“Yeah,” Shamrock said with an evil smile. “Yeah, I think I know what you mean.”
“I’m sure you do.”
Turley, who had not attended the meeting the day before, and who had heard none of the exchange between Houser and Shamrock, watched the six men ride off. Curious about it, he walked up to the ranch office to question Houser.
“I seen that your brother ’n them other five men rode off. Are they leavin’?”
“Mr. Turley, I told you not to concern yourself with those men. They are answerable only to me. But for your information, they are not leaving. You will learn, soon enough, that they are going to be dealing with the small ranchers who, I am convinced, are responsible for all the cattle rustling that has been going on of late.”
“Mr. Houser, I know just about ever’ one of the small ranchers here in the valley, I’ve rode with most of ’em. They’re good men, all of ’em, and I just don’t believe that they’re the ones that’s doin’ the stealin’.”
“You are looking at them through eyes that are distorted by previous amity. You feel a fraternity with them, and I can understand that, Turley, but you must look at it from my point of view. If we don’t stop this now, in its earliest stages, then it will only encourage these small ranchers, these usurpers of grass and water, to continue to build their herds at the expense of those of us who, by the size of our operations, make perfect targets for them. Do you understand that?”
Turley didn’t reply.
“Well, do you understand it? Because, Mr. Turley, if you are unable to understand this simple concept, then perhaps I need a new man.”
“Oh no, sir!” Turley said quickly. “I understand just what you are talkin’ about. A thing like this, stealin’ cattle, I mean, is somethin’ that you got to nip in the bud afore it gets way out of hand.”
Houser smiled. “It is good that you understand.”
“If I have to talk to ’em about something, should I talk to you, or to Cap’n Harris?”
“There will never be any need for you to initiate any conversation with them. As I said, they are working for me, they aren’t working for you. And to the degree possible, I intend to keep the special police force separated from you and from the working cowhands. Do you understand?”
“Yes, sir.”
“On the other hand, there may be occasions when it will be necessary for Captain Harris, or one of his men, to order you to do something. If he, or one of his men, should issue such an order to you, or to any of the hands, you may regard that as an order directly from me, and I will expect you to give them full cooperation.”
“Yes, sir, I will do whatever needs to be done.”
Chapter Twenty-four
Shamrock and the territorial deputies were coming close to The Queen Ranch, though as they were unaware of the name given his ranch by Percy Gaines, they didn’t think of it in that way.
“Hey, Shamrock,” Jaco started to say.
“It’s Captain Harris,” Shamrock corrected. “Remember, my name is Harris.”
“I ain’t forgot, but there ain’t nobody here now but just us, ’n all of us knows you as Shamrock.”
“If you call me Shamrock now, you’re liable to forget ’n call me Shamrock in front of someone else. ’N don’t forget, down in Texas they know all about us.”
“Yeah, but that’s in Texas. We’re in Wyoming now ’n there don’t nobody here know none of us.”
“Do you think we are on the backside of the moon up here?” Shamrock asked, mimicking his brother’s comment to him.
“What?”
“There are newspapers here just like ever’ where else, ’n who knows when they might have a story ’bout what we done down there?”
“All right, I’ll call you Harris.”
“Captain Harris,” Shamrock corrected.
“Yeah, Cap’n Harris. But what I was goin’ to ask you is, how come it is that Houser knows about them other cows ’n where they belong?”
“I don’t know, ’n I don’t care. He knows, is all I care about. That, ’n the money he’s givin’ us.”
Half an hour later Shamrock and the deputies reached the ranch, which consisted of a small house, a barn, and a corral. As they rode up into the yard, they saw a man pumping water. He looked up, curious as to who they were.
“Howdy, gents, what can I do for you?”
“This here the Gaines’s ranch?” Shamrock asked.
“Yeah.”
“Gaines, I’m Captain Paul Harris. I am a Wyoming lawman, ’n I’m here to collect them cows that you stoled.”
“My name ain’t Gaines, it’s Keegan.” He smiled. “I’m just watchin’ over the ranch for Gaines, seein’ as he has gone to get hisself married. And anyhow, there ain’t no stoled cows here, so you’re just wastin’ your time.”
“We heard that there was,” Shamrock said.
As the two men were talking, Jaco rode around so that he was behind Keegan, and, unnoticed by the young cowboy, he slipped a noose around Keegan’s neck.
“What the . . . ?” Keegan started to yell, but Jaco urged his horse into a gallop, dragging Keegan with him and choking out any further protests.
Shamrock and Jaco had just earned themselves an extra thousand dollars.
* * *
When Elmer and Wang took the ten remaining cows up to the main area of Twin Peaks ranch, they were met by Ben Turley.
“What’s this?” Turley asked.
“Accordin’ to the brand, these here cows belong to the Twin Peaks ranch,” Elmer said.
“Oh? Where did you find ’em?”
“It don’t really matter none where we found ’em, does it?” Elmer asked. “Seems to me like ’bout the only thing that matters is that we brung ’em back.”
Turley nodded. “I reckon that’s right. Wait here, I’ll just go get Mr. Houser.”
Shortly after Turley stepped into the ranch office, Malcolm and Dobbins came out of the barn. They saw Elmer and Wang.
“Well, now,” Malcolm said. “If it ain’t the old man and the Chinaman. You’re a little out of your territory, ain’t
