"Seen sign, Danny," Pythias called to the boy as he went alongside the chuck, "Justus t'other side, Foller me up to the leads, might have ta grab onta 'em should they get hesitant." And slowly the wagon entered the water and began the trip across. They would take no chance with the Chuick wagon. Not just food and eating or cooking supplies, there were personal items in there as well, guns, extra ammunition, things the riders couldn't carry on a daily basis.

It was no quick trip, but they had time to ease the wagon across, there were times however that they had no time and riders would surround the wagon to help it across, This was easygoing, the river bed was solid enough that the wheels did not sink. In what might be called short order, the wagon was across and moving away from the crossing. It was not long after that the herd appeared in minutes the boys began pushing them across, letting them drink but keeping them moving as best as they could. Once on the other side, the cattle were free to drink to their heart's content.

"Good job Justus," Pythias said as the two stood in the river looking after the herd.

"Hey get outta the water!" Lorado called, cookies got the dinner started an' you two'll miss out!" He turned his mount an galloped off.

"Reckon we outta do jest that, 'mon. And he spurred his horse after Lorado.

@Bongo

"Yep, figger 'em to be plumb tuckered out, I do. Be an easy night before we push on oughtta make the Montana Territory line by noon 'er so t'marra. Means we'd be that much closer to where we're a headed. I heard tell the feller whot haired us,well, supposedly, he's got him a brand new built bunk house, ain't never been used. Was we ta stay, why we'd be the fust ta hang are hats in it!" Pythias said with a grin as they rode up to the picket line and stepped down. Alla them critters, includin' the woman's Mogan Horses, is fine and dandy, safe as can be, well fer out here, anyways."

"Boys, you, sure enough, found a good crossin'." Wezzer said, Will and Lorado echoing that remark.

"Smooth as any I remember." Virgil added.

"Eas up , these boys got big enough heads as it is, even if they managed to find the best one." Frank Teal agreed. "Time ta put on the feed bag boys. Let's get to it."

@Bongo

"Well, you'll be seein' it soon enough." Frank Teal said as they ate. "Be eatin' at a table, sleepin' in a bunk. Workin' reg'ler hours. That is if it's what you're  a mind to do. Some cain't tolerate ranch life, but a man can only drive cows so long afore he's too stove up to ride the miles. An' lest you missed it, the railroads are gonna be pickin' up herds right there in Texas and haulin' 'em north. The buyers'll do business on the spot, right there in Texas. And the price per head'll drop because of it. Oh there'll be money to be made, and cowboys'll always be needed, but not drovers. That's all comin'. comin' purdy quick too."

"You know, I was hearin' more and more 'o that kinda talk, and I listened. Didn't want ta believe it, but it sat there makin' more'n more sense to me." Pythias said. "Them Kansas cow towns'll suffer an' dry up with no waddies rollin' inta town for a high time of it. Must be whot they call progress."

Most of the boys were busy with the food dished up for them by Cookie, nodding and grunting as they ate. Many a man knew the wild days on the trail were winding down. There would always be riding jobs, but what the owners lost in the price per head would be offset by wages paid to trail hands for the long drive, not to mention if the owner wasn't on the drive, he would have to trust his foreman to bring the money back south after the sale. Most of this talk of the railroads would not stop cattle drives for another twenty years, and smaller drives would continue, but not on the scale of Chism and Goodnight, the father of the cattle drive.

The lacey curtains remark drew laughter from the men around the chuck wagon. None of them would put up with that, but to most the thought of a roof over their heads, decent meals, not that cookie did not feed well, because he did. And seconds were common, in fact, he expected the men would eat what was served until it was gone. Ranch life had much to offer a good hand, and these men were all good hands.

"Yep, just like they's supposed to!" Pythias remarked about the grazing herd. "Nary a cloud in the sky, so's no threat of rain, which is good, though I 'spose one could develop in short order."

"Nuf'a thet talk, Pythias. Last thing we need is a night storm!" Dixie Brick said.

"I'm out as night hawk t'night and shorely don't need no rain beatin' down n  me!" Logan chimed in.

"That goes fer me too, we'll be out there together!" Craddock added in.

"You won't be alone." Frank said. "I'll be there with ya. Got a bad feelin', want to move them horses in, 'specially them Morgans.I seen sign we might not be alone."

Pythias shook his head, "They don't much like fightin' at night, but stealin' horses, now that's a differ'nt kettle 'o fish. They'll shore as heck come after horses!"

It was early, the sun would be up another three maybe four hours. There was plenty of time for an attack if there were Indian out there. If they were only after horses, then they would wait for nightfall or later before they came in. Pythias finished his plate, for the third time, "Reckon I'll get some shuteye and join you boys t'night."

And so the men that would be on night hawk bedded down and in minutes were asleep. The others helped around camp to make it some better than it was, then began hobbling the remuda and Missus Pike's Morgan horses. Four of the men stood watch, each with a rifle ready in case Teal was right and the redskins were going to make a move against them.

Gunfire would set off a stampede, one thing they didn't need, but it would be the horses and each other that they needed to protect, so everyone was vigilant. The trees offered all the cover the Indians would need to move close to the white man's camp, even though it was situated in the open. There would still be ground the red man would have to cross to get to anything, including the hobbled horses. A night raid was possible because it was a horse stealing raid, but if they were watching, and almost to a man the cowboys knew they were watching, the Indians could see what they were up against.

"A dawn raid, the night hawks will be tired, so we rouse half a dozen around three or four to take up positions." Teal said.

"Good idee, Frank. Give them horse thieves more'n they bargained for." Pythias agreed. "How many you figger? Half a dozen or more?"

"Likely eight to ten. A war party could really be any size, but I'm thinkin' that we was seen, and it's not a big party, course now I could be wrong and all are hair'll be hanging on some lodge poles before this is over." Frank said plainly. One could never be sure of how many they would face, so they had to be ready to fight for their lives.

Dusk was beginning to fall as the men settled in for the night, but each was ready, his rifle next to him and each sleeping light, ready for whatever. It would be a few more hours before the night men would take over, and those on watch were plenty cautious, even Cookie and Danny under the chuck wagon were armed and sleeping light as most do in times of stress, and this was certainly one.