Ghost Ranch by Paul Lederer

Author:Paul Lederer
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781480487338
Publisher: Open Road Media

EIGHT

As Trinity’s eyes adjusted to the feeble light cast by the lantern, he was able to make out the bent figure of a man sitting in a wheelchair next to the cold fireplace. A cane was hung from one of the chair’s arms. The man’s face was craggy but pale, his hands large and gnarled. Whoever he was, he appeared to be a man who had once labored hard but had had his youthful strength cut away from him by time. Trinity wasn’t sure how to approach him. Could this truly be the feared Calvin Dancer, or had Tammy’s eagerness led her to falsely identify a man whose face even she admitted she did not really know? Billy was more blunt than Trinity.

‘Who were those men that went riding off when they saw us coming?’

The old man shifted uneasily in his chair. He shrugged with his hands, ‘I can’t help you there, partner. I never did learn their names.’ His voice sounded truthful, his old face reflected sincerity.

‘They were living here and you don’t know their names?’ Billy Raglan persisted.

‘They weren’t living here. They came by yesterday and asked to spend the night. They said they’d pay me good money to bunk here. Well,’ he said looking around the shabby room, ‘as you can see, I haven’t much, and little hope of making more.’ He slapped his dead leg as he said this. ‘They told me they’d be gone by morning, so I let them in. My name, by the way, is Edward Stubblefield. This is my humble house.

‘This morning, being relatively flush thanks to my guests,’ he said with a weak smile, ‘I went to town to take care of some old debts. When I got back they were still here. They said they might have to spend another night. The way they said it indicated that they meant to do whatever they wanted, and I wasn’t going to argue with four armed men.

‘I suppose it was about an hour after that that you two rode in. One of them shouted and the others scrambled out the door, making for their horses. That’s what happened, mister. It’s all I can tell you.’

‘Did they say where they were going?’ Trinity asked.

‘All I heard was the big man shout, “scatter!”.’ He attempted a smile again. ‘So I guess they just scattered.’

There didn’t seem to be any point in trying to get more out of the old man. Either things were as he said, and that was all he knew – or, he was Calvin Dancer, and in that case he sure wouldn’t be telling them what they wanted to know.

Outside Billy and Trinity led their horses to the trough and let them drink. Now and then they would glance back at the gray house which looked ready to fold its roof and collapse.

‘What do you think?’ Billy asked at last. Trinity shrugged.

‘The truth is, I have no idea. I don’t know who he is. Maybe we should have let Tammy come along.

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