The Andre Norton Megapack - 15 Classic Novels and Short Stories

at any army hearing, Captain. Kirby here is not a troublemaker. I would unhesitatingly vouch for him.”
    Bayliss looked directly at Drew.
    “You have a job? A reason for being in town?” He shot the questions as he might have shot slugs from his Colt. Nye answered before Drew could.
    “He sure has a job, Cap’n. He’s ridin’ th’ rough string for Rennie. An’ he came to town with them remounts you’re buyin’. An’ what Topham says is true, th’ kid ain’t no troublemaker. He’s ’bout th’ most peaceful hombre I ever rode with.”
    “Rider for Rennie, eh? I might have known!” Bayliss snapped. “And what about this one—he riding for Rennie, too?” He pointed to Anse.
    “He’s my cousin,” Drew returned. “He just got into town.”
    “Another Rebel?”
    Anse stood up. “If you mean was I with th’ Confederate army, Yankee—I sure was, from Shiloh clean through. Got me this to prove it. Do you want to see?” From the inner band of his hat he brought out a much creased paper. “No, you don’t!” He twitched the sheet away when Bayliss reached for it. “I’ll jus’ let Mister Topham read it. I want to keep it safe.” He handed the paper to the gambler.
    “Parole, Captain, signed and made out properly,” Topham reported. “Dated in Tennessee for a prisoner of war—June, 1865. I hardly think you can claim this is one of Kitchell’s men, if that is what you have in mind.”
    “No, but he’ll be out of this town or he’ll answer to me. Both of you—next time you step over the line, I’m taking you both in!” Bayliss spoke now to Nye. “I heard young Shannon was here, that you had him in tow and that he’s seen Kitchell. I want to talk to him.”
    “He’s over to th’ doc’s, an’ Doc’ll have th’ say ’bout that, Cap’n,” Nye replied. “Johnny took a pretty bad crease ’longside his skull.”
    “He’ll answer a few questions that badly need answering.” Bayliss was already on his way to the door. Nye stepped back and let him pass. He grinned.
    “Let him have it out with Doc. Ain’t nobody runnin’ a stampede over Doc Matthews, not even th’ cap’n when he’s got his tail up an’ ready to hook sod with both horns. Only, lissen here, kid, maybe you’d better keep outta sight. Seems like a man who’s waitin’ to catch a fella makin’ his boot mark in th’ wrong pasture can sometimes do it.”
    “Nye’s right,” Topham agreed. “Bayliss can either catch you off guard or see you’re provoked again into doing something he can rope you in for. I’d get back to the Range and stay there until things settle down a little and someone else takes the good captain’s mind off you.”
    “What about Anse? You take him on, Nye?” Drew asked.
    “I ain’t got th’ authority to hire, Kirby. But no reason why he can’t go down th’ trail with us. Old Man is always on lookout for a good rider. Soon as we see how Johnny’s doin’, we’ll head south. I already sent Greyfeather back to tell the Old Man th’ kid’s hurt an’ up here. Reese, what’d you think ’bout Bayliss? That he’ll try to take over runnin’ the town?”
    “Might just,” the gambler replied.
    “ Could he do it?”
    “I hardly think so. What he’s really out for is Hunt’s hide. He doesn’t want a powerful civilian ready to face up to him all the time. If he can discredit Don Cazar in this country, he figures he has it made.”
    Nye laughed shortly. “Lordy, what bottle did he suck out a dream like that? A lizard might jus’ as well try to fight it out with a cougar an’ think he hadda chance of winnin’. This here’s th’ Range, an’ ain’t nobody but th’ Old Man runs th’ Range! Bayliss, he’s ridin’ for a fall as will jar them big grinnin’ teeth of his right outta his jaws!”
    “Maybe, only there can be upsets.” Topham looked thoughtful.
    “What kind—and how?” Drew asked quickly.
    Topham was playing with thethree books, setting them up, putting them flat again. “Hunt didn’t take sides during the war, but he did have Southern sympathies in part. After all, he was Texas-born. And Johnny joined Howard when they raised that Confederate troop here. He retreated with Sibley’s force back east and fought through the rest of the war on the Southern side. Yes, Bayliss, given the right circumstances and a sympathetic listening ear in high circles, could make trouble for Rennie. Especially if the good captain had an incident on which to hang such a