Range War (9781101559215) Read Online Free PDF Page B

pointless for you to go after it now.”
    â€œI might get lucky,” Fargo said. Truth was, all that coffee had him wide awake. An hour or two in the saddle and he’d be ready to turn in.
    â€œHermanos Valley is big, senor,” Porfiro said. “For you to be lucky, as you say, would be like—” He paused. “What is that expression? Ah, yes. Like finding a needle in a haystack.”
    â€œIt’s worth trying.” Fargo went to Porfiro’s wagon, reclaimed his saddle blanket from underneath, and was smoothing it on the Ovaro when footsteps came up behind him.
    â€œI wish you would rethink this, senor,” Delicia said softly.
    Fargo inhaled her musky scent as he turned. “I didn’t know you cared.”
    Delicia averted her gaze. “I don’t. I just don’t want you dead on our account.”
    â€œDon’t take up poker,” Fargo said.
    â€œSenor?”
    â€œYou don’t lie well. Your face gives you away.”
    Her lips compressed and her eyes flashed. “I have no idea what you are talking about.”
    â€œSure you don’t,” Fargo said, and kissed her on the mouth, a light, fleeting brush of his lips across hers.
    Delicia didn’t start or slap him. As calm as could be, she asked, “And what was that for?”
    â€œThe first of the ten you promised. Nine more to go.” Fargo leaned toward her but she placed her hand on his chest.
    â€œI get to choose when and where.”
    Fargo gestured at the well of ink around them. “What’s wrong with here and now?”
    â€œSomeone might see.”
    â€œThere’s no one else around.” Fargo grinned. “Admit it. You’re scared.”
    â€œOf you, senor?” Delicia said, and uttered a forced laughed. “Why would I be scared of you?”
    â€œBecause you’re afraid you might like it.”
    â€œYou flatter yourself.”
    Delicia wheeled to go but Fargo took her by the shoulders, spun her around, and kissed her again, harder this time, his mouth lingering. Once again she didn’t resist. But neither did she respond. When he pulled back, she smiled smugly.
    â€œWas that what you call a kiss, senor? I would call it a brotherly peck.”
    â€œWould you, now?” Fargo said, and molded his body to hers.
    He kissed her with ardor, his right hand roaming down her back to cup her bottom and his left cupping her breast. Her body yielded and her tongue brushed his mouth. He was about to cup her other breast when the night was rent by a savage howl that seemed to come from only a few yards away—and a child screamed.

9
    Delicia pushed away, exclaiming in horror, “The Hound is in our camp!”
    Not in it but close by, as Fargo learned when he slicked his Colt, grabbed her wrist, and ran around the wagon. Everyone had leaped to their feet and the men were brandishing knives. Mothers poked their heads out of wagons to fearfully ask if the beast had slain another of them.
    A ferocious bray focused all eyes on a patch of blackness to the west.
    Fargo found himself standing near Porfiro.
    â€œThe Hound is close, senor. The closest it has ever come.”
    â€œAnd all our guns are with the men watching our sheep,” someone lamented.
    â€œI’m still here,” Fargo said.
    â€œDo something,” a woman urged, “before it attacks and some of us die.”
    Fargo doubted that any carnivore short of a grizzly would dare come closer to so many campfires. He ran to the Ovaro and saddled it anyway. It took a bit, and when he returned, Porfiro and a knot of men were at the edge of the circle of light.
    As Fargo drew rein the old man said, “We heard it growl, there.” And he pointed.
    â€œBuild up the fires,” Fargo suggested, “and don’t let anyone stray off.”
    â€œNo one would be that foolish, senor,” Porfiro said.
    Delicia ran up clutching a burning brand. “Here.” She held