Lassiter Tough by Loren Zane Grey Read Free Book Online

will’ is the way it’s usually put.” There it was, more words than he had intended to use. But the whole damn thing was getting away from him—mistreatment of the girl and the cold-blooded killing of Vince Tevis cracked the dam of his resolve.
    Sanlee seemed to think about it. He cocked his head at Lassiter, who stood a few feet away, hands at his sides, feet widespread, nothing to read on the dark features. Sanlee used the last biscuit to mop up what remained of his supper. His strong jaws chomped on stringy beef. Then he tossed his plate aside, where it lay shining dully in a clump of weeds. As he wiped his mouth with the back of the left hand, his right hand darted to his belt. The movewas as quick as that of a striking rattler. He had a gun half-drawn, then noticed that Lassiter’s .44 was already in hand. The metallic sound as it was cocked seemed almost as explosive in the silent camp as a thunderclap.
    â€œI shoulda remembered you got speed along with your nerve.” Sanlee chuckled as he let his gun slide back into the holster.
    The nearest man, some thirty feet away, sat rigidly in the twilight, his mouth open. Beyond him the rest of the crew stared. The old cook, Tim Marshal, on hands and knees, was reaching out for a rifle on the ground.
    Sanlee caught the movement from a corner of his eye. “Easy, Tim,” he called over to the cook. “We got a sidewinder in camp. Let’s step real careful.”
    The old man sank back to the ground and wrapped his bony arms around his knees.
    â€œPut away your gun, Lassiter,” Sanlee said jovially. “You pullin’ it so free an’ easy is liable one day to get you in a pile of trouble.”
    â€œNot so far.” Lassiter holstered his .44. For a minute he had let his temper get away from him, but now it was checked once again. There would come a day when everything would fall into place. And he would know that it was time to settle everything with this hulking killer sitting hunched across from him in the deepening shadows.
    Lassiter accepted Sanlee’s invitation to “set an’ talk.” He sank to his knees in a position where he could keep an eye on the crew. There were scraping sounds of sand on tin as they cleaned their plates. But as they worked at the daily chore, their eyes flicked to Lassiter.
    â€œDidn’t Chandler tell you about that gal in thetent?” Sanlee asked, that hard smile still on his bearded face.
    â€œHaven’t seen Rep since roundup started.”
    â€œThen I’ll tell you.” Sanlee’s voice lowered so that not even the nearest man could have overheard. “Millie’s my kid sister. You believe that?”
    â€œIf you say so.”
    â€œSince my pa’s been gone, I done my damnedest to keep her in hand. Most of the time I do. But about three weeks ago she run off.” Sanlee’s voice hardened but he failed to notice the change that had come over Lassiter’s face. “She run off with a no-good bastard. . . .” Sanlee didn’t go on with it.
    Lassiter, his heart hammering, vowed not to let himself come unraveled as memories of that tragic evening in New Mexico came flooding back.
    â€œThis fella she ran off with,” Lassiter managed to say, “she figured to marry him?”
    Sanlee looked up, his eyes ugly. “I got my own idea on who she’s gonna marry. You understand, Lassiter?”
    â€œLooks like she’s got nothing to say about it.”
    â€œNot one damn solitary thing. I aim to look after my little sister an’ see that she ties up with a solid citizen of Texas. Millie’s gonna marry your boss.”
    â€œRep Chandler?” Lassiter asked in genuine surprise. He was remembering how young the girl had seemed. At least he now knew her name. “Guess it’s your business,” he went on carefully, “but it seems to me kinda like tryin’ to squeeze together May and