Buffalo Wagons by Elmer Kelton

Author:Elmer Kelton
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates
Published: 2012-03-19T16:00:00+00:00

9

“YOU’RE CRAZY, Jameson. It’s not worth the risk.”

Ransom King paced angrily back and forth before the campfire, his eyes jabbing at Jameson. “Do you really think you could get that woman out of there?”

Jameson stood motionless, his questioning gaze drifting from King to the other men standing around in the edge of firelight. He was still half stunned with surprise. He had never expected this opposition from King. Now he wondered how many more felt as King did.

“We’ve got to try.”

“You think the Comanches will just hand her over to you? Have you any idea how it could be done?”

“I’ve got a notion how we might do it.”

“Might do it!” King’s voice was heavy with sarcasm. “Might. Even by the tone of your voice you admit how slim the chance is. You’re crazy, Jameson, you’re about to jeopardize everything we’ve come down here for. Use a little judgment, man.”

A stir of anger worked at Gage Jameson. It colored his voice. “King, I thought you’d be the first one to say ‘Let’s go.’ Now I don’t know what to think. I know it’s not cowardice.”

“Of course it’s not cowardice. It’s common horse-sense. I’ve got an investment here, a big investment, and a chance of a big return. So have you. Do you think I want to throw it away, and maybe die too, on a ten-toone chance of rescuing some woman you saw through a pair of field glasses? How do we know who she is, or what she is? She may have been there so long she doesn’t even want out. Ever think about that? For all we know, she might be some dance-hall floozie like Rose.”

“Even if she was,” Jameson said, “I’d do it.”

“Then you’re an even bigger fool.”

Stiffly they faced each other over the campfire. The men watched them silently, staying back in the edge of darkness. Jameson couldn’t tell how the sentiment went.

“Listen, Jameson,” King argued, “Blankenship says they probably took her on a raid in the Texas settlements. A Texan. They were almighty independent a few years ago. If those Rebels want her back, I say let them come up here and take her themselves. I spent four years fighting them. I wouldn’t risk what I’ve got here for a freight-car load of them.”

“She’s a white woman, King. You can talk all night, but you can’t alter that.”

King rocked back and forth on his heels, chewing his lip, his eyebrows drawn down half over his eyes.

“A woman. Just because it’s a woman we’re supposed to give up everything and go. It always did make me tired, listening to high-flown talk about the sanctity of womanhood. They put women up on a pedestal like some brass god, when all the time that’s all they are—just brass. I’ve known a lot of them, Jameson. Even married one once. They’re just animals like the rest of us. No better and perhaps a lot worse.”

Jameson attempted no answer to that. Even in his anger he could understand King. Only two things meant much to this brash hide hunter—excitement and money.

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