Collection 1988 - Lonigan (v5.0) Read Online Free PDF

mine,” Calkins said.
    Hoey Ives’s face flushed. Then he laughed, “Well, that’s fine! I wanted to be rid of you! I’ve got a bunch of boys ready to take over, and I’ll have them in here by sundown. You boys can pack your duffle and hit the trail.”
    â€œNo.”
    Ruth Gurney spoke in a clear, definite voice. All eyes turned to her. “Calkins told me something the other day that I’ve been thinking of. He said it was the hands that made the brand, the men who fought for it, worked for it, bled for it. They had a stake in the brand, and it was something above and beyond ownership. I believe that.
    â€œHoey, I’m sorry. You’ll have to step out of your job. I want you with us, but not in charge of the work. I’ve made my decision and I’ll abide by it.” She turned her head. “Calkins, you take over. You’re the foreman for the rest of the drive.”
    â€œBut…?” Calkins started to protest when Lonigan cut him short.
    â€œTake it,” he said briefly. “Let’s move!”
    â€œAll right,” Calkins said, pointing, “roll the wagon into that hollow under the cliff. We’ll bed down here and roll ’em up the trail tomorrow.”
    Hoey Ives turned abruptly and stalked angrily away. Ruth took a step as though to follow, then turned back to the wagon. Her eyes met those of Lonigan. “Why didn’t you tell me who you were?” she demanded impatiently. “I’d heard of you.”
    â€œWhat could I have said?” he shrugged. “Anyway, I’m with the drive again, and workin’ with the G.” He glanced at her quizzically. “Or am I?”
    â€œAsk Calkins,” she returned sharply. “He does the hiring!”

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    T HROUGHOUT THE DAY she saw no more of Ives, although she knew he was about. The hands rested when they were not riding herd, all but Danny Lonigan. He cleaned his guns carefully, then his rifle. After that he went to work and repaired a wooden bucket that had been broken a day before, and mended a halter. Several times he mounted and rode up to the rim of the canyon and sat there, studying the country.
    Calkins stopped by her seat just before sundown. “What do you think, Calkins? Will we get the herd through?”
    He hesitated, then nodded slowly. “I wouldn’t want to get your hopes up, but I think so. Maybe this grass won’t hold, but we’ll chance it, although come rain we’d have to get to high ground. If there’s much of this grass, we’ll make it, all right. But it will be a tough squeeze and you won’t make much money.”
    Lonigan walked slowly over to them, and as he drew near, he removed his sombrero. “Ma’am,” he said, “I couldn’t but overhear what was said. If…if you’ll let me make a suggestion…”
    â€œI hope,” Ruth said with dignity, “that I am always open to suggestions. Yes, you may. What is it?”
    â€œWhy, just don’t sell your herd atall!” he said calmly. “Hang onto it. You’re gettin’ to Dodge at the bad end of the season; prices will be down and your herd in plumb bad shape. I’d say, hold your cows until next spring, hold ’em on Nebraska grass, then fetch ’em back to market, fat as ticks.”
    Ruth Gurney shook her head. “It is a good suggestion,” she admitted, “but I can’t. Until I sell this herd I can’t pay any of you. And I owe mortgage on the ranch.”
    Lonigan shook his head. “Nuh-uh. Ma’am, I know an hombre in Dodge who knows a good deal when he sees it. He’ll advance the money and take a mortgage on your herd. You can pay up when you sell out. You’ll have fat stock and the first market in the spring. Believe me, you’ll get twice what you could get with a good herd now, let alone this scrawny lot. And you’ll have calves,” he