rider yuh hired back at Pilot Creek. The one yuh told Red Naify to work on the same basis as the others." .
    "Yuh're crazy!" Hoyt snapped. .
    "I never saw yuh before in my life. As for Red Naify, the man's an outlaw! A rustler!" .
    "If I never saw yuh before," McQueen said quietly, "how do I know yore gun butt's got the head of a longhorn steer on it? How do I know yuh ride a bay hoss with three white stockin's?" .
    Kim stood with his thumbs hooked in his belt. "I've noticed that steer's head, Hoyt. And he sure enough has yore hoss spotted." .
    "He's a liar!" Hoyt snarled, his hands poised. "I never saw him before!" .
    "I'll take care of that liar business in due . t ime," McQueen said softly. "In the meantime, . t ell us what happened to Chuck and Stan .
    Jonesffwas .
    Ruth looked up quickly, staring at Hoyt .
    Iver Hoyt's face tightened .
    "They went back to Montana!" he snapped .
    "They were coming on here, Iver," Ruth Kermitt . s aid quietly. "Yuh know they'd promised to work for me. They wouldn't break a promise. Neither of them would." .
    Hoyt stiffened and his eyes turned hard. "So? You don't believe me either? We'll discuss this in the mornin'!" He turned abruptly and walked from the room,