the Man Called Noon (1970) Read Online Free PDF

instant there was silence. Jonas had spoken so casually, in such an ordinary tone, that for a moment his words failed to register.
    "Whatwas that you said?"
    "You seem to want trouble, so I decided to make it easy for you. I said you smelled - like a skunk."
    Jonas was still half reclining on the bunk, and the blond man bent over, reaching for him. Jonas' left hand caught the sleeve on the reaching arm and jerked the man forward and off balance. The magazine, suddenly rolled tight, smashed upward, catching the attacker on the Adam's apple.
    With a shove, Jonas threw the man off to the floor, where he rolled over, gasping and retching.
    Jonas glanced at him, then opened the magazine, and began to read.

The Man Called Noon (1970)

Chapter Four
    The sour-faced old man, called Henneker, was forking hay into a manger when Jonas walked into the barn. He worked swiftly, silently, ignoring his approach. As Jonas turned to leave, the old man said, "He'll kill you. Kissling will kill you."
    "Is that his name?"
    "Yes. He's killed four men in gun battles. Maybe two, three others in holdups. You won't have a chance."
    "Miss Davidge - does she like Ben Janish?"
    "Her?" The old man straightened up angrily. "She wouldn't look at such as him. Only ever'body's afraid of him. Even Kissling an' Cherry."
    "She's quite a woman."
    "You bother around her an' I'll stab you with a hayfork. I'll come on you asleep. That's a fine girl."
    "I believe you. She's the only reason I am here. When I saw her I had to come."
    "She ain't for your kind."
    "What kind am I?"
    The old man strained up and looked at him with shrewd eyes. "Look, boy, I'm not as soft in the head as them in yonder. I know what you are, an' by comparison them inside ain't out of diapers yet. If I cared a plugged nickel for 'em I'd give warning, but they ought to see they're nothing but a bunch of mangy coyotes with a lobo wolf among 'em."
    The old man turned his back and started off, and the man who called himself Jonas stared after him.
    Was the old man right? Was he worse than these men? Was he evil? If so, what was evil?
    He shrugged and strolled to the corral to lean on the rail, watching the horses. They stirred warily, and his eyes were drawn to a line-back dun with black ears, black mane and tail.
    The horse had stopped suddenly, ears pricked, and was looking at him. "Come here, boy," he said softly, and to his surprise, the dun came ... halted ... rolled his eyes, showing the whites, then sidled away. "It's all right, boy," he whispered, and held out his hand.
    The dun's nose extended, sniffing the fingers.
    "You have a way with horses, Mr. Jonas."
    He turned to find Fan Davidge at his elbow. "That horse is an outlaw. Nobody has ever gotten so close to him before."
    "He's your horse?"
    "We brought him in with our stock off the winter range. He's a stray. I understand that's a Texas brand."
    "Cherokee Nation," he said, and wondered how he knew.
    She glanced at him curiously, but said only, "Ride him if you like ... if you can."
    "Is he in anybody's string?"
    "No."
    He turned to look at her. "You are a very beautiful girl, Miss Davidge."
    She flushed slightly. "Thank you."
    Abruptly she turned and went back to the house. Whatever she had come to say, she had changed her mind. He watched her go, admiring her easy walk and the swirl of her riding skirt.
    He had no right to think of this girl. He would be inviting trouble he could not afford. And he had no idea who he was or what he had been.
    Rimes came out of the bunkhouse. "Did you eat yet?"
    "No."
    "Come on."
    Together they walked to the ranch house. The long toom where the table stood opened off the kitchen. There were flowered curtains at the windows, and plants arranged in clay pots. Everything was bright, clean, attractive.
    The cook, who was Chinese, brought dishes to the table, then returned to the kitchen. There was no sign of Kissling. Glancing to his left, Jonas saw a door opening to a room with shelves of books.
    "Don't