Action-Packed Western, May 1957 — page 70: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

70 “T been cleaning up the Lazy Y range,” Rondo said softly. ‘Showin’ a few rustlers it ain’t healthy to run their brands when Rondo’s around.” « 2 = FTER THE wed- ding, they had gone out to Lazy Y. Ron- do had wanted them to. He asked Mrs. Brant to fix some food, — so:-cthey could celebrate , properly. And now wea : the women were inside the ranch house, getting things ready. Lavery squatted in the grass down near the corral. He looked out over the range, remembering old Brant and the day he had come here. How he wanted to belong. Be part of the family. And now he was. Gennie was his wife. Only it wasn’t the same. This was Ron- do’s ranch, even though he wanted Lavery to work on it, and old Brant wasn’t around. But things never are the same. You hope they can be. but they never are, and you have to build on what is, not what you’d like things to be. A wisp of cloud in the blue sky was already edged with gold from the dying sun, Lavery saw Rondo coming toward him, thin and stoop-shouldered against the horizon. He walked as if he were tired. : “Your shoulder make out all right?” Rondo asked, as he came up, the cor- ners of his mouth smiling. “Maybe -you should of put off being hitched so soon. Until you could use both arms good,” “T'll make out,” Lavery said. He thought back to that night. Those things he didn’t understand. Rondo had rounded up ranchers from the north, ranchers whose cattle had been rustled. That was what Rondo ACTION-PACKED WESTERN | had tried to tell him. That before long, these men would be sweeping down on the canyon to right the wrong done them. That he, Rondo, coming from jail, had been able to work into Royce’s confidence, get on the inside of Tom Hyson’s ring, and so lay down the strategy of the surprise attack that had led to success. But that was over, now. Hyson and Royce dead, The Deacon and Geiger in the jailhouse. The cattle returned to their owners. Rondo let himself down on the grass beside Lavery. “I ain’t much of a hand at runnin’ a cow farm,” Rondo said moodily. “I got to count on you to see Lazy Y makes good. You think you can do it ?” Lavery took out a sack of tobacco and rolled himself a smoke. “‘T kin try, Rondo. But why did you buy the spread, if you feel like that?” Rondo shrugged. “I wonder,” he said. Then they heard the bell from the ranch house, calling them to chuck, and Lavery tossed away his smoke and looked out again across the range. He felt an assurance growing in him, as if he could tell somehow that he would do all right for Rondo here at Lazy Y. “Don’t keep the womenfolk waitin’,” Rondo said casually. “Tell them [ll be up in a few minutes.” “Sure, Rondo. Don’t be long.” Lavery started walking up the path toward the ranch house. He was an odd one, Rondo. You had to under- stand him. But you wouldn’t think he would have done time in the jailhouse. it didn’t fit. ENNIE WAS waiting for him at the door. Lavery caught her up briefly in his arms, kissing her lightly. Her eyes shining as he looked into them. ‘“How’s your cookin’, Mrs. Lavery?” he asked. “Come in and see.” He pulled out a chair and sat down at the table. The aroma of boiling cof- Eomicbook —<