The Andre Norton Megapack - 15 Classic Novels and Short Stories

the borders of the Range, offering refuge to settlers and miners fleeing Indian attacks. Don Cazar was alegend now, and a man did not quickly claim kinship with a legend.
    “Want a room, Kirby?” Topham paused beside his table.
    “No. I have to stay close to the mare.”
    “Yes. I can understand that. Kells is good with horses, so you needn’t worry. Ever raced that colt of yours?”
    “Not officially.” Drew smiled. There was that lieutenant with the supply wagons. The man hadn’t talked so loudly about Johnny Rebs after Shiloh showed his heels to the roan the soldiers had bragged up.
    “This is a sporting town when the wagons come in, and they’re due tomorrow. Johnny Shannon just rode in to report. Might be some racing. You aim to stay on in Tubacca?”
    “Have to until Shadow can trail again. How’s the prospect for a job?”
    “With cattle—horses—teaming?”
    “Horses, I guess.”
    “Well, Don Cazar—Rennie—runs the best manadas . You might hit him for work. He’ll be riding in to meet the wagons. Carmencita, did you bring all that was left of the supplies?” Topham’s quizzical eyebrows lifted in greeting to the waitress’s loaded tray. “I’d say, young man, that you are facing a full-time job now, getting all that inside of you.”
    Drew ate steadily, consuming eggs and beans, tortillas, and fruit. Topham joined three men at the next table, substantial town citizens, Drew judged. The owner of the cantina raised his glass.
    “Gentlemen, I give you another successful trading trip!”
    “Saw Johnny ride in,” one of the men returned. “Kid seems to be settlin’ down, ain’t he? That ought to be good news for Rennie.”
    “One believes in reformations whenthey are proven by time, Señor Cahill,” the man wearing rich but somber Spanish clothing replied.
    “It sure must go hard with a man to have his son turn out a wild one,” commented the third.
    Drew’s cup was at his lips, but he did not drink. Whose son? Rennie’s?
    “No son by blood, that much comfort Don Cazar has. But foster ties are also strong. And the boy is still very young—”
    “A rattler with only one button on the tail carries as much poison as a ten-button one. Rennie ought to cut losses and give that kid the boot. The way he’s going he could involve Hunt in a real mess,” Cahill said.
    “You are Don Cazar’s good friend, Don Reese, his compadre of many years. Can you not do something?”
    “ Don Lorenzo, all men have blind spots. And Johnny Shannon is Rennie’s. Bob Shannon helped free Hunt out of Mex prison in the war and was killed doing it. Soon as Hunt set up here he sent for the boy and tried to give him a father.”
    “It is a great pity he has no child of his own blood. I have seen him stand here in Tubacca giving toys and candy to the little ones. Yet he has only this wild one under his roof, and perhaps that Juanito will break his heart in the end.…”
    Drew put down his cup. It was very hard not to turn and ask questions. Dropping some coins on the table, he rose and started back to the stable, to the world of Shiloh and Shadow where he was unable to betray Drew Rennie. But there was so much Drew Kirby must learn—and soon!
    CHAPTER 2
    Two lighted lanterns hung from pegs along the center of the stable, and Callie had mounted a barrel to put up a third as Drew entered. There were the soft peaceful sounds of horses crunching fodder, hoofs rustling in straw. Shadow turned her head and nickered as Drew came up to her box stall. She was answered by a blowing from Shiloh, a bray out of Croaker.
    “It’s all right, girl—pretty lady—” Drew fondled her mane, stroked the satin-smooth arch of neck. Callie dropped from his barrel perch.
    “She sure is right purty, Mister Kirby. Mister Kells said as to tell you he’s sleepin’ on a cot in th’ tack room over there, should you be needin’ him.” Callie pointed. “Me, I’m beddin’ down in the last stall. I put your gear up right over here, so’s you can hear if she gits to movin’—”
    “Thanks.” Drew felt in a pocket, tossed Callie the coin his fingers found.
    The boy caught the piece, his eyes round as he looked at it. “Lordy! Thanks, Mister Kirby! You must be near as shiny as Don Cazar—or Mister Topham!”
    “Shiny?”
    Callie laughed. “Silver-shiny! Ain’t toomany men as goes round Tubacca throwin’ out good money thataway. ’Less it’s ringin’ down on th’ bar, or slidin’ ’cross some table ’cause