Cloudy in the West by Elmer Kelton

Author:Elmer Kelton
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates
Published: 1996-11-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter

11

Dawson made no move toward taking up Farlow’s invitation to share supper in the cabin. Hull went but was back shortly, disgruntled. “He didn’t mean it,” he grumbled to Dawson. “He knew you wouldn’t go, or he wouldn’t have made the invite.”

Dawson added, “You just went because you wanted another look at that fancy woman.”

Fancy? Joey hadn’t seen anything fancy about her. She looked as if she had been dragged through hell and out the far end.

Hull complained, “Farlow acted like he thought I had intentions.”

“You did, didn’t you? You wished, anyway.”

“Maybe, but I ain’t goin’ to have Farlow kill me on account of a woman. There’s women everyplace. Except here.”

“I’m afraid Tolley ain’t as cautious as you are.”

“Tolley’s head ain’t growed to match the rest of him. If he’s got no better sense, then I won’t cry over him.”

“I don’t remember you cryin’ over anybody, ever.”

“Ain’t nobody ever cried over me.”

That sounded reasonable to Joey, though he deemed it wise to look away so Hull could not read the thought. Beau read it and gave him a frown that warned him to be careful. Even thinking could be dangerous in a place like this.

At dark they rolled out their blankets near the creek. The trickling sound of the water was comforting until Joey heard another sound, a woman’s cry of pain from inside the cabin. He raised up on one elbow to listen. He did not hear it again.

He heard Miller Dawson, however. Dawson said quietly, “Best go to sleep, boy. Ain’t none of your concern.”

“You could do somethin’.”

“Ain’t my concern either. Farlow didn’t kidnap her out of a convent. She left San Antonio of her own will.”

“She ain’t stayin’ here of her own will.”

Dawson did not answer. But Beau reached across from his blankets and pinched Joey’s arm. “We ain’t either,” he whispered, “so, damn it, keep still.”

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