Ballard and McCall 2 by Neil Hunter

Author:Neil Hunter
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: murder, cowboys, gunfighters, outlaws, ballard, mccall, neil hunter, mike linaker, pulp fiction western, cattle range war
Publisher: Piccadilly Publishing

Chapter Eight

In the ranch kitchen Henry Conway sat at the head of the big table, his hands spread flat on the scrubbed wood. Helen busied herself with making fresh coffee, while Chris put hot biscuits on a plate.

McCall stood at the far end of the table, hat in hand. Laney Chancery sat to one side.

‘So now we know,’ Conway said. ‘Merrick wants Lazy-C so they can push this spurline across to reach town.’

‘Seems to me he wants the spread and the right of way,’ Chancery said.

Chris banged a plate down on the table, her young face flushed with anger.

‘Well, he won’t get either,’ she said fiercely. ‘Not without a fight.’

Helen Conway placed mugs of coffee in front of everyone. McCall couldn’t help noticing the way her hands trembled as she carried the mugs. He took one from her.

‘Go sit down, ma’am,’ he said.

‘Thank you, Jess.’

Chancery fiddled with his mug.

‘Henry, he can’t just walk in and lay his tracks across Lazy-C.’

Conway’s face gave away his thoughts and he gave a slight shake of his head.

‘Man staked his claim by building his house and settin’ down roots. He held his land by working it. By taking up arms against anyone who tried to steal it from him. That’s what I did. Same as any man around here.’

‘Merrick will use the strength of the railroad company. He’ll turn every trick in the book,’ McCall said.

‘I need to talk with George Sutton,’ Conway said. ‘Make sure our legal standing holds firm.’

‘Dad, Lazy-C has title to this land,’ Chris said. ‘Merrick, or the rail company, can’t just steal from us.’

‘Henry, whatever you decide, the crew will stand behind you,’ Chancery said. ‘This ain’t no time to let ourselves be caught off guard.’

‘Jess, will you ride with me to town? Let’s get this sorted.’

When Conway had made his way from the kitchen, with Chancery on his heels, Helen said, ‘Stay with him, Jess. He’ll work himself into a stubborn mood and when he does…’

‘I won’t let him do himself any harm.’

‘This isn’t going to go away quietly,’ Chris said. ‘It’s already gone too far.’

‘You ladies stay close to home,’ McCall said. ‘You’ve got the Lazy-C crew to watch over you. I’ll keep Henry safe.’

~*~

‘How did I let this happen?’ Conway said.

He and McCall were on the way to Beecher’s Crossing. They had left the ranch well behind them but not the tense mood that had settled over the outfit. McCall had always seen Conway as a solid, resistant men. To build a brand like Lazy-C took strength and purpose. Much of that had been knocked out of Conway with the death of his son. He seemed to lacking some of that inner strength right now.

‘You didn’t let it happen,’ McCall said. ‘Merrick and his partners forced it. Figured they could deal their hand without anyone knowing. Now we do know we make sure they can’t win.’

It was late afternoon when McCall and Conway reached town. While Conway went to speak with lawyer Sutton, McCall tied his horse outside Bellingham’s office.

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