William MacDonald - The Battle At Three-Cross

As he neared the ranch house Lance saw the back door open. Katherine stood there. “Lance,” she exclaimed worriedly, “wherever have you been? You just disappeared last night—you and Oscar and Lanky. It bothered all of us.” The girl looked as though she’d spent a sleepless night. Her denim overalls were wrinkled. A stray lock of yellow hair fell low on her forehead.

She moved away from the door as Lance stepped inside. He glanced around. They were standing alone in the kitchen. He shut the door. His right arm went around her shoulders. He took her chin in his left hand and drew her face to his. Katherine gave a long sigh. After a time her voice came to him, muffled. “Lance, you do worry a girl like the dev il. I don’t know whether I’m going to love you or not.”

After a time they drew apart. Lance told her briefly what had happened. Katherine’s blue eyes went wide with sudden fright. “I—I was afraid you’d done something like that. Oh, Lance, you mustn’t run such chances. I mentioned that I thought you might have gone back to that temple of the snake. I wanted the men to saddle and ride after you three. But Uncle Uly stopped that. He said you were probably all right. I know he was just trying to quiet my fears. Then Trunk-Strap Kelly said as long as Oscar and Lanky were with you you were probably all right and knew what you were doing. They went to their bunks in the bunk house. I went to bed. I couldn’t sleep. I fixed a room for you. You’d better turn in and get a few winks…. And to think that it’s Fletcher leading those Yaquentes! Lance, he was here last night.”

They were walking toward the main room of the ranch house now. Lance’s arm was about Katherine’s waist. At the girl’s words Lance’s face went suddenly grim. “So Fletcher was here last night, was he? I wondered——”

Katherine cut in, “He said he came to learn if you had been found yet. Oh, what a liar that man turned out to be! He had some Indians with him and he told Uncle Uly that they were going to see if they could find any track of you——”

“And Uncle Uly told him, I suppose,” Lance said coldly, “that there wasn’t any need of him looking any longer.”

“Why, yes, he did,” Katherine said in some surprise. “Lance, what’s the matter with you?”

“Where’s Uncle Uly now?” Lance asked tersely. “I’m aiming to talk to him.”

“He’s out on the front gallery. He was up before daylight. He’s potting. He’s been worried about that plant——”

“He’s what? Potting?”

Katherine nodded. “Yes, you know, that rare cactus he named after me. Last night he found a small wooden tub and he got some earth and he’s putting that cactus in it. He’s as tickled as a child with a new toy. He wants that plant to have the best of care——”

Lance crossed the room in quick strides, flung open the door leading to the front gallery and stepped outside. He looked both ways along the gallery, then about two thirds of the way to the end he saw Professor Jones just in the act of lifting a small wooden tub to set on one of the deeply recessed window sills of the adobe wall. On the flagged paving of the gallery lay a trowel and the burlap wrappings Jones had removed from the plant’s roots. A bucket of earth stood near by.

Deeply engrossed, a beatific smile on his lean features, the professor stepped back to admire his handiwork. He wasn’t aware of Lance’s approach with Katherine just behind until Lance was almost on top of him.

Then Jones looked up. His smile broadened. “Ah, Lance! Back again, I see. Knew there was no sense—worrying about you. All right, what? Been potting my Echinopsis gregoriana . Handsome plant, what? Lucky to find—that tub. Deuced hard job, though—cutting holes in bottom—for proper drainage. Been at it since—before dawn. No drills here, y’understand. Practically wore out—blade of my pocketknife——”

“Uncle Uly,” Katherine broke in, “will you please explain to Lance just what you told Fletcher last night?”

“That’s what I’m waiting to hear,” Lance said grimly.

“Right, quite right,” Jones said. “But first—I insist you admire— Echinopsis gregoriana . Did you ever see—such blue blossoms? Perfect, what? That tub, just right. Suitable place to put it—until we leave. Right amount shade and sun——”

“Blast your plant!” Lance said angrily. “I want to know what you told Fletcher. This is important, Jones.”

The professor raised his eyebrows in surprise. “Upset about something, what? Deuced sorry. Hope nothing I’ve said—accountable.”

“What did you tell Fletcher?” Lance almost shouted. Katherine looked uneasily from Lance to her uncle and back again.

“Oh, Fletcher.” Jones nodded. “Fletcher, quite so. Simply told him you’d returned. What else to say?”

“Uncle,” Katherine put in, “take your mind off that cactus and tell Lance what happened. He’s getting the wrong impression.” She turned to Lance. “It was just as I told you. Fletcher came here last night. I don’t think it was more than nine o’clock. He wanted to know if you’d been found yet. I was in my room but I heard Uncle talking to him. Our men were all down in the bunk house. Fletcher said he’d rounded up the Indians he had with him to help hunt for you. Uncle Uly told him there was no use looking farther. Uncle, tell Lance what you told Fletcher.”

Jones colored. “Awkward situation. Didn’t know what to say,’ pon my word. Had a feeling you might have returned to that snake temple. At the same time, you’d warned us all not to tell Fletcher about that place or how you escaped. If I had told him he might have gone there looking for you. I was in a stew. Fact! Then—sudden inspiration. Told Fletcher you had returned but that we’d found you unconscious—outside the door. Swore I didn’t know where you’d been or what happened. Told him you were still unconscious—y’understand?”

Katherine said, “Fletcher insisted on seeing you. Uncle told him it was impossible and that you couldn’t be disturbed—that you appeared to be in a highly dangerous condition.”

Jones smiled shyly. “Embellished my story somewhat. Told him your hands—raw and bleeding—as though you’d been climbing for hours—up steep rock precipice. Gave him impression you’d had—nasty fall, what? Damn lie—of course. Awkward as the deuce—if I have to explain to Fletcher. Sorry if I said wrong thing, Lance. Now that I consider my words—silly thing to tell Fletcher. But couldn’t think—anything else—spur of the moment. Fletcher looked startled——’ pon my word!”

“What?” Lance fairly yelled. “You told him that? Professor, you couldn’t have said anything better. Fletcher will think I escaped from his pit by crawling up the wall. No wonder he looked startled. This is the best yet! You’ve got my thanks.”

Jones beamed. “Appreciate your attitude. Feared I’d upset plans or something——” He blinked suddenly. “What was that? Did you say ‘his pit’? Fletcher’s pit?”

Lance was shaking with laughter. “Jeepers! This is perfect. Professor, I owe you an apology. Will you shake hands?”

“No reason not to—but don’t understand. Glad no harm done. Did my best—under circumstances. But—you should have told us where you were going—last night.”

“Sometimes,” Lance said, “a man has to keep his ideas to himself. Maybe you understand how it is, Professor.”

Jones’s angular features flushed embarrassedly. “Quite so, quite. Every man has his own ideas. Mine—strictly cacti. For instance, this Echinopsis gregoriana —create sensation someday. I——”

Katherine said, “Sensation? Wait until you hear about Fletcher.”