Song of Eagles Read Online Free Page B

they soon found out that those who called the dance had to pay the band.”
    â€œThat’s the way of it, all right.” He stood and filled Falcon’s empty glass and offered him another cigar.
    â€œThanks,” Falcon said as he took the cigar and lighted it. “By the way, John, my father told me you had settled up here on the Pecos, but he never told me any details. How the hell did you get up here from Texas?”
    â€œThat’s a hell of a story in its own right.” Chisum filled his glass and sat back with a cigar in one hand and a glass in the other as he talked. “Back in ... oh, sixty-seven I think it was, my brother Pitser and I brought my first herd of Jingle Bob cattle across the plains and through the buffalo hunting territory of the Comanches.” He pointed the cigar at Falcon, a tight grin on his face. “They were some plenty hostile Injuns, let me tell you, an’ could ride horses like no one I’ve ever seen.”
    Falcon nodded. “Yeah, I’ve had some dealings with them myself, and my father always said they were the best warriors ever born.”
    Chisum’s expression grew serious. “We lost some good boys on that first trip. We had to send scout riders ahead of the trail blazers to protect the herd from those devils, who were pretty numerous in the lower Pecos Valley at the time. More often than not the scouts didn’t come back, or came back so shot up they couldn’t work no more.”
    â€œScouting is tough work, all right, especially in Indian territory. Takes a special breed of man to do it and survive.”
    Chisum wet his throat with bourbon and continued. “Well, the Jingle Bobs finally got here safely and we put them to grazing on the lands around our headquarters, which we set up at Bosque Grande, ’bout thirty-five miles northeast of Roswell, down on the Pecos itself. After a while, I left Pitser in charge and made some more trips back to Texas for more cattle.”
    â€œHow many head you running now?”
    â€œOh, about a hundred thousand or so. Took us almost ten years to build up to that, ’cause of the Comanch. They finally died out or left after the buffalo were all killed, sometime around seventy-seven or seventy-eight.”
    â€œYou ever marry, John?”
    Chisum smiled. “Nope. Never felt no need, what with all my brothers and their wives and children around all the time. But enough about me. Tell me about how you went after Nance Noonan and his bunch.”
    Falcon shrugged. “That’s a story for a different time and place. When I set out to right the wrong done to my father, I sent my kids back east so they could get proper schooling, so I’m kind’a at loose ends right now.”
    Chisum’s face showed friendly concern. “Anything I can do? Do you need a job . . . money?”
    â€œNo, like I said, Jamie left all of his children with more money than we can ever spend.” Falcon hesitated. “I was thinking more along the lines of investing in a saloon or gambling house. You know of any that might suit my needs?”
    Chisum thought for a moment, then snapped his fingers. “You know, old Beaver Smith owns a saloon on the Pecos River, over at Fort Sumner. He might be willing to sell, or take in a partner.”
    â€œI’m not much one for partnering, but I’ll sure go take a look at the place and see what I think.”
    Falcon stood and held out his hand. “Thanks for the whiskey, and the talk, John. I can see why my dad thought so much of you.”
    â€œAny time, Falcon. And I’m holding you to that promise to tell me what happened when you faced Nance Noonan and his gang. That’s a story I can’t wait to hear.”
    Chisum walked Falcon out to the front porch. “I’ll tell the boys you’re my friend and you’re always welcome here at the South Spring. That way they won’t hassle you when you come to