Montana Abbott 1 by Al Cody

Author:Al Cody
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: american civil war, gunfighters, cattle drive, cowboys and indians, the old west, piccadilly publishing, wild west fiction ebook, western ebook story
Publisher: Piccadilly

They crossed the Leon, the Brazos, and finally the Red, none of the streams presenting serious problems. The weather continued pleasant, no longer too hot or too dry, as fine as could be hoped for at that season of the year. There was grass in abundance, water enough, no open hostility, no real problems. It was almost too good to be true.

So was the behavior of the crew, especially as concerned Cindy. A part of that might be attributed to Mandy, looming like a watchful duenna, but a larger amount of the credit went to Montana, whose authority was now beyond dispute. He was fair, and no one questioned what he said; or, even more important what he left unsaid.

He observed that Mulroney grew more alert and watchful, as though entering familiar but risky territory.

“A word to the wise,” Mulroney observed, where all might hear. “From here on, this is what we might call Border country—and the word has been whispered like a shout. Along the Border, the name of Abbott is as well known as along the San Saba—and ’tis a foolish or foolhardy man who asks questions.”

No one did ask the questions which cried out for answers. Only Sam Henson added a caution as well.

“A woman can make or break a man,” he told the crew bluntly, out and well away from the wagons. “And that goes for all women, whether a sweetheart or wife or a termagant, as the case may be. Thus far everyone has kept certain things in mind and behaved well, but from here on, every man has got to consider the women as our collective responsibility. We have to see that nothing happens. to them—from any source. Havin’ them along helps to keep us civilized, which any bunch of men can stand.

“I reckon I’ve made myself plain. I’ll add just this much. Abbott is concerned about getting this drive through, cattle, men and women alike. He’s fair and square. But I’m only telling you what you already know when I remind you that he’d kill anybody that stepped out of line, and in that, I’m backin’ him all the way.”

Beyond the Red they were out of Texas, and the half-tamed land was a memory. Now came The Nations, a different stretch from that which Montana had crossed in swift and stealthy fashion. Here was as wild a stretch of country as even the most lawless man might seek. Any one man’s knowledge of such territory must of necessity be limited. Few had ventured along these wastes and returned to tell what they had found.

Only one good thing could be said for it, and that was a matter of degree. Most of the native inhabitants were less savage than the later arrivals of paler skin who haunted the dreaded Border, short of where civilization was again to be found.

They reached a last outpost, a tiny settlement with a store sufficiently stocked to enable them to replenish the wagons. Montana reflected that the last of his hoard of gold had been put to excellent use.

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