Now playing: Night Riders
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Episode Nine concluded with:
“The law around these parts is Max Thompson…or
was. Max was killed two nights ago while searching for the killers of the
Ashley family. His body was dumped in the barn of Glenn Kagan, the head of the
Homesteaders Association.” Tantrall paused and pressed his lips together.
Dehner realized that Max Thompson had been friends with the rancher.
Elijah Tantrall only needed a moment to get his
emotions back in check. “Kagan is convinced that I did it as a warning to him
and the rest of the homesteaders to get out.”
“I take it you’re not on good terms with the
homesteaders.”
Episode Ten
Tantrall
sighed deeply. “I’ve always been on the side of law. This country needs law. I
want Lila to be able to settle here and have a good life. But--”
Dehner
spoke softly. “The law is on the side of the homesteaders.”
“Y-e-a-h.
I’ve had a hard time accepting that. Pulled down one of Glenn Kagan’s fences a
while back.”
“Did
you apologize to Kagan?”
“No.
But I paid for the damn fence after Max told me I had to.”
“What
do you want me to do, Mr. Tantrall?”
“The
new sheriff is Lucky Chandler. A nice kid. He made a fine deputy for Max and
someday he’ll make a fine sheriff. Don’t get me wrong. Lucky can take care of
the town, handle the hard cases, that sort of thing. But he’s in over his head
with this homesteader situation.”
“You want me to find out who is behind the
raids on the homesteaders.” Dehner wasn’t really asking a question.
Elijah
nodded his head. “Glenn Kagan has got a real bug in his ear about me. He’s
stirrin’ up the other homesteaders. We ain’t far from a land war.”
“I’ll
get started right away.” Dehner deliberately kept his voice low. “I’ll probably
ride out tonight and get a feel for the territory.”
“Fine,”
Tantrall’s chair loudly scraped the floor as he got up. “I want you to stay
here with us. We’ve got plenty of space.” He walked with Dehner into the
hallway, where he gave a friendly shout. “Lila!”
“Yes,
father?” Her voice came from the living room and dripped with casualness.
“Show
Mr. Dehner to a guest room.”
“Yes,
yes, of course.”
Rance
gave the rancher a quick nod, then walked swiftly into the living room. Lila
was perched on the end of a chair, sitting upright in almost military stiffness
with both hands in her lap and both feet tucked as far under the chair as she
could get them. “I’m sure you have some things in your saddle bags, Mr. Dehner,
things that you will want to carry to your room.”
“Yes,
I do, Miss Tantrall. I’ll fetch them right now.”
Relief
shot across the young woman’s face. “Great! When you get back, I’ll show you to
your room.”
Rance
stepped outside of the house before Lila could see the smile on his face. Lila
Tantrall was not good at deception. She had tried to conceal her feet but
hadn’t quite succeeded. Lila Tantrall was barefoot. Dehner’s earlier notion had
been right. The young woman had taken off her footwear to avoid detection and
then returned to her father’s office door to listen in.
But
why? Dehner was purposely slow in retrieving his saddle bags. He wanted his
hostess to have ample time to get her shoes back on: best to let her think the
trick had worked.
Tomorrow:
Episode Eleven of Night Riders