Moment Of Vengeance And Other Stories Part 15

Dodson said, "You stand in the rain and talk crazy. I'm getting this over with."

Billy-Jack swung down next to the old man. "Listen a minute, Val." To Ofelio, gently again, "But it was in the form of an animal?"

Ofelio's head nodded slowly.

"What did the animal look like?"

"It was," the old man said slowly, not looking at the deputy, "a great stallion." He said quickly, "I can tell you no more than that."

Dodson dismounted.

Billy-Jack said, "And where did the nagual nagual go?" go?"

Ofelio was looking beyond the deputy toward the house. He saw the back door open and John Stam came out on the porch, the shotgun cradled in his arm. Ofelio continued to stare. He could not speak as it went through his mind: He thinks I have told them!

Seeing the old man's face, Billy-Jack turned, then Dodson.

Stam called, "Ofelio, come here!"

Billy-Jack said, "Stay where you are," and now his voice was not gentle. But the hint of a smile returned as he unfastened the two lower b.u.t.tons of his slicker and suddenly he called, "Mr. Stam! You know what a nagual nagual is?" He opened the slicker all the way and drew a tobacco plug from his pants pocket. is?" He opened the slicker all the way and drew a tobacco plug from his pants pocket.

Dodson whispered hoa.r.s.ely, "What's the matter with you!"

Billy-Jack was smiling. "I'm only askin' a simple question."

John Stam did not answer. He was staring at Ofelio.

"Mr. Stam," Billy-Jack Trew called, "before I tell you what a nagual nagual is I want to warn you I can get out a Colt a h.e.l.luva lot quicker than you can swing a shotgun." is I want to warn you I can get out a Colt a h.e.l.luva lot quicker than you can swing a shotgun."

Ofelio Oso died at the age of ninety-three on a ranch outside Tularosa. They said about him he sure told some tall ones-about devils, and about seeing a nagual nagual hanged for murder in Mesilla . . . whatever that meant...but he was much man. Even at his age the old son relied on no one, wouldn't let a soul do anything for him, and died owing the world not one plugged peso. And wasn't the least bit afraid to die, even though he was so old. He used to say, "Listen, if there is no way to tell when death will come, then why should one be afraid of it?" hanged for murder in Mesilla . . . whatever that meant...but he was much man. Even at his age the old son relied on no one, wouldn't let a soul do anything for him, and died owing the world not one plugged peso. And wasn't the least bit afraid to die, even though he was so old. He used to say, "Listen, if there is no way to tell when death will come, then why should one be afraid of it?"

The stories contained in this volume originally appeared in the following publications: "Law of the Hunted Ones," Western Story Magazine Western Story Magazine, December 1952 "The Hard Way," Zane Grey's Western Zane Grey's Western, August 1953 "Trouble at Rindo's Station," Argosy Argosy, October 1953 "No Man's Guns," Western Story Roundup, Western Story Roundup, August 1955 "The Rancher's Lady," August 1955 "The Rancher's Lady," Western Magazine Western Magazine, September 1955 "Moment of Vengeance," Sat.u.r.day Evening Post Sat.u.r.day Evening Post, April 21, 1956 "The Nagual," 2-Gun Western 2-Gun Western, November 1956

ABOUT THE AUTHOR.

ELMORE LEONARD.

has written more than three dozen books during his highly successful career, including the bestsellers The Hot Kid, Mr. Paradise, Tishomingo Blues, Be Cool, Get Shorty, The Hot Kid, Mr. Paradise, Tishomingo Blues, Be Cool, Get Shorty, and and Rum Punch, Rum Punch, and the critically acclaimed collection of short stories, and the critically acclaimed collection of short stories, When the Women Come Out to Dance, When the Women Come Out to Dance, which was named a which was named a New York Times New York Times Notable Book of 2003. Many of his books have been made into movies, including Notable Book of 2003. Many of his books have been made into movies, including Get Shorty Get Shorty and and Out of Sight. Out of Sight. He was named Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America. He lives with his wife, Christine, in Bloomfi eld Village, Michigan. He was named Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America. He lives with his wife, Christine, in Bloomfi eld Village, Michigan.

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Books by Elmore Leonard Moment of Vengeance and Other Stories The Complete Western Stories of Elmore Leonard Mr. Paradise When the Women Come Out to Dance Tishomingo Blues Pagan Babies Be Cool The Tonto Woman & Other Western Stories Cuba Libre Out of Sight Riding the Rap p.r.o.nto Rum Punch Maximum Bob Get Shorty Killshot Freaky Deaky Touch

Bandits Glitz LaBrava Stick Cat Chaser Split Images City Primeval Gold Coast Gunsights The Switch The Hunted Unknown Man No. 89 Swag Fifty-two Pickup Mr. Majestyk Forty Lashes Less One Valdez Is Coming The Moonshine War The Big Bounce Hombre Last Stand at Saber River Escape from Five Shadows The Law at Randado The Bounty Hunters