Part 34 (2/2)

”I know.”

”Will you hear me out?”

”Not now,” she began. Winn braced himself for a battle but she spoke quickly.”I think we better do something. Kyle says he's taking a group of neighborsout to Ott's place. Winn, I just don't know who's right but I don't thinkthis is the way.”

Winn was out the door before she finished talking. He hurried toward thebunkhouse with Cynthie running behind. He was taking longer steps and shewas afraid he would run into the building.

”Peter, saddle some horses,” he called as he walked. ”Jeremiah, get a couple of rifles.” ”I'm going, too,” Cynthie announced. Winn turned to her. ”No, you're not!” ”Winn.” But she said it to his back; he didn't wait to argue.

Peter came out of the bunkhouse with Greg behind him. Peter and Winn hurriedtoward the corral and Cynthie ran to Greg, taking his hand.When she caught up with Winn, he was talking to Peter.”I'll need something reliable. Preferably something I don't have to sing to.””Saddle Obsidian,” Cynthie instructed. ”You're not going!” Winn said again.

Cynthie placed a hand on his arm.

”You take him,” she said.

A few minutes later she stood with Greg at her side, watching the three ofthem ride out of the yard. She had sent them after Kyle and now she worriedthat she had put them into danger, whatever the truth of the situation may be.

When the riders were becoming hard to see in the dust and the evening light,Cynthie turned toward the bunkhouse.

”We better go sit with Louie,”

she told her son. - Winn didn't feel confident on the back of the stallion but he couldn't think about that now. He rode between Peter and Jeremiah and trusted them to help him if he needed it.

They had to get to Ott before Dempsey did. If he was truly rounding upneighbors, that should give them some time. Winn was afraid Dempsey would bemeeting his rustler friends to ride with him instead. They might have beenleft waiting near Ott's.

”Be sure to watch for any other riders,” he reminded his companions.

Winn remembered that Ott had told him he was Cynthie's nearest neighbor. Hehoped his place wasn't far, It was Jeremiah who answered.”Don't be worryin', sir. I ain't let tin' n.o.body surprise us.”Ott's yard was quiet when they rode in. Winn could smell wood smoke and knew Ott was home. Before they had pulled up in front of the house, Ott was outto meet them.”Howdy, boys. It's good to see you sit tin' a horse, Sutton.”Winn didn't answer.”Peter,” he ordered.”Which way's the barn?””Left,” was Peter's reply.

' ”Take a rifle and hide the horses in the barn then stay there.

Jeremiah, find a position on our right where you're protected. We may need you both. ”

”What in the h.e.l.l's going' on?” Ott asked.”Dempsey's on his way,” Winn said.”Let's get inside.”Ott put his hand on Winn's shoulder and directed him into his house.”Is Louie dead, like I hear?” he asked.”Why's Dempsey comin' here?””Louie's hurt bad but he's still holding on.” Inside, Winn stood with his hand on the latch of the closed door.

”Stay near a window,” he said.

”I.

need to know as soon as they ride up. ”

”I'll do it,” Ott said.

”Can you answer my questions now?”

Winn explained the situation while they waited. It was an hour before Ott alerted him. ”There's quite a bunch,” he said.

”Do you know any of them?” Winn asked. Everything might ride on his answer. ”It's getting' d.a.m.n dark out there.” After a moment he added, ”Yeah, I knowa few. There's about six here, though, I don't think I've seen around.”

”Let's go make them welcome,” Winn said, opening the door. He stepped out onthe porch and Ott came to stand beside him. He could hear the horses movingtoward the house, still a short distance away. ”Greet them by name,” Winnwhispered.

When the horses came to a stop, Winn spoke first. ”Evening, Dempsey.”

Winn wondered if Dempsey was surprised to see him. It didn't show in hisvoice but Winn noticed he took his time before he spoke.”We're here to talk to Ott,” he said.”I'm listenin'” Ott said.”Evenin', Bob, Harold. You got something' to say, Eli?”It was Dempsey who answered.”We know you shot Mrs. Franklin's foreman.You've been stealing her cattle right along, too. ””Ask Dempsey about Merlin's death. Bob, and Franklin's,” Winn said.”You, Harold, ask Dempsey about the guns Franklin had him running to the Indians. And ask him about the circle P brand, Eli.”

There was a murmur in the crowd and Dempsey shouted.

”He's in it with Ott.

He's ma king things up to try to cover Ott's crimes. ”

”Can you be sure Dempsey isn't the one trying to cover something up?”

Winn asked.

There were some m.u.f.fled comments Winn could make out in the general murmurof conversation. ”not as easy as I thought.”

”Never heard nothin' about guns.” ”isn't for us to handle.”

”Don't listen to him!” Dempsey yelled.

Ott leaned close to Winn and said quietly.

”The neighbors are leaving.

Dempsey and six others are left. ”

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