Range War (9781101559215) by C. J. Cherryh Read Free Book Online Page A

his peace.
    â€œJust remember, you two,” Constanza said. “The Hound isn’t your only worry.”
    â€œIt is all I think about,” Alejandro said.
    â€œDon’t forget that the cowboys have vowed to drive us out. Should they catch you, there is no predicting what they will do. They might shoot you. Or maybe they will tar and feather you, as the gringos are so fond of doing.”
    â€œOver my dead body,” Fargo said.

12
    The clouds darkened during the morning and by noon Fargo was sure they were in for a storm. He and the young sheepherder were on the grassy bench high above the valley, seeking signs. “We should hunt cover if it starts to rain.”
    â€œI don’t mind being wet, senor,” Alejandro said.
    They left the bench and climbed. The higher slopes weren’t as thick with trees and were dotted with boulders.
    â€œThe Hound has to be flesh and blood,” Alejandro said at one point. “Yes?”
    â€œWhat else would it be?”
    â€œThen why can’t we find any sign? Why can’t we find tracks or droppings?”
    â€œIt’s canny, this critter,” Fargo said.
    â€œOr it is the spawn of hell,” Alejandro declared in earnest. “I have heard of such things. My people whisper about them in the night.”
    â€œI don’t buy that nonsense. Anything that can hurt us, we can hurt. Or kill.”
    â€œI hope you are right, senor,” Alejandro said. “It is one thing to be up against a wolf or a dog, another to contend with the Devil.”
    â€œKeep thinking like that and you’ll freeze when the time comes,” Fargo warned.
    â€œDo not worry about me. Dog or devil, I will do what must be done.”
    Just then Fargo spied a dark circle a quarter of a mile or more above them. “Look there,” he said, and pointed.
    â€œA cave, you think?”
    â€œLet’s find out.”
    It was a hard climb. Twice Fargo had to dismount and lead the Ovaro by the reins. The last slope was the steepest. They left their horses tied to a stunted pine and ascended the rest of the way on foot.
    â€œIt’s a cave!” Alejandro exclaimed.
    The opening was five feet across. The ground around it was undisturbed, with not so much as a single print.
    Fargo wasn’t surprised when he crouched and entered, only to find a lot of dust and an old spider web. The cave barely went in four feet.
    â€œNothing has ever lived here,” Alejandro said, unable to hide his disappointment.
    â€œThe spider,” Fargo said, with a flick of a finger at the tattered web.
    â€œI had high hopes. I want the beast dead.”
    â€œWe’ll get it sooner or later,” Fargo predicted.
    â€œIt is the later that bothers me,” Alejandro said. “How many more of my people will it kill?”
    Fargo had no answer to that. He turned and gazed down at their horses and then out over the valley. From that high up the sheep were white puffy balls. He could see the encampment and the wagons.
    â€œWho is that?” Alejandro asked, and pointed.
    On a bluff behind and above the camp was a man on horseback. He was just sitting there, apparently staring down at the sheepherders without being seen.
    â€œIt is a cowboy!” Alejandro declared. “He is spying on my people.”
    â€œSo long as that’s all he’s doing,” Fargo said.
    â€œWe must go find out.” Alejandro moved out of the cave. “We will confront him.”
    â€œMight be best not to,” Fargo advised.
    â€œSenor?”
    â€œSpying is harmless. We go after him, it might end in bloodshed.”
    â€œSo long as the blood is his.”
    Fargo tried a different tack. “He’ll spot us crossing the valley. We won’t be able to get close enough.”
    Alejandro thoughtfully scratched his chin and suddenly brightened. “Not if we circle around from up here. We can get above him and he’ll never see us. Are you