Shoot Him On Sight

Finally he drew a long breath of suppressed anger. 'Now, look, Cardinal, there's no use you and me—'

'Now, who's been running a bluff?' I jeered.

'Cut out that bluff talk,' he snarled. 'Can't you realize it's more profitable for both of us, if we pull together?'

'Sure, but you can't seem to.' I was relaxed, feeling good again, and I decided to bait the animal a little more. 'Where's Topaz this morning?'

For a moment his face went fiery red, then he regained control. 'Miss Topaz, to you,' he growled nastily. 'And her whereabouts is no business of yours.'

'Don't get proddy with me,' I said mildly. 'I was only interested after what happened last night. Isn't that natural? You act like I was trying to beat your time. Why so huffy?'

He simmered down after a moment. 'I just don't like fellers getting too familiar with Topaz. For your information, she won't be in today. Sent a message just a minute before you come in. She's still pretty well shook up, after that experience last night. Has a bad headache and said her nerves were shot. Can't say I blame her. One of those damn fool lunkheads might have hit her.'

'That's possible,' I nodded seriously. 'Hadn't thought of that. Give her my sympathy when you see her. By the way, did you discover who the other two lunkheads were?'

He shook his head. 'Not yet, but I've got men working on it. They'll get turned up.' He shot the next question fast, almost catching me off guard. 'Where's that Mexican, Serrano, this morning?'

'Mister Serrano,' I laughed and he got the point. 'He's here, only you probably won't get to see him. As a bodyguard, he can't be beat, can Fanner. I feel safe with him around to see I don't get shot in the back. Or spied on. I don't like my actions watched.' He didn't have a reply for that. I said, 'Well, I'd best get back to the Box-CT. Maybe we can talk another time, Shel.'

'Yeah, maybe so,' he agreed absently.

I nodded and left the barroom. On the street I walked aimlessly about for a time, then headed down toward the railroad station. The horses were there, but no sign of Topaz. Well, it wasn't quite noon yet. And then, suddenly, my heart gave a jump that almost carried it into my mouth, and I realized it wasn't only fight talk that made my heart beat so fast. She was coming at a fast walk with long even strides. Riding boots, divided skirt, mannish flannel shirt and the glorious red-gold hair tucked beneath a cream-colored sombrero. Beautiful! I hadn't felt this way since I was a kid, gazing up at the top ornament on the Christmas tree. I hurried to meet her and tell her how wonderful she looked.

That, she disregarded. 'Johnny,' she said soberly, 'there'll be hell to pay if this gets found out.'

Her hand was still in mine and I was ready to pay any price that happened to become due. After a moment she released her hand, and we neared the horses. She didn't need any help mounting, and I saw at once she was a rider. I adjusted the stirrup straps, then mounted, with me carrying the basket, and turned out horses. I'd been hoping the station-master wouldn't pop out of his door to get nosy, but he didn't show. Hoof beats in the vicinity of his station weren't noticeable to him, I suppose.

'Johnny, where are we going?'

'Figured we might head over toward the Doladera foothills.' I gestured toward the basket. 'I brought some fodder.'

'That was a good idea.' She didn't say anything for a time, until we were well clear of the town, though I'd noticed her cast an uneasy glance over her shoulder from time to time. Finally she said, 'This is a dandy pony. Yours or did you hire it?'

'It's half mine.'

'Half?'

'It's branded Box-CT. Half the outfit belongs to me.' Hell, I had to boast a mite.

'It does?' Her eyes widened under the cream sombrero.

'That's not news for the world, yet,' I told her. 'I'll explain some other time.' I tried to press further talk, but she didn't appear to want any. We loped easily along with the bright blue sky overhead, and a cool breeze whipping into our faces. Lord, I felt proud to have her riding at my side and I felt as though I could go on and on, without ever stopping.

We did stop eventually, beneath the shade of a clump of mesquite trees, the feathery foliage undulating in the soft wind.

Once dismounted, Topaz took charge of the lunch basket and spread things on a cloth Mama Benita had provided. Within a few minutes we were working at sandwiches and taking alternate sips from the wine bottle. Wise Mama Benita: she hadn't provided any glasses.

'This,' Topaz laughed delightedly, 'is fun—such fun as I've not had since I was a kid. Where'd all this food come from? Nobody in Onyxton—'

'From the Box-CT.' I told her about Mama Benita and Mateo and Jeff and Mike. Once started I really ran off at the head. She seemed to catch some of my enthusiasm and I told her a lot more about myself.

Finally, her eyes wide, she exclaimed, 'Then you're not —not what all those reward bills call you, not a killer and gun-fighter?'

I almost rolled on the ground, laughing, at her surprise. 'My career has been a trifle exaggerated,' I grinned.

She didn't laugh as much as I'd expected. Her face sobered. 'Johnny, if Shel Webster ever learns—golly!—he's already suspicious of you—'

'Webster can go fall off a mountain,' I told her. 'I've bluffed him so far and—'

'He's already furious with you—'

'Topaz, what's Webster to you?'

Startled, she cast a swift look at me. 'Would I be here, if he meant anything to me, Johnny?'

'I guess not,' I said, abashed. 'I shouldn't have said that.'

She shrugged. 'Everybody else says it, even if they don't put it into words. Many—all too many—feel they know, and don't feel it necessary to ask—'

'Why, then—?'

Topaz started to speak, then checked the words. After a moment: 'Johnny, please don't question me. We've been having such a pleasant time and—and—well, I don't want things spoiled. Let's not talk about my relationship with Shel Webster. At best, it is an unpleasant subject—'

'But Topaz—'

Slowly she shook her head. 'Johnny, please don't persist. It is all something I don't want to talk about. Someday, I hope to forget all that's happened between Shel Webster— and me. Lately, it has been horrible—'

'Topaz, it's all unnecessary—'

'Please, Johnny,' she pleaded. 'I just can't talk about it. If you insist on questioning me, I'll just have to ask you to take me back. Please, get it through your head, I can't— I won't—answer any questions.'

Well, I couldn't buck that attitude. Anger welled hotly within me, then I subsided. We talked of other things, but everything was different now. Our conversation seemed confined to monosyllables, and I was hurting a lot. She was, too, I gathered. She said finally, 'Johnny, can't we forget the past and just look at things from today onward? It'll be more pleasant for both of us.'

I reckon she had more sense than I did. Then I got an idea. 'Look here,' I suggested, 'why don't we ride out to the Box-CT. I'd like to show you my—our—spread.'

'Our spread?'

'Jeff's and mine.' I added boldly, 'And yours, if you'd see things my way.'

'Why, Johnny,' she laughed, 'that sounded like a proposal.'

'It was meant to be,' I said earnestly, 'if you'd see it that way. But how about riding out there with me?'

I expected her to refuse. She considered a moment. 'And how will I be accepted out there?'

'As my friend, at least,' I told her.

She got to her feet. 'Come on, the day is passing. I mustn't be too late getting back. Should Shel Webster ever discover—fiddlesticks! Come on, let's go.'

We arrived at the ranch about an hour and a half later, and though Jeff was a bit stand-offish at first, he came around in time. Mateo, Mama Benita and Mike warmed to Topaz at once. Before we knew it, the sun had commenced to drop and Mama Benita insisted Topaz be our guest for dinner. Diplomatically, no one mentioned