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.
Posted October 22, 2022
Justus nodded, gigging Pete to follow after Dallas, hoping to find Mule unharmed, and, of course, all the other horses. While the cowboys had their current mounts, the horses needed to be spelled, especially after the mad chase they'd just had, so the remuda was crucial. More important, of course, were the fine-bread Morgans, just as valuable, if not more, than the cattle, so it was imperative to track down the horses.
And then the chase was over...the errant horses were found grazing quietly, without a care in the world, and Justus let out a sigh of relief. Now it was just a matter of steering them back to the heard...and supper!
Because it was only then that he realized how long this had all been going on and how hungry he was. And likely how hungry Pete was as well...he'd advocate for an extra ration of feed for the horse.
"Does it look like they're all there?" he asked Dallas. Mule was easy to spot, the paint stood out, but Justus had no idea how many other horses there should be. "Let's get 'em back, I'm hunrgy!"
Posted October 23, 2022
Dallas smiled, "Best idea I've heard all day, now all we need is Frank to call a break. But, if there's water ahead, he head for it. Water and grass, yep the animals'll be needin' it jest the same as us." He agreed. He stood in his stirrups. "Looks to me like they're all there. A bit spread out, but all there."
Frank Teal rode up beside them, "Alright. Lorado says there's water ahead, maybe a mile 'er two. We need ta drive this cayuses back and then get the whole shebang movin' , though they'll smell the water, and thank God their already run out, so's we wo'nt be running after 'em again!" He looked around Looks to me like they're all here, so let's get to it!"
Posted October 23, 2022
Justus nodded. He always hated when more work made more sense in the long run, but he knew that grazing and water would make for happier cows, and happier cows made for easier work. After their run, with good food, they'd likely be quiet and content tonight.
With the horses focused on grazing, it was a fairly easy task to get around them, then quietly start driving them toward the main group.
It was a relief to spot the herd, and then the chuck wagon, which was like a beacon to the men, the promise of a meal, but more, the center of camp. So long as the chuck wagon was there, all was as well as it could be.
Glancing at Dallas as they got closer to their goal. "Did ya see who started all this? How many ya reckon there were? Whada ya think become of 'em?"
Posted October 24, 2022
Dallas looked at Wheeler as they moved the horses toward the herd, There were eight, maybe ten. Never saw the shadow man, and one of the them that was in the ambush ran. Them that wasn't killed outright were hung. It's what they do with rustlers." He said flatly. Not to scare Wheeler, just to tell him what happens to those who steal cattle or horses. "You need to understand they would have killed all of us for the herd and these horses, 'specially the Morgans. Fetch top dollar for 'em."
A hard fact of life. The rustlers plan would have been to kill Teals cowboys, or die trying. They would have taken the heard and the horses to where they could sell them, and Dallas was right about the Morgan Horses fetching top dollar.
"What they tried, made us the law out here. What we done had to be done. Them men strung up sends a message. Don't you doubt that for a minute. These animals are ours to protect until they're delivered." He added.
Posted October 25, 2022
"Yes, sir." Justus wasn't surprised at the news, he pretty much expected it, but to hear the words spoken aloud was shocking and disconcerting. Still, he understood. "Guess there wasn't much else ta do, an' yer right, they'd killed us if they'd had th' chance."
It was one of the reasons he was here...the gang he was running with was getting closer and closer to outright violence against people they merely perceived as threats. Not that there was any right in killing men who were defending their property, and Justus knew it was just a matter of time before something horrible happened...as if robbing people of their hard-earned money wasn't bad enough.
"Glad I was chasin' cows," he muttered.
Posted October 26, 2022
Frank Teal surveyed the remuda, it was in tact, all of mounts as well as the prize Morgans were accounted for and returned to the trail north. Teal called a halt and sent Dixie and Weezer on up ahead in search of water. The cattle and horses would need it by then. All that running makes for a healthy thirst.
Pythias rode up along side Frank, "We got lucky that go round. They'd waylaid herds before, that wasn't random by any stretch of the imagination." Was his take on the attempt. That kid, Wheeler, he's doin' a fine job of it so far. Maybe take him with me on point when we get rollin' again?"
"Sure, be good for him, seems to get along well with most of the boys he's worked with, and that's always a good sign, and no complaints, so he's no shirker." Was Frank's appraisal, "I been watchin' him an' I like what I see so far. but the test is when push comes to shove and he has to kill a man, I figure we still go a ways to go, an' we ain't see the last of bad men."
"Nope we sure ain't, red or white, we'll likely see both before we're though with this drive. You figger that fell what hired us means to keep us on?" Modeen replied in question.
"Pike? If he offered, he meant it. Be good to get up to the trees and al four seasons stead of hot an' hotter." Frank assured him. It was then that Dixie Brick came thundering back, with Wheezer right behind him, both shouting, "Water!"
Posted October 26, 2022
Water! The end of the trail for the day! And it wasn't difficult to encourage all the animals to go that way, nor to stop once they got to the edge of the water, where everyone had a chance to get a drink. Seemed like everyone, man and critter, was more than ready to settle down for the night.
Once he had Pete brushed out and settled down for the evening, Justus hobbled over to his own horse, finding that, although he was accustomed to being in the saddle all day, the work of chasing crazy cows was more physically demanding than he realized.
Mule greeted him with a soft nicker, apparently not at all upset that he wasn't having to go under-saddle, and more than happy to accept the peppermint candy that Justus fed him.
"How ya doin', ol' boy?" Justus ran his hand over the cool, smooth hair under the horse's mane. "Seems like we might have somethin' here," he murmured. "maybe even a good place ta stay, where no one knows nothin' 'bout us. It'll be good."
He was getting more and more comfortable with the crew, and more convinced that this was the right thing to start over.
Posted October 28, 2022
So the herd led the way, and it was all the drovers could do to hold them to a trot, the bell cow clanging her way to the water. All of them glad to smell the water.
"Get across ta the other side, them cows'll head over for the graze after they drink their fill." Teal shouted as they reached the river, and it was running ankle deep in places for the cattle. The water was running slow and that was good.
It didn't take long for the animals to gather in the water drinking. They were going no where now that there waster water and grass, there were trees. not so many as to lose animals in them. Riders crossed over behind cookies chuck wagon and began to set up camp, string a picket line for the horses and whatever else needed to be done. Danny was busy gathering firewood and getting it started.
"Hey Wheeler," Pythias called out. "Come the morrow, you an' me'll take the point, do some scouting ahead, how's that sound?"
Posted October 28, 2022
"Yeah, all right." Justus nodded, feeding Mule another peppermint, then turning to face Pythias. "So, point...sounds like that means in front?" He should be so lucky! "Ahead'a them cows, right?"
At least that was how it sounded to him, although he had no idea what to expect. "That somethin' I can take Mule out on, so he doesn't get all lazy an' spoiled?" While he liked the remuda horses, he wouldn't mind having his own mount for a day, although he'd listen to whatever advice he was given.