Dark Horses by Ralph Cotton

Author:Ralph Cotton
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2014-06-02T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

Over coffee, Dallas Tate told the two gunmen what had happened between him and Will Summers. He told them about how he and Bailey Swann had been slipping around behind Ansil’s back. He knew that the old man was ill and had been using a wheelchair. He didn’t realize that Swann would not have known what was going on between him and his young wife if he’d been staring straight at them.

“One sniff of that horse trader,” he said bitterly, “and she threw me over for him. I’d have done anything for her. I’d have stuck a gun in the old man’s mouth and pulled the trigger, if she’d asked me to do it.” He swirled his coffee around in his cup and finished it in one gulp. “I thought about doing it anyway. Then everything she had would have been mine.”

Rizale and Gaines looked at each other.

“That’s a hell of a story,” Rizale said when Tate was finished. He stood up and slung grinds from his empty coffee cup. “But then you always were a man who had a knack for drawing close to womenfolk.”

“The hell is that supposed to mean?” Tate asked, staring up at him.

“Nothing to take offense at,” Rizale said. “It’s just an observation.” He grinned.

“It’s not like he’s accusing you of having congress with a milk goat,” Gaines put in. “I’ve never seen the Swann woman, but I hear she’s a looker.”

“She’s all of it,” Tate said, staring intently at his empty tin coffee cup. “Sometimes I felt like she was only using me. But if she was, it was the best using I ever had.” He paused, felt them staring at him. “Damn that horse trader to hell,” he murmured.

“All right, then,” said Gaines, “we’ll be riding on to Dark Horses, get ready for this job with Dad Crayley.” He stood up. “Sure you won’t ride with us?” He picked at the seat of his trousers.

“No,” said Tate, “I’ll ride in later.” He sat rounding his shoulder a little, getting it back in shape. “I’ve got something to take care of first.”

“You’re going off after that woman and the horse trader, aren’t you?” said Rizale. He grinned. “I’d hate to think fixing that shoulder has set you off on a cruel path of violence.” He and Gaines both laughed at his little joke.

Tate’s face reddened a little, but he gave a thin, halfhearted smile.

“No, I’m done with her and the horse trader,” he said, lying, eager to get rid of them. “I’ve just got some stuff that needs doing.”

“Not that milk goat? Please,” said Rizale, with his wide-faced grin, still sticking it to Tate.

“No, not the goat,” said Tate, without acknowledging the humor of it.

“Well, we never ask a man’s personal business,” said Gaines, stretching a little. “I expect we’ll see you soon in Dark Horses.”

“I expect so,” said Tate, standing, slinging grinds from his empty cup. He scraped out the small fire with the side of his boot.

In moments the three were mounted and riding away.

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