"Louis L'amour - sackett05 - Ride The River" - читать интересную книгу автора (L'Amour Louis)

"His was one of the trials I attended when I first began studying for the law.
Of course I remember him."
"I have reason to believe he is one of those who will attempt to rob Miss
Sackett." Briefly then he explained about White and Horst, the will and the
visit to White's office. Then he added, "Do not take this lightly. Horst is a
first-class fighting man and he will kill without a qualm. I suspect others are
involved."
Finian Chantry reached into his desk drawer and drew out a small sack of coins
and tossed them on the desk. "Take that, for expenses. And you will find Archie
waiting in the outer office."
"Archie? You mean the waiter from the club?"
"The same, Archie will go with you, but not as a servant, as a companion. He is
a good horseman, and he's not a man to trifle with. I'd rather have him ride
with you than anyone else I know. He went with me to the Dutchman's the other
night."
Dorian stared. "You? At the Dutchman's? At your age?"
Finian Chantry smiled. "At my age. And I discovered I am still not as old as you
might believe. In fact, I feel ten years younger for the experience." He stood
up. "Go now, Dorian, and be careful. This is a deadly serious business."
Dorian pocketed the sack of money and after a quick handclasp went out. The
powerful black man, Archie, awaited him. "I have our horses at your quarters,
sir, and I've packed what is necessary except for your weapons."
"You are armed?"
"Oh, yes, sir! I know Mr. Horst, and White as well, but unless I am mistaken,
there will be others involved. White has a man working for him named Tim Oats, a
very rough man, sir."
Dorian Chantry listened to the clop-clop of the carriage horse's hooves, his
meeting with Frances only a dim memory. His uncle, Finian Chantry, was sending
him out to protect a young lady from such as Felix Horst! Suddenly he was very
proud. Uncle Finian must think well of him, after all, for this was no job for a
child.
His thoughts skipped back a few years. He remembered the coolness of Felix Horst
in the courtroom. Once their eyes had met across the crowded room. He still
remembered the contempt in Horst's eyes, and flushed at the memory.
"If we ride hard, sir, we can overtake them at Chambersburg. It is a night stop
for the stage, and they will start late the next morning."
"If nothing happens until then."
"There's a brief stop at Elizabeth Town, and then they cross the Susquehanna a
bit later."
"What will Horst do?"
"I don't know, sir, but he will be careful. He is known to the law now and would
get no sympathy from the courts. He will choose his time."
"Would he kill her?"
"Yes, sir. He would. He has killed before ... and, sir? He knows the country we
are going into. He used to operate along the Natchez Trace."
"What about Oats?"
"A thug, sir. A very strong man. He was a pugilist for a time. He's been a
gambler, a shoulder striker, a thoroughly bad man, sir."
"I've boxed some myself."
Archie glanced at him, then asked, "Have you ever fought, sir? I mean really