Novel 1954 - Utah Blaine (As Jim Mayo) (v5.0) by Louis L’Amour

going from one to the other. They hesitated on Mary, then went on to Otten. He said nothing at all.
    “You’re taking a chance,” Forbes suggested.
    “We’re used to it,” Blaine replied. “Has Ortmann been around?”
    “No. He isn’t showing his face since you whipped him. What do you want with him?”
    “Suppose I’d tell you with one of the enemy in camp?” Blaine asked.
    Otten flushed and started to speak, but Rip Coker interrupted him. “Straddlin’ a rail can give a man a mighty sore crotch, Ben.”
    The banker looked from one to the other, his face sour. “Can’t a man even eat his breakfast in peace?” he complained.
    Utah looked at Mary. “You came back. Why?”
    “I couldn’t—just couldn’t let you do it alone. I wanted to help.”
    Nobody said anything for several minutes. Utah ate tiredly, and the girl came in and filled his coffee cup. The hot black coffee tasted good, very good.
    Rip’s bandage was fresh. They had awakened the doctor for that, and he had bandaged the scalp wound after making some ironic comments about hard heads.
    “Anything for publication?” Forbes asked, finally.
    Blaine looked up. His eyes were bloodshot. “Why, sure,” he grinned suddenly, “say that Utah Blaine, manager of the 46 Connected, is vacationing in the hills for a few days but expects to be back at Headquarters soon. You might add that he expects to return to attend the funerals of several of the leading citizens of the valley—and he hopes their respected banker, Ben Otten, will not be one of them.”
    Otten looked up, his face flushing. Before he could open his mouth, however, there was a clatter of horse’s hoofs and then boots struck the boardwalk and the door burst open.
    In the open door, her face flushed from riding in the wind, her dark eyes bright with excitement, was Angie Kinyon!
    “Utah! You’ve got to ride!” She was breathless with hurry. “Lee Fox struck your trail and he’s coming right on with a pack of men. Nevers joined him outside of town! Hurry, please!”
    Blaine got to his feet, hitching his gun belts. He looked across the table at Angie and his eyes softened. “Thanks,” he said. “Thanks very much!”
    Mary Blake looked startled. Her eyes went quickly from one to the other. Ralston Forbes was watching her and he was smiling.
    Chapter 11
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    W HEN THEY WERE gone Mary Blake looked over at Angie. “It’s a surprise to see you here, Angie,” she said graciously, but with just the slightest edge to her voice. “You don’t often ride to town. Especially at this hour.”
    Angie smiled gaily, but her mind was not in the room. It was out there on the trail with the galloping horses. Forbes could see it, and so could Mary. “No,” Angie said, “I don’t often come in, but when a friend is in danger, that changes everything.”
    “I didn’t know you even knew Utah Blaine,” Mary said too casually.
    “We only met once.”
    “Once?” Mary was ironic. Her chin lifted slightly. Ralston Forbes grinned. He was seeing Mary Blake jealous for the first time and it amused him.
    Angie was suddenly aware. She smiled beautifully. “Isn’t once enough?”
    “I suppose it is,” Mary replied stiffly, “but if I were you, Angie, I’d be careful. You know how these drifting punchers are.”
    “No.” Angie’s voice was deadly sweet. “You tell me. How are they, Mary?”
    Mary Blake’s face went white and she started from her chair. “What do you mean by that?” she flared. “What are you trying to insinuate?”
    Angie’s surprise was eloquent. “Why nothing! Nothing at all, Mary! Only you seemed so worried about me, and your advice sounded so—so experienced.”
    Mary Blake turned abruptly to Forbes, but before she could speak there was a clatter of horses’ hoofs. A dozen riders swung to a halt before the door. It smashed open and Lee Fox stepped in. “Where are they? Where’s Blaine?”
    Angie turned slowly and looked at him, her eyes cool. She said nothing