Posted October 16, 2022
"Yes, sir." Justus nodded, resisting the urge to look, or let his hand drop to his pistol...he had enough practice at not tipping his hand, so he was able to remain steady on his path, waiting patiently for a couple of minutes, until a cow decided to take a side-trip. That gave him a chance to swing out and scan the tree-line as he worked to guide the cow back, taking more time than he needed to.
Once Chloe was back where she belonged, Justus gigged Pete into an easy lope, catching up to Logan. "I seen two back there," he muttered, "'bout a quarter mile apart. No question they're pacin' us."
That didn't mean the intention was ill, could be they were all just headed the same way, but that wasn't likely.
Posted October 16, 2022
"Thet were a nice move. You'll do Wheeler You'll do." Dallas said appreciatively. "Best I tell Frank an' Pythias 'bout this. You let Logan know, be easy, they're a ways back, but I'm thinkin' if there's trouble to be had, it'll be up ahead."
With that, Dallas loped ahead almost casually toward the front of the herd, where Frank and Pythias were. He eased in beside the pair who gave him a curious look. "Wheeler and me spotted a couple hombres pacin' us. 'bout a quarter mile back."
"Good work, seen this before." Frank said. "You ease on back to where you was."
"Yes'sir. Dallas answered and walked his mount back toward Logan and Justus, letting them and the herd catch up to him that way he hoped it didn't raise an alarm. He had no idea what would happen next, but Frank Teal was no nonsense when it came to facing trouble.
Posted October 17, 2022
Justus nodded, although there wasn't going to be any relaxing until something happened...and maybe nothing would happen. Still, Justus couldn't think of a good reason the men would be trailing them, unless they were just down-on-their-luck cowboys hoping for a hot meal.
This was an odd spot for him to be in, not sure if he was predator or prey, and while he was able to concentrate on the task at hand, his nerves translated to the horse, and Pete started to get antsy, tossing his head and snorting as he pranced along with the cows.
Posted October 18, 2022
The trees began to thicken, and suddenly they were swinging wide to the left, due to a massive outcropping of rock, sagebrush, and trees. They lost sight of the men shadowing the herd at that point while Teal, Modeen, the one called Craddock, Weezer and Tisdale spurred their mounts into what might be called a ragged skirmish line, with guns drawn and meaning to do business if there were herd cutters on the other side of the rock formation.
Open country, meaning where there were no ranches, was notorious for herd cutters, white or red, and a fight, had it been range land things would be different, but there would not have been men shadowing the the herd. They were there to watch in case the herd was turned away from what might be the ambush site.
The cover grew too thick for the watchers, and that hid any movement by the cattle or the drovers. They were blind, but not deaf! The thundering hooves of the five horses could certainly be heard, if there were men to hear it, and that meant the jig was up! But there were no herd cutters, or rustlers waiting in ambush.
"Other side!" Teal shouted reining his horse hard around, and sure enough eight riders came boiling up out of a coulee, only to face stiff resistance from Lorado and Will's Winchester fire which dropped three of their number before they got a shot off. One had flipped backwards out of the saddle and the man behind him rode over the body, his horse, tangled up in the body, fell sideways his rider trying to kick free but a bit late.
The cattle did what spooked cattle do they stampeded!
Posted October 18, 2022
The shooting, in this case, was a necessary evil, but it added to the fire that was already starting up in the herd, and as Justus looked in the direction of the gunshots, the stampede was already starting, and in the space of a few seconds, it was in full swing!
The speed and chaos were almost overwhelming, and it took a few seconds for Justus to recall what he'd been told, and to move into action. Get ahead of the herd and turn them...
That was it, right? Already, Pete was in a full-out gallop, so Justus crouched low over his neck, giving him his head and glancing quickly to his side to see what the others were doing...
Posted October 19, 2022
One rider wheeled his horse around and made a break for it. The other three raised their hands in surrender. Teal was right there. "Make sure the wounded are dead and hang the rest unless they move then kill 'em! " He shouted, then raced after the herd with the other riders already in hot pursuit. He was angry, the remuda was on the loose, and that meant the Morgan Horses were running with them.
Up ahead he could see McVay, Wheeler, Pecos, Virgil, Dallas, and Dixie closing on the herd and the remuda. He was always surprised at how fast cattle could run when they were a mind too. The horses, well they could run for a while, and that would be a problem. The cattle could be turned and they would slow to a walk and be turned again. The men chasing down the horses, they would be at it a spell!
Lorado and Ames sat their horses while Craddock, Tisdale, Wheezer, and Modeen saw to it that Teals instructions were carried out. Those gunshot were dead, the one who was under his mount had is chest crushed, the horse, a broken leg. Lorado put him down.
Cookie and the kid gathered up the herd cutters guns and gun belts. The three remaining outlaws sat their horses awaiting the fate of all rustlers, a rope and a tree.
Posted October 20, 2022
Riding at a full gallop could be exhilarating, but it would occur later to Justus that he was rarely just riding at a gallop for the pure joy of it. This was different from the times that he'd been fleeing angry town citizens, although no less dangerous, and he was expecting at any moment for the horse to stumble and go head-over-heels, and throw Justus to oblivion.
But the horse actually seemed to be enjoying something other than plugging along, and was moving over the uneven ground with gusto! They were gaining on the front of the herd, and as he moved into position to start turning them, he noticed that the remuda was running wild, and Mule was right there with them, and Justus could swear he could see the horse smiling!
Still, the horses were not really sticking with the cows, and lord only knew where they'd end up. Slowing Pete a little, he sat taller in the saddle, then managed to whistle, the call he used for Mule, but he wasn't sure it would make a difference, and he needed to help turn the herd...
Posted October 21, 2022
Suddenly the riders closed on the front of the herd and young Wheeler. With practiced ease they moved on the lead cattle and began firing the pistols as they began pushing the bell cow and the other cattle to the right where the ground had widened, and the trees and other obstacles were less, giving the cattle an easier time of it and less chance of injury.
McVay, Pecos, Virgil, Dallas, and Dixie all stayed with the herd until it turned, the dust settling and the herd slowing to a walk. The idea would be to turn them again, back toward the north, and settle them down. A stampede runs weight off of cattle, weight they'll need for the rest of the trip.
They were maybe a mile or two from the ambush site, perhaps more. It seemed reasonable that the horses would slow or stop altogether, and graze. That was the hope anyway as Teal and the others caught up to them.
Posted October 21, 2022
At first, the change in pace wasn't really noticeable, but then there seemed to be a rapid deceleration, as the cows seemed to get bored with the mad dash, or perhaps forgot that they were supposed to be dashing...
At any rate, they seemed to be worn out, and were finally slowing to an aimless walk that the cowboys were more than happy to direct. Justus took the chance to relax, reaching to pat Pete's lathered neck. He had no idea where they were, but he just hoped the cows had run in the general direction they were supposed to go, so that they hadn't lost ground.
And he hoped that Mule was all right, and not a free-range pony now, running off into oblivion. Fortunately, the fancy Morgans were valuable enough that he knew they'd be hunted down.
Now, he was curious how the scattered groups would get back together...
Posted October 22, 2022
"Wheeler, 'mon! After the horses." Dallas shouted as he and Dixie started in the direction of last sighting of the horses. There was still dust to the east, but the two knew they would not run for long.
The chuck wagon rumbled by, ahead of the cattle now positioned to head north. Time had been lost, but not distance. Men were catching up to the herd after finishing with Teal's orders, which included the hangings. Such was the price for rustling or herd cutting which amounted to the same thing. Modeen had cut off from the others, after those in pursuit of the horse herd which included Teal himself.
They rode fast until the saw the horses, They needed the remuda for fresh horses, and the Morgans were in the thick of them, grazing, tails swishing as they fed on the tall prairie grass.