Outcast Read Online Free Page B

at it with his pen. The lien and his fist hit his desk with a thump , and he growled, “Miss Smythe must I wait forever for you to notarize this?”
    Burkhart glared at his clerk as she stamped the form.
    Standish took the lien release and rose. He walked by Miss Smythe’s grin to the front door. Burkhart watched as the door closed behind Standish.
    â€œWho the hell was that?” he muttered.
    Kabanov bent over the forge, putting the finishing touches on a pair of hinges. He peered at the door as Standish stepped through.
    â€œThat Sally she is pretty girl.,” Kabanov grinned. “You know you put new shoes on a pretty girl, and she will dance. Come see.”
    The two stepped to a corral behind the shop. Sally turned at the sound of Standish’s voice and pranced to the fence.
    Standish reached over the corral pole to run his hand down the mare’s neck. “My aren’t you a pretty girl, Sally. All decked out in new shoes.”
    Sally whickered, and nuzzled Standish.
    â€œShe really does look fine brushed out like that.”
    â€œJa, she is pretty horse. Better, she is nice horse, good horse.”
    â€œJa,” Standish said, and Kabanov smiled.
    â€œI have another matter I need to talk to you about.”
    Kabanov’s chin dropped toward his chest in a fighter’s stance. “You have no money?”
    Standish shook his head. “That’s not it. It’s just that I owe you more than you think.”
    â€œHow much you owe me?”
    â€œDon’t know.”
    â€œThen how could you know that you owe me more than I think you do?”
    Standish grinned. “Maybe we should start this from the beginning. I’m trying to pick up the Bele place.”
    Kabanov’s eyes dropped to the ground. “Ja, that Klaus was good man. I was sorry to see him go. He take good care of his horse. She is sweet like your Sally.”
    â€œThat’s it. I have to pay the bill for caring for this horse.”
    â€œHortenzia, her name is Hortenzia.” Kabanov scuffed his boots in the dust. “So you would take Hortenzia back to her home?”
    â€œJa.”
    Kabanov grinned. “You know for an American, you speak old country language pretty good.”
    â€œGood teacher,” Standish said, and Kabanov’s grin grew wider.
    â€œJa, that would be good then. I bring that Hortenzia, and she go home with you.”
    â€œShe’s accustomed to harness?”
    â€œJa, she pulled that Klaus’s white wagon. That’s the way Klaus traveled. He was a gentleman.”
    â€œWould you give me a note, then, that Mr. Bele’s bill is paid here?”
    â€œI would be pleased to do that, after you pay it.”
    Standish grinned. “Let’s go settle up.”
    Standish led both horses back to the grocery story. Hortenzia was a steel gray, heavy-boned animal, more pet than workhorse, Standish imagined. He tied the two to a hitching post and stepped inside.
    Myron Kennedy looked up. “Just finished loading your wagon. I’ll have your tally done in a minute.” He licked the end of his pencil and went through the figures again, and then looked up apologetically. “This comes to a lot of money. Maybe you didn’t know how much. If you decide you don’t want it all, I’ll understand. Nothing I can do about the cost. Everything hauled in here by railroad, and.…”
    Standish raised his hand. “No problem. I’ll settle up. I’ll pay for Klaus Bele’s bill, too. I’m taking his place.”
    Kennedy’s face wrinkled into a question mark. “I would be pleased to get that account closed,” he said, “but I can’t understand why you would take that place. Can’t raise wheat there, or cattle or anything else. About the only thing it might be good for is a hunting cabin. I heard that Burkhart down at the bank had staked it out for a hunting cabin,