"Well, cows survive on the open range in all kinds'a weather, thet's fer shore. But then ya gotta get the feed out to 'em. Winter's ken be a hard job'a work! No easy days in front'a the fire, 'er the stove, no sir, called workin' cold!" Pythias explained.
"We ain't outta the woods yet neither. Many a mile ta go yet, an' there's always weather, injuns and outlaws ta consider. So this here ain't no holly'day neither! But then too, might jest be a long ride where nuthin' happens, and that'd be okay too." He grinned, "Not havin' ta burn no powder, nor hunger down tryin' ta keep warn an' a fire goin' be alright with me. Sooner we reach Montana, the better I'm thinking."
"I'm all in fer that!" Justus chuckled. "We already had enough excitement, an' besides, I'm kinda anxious ta see this Rockin' P. Brand new spread, new bunkhouse...we stay on there...if I stay on there, I'd be helpin' ta make a go on a new ranch, an' not just cows, but them pretty horses..."
There was so much possibility, and to be in on establishing something that was essentially new, that could really be exciting, so long as this Mr. Pike was a good man. But then, Justus had the option of moving on, not that he had any other prospects right now, and he honestly didn't want to leave this group of men.
"Well so far as I know, alla the boys is plannin' on stayin' on." Pythis said. Be a good thing for us ta do. Gotta deal with the winter, but the thing is, ever whare ya go, ya get ta deal with somethin'." Then he laughed, "Heat, cold, rain snow, just condition whta ya got no control over. leastways, at a ranch, why ya got comforts. Even in the winter time."
Pythias had seen both sides, and for his money, being on a spread made the most sense, now that he was older. A warm bunk house, with hot meals in the winter, no sleeping on the hard ground in any weather, fighin' to keep warm and dry in the cold rain, or just dry with it was summer. Texas summers were no picnic either.
"So ya might oughtta think on it some." We got us a ways ta go yet, but afore ya know it, we'll be pushin' them horns onto the Rocki' P Ranch." Pythias offered. "Hard ta go wrong workin' on a spread."
Since the Indians things had been quiet, and that was how Frank Teal liked it. But Frank had been on to many drives not to be suspicious so he did what he normally would not do, he sent four riders back well behind the herd to scout the country for whatever had given him reason to send them. Nothing concrete, but a feeling that crawled up his back.
Pecos Pete, Lorado, Dallas, and Ames thundered off as Frank halted the herd for the noon meal. He stepped down and went to Nate 'Cookie Ambrose and young Danny Baker, "Make it fast and easy, I gotta feelin' there's com'nee behind us. Not sure who 'er what, but I don't lke it, could be injuns, could be white men. Just feed 'em quick as you can!"
"Yes boss." Nate replied as they went to work making sandwiches. "Haveta make bread next chance we get, Danny. This'll about clean us out."
When everyone was present Frank stood and said, "Got me a feelin' somethin' ain't right, an' it's comin' up behind us. Now, I could be wrong, but I don't think so Dixie, Logan, and Wheezer, eat fast, grab up them Morgan Horses and run to catch Pythias and Gibbs, be ready to fight if you have to. We'll be movin' as soon as we all eat. An' everyone be ready for whatever we gotta do, includin' stampedin' the herd."
The three were eating as fast as they could and as one they went to the Morgans, loosed their hitch, and took out at a gallop! whatever it was that Frank felt, the Morgans were what he thought were the prize.
For the past little while, Justus and Pythias had been riding in companionable silence, and Justus was enjoying the day. Not that he wasn't alert and paying attention, but he was also thinking on what lay ahead, how the ranch was going to be, steady bed and food, a future that wasn't just living day to day, and wondering where you were going to be tomorrow.
It started as a faint rumble, far off behind them, but it only took a minute for Justus and Pythias to look at each other, then stop and turn their horses to face the noise. Hoof-beats, but not enough to be the whole herd running pel-mel, and the cloud of dust didn't seem to indicate that, either.
And then the men and horses came into view, and Justus glanced at Pythias. "Whacha think that's all about?" Nothing good, he was certain!
"Thet's Weezer, Brick, and MacVay towin' them Morgans hell bent fer breakfast!!" Pythias exclaimed, recognizing the men right off. He drew out his Winchester because this was about trouble!
"Be ready, whatever lit a far under them boys ain't good news!"
With a cloud of dust washing over all of them, the men and the Morgans came to a halt.
"Howdy!" Brick greeted, "Troubles not yet happened. Frank, he sent Pecos, Lorado, Dallas, and Ames scoutin' behind the herd, he's got one'a them feelin's he gets. Thinks whoever's comin' up from behind's after these here Morgans, told us ta be ready ta fight."
"Gonna be them with the herd doin' the fightin' an' that scatter the herd, shore as hell!" McVay added.
"Wished I wuz back there with 'em. No tellin' how many's comin' ta the party." Weezer stated as he along with the others drew rifles from their saddle scabbards. "Be a shame ta miss alla the fun!"
"Ain't no fun in dyin' Weezer, none atall! But we best be ready fer it if they get past the herd. Maybe hobble them horses in the trees and take up positions in them rocks there." Pythias suggested, "Justus, keep a look out!"
"'zactly whot I was thinking." Brick said with a smile and they went to work with hobbling the horses, all of them, back in the trees, grabbed extra ammunition and spare pistols and fanned out in the rocks, just in case whoever it was got past the herd.
Justus helped with securing the horses, then grabbed his rifle and scrambled up the hillside with the others. While he hoped that no one was targeting the horses, he hoped they didn't go after the herd, either. What with the men here watching over the horses, there weren't so many left with the cattle that they could effectively control them if they ran.
"How true are Mr. Teal's feelin's?" he asked. He'd met those who claimed to have 'feelings' all the time, but nothing had ever come of them, and then there were those who rarely had a 'feeling', but when they did...look out!
Weezer looked at him a long moment. "Boss gets a' eech he can't scratch, will, look out, sum'p'in's gonna happen!" He levered a shell into the breech of his '66 Winchester Yellowboy carbine. "Best yer ready."
Pythias was nodding, "Never know'd one a'his feelin's ta be wrong." He said, adding, "an' they're usually bad!"
What they could not know was, that Pecos, Lorado, Dallas, and Ames came racing back to the herd, and there were riders behind them maybe six or eight.
"They was back yonder, takin' their time a follerin' us. Well, we come on to 'em too fast and the shootin' started but we was able to dodge into the trees and then a follerin'!" Ames explained. "We shook loose'a them and took out fer here!"
"They was ten easy, I know we got two of 'em at least, maybe winged a couple more. Not sure what their deal is, but it ain't peaceable!" Dallas added.
"Well, we'll give 'em a Winchester welcome then," Frank said, no one was with the herd, they were all at the chuck wagon, and Cookie and Danny both had rifles under it. "'mon, they're just about on top of us!" and they ran the ten yards to the wagon. Then, just as it seemed they were about to ride right into them, they veered off, they were after the horses! Not the remuda either. The fusillade from Frank and his men made some hits, and emptied one saddle.
Back where the Morgans were hidden in the trees they could here the pops from what must have been rifle fire, and a lot of it.
"It's on!" Pythias said, and in that moment, they were on edge, not knowing what to expect until they heard horses coming. "Be sure it ain't are boys afore ya shoot!!" He looked at Justus and smiled.
Justus was tense and relaxed at the same time -- he was no stranger to gunfights, although he'd done his best before to avoid them, to lay-low and not engage with whatever posse was after them this time. It had been easy when he was young, the men and his father understood that he was just a boy.
But as he got older, there were questions -- wasn't he with them? Why wasn't he shooting? Because he didn't want to kill some poor farmer trying to get his money back!
This was different, though, these men were the bandits, the criminals, and for a change, Justus was on the 'right' side. Levering a round into his rifle, he took aim at the path below them, waiting...waiting...
The riders came into view, bent low over their mounts, going full-out gallop. Justus drew a bead on the second man back, then squeezed off a shot, taking note that the man tumbled from the saddle, although he felt no triumph. Taking a breath, he changed aim to another of the bandits.
No one had to say anything when the raiders came into view, rifles barked and riders fell. The price for attacking the herd, or the horses was an ounce of lead, or more depending, but in the end, it was death.
"That'll teach 'em!" Brick said. "'cept that'd be the last lesson the owl hoots ever get!"
"I'm headed back to the herd, best we see what happened back yonder!" Wheezer said making his wabcak down toward where their horses were hobbled. Right behind him was Dallas gathering up guns and two of the outlaws mounts.
"That went fast!" Will Ames commented on the shooting, "Looks like you got yerself a man 'er two there Justus. Figger that'd be all of 'em, Pythias?
"Shore hope so, with us standin' 'round in plain sight. But I reckon was there others they'd'a been here by now." Then he turned to Justus. "You alright, Gibbs? Hate ta have ta a new partner!" He joshed as Wheezer swung aboard his mount and took out to meet the herd
