War on the Cimarron by Luke Short

Author:Luke Short [Short, Luke]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Luvie Barnes came out of the sutler's store at the garrison in midafternoon and nodded to the men on the porch. They tipped their hats to her, and she got her horse at the tie rail, mounted and rode out toward home, a package under her arm. She was halfway down the slope to the river when she heard a horse behind her.

When it pulled alongside her and a voice said, "Afternoon, Miss Barnes," Luvie turned in her saddle to see Scott Corb riding beside her. Luvie was impressed by Corb, not by his appearance as much as by the memory of her father's tales of him. She said, "Good afternoon," with respect.

Corb commented on the weather and gossiped a moment about the garrison, but he was not long in coming to the point, and it was done in an unusually blunt fashion.

"Miss Barnes," he said finally, "I'm goin' to tell you some things and I want your opinion of 'em."

"Of what, Mr. Corb?"

"Last night my riders and myself were held up on Paymaster Creek by two men. A fight resulted, and four of my men are dead this morning. Several days ago a Circle R herd on the north fork was stampeded and a rider shot down in cold blood—by those same two men. It's got to the place now where no rider is safe in this country with those two men loose." He looked at Luvie. "You know who those two men are?"

"No," Luvie said in a small voice.

"Frank Christian and Red Shibe," Corb said.

"No!" Luvie said quickly. "I don't believe that!"

"You've got to believe it," Corb said, "because you can't dodge a fact."

"And you want my opinion on what?"

"How to catch 'em."

Luvie shook her head, her blue eyes troubled. "But I haven't any. How are any criminals caught—if they are criminals?"

"You doubt it?"

"Petty criminals, maybe, and troublemakers. But Frank Christian isn't a murderer."

“You know him, then?'

"I've—seen him, yes."

"At your house?"

Luvie looked sharply at him. "Yes. Why are you so interested?"

"Because you're goin' to help us catch him," Corb said,

Luvie pulled her horse up, her face surprised and angry. "I am? Even if I could, I wouldn't, Mr. Corb! Whatever gave you the idea I’d help you?"

“I had a hunch," Corb said, "that you are more or less interested in your dad stayin' in the beef-contractin' business."

"I am," Luvie said slowly. Her eyes were frightened, and Corb saw it.

He made a swift gesture of dismissal with his hand. "Miss Barnes, I don't like to do this. But you'd better know some facts. Frank Christian is trying to kill me, ruin me. He's committed a dozen crimes that he could be arrested for, and against other people besides me. I have a way with these Indians, and if I give them the word they can make trouble for your dad. And if you don't want trouble for your dad, then you'll help me arrest Frank Christian." He smiled faintly. "It's not as if I asked you to commit a crime.

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