Posted October 11, 2022 · IP
Justus was up the instant the bell started ringing, and while he was full awake, that didn't mean he was happy about it! Sitting up, he grumbled, but didn't waste any time securing his bedroll then getting into the line for breakfast.
Thank heavens, the wind had died down, although he had to wonder if the cows were still out there in the darkness. Well, some of them were, he could hear them moving around and occasionally moo-ing, but for all they knew, most of the cows could be gone. UGG! That would mean hunting them down, a lot of work, losing time...
Actually, from the sounds of it, the cows knew it was time to get back on the trail, too, so maybe they'd cooperate and move along nicely!
"We gonna have th' same horses as yesterday?" he asked, hoping he'd be able to ride Annie again. Seemed smart to let the horse and rider get to know each other, but he wasn't sure how that worked.
Posted October 11, 2022
"Could be, but there's three apiece so horses get some rest. Not sure if they need it cuz we ain't runnin' 'em hard. Course now the wind took some outta all of 'em." It was Pecos. "Frank, he likes men ta switch mounts, might not be easier for us, but it dang sure is fer them. Them cayuses get plum ugly if they don't get worked reg'ler. Might give ya a ride first thing, but they settle down soon enough."
"Wish'd I knew this here country better. They's Injuns about, heck, they're ever'where so we needs ta keep vigil'nt an' are hardware handy. Was hopin' fer cackleberries, but we'll not see them now fer a spell." He added.
Posted October 11, 2022
"Food's food." Justus shrugged, then grinned. "Just, some food's better'n others! I'd take gruel, but prefer steak!" Of course, they all felt that way, and they knew that eventually, food would be lavish again...some days would be better than other, but there was always knowing that a great meal was on the horizon...he hoped!
"Don't mind somethin' quick, though, sooner we get back on th' trail, th' sooner we get them cows where they're goin', an' th' sooner we don't have ta rush on th' trail."
Provided, of course, he stayed on in Montana.
Posted October 12, 2022
Pecos smiled, "Yep, grubs grub. Steak's well will have some along the way here. Might have venison 'er Elk, or whatever the country offers up." Well then we best finish up an' git to it. Frank don't usually start us out in the dark, but we need to make up time, so we'll bunch 'em up and move out at first light."
With breakfast behind them, the boys moved to the horses, pulling out a mount and trying it to a nearby tree and starting the process of saddling up. The first fight of the day, getting the bit in the horses mouth, followed by the tying the reins to the same tree and removing the halter and lead rope.
Posted October 12, 2022
Following the others over to the horses that had been singled out for the day, Justus was given a bay gelding named 'Pete', mild animal that stood sedately as Justus put on his tack and adjusted it. Chances were good that there wasn't going to be any conflict today, and Justus was glad for that. As fir Mule, the paint horse was more than happy to just be herded along with the others, living the life of leisure.
Once mounted up, he headed out with the others to wake up the cows that weren't already grazing, and start them moving toward Montana again.
Posted October 13, 2022
A typical morning with a couple of the horses objecting by buck jumping, crow hopping, and twisting about before settling in for the days work. As for for the new man, he was teamed on the right flank of the herd with Dallas and one man he had yet to meet. A standoffish sort of fellow.
"Okay, Wheeler weren't it? This is almost a gravy job out here. We might have to turn a couple mavericks back into the herd, but mostly we keep our eyes pealed for trouble." Dallas explained. "Now I don't expect none, but I never been in this country so you keep your gun, ready. Yer Colt loaded? That Winchester?"
"This here's Logan, a gruff son of a buck, but you can count on him when things get tight."
The man called Logan leaned across with a hand extended, "Logan, Logan McVay. Don't believe anything Dallas says, not ever! You pull yer weight we'll get along jest fine."
Posted October 14, 2022
"Good ta meet ya, sir." Justus reached over to shake Logan's hand. "Justus Wheeler. An' doncha worry, I'll pull my weight."
Sitting up in the saddle, he grinned. "That's why I stay a skinny ol' cuss, so I don't weigh so much!" He chuckled again, then urged Pete into a trot as they headed around to the flank. Considering the wind, they'd had to deal with the day before, the morning was cool and still, so with any luck they could make up some time, and the cows would cooperate.
Posted October 14, 2022
The herd sort of fanned out length ways, and riding on the flank gave a different look and feel. Dallas and Logan also strung out along side the herd, the intent was to keep the cattle from straying off, so it was work not just riding along side the cattle. At least,they were out of the dust more so than those riding drag.
Larado and Will Ames were out ahead of everything, scouting. Frank and Pythias were everywhere it seemed, circling the herd, dropping back or riding ahead. It was plain that they were on the lookout for trouble of any kind. It was new country to them so they were cautious, yet the herd was moving at a good pace, eating up ground, making a trail where none existed.
Posted October 15, 2022
While the job was a bit cleaner today, there was still plenty of work to be done, keeping this flank of the herd with the herd, and chasing after the occasional cow that wanted to run off on its own instead of going to Montana.
Pete proved to be an easy ride, having that sense that a cow-horse did, knowing almost even before the cow did that it was going to run astray!
And so far, so good...there'd been no major set-backs, and while it would be nice for every day to be like this, Justus was smart enough to know that wasn't going to happen!
Posted October 15, 2022
The day to day business of driving cattle was not exciting, it was work. It could he hot and nasty or cold and miserable. Yet between the two extremes, it could almost be pleasant, so long as you were not riding drag.
No matter the weather or the position one rode, everyday had the same tasks. One might think that it would be hard to do the same things day in and day out, but men on the drive were always alert to the dangers involved with pushing horns, as they called it. It was, for the most part the weather and the terrain more than men, red or white, yet, both could be threats.
New country always posed problems if no one had ridden it before. Heading north-west they would run into towns, with Frank Teal there was no rowdy whooping it up in town, he could not abide the behavior that had been common in Abilene, Hays, or Dodge City. Men wearing guns and imbibing cheap whiskey notoriously got themselves in trouble. As a result, men died.
However, the towns they would encounter would not be the cow towns of Kansas. In fact, along the route Teal was taking, the towns would have seen few herds passing by, and fewer cow hands. Teal would take the chuck wagon in to whatever store the town had and restock what he could. Likely as not pick up a couple of bottles of whiskey and return to his herd, then move on.
There was no sense letting his men loose on an unsuspecting town. So they would push on, and at supper, miles from town, there would be a couple of drinks each, and a strict rule that no one would ride back to town. All the men who worked for Teal knew exactly what he demanded, break the rules, get fired on the spot.
Dallas rode up alongside young Wheeler, "Keep your eyes peeled Justus, I believe we're being shadowed. Believe I seen flashes of a man riding parallel to us, but a ways off. Cain't make out if it's an injun 'er not. Damn trees, too much cover." He smiled and rode on to tell Logan and then on to inform Teal and Pythias Modeen.