登陆注册
8778300000030

第30章 12A Chaparral Christmas Gift(1)

The original cause of the trouble was about twenty yearsin growing.

At the end of that time it was worth it.

Had you lived anywhere within fifty miles of SundownRanch you would have heard of it. It possessed a quantityof jet-black hair, a pair of extremely frank, deep-brown eyesand a laugh that rippled across the prairie like the soundof a hidden brook. The name of it was Rosita McMullen;and she was the daughter of old man McMullen of theSundown Sheep Ranch.

There came riding on red roan steeds—or, to be moreexplicit, on a paint and a flea-bitten sorrel—two wooers.

One was Madison Lane, and the other was the Frio Kid.

But at that time they did not call him the Frio Kid, for hehad not earned the honours of special nomenclature. Hisname was simply Johnny McRoy.

It must not be supposed that these two were the sum of theagreeable Rosita’s admirers. The bronchos of a dozen otherschamped their bits at the long hitching rack of the SundownRanch. Many were the sheeps’-eyes that were cast in thosesavannas that did not belong to the flocks of Dan McMullen.

But of all the cavaliers, Madison Lane and Johnny McRoygalloped far ahead, wherefore they are to be chronicled.

Madison Lane, a young cattleman from the Nuecescountry, won the race. He and Rosita were married oneChristmas day. Armed, hilarious, vociferous, magnanimous,the cowmen and the sheepmen, laying aside their hereditaryhatred, joined forces to celebrate the occasion.

Sundown Ranch was sonorous with the cracking of jokesand sixshooters, the shine of buckles and bright eyes, theoutspoken congratulations of the herders of kine.

But while the wedding feast was at its liveliest theredescended upon it Johnny McRoy, bitten by jealousy, likeone possessed.

“I’ll give you a Christmas present,” he yelled, shrilly, atthe door, with his .45 in his hand. Even then he had somereputation as an offhand shot.

His first bullet cut a neat underbit in Madison Lane’sright ear. The barrel of his gun moved an inch. The nextshot would have been the bride’s had not Carson, asheepman, possessed a mind with triggers somewhat welloiled and in repair. The guns of the wedding party hadbeen hung, in their belts, upon nails in the wall when theysat at table, as a concession to good taste. But Carson,with great promptness, hurled his plate of roast venisonand frijoles at McRoy, spoiling his aim. The second bullet,then, only shattered the white petals of a Spanish daggerflower suspended two feet above Rosita’s head.

The guests spurned their chairs and jumped for theirweapons. It was considered an improper act to shootthe bride and groom at a wedding. In about six secondsthere were twenty or so bullets due to be whizzing in thedirection of Mr. McRoy.

“I’ll shoot better next time,” yelled Johnny; “and there’llbe a next time.” He backed rapidly out the door.

Carson, the sheepman, spurred on to attempt furtherexploits by the success of his plate-throwing, was first toreach the door. McRoy’s bullet from the darkness laid him low.

The cattlemen then swept out upon him, calling forvengeance, for, while the slaughter of a sheepman has notalways lacked condonement, it was a decided misdemeanourin this instance. Carson was innocent; he was noaccomplice at the matrimonial proceedings; nor had anyone heard him quote the line “Christmas comes but oncea year” to the guests.

But the sortie failed in its vengeance. McRoy was onhis horse and away, shouting back curses and threats as hegalloped into the concealing chaparral.

That night was the birthnight of the Frio Kid. Hebecame the “bad man” of that portion of the State. Therejection of his suit by Miss McMullen turned him toa dangerous man. When officers went after him for theshooting of Carson, he killed two of them, and enteredupon the life of an outlaw. He became a marvellousshot with either hand. He would turn up in towns andsettlements, raise a quarrel at the slightest opportunity, pickoff his man and laugh at the officers of the law. He was socool, so deadly, so rapid, so inhumanly blood-thirsty thatnone but faint attempts were ever made to capture him.

When he was at last shot and killed by a little one-armedMexican who was nearly dead himself from fright, the FrioKid had the deaths of eighteen men on his head. Abouthalf of these were killed in fair duels depending upon thequickness of the draw. The other half were men whom heassassinated from absolute wantonness and cruelty.

Many tales are told along the border of his impudentcourage and daring. But he was not one of the breed ofdesperadoes who have seasons of generosity and even ofsoftness. They say he never had mercy on the object ofhis anger. Yet at this and every Christmastide it is well togive each one credit, if it can be done, for whatever speckof good he may have possessed. If the Frio Kid ever dida kindly act or felt a throb of generosity in his heart itwas once at such a time and season, and this is the way ithappened.

One who has been crossed in love should never breathethe odour from the blossoms of the ratama tree. It stirsthe memory to a dangerous degree.

同类推荐
  • 地道英语脱口而出

    地道英语脱口而出

    本书精选热点单词及句型,用口语交流最热点的主题。本书内容丰富,语言地道。书中附有配套超长600分钟MP3的下载二维码,只需拿起手机扫一扫即可轻松下载MP3,随时随地练习听力和口语,开创外语学习新模式!
  • HistoryofChina

    HistoryofChina

    Ihaveselectedtwentysomesignificanthistoricsitestointroducethoroughly.ConnectingthesesitesonecanfindtheoutlineoftheChinesehistory.Whenwetraveltoacertainfamoushistoriccity,wecanalsorecognizeitspositioningandtheroleitplayedinhistory.
  • 我在美国教汉语

    我在美国教汉语

    本书生动展示了安徽农业大学在美国罕布什尔学院开展对外汉语教学的20年间13位赴美教师的亲身经历和异域文化体验,他们将对外汉语教学总结为课堂教学、中国文化实践活动与异域文化浸入式体验三大部分,并在多元化的实践探索中寻求切实有效的对外汉语教学方法。
  • 课外英语-美国各州小知识(八)(双语版)

    课外英语-美国各州小知识(八)(双语版)

    本套书共50册,分为美国各州的小知识,七彩缤纷的音符,优美好看的小散文,开心时分的短文,经典流传的寓言,超级高效的短句,实际有用的词汇等等在这些书中,备有单词解释,相关简介,或中文翻译,便于同学们更好的阅读和理解,真正进入文字的内涵当中,准确地和文字进行交流。主要介绍新罕布什尔州、新泽西州、新墨西哥州和纽约州的概况、州长、州鸟、州花、州旗、州歌以及相关资料,附有话里话外部分,主要介绍美国人服装、饮食和景点。
  • CountrysideofChina

    CountrysideofChina

    ChinahasavaStterritoryandlonghistorywithgreatdifferencesinnaturalConditionsamongdifierentareasofthecountry.Thebookprovidesadetaileddeionof34selectedvillagesinordertoshowthenaturalandSocialphenomenaofthecountrysideinChina.
热门推荐
  • 瀛州玉雨

    瀛州玉雨

    有一个把自己宠上天的太子哥哥是一种什么样的神仙体验,虽然经历了一些难舍难分,不过还好,你依然在我身边
  • 踮起脚尖爱

    踮起脚尖爱

    三年之后的现在,我已经不记得萧子齐是什么样子了……直到今天,突发奇想地在微博上搜索他的名字,终于看到了他的消息,三年后的他,坚持曾经的梦想,成了一名职业的足球运动员,微博只有几十篇,粉丝,我是第3781位。
  • 麻辣冤家

    麻辣冤家

    佛界首席战神,投胎转世凡尘。肩负伏魔使命,化身王者后裔。他(唐弋)命运多舛,降临人间却遭妖道冰封记忆,千年之后重现人间,偶遇野蛮俏天师(张天爱),初见之际就已经如同冰山烈火,欢喜冤家势成水火。她(张天爱)的隐形家族富甲天下、她(赵舒影)的黑道势力雄霸江湖。他们是皇陵古墓的开拓者,他们是降魔除妖的生力军。他们是罪恶世界的新希望,他们是所向披靡的囧拍档。著品更新时间为:10:00【第一回】13:00【第二回】19:00【第三回】。联系扣扣:944101889<Modern┖ее小Q>
  • 最强克星

    最强克星

    最强克星,克尽诸雄!人心叵测,阴谋诡计又何妨,你有张良计,我有过墙梯。世间风云动,剑定乾坤,俯瞰天下,不负前尘不负卿,这就是江岳的完美人生。“我就是克星,而且是最强的那个!”---江岳。
  • 天行

    天行

    号称“北辰骑神”的天才玩家以自创的“牧马冲锋流”战术击败了国服第一弓手北冥雪,被誉为天纵战榜第一骑士的他,却受到小人排挤,最终离开了效力已久的银狐俱乐部。是沉沦,还是再次崛起?恰逢其时,月恒集团第四款游戏“天行”正式上线,虚拟世界再起风云!
  • T的悲伤

    T的悲伤

    现实悲伤的生活导致心理的扭曲,更多的现实让T,TPL.P们从未真正走进生活,就让JASON先生带你走进T的生活。
  • 你是我心底的暖:史上最浪漫的情书

    你是我心底的暖:史上最浪漫的情书

    全书分为六个篇章,共编译了一百多封情书。书信的作者既有政治家、诗人,也有小说家、音乐家、钢琴家和戏剧家等等,全部具有世界影响的大师。此中表达的情感或轰轰烈烈如波涛汹涌,或典雅含蓄如溪流潺潺,或甜蜜单纯,或痴迷纷乱,让读者从这些温情的文字中,看到世界名人不为人知的另一面,同时体会鸿雁传情这种方式的独特滋味。看名人的字字真情,回味那些引人遐思的爱情往事,顾盼自己的恋爱之路,也许你会幡然领悟,懂得如何追求爱、表达爱、掌握爱、珍藏爱、铭记爱,深刻地感受爱。
  • 苦难的开始

    苦难的开始

    不知道说什么,只是必须要写!还必须是二十个字,我也很无奈!
  • 手握钱坤:神秘少主碗里来

    手握钱坤:神秘少主碗里来

    上一世,她一世平凡,性格懦弱,不争不抢,一场别人的纠纷,让她悲催的被烟灰缸砸死,当她再次醒来,却发现她竟重生回到十岁之初,十岁之初,父母依旧恩爱,她也还没有变成别人口中没有“妈”的草根,十岁之初,她的姐姐依然在她的身边,十岁之初,她的弟弟依旧单纯无比。然而,她的回归是否能让一切延续?“我带你去看一百层楼高的房子!”记忆中模糊不清了的少年,如今再见,她是否还会心动?“学妹没关系!我可以等!”温润如水的学长又是否能入她的心。“我都不介意你长得比我丑了,你到底介意什么!”骚包男子是否就是她的真爱?安欣重生!且看她这一世如何呵护家庭,如何专情!
  • 如果一切重来

    如果一切重来

    2012年7月9日清晨,《纽约时报》调查记者安德鲁·斯迪曼在晨跑中遇刺,随之倒在一片血泊之中。清醒后的他发现自己回到了两个月前,上天给了他第二次机会。他有两个月的时间调查阿根廷独裁期间一桩丑闻的真相,弥补对最爱的人犯下的罪孽,并找出杀害自己的凶手。从纽约到布宜诺斯艾利斯,安德鲁开始与时间赛跑。