Sunset Pass (1990) Read Online Free Page A

speech.
    "True, I can return the compliment. You are handsomer than ever."
    "Thanks."
    "True, you're not glad to see me," she rejoined petulantly.
    "Why, sure I am! Glad you're settled and happy and--"
    "Happy! Do I look that?" she interrupted bitterly.
    "If my memory's any good you look as gay and happy as ever."
    "Your memory is bad--about that--and other things. Trueman, have you come back on a visit?"
    "No; I aim to stay. I always was comin' back."
    "If you only had come!" She sighed. "I'm glad--terribly glad you're going to stay, We must be good friends again, True, You'll come to, see me--ride with--me--like you used to. Won't you?"
    "I'm afraid Mr. Dabb wouldn't like that. He never had any use for me."
    "It doesn't matter what he likes. Say you will, Trueman. I'm horribly lonesome."
    Rock remembered that Amy had always been a flirt. Evidently she had not changed. He was sorry for her and wished to spare her discomfiture.
    "I'll call on you and John sometime," he replied.
    "Me and--John! Well, your long absence in Texas hasn't made you, any brighter. I dare say it hasn't changed you any--about girls, either. I saw you with Thiry Preston. At your old tricks, cowboy!"
    "Did you? I don't call it old tricks to carry a few bundles for a girl," replied Rock stiffly. It annoyed him to feel the blood heat in his face.
    "Bundles, rot!" she retorted. "I know you, True Rock, inside and out. You've lost your head pronto over Thiry Preston."
    "I'm not denyin' it, am I?"
    She would be his enemy, unless he allowed himself once more to be attached to her train. The idea was preposterous. In a few short hours--no, they were hours incalculably, long in their power--he, had grown past flirting with any woman.
    Rock returned to Winter and proceeded to unburden himself.
    "So you ran into Amy," meditated Sol, with a thoughtful twinkle. "Wal, son, take my advice and keep shy of Amy, She's got old Dabb so jealous he can't attend to his business. She always has some buckaroo runnin' after her. That won't do for you. The Dabbs about own Wagontongue, not to say a lot of the range outfits. Then I always see Thiry with Amy, when she comes to town. If you aim to snub your old girl for this new one--wal, son, you'll have a tough row to hoe."
    "Sol, I'll not snub Amy, but I can't, go playin' round with her. Sol, how much money do you owe?"
    "Couple of thousand, an' when that's paid off I'll be on the road to prosperity again."
    "Old-timer, you're on it right now. I'll take that much stock in your business," went on Rock, as he took out his pocketbook.
    "Son, I don't want you to do that," protested Winter.
    "But I want to. I think it's a good investment. Now here's your two thousand. And here's five more, which I want you to put in your bank, on interest. Reckon we'd better add another thousand to that five. I only need enough money to buy a spankin' outfit.
    "I'm goin' to be a plain cowpuncher and start in where I left off here six years ago. I want a jim-dandy outfit; two saddle-horses--the best on the range, if money can buy them."
    "We can find one of them pronto," replied Winter with satisfaction. "After supper we'll walk out to Leslie's. He's sellin' out an' he has some good stock, One horse in particular. I never saw his beat, Dabb has been hagglin' with Leslie over the price. It's high, but the horse is worth it."
    "How much?"
    "Three hundred."
    "All right, Sol. We'll buy. But I reckon one saddle-horse will do. Then I'll need a pack-horse and outfit. In the mornin' we'll pick out a tarp and blankets, grub and campin' outfit. I've got saddle, bridle, spurs, riata--all Mexican, Sol, and if they don't knock the punchers on this range, I'll eat them. And last, I reckon I'll require some more hardware."
    "Ahuh! An' with all this outfit you're headin' for Sunset Pass."
    "Yeah. I'm goin' to Gage Preston's and strike him for a job."
    "Son, it's a bold move, if it's all on account of Thiry. Gage can't hardly refuse you a job. He needs riders. He has