Chapter Thirteen Moving Strays

After riding trail for S&R for four weeks Tyler is getting pretty familiar with the boundaries of the ranch and the workings of the cattle herd. This morning the temperature is cooler than it has been and those clouds overhead look like there might be some rain coming soon. As he nears the boundary on the western side of the ranch he spots a few cattle that might belong to the S&R or might have strayed over from neighboring property. He moves Tequila over in that direction to move them away in either case.

As he approaches the cattle he dismounts not wanting to spook them. There are six of them and he wants to be sure what their brands read before he moves them off. Looking for the brands on each one he sees something he hasn’t seen in a number of years. These brands have been altered. They appear to be Circle J brands but look like they were something else before. I need to discuss this with Scott and Joan tonight.

Mounting Tequila he moves the six cattle so they start heading for Circle J property and makes sure they are far enough inside of their property before he turns back.

Tyler is unaware that he is being observed by a Circle J hand who is watching from the top of bluff. Hank notices that Tyler took the time to look at each of the brands. If he has any experience at all, he must realize the brands have been altered. John Sr. had the Martin’s and Evan’s herds brands changed and then split them up into small groups so that they were spread out over all of the Circle J property. I need to discuss this with Lester, thinks Hank. Hank turns his mount and heads back to the bunkhouse.