Read Northwoods Nightmare for Free Online Page A

to see what it was.”
    â€œHe tried to kill me,” Fargo said, breathing heavily.
    â€œI’m glad he failed. It would be difficult to find another guide of your caliber.”
    â€œThat’s all I matter to you?”
    â€œNo, that is how you matter to Theodore. To me you don’t matter at all.” Cosmo put his hands in the robe’s pockets. “This is most distressing. It will upset Theodore, and I’ve already told you how I feel about upsetting him.”
    â€œHe’ll be upset even more when I pistol-whip his son.”
    â€œAllen? Whatever for?”
    â€œI suspect he put Strath up to this.” Fargo started up the bank. “He has to answer for it.”
    â€œLet me help.” Cosmo bent and offered his hand.
    Not entirely trusting him, Fargo took hold. He had felt some strong grips in his time but few as strong as Cosmo’s. The man pulled him up with ridiculous ease.
    â€œThere. Now we can talk.”
    Fargo’s buckskins were dripping wet. He took off his hat and shook it. “About what?”
    â€œI prefer that you don’t confront Allen just now. We’ll bind Strath and turn him over to the British authorities. I’ll inform Theodore that Strath was trying to steal from you, and when you caught him, he tried to knife you.”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œWhat do you have to lose by cooperating? I only want to spare Theodore the pain of having his youngest son charged with attempted murder. Isn’t it enough that his oldest son is missing?”
    â€œThe answer is still no.”
    â€œDon’t be so hasty. You see, the sounds that woke me were those of you and Miss Havard having your little discussion. If you agree about Allen, in return, I won’t inform Mrs. Havard that you are trying your utmost to seduce her daughter. Were she to find out, she would undoubtedly keep Angeline on a tight leash and not let you anywhere near her.”
    â€œYou fight dirty.”
    â€œI thought you would see things my way.”

5
    Fargo had two reasons for giving in. The first was that he couldn’t prove Allen Havard was behind Strath’s attack. He would bide his time, and when he did have the proof, he’d do what he had to. In the meantime Strath had to ride under guard with his ankles bound.
    Cosmo told Theodore Havard that Fargo had caught Strath going through the packs with the aim of “pilfering,” as Cosmo called it, and when Fargo confronted him, Strath whipped out his knives. At least one person didn’t believe the story.
    The next morning they had been under way half an hour when McKern brought his mount up alongside the Ovaro.
    â€œThat butler sure is slick. If we run out of whale oil for the lanterns, we can fill the lanterns with him.”
    â€œFigured it out, have you?”
    â€œSee these gray hairs? I didn’t get them by being stupid. And remember, I saw Strath talking to Allen.”
    Above them an eagle soared on outstretched wings. In the woods a jay screeched.
    â€œSo are you going to tell me how it really happened?” McKern asked.
    â€œYou’ve never heard of pilfering before?”
    â€œPilfering, my ass. Where I come from, folks call things what they are. Stealing. Robbing. Even thieving. Only a fancy pants like that butler or whatever he is would call it pilfering.”
    â€œNow, now, remember your station.”
    â€œStation?” McKern repeated, and roared. “You did that good. If you had the money to go with a stuck-up nose, you could make something of yourself.”
    â€œI like cards and women too much. Any money I make doesn’t stick around long.”
    â€œYou’re not alone. I spend money like a cloud spends rain. But, hey, you could always do butlering. There must be good money in that, the way Cosmo dresses. And you’d make a fine one, the words you spout.”
    â€œThe day I wait on someone hand and foot is the day I’m fit to blow my