Black Conley Read online

  "I wanted to get your attention. This time you're going to listen to me and do some investigating or I'll have to bring in my own detectives from Denver."

  "What the hell do you need detectives for, Belle? I heard that fancypants gunslinger headed out to your place last night. Why not use him?"

  "If you're referring to Mr. Conley, I hired him on as a hand, not a gunman."

  Joe shook his head. “From what I hear, you may want him as a hand, but he's more used to using his guns than herding cattle. So what imaginary problem are you here to complain about this time?"

  "It's not imaginary. I lost more cattle last night."

  "Now that's a real shame. I hear tell there's a pack of wolves up around your place. Maybe what you need is a wolfer to track them down and eliminate them for you."

  "Wolves don't cut fences and they don't take off with the cattle, they kill them and eat their fill at the kill site. This time my girls, along with Mr. Conley, all saw the cut in the fence and the trampled grass. If I'm not wrong, they probably got off with about a dozen head. That makes almost forty head of cattle in the last two weeks. It's as plain as the nose on your face that it's Clayte's men who are taking them, so what are you planning to do about it?"

  "Do?” Joe questioned. “I don't do for whores. Everyone knows what goes on out at your place. If you were half as worried about your cattle as you are about bedding down the passengers on the stage, you wouldn't be in this predicament. From what I hear, your gals are right good in bed. I was thinkin’ of comin’ out there and havin’ a poke at one of them myself. Just how much would you charge me for a good roll?"

  "More than you could ever afford. Since I can't get any satisfaction from you, I'll be sending a wire to the U.S. Marshal in Denver. I'm certain he'd be more than willing to come up here and see why you aren't doing your duty. We'll see how far you get with someone in authority."

  "Now wait just a minute. The U. S. Marshal don't have no jurisdiction here. This is a civil matter."

  Belle smiled. “Maybe it is, but I know enough about the law to know that if you aren't doing your duty, I have every right to bring in a marshal."

  "Do you think anyone here would send that wire for you?"

  "Hell no. I plan to send it from my place. The stage line put in a telegraph so that their passengers could use it if necessary. I can send my own wire. I learned how to run it when they put it in. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a wire to write and send. Have a good day, Joe, and don't overexert yourself reading all those flyers. Do say hello to your wife for me. I haven't seen her in church lately. I do hope she's not feeling poorly."

  Belle turned on her heel, only to be stopped when Joe called her name. “Let me put my deputy in charge here. Then I can ride out to your place with you and see for myself what you're talking about."

  Belle smiled. She knew if she threatened Joe with a U.S. Marshal, he'd change his tune. From everything she'd heard, Clayte ran not only the Diamond A, but also the town council. Since Joe and Clayte had grown up together, it was only logical that the sheriff would be on Clayte's side when it came to any dispute between him and her. This time she held the trump card. She decided that she'd wire Denver anyway. Ed Heath was the son of her father's former foreman and knew more about Larson's Gap than anyone he could send. If she was lucky he'd come himself; if not, she knew he'd send the best man he had.

  "You know where my ranch is, Joe. I'll ride on ahead and meet you at the house."

  Joe sputtered, but finally agreed. For Belle, not having to have him ride with her was a relief. He'd certainly question her about why she was stopping along the way and the look on his face when she strapped on her guns would be one of pure disgust. It was better if he didn't see her armed until he got to the ranch. There she could do as she pleased, since she would be on her own property.

  "I could arrest you, you know,” Joe said from behind her.

  She turned to face him. “Arrest me? For what?"

  "For carrying a gun in town."

  Belle laughed. “I think you're reading the law all wrong, Joe. As I recall, it says that no woman can wear a gun in town. I'm not wearing any guns."

  "What about that rifle in the boot of your saddle?"

  "To be technical, the saddle is being worn by my horse and in case you haven't noticed, he's all male. So you see, I'm breaking no laws. Of course, if you want to search me, maybe it's best if you get your wife to do the honors. I wouldn't want to have to press charges that you took advantage of a woman."

  "Have it your way. I'll meet you out at your place in about an hour."

  Belle turned back to her horse and mounted effortlessly. As she rode out of town, she thought about Joe's wife, Nora. From the gossip she'd heard at church, it was common knowledge that Joe beat the living shit out of the woman whenever he was drinking, and that was every Saturday night. It was no wonder that she didn't come to church on Sunday morning. The bruises alone would be enough to give credence to the rumors that were running wild about the goings-on in the Calhoun household. The beatings were only part of the gossip. If she could believe everything she heard, Calhoun was allowing Clayte to take a poke at Nora whenever he needed a woman, and at half the price he'd have to pay at the Purple Moon.

  * * * *

  As soon as they started driving the cattle to the winter pasture, Black remembered why he hated ranching so badly. The dust that choked him also made his eyes water. At least they weren't driving them to market. Hopefully someone would be putting together a herd, and Belle could get her cattle to the railhead that was about two hundred miles away without having to do the work herself.

  "How far are we taking them?” he asked, riding up next to Kate.

  "There's good range land up by the house. We've got a large box canyon up there that makes a good corral. That way we can keep an eye on them and get food to them if necessary. Belle's pa built shelters on three sides of it so the cattle can get in out of the wind and snow when winter hits. It works really well for our purposes."

  Black nodded and returned to his position at the back of the herd. At the pace the steers set, they'd be lucky to be back to the house by noon. Once he got something to eat, he'd take his bedroll and go up to fix the fence that had been cut. He'd seen an area that would be perfect to watch the comings and goings around that part of the ranch for the night.

  Belle was waiting for them when they returned to the ranch. “Did you get a head count?” she questioned as soon as they put their horses in the barn.

  "From what I could see,” Janna said, “we lost about twenty head this time. At least down here, one of us can ride nighthawk."

  Before Belle could answer, a man rode into the dooryard. Black wondered if this was the infamous Clayte Adamson, but as soon as he saw the badge on the man's shirt, he decided it had to be the sheriff that Belle had gone off to see earlier.

  "Just when did you put on them guns of yours, Belle?” Joe asked, dismounting.

  "As soon as I was outside of town. I'm breaking no laws by wearing them."

  "What kind of laws would that be?” Black asked, pretending ignorance.

  "I don't see where it's any of your business, Mr. Conley, but it has to do with wearing guns in town."

  "I am impressed that you know my name, but I was wearing my guns last night and no one arrested me."

  "That's because you ain't a woman, Mr. Conley. Women ain't allowed to wear guns. As for how I know who you are, bad news travels fast."

  "Black, this is Joe Calhoun, our not so honorable sheriff. The fool tried to arrest me for having my rifle in the boot of my saddle until I reminded him that I wasn't wearing the rifle, Lightning was, and he's pure male."

  Black and the girls all enjoyed a good laugh at the sheriff's expense. “Just how did such a law come to be in force?” he asked. “I ain't never been in a town where women had such a law passed against them."

  "That's because you've never been in a town with Ballbuster Belle. Once you get to know your new bos
s, you'll find out she's trouble with a capital T. Now are you going to take me up to where you say this fence was cut, or are we going to stand around here all day jawjackin'?"

  "I certainly would hate to keep you from your more pressing duties, Joe. The girls can handle things here; would you ride along with us, Black? I certainly wouldn't want Joe telling people I took advantage of him out on the range."

  The sheriff's face went from pink to crimson in the blink of an eye. “You know I wouldn't do no such thing, Belle."

  Black chuckled.

  "One never knows. Before we leave, you might as well join us for dinner. I'm certain Black is as hungry as I am."

  Before going into the house, Black stopped at the well and drew a bucket of water so he could wash the trail dust from his hands and face. It didn't surprise him to see the sheriff bound up the steps onto the porch and enter the house ahead of Belle. He decided Joe Calhoun was one man who didn't miss many meals.

  When Black finished cleaning up, he headed for the house. He was pleased to see Belle waiting for him on the porch. He didn't dwell on why she was there as much as he did on the swell of her breasts straining against the buttons on the man's shirt. He could remember his mother telling him that a man's shirt was never made to accommodate a woman's breasts, and now he understood why. If he got lucky those buttons would pop off, giving him an eyeful. Somehow I'm going to have to get her naked and in my bed. When I do, I can guarantee she won't bust my balls, but she will make them feel a hell of a lot better.

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  Chapter Three

  Black eyed the sheriff from across the table. The man had the manners of a three-year-old child. He piled food on his plate like he hadn't eaten in weeks and ate like a hog at a trough.

  "I'll say this for you, Belle,” he said, his mouth so full of food it ran down his chin with every word, “you do set a good table. It's a good thing you got someone here who can cook for you. I doubt any of the females at this table know their way around the kitchen."

  "We all know how to cook, Sheriff Calhoun,” Kate replied before Belle could open her mouth. “We work our asses off on the ranch, and so having someone here to fix our meals when we're working is a Godsend."

  "I doubt that you know much about God, Missy. What you do know is about working on your back. I offered to come out and take a poke at any one of you, but your boss doesn't seem to like my money."

  "I can understand why,” Cara said, her voice so sweet it was as though it was laced with honey. “We're all very particular about what cocks we let into the henhouse. If they aren't clean enough, we don't want anything to do with them."

  Joe immediately looked down at his plate in shame and remained silent throughout the remainder of the meal.

  "Are you ready to ride, Black?” Belle asked when he finished his pie.

  Black nodded, getting up from his chair. The sheriff made no move to join them. “If you're coming with us, you'd better get a move on,” Black commented as he left the table. “I'd hate to have you get lost trying to find the range where the rustling took place."

  The look on Joe's face was one of pure disgust as he pushed back his chair and followed Black and Belle out of the door.

  "You know, I've decided I know the reason why you took up with Ballbuster Belle,” Joe said as they mounted their horses.

  "And just what would that reason be?"

  "Bein’ an Injun, there's not a rancher around here that would want you within a hundred yards of their place."

  "Look, you son of a bitch, I had this talk with the bartender last night and if I don't miss my guess, you heard it all word for word. If you think I'm going to draw on you and give you cause to arrest me, you're dead wrong. I don't like repeating myself, but I'll make an exception in your case. My ma was Mexican and my pa was white. That makes me a Texican and like I said last night, it don't do anyone any good to get a Texican riled."

  "Didn't mean any offense. It's only a logical conclusion. I mean, with your coloring, I assumed you were an Injun, just like they did at the saloon. It does make a body wonder what you're doin’ around these parts."

  "Do you know what happens to people who assume too much?” Black asked. A dark cloud of incomprehension crossed Joe's face. “When you assume something, you make an ass out of you and an ass out of me."

  "I don't get it,” Joe replied with a shake of his head.

  "Well, I do,” Belle said. “Of course, both Mr. Conley and I are educated. When you spell the word assume, it is a-s-s-u-m-e. In other words, ass comes before you, just like it does me. Now do you get it?"

  "Can't say that I do, but then I didn't go to one of those high class schools in the East like you did. I'm just a good old country boy doin’ my best to keep the law."

  They stopped at the place where the fence has been cut and Joe got down to examine the ground. “It looks like someone drove your cattle through here, but I doubt it was anyone from the Diamond A. Even if it was, I don't know how you would even go about trying to find twenty steers among his cattle. He runs five thousand head. Can't see you checking the brands on every single one of them. I will take a ride over to his place and see if he lost any cattle last night. Probably the same bunch raided his place on the way to God only knows where."

  Joe remounted his horse and rode in the direction of the Diamond A.

  "That bastard,” Belle muttered, once he was out of earshot. “I'll bet he and Clayte have a good laugh over all of this when he gets to the Diamond A. I'm even more determined to wire the U.S. Marshal in Denver and get him up here."

  "There's no need for that, Belle. It's no coincidence that I'm here, and Joe has good reason to wonder about me. Someone already contacted the marshal's office, and they sent me up here to see what's going on. You probably aren't the only one losing cattle to the Diamond A."

  "You? Why would they send you?"

  "I'm a U. S. Marshal, but that's not for public knowledge. I was sworn in several years ago and when they need someone to go in without being noticed, they send me. I was just lucky that the men in town directed me out to your ranch last night. I've been told to investigate both Adamson and the sheriff while I'm here."

  "It's hard to believe that you're a marshal. I mean, you do have a reputation. From what I've heard, you're more comfortable on the wrong side of the law than on the right one."

  Black tilted back his hat and looked her squarely in the eye. “Let's get one thing straight. I ain't never been on the wrong side of the law. I ain't wanted for anything other than my speed with a gun. Every time I've had to use it, I was drawn on first. I don't want to have to use it against anyone around here, but if I'm challenged, I won't hesitate. My orders are to find out who's behind the rustling and put an end to it. If in the process I find out that Joe Calhoun is in this with Adamson, I have the authority to arrest him too."

  He looked into her eyes and saw her confusion mirrored there. “So why work for me?"

  "Why not? It gives me the perfect cover for what I have to do. It also gives me three meals a day, a place to lay my head at night and the prettiest boss I've ever seen."

  On impulse, he pulled her into his arms. Her breasts against his chest made him wish he could take her here and now, but during the day he was on duty. He'd have to settle for a feel and a kiss.

  She struggled against him until he covered her mouth with his. As she relaxed enough to enjoy what he was doing to her, he cupped her ass with one of his big hands and pulled her so close she couldn't miss the feel of his cock pressing against her.

  "We-I-you can't do this,” she protested once he freed her mouth.

  "Why not?"

  "Because I'm not one of the girls who works for me. I told you last night you could have your pick of them at a reduced rate, but you couldn't have me."

  "That doesn't answer the question. Why not? You're ten times more desirable than any of them. I could see why they would call you Ballbuster Belle if you'd earned the title but to me, you'
re just an ice princess."

  "You don't know anything about me, Mr. Conley, and I'll thank you to take your hands off me. I'm not for sale, and I'm no man's plaything. I expect you to respect my wishes. Tonight I'll make certain one of the girls comes to your room to relieve that bulge you have in your pants. Just remember, it won't be me."

  She turned and hurried toward her horse. The sight of her ass swaying in defiance as she mounted made him want her even more. It would be a long winter. Sooner or later she'd give into him, and he had nothing but time. He was willing to wait until she was ready for him.

  * * * *

  Belle had never been so flustered in all her life. It was true that the boy in Ohio had gotten into her pants when she was young and dumb, but since then she had distanced herself from any man who crossed her path. Those who had been bold enough to kiss her soon learned that it was the wrong thing to do. One tongue-lashing from her had doused their ardor and given her the reputation that earned her the hated nickname of Ballbuster Belle. So why was it that when Black kissed her, she imagined herself in bed with him?

  It didn't matter. Whatever the reason, it had to stop here and now. She couldn't afford to become a weak woman like the rest of the ranchers’ wives in the area. She certainly didn't want some man dominating her, and that was just what would happen if she allowed Mr. Black Conley to get too close. When she first took over this ranch, it would have been easy to succumb to Clayte's charm. But what would that have gotten her, other than an early grave like Nettie?

  She swung into the saddle, her pussy aching for the release she knew she could find if she put aside her principles and went to Black's bed. She squirmed in the saddle in an attempt to relieve the ache, but doing so only intensified the sensation, reminding her of the feel of her nipples pressed against his chest. Control of her life could easily get out of hand with Black around her. She should fire him, but she needed him to find out what was going on with the rustlers more than she needed to put temptation safely out of her reach.

  As she neared the ranch house, she saw the girls coming in from the canyon where the cattle would spend the winter. Just seeing them made her wonder if one of her own hands had sent the wire to Denver. It was entirely possible, since they all knew how to run the telegraph. Of course, it could have been someone altogether different. Maybe she wasn't the only rancher in the area who was losing cattle on a regular basis. It wouldn't hurt none to ask around at church on Sunday. She knew which men were loyal to Clayte and which ones hated his guts. A few questions posed to the right people could do her a world of good. Until now, she hadn't thought much about anyone else having problems. She'd thought it was just Clayte's way of getting her to sell out and become a wife to him and mother to those wild Indians he called his children.