Blood on the Moon Page #4

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You'll go now, unless you want more of that.

I don't want more of it, Jim.

But I won't go.

You really meant it, didn't you?

That much?

Jim, I know you better than you think.

You've been in hard luck

and you've made mistakes.

You hated those mistakes.

But you never admitted them

except to yourself.

Like this mess with Riling.

You never liked it.

That's why you walked out on him.

Today you, tried to do something

to make up for it.

And Dad threw it back in your face.

He thought you meant to kill Pindalest.

I didn't think so.

I know why you did it.

You thought it would help wipe out the past.

You're a proud man, Jim.

But this is the wrong kind of pride.

If you ride on to Texas

you're lost.

Cap's gone on ahead to get the drive started.

Only hope Riling doesn't get wind of what Garry's up to

or there'll be the devil to pay.

He knows what kind of man he's dealing with, Dad.

Yeah, I reckon he does.

At any rate, it's our only chance.

So you're going to let Dad risk everything

just because Garry sold you

a wild lying scheme.

Lie?

You don't believe what Jim told me?

No, Why should I?

He's nothing but a cheap gun man. A killer!

- That's not so. Jim wouldn't...

- Jim?

Yes. Jim!

What's the matter with calling him Jim?

He's no more a gun man than I am.

Amy, what is this?

He's trying to help us

and I'll stick up for him to you or anyone else.

Sounds a little stronger than sticking up for him.

Maybe it is.

But a gun man, Amy.

A man that'll go up against hired killers.

How did get get so expert?

You've thought of that?

More than you know.

Nothing made him come back and help us.

Except wanting to get even with Riling.

Not it's not that. He's really decent.

He...

Does he love you?

I don't know.

You're a fool, Amy.

He'll break your heart.

Come in. Come in.

Who is it?

Jim Garry.

Oh oh fine, Sit down.

I'll be out in a minute.

Been riding all day and was just taking a little nap.

- Drink?

- Don't mind if I do.

Well...

How are things?

Fine, Mr. Pindalest.

Just fine.

I brought that news you've been waiting to hear.

Everything went off without a hitch, huh?

Well, maybe one little hitch.

You might say.

What's that?

Lufton wants more money.

How much more?

Three thousand dollars.

Riling said his selling price to you still held.

This was just a loan.

Well, if that's all that holding us up

there's nothing to worry about, huh?

Success.

You know. This might cause a little trouble after all.

I don't keep that much cash here

at the agency.

Lufton wants cash.

Means I'll have to ride over to Sun Dust with you

and draw it out to the bank.

Riling figured you'd likely would.

How's the pass? Clear?

A little snow.

It will probably hold off.

Well, I'll throw some stuff together.

I'll get out of here

Oh I came close to forgettin'.

Riling says call off the Army.

Lufton'll likely run over the deadline

roundin' up some beef we stampeded for him.

Riling says he doesn't want to

explain to the Army about that.

Good idea.

I'll get a man out to Fort Liggett with a message right away.

Tate, what happened to you?

A fight. Where have you been?

I couldn't get out.

I know who you fought with,

It was Jim Garry.

How do you know?

He's been at the ranch.

Tate, I want to talk to you 'bout something.

That's why I came here tonight.

Well?

What is it?

Garry told us something very interesting.

He said that you and Pindalest had cooked up

this fight with Dad

to crowd him off the range so he'd sell his

cattle to you cheap.

Is that true?

So, Garry told you that, did he?

Is that true?

What else did he tell you?

This sounds good.

That you wanted him to make the offer to Dad.

Did he tell your father that?

Yes.

Tate, you haven't answeredr me. Is this true?

Of course.

You mean you've been making those poor homesteaders

that it's their rights you're fighting for?

I wanted money for us.

This is a way to get it, a lot of it.

Money your Dad could spare.

Tate, look at me.

Do you love me? Have you ever loved me?

What do you want me to say? Sure.

Don't lie to me.

You used me to beat Dad.

I betrayed him for you.

Now that's all you ever wanted,

It's all you ever counted on, isn't it?

I wouldn't say that.

Would you go in town with me this minute.

And marry me like you promised?

Not until I get money to support you.

What's funny?

I was thinking of something

I told Amy this morning.

Wasn't that the Lufton's girl?

- What's she doing here?

- None of your business.

What are you doing here?

I thought you said Garry quit

Well?

What's he doing at the Reservation?

- The Reservation?

- Yeah, yeah.

Nels saw him there this morning.

Heading for the agency.

Feel kind of stiff, don't you?

When we get to Sun Dust,

I'll sleep for a week.

We won't be getting to Sun Dust for

quite a while.

We'll just stay right here.

What do you mean?

You've been taken in, Pindalest.

Riling never sent me to see you.

I came to take you and

hide you out until the deadline.

- And Lufton did not agree to sell?

- No.

Also he's rounding up his cattle right now

with no Army to bother him.

But you're a Riling man.

What? I'm with Lufton now.

You can't get away with it, Garry.

Riling's no fool.

He'll be on our trail in twenty four hours.

Let him.

When he does find out what's happened,

he'll pull his men off to hunt you

That'll make it all easier for Lufton.

I'd take it easy with that If I were you Pindalest.

it will not last out the week.

Don't move.

Maybe I won't nurse this quite as long as you figured.

If you're plannin' on movin out,

you're going alone.

I'm giving you a chance to change your mind.

I'm staying here.

Now look, I can lick you and you know it.

Keep this up, you'll end up with a sore head, and that's all.

Suit yourself.

All right.

You win. Untie me.

Come on.

Come on cheer up, Pindalest.

Now we can start looking for a place to make camp.

- Toma! Where are you?

- Over here, Riling.

- Toma, Sing out!

- Riling, Over here!

Send the Indian to Fort Liggett.

with the message to bring the Army on.

- Hey, Milo.

- Yeah?

- Get back to the Basin.

See the boys hold Lufton on the Reservation

'till the troops get there.

What about Garry?

We'll take care of him.

Carol.

You've got to stop this.

I know.

I'll make some coffee.

I could have seen Dad and told him.

You must stop thinking about it.

Only, if we knew what was happening to him.

You just got to believe in what

Jim's doing would work.

He has a good chance.

Do you really think so?

Of course I do.

Why don't you lie down for a while.

I'll bring you some coffee.

Why Kris, I thought you'd left the Basin.

I did Miss Amy but...

I guess I've lived around here a little too long.

It got lonesome.

I knew you couldn't leave us for good.

Well I'm back to stay

and I come over to ask for your help.

I maybe ain't got no right asking

considering who it's for but..

Do you remember that young fella

you combed out over at Rocky Ford the other day?

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