California Killing Read Online Free PDF Page A

hardened by the struggle to become the richest cattle rancher in northern California and now softened by the luxury of money, who constantly raised objections. But, in the end, he complied. For he realized that the tall, cold-eyed half-breed was adept in the art of self-preservation while caring nothing for either the wish or the fate of any other. So he limped along grimly through the blazing heat.
    "I think we should rest, Edge," he said after a long period of silence as they rounded a turn in the trail and entered a patch of shade thrown by a steep-sided rise. Wood looks on the brink of collapse."
    Edge did not break his stride and held back from a response while he swilled spittle around in his mouth, swallowed it and licked his lips. "So carry him," he said at length without turning his head.
    "I'm perfectly all right:" Wood protested between grasps for breath, readjusting his derby in an effort to get a greater degree of shade from its narrow brim. "Really I am."
    Dexter stared malevolently at Edge's back, unaware that the elongated bulge which began at the nape of his neck and extended several inches down the line of his spine was formed by a cut-throat razor in a pouch. "You weren't such a man of iron at the hold-up," he taunted, dragging his forearm across his sheened brow as they moved out into sunlight again.
    "You and me both," Edge snarled.
    "I don't keep a dog and bark myself," Dexter shot back.
    "He didn't have a lot of bite."
    "At least he tried."
    Edge halted' and spun to face the limping rancher. The move was so unexpected that the tall man and Wood almost cannoned into Edge. But they backed off under the force of his scowl.
    "Why?"
    Dexter licked his lips, but it was discomfort rather than apprehension which showed in his eyes. "It was his job to guard my money."
    "He lost it the hard way," Edge growled.
    "Desperate men take desperate measures," Dexter replied, holding Edge's level stare, unwilling to offer further explanation.
    "Hey!" Wood yelled excitedly, his shrill voice cutting through the tension as he pointed a wavering finger along the trail. "That looks like a wagon over there"
    Edge whirled and shaded his eyes to peer in the direction the photographer was indicating. The trail ran in an arrow straight line across the pan-flat country before curving slightly to the left to take a low rise with a rock strewn bowl on one side. As the heat mist swirled like lazily moving water he caught sight of the wagon, canted at an angle on the lip of the bowl.
    "One day can't be all bad," he muttered and set off down the trail at a quickened pace.
    Wood scampered after him and following a moment of hesitation, Dexter limped along at the rear.
    Magda Stricklyn had been unable to lift John up on to the wagon, so had made him comfortable beneath it, sheltered at first from the rain and then from the sun. Her torn dress formed a pillow and she had donned another, less ornate gown from the chest. Neither of the rifle blows had drawn blood from the contusions and her nursing was confined to dousing pads of cloth in the water barrel and resting them against the discolored skin at his neck and across his stomach. Often he groaned and his breathing became stronger, but he did not regain consciousness.
    He was still in the depths of his concussion when Magda sensed the approach of strangers and looked up to see the three men drawing near. The agony which had somehow seemed detached from her during the mass assaults now closed in around her, raising a burning pain within her stomach and causing her flesh to turn cold against the heat as she watched the trio through haunted eyes.
    A moan ripped from her lips, which curled back to show her teeth in a snarl. She dragged her gaze away from the men and raked the surrounding area, seeking a means of defense. She saw the Symmes, its muzzle still caked with hardened mud, lying where Hood had dropped it. Trembling with ice cold fear, she scrambled out from under the wagon and