Justus had always enjoyed the stillness of the night, and it was even better when they weren't hiding, or running from someone trying to hunt them down. Of course, he was aware that that opinion might change if or when the cows decided to act up, but for now he was content to ride along the fringes of the herd with Pete, discussing the job at hand.
"Be good ta have a chance ta work with everyone," Justus observed, "get more knowledge that way, so I'll be an expert in no time!" He laughed quietly, although there was some truth to it...even though the end product was the same, each man has his own expertise and way of doing things, and learning those would help him figure out what worked best for him.
"You ever have a run-in with rustlers?"
Pecos Pete was a canny sort, and the question made him smile, "Yep, a time 'er two. Always somebody out to take whot ya got. 'specially stock. Thet's why they hang 'em when they catch 'em. Decorate the trees with 'em. Men work hard to build somethin' out here and then here come the cow thieves, them what don't do a lick a work, but rob an' steal an honest man's efferts!"
He looked a Justice, "Figger you've had some truck with them sorts? Have ya?" A pointed question. It mattered little, unless he was the point man meant to infiltrate the drive, then it would be totally different. Until anyone had proof, Justice was just another hand under Frank Teal
"No, sir." Justus shook his head, relieved that he could answer truthfully, for he didn't want to lie to these men. "Seems like a lot'a risk an' trouble fer a few dollars...havin' ta get cows in th' first place, then drive 'em an' sell 'em, an' if ya hafta change brands..." He chuckled. "Brandin's bad enough without tryin' ta alter someone else's mark."
He had to admit, though, that a night as peaceful as this surely was good for a man's soul, and he actually started to feel like he had a decent future ahead of him, and he was determined to make something of it.
"Yep. A whole lotta work for not all that much really. I mean in the end whatta they got? Stole beef, if they kin sell 'em with altered brands, less than what they're worth, at least here, up north I hear that's a differn't story." Pete explained.
They rode a while in silence, listening to the night sounds and learning them to be able to tell any sound that is new. "Hear how the breeze rustles the leaves in the trees, different from a man or beast pushing through, not that no beast'd ever make much of a sound. The crickets further out, Hoot owls a talkin', coyotes barkin' at the moon, all's well. When them sounds disappear, we could be in for it. Might be men, maybe beast, or, could be weather."
Justus nodded. He was familiar with the concept, but usually they were the ones causing the fuss that silenced the night sounds.
"So, how do ya know what's causin' th' disturbance?" Justus grinned. "Just wait an' find out what hits ya?" Of course, he wasn't sure there was a way to tell until it was just on you, except for the weather.
"Most'a th' time, I know ya can smell a storm comin', just a matter of how bad it's going to be." Even if you could smell the rain on the wind, there was no telling if or when it was going to reach you, nor if it was going to bring a quick shower or all-out deluge complete with thunder and lightening.
"How? Can't rightly say. But that's when ya shuck yer Winchester, jest in case. Now a storm on the way, with cows they're all bad, jest the degree of how bad. Lightnin'll start a stampede sure as hell, an' thet's the dangerous part of it. Rain? Not hardly, mostly them doggies'll bed down in the down pour. an' we kin try and get outta it." Pete replied.
"Hard to keep dry in the rain, but, it'll pass and we'll dry out. Might cost us a day 'er so, but we'll be back at it soon enough." He added. "An' I expect we'll see some weather afore too long. Least ways it won't be snow. Thet's real misery!"
"Surely not fond'a gettin' wet!" Sure, it was a fact of life for men who's paths led them out of the conventions of town, but for the most part, come a bad storm, they'd find a place to lay low until it had passed.
Of course, he had no delusion that they could hide from weather when they were running nanny on a herd of cows, and he knew that an oil slicker would only provide marginal protection.
"Tell me 'bout stampedes." Every cowboy knew of them, knew how destructive and terrifying it could be when the cattle took a notion to go wild, but as to the specifics...
"How do they act? What do ya do ta stop 'em?" Best to have some idea before something happened.
"Stampedes, Well now, how do they act, like they got no brains. A good lightnin' strike an' they're off an' runnin'! Gunfire can produce the same response, whot the outlaws do cuz they shorely ain't comin' out in no storm ta round up no strays." Pete said. "Plumb dangerous, cows just bolt, ya get caught in the middle, that's real bad. Lose man an' mount. Stay shy of the middle, but ride hard to flank 'em, then well, all ya kin do is try and turn 'em. Mean ya gotta get out in front of 'em, mostly thae works, Sootin' an hollerin', thet's what it takes."
"Once they're turned they'll mostly slow up and eventually stop, Scary it is! Dangerous as all get out. 'specially at night an in a storm. Cain't hardly see where yer goin' 'er what's ahead of ya. Not lookin' forward to one I'll tell ya, not at all. Some come out to ride herd wanna experience it all, dumb asses! Usually get runned over by ton a beef!"
"I'm not in any hurry ta see first hand," Justus chuckled, "I'll be just as happy if them cattle saunter all th' way home all pretty-like."
He was smart enough to know that wasn't going to be the case in all likely-hood, and he just hoped he was up to the task when things went south. 'Course, if he wasn't, there was a good chance he'd not survive!
"Good ta know ta stay on th' fringes. Not a way I'd choose ta die, that's certain!" Not that he thought that Mule would ever put up with such nonsense...the horse had a powerful survival instinct.
"Can't imagine a man wantin' ta try somethin' just ta say he did it."
"Yep, an' wouldn't we all, but I'm afeared the good Lord may have him a couple gully washers in store fer us, but, no worries, could come inn the daylight. Been known ta happen. But this job gives a man some freedom. The ability to see country he'd never have the chance to otherwise. Now Injuns? Sure they're out here, it's their country. Mostly they leave us be, well ever where else I've been on a drive."
He grinned, "Not always mind you, but mostly. Sometime we need ta cut out a few head for 'em. Cost of doin' business. Outlaws, them's differ'nt. That's fightin' for yer life and the herd. Can't say as we won't run onto either." He fell silent then, because both were real possibilities, and not all Indians were willing to take cattle. when they could take scalps. Hazards of the trail.