Range War (9781101559215) Read Free Page B

to help us.”
    â€œHelp you how?”
    â€œGo to these cowboys. Talk to them on our behalf. Plead with them to take their cows and go before more lives are lost.”
    â€œI doubt they’d listen.”
    â€œYou are a gringo, as they are.”
    Fargo laughed. “That doesn’t count for much. If I was one of them, if I was a cowboy, it might. But to them I’m as much an outsider as you are.” He shook his head. “It wouldn’t do any good.”
    Just then there was a knock on the door and in came Delicia. She stopped and put her hands on her hips and glared at Fargo.
    â€œWhat do you want, granddaughter?” Porfiro asked.
    â€œGranddaughter?” Fargo said.
    â€œWe are all of us related in one manner or another,” Porfiro said.
    Delicia tapped a foot. “I want to know what he has been telling you. You are too trusting, grandfather. We should have done as Carlos wanted and slit his throat.”
    â€œI love you, too,” Fargo said, and winked.
    A red flush spread from Delicia’s neckline to her hairline. “You are not nearly as funny as you think you are.”
    â€œFor your information,” Porfiro said, “I have asked him to go to the cowboys on our behalf and ask them to leave our valley.”
    â€œYou did what?”
    â€œHe declined.”
    â€œOf course he did,” Delicia said. “What does he care if we live or die? He is no better than they are. If we were not in your wagon I would spit on him.”
    â€œThere are better ways of swapping spit,” Fargo said.
    Delicia balled her small fists. “I think I am beginning to hate you.”
    â€œI want to make love to you, too,” Fargo said.
    She took a step and hissed through clenched teeth. “You are the most aggravating man I have ever met.”
    Fargo winked again. “That’s why you want me.”
    Porfiro snorted.
    â€œDon’t encourage him,” Delicia said. “He is playing with us. He doesn’t know how to be serious.”
    â€œTell you what,” Fargo said, grinning. “I’ll go talk to them for ten kisses.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œI’ll talk to these cowboys and after I get back you give me ten kisses.”
    â€œ Estas loco , gringo,” Delicia said. “You’re crazy. I will do no such thing.”
    â€œAfraid you’d like it too much?”
    She became even redder. “Grandfather, how can you sit there and let him talk to me like this?”
    â€œYou are a grown woman. Fight your own fights,” Porfiro said.
    Fargo stood. “That’s all right. I figured she wouldn’t go for it. She must not care for her people as much as she claims.”
    â€œHow dare you?” Delicia said, and poised to throw herself at him. But she must have changed her mind because she straightened and said, “Very well. Go talk to them for us. And when you get back, you shall have your ten kisses.”
    â€œBetter practice your puckering,” Fargo said.

5
    Hermanos Valley wound like a snake. Here and there fingers of forest and rocky spines thrust from either side so that at most only a quarter-mile stretch was visible at any one time.
    Fargo rode at a walk. The day was bright and warm. For the first few miles he’d passed hundreds of sheep. After that there was only grass until he came on a few cattle and after that a few more. He was surprised not to find any cowboys.
    Porfiro had been right; their camp was at the south end of the valley. Eight of them were sitting around a fire drinking coffee and talking and laughing. They didn’t spot him until he was well around the last bend. Jumping up, they came to meet him, some with their hands on their six-shooters.
    â€œHell, he ain’t one of them,” the youngest cowboy declared. “They don’t wear buckskins, and he ain’t Spanish.”
    A tall man in chaps with a scar on his left cheek took a few steps in front