Galloway (1970) Read Online Free Page A

man who knows the San Juan country."
    The bartender shrugged, then indicated Shadow with a gesture of his head. "He knows it, but I wouldn't start any talk about it now. He's got things on his mind."
    "I also want a horse--a good horse and a couple of pack horses or mules."
    "Talk to him." Then the bartender added, "That's a good country to stay out of.
    There's talk of trouble with the Utes, and the Jicarillas been cutting loose up thataway."
    The four men at the table got up quietly and went out of the door, walking carefully. Galloway Sackett finished his drink, then walked over to the other man's table.
    "Mr. Shadow? I'm Galloway Sackett."
    "It is a name not unknown to me. Sit down, will you? What will you have?"
    "I'm going to have some coffee and some grub, but what I really want is information. The bartender told me you knew the San Juan country."
    "I do."
    "About a week ago I ran into a bunch of Jicarillas and they had my brother.
    They'd started to work on him. I was alone, but figured if I could create a fuss he'd cut loose on his own. I did, and he did."
    "He got away?"
    "He surely did. And dropped clean off the world. I hunted for him and they did.
    Those Jicarillas weren't about to lose him so they taken in after him. He was stark naked and had his hands tied, but he got away."
    "He's dead, then."
    "Not Flagan. We Sacketts don't die easy, and Flagan is a tough man. He's been up the creek and over the mountain. He's fit Comanches and Arapahoes on the buffalo plains, and about ever' kind of man or animal. He's a tough man."
    "That San Juan country is tough. It's the most beautiful country in the world, but about two-thirds of it stands on end."
    Shadow paused, waiting while the bartender placed coffee and food on the table.
    Then he asked, "What do you want me to do?"
    "Tell me about it. How the streams run, the best ways to get through the mountains, where I'm liable to run into Indians. I'm going in after him."
    "You're bucking a stacked deck, my friend. You'll need an outfit."
    "That's another thing. The bartender said you had horses. I need a spare for Flagan to ride when I find him, and I'll need a couple of pack horses for grub and the like."
    Shadow took a thin cigar from his pocket and lighted it. He studied the end of it for a moment, then said, "If I didn't have some business to attend to, I'd go with you."
    "Twenty-four hours, you gave him. Do you think he'll move?"
    "Yes."
    Galloway glanced at Shadow thoughtfully. "He must know you, this Fasten gent."
    "He knows me. He stole cattle and killed men in the Mimbres country. He wiped out a lot of us, then pulled out and drove the cattle clear out of the country.
    I took in after him."
    "I lost the trail, then found it again. Meanwhile he'd settled down here, hired a bunch of reasonably honest hands, and then he cooked up that Clover Three brand. Guess he had an idea it couldn't be blotted, so I did it, just as a challenge. So he sent a hired man after me, but I remembered the man from Texas, and he did not remember me."
    "How'd that happen?"
    Shadow shrugged. "I was a teacher at Waco University. Our paths did not cross in a way he would notice."
    "You were a teacher?"
    He shrugged. "One does what one can. I needed the job, they needed the teacher.
    In fact, they wanted me to stay on, but the pay was small and I was restless. I had come to America to hunt for gold."
    He glanced at Galloway again. "Are you related to Orrin Sackett?"
    "He's kin."
    "He defended me in a shooting case. My first one, in fact. It was a little matter of a horse. My horse was stolen. I hunted the man down and he drew a pistol and I shot him. Someone advised me to hire Orrin Sackett and I did ... fortunately."
    They finished their coffee, talked idly of various things, and then Shadow stood up. "I have a cabin down the road apiece. If you'd like you may join me. There's an empty bunk, and you're welcome."
    The cabin was small but comfortable. There were Navajo rugs on the floors,