Trail Boss by J. T. Edson

Author:J. T. Edson
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: C429, Fiction, Westerns, Extratorrents, Kat
ISBN: 9780441820979
Publisher: Berkley
Published: 1968-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

‘That’s all right. Don’t you forget your fish again—that was what started all this,’ Dusty answered.

The rest of the hands gathered around the fire and began to swap tall tales about the wettest time they had ever run across. They were still at it when the Kid returned with news that the weather appearing to be clearing.

The following morning the Kid’s prophecy was proved correct. The sun came out and the crew were given a day to dry out their wet clothing before moving on once more.

The day they crossed the line into the Indian Nations, Kiowa came back with word that they were still being dogged by a man who was riding a horse and leading two more. The Kid had found sign that the man was still on their trail, but that he was keeping his distance. Dusty refused to allow his scouts to take time out to hunt the man down; he didn’t want them too far away as they were now coming into Indian country. However, he told the Kid to take his string and make a circle to warn any other drives that might be within three days trail of them to be on the lookout for the watcher.

Mark and Dusty discussed the watcher as they rode at the point.

`Further we get from Texas, the better I like the idea of him being a Kliddoe man,’ Mark drawled as he scanned the range ahead.

‘Sure. Had he been a rustler spy, we’d have known before now. They wouldn’t want us this far. It’d be like Kliddoe to have a few men in Texas to dog the first herds and point him to them.’

‘Happen you should let Lon and Kiowa go after him.’ Dusty thought this over for a time, then heard a disturbance from back along the line. He didn’t take time to answer Mark, but turned his horse and headed back fast.

Thora was waiting, the black steer roped and snapped. ‘He started to gore a muley,’ she snapped, ‘reckon he’ll make us a dandy stew, or a couple of steaks.’ Dusty laughed as he watched her lead the steer back to the chuckwagon. Thora was acting like a seasoned trail drive hand now. She left the steer in Salt’s care and headed along the line to take her place in the swing.

The herd was bedded down soon after, even though there was more than half a day left for them to travel in. Dusty was satisfied that the herd was ahead of any other. He wanted to give the hands time to mend any damaged gear and rest the remuda and herd.

The hands settled down around the cook-fire, making the most of their brief rest from the trail driving. Men lounged around, talking. None of them took much notice of the approaching buggy, nor of the man who rode by the side of it.

`Hello, the wagon ! ‘ the man yelled.

‘Come ahead, friend.’ Dusty gave the customary permission to ride up, without which no stranger would come into camp.

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