The 7th Western Novel by unknow

Author:unknow
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: western, cowboy, outlaw, indians, gunfighter
Publisher: Wildside Press LLC
Published: 2016-02-15T05:00:00+00:00

GUNS OF CIRCLE 8, by Paul Durst (writing as Jeff Cochran)

Originally published in 1954.

CHAPTER ONE

The rider paused on the crest of the ridge and looked about him to get his bearings. It had been a long time, and even as he looked the half strange landmarks began to fade in the gathering twilight. Presently his eye caught the yellow glow of lamplight in the deep shadows of the cottonwoods along the creek. Then he remembered. He eased the dun forward, down the dry wash, and up on the flat beyond. As the clip-clop of hoofbeats echoed through the deepening darkness, the throbbing of the frogs by the creek grew quiet. Someone heard the horseman approaching and a figure came out on the porch of the house up ahead. The rider stopped short at the gate and let the reins fall to the ground.

“Who’s there?” The challenge came from the man on the porch.

The rider didn’t answer. The night was quiet now, broken only by the squeak of the gate on rusty hinges and the crunch of gravel under his boots as he walked toward the porch. Somewhere down by the corrals a horse whinnied. The rider stopped when he reached the yellow rectangle of light that fell on the gravel walk, waiting for the recognition he knew would come. He watched the man’s face, and even against the light he could see the rapid change of expression.

“Condo! Is that you, Billy Condo?” The question was neither friendly nor unfriendly. Just uncertain.

The rider took a step forward. “That’s right, Jason. I’m back.” His lean face had a jaundiced look in the yellow light. The man on the porch came down the steps and Condo noticed the rifle in the crook of his arm.

Jason Thornhill came close and peered intently at this man who had ridden out of the night. For a long time their eyes met, unwavering. Billy Condo waited for Jason to speak, and when the words came at last they were about what he had expected they would be.

“You got your damn nerve, comin’ back here.” Jason made no attempt to disguise the bitterness in his voice.

Billy choked down the anger that rose inside him. His voice was calm when he answered. “I belong here, Jase. Texas is my home. I’ve come back, that’s all.”

“You’re not wanted here, Condo. Texas is overrun with bluebellies and carpetbaggers as it is. You’d better go back to the North, Condo. Back to the side you fought for. We don’t want traitors here.”

Billy Condo stiffened, and for an instant his right hand brushed the butt of the pistol at his side. “There were some people,” he said with equal bitterness, “who felt Texas should hold to the Union. Sam Houston was one. Tell me he’s not a Texan.” His face, relaxed suddenly and he moved his hand away from the gun with a sigh. “The war’s fought and done, Jason. I’m no carpetbagger. I’ve come back to my own country. I fought on the side I believed in.

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