Read Online the Strong Shall Live (Ss) (1980) by Louis L'amour - Free Book Online

Putting his fists in front of him in an awkward simulation of a boxer, he moved in. Merrano moved to the side and Taylor caught him on the cheekbone with a clumsy swing, but Merrano stood his ground and struck three hard, fast blows to the body, then an uppercut thrown in close that tipped Taylor's chin back.
    Taylor bored in, swinging wildly. Another punch caught Barry but again he failed to step back and, moving in, sank a wicked right into Taylor's belly and hooked a left to his face.
    Taylor turned, Barry feinted a left and Taylor pawed at the air to knock the punch down, but the feint was followed by a stiff left, then another and another. Taylor was big, but lacked any semblance of fighting skill. He came in, legs spread wide, swinging. Barry hit him with a left, then knocked him down with a right. Taylor got up slowly and Barry knocked him down again.
    Taylor got to his knees but was unable to get to his feet. "I'm sorry, Taylor, but you asked for it You're a game man, but you're no fighter."
    Taylor made it to his feet, weaving. Barry thrust out a hand. "As far as I'm concerned, there's no hard feelings. Will you shake?"
    Price Taylor ignored the out-thrust hand.
    Barry swung to the saddle. "I'm sorry, Candy. I didn't want this to happen."
    "You'd better go," she replied coldly.
    He swung his horse and rode away, cutting across the plains, gray and empty under a wide White moon.
    Taylor wiped his face. "You must think I'm an awful bust, gettin' whipped that way."
    Candy shook her head soberly. "No, Price, I don't, but I think we've all made an awful mistake!"
    Taylor grunted. "Looks like I made one, anyway."
    When she opened the door into the wide living room of the ranch house Candy was surprised to find five or six men talking with her father. Jim Hill was there, and Joe Stangle. Also there were Cab Casady, Rock Dulin, Vinnie Lake, Hardy Benson and a big, powerful man whom she did not know.
    "We've got to figure out something or we're finished," Benson was saying. "My cattle are dying like flies!"
    "Mine, too," Stangle said, "water holes are dry, and there's no grass."
    "If you ask me," Dulin commented, "it ain't only the drouth. There's been some ruslin'."
    "There's been no rustling in this country since we got rid of Bert Scovey and his outfit."
    "That greaser always has money," Stangle said. "Where's he get it?"
    "If you could see that Basin Ranch of his," Candy interrupted, "you wouldn't wonder. You should all have listened to him a long time ago."
    Her father looked up sharply. "Candy? What makes you say that? When did you see it?"
    "Today," she replied calmly. "He invited me to see it and I did."
    "You went into the basin with that low-down Mex?"
    "Hold on a minute, Tom!" Stangle lifted a hand. "You mean he's got grass?"
    "Yes, he has!" Candy was pleased with the effect of her words. "The whole basin is green and beautiful! He's got water, and lots of it. He's dammed some of the draws, he's dug out some pools, and he has a lot of water. He's even got a grain crop!"
    "Grain?" Hill exclaimed. "You mean he's farmin'?"
    "Not farming, just raising enough for his ownstock. He told me he fed during the winter or just before taking them to market."
    "You actually saw water and grass?" Hill asked. "He's done nothing you all couldn't have done, and he's done it all in four years! Certainly, I saw it!"
    "You takin' up for him now?" Dulin asked. "No! I am just telling you he's proved his case. He was right, and you all were wrong."
    Stangle leaned forward, intent. "Where'd you say that water was? In Cottonwood Draw?"
    "He's dammed both Cottonwood and Spring Valley. He's planted seedling trees around them to hold the banks and help conserve moisture."
    "Well!" Stangle slapped his thigh. "That's it, men! That settles our problem!"
    "What do you mean?" Drake looked up hopefully.
    "He's got water. Why don't we just take down The Fence and drive our cattle in there? That sneakin' Mexican's got no right to all that water when