Read Online The Range Wolf by Andrew J. Fenady - Free Book Online Page A

remarks.”
    â€œYou’re right, of course, and I apologize.”
    â€œMore’n seventeen hands high. Powerful as a locomotive. And never bestrided by anyone else. The horse, I mean.”
    â€œI can believe that. Would you like me to fix a plate and coffee for you to take over to him? Mr. Riker, I mean.”
    â€œI don’t fetch for Mr. Riker and he don’t fetch for me.”
    â€œHow far back do you go with Mr. Riker?”
    â€œMaybe I’ll tell you sometime. But that ain’t as pertinent as how far ahead we got to go.”
    â€œâ€˜And of all best things upon earth, I hold that a faithful friend is the best.’”
    â€œIs that your opinion, Mr. Guthrie?”
    â€œA poet’s opinion, Mr. Pepper. But I’d wager it’s yours, too.”
    â€œWhat’re you two palaverin’ about?” came Cookie’s voice.
    â€œSomething you wouldn’t understand,” I replied.
    Pepper smiled, took his plate and cup of coffee, and hobbled away.
    George Leach, the “prison graduate” as Wolf Riker had termed him, elbowed his way in front of the drover who stood in front of Cookie’s line.
    â€œCome on, Cookie, goddamn it, I’m in a hurry.” Leach growled.
    â€œYou can hurry to the back of the line, you bastard. First come first served.”
    â€œBut I got to ride all the way back to the rear of the herd and . . .”
    â€œYou can ride all the way back to the rear of hell, far as I give a damn. It’s first come first served.”
    George Leach was not an overly large man, with a pinched face, black olive pits for eyes, and short cropped hair I’d guess he cropped himself. And it was obvious he had a short cropped disposition.
    But so did Cookie.
    â€œYou get to the back”—Cookie brandished his knife and pointed it close to Leach’s throat—“or you’ll lose your Adam’s apple!”
    â€œHere, Leach,” the one called Dogbreath, who had just received his breakfast from Cookie, shoved his plate and cup into Leach’s hands. “Take mine. I ain’t in no hurry.”
    There was a dark pause.
    Then Leach took a step back, holding on to Dogbreath’s offering, and snarled at Cookie.
    â€œYou ain’t heard the last o’ this!”
    â€œThen I’ll keep listenin’ . . . with this.”
    Cookie thrust the knife blade into the table as Leach strutted away.
    â€œYou want me to go to the back of the line?” Dogbreath asked.
    â€œJust shut up, you asshole.”
    It seemed the crisis had passed . . . at least for the time being.
    However, I noticed that the confrontation had not escaped the notice of Mr. Riker and Mr. Pepper, who stood not far away.
    After Cookie and I finished the breakfast chores, and before we boarded the kitchen wagon to head north ahead of the herd in preparation for the noon meal, I managed to pay another visit to Dr. Picard and his patient.
    â€œI see you’ve had a change of wardrobe,” he noted.
    â€œYes, thanks to Alan Reese. I brought you some breakfast, doctor.” I set the tray on the table. “Is there any change in . . . the patient?”
    â€œNot noticeable, Mr. Guthrie, not noticeable. I wish I could be more encouraging, but your fiancée has lost a lot of blood. She’s weak. It could still go either way. But I’m doing all I can.”
    â€œI know that, doctor . . . and appreciate it.”
    â€œThank you, Mr. Guthrie. I haven’t received much appreciation . . . lately. Not that I deserved it.”
    â€œYou deserve it now. Even Wolf Riker would have to concede that.”
    â€œWolf Riker has never conceded anything. Not even the loss of the Confederacy.”
    â€œI notice he still wears his Confederate belt buckle.
    â€œOh, yes. And he still has his sword. His unsurrendered sword.”
    â€œThat scar on his forehead. From the war?”
    â€œFrom before the war. A different