lla.theburninghills-第13节

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　Stillness　。。。　a　pinnacle　of　rock　pointed　a　beckoning　finger　at　the　sky　。。。　a　quail　called　into　the　stillness　。　。。　and　there　Trace　Jordan　waited　for　her。
　Angrily　she　pushed　her　head　into　the　pillow　and　after　a　while；　she　slept。
　The　problems　Trace　Jordan　presented　were　the　sort　Jacob　Lantz　relished。　Not　since　he　had　trailed　renegade　Apaches　had　he　enjoyed　his　work　so　much。　There　were　dozens　of　good　hideaways　in　the　Animas　or　Guadalupe　Mountains　but　Jordan　would　push　south　into　the　wilderness　of　the　San　Luis。　Jordan　could　live　in　that　country　because　he　could　live　like　an　Apache。　But　he　would　not　go　far　until　the　girl　was　with　him。　So　he　told　Hindeman。
　〃Nonetheless；〃　Hindeman　said；　〃well　ride　after　those　sheep　and　have　a　look。　We'll　take　Joe　with　us。〃
　Lantz　looked　thoughtfully　at　the　house　but　said　nothing。　Leaving　Jack　behind　was　asking　for　trouble　and　Lantz　wanted　nothing　to　happen　to　that　girl。　She　was　his　best　chance　to　catch　Jordan。　An　hour　after　daybreak　the　three　rode　away。　Jack　Sutton　rolled　a　cigarette　and　watched　them　go。
　Wes　Parker　sat　down；　looking　expectant。　Buck　Bayless　rubbed　his　jaw　nervously。　Maria　Cristina　saw　them　and　she　had　seen　Hindeman　go。　She　took　the　butcher　knife　and　placed　it　under　a　cloth　on　the　sideboard。
　Boots　grated　on　gravel　and　Jack　Sutton　stepped　in。　He　was　smiling　a　thin　smile　but　there　was　no　smile　in　his　eyes。　〃Ben's　gone；〃　he　said。
　〃Si。〃　Maria　Cristina's　eyes　were　watchful　〃I　know。〃
　〃I　been　waitin'　for　a　chance　like　this。〃
　〃You　are　coward。　You　afraid　of　him。〃
　Sutton　stepped　into　the　room。　〃No；　not　afraid　of　him。　Just　smart。　Ben　gets　the　work　done。　He　keeps　trouble　off　my　shoulders；　so　I　let　him　have　his　way。〃
　〃You　get　out。　You　no　business　here。〃
　Jack　Sutton　smiled。　It　was　not　a　nice　smile。　〃I've　plenty　of　business　here。　I'm　going　to　teach　you　a　lesson。〃
　He　walked　around　the　table　and　stopped　in　front　of　her。　She　made　no　move　to　escape。　Her　eyes　watchful；　she　merely　waited；　showing　no　expression。
　He　lifted　his　hand；　palm　open；　and　then　he　struck　her。　Maria　Cristina's　eyes　widened　but　she　merely　stared　at　him；　the　print　of　the　blow　on　her　cheek。　Her　very　impassiveness　infuriated　him。　He　doubled　his　fist　and；　as　he　did；　she　jerked　the　knife　from　under　the　cloth。　He　caught　the　gleam　and　whipped　back　just　as　the　point　of　the　knife　ripped　up　through　his　shirt。
　Stepping　back；　he　tripped　over　a　chair　and　fell。　Instantly　Maria　Cristina　was　around　him　and　out　of　the　door。　He　leaped　up　and　grabbed　at　her　but　tripped　over　the　chair　again。　Then　she　was　through　the　door　and　running　for　the　gully。
　Wes　Parker　sprang　to　catch　her　but　she　turned　on　him　and　slashed　with　the　knife。　He　sprang　back；　swearing；　blood　streaming　from　his　arm。
　The　delay　had　given　Sutton　time　to　get　to　her。
　Evading　the　knife；　he　knocked　her　down。　Before　she　could　rise　he　kicked　the　blade　from　her　hand。
　She　got　up；　moving　back；　her　eyes　alive　with　hatred；　but　he　moved　in　on　her　and；　disdaining　her　blows；　picked　her　up　and　carried　her　back　to　the　house　and　dumped　her。　Instantly；　she　sprang　back　and　stood　panting；　watching　him　like　an　animal　at　bay。
　Outside　Wes　was　swearing；　blood　streaming　from　his　arm。　Buck　Bayless　stared　at　the　house；　his　face　sweating。　He　ran　his　tongue　over　his　lips。
　〃Don't　stand　there　like　a　fool！〃　Parker　yelled。　〃Fix　up　my　arm！〃
　Bayless　started　toward　Parker　but　his　attention　was　on　the　house。　Inside；　Maria　Cristina　stood　against　the　sideboard　watching　Sutton　e　toward　her。
　〃I've　been　waiting　for　this　chance；〃　Sutton　said。　〃And　I'll　use　it。〃　He　struck　her　and　then；　methodically；　he　began　to　beat　her。　Blood　trickling　from　a　cut　lip；　she　tried　to　escape　him　but　he　came　after　her；　his　fury　mounting　with　each　blow。　〃I'll　kill　you！〃　he　said　hoarsely。　〃You　…〃
　〃Jack！〃　That　was　Buck's　voice。　Sutton　stopped；　fist　lifted。　Outside　he　heard　the　rattle　of　horses'　hoofs。　Angrily　he　struck　out　but　Maria　Cristina　was　watching　and　she　sprang　back；　falling　to　the　floor。
　As　Lantz　watched；　Ben　Hindeman　was　getting　from　the　saddle。　Sutton　strode　from　the　house。　Hindeman　and　Sutton　faced　each　other　and　for　a　long　tense　minute；　neither　spoke。　Then　Hindeman　went　past　and　into　the　house。
　Maria　Cristina　was　just　rising　from　the　floor　but　she　lacked　the　strength　and　fell　back。　Hindeman　swore　softly　as　he　saw　her　bruised　and　bloody　face。　He　took　her　arm　to　help　her　up　but　she　jerked　free　and　rose　by　herself。　〃You　are　animal！　All　are　animal！　Cowards！　You　fight　women！〃
　Hindeman's　face　showing　his　shame；　he　turned　quickly　and　went　outside。　Jack　Sutton　was　loitering；　waiting　for　him。　Hindeman　saw　the　readiness　in　Sutton。　He　was　ready　for　a　showdown　and　the　very　idea　made　Hindeman　impatient。　This　was　no　time　for　that　kind　of　trouble。　〃Are　you　crazy？〃　he　demanded。　〃We　need　that　girl。You　kill　her　and　where　are　we？〃
　Sutton　turned　on　Lantz　when　Hindeman　had　passed。　〃It　was　you　brought　him　back；　damn　you！　One　of　these　days　I'll　…〃
　Lantz　was　chewing　a　blade　of　grass。　His　little　eyes　were　utterly　cold。　〃When　you　try；　you　better　make　sure。　I　ain't　so　fancy　with　a　hand…gun　but　I'll　kill　you；　Jack！　I'll　hunt　you　like　I'd　hunt　a　varmint　an'　I'll　kill　you！〃
　Jack　Sutton　strode　past　him　to　his　horse。　The　fools！　The　damned　fools！　He　got　into　the　saddle　and　rode　out　of　the　canyon　at　breakneck　speed。
　Hindeman　returned。　〃If　he　bothers　you；　Jake；　you　e　to　me。〃
　The　old　man　turned　black　eyes　to　Hindeman。　He　spat；　〃You　better　take　care　o'　him；　Ben。　Not　me。〃
　Hindeman　stared　at　his　big　hands。　What　was　this　chase　doing　to　them？　Tearing　the　outfit　apart；　that　was　what　it　was　doing。　And　it　had　been　Jack　and　Mort　and　their　crowd　who　brought　it　all　on　them；　stealing　those　horses。　It　was　just　that　some　men　had　the　killer　streak　in　them　that　nothing　but　death　could　stop。
　Those　mountains　down　there；　the　Sierra　de　San　Luis。　That　could　well　be　where　Jordan　was。　If　he　got　away　across　the　malpais　into　the　Sierra　Madre　they　must　just　as　well　forget　him。　But　they　did　not　dare。　Nobody　realized　more　than　he　how　many　were　the　enemies　around　them。　Old　Bob　had　ridden　roughshod　over　people　and　his　nephews　had　been　worse。　Moreover；　there　were　people　who　wanted　their　range。　The　slightest　evidence　of　weakness　and　the　SB　would　be　only　a　memory。
　Turning　on　his　heels；　be　walked　back　to　the　house。　Maria　Cristina's　face　was　swollen　from　the　heavy　blows。　It　was　only　barely　recognizable。　〃Will　you　still　cook？〃　he　asked。
　She　stared　into　his　blocky　granite…hard　face。　〃I　cook；〃　she　said　and　turned　from　him。
　Later　he　saw　her　walk　from　the　house　with　her　basket　and　go　to　the　patch　of　squaw　cabbage。　He　watched　her；　then　let　her　go。　She　was　in　plain　sight　there　and　couldn't　get　away。
　She　stooped　to　pick　some　bread…root；　taking　the　starchy　taproot　from　the　ground。　She　moved　on；　then；　and　stopped　for　a　moment　near　a　dark…leaved　plant　with　white　flowers。　And　then　she　walked　on。　Returning　to　the　house；　she　set　about　preparing　a　meal。　Several　times　men　came　to　the　door　for　coffee　but　she　turned　them　away；　saying　it　was　not　ready。
　Wes　Parker　had　been　sent　to　town。　Jack　Sutton　had　not　returned。　Only　Lantz；　Buck　Bayless　and　Hindeman　were　there。　
　Finally　she　dished　up　the　food　and　they　ate。　She　watched　them　for　a　while；　then　poured　more　coffee。　After　that　she　hastily　packed　sandwiches　and　other　food　in　an　old　flour　sack　and　nobody　watched　her。　She　was　always　moving　about；　always　busy。
　Frightened　now；　she　listened　anxiously　for　Sutton's　return。　Several　times　she　glanced　out；　seeing　cigarettes　glowing　in　the　dark。　She　heard　a　queer　laugh；　then　a　chuckle。　Bayless　called　out　to　Hindeman　but　there　was　no　reply。　She　waited　until　no　cigarettes　glowed　near　the　barn；　nor　was　there　any　sound　of　voices。
　Crossing　to　the　barn；　she　found　them　sprawled　on　the　ground；　sleeping。　She　took　a　Winchester　from　one　of　the　men；　took　cartridge　belts　from　two　and　a　box　of　。44　shells　from　inside　the　barn　door。　At　the　corner　of　the　barn　she　untied　a　horse　and；　making　every　move　count；　led　him　to　the　house　and　loaded　food　and　blankets。　Getting　into　the　saddle；　she　walked　the　horse　away　from　the　house　and；　when　well　away；　broke　into　a　trot。
　All　was　still。。。　and　then　Jack　Sutton　rode　out　of　the　darkness。　He　glanced　at　the　snoring　men　and　then　with　a　chuckle　he　turned　to　Maria　Cristina's　trail　and　started　off　at　a　walk。　Behind　him　there　was　silence。　The　lights　from　the　house　shone　on　the　men　who　slept　heavily　in　their　drugged　sleep。
　Jack　Sutton　was　only　to　a　degree　a　family　man。　Many　a　man　who　dared　not　face　him　with　a　gun　might　have　shot　him　down　from　ambush　had　he　not　been　backed　by　the　Sutton…Bayless　outfit。　The　family　was　a　protective　cloak。
　Ben　Hindeman；　on　the　other　hand；　had　a　fierce　loyalty　to　Old　Bob；　whose　daughter　he　married；　and　to　the　brand。　He　was　wise　enough　to　know　that　at　the　first　sign　of　weakness　the　wolves　would　close　in　for　the　kill。
　Jack　Button　was　not　thinking　of　this。　He　had　lately　undergone　that　final　and　subtle　change　that　came　to　many　gunmen。　At　first；　such　a　man　may　suffer　when　he　kills　but　the　second　es　easier　and　by　degrees　the　gunman　bees　contemptuous　of　his　victims　and　kills　casually　or　for　the　love　of　it。　Yet　his　own　danger　increases；　for　now　men　wish　to　kill　him。　So　he　bees　a　destroyer　with