Collection 1999 - Beyond The Great Snow Mountains (v5.0) by Louis L’Amour Read Free Book Online

“Oh! I was afraid of something like that.”
    “Me, I’d have sworn by Gerber.”
    The door to the room smashed back suddenly, and Ward looked around. Five men had come into the cafe. In the lead, his blue eyes flashing from his brown, wind-burned face, his untrimmed white hair falling to his shoulders, was Old Dick Gerber. Behind him were four hard-faced riders.
    Gerber sighted Ward and crossed the room swiftly.
    “McQueen!” Gerber’s voice rang in the narrow room. “It’s come to my ears that you say I lied about my tally on that herd! Did you call me a liar?”
    As Ward McQueen carefully got to his feet, the door opened quietly behind him.
    “I’m with you, boss.” It was Kim Sartain’s voice.
    “No, Dick, I didn’t say you lied.”
    “The great McQueen, takin’ water!” sneered one of the riders. A big man known as Black.
    Ward’s eyes shifted to Black. “I’m not takin’ water. It’s just I’ve known Dick Gerber a lot longer than I expect to know you.”
    His eyes turned to Gerber’s. “Dick, you sold me four thousand head of cattle according to your tally. I took your word and the word of your book. I worked for you, an’ that tally book of yours was somethin’ to swear by. I had no doubts.”
    Gerber stared at him, still resentful. “What’s the fuss about then?” he demanded.
    “Because we’ve had our roundup, an’ we’ve only netted three thousand head.”
    “Three thousand?” Gerber stared. “Ward, you’re crookin’ me! If you only found three thousand head, you’ve snuck some off somewheres.” His mouth tightened. “Ah? Maybe that’s it? Maybe you figure to get me on that guarantee! Well, I won’t stand for it, Ward!”
    Ward’s face flushed. “All I want is a square deal.”
    “He’s askin’ for trouble, Gerber,” Black said. “Let me have him.”
    “Listen, big ears,” Sartain took a step into the room, “if you’re so anxious to throw iron, suppose you come out in the street an’ throw it with me?”
    “Kim!”
Ward barked. “Stop it!” Ward wheeled on Black. “And you shut up! Gerber, get that man out of here, and get him out fast! If we start shootin’ in this room, nobody will get out alive. And we’ve a woman here, remember that!”
    Dick Gerber’s anger left him. Realization broke over him that what Ward said was true. Ruth Kermitt was there. To throw a gun when a woman was present was out of reason.
    “Quiet down!” Gerber snapped. “You, Black, mind what I say.” He turned back to McQueen. “I’m sorry, Ward. Maybe I went off half-cocked, but I sure ain’t the man to bunco anybody. I figure you of all people knew that.”
    “Mr. Gerber,” Ruth said quietly, “just before you came in Ward was saying that even though there was a problem he would swear by you.”
    The old man looked around. “I guess I’m a fool,” he said, and dropped into a chair. “I never figured on makin’ a shootin’ match of it, Ward. I was just too mad to think.”
    “Forget it and let’s have a talk.” Ward glanced at Sartain. “Kim, we don’t want any trouble.”
    “That goes for you boys, too,” Gerber told his men. “Ward an’ me’ll find some peaceful way to handle this.”
    As the hands trooped out, the door pushed open and into the room swaggered a big man, broad shouldered and blond. He was nattily dressed in black and he smiled when he saw Ruth.
    “Oh, Miss Kermitt! I was looking for you. They told me in the office that you had come in here with one of the hands. Are you ready now?”
    Ward McQueen looked around, astonished. The man was Buff Colker, the rep for the KT outfit, but he had never looked like this on the range. Then, as Colker’s meaning swept over him, his face flushed and he glanced around at Ruth.
    “Why, yes, Mr. Colker, just one minute.” She turned quickly to Ward and put her hand on his. “I wasn’t sure that you’d be in tonight,” she said, “and Mr. Colker asked if he might call. Do you mind?”
    For a