“Just what I said. It’s doggoned near fatal to start riding for the Box B these days. Look what happened to the owner of the outfit.” He jerked his thumb toward the rancher.
“If the pay’s good, I’m willing to take the chance,” grinned Slim. “I’ll just stick around and when he comes to he may be crazy enough to hire me and my pardner.”
Doc Baldridge resumed his reading and Slim sat down beside the wounded man to begin what might be an all night vigil.
“I’m going to get one if patience will bring it,” grinned the Flying Arrow puncher.
“Maybe I could find something for you to do,” suggested Titzell.
“Thanks. If this doesn’t pan out, I may be around.”
The cattle buyer left and Doc Baldridge, without looking up from his book, spoke softly.
Slim smiled and gave no sign that he had heard the warning from the doctor. He had already put the suave Titzell down as a dangerous man.
It was nearly one o’clock when Adam Marks opened his eyes. His fever had dropped and his mind seemed clear. Slim spoke to the doctor, who shut his book and went to the cot.
“How about it, doc?” asked the cattleman.
“You’re too tough for one rifle bullet to kill,” replied the doctor, “but you’re going to be laid up for a few days. What happened?”
“Bushwhacked,” was the slow reply. “It was almost dark and just at the mouth of Wolf coulee. The first shot missed me. I started for my gun but the second one got me. How’d I get here?”
“The team brought you in. They must have run all of the way. Good thing they did.”
“This will leave the boys at the ranch in a tough spot,” said Marks.
“Maybe you could use a couple of extra hands,” said Slim hopefully.
“I’m one of them and I’ll vouch for my pardner. I’m off the Flying Arrow and he’s from the Circle Four. We want work.”
“There’s more than work at my ranch. There’s apt to be fighting soon. I’m being stolen blind and the day I catch up with the rustlers there’s going to be bloodshed.”
“I’ll work and fight for an honest boss.”
The cattleman seemed to be mulling something over in his mind. Then he asked, “You say you’re off the Flying Arrow?”
“Fellow named Evans used to own that outfit. Maybe you know him.”
Marks’ eyes twinkled beneath the heavy bandage.
“Then you’re hired and so is your friend. I wish I could get a dozen more like you.”