Close Call Read online

  Logan released the man, and stood menacingly nearby. Lassiter moistening his lips and took a sharp breath. There was a coldness inside him as he digested Clark’s words.

  “How come my brother Frank is mixed up in this?” he asked in harsh tones.

  “Frank wanted to put a stop to your helling around, Dane. He asked me in the first place to try and knock some sense into you.”

  Charlie Logan chuckled harshly, and Lassiter smiled thinly.

  “Okay, so laugh, but I’m giving it to you straight. Your Pa was suffering because of the way you were helling around, Dane. He wanted you stopped before something bad happened. I didn’t figure I could take care of you, but I told Frank I’d do what I could to help. I ran around with an open mind for a few days, and finally settled on Buck Beutel to help. When I put it to him he said he’d try and draw you out, then put a bullet through you to slow you down. That was the way it was left. Beutel figured he was faster on the draw than you. Well you know how that turned out.”

  “Even if this is true, why was it hushed up afterwards?” Logan asked angrily. “Why was Dane saddled with a murder rap? You’ve been saying you didn’t see what happened, but now you’ve giving it to us that you knew beforehand what was due to come off. How much did Beutel want for taking such a chance?”

  “Five hundred dollars!”

  “Did he collect before the shooting?” Lassiter asked thinly.

  “Yeah. He got the dough, but he didn’t live long enough to spend it.”

  “What do you make of that, Dane?” Logan demanded harshly. “I never figured Frank for that kind of man.”

  “I’ve told you the truth,” Clark insisted. “You check this out with Frank. He’ll admit it if he knows you got the word on it.”

  “What happened after I was tagged for a murderer?” Lassiter demanded. “How come Frank let me ride off with that on my tail? I can accept that he might have been desperate to try such a thing with Beutel to clip my wings, but he wouldn’t let me carry a rap like murder.”

  “It didn’t rest there.” Clark shook his head slowly. “Listen, we had trouble with Buck Milton. He got hold of two different stories soon as the word went out. You weren’t supposed to have killed Beutel, Dane. He was supposed to have ventilated you a little, and when it didn’t work out that way there was confusion. I had my story ready for the law, but I was shook up by what happened, and I didn’t give it straight. Milton soon got down to the bones of it, and from then on he blackmailed Frank. He hit on the idea of milking Cross L for all he could get. Frank started paying up to keep it quiet, and as soon as Milton had him under his thumb he put on a bigger bite. Milton plans to take over Cross L eventually, Dane, and that’s why the posses are out to get you, dead or alive.”

  Shirlton was cursing softly, and Logan turned and strode away through the trees, turning to come back, so shocked that he could scarcely contain himself.

  “What about my father, Yancey?” Lassiter asked in cold, trembling tones. “There was a note left with his body saying he was killed in revenge for Beutel’s death.”

  “I don’t know about that, Dane. It shook me up when I heard about it. But if someone is planning to get hold of your spread then there’s no two ways about it. Your family have got to go! They ran you out, and there was no sweat about you coming back. It was planned that if you showed up at all you’d be shot before anyone could talk to you. They could work that easily enough, saying they got you resisting arrest.”

  “And Frank and Mary?” Lassiter persisted.

  “I don’t know. One after the other, I guess. But Hank Boswell is kind of sweet on Mary. I got the idea he figured he had a chance with her, after Frank was dead.”

  “And where do you fit into this, Yancey?” Charlie Logan demanded fiercely. “How did you learn about all this?”

  Clark did not answer, and Logan closed on him again, seizing hold of him.

  “Let’s have the truth, Yancey,” he warned. “You’re in on this, huh?”

  “I was, but it got too strong for me, and I dropped out.”

  “They wouldn’t let you out after learning so much,” Pete Shirlton put in.

  “Milton’s got enough on me to put me away if I talked. That’s why you’ve got to look out for me now.”

  Charlie Logan sighed heavily and released the man, and Lassiter narrowed his eyes, trying to piece together what they had heard. He figured some of it was true in the least, and probably Yancey had told them everything.

  “What about Frank?” Shirlton demanded. “How does he come out of this?”

  “He didn’t have anything to do with what happened later,” Clark said through his teeth. He was becoming reluctant to talk, afraid of what he had started. “When your Pa was killed he threatened to bring into the open what he knew about Beutel’s death, but they put him off, saying it was one of Beutel’s friends who had believed the murder story who got your father.”

  “But who killed him?” Lassiter asked in dangerously calm tones.

  “I got no idea. Milton is running things. He fired the regular deputies and took on Boswell, who’s in this with him. I don’t see what you can do about this, Dane. They’re the law, and you can’t go against them. They got you on a murder rap, and any man in the county can shoot you on sight. Don’t think there won’t be anyone out trying to earn that five hundred bucks! They’ll all be trying to draw a bead on you.”

  “What do we do?” Shirlton demanded. “We can’t buck the law. Milton’s even got warrants out for me and Charlie. Everyone will be against us. We’ve got to play this one close to the vest, Dane.”

  “I don’t want to be left alone,” Clark said worriedly. “I’ll do anything you say, Dane, but you got to make sure the law won’t get at me.”

  “There’s only one thing to do,” Lassiter said through clenched teeth. “The Judge has got to hear this story from Yancey.”

  “I’m not talking to the Judge,” Clark rasped.

  “You’ll do like you’re told, and no arguments,” Charlie Logan told him. “It’s the safest and the quickest way out for you, Yancey, and don’t forget it. If you don’t string along with us then you can bet that Milton will hear all about this statement you made to us.”

  “Will you two take him into town and contact the Judge?” Lassiter asked.

  “What are you planning?” Logan retorted.

  “I figure to go on to Cross L and have a talk with Frank. I want to hear how he answers this charge Yancey’s made.”

  “It might be dangerous, Dane. Milton is sure to have a couple of men watching Cross L in case you show up there. He’s keen to nail you now.”

  “I’m not worried about myself, but I sure want the Judge to hear Yancey’s story. You figure you two can get him into town safely?”

  “We can,” Logan retorted. “You gonna ride along with us in a friendly manner, Yancey?”

  “I got no choice,” Clark replied dully. “I got to stick with you.”

  “Mebbe I should ride with you, Dane,” Shirlton said. “I reckon Charlie can handle Clark.”

  “I’d rather the two of you stick together,” Lassiter replied. “I got the feeling that there’s gonna be a lot of serious trouble around me before this is settled, and I don’t want either of you getting hurt on my account.”

  “We’re Cross L riders, and this is Cross L business,” Logan retorted. “Ain’t that good enough for you, Dane? A cowboy is a loyal kind of a cuss. He’s always fought for the brand that hires him, come hell or high water. So let’s hear no more about it, huh?”

  “Okay, but it’s important that Yancey tells the Judge what he’s told us. It’ll clear me and put the noose around the necks of the men who deserve it. I shan’t take any chances. But I’ve got to talk to Frank before anyone else learns of what’s been happening around here.”

  “Sure thing. You light out for the home spread then, and we’ll mosey into town. I reckon you’ll be coming on there afterwards, huh?” Clark spoke confidently, and Lass
iter stared at the man’s shadowed face, wondering at the sudden change. “I feel a lot happier now than I’ve been for a long time,” Clark went on. “With you three around, I reckon Milton has come to the end of his rope.”

  Lassiter nodded and they separated and went to their horses. Lassiter stood and watched the trio ride off, and he was faintly uneasy as he watched them disappear into the night. He stood for some moments, considering what he had learned, and then he suppressed a sigh and swung into his saddle. He turned the head of his mount towards Cross L and rode hard through the darkness, not sparing himself or the horse.

  It took him three hours to get within striking distance of the ranch, and the night was dark and silent around him. He slowed to a walk a long way out, and dismounted a couple of hundred yards from the yard, leaving the bay in cover. There was no sign of life anywhere, no lights, and only the wind moaned and sighed around him as he started forward, his hand on the butt of his gun. He took his time, patient now, intent upon getting to the house without arousing the suspicion of anyone who might be watching.

  He felt a cold shudder go through his mind as he glanced to the right and caught the outline of the hill where his parents lay buried, and his teeth clicked together and he clenched his hands in suppressed fury when he thought of all the double dealing and misery that had erupted from that night he’d killed Buck Beutel. Clark’s shocking narrative was still running through his mind, and he could hardly believe what had been said about his brother. He tried to make excuses for Frank, but in the depths of his mind he knew there could be no extenuating circumstances.

  He flattened himself at the perimeter of the yard and lay for long minutes, peering around, listening and staring into the shadows. He guessed that the first thing the sheriff would have done on learning of his return was send a couple of men to watch this place. But he didn’t care. He had no intention of being taken. If the local law had hoodwinked the honest folk then they would have to bear the responsibility of the situation, not Dane Lassiter!

  When he was satisfied that he was unobserved, he began to crawl across the yard, and he gained the porch without trouble. But he figured he could be walking into trouble by sneaking in on his brother. Frank was likely to start shooting at suspicious shadows around the house.

  He crouched and waited, but knew that he had to do something. He couldn’t stick this out until dawn. He wanted to get on back to town to ensure that the Judge got the full story from Yancey Clark. Once that was done he would be rid of his murder tag, and the law, the real law, would seek to set this unfortunate situation to rights.

  The wind stung his eyes as he peered around, and he lay completely masked by the dense shadows. He had no idea of the time, but knew it was well past midnight. He fancied he saw the first signs of dawn in the sky over to the east, and reckoned that in another hour or so, Frank would be getting up to start his morning chores. But he didn’t want to wait even for an hour.

  He left the porch and moved back across the yard until he could stare at the front of the house. He figured Frank was still using the same bedroom, and eased around to the side of the house, taking up a handful of dirt and throwing it at the window of his brother’s room. He repeated the procedure several times before he heard a faint squeaking sound and knew a window had been opened. He waited in tense silence, and a moment later Frank’s harsh voice sounded in a hoarse whisper.

  “It’s Dane, I’ve got to talk to you.” Lassiter kept his voice as low as possible. “Better come on out of the house in case it’s being watched.”

  “I’ll be right down. Wait beside the well!” The window squeaked shut again, and Dane breathed heavily and moved away, checking his surroundings as he moved, and his right hand was clenched around the butt of his Colt .45.

  Frank was so quiet in his approach that Lassiter almost missed his brother’s movements, but Frank appeared at his side and squatted beside the well.

  “What the hell are you doing around here, Dane? I told you to stay away.”

  “Frank, I’ve been talking with Yancey Clark. How come you trusted him in the first place? You know he ain’t the kind of man to stand up under pressure.”

  “What in hell are you talking about? Have you been drinking? Where are Pete and Charlie?”

  “They rode into Pommel with Clark. They’re gonna talk to the Judge. The game is up, Frank. You’re gonna have a lot of explaining to do.”

  “You must be loco!” his brother retorted. “I got no idea what you’re talking about. I never had any dealings with Yancey Clark. I wouldn’t trust him as far as I could throw him. Whatever he’s told you about me then he was lying!”

  “I didn’t expect you would admit it,” Lassiter said through his teeth. “It ain’t every man who could admit he tried to get someone to shoot his own brother!” There was bitterness in his flat tones.

  Frank dropped his rifle and seized hold of Dane’s shoulders.

  “What’s that you said?” he demanded.

  “I don’t have to repeat it! You know full well what happened. If you hadn’t set Beutel on to me to shoot me I wouldn’t have killed him.”

  “Is that what Yancey Clark told you?” Frank demanded fiercely.

  “That’s it, as far as it concerns me. But the sheriff has been blackmailing you ever since, and you must have known one of that bunch killed Pa!”

  “Dane, I swear to you I don’t know a damn thing about this!” Frank declared. “What kind of a man do you think I am? You think I would set a killer on to you?”

  “Not to kill me — to wound me, to try and shoot some sense into me. I know you never cottoned to my wild ways, Frank, and it’s just the thing you might have done in an attempt to quieten me down!”

  “You fool!” Frank started to his feet, taking up his rifle, and Dane arose and faced him. “I don’t know why they told you this, but none of it is true. If you figure I’d get someone to shoot you, for any reason, then you can mount up and get to hell out of here. And why should the sheriff blackmail me? I never did anything against the law.”

  Lassiter was staring into the pale oval of his brother’s face, and his mind was in turmoil. Everything that Clark had said was churning around in his brain. It had seemed the truth. He’d no reason to doubt Clark. The man had been scared. But if he had lied, then why?

  “You figure I’d stand by and let someone kill Pa?” Frank went on in rising tones. “Damn you, Dane. I stuck by this spread when you went off on your helling, and I was still here when you had to run, branded a murderer. I don’t know why Clark gave you that story, but I’m sure as hell gonna find out, and you better come with me.”

  “Clark’s gone into town with Pete and Charlie,” Lassiter said. “I saw the Judge tonight. That’s why I went for Clark. The Judge believes I didn’t draw first against Beutel, and he’s trying to get evidence. I knew someone put Beutel up to nail me, and when Clark said it was you it seemed to fit. But if he was lying then what was the reason behind it?”

  “To get you to come here, maybe! Or to split you up from Pete and Charlie!” There was sudden concern in Frank’s voice. “Looks like you walked into a load of trouble, Dane.”

  Before Dane could make any kind of a reply, a gun flash split the darkness near the barn, and the sharp boom of a sixgun blasted the silence. The slug whined past Frank’s head, and he uttered a yell and dropped to the ground, dragging Dane with him. The next instant a whole string of shots erupted from at least four different points around the yard, and lead came screeching in at the well, like fiery spokes slotting into a hub.

  Dane set his teeth as he peered around, gauging the opposition. So this was it! Clark had lied to get him into a trap. Whoever was behind the trouble hereabouts must have contacted Clark before Lassiter had the chance to get him. A coldness speared through Lassiter as he thought of Pete and Charlie riding towards Pommel with Clark. He closed his eyes for a moment as he tried to prevent his fears overwhelming his mind, and it was like living a nightmare, huddling under the rap
id fire striking at them.

  Frank put his mouth close to Dane’s ear and shouted to make himself heard.

  “This is what it’s all about, Dane. They talked you into a trap.”

  “Get shooting then,” Dane retorted. “Pour it into them.”

  “It’ll be the law! I can’t shoot it out with the sheriff!”

  “I’ve got to. I ain’t an outlaw, Frank. I never murdered Beutel. So I’ve got to fight to clear my name.”

  But the shooting began to dwindle away, and Lassiter raised himself cautiously to look around. The next moment a harsh voice yelled across the yard, and it took him a moment to recognise it as the sheriff’s.

  “You Lassiters better come out with your hands up,” Buck Milton yelled. “I got the place surrounded.”

  Dane tensed himself to reply, but Frank put out a restraining hand.

  “What the hell are you playing at, Sheriff?” Frank replied. “Dane ain’t here. How come you opened up at me without warning? What kind of law is that?”

  “Your brother is a mighty dangerous man. We’ve got to get him dead or alive.”

  “Well you ain’t gonna try and take him alive, that’s for sure,” Frank yelled. “I’m telling you he ain’t here! Now get out of here and come back in the morning if you want to talk to me.”

  “We ain’t pulling out. I know Dane is there and I want him. If you give me any trouble then you’ll get it as well.”

  “They mean to kill you and Mary as well,” Dane said in a harsh whisper as Frank dropped beside him again. “That’s what Clark told me. I guess he lied about you being mixed up in this, but he told part of the truth to hook me. I’m worried about Pete and Charlie, Frank. They rode towards town with Clark. They could be in real trouble.”

  “I’m inclined to believe you now, seeing that the sheriff opened up on us without warning. That ain’t the way a lawman should act. What do you reckon we ought to do, Dane?”

  “If I slip away from here and you let them search the place it might be something,” Dane said. “They’d have nothing on you. But I’m afraid they might shoot you once they get in here.”