Riding for the Brand (Ss) (1986) Read Online Free PDF Page A

fists, but I'd probably ruin my hands in doing it. Will you take those cattle and get out of here?"
    Besovi, unsteady on his feet, wiped the blood from his eyes. "Well, I'll be damned! I never thought the man lived who.. Will you shake hands?"
    "I'd never shake with a tougher man or a better one!"
    Their hands gripped, and suddenly Besovi began to laugh. "Come over to supper some night, will you? Ma's been tellin" me this would happen. She'll be pleased to meet you!"
    He turned to his riders. "The fun's over, boys!
    Round up our stock an' let's go home."
    The big rancher's lips were split; there was a cut over his right eye and another under it. The other eye was swelling shut. There was one tomorrow, but it wasn't enough to show he had been in a fight.
    "Can't figure him"... Pardo told Flood, later. "Is he scared to use his guns? Or does he just like to fight with his hands?"
    "He's smart"... Flood suggested. "Look, he's made a friend of Besovi. If he'd beaten him to the ground, Besovi might never have forgiven him. He was savin' face for Besovi just like they do it over China way. And what if he'd gone for his guns?"
    "Likely four or five of us might not have made it home tonight."
    "That's it. He's usin' his head for something more than a place to hang a hat. Look at it.
    He's made a friend of Besovi and nobody is shot up."
    Jed, soaking his battered hands, was not so sure. Besovi might have gone for a gun, or one of his hands might have. He had taken a long gamble and won; next time he might not be so lucky.
    At least, Rancho Casa Grande had one less enemy and one more friend.
    If anything happened to him Carol would need friends. Walt Seever was ominously quiet, and Jed was sure the man was waiting for proof that he was not Michael Latch. And that gave Jed an idea. It was a game at which two could play.
    Carol was saddling her horse when he walked out in the morning. She glanced at him, her eyes hesitating on the bruise. "You seem to have a faculty for getting into trouble"... She said, smiling. I don't believe in ducking troubles. They just pile up on you.
    Sometimes they get too big to handle."
    "You seem to have made a friend of Besovi."
    "Why not? He's a good man just used to taking in all he can put his hands on, but he'll prove a good neighbor."... He hesitated and then glanced off, afraid his eyes would give him away. "If anything happens to me, you'll need friends. I think Besovi would help you."
    Her eyes softened. "Thank you, Mike."... She hesitated just a little over the name. "You have already done much of what Uncle George just talked of doing."
    Costa was gathering the herd Jed wanted to sell, and Pardo was riding with him. Jed did not ask Carol where she was going, but watched her ride away toward the valley. He threw a saddle on his own horse and cinched up. At the sound of horses' hoofs he turned.
    Walt Seever was riding into the yard. With him were Harry Strykes and Gin Feeley. The fourth man was the one he had seen in the saloon who had told Walt he was not Michael Latch.
    Realizing he wore no guns, Jed felt naked and helpless.
    There was no one around the ranch house of whom he knew.
    Seever drew rein and rested his hands on the pommel of his saddle. "Howdy! Howdy, Jed!"
    No muscle changed on Jed Asbury's face.
    If trouble came he was going right at Walt Seever.
    "Smart play"... Seever said, savoring his triumph. If it hadn't been for me doubtin' you, you might have pulled it off."
    Jed waited, watching.
    "Now"... Seever said, "your game is up. I suppose I should let you get on your horse an' ride, but we ain't about to."
    "You mean to kill me like you did Latch and his friends?"
    "Think you're smart, do you? Well, when you said that you dug your own grave."
    "I suppose your sour-faced friend here was one of those you sent to kill Latch"... Jed commented.
    "He looks to be the kind."
    "Let me kill him, Walt"... The man with the sour face had his hand on his gun. "Just let me kill him!"
    "What I want to