The Last Chance Ranch Read Online Free PDF

closed. If the captain noticed, he gave no sign.
    "We are heading to Fort Union for advanced training. From there we will battle the Confederates. We invite you and your men to join us in this honorable fight."
    Obie felt his eyebrow rise. He was glad Ben was in charge, because Obie himself had no idea what to say to that.
    "I reckon you fellas are a little late to the party,” Ben drawled. “Confederate army pulled out of this territory last year. You boys are more likely to be sent after Navajo and Apache than rebels."
    Some of the “volunteers” started murmuring. Vargas twisted in the saddle and barked a few words to them in Spanish, and they fell quiet. The captain scowled and turned his attention back to Ben. “It may be you are right, senor ,” he conceded, dipping his head. “But my men and I will serve with honor, whoever the foe."
    Ben nodded. “I salute you and your brave men. How can I help you?"
    Obie found he was growing annoyed with the captain. He was the only one in this conversation on horseback, and the polite thing to do would be to dismount and talk face to face. He was obviously thinking the greater height would intimidate them. Obviously, he didn't know Ben Johnson.
    "As you can see, my men have very little. They need horses for the long journey. I, myself, need a new mount deserving of my rank."
    "We sell horses to the army all the time.” Ben's face gave little away, but he stressed the word “sell” ever so slightly. “Happy to do business with you."
    At that moment, Lonnie cautiously led the big black stallion they all called the Bastard out of the barn. Obie saw the captain's eyes light up with avarice. “That is a magnificent animal."
    "He's not for sale.” Ben's tone left no room for argument. “Every animal on this ranch is top quality. I'm sure you'll find some to your liking."
    The captain stared down at him, his head held high. “We will take thirty of your finest horses for my men. We will also need pack animals."
    Ben narrowed his eyes and spat in the dirt. “And how will you be paying for all that, Capitan ?"
    "Paying?” The captain smiled, revealing a mouthful of black, rotten teeth, then turned and said something to his men that caused them to laugh. “The army will pay you, senor ."
    "Army pays in silver on the spot,” Ben answered. “Unless you have silver in them saddlebags, I'm afraid I can't help you."
    Vargas's smile froze and twisted into something darker. All the hair stood up on the back of Obie's neck, and his muscles tensed. The captain finally dismounted, walking slowly and stiffly in Ben's direction. “ Senor , I am doing the work of the US government,” he intoned, fixing his glittering black eyes on Ben's face. “I have the authority to seize whatever I need to fulfill my duty. Today, I am seizing your horses. And I'm going to start with that stallion."
    Obie took a step forward, fists clenched. “Like hell you are,” he growled. He could see Larry out of the corner of his eye, tense and ready for a fight. Porter, the only one still in the saddle, loosed the strap that held his rifle in its saddle holster. Ben stilled them all with a gesture.
    "You heard the man, Lonnie,” he said mildly. “He wants the stallion. Let him have it."
    The big man's eyebrows rose in shock, then he quirked a wry grin and held out the reins. Behind him, the Bastard snorted and pawed the ground, moving his tail in sharp, quick flicks. For a second, Obie almost felt sorry for the captain, until he remembered the man was little better than a horse thief.
    Vargas smirked in triumph and sketched a mocking little salute to Ben. The Bastard let him get one foot in the stirrup before rounding on him and sinking his teeth into the captain's thigh. The man screamed and fell to the ground but had no time to recover, having to scramble out of the way of flashing hooves. The horse then walked calmly to Ben, trailing his reins, and nudged him with his big, blunt head. Ben patted his