Posted September 24, 2022
"It's all right, I don't mind." Justus shrugged and grinned. Virgil was right, it showed that the men cared that he succeeded, and he truly appreciated that. And it made him want all the more to succeed at this, and finally have the means to leave his old life far behind. He'd already taken his mother's maiden name, the first step in leaving behind his father's connection, and in Montana, no one would be any the wiser.
"I'm here, an' got no limp nor thorns in my hide, so I reckon that's a good start, right?" He realized that today had been easy, a good way to break in, and he was grateful for the opportunity to have an easy start.
Still, that didn't mean he couldn't tease. "Don't know what ya'll are complainin' about th' hard work."
Posted September 25, 2022
"Oh, you'll get yourself enough of that, just you wait. There's work a plenty as we move on, hard work, dirty work, the kind that grows muscle on ya. But you'll do alright, you'll do." Virgil reassured him. "You won't have to do it alone, neither. They'll be others to help. Anyway, we're about ready to move out. Be seein' ya." Virgil moved off to where the hoses were tie to the picket line when Lorado and Will Ames rode up.
"'mon Justus, best we get in position. Be an easy push the rest of the day, an' all the dust you kin eat!" Lorado promised.
"Just hope that the wind don't come up ta make 'er worse." Ames added. "That's the worst, no matter where yer ridin'."
Posted September 26, 2022
"Well, wind blows th' right way, it'll blow it off us, right?" Justus grinned as he tightened Annie's cinch then slipped on her bridle. He gave her a light pat on the neck, assessing her mood, before swinging into the saddle. Annie tossed her head and pranced a bit, but otherwise behaved.
"Had my fill just now," Justus declared with a grin, "so I'm not anxious ta eat again until we stop fer th' evenin'!" Of course, in the drag spot, they got the most of the dust kicked up by the cows, and he was hoping that there would be a decent water source when they stopped where he could clean some of the dirt off.
Posted September 26, 2022
The herd began moving forward slowly, there was no rush to get started again, the herd walked slowly, which meant the men rode slowly. The three drag riders, scarves up over their noses as the dust and dirt pelted them, even though they remained a fair distance behind the cattle to lessen the amount of dust they collected.
Somewhere around an hour later a wind came up out of the north and swept over everything in it's path, tho it was weak at first, it did not grow in strength rapidly, but slowly at first, the men with scarves up and heads down, the cattle slowing if that was possible, and everything was in a brown, dusty haze. The wind would make the movement slow and tedious as they had to insure the cattle didn't wander off, not that they could see any better than the men herding them, it was equally miserable on all of them, men and cows, but they kept moving.
Posted September 26, 2022
It was long, tedious work, even though, for the most part, it was just plodding along with the cows, making sure they all stayed together and went the right way they were supposed to. Even after the wind picked up, there were only a few mavericks who tried to wander off on their own, but the drag riders managed to coax them back to the herd.
As the day progressed, Annie became less jiggy, and Justus could tell she was getting tired. "It's all right, Miz Annie." He patted the horse's neck, then tightened the bandanna that was keeping his hat from blowing away.
"Ya think this is just a dry wind?" Justus called to Loredo, "or somethin' more movin' in?" There wasn't the smell of rain in the air yet, nor clouds, but he knew that the weather could change quickly. "Will they try ta settle in camp early?" It seemed to him that if there was 'weather' moving in, it was better to have the cattle settled than moving, but what did he know? He just hoped it didn't impact supper!
Posted September 27, 2022
"If this don't let up soon I figger thet they'll hold up if they find the right spot for it, maybe some kinda shelter for the chuck wagon an' the fire." Loredo shouted back.
"Could be anything since she's comin' from the north. Hope she let's up, could be a right merser'ble night!" Ames hollered. Though it would be hard to believe it could be worse, but if the wind didn't die down it would be jerked beef and hard tack. No coffee and hard sleeping. And Ames was right, the wind could be bringing something in from the north which was rarely good news.
Posted September 27, 2022
"Just when I was thinkin' this was a cake-walk!" Justus' grin didn't show under the bandanna, but he was trying to take it all in stride. But he did realize that either way, it was going to be miserable. The wind stirring up the dust was annoying at best, but if it got bad enough, it could make vision next to impossible. But if it started to rain...well, there was a whole mess its own issues, none of them pleasant.
Funny thing was, it sounded like the worse conditions got, and the harder they had to work, the more the chances of a good, hot meal and decent rest went down.
Not much to do about it but take it as it came, unless he just bugged out, but it would take something far worse than weather to get him to quit!
Posted September 28, 2022
The wind was holding steady, which meant they needed to locate any kind of refuge as it would not be long before the riders would be unable to see through the brown haze which swirled about them and the herd.
Riding drag was now substantially worse than it had been. Riders with heads bowed, stampede strings cinched tight, bandanas over the hats and under the chins to hold them on. More than on hat would be lost until the wind died down, which could not be soon enough for the men. There was no place to hide, every man was in it.
"Over here!" Dixie Brick shouted repeatedly. "Here!" He was waving furiously which got Frank Teals attention. There was an outcropping of rock wide enough for the chuck wagon and high enough to serve as a wind block. With trees in abundance, it would be enough to set up picket lines for the horse, especially those Morgan horses they were bound to deliver.
The cattle would be on their own, but they would not be going anywhere in the wind, so they would settle down with their backs to blowing dust.
Setting up an early camp was a relief to all of the men. No one much cared for the wind and blowing dust, even with trees and foliage, there was always dust, and cows had a way trampling whatever vegetation was under their hooves.
Picket lines were stretched and secured to the available trees and horses were brought in and tied with their backs to the wind as well. The Morgans were first and closest to the camp. Cookie had a fire going, so there would be a hot meal and coffee for everyone as the rode out the wind storm.
Shelters were going up using ground sheets as there just was not room for everyone completely out of the wind. Men moved into the trees to secure their shelters as best they could against Mother Natures wrath. It would be a long rest of the day, and possibly over night. Setting a watch might seem a waste, but one had to be set as those cows were cash on the hoof.
Posted October 1, 2022
Justus was more than happy to have a chance to get out of the bulk of the wind, although he knew this was far from over. And he knew they'd be hacking up dirt for days.
With the picket lines set, he moved over to help put up the shelters for the night, pretty quickly deciding that it was a fool's errand...they were all going to be miserable until this let up.
Squinting, he looked out toward the herd, not able to see but a few in the dust, it looked like they had been swallowed by the big, dirty cloud, and weren't even there. In fact, he had the eerie sensation that all that was left in the world was this small circle of men and horses.
"Ya need me ta do anythin' else?" he called over the din of the wind.
Posted October 2, 2022
"Ain't hardly nothin' to do but hunker down till she blows herself out." The man squatted, "Rance, is the name. Been watchin' you, doin' a fine job. You'll do Wheeler, you'll do. Try and get some rest, might end up bein' a long night. Least you won't be ridin' drag come daylight, there's a plus for ya."
He stood and made his way to his shelter to await the grub that was coming.