Slaughter of the Mountain Man by William W. Johnstone

Author:William W. Johnstone
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pinnacle Books
Published: 2021-08-30T00:00:00+00:00

Three Mountain Ranch

“Say, do you have any idea when Albert will be back?” Pearlie asked Richard.

“You mean, Mr. Barrington, don’t you?”

“I’m sorry. Mr. Barrington, do you have any idea when Albert will be back?”

“No, you idiot! I mean when you speak of my brother Albert, you will speak of him as Mr. Barrington.”

“Yeah, well, he told me to call him Albert.”

“You’ll not do so around me,” Richard replied.

“All right, Mister Barrington, when will Mister Barrington be back?”

“I do not see how my brother’s travel schedule has anything to do with you. If you have a question pertaining to your duties, or anything about the operation of this ranch, you will come to me.”

“No, I don’t have any questions,” Pearlie said. “I was just curious, is all. I thought maybe that letter you got might have something to do with him.”

“What made you think that?”

“I don’t know, it’s just that it wasn’t a regular letter is all. It wasn’t delivered by a postman.”

“My mail, regardless of how I receive it, is none of your business.”

It had been Pearlie’s intention to ask about the cattle that were being moved. Every day, for the three days Albert had been gone, as many as fifty cows were being cut away from the others and driven away. Because of what Pearlie had overheard in the saloon in town, he suspected something was going on right under Richard’s nose. Smoke had left him here to help Albert, so with or without Richard’s approval, or even knowledge, Pearlie decided to investigate.

When fifty more cows were cut away that afternoon, Pearlie followed the two cowboys, Keefer and Higgins, keeping far enough behind and using the lay of the land so as not to be seen.

The cows were driven to the extreme west end of the ranch and there they were met by three other men. One of the new men gave Keefer some money then took the cows.

Pearlie followed Keefer and Higgins back, with the intention of telling Richard about what he had seen. The money in Keefer’s pocket would prove his charge. But, to Pearlie’s surprise, Keefer gave the money to Richard. Pearlie had been wrong in his suspicions.

Two days later, Albert returned to the ranch.

“Albert,” Richard said. “What are you doing here?”

“What do you mean, what am I doing here? I live here.”

“Yes, but, well, I didn’t expect you back yet. I . . . uh, received a letter saying you had been taken from the train, and I was to pay a ransom for your return.”

“Did you pay the ransom?”

“No, I was in the process of trying to raise the money. Five thousand dollars is a lot of money.”

“Oh,” Pearlie said. “That’s what it was all about.” Both Albert and Richard looked at Pearlie with a confused expression on their faces.

“That’s what what is all about?” Richard asked, mouthing the question for both of them.

“The cattle that Keefer and Higgins have been cutting out and selling.”

“Keefer and Higgins have been selling cattle?” Albert asked.

“Yes, two hundred and fifty head, so far,” Pearlie said.

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