Twisted Trails Read Online Free PDF

shame with one of his own.
    "What seems to be the trouble here, Sergeant?"
    "Ownby, the old coot from Provo, snagged a coil of rope with his gate chain. We took it away from him."
    Paul saw the skin on the major's cheekbones tighten.
    "You will address me as 'sir,' Sergeant, when strangers are present," the major said tartly.
    "Ownby, the old coot from Provo, snagged a coil of rope with his end gate chain,
sir
." McCune recited the complete statement like a ritual.
    Paul saw annoyance sharpen the major's features.
    "All these civilians are crooks," Hornaby charged. "They believe the army is here to be preyed upon. If we didn't watch them every minute, we'd starve on our appropriations."
    "Quite so,
sir
," McCune echoed dutifully.
    Hornaby turned to McCune and said testily, "Oh, be still Sergeant. I don't know whether you are trying to make an ass of yourself or of me."
    "Sorry, sir."
    Hornaby ignored this and asked, "Did you sign for the hay, Sergeant?"
    McCune thrust the paper at him, and though his face was immobile and his bearing stiff, there was a warm salute in his eyes. Paul climbed onto the rack and, standing with feet braced, urged the horses back through the gate and up the road.
    In the ranch yard, he unhitched the team and drove them into the barn.
    He took his time unharnessing. It was already past noon. Rather than ask Mrs. Young to set out dinner for him, he would go get something to eat at Addie's. After all, that would give him a chance to check on Alonzo. He grained the team and turned them out the back door of the barn into the adjoining pasture. Returning to the front door of the barn, which faced the house, he was surprised to see Alonzo Finch backing off the porch, doffing his hat and bowing.
    Turning into the barn, he saddled his horse and, without pausing at the house, headed toward the Lone Chance.
    The Lone Chance appeared to wait with eager expectancy for the day shift to get off work, as today was pay day. A few of the night shift men sat on the shady porch, drinking either on credit or borrowed cash. Paul dismounted slowly, keeping his eyes alert, his gun pulled around so he could reach it with the butt forward.
    Inside the barroom at the bar he saw three or four strangers who turned and stared at him. "Big-head" Larson, the apelike man who swamped out the bar, was busy with a mop near the back of the room. His oversized head appeared to sit directly on his shoulders without a neck. He turned his body half around and looked questioningly at Paul.
    "Have you seen Finch?" Paul asked.
    The big, shaggy head shook in the negative. Then Addie appeared on the stairs and smiled at Paul.
    "I saw you coming from the window," she said. "Now I hear you ask for Alonzo Finch. You didn't impress me as a troublesome man, Paul."
    "Hello, Addie," he said, adding, "I'm the sort of man who learns a lesson and learns it good. Never let trouble get to you first. Go out and find it, if it's there."
    "But it's such a small thing, Paul. It's not worth fighting about. He just went there to return her gloves," Addie said testily.
    Paul stared at her, perplexed. "Her gloves? Whose gloves? What are you talking about?"
    It was the first time he had seen Addie flush. She did so now because she had given herself away.
    "Never mind," she said, regaining her composure. "Have you had your dinner?"
    "No."
    "Then perhaps you'll dine with me?"
    Seated across from Addie, who was laced and ruffled, Paul felt out of place in his working clothes.
    "Has Finch come here lately?" he asked as they ate the hot, nourishing food. The sweet smell of corned beef and cabbage and the pungent warmth of hot bread badgered his appetite.
    "I didn't see him. But I want no trouble today, Paul. It's going to be a wild night. If you can't work for me and fight for me, then take your personal quarrels somewhere else."
    "I'll start no fight here," Paul promised. Then he added, "What did you mean about the gloves?"
    "Never mind," she told him.
    They finished