Read Online Troubled range by John Thomas Edson - Free Book Online
Authors: John Thomas Edson
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she asked.
"You did," Mark grinned.
"I mean first."
"Calamity Jane."
A smile flickered across Belle's lips as she studied his face, then died off again and a frown creased her brow.
"You're funning me," she said, then shook her head. "No, you're not. Did Calamity Jane do that to you?"
"Why sure. She's quite a gal," Mark answered. "Came through yesterday and she'll likely be back tonight."
"Will she?" Belle sniffed.
There Belle let the matter drop. Her attitude showed that she did not intend to discuss the matter of Calamity Jane further. Yet Mark's instincts warned him he had better try to keep Calamity Jane and Belle Starr well separated that night.
Belle continued to talk about various things and drive the buggy. Both she and Mark kept alert for signs of the three men, but saw none. Either the trio had decided to call the game off when they saw Belle's escort, or they were lying low and waiting until conditions favoured them. Whatever the reason, Belle and Mark saw no sign of the men and reached Elkhorn without any incident.
In town Mark saw something. Calamity Jane's wagon stood behind Larkin's livery barn and her team horses in Larkin's corral. Hoping he would not come across Calamity in the street and while escorting Belle, Mark headed for the hotel.
"I'll expect to see you tonight," Belle told Mark as they stood in the passage of the hotel's upper floor. "You can bring a friend, if you like."
Reading the challenge in Belle's voice, Mark groaned silently. From the way Belle looked, and what he had seen of Calamity Jane, Mark guessed one thing. Happen they got together, it wouldn't be bulls locking horns that Marshal Joel Stocker had to worry about.
"I'll see you," he promised.
"Make sure you do," Belle purred. "I'd hate to have to come looking for you-all, Mark honey."
Kissing him lightly on the cheek, Belle turned and walked towards her room. Mark watched her go and grinned as he went along the passage to his. Maybe Calamity would not find him. She might even have found herself another feller by this time.
Just as he unlocked the door, Mark heard a faint scuffling noise in his room. Almost without thinking about it, his right hand dipped and lifted his Colt from leather. Gripping the door knob, Mark pushed hard. The door swung inwards and thudded into something which gave a startled gasp. Mark had been right, he did have an unexpected visitor inside.
Stepping into the room fast, Mark thrust the door closed behind him and lined his gun—on Calamity Jane.
The girl stood with her back to the wall, a look of amazement and fury on her face as she put a hand to her nose. However her eyes dropped to the barrel of the Colt lined on her and the anger left her face.
"Easy there, Mark!" she gasped. "I forgot what you come up here to collect."
"Huh?"
"That money. I should have known better than fool around like this when you're carrying it."
Now Mark understood. Calamity put his reaction down to his expecting trouble, or at least being prepared for trouble, while carrying the money he collected from Gamble. He did not disillusion her, figuring the later she learned about Belle Starr the better for all concerned.
Even as he holstered his Colt, Mark found Calamity close to him, her arms around his neck and her mouth crushing against his. She moved back a shade after the kiss, cocked her head on one side and grinned at him.
"Boy, I sure put my brand on you. Right under your right—Hey! That's not on the right side! Mark Counter, what've you been doing?"
"Would you believe me happen I told you I cut myself shaving?"
"Nope," she snorted.
"Now what do you reckon I've been doing, Calam?" he went on.
"I just wouldn't want to guess."
There did not seem to be any point in standing talking. So Mark did the next best thing. He scooped Calamity into his arms and kissed her. While it had nothing to do with the subject under discussion, it sure ended Calamity's curiosity faster than a whole heap of lip-flapping
"You did," Mark grinned.
"I mean first."
"Calamity Jane."
A smile flickered across Belle's lips as she studied his face, then died off again and a frown creased her brow.
"You're funning me," she said, then shook her head. "No, you're not. Did Calamity Jane do that to you?"
"Why sure. She's quite a gal," Mark answered. "Came through yesterday and she'll likely be back tonight."
"Will she?" Belle sniffed.
There Belle let the matter drop. Her attitude showed that she did not intend to discuss the matter of Calamity Jane further. Yet Mark's instincts warned him he had better try to keep Calamity Jane and Belle Starr well separated that night.
Belle continued to talk about various things and drive the buggy. Both she and Mark kept alert for signs of the three men, but saw none. Either the trio had decided to call the game off when they saw Belle's escort, or they were lying low and waiting until conditions favoured them. Whatever the reason, Belle and Mark saw no sign of the men and reached Elkhorn without any incident.
In town Mark saw something. Calamity Jane's wagon stood behind Larkin's livery barn and her team horses in Larkin's corral. Hoping he would not come across Calamity in the street and while escorting Belle, Mark headed for the hotel.
"I'll expect to see you tonight," Belle told Mark as they stood in the passage of the hotel's upper floor. "You can bring a friend, if you like."
Reading the challenge in Belle's voice, Mark groaned silently. From the way Belle looked, and what he had seen of Calamity Jane, Mark guessed one thing. Happen they got together, it wouldn't be bulls locking horns that Marshal Joel Stocker had to worry about.
"I'll see you," he promised.
"Make sure you do," Belle purred. "I'd hate to have to come looking for you-all, Mark honey."
Kissing him lightly on the cheek, Belle turned and walked towards her room. Mark watched her go and grinned as he went along the passage to his. Maybe Calamity would not find him. She might even have found herself another feller by this time.
Just as he unlocked the door, Mark heard a faint scuffling noise in his room. Almost without thinking about it, his right hand dipped and lifted his Colt from leather. Gripping the door knob, Mark pushed hard. The door swung inwards and thudded into something which gave a startled gasp. Mark had been right, he did have an unexpected visitor inside.
Stepping into the room fast, Mark thrust the door closed behind him and lined his gun—on Calamity Jane.
The girl stood with her back to the wall, a look of amazement and fury on her face as she put a hand to her nose. However her eyes dropped to the barrel of the Colt lined on her and the anger left her face.
"Easy there, Mark!" she gasped. "I forgot what you come up here to collect."
"Huh?"
"That money. I should have known better than fool around like this when you're carrying it."
Now Mark understood. Calamity put his reaction down to his expecting trouble, or at least being prepared for trouble, while carrying the money he collected from Gamble. He did not disillusion her, figuring the later she learned about Belle Starr the better for all concerned.
Even as he holstered his Colt, Mark found Calamity close to him, her arms around his neck and her mouth crushing against his. She moved back a shade after the kiss, cocked her head on one side and grinned at him.
"Boy, I sure put my brand on you. Right under your right—Hey! That's not on the right side! Mark Counter, what've you been doing?"
"Would you believe me happen I told you I cut myself shaving?"
"Nope," she snorted.
"Now what do you reckon I've been doing, Calam?" he went on.
"I just wouldn't want to guess."
There did not seem to be any point in standing talking. So Mark did the next best thing. He scooped Calamity into his arms and kissed her. While it had nothing to do with the subject under discussion, it sure ended Calamity's curiosity faster than a whole heap of lip-flapping
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