Wedge nodded again. “Pretty much what I figured. Heard too that you’ve given the Rangers a hand now and then.”
“I’m a law-abiding man,” Frank explained. “I do what I can to help when I’m called on.”
“Good to know.” Wedge turned back to Cecil Tolliver. “What’s this about you and the boy being attacked by Almanzar’s riders?”
“They jumped us while we were comin’ back to the ranch from San Rosa,” Tolliver said. “We’d been to town to pick up some supplies. A whole bunch of ’em came on us suddenlike, yellin’ and shootin’. We tried to get away and make a fight of it at the same time, but our buckboard turned over. Then Mr. Morgan rode up and took a hand in the game. We knocked down enough of the bastards so that the rest of ’em turned tail.”
“Sounds like you’re lucky to be alive,” Wedge said.
“That’s the way I figure it too.”
The Ranger captain frowned. “How do you know the men who jumped you work for Almanzar?”
“Who else would have it in for me?” Tolliver demanded. “Almanzar and me been crossways with each other for a long time.”
“What about the Black Scorpion?”
Tolliver looked surprised at Wedge’s question. “What about him?”
“Could the men who attacked you have been part of the Scorpion’s gang?”
Ben put in, “That thought crossed my mind too, even though I’m not sure I believe in the Black Scorpion.”
“He’s real enough,” Wedge said.
Tolliver shook his head stubbornly. “I didn’t see no sign of any masked man leadin’ the gang. They were just a bunch of border toughs, the sort of hardcases Almanzar hires to make life miserable for me.”
“The reason I ask is, the men and I have been trailing the Black Scorpion since yesterday. He and his gang raided a ranch on the other side of San Rosa. They were coming in this direction and it seems logical to me that they could have run into you and your son.”
“Nope. Those gunnies worked for Almanzar.”
Frank read the skepticism on Captain Wedge’s face, and to tell the truth, he was beginning to have his doubts about Tolliver’s belief too. From the looks of things, Tolliver’s hatred of Don Felipe Almanzar was so deep-seated that the cattleman was quick to blame Almanzar for everything bad that happened, whether Almanzar had anything to do with it or not.
It appeared that Wedge might have argued the matter further, but at that moment the women came out of the house onto the porch. The light was behind them and shone on their hair. Wedge took his hat off and nodded politely to them, saying, “Ladies. After a long day on the trail, you are sure a sight for sore eyes, if I may be so bold as to say so.”
“You may,” Pegeen Tolliver told him with a smile. “Hello, Captain. Will you and your men be staying to supper?”
“That sounds mighty nice, ma’am, but we’re on the trail of some bad men—”
“You can’t follow a trail very well at night,” Tolliver put in. “Join us for supper, Captain. Your men can eat in the bunkhouse with the hands.”
Wedge chuckled. “That Chinaman who cooks for you probably won’t be very happy about having that many extra mouths to feed.”
“He’ll get over it. There’s plenty of room for your men to bunk in the barn too, and we’ll find a bed for you in the house.”
The captain returned his black Stetson to his head. “I’m much obliged, Tolliver, and on behalf of my men, I accept.” He turned and said to his troop of Rangers, “Light for a spell, boys. We’re spending the night here on the Rocking T.”
A grin creased Tolliver’s leathery face. “I’d like to see Almanzar’s nighthawks come a-raidin’ now, with a couple dozen Rangers on the place! They’d get a mighty warm welcome if they did!”
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Copyright © 2005 by William W. Johnstone
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Notes
