I'm Off to Montana for to Throw the Hoolihan (Code of the West) (20 page)

No lantern light. No starlit sky filtered through white lace cu
rtains. No flicker from the bedroom fireplace. Dead darkness.

But the air was alive.

“I told you, I won’t go if you want me to stay.”

“And I told you, I don’t like being put in this position,” Pe
pper declared. “You set me up to be the villain. I don’t like that, Tap Andrews.”

“Now, darlin’, I didn’t mean to—”

“You’re not going to ‘now, darling’ yourself out of this. You asked me what I thought, and I told you. I don’t like you going off chasin’ a dozen lawless men by yourself.”

“I won’t be alone.”

“You and an Indian you’ve never seen before today.”

“And his brother .
 . . and you’re forgetting Lorenzo.”

“No one has seen him since the wedding.”

“He and Selena can’t stay in there forever.”

“Sure they can. She can dance into eternity. She’s thin.”

“But there will be four of us. We’ll just ride out, check the layout, and then—”

“You’re going to try to capture that gang even if you find a hu
ndred men. Don’t you see? That’s the way you are. You get something in your mind, and all the logic, all the tears, all the begging, all the threats in the world won’t stop you.”

A small, shrill voice wafted into the dark room from next door. “Will you two quit arguing and go to sleep? I need to get my rest.”

“Yes, Mother dear,” Pepper called out.

After several moments of silence, Pepper spoke in almost a whi
sper. “What are you thinking about?”

“You’re right about me. That’s the way I used to be. Pi
gheaded beyond good sense.”

“Used to be?”

“I’m not goin’ after that Yellow Sash bunch. Lady, you are much more important.”

“I am?”

He reached under the thick covers and tucked his fingers in hers. “Yep. I’ll tell Savage in the mornin’. It’s probably doin’ him a favor anyway. Word gets out he’s stirrin’ up trouble on this side of the river, and the whole tribe will have the devil to pay.”

Pepper thought about rolling over to face Tap but di
smissed the idea for lack of strength. “Still, you did make a couple good points.”

“Oh?”

“If—
if
there was a way to eliminate the Yellow Sash gang, the Millers could settle down on their farm, the tribe could relax on the reservation, and life on the Slash-Bar-4 could find some sort of normal pattern.”

“You were right too. It’s not my business. They aren’t threatenin’ my family or my ranch. It’s a job for the sheriff or U.S. Marshal.”

“Of course,” she continued, “
they
aren’t going to do anything about it. One marshal isn’t goin’ to ride up there against twelve men. Besides, they think the Yellow Sash are scattered between the Yellowstone River and the Bighorn Mountains.”

“That’s true, but Dayton and that Yellow Sash bunch won’t attack us. He’s checked it out. He knows we’ve got too many guns. Besides, it would give away their position. I’ll just sit back and let the author
ities take care of it. That’s why I resigned as sheriff in Cheyenne. That’s why I left brand inspectin’. Someone else can take care of these kinds of things as well as I can. I can’t settle ever’ dispute and chase ever’
hombre malo
.”

Pepper wanted to grasp Tap with her left hand, but could only reach halfway across her stomach. She settled for ru
bbing her toes along his long-john-covered leg. “This isn’t just any dispute. The Millers are friends of ours, and it is on a neighbor's place. If we don’t do something, who will? Someone needs to stand up for what is right.”

Tap slipped his left hand behind Pepper’s neck and rubbed it with a strong, yet tender grip. “Darlin’, I think I’m too scared to go up there tomorrow.”

“Tap Andrews scared of twelve lawless men?”

“No, I’m not scared of them. I’m scared to leave you. What if you need me here? I can’t take that chance.”

“Let’s be honest. Let’s suppose I started labor tonight. What would you do to help me?”

“Eh, I’d run get Mrs. Miller.”

“Angelita can do that. Then what would you do?”

“I’d pace up and down out on the porch, I guess.”

“Mr. Renten can do that.”

“But what if there were complications? I could ride to town in the carriage and bring back a doc.”

“Selena can do that.”

He continued to rub her neck, “I could pray for you.”

Again Angelita’s voice floated in muted tones into the room. “This is the last time I’m telling you, if you don’t settle down, there will be no dessert tomorrow. I need my sleep. I have to teach school in the morning.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Tap called out.

“You can pray for me while you ride up to the Pothook-H,” Pepper whispered. “Besides, Lil’ Tap won’t be along for another couple of weeks.”

“How do you know that?”

“Because I told the Lord I just couldn’t take it anymore.”

“What did He tell you?”

“To stop complaining. Anyway, that’s my interpretation.”

“Let me get this straight. You pitched a fit about me wan
ting to go up there, and now you’re telling me to go?”

“Yes.”

“Why did you change your mind?”

“I didn’t. I thought you ought to go all along.”

“But—you said—”

“I needed to know you’d stay for me, Tap.” She began to sni
ffle. “I really, really needed to hear you say that. I can’t explain it.”

He stayed silent for a few moments.

“Are you mad at me?” she finally whispered.

“Nope. How can I get mad at the purdiest gal in Mo
ntana?”

“I like it when the lights are out,” she admitted.

“How come?”

“Because then I can pretend I’m thin again.”

“Yeah,” he laughed. “So can I.”

“Forget it, cowboy.”

“I guess it’s time for sleep?”

“We don’t want to keep the teacher awake any longer.”

A young voice rolled into the room. “Thank you.”

“Odessa, you’ve got five minutes to get dressed and be in the barn ready to go to work, or you’re fired. Do you hear me?” Tap hollered from the front porch of the cottage.

No answer.

He banged on the door with his clenched hand. “Lorenzo!”

Someone shuffled about inside the cabin. Finally the door swung open several inches. Selena’s coal-black hair billowed down to her waist over her shiny green satin robe. Her dark eyes sparkled. “Mr. Andrews, How nice to see you again.”

Tap tipped his hat. “Mrs. Odessa, I need to talk to Lorenzo. We’ve got a job to do up in the mountains, that is, if you can spare him.”

“My, that’s a different tone than the screaming on the porch a few minutes ago.”

“I need to get his attention.”

“Something must have worked. He’s been over in the barn since right before daybreak.”

“He has?”

“Didn’t you look there first?”

Tap looked down at his boots. “Eh, no, ma’am. I’m mighty sorry for roustin’ you out, Selena.”

She reached out and raised his chin until their eyes met. “Thanks again.”

“For what?"

“For saving me. You brought my Lorenzo to me and let us enjoy three days without interruption. Tell Pepper I’d like to call for a visit after a while.”

Tap stepped back off the porch. “I’ll tell her. But, eh, don’t wear anything that makes you look too skinny. She’s gettin’ mighty ca
ntankerous about such things.”

Tap noticed another lodge pitched in the pasture next to Jesse Savage’s.
How do they do that? They move a whole family in and set up camp, and I don’t hear a thing?

When he reached the barn, Howdy was gathering up dishes from Jackson and Bean. Angelita was brushing down Queenie. Lorenzo Odessa was cinching the saddle of his red roan gel
ding.

“Look alive, boys. Here comes the old man,” Lorenzo teased.

“Old man? You’re four months older than me, and you know it.”

“Now, now, you’re the old man around here. Isn’t that right, Howdy?”

“Yep. Them’s the rules. The one who lives in the big house and runs the place is the old man, no matter what his age.”

Tap slapped Lorenzo on the back. “Speakin’ of old men, you don’t look any worse for wear. I presume married life is suitin’ you fine.”

“What I can’t figure is why in the world didn’t you and me get married and settle down years ago?”

“We hadn’t met the right ladies.”

Lorenzo led his horse to the front of the barn and tied him to an iron ring. “Howdy says we have a few horse thieves to round up today. How many?”

“Just a dozen or so back-shooters, sneak thieves, bank ro
bbers, and murderers.”

Lorenzo winked at Angelita. “That won’t take us all day.”

“Two days. It takes a good eight hours to reach ’em.”

“How many ridin’ with us?”

“Two Indians.”

“Can they fight?”

“They’re friends with Wade Eagleman.”

“So we got you, me, and two combative Indians goin’ against twelve cutthroats. That don’t hardly seem fair, does it?”

“No. I suppose one of us should stay at home.”

“If you’re lookin’ for a volunteer .
 . . ”

“Oh, no. I promised Selena I’d haul you out of here for a co
uple of days. She said she needed to clean the cottage and make sure the sun still comes up ever’ day.”

Lorenzo pushed his hat back and scratched his neck. “She’s right.”

“Besides, these might be the boys that shot at you up on Cedar Mesa. How’s your leg doing?”

“It hasn’t bothered me for three, four days.”

“That’s because you haven’t walked ten steps in that time.”

“It’s okay horseback anyway. When are we leavin’?”

“Have you had breakfast?”

“Yep. That Howdy Renten is the best cook north of De
nver.”

Tap glanced over at Lorenzo.

“He’s got to say that.” Howdy spat tobacco to the dirt floor of the barn. “It’s the rules. Never complain about the cook unless you want to run off to the privy sixteen times a day.”

“Hey,” Bean called out, “you can’t just leave us here.”

“I’ll take you to Billings when I get a chance,” Tap assured him. “They’ll probably lynch you when you get to town, so just enjoy yourself.”

“I’m gettin’ tired of being chained up to Jackson. He needs a bath. He stinks.”

“You ain’t no rose,” Jackson retorted. “I’m goin’ to kill you, Andrews. I’ll get loose, and I’ll kill you.”

Lorenzo strolled over to Bean and Jackson. “You know what I was thinkin’, Tap? We ought to give these two old boys to the Ind
ians. Just think of all the fun they could have usin’ ’em for target practice.”

“You cain’t do that,” Bean protested. “It ain’t—it ain’t—”

“It ain’t what?” Tap asked.

“It ain’t Christian.”

“Then we’ll turn you over to Christian Indians,” Lorenzo said.

Tap saddled up Roundhouse and led him out of the barn. Lorenzo followed with his horse. Handing the reins to Odessa, Tap stepped back into the barn. “Howdy, you look after things. If the sheriff shows up, give him Jackson and Bean.”

“That posse might hang us without no trial,” Bean hollered across the barn.

“A man ought to think about that before he sets out to rob a bank, shouldn’t he?” Tap exhorted. Then he turned to A
ngelita. “Lil’ darlin’, you leave them ponies alone today. You’re about to brush all the hair clean off them. Stick real close to Mama. She’s goin’ to need you.”

“I will.” Angelita patted the colt on the head. “And if you happen to see Peter Miller, be sure and tell him .
 . .”

“Tell him what?” Tap asked.

“He’s already missed three days of school.”

With grub sacks and bedrolls fastened behind their ca
ntles, Tap and Lorenzo rode out of the yard and around to the Indian lodges. Jesse Savage met them, leading a saddled buckskin stallion.

Savage tipped his flat-crowned, wide-brimmed hat and leaped to the saddle without putting a foot in the stirrup. Pla
cing two fingers in his mouth, he let out a shrill whistle. “My brother is slow to get around. He just took a wife.”

Tap glanced over at Lorenzo and shook his head.

Soon a short, muscular Indian strode out of the second tepee. He wore a long, black frock coat over his buckskins. A silk top hat was cocked on his head, an eagle feather flagged straight up out of the hatband. He mounted his saddled pony on the off side with a leap.

“This is my brother, General Sheridan,” Savage a
nnounced.