'Been there a heap of times. Ain't from there.'
Kinsman didn't ask where Longarm was from. He just said, 'What do you think, Joe?'
Traywick regarded Longarm intently for a moment, then said, 'We could use another man or two, Matt. We're spread kind of thin, and with all the trouble that's been goin' on...'
Kinsman looked sharply at Longarm. 'You heard my foreman. There's been some trouble in this part of the country, Custis. You sure you want to mix in? No offense taken if you decide to ride on.'
'I've been around trouble too,' Longarm said. 'It never bothered me overmuch.'
'Good enough,' Kinsman said with an abrupt nod. 'You're hired.' He gave a booming laugh, demonstrating that his moods could change like quicksilver. 'If nothin' else, havin' you around'll be a burr under Seth's saddle, after the way you whipped him. Dose of humility'll do that boy some good, I hope.' He looked over at Molly and frowned. 'What're you doin' out here, girl? Thought you was back at the house.'
'I wanted to take a ride,' explained Molly. 'I happened to run into Custis down close to the main trail.'
'Just happened to run into him, huh. Was he a gentleman?'
'A perfect gentleman,' Molly said with a quick smile for Longarm.
'Good, I won't have to shoot him then.' Kinsman wheeled his horse and jerked his head to indicate that the others should follow him. 'Come on, Custis. Too late in the afternoon to get you started today. You can have supper with us and get settled into the bunkhouse.'
'Sure,' Longarm agreed easily. 'My warbag and Winchester are back in Timber City, but I reckon I can pick 'em up in a day or two, soon as I get a spare minute.'
'Cook'll be goin' into town day after tomorrow to pick up supplies,' said Joe Traywick. 'You can go with him and help load the wagon. That'll give you a chance to get your gear.'
'Sounds good,' said Longarm. He instinctively liked Traywick. He wasn't so sure about Kinsman just yet.
Of course, he didn't want to get too fond of anybody on the Diamond K. Not when he might have to arrest some of them for murder.
The headquarters of the Diamond K lay in a beautiful lower valley with the peaks of the Cascade range towering above it. The grass in the pastures was thick and lush, the green landscape dotted with grazing jags of cattle. The ranch house itself stood among a group of pines. It was an impressive structure, three stories of stone and whitewashed timber. Longarm took in the other features of the ranch: a high-ceilinged hay barn, a chicken house, extensive corrals and a barn for the spread's horses, a blacksmith shop, a cookshack, and a bunkhouse. A fence built of peeled pine poles enclosed a well-cared-for yard in front of the house.
Big Matt Kinsman brought his black stallion to a halt on a small rise that overlooked the ranch headquarters, and the riders with him did likewise. For Longarm's benefit, Kinsman waved a hand at the buildings and said, 'This is the Diamond K, Custis. Built the house with my own two hands for my late wife, Molly's mother. She's been gone five years now.'
'Sorry to hear it,' Longarm said, and meant the words.
Kinsman nodded. 'Alice was a hell of a woman, let me tell you. Would've liked to have more kids, but Molly was the only one that ever came along.' He glanced over at his daughter. 'Not that we were ever disappointed in her, mind you. She's the best child a man could want.'
'It's just too bad you can't seem to remember that whenever you're laying down the law to me, Pa,' she said.
Kinsman scowled. 'Every child needs firm instruction in what's right and what's wrong--and it's wrong for a gal to sass her daddy like that.'
'Yes, well, you can't punish me if you can't catch me,' said Molly with a roguish grin. 'And we all know I can ride rings around you any day.'
As if to prove it, she heeled her horse into a run. It leaped ahead, carrying her toward the ranch house. Her hair streamed out behind her as she leaned forward over the neck of the racing horse, and Longarm thought that made an even prettier picture than the scenery on display.
Kinsman chuckled. 'She's a mite headstrong, but one of these days the right man will come along and love all the devil out of her.'
'We can hope so anyway,' Joe Traywick said dryly, ''fore she's the death of you an' me both, Matt!'
Kinsman put his horse into a walk. Longarm, Traywick, and the other two riders followed him. When they reached the ranch headquarters, Kinsman headed for the big house, saying over his shoulder, 'Show Custis the ropes, Joe.'
'Sure will, Matt,' Traywick agreed.
The other two riders trotted over to the horse barn. Traywick swung down from his saddle and motioned for Longarm to do the same. They led their mounts toward the barn, and as they walked, Traywick pointed out most of the things Longarm had already noticed about the place. Now that he got a closer look at everything, Longarm was struck by how it was all in top shape and good repair. If the Diamond K was truly having trouble, a fella couldn't tell it by looking at the place.
'Tell me the truth, Custis,' Traywick said after another moment of silence. 'How long has it been since you did any real cowboying?'
Longarm pondered, then admitted, 'It's been a while. I reckon you don't ever forget how to work with cows, though, after you've learned it.'
'Probably not,' Traywick grunted. 'But what I'm interested in is what you've been doin' in the meantime.' He gestured at the.44 in Longarm's cross-draw rig. 'You sell your skills with that?'
Longarm drew himself up indignantly. 'I'm no hired gun, if that's what you mean. I can use a hog-leg, but I've never shot anybody who didn't have it coming.'
