Biscuits and Gravy by William W. Johnstone

Author:William W. Johnstone
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pinnacle Books
Published: 2021-10-20T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 25

After thumbing back the brim of his hat with his left hand and using the already soaked bandana in his right to mop away the beads of perspiration dotting his forehead, Rafe Tevis settled the hat back in place and said with a sheepish grin, “It is truly a blasted shame how soft a body can let hisself get. I’ve been riding a cushioned desk chair and making sure I found a spot of shade during the hottest part of most days for so long that a few hours out in the open is pure boiling me. And this saddle ain’t suiting my backside near as good as that desk chair, neither.”

Riding beside him, the gait of their horses matching the plodding progress of the bawling, dust-enshrouded Standing L cattle herd they were moving along with, Marcus Lewis replied, “Not to come across like I’m in a hurry to get rid of you, Sheriff, and certainly not to sound ungrateful for all your help, but maybe it’s time for you to turn back. There’s no guarantee, I understand, but if Hiram Walters hasn’t tried anything by now, then don’t you reckon that’s a pretty good sign he probably ain’t going to?”

“I’d sure like to think that,” Tevis said. “We’ve been past the boundaries of his spread for some time now. And as far as boundaries or guarantees, either one, there was never much guarantee my being here would make much difference anyway, considering we’ve been outside my official jurisdiction longer than we’ve been beyond his spread. Still, if he was going to try and cause any trouble, I’ve been figuring it would most likely be before your herd was off his property. On the other hand, you could wonder if maybe that ain’t the way he’d expect us to figure.”

“I suppose we could ponder about forty different notions on how Walters might figure or what he might do,” Marcus said. “But until he makes some kind of move, all my outfit really can do is stay alert for the possibility. Which, I’d say, is lessening. But unless you want to stick around and finish the drive with us, you’re almost certain to be facing some kind of backlash from him once you return to Keylock.”

Tevis puffed out his cheeks and exhaled a breath. “No need to remind me. I’ve been doing that to myself for the past couple of days.”

A couple of days was how much time had passed since the tense confrontation that night at the Standing L campsite when all sides concerned with the Tobe Walters shooting—the Standing L crew, the Bar W outfit, and Sheriff Tevis caught smack in the middle—had stood nose to nose, with only one slap of leather separating the tension from a blaze of gunfire.

Walters and the Bar W had backed down at that juncture, leaving Tobe in the custody of Doc Cunningham, to be taken into town and kept there for further treatment and observation.

Ned and Ox had finished repairing the chuckwagon harness and breaking in a suitable new team.

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