Read Journey into Violence for Free Online Page A

anywhere around me.”
    Kate was silent for a moment, trying to come up with the last word. After a few attempts, she said finally, “Well, I think Mr. Lowery is to be commended, so there.” She turned and walked to her horse, her slender back stiff.
    * * *
    A couple miles south of the Raven ranch house the trail divided. One branch led straight ahead and the other made a sharp turn toward a collapsed soddy so old that no one knew who built it, when, or why. Frank took the straightaway and after a few minutes they came on a dozen fat cattle grazing on both banks of a narrow stream. All of them bore the KK brand.
    Trace said, “I would never have trespassed this far onto the Raven range to hunt our cattle.”
    â€œI think that’s the whole idea,” Kate said. “Raven expects us to obey the rules.”
    Frank Cobb nodded in agreement and poked Lou Standish in the ribs with his rifle. “Were you a party to this?”
    The man winced and jerked in the saddle. “Yeah, following Mr. Raven’s orders.” His hands were tied behind his back and to keep him honest, he rode bareback on a gray mustang. “See up ahead, the dead cottonwood that fell into the stream one time?”
    â€œI see it,” Frank said.
    â€œMr. Raven ranged his Big Fifty on that there tree.”
    â€œAnd you’re riding point, Standish.” Frank grinned. “The thought that a Sharps rifle could be aimed right at your belly must be a tad worrisome.”
    â€œI’ll holler when we get closer to the cabin,” Standish said. “Mr. Raven will recognize me.”
    â€œYou sure?” Frank said.
    The puncher shook his head. “Hell, mister, I’m not sure of anything.”
    â€œWell you can be certain of this,” Kate said. “Make a fancy move and I’ll shoot you right off that pony.”
    Standish grimaced and shifted his weight on the little gray’s bony back. “Lady, you’d be doing me a kindness.”

C HAPTER E IGHT
    The Raven ranch house was a large, two-story edifice set among pines and wild oak. It had been recently painted white and the door, like the one to Kate’s cabin, complete with brass knocker and handle, had been imported from back east. But there the resemblance to the Kerrigan place ended. Flower boxes hung under all four lower-story windows, but all they held were a few stems that stuck up like dead twigs. A small flower and vegetable garden to the left of the house had gone to weed and cactus. The brass on the door was dull and had not been polished in a long time.
    Kate read the signs.
    A woman had once lived there but no longer. It seemed that she’d left suddenly and bequeathed to Ezra Raven a fine house without a soul. It was a fine house, one Kate could only dream about, but sadness—a darkness and a sense of loss—surrounded the place. She felt it deeply.
    Beside her, Frank Cobb yelled, “Ezra Raven, if you’re to home, show yourself.”
    A few tense moments passed. A window curtain flickered and then the door opened. Ezra Raven, big, bearded, and commanding, filled the doorway. “Have you finally come to your senses and are ready to sell, Mrs. Kerrigan?”
    â€œNo, but I’m here to ask you to come to yours, Mr. Raven,” Kate said.
    â€œWhat the hell?” Raven’s black eyes burned on Standish. “Lou, what are you doing with them?” To Kate, he asked, “Why does my puncher have a noose around his neck?”
    Before Kate could answer, Standish said, “They’re going to hang me, Mr. Raven, for drifting the Kerrigan cattle.”
    Raven looked at Frank. “Damn. Are you Cobb?”
    â€œI’m Cobb.”
    â€œIs the hangman’s noose your doing?”
    â€œNo, it’s mine,” Kate said. “And right now I’m inclined to use the same rope on you, Mr. Raven. Why did you scatter my cattle?”
    â€œI didn’t drift your herd,