Lassiter Tough by Loren Zane Grey Read Free Book Online Page A

December.”
    â€œShe needs an older fella like Rep to tame her.”
    â€œI see. . . .”
    â€œOnce my sister an’ Rep are harnessed, the two outfits will be one, you might say. His an’ mine.”
    Lassiter couldn’t help a short laugh. “So that’s it. Use your sister to get your hands on Chandler’s ranch.”
    Sanlee seemed to take no offense, and said, “Had the idea for quite a spell. Kinda took your breath away, eh?” the rancher said with sly amusement. He plucked a green weed and stuck a stem into a corner of his bearded mouth. “Women are bought an’ sold the same as slaves. You understand, Lassiter?”
    â€œHardly.”
    â€œWell, let me explain. I got somethin’ Rep Chandler wants. He wants a hot-blooded young female an’ Millie’s all of that from what I been hearin’ since she was fourteen or thereabouts. An’ Chandler’s got somethin’ I want. His ranch added to mine will give me a sizeable chunk of the brasada.”
    â€œThat figures,” Lassiter said evenly. “What if I told Rep of your plans?”
    â€œGo ahead. His heart’s pumpin’ so hard for my little sister he wouldn’t even hear you.” Sanlee leaned forward. “That’s why I got Millie out here where I can keep an eye on her. You understand?”
    â€œYou put it plain enough.” Lassiter was barely able to conceal his contempt, his outright hatred because of what had happened to his friend up in New Mexico.
    Lassiter got to his feet and Sanlee stood up, his big body unwinding slowly, taller than Lassiter by an inch or so. Old Tim Marshal had thrown fresh fuel on the cook fire. Firelight stained the growing darkness and wood smoke stung Lassiter’s nostrils. Every eye was on the two big men facing each other in the waning light.
    Sanlee spoke in a rush of words for Lassiter’s ears only. “I like the way you stand up to a man, Lassiter.Once Millie marries Rep, I’ll hire you on to ramrod the two outfits. . . .”
    â€œI’ll be moving along by then. I’m a drifter at heart. . . .”
    But Sanlee shook his head stubbornly. “I got me a woman I figure to marry. An’ she wants to go out to Frisco for a spell. An’ I aim to oblige. But I need a tough man to leave behind while I show Isobel some of the world she’s got an itch to see. Don’t make up your mind now, Lassiter, but keep it under your hat. We’ll talk later.”
    Abruptly, Sanlee stalked over to the cook fire, where he picked up a steaming coffeepot from the coals. As Lassiter rode out, he was filling a tin cup.
    From the edge of camp, Lassiter glanced over his shoulder at Millie’s tent, which could barely be seen now in the darkness. It was close enough to where Sanlee had been sitting for her to have overheard every word. Not only had she been thwarted when she apparently had run off with Vince Tevis, but now her brother was going to use her as a bargaining chip to merge Chandler’s Box C with Diamond Eight.
    Pity for her plight deepened in him. He was remembering the excitement in Rep Chandler’s voice when talking about marrying again. At the time Lassiter had had no idea the middle-aged rancher had his eye on a girl Millie Sanlee’s age.
    After roundup he’d warn Chandler of Sanlee’s intentions toward Box C. Chandler might believe him. On the other hand, his reaction might be the same as it had been when Lassiter mentioned the three names Sanlee had written out.
    â€œBrad was just joshin’,” Chandler had said.
    Well, Lassiter would finish roundup and drive theBox C herd to railhead where they would be sold, as per his agreement with Chandler. Then he would do what he could for Millie.
    Meanwhile, he’d let Sanlee sweat. On the day he told Chandler he was quitting, he would corner Sanlee and settle up for the death of Vince Tevis.
    Then he would be off to new