Part 37 (2/2)

”I like it wet,” the man said and trotted past them to the pool. He dismounted and squatted quickly, raising the water to his mouth in a cupped hand.

”Now that's a graceful skill,” Augustus said. ”Most men just drop on their bellies to drink out of a pond, or else dip water in their hats, which means the water tastes like hair.”

The bay stallion waded a few steps into the pool and drank deeply.

The man waited until the horse had finished drinking, then came walking back, his spurs jingling lightly as he walked. Again he glanced at their horses, before looking at them.

”This is Miss Wood,” Augustus said, ”and I'm Captain McCrae. I hope you've had breakfast because we're low on grub.”

The man looked at Augustus calmly and a little insolently, it seemed to Lorena.

”I'm Blue Duck,” he said. ”I've heard of you, McCrae. But I didn't know you was so old.”

”Oh, I wasn't till lately,” Augustus said. It seemed to Lorena that he too had a touch of insolence in his manner. Though Gus was sitting in his underwear, apparently relaxed, Lorena didn't think there was anything relaxed about the situation. The Indian called Blue Duck was frightening. Now that he stood close to them his head seemed bigger than ever, and his hands too. He held the rifle in the crook of his arm, handling it like a toy.

”Where's Call if you're McCrae?” Blue Duck asked.

”Captain Call went to town,” Augustus said. ”He's shopping for a cook.”

”I was told I best kill both of you if I killed one,” the Indian said. ”It's my bad luck he's gone.”

”Well, he'll be back,” Augustus said, the insolence more p.r.o.nounced in his voice. ”You can sit over there in the shade and wait if you'd enjoy a chance at us both.”

Blue Duck looked him in the eye for a moment, and with a light movement swung back on his horse.

”I can't wait all day just for the chance to shoot two worn-out old Rangers.” he said. ”There are plenty that need killing besides you two.”

”I guess Charlie Goodnight must have run you off,” Augustus said. ”Otherwise you wouldn't be off down here in respectable country riding some dead Mexican's saddle.”

The man smiled a hard smile. ”If you ever bring that G.o.dd.a.m.ned old tongue of yours north of the Canadian I'll cut it out and feed it to my wolf pups,” he said. ”That and your nuts too.”

Without another look he rode past them and on out of the camp.

Lorena looked at Gus, half expecting him to shoot the man, but Gus just pushed his hat brim up and watched him ride away. Lorena almost wished Gus would would shoot him, for she felt the man was a killer, although she had no basis for the judgment. He had not looked at her and didn't seem to be interested in her, yet he felt dangerous. Sometimes the minute a man stepped into her room she would know he was dangerous and would hurt her if she gave him the opportunity. Even Tinkersley had been that way. Some days he was harmless, other days dangerous. She could tell, even with her back to him, if he was in a mood to slap her. If he was in such a mood, he would hit her no matter how small she walked. But she wasn't really afraid with Tinkersley-his angers had a short life. He hit hard, but he only hit once. shoot him, for she felt the man was a killer, although she had no basis for the judgment. He had not looked at her and didn't seem to be interested in her, yet he felt dangerous. Sometimes the minute a man stepped into her room she would know he was dangerous and would hurt her if she gave him the opportunity. Even Tinkersley had been that way. Some days he was harmless, other days dangerous. She could tell, even with her back to him, if he was in a mood to slap her. If he was in such a mood, he would hit her no matter how small she walked. But she wasn't really afraid with Tinkersley-his angers had a short life. He hit hard, but he only hit once.

The man called Blue Duck was much more frightening. He might not hit at all-or he might do something worse.

”Pack up, Lorie,” Augustus said. ”You best stay near us for a night or two.”

”Who is he?” she asked.

”One we ought to have hung ten years ago,” Augustus said. ”Couldn't catch him. He's a Comanchero. He's got a greasy bunch of murderers and child-stealers. He used to work the Red River country from New Mexico all the way across to Arkansas, hitting settlers. They'd butcher the grownups and take the horses and kids.”

”Why couldn't you catch him?” she asked.

”He was better at doing without water than we were,” Augustus said. ”He knew them dry plains and we didn't. Then the Army blocked us. MacKenzie said he'd get him, only he didn't.”

”Would he have tried to kill you if Captain Call had been here?”

”I wonder,” Augustus said. ”I guess he thinks he's that good.”

”Do you think he is?” she asked.

”You never know,” Augustus said. ”I don't underestimate him, though he'd have to step quick to beat me and Call both.”

”He didn't even look at me,” Lorena said. ”I don't think he'll come back.”

”I imagine he took you in long before he got to camp,” Augustus said. ”I ain't the only one in the world with good eyesight.”

”I want to wait for Jake,” Lorena said. ”I told him I'd wait.”

”Don't be foolish,” Augustus said. ”You didn't know Blue Duck was around when you told him. The man might decide he wants to use you for fish bait.”

Lorena felt it was a test of Jake. She was frightened of the man, and part of her wanted to go with Gus. But she had trusted herself to Jake and she still hoped that he would make good.

”I don't want to go to that cow camp,” she said. ”They all look at me.”

Augustus was watching the ridge where Blue Duck had disappeared. ”I should have just shot him,” he said. ”Or he should have shot me. He was the last person I was expecting to see. We had heard that he was dead. I been hearing for years that he was dead, but that was him.”

Lorena didn't believe the man was interested in her. Even if men avoided looking at her she could feel their interest, if they had any. The man called Blue Duck had been more interested in the horses.

”I don't know that Jake can protect you, even if he comes back,” Augustus said.

It made her a little sad for Jake that all his friends doubted his abilities. He was not respected. Probably Gus was right: she should quit Jake. Gus himself was a more able man, she had no doubt. He might take her to California. He had made it clear he had no great interest in the cattle drive. He talked a lot of foolishness, but he had never been mean. He was still sitting on the big rock, idly scratching himself through a hole in the wet underwear.

”Gus, we could go to California,” she said. ”I'd go with you and let Jake take his chances.”

Augustus looked at her and smiled. ”Why, I'm complimented, Lorie,” he said. ”Mighty complimented.”

”Let's go then,” she said, impatient suddenly.

”No, I'm bound for Ogallala, honey,” he said.

”Where's that?”

”In Nebraska,” he said.

”What's there?” Lorena asked, for she had never heard anyone mention such a place.

”A woman named Clara,” Augustus said.

Lorena waited, but he said no more than that. She didn't want to ask. It was always something, she thought-something to keep her from getting to the one place she wanted to be. It made her bitter-she remembered some of the things Gus had blabbed to her since she had known him.

”I guess you ain't so practical, then,” she said.

Augustus was amused. ”Do I claim to be practical?” he asked.

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