CHAPTER XVIII
HARLAN RIDES ALONE
Upon the morning of the fourth day following Haydon's visit to the RanchoSeco, a dust cloud developed on the northwestern horizon. Harlan observedthe cloud; he had been watching for it since dawn, when he had emergedfrom the stable door, where he had been looking after Purgatory.
From the ranchhouse Barbara also saw the cloud, and she ran upstairs toone of the north windows. There, with her face pressed against the glass,she watched the cloud grow in size, observed that it was dotted with theforms of horsemen; saw at last that the horsemen were headed straight forthe Rancho Seco. Then, wondering, anxious, eager, she descended thestairs and ran out to where Harlan was standing, speaking breathlessly:
"What does it mean? Who are they?"
"It'll be Red Linton an' some T Down boys."
"'T Down'?"
"Pardo men. From where I used to work. I sent Linton for them. If I'mgoing to run a ranch I aim to run it with men I can depend on."
She had hardly spoken to him in the four days that had elapsed sinceHaydon's last visit, for the disgust she had felt that day had endured.But there was something new in his manner now--a briskness, abusiness-like air that made her look sharply at him.
He smiled at her, and in the smile was a snapping humor that puzzled her.
She stood, watching for a while--until the group of horsemen becameclearly defined--and then, with a sudden fear that the men might beoutlaws of the same type as Harlan--possibly he had sent for them becausethey were--she returned to the ranchhouse and watched from one of thewindows.
When the T Down men rode up to the corral gate they dismounted andsurrounded Harlan. There were ten of them--rugged-looking fellows ofvarious ages, bepistoled, begrimed with dust, and articulate with profaneexpressions of delight.
"Hell's a-poppin', Red says!" yelled one. "He says there's geezers herewhich is pinin' for yore gore. Turn me loose on 'em--oh, turn me loose!"
The men, tired, dusty, and hungry, swarmed into one of the bunkhousesimmediately after they had turned their horses into the corral and caredfor their saddles.
The men were in good spirits, despite their long ride; and for half anhour after they descended upon the bunkhouse the air pulsed with theirtalk and their laughter, as they washed their dust-stained faces from thetin washbasin on the bench outside the door, and combed their hair with acomb attached to a rawhide thong that swung from the wall above thebasin.
They had been informed by Red Linton regarding the situation that haddeveloped at the Rancho Seco--fully informed before they had begun theirtrip westward--Linton scrupulously and faithfully presenting to them thedangers that confronted them. And though some of them were still curious,and sought a word with Harlan in confirmation, they seemed to besatisfied to trust to Harlan's judgment. Their faith was of the kind thatneeds but little verbal reassurance.
That they admired the man who had sent for them there was little doubt;for they watched him with glowing eyes as he talked with them, revealingtheir pride that they had been selected. Hardy, clear-eyed, serenelyunafraid, they instantly adapted themselves to the new "job," and beforetheir first meal was finished they were thoroughly at home.
Shortly afterward--while the men were lounging about inside--Harlan drewLinton outside.
"That's the bunch I would have picked if I had gone myself," complimentedHarlan. "I'm thankin' you a heap."
He whispered to Linton the story of Haydon's last visit and for the firsttime Linton heard about the section of chain which convicted Haydon ofthe murder of Lane Morgan. Linton's eyes gleamed.
"I've always sort of suspected the son-of-a-gun!" he declared. "An' himmakin' love to Barbara! The sneakin' coyote! An' so you're goin' to seehim? I'd be a whole lot careful."
Harlan's smile was grave. "I'm reckonin' to be. I'd have gone beforethis, but I was waitin' for you boys. Nobody is sayin' anything toanybody. You're stickin' close to the Rancho Seco, not lettin' Barbaraout of your sight. That's what I wanted you an' the other guys for. I'mplayin' the rest of it a lone hand."
Leaving Linton standing near the bunkhouse, he went to the stable, wherehe threw saddle and bridle on Purgatory. Then he mounted, waved a hand atLinton, who was watching him, and rode to the ranchhouse. At thenorthwest corner--around which Haydon had ridden on the occasion of hislast visit--he brought Purgatory to a halt, for he saw Barbara justemerging from the _patio_ gate.
She halted in the opening when she observed him; making a picture thatwas vivid in his memory for many days afterward--for her eyes were alightwith wonder, her cheeks were flushed, and she was breathing fast.
For she had watched from a window the coming of the T Down men; she hadnoted the conference between Harlan and Linton; and she had seen Harlanwaving a hand at the red-haired man, seemingly in farewell. She stoodnow, afflicted with a strange regret, suddenly aware that she would feelthe absence of the man who sat on his horse before her--for she divinedthat he was going.
"I'm sayin' so-long to you, ma'am," smiled Harlan.
"Oh!" she said, aware of the flatness of her tone. "Are you going away?"
"I'm figurin' to go. I ain't used to hangin' around one place very long.But I'm comin' back some day. Red Linton an' the boys will be seein' thatthings go smooth with you. You can depend on Red, and all the boys.They're Simon-pure, dyed-in-the-wool, eighteen-carat men." And now hegrinned, gravely. "Remember this, Barbara: A man will do things when he'shandlin' a gold chain--things that he wouldn't do if there didn't happento be any chain."
He doffed his hat and slapped Purgatory sharply, heading the animalwestward, toward the yawning mouth of the big basin that stretched itsmighty length into the mystery of distance.
But his words left her with a conviction that she had again misjudgedhim, and that when he had appeared to fawn on Haydon he had been merelyacting, merely pretending. She watched him, regretfully, longingly,assailed by emotions that she could not understand--until he andPurgatory grew small in the gulf of distance; until horse and rider wereswallowed in the glowing haze.