Fargo had never tasted anything so delicious. He yearned to grab the bowl and down the soup in great gulps, but fortunately he was too weak. And it might make him sick.
Mary took her time. Whenever any got on his chin, she wiped it with a cloth.
Warmth spread from Fargo’s belly. It made him drowsy, and the last thing he wanted was to pass out again. To try to stay awake he remarked, “You make the best chicken soup ever.”
“Thank the chicken. And Nelly. She plucked it.” Mary’s mouth tweaked down. “We have seven left now.”
“You killed one of your chickens just for me?”
Before she could answer, Jayce rushed breathless into the bedroom. He had been outside and was bundled in his threadbare coat. “Ma! Ma!”
“Calm down, son. You’re acting as if it’s the end of the world.”
“A rider is coming. I was out chopping firewood and saw him.”
Mary stiffened. “Just one? Do you know who it is?”
“Yes, ma’am. It’s one of Cud’s men. That mean killer. The one they call Tull.”
5
There wasn’t much space under the bed. Barely enough for Fargo to keep from scraping his nose on the slat when he turned his head. Through the closed bedroom door came muffled voices and the patter of feet on the floorboards. He gathered that Mary and the kids were scurrying about, cleaning and hiding any trace he was there.
Mary had insisted he get under the bed. “It’s for your own good. I can’t predict what Tull will do if he finds you.”
“Give me a gun and I’ll take my chances.”
“All I have is a rifle, and in the shape you’re in, you wouldn’t be much use with it.”
The hell of it was, she was right.
Fargo could tell all three were scared. Nelly, especially. The girl had become as pale as a ghost. Suddenly the bedroom door opened and there she was, practically shaking with fear.
“Ma says to tell you he’s almost here. She says not to make a sound. And whatever you do, don’t come out from under there.”
Fargo grunted.
“You might want to scoot back against the wall. If he comes in here, he’ll see you.”
“Don’t worry about me.”
“I can’t help it. I like you.” Nelly’s thin mouth quirked in a nervous smile, and she closed the door behind her.
The scooting took some doing. By levering his elbows and wriggling, Fargo was able to slide far enough back that unless Tull got down on his hands and knees, he should be safe. It rankled him, though, this hiding. He had never hidden from trouble in his life.
The cabin grew quiet. Outside, a horse whinnied, and soon Fargo heard the low, gruff voice of the rider. Spurs jangled, and there was talk, Mary’s and the man’s, mostly, the man’s rising in anger. It was hard to tell what they were saying, though. Then, without warning, the bedroom door was flung wide.
Scuffed boots with large spurs entered and stopped midway. The boots turned from side to side.
Mary’s shoes appeared behind them in the doorway. “I can’t say I like you barging in here like this, Mr. Tull. A gentlemen wouldn’t behave as you do.”
“Who the hell is a gentleman?”
Fargo disliked the man, sight unseen.
“As you can see, no one is here. I told you there’s just me and the children. Why didn’t you take my word for it?”
“I’m not Cud, lady. You don’t mean bear squat to me.”
“Has anyone ever mentioned how crude you are?”
“Don’t put on airs.” Tull’s boots moved to the closet, and the closet door opened. “I saw tracks on my way in. Boots tracks. And I found two dead wolves. They hadn’t been dead all that long.”
“It has nothing to do with us.”
“So you say. But right where the boot tracks end, sled tracks begin. And the sled tracks come right to your cabin.”
“The children were out sledding after it snowed. The tracks you saw must be Jayce’s.”
“His feet ain’t that big.”
“I’ve seen tracks get bigger when snow starts to melt.”
Tull gave a snort. “You must think I’m as dumb as a stump. It hasn’t warmed up a lick since the blizzard.”
Fargo heard clothes rustle.
“See? No one is in there. Now why don’t I fix you some coffee and you can tell me why you’re here?”
The boots turned and took a step toward the bed. Fargo tensed, firming his grip on the toothpick. But the boots stopped a few feet away, and Tull didn’t bend down to look under the bed.
“Cud sent me ahead to make sure you and the brats are all right. He’s still a few days out and couldn’t come fast on account of the cows.”
“Cows?” Mare repeated.
“Oh, hell,” Tull declared. “Now he’ll be mad at me. I wasn’t supposed to give it away.”
“Why would he be bringing cows? I can’t afford to buy them. I have no money. He knows that.”
“We rustled a herd a month ago and he kept six out just for you. As a present.” Tull swore. “About makes me sick how he carries on about you. Used to be, Cud Sten was the hardest man I knew. Then he met you and went all to hell.”
“I’ll thank you to watch your language around the children.”
“I’m not changing how I talk for you or anyone else. And don’t think crying to Cud will help. I’m not scared of him like some of the others are.”
“He’s a very dangerous man.”
“
“You’re a natural-born killer. I’ll grant you that,” Mary Harper said. “Which is why I want you on your way as soon as possible. I won’t have you around my children any more than can be helped.”
“You have your gall. Just because you’re female, don’t think you can insult me and get away with it. And who says I’m going anywhere?”
“What?”
“Cud wants me to stay until he gets here. To watch over you, as he put it.” Tull’s laugh was ice and spite. “You and me can get better acquainted.”
“Lay a hand on me and I’ll gut you. So help me, I will.”
“Damn, you think highly of yourself. But don’t worry, lady. If I can’t pay for it, I don’t bother with it.”
“What is he talking about, Ma?” Jayce asked.
“Nothing, boy,” Tull said, and laughed. “You sure got some innocents, don’t you?”
“Leave them out of this.”
“Sure, lady. Sure. How about that coffee? I about froze riding here.”
Fargo took a risk. He moved his head enough to peer out.
The man called Tull was almost to the doorway. Of middling height and build, he wore a brown hat and cowhide vest. The hair that poked out from under the brown hat was black. On his right hip, in contrast to his rumpled clothes, gleamed the pearl grips of a nickel-plated Colt. He half turned in the doorway, revealing a lean face stamped with cruelty.
Fargo drew back before he was spotted.
Tull’s boots moved into the next room. He left the door open.
Now Fargo could hear what was being said. And from where he lay, he could also see a small part of the
