Lonely On the Mountain (1980) by Louis - Sackett's 19 L'amour Read Free Book Online Page B

freight here and there." "At Pembina or maybe Fort Garry, I'll need a couple of men. A couple who can handle cattle, drive a team, and make a fight if that's necessary." "Where you goin'?" "West, through the mountains. They call it British Columbia. I'll pay thirty a month, and the grub's good." Shorty finished his food. "If you're eatin', you better get up there," he advised.
    "They don't set no second table." Orrin Sackett moved up to the table and found a place near the girl who was traveling with them.
    Passing her a platter of beans and rice, he said, "If there is anything I can do, you have only to ask." "Thank you." As she did not seem disposed to talk, he said nothing more but finished his eating and went outside. The two men with rifles were standing near the stage in deep conversation with a third man, pants tucked into his boots, a battered hat pulled low so little of his face could be seen.
    Kyle Gavin strolled over and stood near.
    "Those men," Gavin commented, "something about them worries me." "It's the clothes," Orrin replied.
    "The men don't look like they belonged in them." "You mean a disguise?" Orrin shrugged. "Maybe, or maybe just trying to fit into the country." Then he added, "They
    andle the rifles like they were used to them, though." The stage rolled on, and again Orrin slept fitfully. Where were Tell and Tyrel? The letter received in St. Paul had stated only that their route would be up the valley of the James, and if they reached the Turtle Mountains first, they would proceed westward, leaving some indication behind.
    They were going into wild country, a land unknown to them. Even now, they would be somewhere in Dakota, the land of the Sioux, a fierce, conquering people who had moved westward from their homeland along the Wisconsin-Minnesota boarder to conquer all of North and South Dakota, much of Montana, Wyoming, and Nebraska, an area larger than the empire of Charlemagne.
    This land through which they traveled was that which divided the waters flowing south toward the Gulf of Mexico from those flowing north toward Hudson's Bay.
    There were many lakes, for this was the fabled "land of the sky-blue water," and soon they would be descending into the valley of the Red River of the north.
    Orrin awakened suddenly, feeling a head on his shoulder. It was the young lady, who had fallen asleep and gradually let her head fall on his convenient shoulder. He held very still, not wishing to disturb her.
    The coach was very dark inside, and he could see little but the gleam of light on the rifle barrels and light where the coach lamps let a glow in through a crack in the curtains. All the rest seemed asleep.
    He was about to doze once more when he heard a drum of hoofs on the road behind them. Someone, a fast rider, was overtaking the coach. Carefully, he put his fingers on the butt of his six-shooter, listening.
    He heard the rider come alongside and lifted the corner of the curtain but could see nothing, as the rider had already passed too far forward. The stage slowed, and he could hear conversation between the rider and the driver but could distinguish no words.
    After a moment, he heard the rider go on, listened to the fading sound of hoof beats, but the stage continued at the slower pace.
    A long time later, daylight began filtering through the curtains, and suddenly the girl beside him awakened. She sat up with a start, embarrassed.
    "Oh! Oh, I am so sorry!" She spoke softly so as not to disturb the others. "I had no idea!" "Please do not worry about it, ma'am," Orrin said. "My shoulder's never been put to better purpose." She tucked away a wisp of hair. Her eyes were brown, and her hair, which was thick and lovely, was a kind of reddish-brown. He suddenly decided that was the best shade for hair, quite the most attractive he'd seen.
    He straightened his cravat and longed for a shave. The stubble must be showing. He touched his cheek. Yes, it was. He touched his carefully trimmed black moustache.
    Kyle