“I’m going to ask you a few questions,” Smoke said, in a voice that made the hired gun want to go to the bushes to relieve himself something fierce. “And you’re going to give me correct answers. You know who I am?”
The man nodded his head.
“You’ve heard the story about what I did to one of the men who raped my first wife and then killed her and our baby son?”
The hired gun almost came unhinged.
The hired gun nodded his head vigorously.
“You wouldn’t want me to do that to you, would you?”
The man made strangling, choking noises behind the bandana.
“I didn’t think so.” Smoke reached out with the point of the blade and the man almost had heart failure. He breathed a little easier as Smoke cut the gag loose.
“You yell, and it will be the last sound you’ll ever make on this earth,” Smoke warned him.
The hired gun nodded.
“What’s your name?”
“Johns.”
“I want the locations of all the guards. Quickly.”
Johns told him. Quickly.
“What room is Doreen being held in?”
“Top floor. The room facin’ the crick back of the house. The winders is all nailed shut so’s she can’t get out.”
“Has any harm come to her?”
“No, sir. Jud hit her once, but that’s all. He ain’t messed with her in no way. He says he’s savin’ all that for when they get hitched up proper.”
“And when is that going to be?”
“Don’t know. And that’s the truth.”
“How many men does Jud have on his payroll?”
“I’d have to say close to a hundred now. He’s got a regular army. But a lot of them is trash. They ain’t gonna stand when it starts gettin’ hot. I’d say he’s got near ‘bouts seventy fighters. And hirin’ more.”
“Jud can’t afford to pay that many men.”
Johns sighed. “He can afford it. I’ll tell you all I know. Then if you’ll let me go, I’m gone to see the Pacific Ocean.”
“You level with me and you can ride.”
“Deal.”
Smoke cut his bonds and told him to put his pants back on. And to wash his long handles the first chance he got. Smoke built a cigarette and tossed Johns the makings. The man lit up and inhaled, then started to talk.
“The ranch is just a front for Jud’s other doings. He’s into all sorts of things. Got himself four or five gangs workin’ all over two or three states, robbin’ trains and stagecoaches and stealin’ gold and cattle and you name it. I don’t know all that he’s got goin’ for him, but I do know that he’s a rich man, and that he’s gone plumb crazy. A lot of his own men—not none of the ones that’s been with him for years—is beginning to talk about doin’ him in and takin’ over. I been thinkin’ about driftin’. So far I ain’t kilt nobody that wasn’t facin’ me with a gun, and I ain’t never stole much of nothin’ in my life. A beef ever’ now and then for something to eat, is all.”
“Is he going to call his gangs in to help in this range war?”
Johns snubbed out his cigarette. “Smoke, there ain’t no way of tellin’ what that man is gonna do. He might have done sent for them for all I know. I’m tellin’ you the man is crazy as a lizard.”
“Anything else you can tell me?”
Johns thought for a moment. Then slowly shook his head. “I reckon not. Except for maybe to warn you to expect anything. Jud Vale has done turned crazy.”
After Johns had ridden away, Smoke said, “All right, Clint, you can come in now.”
A chuckle from the darkness. “You are very, very good, Mr. Smoke Jensen. But I fear I must decline your kind invitation. I am in one of my moods and there is no telling what I might do.”
“Jud has Doreen.”
“I know. But now is not the time to attempt to mount a rescue. We are too few and Jud has too many. We will have to devise some sort of diversion to pull as many men as possible away from the ranch, and then no more than two or three go in to get her.”
“Have you a plan?”
“Unfortunately, no. But I know Doreen very well. She is very, very bright. I am certain she has guessed that the key to her survival lies in her keeping a cool head about her. If Jud Vale wants her to be his queen, to parade about in fine gowns from Paris, France, that’s what she’ll do if that’s what it takes to stay alive.”
