Lost Pueblo (1992) by Zane Grey Read Free Book Online Page A

him to. It's quite flattering, though. But not complimentary to you boys."
    "Wal, Miss, if you excuse me I'll say thet's not funny an' you ain't ridin' out alone," said Ray.
    "Indeed. Ray, you can be most disagreeable at times. It spoils a perfectly wonderful man. I am going to ride alone."
    "Nope. If you won't listen to me I'll tell Bennet."
    "Aren't you just inventing an opportunity to ride with me?"
    "Reckon not. I don't care particular aboot ridin' with you, after the deal you gave me last time."
    "What was that, Ray? I forget."
    "Wal, never mind... Now this Indian Smoky is a bad hombre an' it's really because he's not all there. He's not to be trusted. He might foller you around jes' curious. But if you got too nice to him things might happen. If he annoys you he'll be a daid redskin damn quick."
    "Thank you, Ray, I'll say that's talking," responded Janey. "But tell me, what do you do to white men out here, when they insult Eastern girls?"
    "Wal, Miss, white men--that is, Westerners don't insult girls from anywhere," returned Ray, forcefully.
    "But they do. I've heard and read of lots of things--Suppose now just for example you were to kidnap me and pack me off into the desert. What would happen to you?"
    "If I didn't get strung up to a cottonwood I'd shore be beat till I was near daid... But, Miss Janey, you needn't worry none about me. I've learned to fight my natural instincts."
    Janey laughed merrily. Some of these cowboys were full of wit and humor.
    "Ray, I'll compromise this ride with you," said Janey. "I want to surprise Mr. Randolph at his work. So you take me out and show me where he is. But you must wait some little distance away--But won't I be taking you from your own work?"
    "Boss's orders are that I look after you, Miss Janey," said Ray, with emphasis on the personal pronouns. "I'll throw a saddle an' be heah pronto."
    They rode out along the fenced ground, where Bennet kept stock at times, and came upon Tay-Tay, Diego and Zoroaster digging postholes. If there was anything a cowboy hated more than that, Ray declared he did not know what it was. The trio doffed their sombreros to Janey, and grinned because they could not help it, but they were galled at the situation.
    "Reckon that's fair to middlin'," declared Ray, eying the postholes. "But you ain't diggin' them deep enough."
    Zoroaster glared at Ray and threw down the long-handled shovel. Diego wiped the sweat from his face.
    "Say, are you foreman on this ranch?" he asked, scornfully.
    "G-g-g-go along w-w-w-with you or you'll g-get h-h-h-hurt," stuttered Tay-Tay.
    "Wal, as I don't care to have Miss Endicott see you boys any wuss than you are now reckon I'll move along," drawled Ray.
    Janey gave each in turn a ravishing smile, intended to convey the impression that she wished he were her escort rather than Ray. Then she trotted Patter out on the desert after Ray.
    They climbed a gradual ascent to the level of the vast valley and faced the great red wall of rock that loomed a few miles westward. She rode abreast of Ray for a couple of miles, talking the while, then, reaching uneven ground, she had to fall behind on the rough trail. Ray halted at a clump of cedars.
    "Reckon this is as far as you'll want me to go," he announced. "Follow the trail right to where it goes into the canyon. You'll see a big cave in the wall. That's the old cliff dwellin' where Mr. Randolph is diggin' around."
    "Thank you, Ray. Will you wait for me?"
    "Wal, not if you're ridin' back with him," returned Ray, reluctantly. "But I want to be shore about it."
    "I think you'd better wait. I'll not be long."
    Janey had not ridden a hundred paces farther before she forgot all about Ray. The trail led down into a red-walled wash where muddy water flowed over quicksand, which she had to cross. She had already crossed this stream at a different point, though not alone. Here she had to use her own judgment. She made Patter trot across; even then he floundered in the quicksand and splashed