Читать книгу Twin Sombreros - Zane Grey - Страница 5

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Renn Frayne.

At the conclusion of this reading, Kiskadden strode to and fro in the cell, while Brazos sat with bowed head over the letter. Once the sheriff laid a heavy hand on the cowboy’s clustering chestnut curls, beginning faintly to show silver at his temples. The tread of boots outside brought Kiskadden to a halt.

“Aboot time for yore trial, Brazos,” he said, consulting his watch.

“Sheriff, as I told you, I never read all this letter—first time,” rejoined Brazos, gravely, as he carefully folded the pages and put them back into the envelope. “Honest I didn’t.”

“Cowboy, I’m shore glad Bodkin didn’t read it.... Brazos, there ain’t much I can say, except I’m glad I trusted you. If I hadn’t an’ you’d sprung thet letter on me, I’d shore been ashamed.... It’s a wonderful letter, Brazos. I’d like you to know I rode fer Colonel Ripple when I was yore age. I knew Cap Britt. We were Texas Rangers under McKelvy. An’ I shore have heahed of Frayne.”

“Aw! Yu don’t say?” burst out Brazos, gladly. “All my agonizin’ fer nothin’! When I heahed the name Kiskadden—Las Animas sheriff—I reckoned yu might be one of them hangin’ sheriffs an’ I was shore sick.”

“Don’t blame you, cowboy.... Wal, we’ll go oot now an’ I’ll be settin’ you free pronto. What then, Brazos? ... Tell me, on the square, cowboy, air Holly Ripple’s love for you an’ her faith—an’ Frayne’s an’ all of them—air they justified?”

“Hell no!” ejaculated Brazos, with a wrench. “But, sheriff, I could look Holly in the eye an’ Frayne an’ Britt—all thet tough ootfit of pards—an’ swear to Gawd I’ve never done a crooked thing since I left them.”

“Wal, I ask no more,” returned the Texan, feelingly.

“All the same, I’m gonna tell yu more,” flashed Brazos. “This day marks a change in my life. It’s been comin’ a long time. Somethin’s busted inside me like a million sparks. I’ll be what Holly Ripple thought I was or I’ll die tryin’.”

“Wal, now, cowboy, I reckon thet’s to say you’ve wiped oot the five years. Good! You’ve got much to live up to an’ I believe you’re equal to it.”

“Thanks, Kiskadden.... An’ heah we air forgettin’ the most important thing in thet letter. The hunch aboot Surface!”

“No, Brazos. I’m lettin’ thet ride fer the present. All aboot you was personal. Frayne’s hunch is business. An’ believe me, damn serious.”