Where the Long Grass Blows (1976) (20 page)

His black eyes were hard as agate. "I'd like to see you down in the dust, Canavan. I'd like to see you die."

"We could do it now," Canavan suggested. "Just give me a gun and we can step right out there.

I wouldn't have to worry because I know you're not going to make it. Your number's up."

"Stow that!" Chubb said carelessly, but Canavan could see Chubb was nettled by it. No man likes to be told he is about to die, and especially not a man who may have to use a gun at any moment.

"All of you," Canavan continued, "are a bunch of yellow-bellied double-crossers. There isn't one of you fit to stand up with a man.

"As for facing me, Chubb," he said cooly, "you had your chance after you murdered Vin Carter. You blew town almighty fast so you wouldn't have to answer for it. You put your tail between your legs and ran." He spoke softly, bitterly. "I'd lay a little money that every one of those eight notches was for some helpless drunk. I don't think you've got the guts to face a sober man, Chubb. I think you're yellowl"

Chubb strode across the room and slapped Canavan across the face. And Canavan came up from his chair with a lunge.

"Stop it! Kinney yelled. "Damn you, Chubb!

Just back up now! Back up and sit down or you'll die right here."

Chubb backed away warily, not liking the expression in Kinney's eyes. "Hold it now, you just hold it.

He's got no call to--"

Suddenly the door opened and three men pushed into the room. Bill Canavan saw that Star Levitt was the first man into the room, and something went cold and still within him. The next two men were strangers.

Levitt glanced quickly from Scott to Chubb, then indicated the two men with him. "Neal and Baker of the Rangers. They will take charge of the prisoner."

Chubb swore, disappointment and resentment struggling for place in his eyes. "He's here.

We've been holdin' him."

"I've been holding him," Scott said.

"Me an'

Kinney here. Chubb had nothin' to do with it."

Neal gestured to Canavan. "You come with us.

We're holding a hearing right now. We want to find out just what has happened here, and why."

Canavan started for the door with Neal, and as he glanced back he saw Scott smiling. And as their eyes met the old man winked.

Now what did that mean? Frowning, Canavan walked across the street toward the hotel. Neal glanced at him several times. "Do you know a man named Mabry?"

"I know him. He works for me, and he's a good man. Is he all right?"

"When Clymer asks you questions," Neal said, "just give him what information you have, straightforward, honest and without prejudice."

Puzzled by the suggestion, Bill Canavan walked into the room and was shown to a chair.

A big man sat at a table in front of the room.

He had a strong, capable look about him, and as Canavan came in, he glanced at him sharply, then returned to the documents on the table before him. Several others entered, and among them were Dixie and Tom Venable. More and more puzzled, he glanced from one to the other, trying to get some hint as to what had been happening and what was to happen here.

Canavan had never believed that Levitt would permit Clymer to confront the Venables, nor himself if it could be avoided. Yet all were present, and it looked like a showdown. Allen Kinney came in with May. When she glanced at Canavan, he averted his eyes. Scott walked in, and then Star Levitt with Chubb and Voyle.

From the expression on Levitt's face, he had an idea all was not going to suit him. And the thought cheered him. Anything that was bad news for Levitt was apt to be good news for him.

Ward Clymer sat back in his chair and glanced around the room, his expression noncommittal.

"Now, my friends," he began briskly, "this is an entirely informal hearing to try to clarify the events leading up to and subsequent to the gun battle in which Pogue and Reynolds were killed, and to try to ascertain the guilt, if any.

"Although your statements will be taken down in writing, you will not be sworn in at this time. But please remember that you may be called upon to repeat your statements under oath and before a jury.

"Also, I am given to understand that William Canavan, a cattleman, is being held on a charge of killing Kerb Dahl, a cowhand from the W. If such proves to be the truth, and if the evidence warrants it, Canavan will be taken to the county seat for trial.

In the meantime, let us have your statements and any information calculated to clarify the situation."

He glanced at Star Levitt. "Mr. Levitt, will you relate the events that preceded the fight between Reynolds and Pogue?"

Star Levitt got to his feet. He glanced around, smiled a little, and began. "From what I have heard, it seems that for some time before I came into the Valley there had been trouble between the two outfits, with sporadic trouble over water and range rights.

"The W, owned by the Venables, was not involved in this feud, but there seemed to be some desire on the part of both outfits to possess the W holdings and their water, "As you will understand, in any such semi-desert range as this, water is the important factor.

And who controls the water controls the range, for without water, the range is useless.

"On the day of the big fight, there had been some minor altercation over branding. And it led to shooting, which soon became general until most of the hands on both sides were involved with the resulting deaths."

"You had no part in this fight?" Clymer asked.

"None. When trouble seemed about to develop, I withdrew my men and got out of the way myself.

After the shooting was over, we did what we could for the wounded."

"Are there witnesses present from the outfits involved?"

"Yes, sir. Emmett Chubb, who has been the acting marshal, survived the fight. So did Voyle, of the Box N. Kerb Dahl, of the W, who was later murdered by Canavan, was in the middle of things when it happened."

"Sir?" Canavan asked suddenly.

Clymer's eyes shifted to him. "Did you have a question?"

"Yes, sir. I'd like to ask Star Levitt what his range holdings were."

"I fail to see that the question has any bearing on the matter," Levitt replied cooly.

"It's a fair question and one we'd like to have answered, as it may have a bearing on subsequent testimony. were you running cattle? And where was your headquarters?"

Levitt hesitated, then said, "My headquarters was on the W. You see, I am soon to marry Dixie Venable."

Clymer glanced curiously at Canavan. "Does that answer your question?"

"It is sufficient for the time. However, I'd like it to be plain to everybody that Star Levitt had no holdings in this Valley."

Levitt shrugged, and the attorney then asked Chubb and Voyle a few questions about the shooting at the branding pens. And through Scott and Pat; he brought out the facts of the longstanding feud between the two cattlemen. Every story seemed to bolster Levitt's position. Tom Venable told what he knew in brief, clipped sentences, offering nothing but replies to the direct questions.

Dixie was next, and her testimony was equally simple. As she started to return to her chair, Canavan spoke up. "Another question, Miss Venable. Did anyone warn you away from the roundup, advising you that there might be trouble?"

She paused only an instant. "Why, yes. Star Levitt did."

"I could see some of the men were spoiling for a fight," Star agreed calmly. It seemed a bad place for a woman. Also, there was some rather profane language being used in the heat of the roundup."

"May I ask a few questions?" Canavan asked.

Levitt interrupted impatiently. "Mr.

Clymer, this man Canavan is a trouble-maker! His questions can do no good except to put others in a bad light. The man is a murderer."

Clymer shook his head. "We shall deny no man a right to defend himself, Mr. Levitt. We are here only to ascertain the facts. Moreover, we must examine the prisoner in connection with the killing of Kerb Dahl.

What have you to say to that, Canavan?"

"I should welcome an inquiry into the matter, sir.

However, it is impossible to form a judgment without considering what happened before that shooting took place."

"That's reasonable enough," Clymer said. "Go ahead"

Levitt's lips tightened and his nostrils flared with anger. Voyle had come into the back of the room with Syd Berdue and they stood there, surveying the crowd. With them was the silent man who seemed to be Dahl's partner.

"I just want to ask Mr. Levitt how many cowhands he had when he rode into this country," Canavan suggested mildly.

Star was puzzled, but wary. "What difference does it make?"

"Please answer the question, Mr. Levitt,"

Clymer suggested. "We are simply trying to arrive at the facts, and if the matter can be settled here, it will save us all a lot of trouble."

"How many hands, Levitt? You used the W spread but how many hands did you have?"

"Why only one man actually came to the Valley with me," Levitt said. The question puzzled him, and what puzzled him disturbed him.

"That one man was the short, dark man now standing at the back of the room, wasn't it? The man called Turner?"

"That's right."

Canavan turned suddenly in his chair, to face Dahl's partner. "Turner, what's a piggin string?"

"What?" Turner was startled. He started to speak, then stopped, irritated at the sudden attention and a little frightened.

"I asked what a piggin string was?"

Turner glanced from one side to the other, as if seeking a way out. He wet his lips. Then shrugged.

"I don't know. What difference does it make?"

"This makes no sense at all!" Levitt protested.

"Let's get on with the hearing!"

"Turner, what's a grulla?"

"Lay off," Turner said angrily. "I've no part in all this."

Canavan turned back to Clymer. "You, sir, were brought up on a cow ranch, or so I hear. You know that a piggin string is a short piece of rope or rawhide used to tie a crittur's legs when it's been thrown.

You also know that a grulla is a kind of mouse-colored horse, usually a mustang.

"The point I'm getting at; and maybe I haven't made it too well, is that Levitt came into this country with one man who wasn't a cowhand. Turner doesn't know the first thing about a ranch or about cattle, except what he might have picked up since he came to this Valley."

"What's that got to do with it?" Levitt demanded.

Clymer was sitting back in his chair, obviously enjoying the discussion. He began to smile as if he anticipated the reply and the next question.

"Why, just this, Levitt. I'm right curious as to how many head of cattle you brought into the Valley, and how many head you have now."

Somebody out in the room grunted, and Scott was smiling. The question caught Levitt flat-footed, and Clymer sensed it. "That's a very good question, Mr.

Levitt. On the way over here, you told me you ran about a thousand head. Where did you get them?"

Levitt held himself very still, thinking rapidly and cursing himself for bragging to Clymer. He had thought to give him the opinion that he, Levitt, was a substantial citizen, based on the idea that the law was not prepared to suspect a rich manor to move against him even if he was suspected.

"This is getting far from the subject," he replied cooly. "We actually came here to investigate a murder, committed by Canavan here. Now it begins to appear that I am on trial, not the murderer."

"On the contrary, Mr. Levitt, we came down here to investigate a multiple shooting, and the events that led to it, and to try to put a stop to what might develop as a result. The shooting of Kerb Dahl, as Canavan so rightly suggests, is only one aspect of it"

"I believe the question I have asked," Canavan said quietly, "must be asked. Before we can arrive at any conclusions, we must know what the issues are.

"Mr. Levitt here admits arriving in the country with only one man, one who is not a cowhand. No two such men could bring a thousand head of cattle into this or any other valley.

"However, I believe Levitt does have many cattle under his brand, and every brand has been worked over."

"That's a lie!" Levitt protested.

Canavan settled back in his chair. "Now ask me about the killing of Kerb Dahl," he suggested.

Star Levitt fought back his fury. This was a situation he had never wanted to develop. He had not planned it this way. It had seemed a simple task to bring the law to the Valley. And then, with the shooting of Dahl to build around, to incriminate Canavan, clearing himself and his men and then remaining in possession of the best ranch land in the Valley.

Invited to question Canavan about the shooting, he leaped at the opportunity. But before he could phrase his first question, Clymer interrupted.

"Canavan, if, as you suggest, Mr. Levitt has many misbranded cattle, and you maintain that neither he nor Turner are cattlemen, who did the branding?"