Violence of the Mountain Man. William W. Johnstone

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СКАЧАТЬ well, this ain’t most of the time,” Keno said. “And you ain’t never got no cattle this good for this cheap.”

      “I don’t have any idea how cheap they are,” Montgomery said. “You haven’t mentioned a price.”

      “What do you normally pay for cattle?”

      “About twenty-five dollars a head,” Montgomery answered.

      Keno smiled broadly. The broken and discolored teeth the smile displayed caused Montgomery to glance away in quick but repressed revulsion.

      “I’ll sell ’em to you for five dollars a head.”

      “Five dollars a head?” Montgomery said, reacting to the price.

      “Does that sound good to you?” Keno asked.

      “Yes, it sounds very good,” Montgomery replied. “But I don’t understand. Why so cheap?” Montgomery frowned. “Are these stolen cattle, Mr. Keno?”

      “There ain’t a brand on a one of them,” Keno said.

      “You didn’t answer my question, Mr. Keno. Are these stolen cattle?”

      “Five dollars a head,” Keno said. “Do you want them or not?”

      “Where are they now?”

      “They are safe.”

      “Five dollars a head,” Montgomery repeated. “You aren’t going to change your mind later on now, are you?”

      “No, I ain’t goin’ to change my mind,” Keno said.

      Montgomery was quiet for a long moment as he thought about the situation. Finally, he nodded.

      “Yes, I’ll take them,” he said. “When and where do I come for them?”

      “Do you know where Sugarloaf Ranch is?”

      “Yes, of course I know. I don’t think there is anyone in Eagle County who doesn’t know where Sugarloaf is.”

      “All right, you come out there just after noon tomorrow,” Keno said.

      “Where exactly should I come?” Montgomery asked. “Sugarloaf is a big ranch. I suppose I could stop by the Big House and ask for directions.”

      “No! No, don’t do that,” Keno replied quickly and earnestly. “Look, you know where Old Woman Creek goes into the canyon? It’s at the far west end of the ranch.”

      “Yes, I know the place.”

      “There’s a little thicket of trees there. You come to the trees, I’ll meet you there. Bring the money with you. Two hundred fifty dollars.”

      “You’ll have the cattle?”

      “Yeah, I’ll have them,” Keno said.

      “Then I will have the money.”

      “Say, Mr. Montgomery, is there any way you could maybe pay fifty dollars now?” Keno asked. “Sort of on good faith, so to speak?”

      “Can you produce ten cows now on good faith?” Montgomery replied.

      “No, how would I do that?”

      Montgomery stood up and pushed the chair back up under the table. “Very well, then I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon,” he said. “Good day to you, Mr. Keno.” He looked toward Jeeter and nodded. “And to you, Mr. Jeeter,” he added.

      Jeeter chuckled as Montgomery walked out of the saloon. “Did you really think he would give you fifty dollars now?” he asked. “What the hell were you thinking about?”

      “I was thinking that if he would give me some of the money in advance, I would be able to pay you thirty dollars right now and save myself twenty more dollars later on,” Keno said.

      “Hell, I could’a told you a man like C.D. Montgomery wouldn’t go along with nothin’ like that,” Jeeter said. “He is a very rich man. Rich men don’t do dumb things, and believe me, asking him for fifty dollars before he had ever seen so much as one cow…Yes, sir, Mr. Keno, that was one dumb thing.” Jeeter laughed out loud.

      The next afternoon

      When Lucas Keno saw the cattle buyer approaching, he rode out of the copse of trees and down the little hill to meet him.

      “Mr. Montgomery, it’s good to see you again,” Keno said. “Do you have the money?”

      “I have the money, two hundred fifty dollars. That’s what you asked for,” Montgomery said. “Where are the cattle?”

      “They’re right back here in the—” Keno began, but when he turned around he saw Smoke Jensen along with Pearlie and Cal riding up behind him, having just emerged from the same copse of trees where he had been waiting for Montgomery.

      “Jensen!” Keno said.

      “Keno,” Smoke replied.

      “Uh—Mr. Jensen, this here fella is C.D. Montgomery,” Keno said quickly. “If you want to know where some of your cows have been goin’, well, he’s been buyin’ ’em from the thieves that’s been takin’ ’em. I just smoked him out for you.”

      “Did you now?” Smoke asked.

      “Yes, sir, you can check him out for yourself. He’s got the money right there in his hand. Two hunnert ’n fifty dollars. That’s what I told him I wanted for the cows—just to see if he would take the bait, you see.”

      “Here is your money back, Smoke,” Montgomery said, handing the money over to the ranch owner. “I appreciate the loan.”

      “Thanks, C.D. I appreciate you coming to me about this,” Smoke said.

      “Your money?” Keno asked, looking at the exchange. “What do you mean your money? What’s goin’ on here?”

      “C.D. is a friend of mine,” Smoke said. “When you went to him with the offer to sell him fifty cows for five dollars a head, then told him to meet you on Sugarloaf, he came straight to me.”

      Keno glared at Montgomery, his eyes flashing intense anger and hatred.

      “Why, you sorry son of a bitch!” Keno said. He went for his gun, but before he could draw it, Pearlie moved his horse quickly toward him, and the action knocked Keno from his saddle.

      Keno fell heavily alongside his horse; then started again to reach for the pistol he had just dropped. A shot sounded out and Keno’s pistol was knocked across the ground, the wood on the grip shattered by the impact of the bullet.

      “Don’t push it any further,” Smoke cautioned. Smoke was holding a pistol. A small wisp of smoke curled up from the barrel.

      “All right, so what are you going to do now?” Keno asked, getting up and brushing his hands СКАЧАТЬ