Part 25 (1/2)
No. He did know. She had told him. Cochrane's father was the richest man in Albuquerque, and her mother had spent her whole life telling Daisy never to marry a poor man.
h.e.l.l, the Randolphs were probably richer than the Cochranes. He wondered if she'd marry him for his money?
He knew that wasn't fair, but the thought wouldn't leave his mind. She'd never missed an opportunity to tell him how little she thought of his notion of finding gold. Clearly she had no intention of linking her future with anyone she considered a dreamer.
Then why had she almost let him make love to her? Everything in Tyler's head was a muddled ma.s.s of questions and fragmented ideas mixed up with a few hopes and a lot of fears. Most confusing of all, he couldn't figure out why this was all happening to him.
He didn't love Daisy. He didn't want to marry her. He did want to make love to her, but he had wanted to make love to other women as well. No. He had wanted to find s.e.xual relief with a lot of other women, but what he looked for with Daisy was something entirely different.
That unsettled him. What was he looking for, why should he be looking for it with Daisy? All he could say for sure was he liked her and enjoyed having her around. He found her attractive and wanted to make love to her. He hoped she wouldn't marry Guy Cochrane.
What did it all add up to? He'd be d.a.m.ned if he knew except it had given him a headache and was keeping him awake.
The color drained from Ed Peck's face as he stared at the stack of letters in his hand. ”Do you know who this place belongs to?” he asked. His voice sounded hoa.r.s.e.
”A dead man,” Toby promised from the bunk.
”What you got there?” Frank asked.
”Letters,” Ed replied, ”all of 'em addressed to Tyler Randolph.”
Toby's cigarette paused on the way to his mouth. ”You sure?”
”Yeah,” his father replied.
”Who the h.e.l.l is Tyler Randolph?” Frank demanded.
”If you'd ever worked cows in Texas, you wouldn't have to ask such a dumb question,” Ed said.
”Well, I didn't work no d.a.m.ned cows in Texas, and I'm d.a.m.ned glad of it. And I ain't heard of no Tyler Randolph.”
”There's seven of them,” Ed said.
”Seven men named Tyler Randolph?” Frank asked in disbelief.
”No, seven brothers, you fool,” Toby said.
”Then I guess the Randolph in town must be his kin.”
”There's a Randolph in town?” Toby asked. He sat up so fast he hit his head on the slats.
”Yeah. He has a stupid name, I can't remember it just now.”
”Hen?” Toby asked.
”Yeah, that's it. Arrived with enough wagons to start his own train.” Frank paused. ”That's it! This Randolph fella did find that woman. And he's taken her into Albuquerque to his brother's wife.” He grinned, pleased to have solved the puzzle. ”All we have to do is follow him and kill her.”
”You'll do it without me,” Toby said, getting up from the bunk. ”Don't you know who Hen Randolph is?”
”No, and I ain't interested.”
”You d.a.m.ned well better be. He's the fastest gunfighter you'll ever see,” Ed said. ”Ain't n.o.body else can come close.”
”I'm not planning on going up against him,” Frank said. ”We can get her and this Tyler fella from cover.”
”You touch one of them Randolphs, and you'll have the rest down on you faster'n you can spit,” Toby said.
”I ain't going with you, either,” Ed said. ”I didn't agree to killing that gal in the first place. I sure ain't having nothing to do with killing no Randolph. You should have knocked her over the head. It's about all you did anyway.”
”What the h.e.l.l are you going to do?”
”Head south, probably to Mexico.”
”Okay, run out on me, but you ain't getting no more money.”
”You go around shooting at Randolphs, and you won't live to spend it,” Toby said.
”Go on, get out,” Frank shouted.
Toby looked defiant. ”I think I'll stay a few more days,” he said. ”No need for Pa and me to rush off. This Randolph won't be back for a week or so. It'll be a lot easier traveling after the snow melts.”
”Where are you going?” Frank asked.
”I don't know exactly,” Toby replied, ”but I don't want to be anywhere near here when you tangle with those Randolphs. Besides, it's too d.a.m.ned cold here, and Pa needs to rest up while that leg heals. What are you doing?” he asked when Frank started to collect his gear.
”I'm leaving tonight. I'll kill them on the trail, and beat you to Mexico.”
Frank smiled to himself. This was exactly what he needed to make his reputation. If he could kill a Randolph on top of the other work he'd done for Regis Cochrane, his reputation would be secure.
”I didn't know the Parrishes had sold up and left,” Tyler said, as they turned from the ranch road back onto the route to town. ”I was planning on getting some horses here.”
”That's the third rancher to sell out within the last year,” Daisy said. ”I wonder why none of them said anything before they left?”
Tyler took the time to scan their back trail with his binoculars.
”That's the fourth time you've done that today,” Daisy said.
”Somebody's following us.”
”This is the road to Albuquerque. I imagine we'll see lots of people.”
”I'm just being careful.”