Coyote by Lee Clinton

Author:Lee Clinton [Clinton, Lee]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Robert Hale
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 16

GUT

The Mayfield Stock

‘I heard there had been a shooting. But Davitt! I didn’t even know he was in town,’ said Larry.

‘Well, it seems he was here on business with the Cheyenne Livestock Agency. Do you know what that business could have been?’ asked Gus.

‘No, I don’t. If it was a market day, it’d be my guess he was here to see the condition and prices of stock going under the hammer. But it’s not a market day.’

Gus handed Larry the small book with the initials CLA on the cover. ‘Does this mean anything?’

Larry seemed distracted as he thumbed through the pages and kept going back to the start before he finally said, ‘Prices, stock type and numbers, that’s all.’

‘So, nothing surprising or suspicious?’

‘No, no more than this.’ Larry dropped a similar notebook with the initials LLA on to the desk. ‘That’s mine,’ he said.

Gus picked up both notebooks from the desk and thumbed through each. They did look similar, but he had no idea of the significance of the contents of either.

‘I heard it was just a stray shot,’ said Larry.

‘Who’d you hear that from?’ said Gus as he finished looking at Larry’s book and handed it back to him.

‘Just street talk.’

Gus shrugged, ‘Maybe,’ he said and pulled himself out of the chair to stand. ‘Would Davitt Limborg have had any business to do at the saloon?’

‘He was a temperance man,’ said Larry.

‘Never lapsed?’

‘Doubt it. Davitt was proud of his abstinence. He said drinking got in the way of work, and he liked to work. He was an ambitious man.’

There was something else Gus wanted to ask Larry but the comment on being ambitious side-tracked him, so he turned to leave, just to have it come to him. ‘Has all the Mayfield stock been sold yet?’

Larry nodded.

‘Get a good price?’

‘OK for a quick and convenient sale. All sold as one lot. The proceeds have gone across to the judge. It will go to young Chrissy when the estate is settled.’

Gus took one step towards the door, paused, turned and asked, ‘Did Rufus Cole end up purchasing any?’

Larry looked a little awkward as he said hesitantly, ‘Yes.’

‘How many?’ quizzed Gus.

Larry was slow in answering before he said, ‘The lot. He’s building up a nice holding.’

‘And where’s he holding them, then?’ asked Gus.

‘West.’

‘Where west?’

‘He has property not far from the Mayfield land. Purchased it not long ago from one of the settlers who decided to move on. Meant he didn’t have to move the stock far at all.’

Gus raised an eyebrow slightly. ‘How close to the Mayfield property?’

Larry paused before replying. ‘Just a little south-west. He said he might be interested in purchasing the Mayfield property if the price is right.’

‘How long ago did he purchase his land?’

‘Few months, I guess.’

‘Didn’t know that,’ said Gus, almost as a whisper.

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