Bowdrie's Law (Ss) (1983) by Louis L'amour Read Free Book Online Page A

dozing, accustomed to such moments but prepared to take what rest he could get.
    The other Rangers closed in and Bowdrie explained what he had in mind and then moved off, stepping softly and hoping his spurs would not jingle. t When he reached the back of the well-house, he took a quick glance about, then walked across to the back door of the ranch house. He had been in the house too many times before not to know his way. He crossed the kitchen, hearing a murmur of voices from the living room. Walking softly behind the chairs in the big dining room, he reached the door and paused to listen. The door stood open but he was well back and out of sight.
    "Forget it, Cassidy!" Katch was saying. "You're jumpy! If Hawkins is dead, he can't talk. That fool Ranger will think one of his own shots killed him. He likes to believe he's good with a six-shooter."
    "Maybe you're right," Cassidy replied doubtfully, "but maybe he knows too much. After all, he knew about Piron . How could he find out about him?"
    "Don't get the wind up," Katch replied carelessly. "This is foolproof."
    ,,K. Atch got up and stretchl. In the dim light he looked enormous.
    I told the boys to load the stuff so's we could move it," Cassidy said.
    Katch brought his arms down slowly. "You what?"
    His tone was low but there was something so deadly in it that Bowdrie felt his | scalp tighten. "It seemed the thing to do. If they search the place, they'll find nothing." Katch's tone was mild. "Ferd, if they did search, they'd never think to look in that haystack. Besides, the Rangers know me. I'm their friend. If that loot starts paradin' around in the moonlight, somebody is sure enough goin' to see it."
    . I Cassidy had his hands fiat on the table. "I'll go tell 'em to put it back," he said. "I guess I acted too fast.'" "That's your trouble, Ferd. You're too jumpy.
    I don't like men who get jumpy, Ferd. You're a good man on a job, smooth as silk and cold as ice, but when we ain't workin' you're too easy to upset. Besides, I don't like men who give orders without consultin' me.
    "I'm right sorry," Cassidy said. "You ain't mad, are you, boss?" His features were sallow in the dim light, and suddenly Bowdrie knew what was about to happen. Big Tom Katch was playing with his lieutenant as a cat plays with a mouse. Katch knew that Cassidy was on edge. He led him on now, building him to a crisis.
    "No, I'm not mad, Ferd. Not mad at all." Katch smiled. "I just don't need you anymore, Ferd."
    The words fell softly in the room and for a moment there was utter silence as the words sank into Ferd Cassidy's brain. Realization hit him like a blow. His eyes seemed to flare and he went for his gun. And Tom Katch shot him.
    He had held the gun at his side, turned half away, so Ferd Cassidy, expecting no trouble here, had not even noticed.
    Bowdrie stepped softly into the room, so softly that Tom Katch did not hear it. The big man was staring at the dying Cassidy with amused contempt. Katch holstered his gun.
    Then his eyes lifted and his peripheral vision seemed to catch a glimpse of Bowdrie.
    He turned his head.
    Bowdrie saw the shock in Katch's eyes, then a slow smile. He had to admire the man, for it had taken only that instant to adjust to the changed situation.
    "How are you, Chick? I've been havin' some trouble with my foreman, seems like. He and some of the boys been doin' some outside jobs I didn't know about."
    "I don't buy it, Katch. You can't lay it on them alone. You're the boss here. Yours is the brain. From the beginning I knew there was something I should remember. Something that hung in the back of my mind trying to be remembered.
    "It didn't come to me until I saw that those handcuffs had been opened with a lock-pick.
    Then I realized who Cassidy was. When I knew who he was, I knew who you were."
    "Don't tell me I was on your Ranger list of wanted men. I never saw Texas until a few years back, and I've lived right here all that time."
    "What about Missouri, Tennessee, Ohio,