58 Gunsmoke Thunder (A Floating Outfit book) by J. T. Edson

Author:J. T. Edson
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHT

DANCE NIGHT IN APACHE CITY

DUSTY FOG and Mark Counter rode out to the S-B Ranch the following morning. They were watched by Burton Hillvers and his men with something like relief. The Indian Agent was pleased to see them go for a number of reasons, not the least that he did not care for the idea of tangling with them again.

Betty Hardin came from her cabin to greet the arrivals in traditional western style. `Huh, now my shiftless kin and his worthless amigos are all over us.'

Dismounting Dusty walked forward and took his favourite cousin by the shoulders, looking at her. Betty's eyes were alight with pleasure at the visit and she waited for his comments.

`You're looking well, Cousin Betty.'

`Never felt better,' Betty replied. `Come on in and see Johnny.'

With the social side of the visit attended to Dusty and Mark turned their horses into the corral and caught fresh mounts from the S-B's small remuda. Red Blaze was waiting for them and they left on a tour of the range.

That was the last leisure day they spent, for there was much to do even with the hard work Red and the regular crew put in. The entire crew of the ranch formed lines and worked the country, trying to make a better estimate of how much stock it held. The results were surprising to Red and his hands, for they had found that the range held even more unbranded stock than they imagined in their earlier work.

The Ysabel Kid and Comanche Blake came to the ranch but that was all the others saw of them, for they rode back to her place later that afternoon with a promise they would get together at the dance. Dusty and Mark found little time to worry about it. The Kid had been their friend, nearer a brother than a friend, since their first meeting in the small Mexican village just after the War. If he wanted to marry and settle down it was for him to decide. They would miss him but they would be able to adjust themselves to that.

Three days later the doctor, visiting Johnny, brought word that the Apache Scouts, with new recruits from the reservation, had left town. Al Sieber had received an urgent call from north New Mexico about Indian attacks and was headed there to see if his lost bunch of Utes were responsible. The doctor also said the soldiers at the fort were all talking about the way discipline was relaxing and how much better it was to soldier now.

They were hard working days but the time passed quickly. Johnny Raybold was on his feet and swearing he would attend the dance even if he did no more than sit with the ladies all night. The dance day brought an air of expectancy to the ranch and all the work was finished early. The two young cowhands, delighted to be working and associating with Red Blaze's illustrious cousin and his friend, were all set to show Apache City what a Texan on a spree could do.

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