Sudden Makes War by Oliver Strange

Author:Oliver Strange [Strange, Oliver]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: (¯`'•.¸//(*_*)\\¸.•'´¯)
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter XIII

Beth Trenton returned to the Wagon-wheel sound in body but perturbed in mind.

Naturally generous by nature, the attitude her rescuer had adopted distressed and saddened her.

Coming from the East, she could not comprehend the stark animosity which could keep two families at war for years. And rude, primitive as he seemed, there was much that was likeable in Dan Dover. If only she could bring about a peace.

Her uncle was alone in the living-room. As she related her adventure, she saw concern, relief, and then both were swept away in a gust of anger at the mention of her preserver’s name.

“That fella again?” he stormed. “What cursed ill-luck arranges for him to be handy every time you get into trouble?”

“I am afraid I cannot regard it as ill-luck,” she replied. “He saved me, and might have died himself.”

“Bah! Only one thing kills that breed—a bullet,” was the brutal rejoinder. “I’m not ungrateful, girl; any other man could ask what he liked of me, but Dover …”

“He does not want even thanks,” she said. “He threw my own back in my face.”

“The insolent young hound,” Trenton growled. “He needs a lesson, an’ by Christopher, I’ll see that he gets one.”

“Uncle, what was the beginning of the trouble?” she asked.

“Oh, it’s a long story; I’ll spin it for you one day, but you can take this to go on with—a Dover murdered my father,” the rancher said, and stood up. “Yo’re a Trenton, Beth, an’ our enemies must be yores too; we don’t forget or forgive.”

He had meant to tell her of the coming trip into the hills, but judged this was not the time; better to let the memory of this latest obligation to Dover fade a little. Women were kittle cattle, and he wanted her wholly on his side. He struck another blow.

“Have you noticed Bundy’s face?”

“Why, yes, he seems to have met with an accident.”

“Yeah, the accident of runnin’ into three o’ the Circle Dot riders out on the range,”

Trenton said. “They threw an’ savaged him, stole his horse, an’ he had to foot it home, over ten miles, in the dark.”

“Three to one?” she cried. “The cowards! Was Mister Dover there?”

“No, but his new man, Green, was, so you can be certain his boss approved; probably it was a put-up job, an’ they were waitin’ for the chance.”

“But why?”

“Simply because he’s foreman here; it’s a blow at me.” She could not doubt, although she found it hard to credit that Green, of whom the doctor had spoken highly, could take part in such a sordid enterprise. But she was learning that the Westerner was a creature of fine impulses, strong in his likes and dislikes.

“Isn’t there any law?” she ventured.

“No, only a sheriff,” was the satirical answer. “Now, don’t you worry yourself about these things, my dear. Bundy can take care of himself, an’ so can the Wagon-wheel.”

Dover also journeyed home in a worried state of mind. He had called on Maitland before leaving town, and the interview had been anything but helpful.

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