get. Why, there ain’t no tellin’ how many he kilt when he was ridin’ with the Idaho Auxiliary Peace Officers’ Posse.”
“Yes, I heard about them. They are a wandering group of deputies?”
“Deputies my ass,” Tyrone said. “They’re a bunch of plundering murderers, if you ask me.”
Some of the other riders started coming back in then and Tyrone excused himself.
“I have to set out the night riders,” he said.
“Go ahead, don’t let me stop you,” Matt said. “Thank you for the visit and the information.”
“How is Prew doing?” Kitty asked when Matt returned to the house.
“He’s doing fine,” Matt said.
“Was he any help?”
“Yes, I found his information useful. After talking to Prew, I’m convinced that Poke Terrell is the one behind the rustling, but you have to ask yourself, why is he taking only a few head at a time?”
“Maybe that’s all he can handle.”
“I don’t think so. This ranch is perfect for stealing a two or three hundred head or more. Even driving livestock, you are less than a day from Utah, Nevada, or Oregon. You could go to any one of those states, or you could divide the herd into three easily managed groups and go off in three different directions.”
“I guess you are right. I hadn’t even thought about that,” Kitty said.
“I’m sure Poke Terrell has thought about it. No, there has to be another reason why he just picking at you, rather than making one grand haul.”
“But I don’t understand. Why would he do that?”
“It could be that he is just trying to cause enough trouble to keep you from being able to meet your loan payment.”
“Why would he do that? He has no interest in the ranch.”
“No, but Marcus Kincaid does.”
“Matt, are you suggesting that Marcus is behind this?”
“Let me ask you this. If you go into default, is there any way Kincaid could take over Coventry?”
“I don’t know, I’m not sure,” Kitty said. “I suppose if the ranch fails and the bank forecloses, he could move in. But if the bank puts the ranch up for auction, there are people who have more money than Marcus, and who would love to have Coventry. I think they would simply outbid him. Besides, Marcus has another plan now.”
“Oh? What plan would that be?”
“When he was out here this morning he began to pay court to me.”
“I hope you set him straight.”
“Why, Matt, could it be that you are jealous?” Kitty said.
Matt coughed, nervously, and Kitty laughed.
“I’m teasing, Matt.”
“Oh. You mean he didn’t come courting this morning.”
“No, I’m not teasing about that. I’m teasing about you being jealous.”
“I don’t know that I would call it jealous,” Matt said. “But I would be concerned.”
Kitty put her hand on Matt’s cheek. “Matt, my old friend, you have nothing to be concerned about.”
From the patio behind his rather large house, Marcus Kincaid could enjoy a panoramic view of the Soldier Mountains, which rose prominently some twenty miles to the north. However, because of the trick of light and dry air, the mountains, on which individual trees were visible, appeared to be within easy walking distance.
Kincaid was sitting at a small table, on the patio, having his breakfast. He had the same breakfast every morning: a soft boiled egg served in a silver egg cup, half a grapefruit, one slice of toast, two slices of crisp bacon, and coffee.
He was just beginning to eat his grapefruit when he heard his maid, Rosa, say, “Senor Kincaid is outside on the Patio, Senor.”
Looking up, Kincaid saw Poke Terrell coming toward him.
“I thought I told you never to come to my house,” Kinkaid said as he spread butter on his toast. “No one is supposed to know that you are working for me, remember?”
“This man Jensen is going to be trouble,” Poke said.
“How much trouble can one man be?”
“He’s already killed Madison, Jernigan, and Logan. They were three of my best men.”
“If they were your best, you either need to raise your standards, or I’m going to have to lower your expectations.”
“What do you mean, lower my expectations?”
