“Yes, sir. Us Texans can fight, but right now, we just want to get on with life. We’re tired, sir. Bone tired.”
“So it would seem.”
For another several seconds, the only sound was the chuckling creek, its water running on and on and on.
Then Culp said, “But you’re different, Bentley. You might be tired, but you are a warrior. I didn’t just question Sully and Rickert and your family. I questioned your neighbors, too. Their stories line up with the women’s, by the way, not with Sully’s. Apparently, Weatherspoon was giving Miss Dunne a hard time before the guns came out.”
Will clenched his fists, wanting to know more, and needing to do something about this. But now was not the time.
“Your neighbors don’t just like you, Bentley. They admire you. And I believe that if you were to stir them up, as Weatherspoon accused you of doing, they would fight alongside you. I think you are the one person in this region who could convince them that they weren’t so tired after all and that maybe some things are more important than getting on with life, that some things are truly worth fighting for.”
Will said nothing.
“You are the one person who could prevent me from getting to know my son, Bentley. I don’t believe a word of what Weatherspoon says, and I certainly won’t allow him to trick or bribe me into doing his will.”
Culp turned and looked Will in the eyes again. “But if you stir up any real trouble, Bentley, I will kill you.”
There was no challenge in Culp’s words, no eagerness, only sincerity. They didn’t even feel like a threat. But he meant what he said, Will knew.
Culp glanced back toward the house. “Most of those men have never seen combat. You and the riders you could no doubt raise if you gave the call would wipe them out without breaking a sweat, let alone losing a man among you. But I have other weapons at my disposal.”
“The traveling cavalry unit, sir?”
“That is correct. And they have seen combat. In fact, they have probably survived engagements against you. There are many of them, Bentley, and if I call, they will keep coming until you are dead and dust.”
“I believe it, sir. And I’d rather not die.”
“Good. We understand one another, then. I had hoped we would. I hope we can live in peace together. I hope I will go back to my family. And I hope that you and your family will buildsomething here with all those cattle. It’s a beautiful ranch that you bought here.”
“I don’t own the ranch, sir.”
“Right,” Culp said with a smile. “You are a shrewd man, Bentley. Not a snake like Weatherspoon, but smart. That was a wise move, putting the deed in ‘Miss Dunne’s name, just as it was a wise move not filing other public licenses.”
Will smiled back at him, sensing no venom in the man. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, sir.”
“No, of course you don’t,” Culp said and stretched out his hand again.
Will shook it. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir.”
“Likewise, Bentley,” Culp said. “I mean that with deepest sincerity. You have a fine family here, a fine ranch, and now all these cattle. Your neighbors admire you and will look to you for guidance and, I think, help, if you live long enough to provide those things. Do us both a favor, young man, and stay out of trouble.”
CHAPTER 34
It was a very happy reunion indeed once the soldiers left.
The women were relieved that Captain Culp hadn’t hauled Will off. They were overjoyed to have him home and ecstatic over the cattle he’d brought with him.
“Half of them belong to Rufus,” he explained. “More than half, actually. But yeah, we did well, praise God. If we get these cattle to market and sell them for anything close to what they should go for, we’ll be okay for a long time.”
“You’re not leaving again, are you?” Maggie asked.
“Not until I set things straight.”
“What are you saying, son?” Mama asked. “Captain Culp seems like a reasonable enough man, but if you go stirring up trouble…”
He had explained his meeting with Culp, holding nothing back from his family.
“I can’t just sit here hoping Sully will leave us alone,” Will said. “He won’t. Neither will Pew.”
