Deadman Canyon Read Online Free PDF Page B

Bick Damson started that fight?”
    “No,” the judge answered. “Clay provoked him into making the first move.”
    The judge’s voice carried no accusation, but Clay had no illusions about the way the older man felt. At their meeting in Helena, he had made it plain that he was reserving judgment until he was serious about coming home and settling down. But, Clay thought, the judge had put enough trust in him to ask for his help.
    Nothing more was said on the subject until they finished dinner. Tonia left the men to their coffee and cigars. Then the judge said, “Did you get up to your place last night, Clay?”
    Clay told him in a few words what had happened. When he finished, Tom Roddy said, “Judge, that’s the first time the sniper ever tried to do more’n scare anybody off. But this sounds like he was out for blood.”
    “I thought that myself,” the judge admitted. He glanced at Clay. “You didn’t get a clear look at him?”
    “No, sir,” Clay admitted. “But I have an idea who might have hired him.” He recounted his meeting with Kemp Vanner.
    “I warned Clay about that coyote,” Tom Roddy said angrily. “If it hadn’t been for Molly Doane, Vanner would have used that hide-out gun of his for sure.” He bit into the end of his cigar. “And me standing there armed with nothing but a belt knife,” he said disgustedly. “A man my age ought to know better than to run around naked when Vanner and his kind are in town.”
    The judge frowned. “I’m surprised Vanner would resort to using a gun,” he said. “Before, he’s always been very careful not to do anything to call attention to himself — especially the law’s attention.”
    “It wouldn’t help much if he was arrested,” Clay said frankly. “Not the way Roy Ponders is favoring Bick Damson.”
    The judge’s lips thinned out. “Don’t get the wrong idea,” he snapped. “Roy Ponders is still a good, fair lawman. But he has a peaceful town here and he wants to keep it that way in the few years left to him before he retires. And you can’t blame him for expecting you to cause trouble,” he added pointedly.
    “All I ask is an even chance,” Clay said. He waved a hand, brushing the matter aside. “But that’s neither here nor there right now, Judge. The problem is to get those cattle of yours down to the valley before snow comes in the mountains.”
    The judge said grudgingly, “I could pull my crew away from haying. The sniper wouldn’t bother that many men.”
    “We made an agreement, sir,” Clay pointed out. “Part of that agreement was for me to round up your stock and get them back to the home ranch. He pushed back his chair and stood up.
    “You need a little help?” Tom Roddy asked hopefully.
    Clay shook his head. “Not up there. But I could use a pair of ears in town — to find out what Damson and Vanner are doing.”
    “I can tell you what Vanner will be doing,” Tom Roddy said flatly. “You pretty well tipped your hand to him today. He’ll be figuring a way to get you killed — if he has to hire a half-dozen snipers for the job.”
    “You have no proof that Vanner is behind the snipings,” the judge said stiffly.
    “I got no proof, Judge,” Roddy agreed, “but I get a pretty strong feeling every time I see him.”
    Clay moved toward the door. “If there is any proof, I’ll bring it to you,” he told the judge.
    “If you stay alive long enough,” Roddy said gloomily.
    The judge said quickly, “Let me sent my crew up, Clay. There’s no need for you to risk yourself this way.”
    “No, sir,” Clay said flatly. “I want the man who shot at me last night. And I want to know why he’s been keeping people off my land.”
    “Just remember that he has the advantage of surprise,” the judge warned. “You’ll be in the open and he won’t.”
    “I thought of that,” Clay admitted. He opened the door and went out.

V
    C LAY RODE into town and bought a week’s supplies. He was tying his pack behind