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.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
Chapter Twelve Maggie and Heather
After the dishes and the pots are put away, Maggie grabs two pieces of apple pie out of the cupboard and two cups for coffee. Smiling she says, “Follow me.” She and Heather turn into the dining area and Maggie places everything onto a table in the corner away from the window. Then Maggie walks over to the door and locks it. “We don’t need to be disturbed by anyone. This will be our time. I’m really glad you came back to see me. Do you feel any better than you did last time?”
“Well, probably a little better. I thought you might want to know that the council sent the sheriff over to the fort to find out if there are any other towns being raided.”
“Thank you for telling me, I do know because the sheriff came in here the morning he left and ate enough for two and a half breakfasts.”
Heather starts to giggle. “That sounds funny; I can just picture him walking out of here with a round belly and two stuffed cheeks.”
“Now that you say it Heather, I think that is just how he walked out of here.”
“Well, probably a little better. I thought you might want to know that the council sent the sheriff over to the fort to find out if there are any other towns being raided.”
“Thank you for telling me, I do know because the sheriff came in here the morning he left and ate enough for two and a half breakfasts.”
Heather starts to giggle. “That sounds funny; I can just picture him walking out of here with a round belly and two stuffed cheeks.”
“Now that you say it Heather, I think that is just how he walked out of here.”
Monday, January 10, 2011
Chapter Eleven Heading for the Fort
“Jim, the council met last night and we have decided to take up a recommendation from John Peters.”
Very quickly “Oh! What might that recommendation be?”
“John thinks we should send someone over to Fort Jackson to see if any other community in the territory is having difficulty with Indian raiding parties.”
“And,” long pause.
“And the Council has decided that you are the best man for the job.”
“Well who will act as sheriff while I’m gone? After all, that will be at least a two to three week trip.”
“The Council decided that based on our crime rate we could afford to send you to the fort for that amount of time.”
Jim is wondering if Peters set him up for this or this is strictly the vote of the Council. He knows that in order to keep his job he will have to go. But before he heads to the fort he wants to talk with Peters. This is not going well with him. Peters was probably just bluffing to clear some air around town.
“When am I expected to leave?”
Very quickly “Oh! What might that recommendation be?”
“John thinks we should send someone over to Fort Jackson to see if any other community in the territory is having difficulty with Indian raiding parties.”
“And,” long pause.
“And the Council has decided that you are the best man for the job.”
“Well who will act as sheriff while I’m gone? After all, that will be at least a two to three week trip.”
“The Council decided that based on our crime rate we could afford to send you to the fort for that amount of time.”
Jim is wondering if Peters set him up for this or this is strictly the vote of the Council. He knows that in order to keep his job he will have to go. But before he heads to the fort he wants to talk with Peters. This is not going well with him. Peters was probably just bluffing to clear some air around town.
“When am I expected to leave?”
Monday, January 3, 2011
Chapter Ten Two Weeks Later
The fourth Monday of every month the same room serves as the meeting place for the town’s council.
Tonight all seven of the members are present. Randy Beecham, the owner of the general Store, Jake Stark, the saloon owner, Henry Duncan, the stage station manager, Peter Simms, the hotel owner, Jeff Proctor, the town’s blacksmith, Doctor William Keller, the physician and dentist, and Joshua Rodgers, the barber and funeral director.
Peter gets the conversations rolling, “In the past two months we’ve had two local families murdered and burned out. Not even mentioning their herds being run off. The sheriff has posted both of those properties with no trespassing signs trying to keep off nosey folks. He is riding out to each of the sites twice a week to keep an eye on things.”
Henry says “Has the sheriff found any sign at the Evan’s place? We couldn’t figure out any at the Martin’s but I think that’s because we found them long after it happened.”
Jeff replies, “He told me that he couldn’t make out any sign of who did it when he went out there. It was two weeks after the incident happened, so that’s possibly why he couldn’t read any signs. He was fortunate the rider buried the bodies.”
Doctor Keller states, “Why didn’t he go out there as soon as that cowhand reported it to him, is what I want to know?”
Tonight all seven of the members are present. Randy Beecham, the owner of the general Store, Jake Stark, the saloon owner, Henry Duncan, the stage station manager, Peter Simms, the hotel owner, Jeff Proctor, the town’s blacksmith, Doctor William Keller, the physician and dentist, and Joshua Rodgers, the barber and funeral director.
Peter gets the conversations rolling, “In the past two months we’ve had two local families murdered and burned out. Not even mentioning their herds being run off. The sheriff has posted both of those properties with no trespassing signs trying to keep off nosey folks. He is riding out to each of the sites twice a week to keep an eye on things.”
Henry says “Has the sheriff found any sign at the Evan’s place? We couldn’t figure out any at the Martin’s but I think that’s because we found them long after it happened.”
Jeff replies, “He told me that he couldn’t make out any sign of who did it when he went out there. It was two weeks after the incident happened, so that’s possibly why he couldn’t read any signs. He was fortunate the rider buried the bodies.”
Doctor Keller states, “Why didn’t he go out there as soon as that cowhand reported it to him, is what I want to know?”
Monday, December 20, 2010
Chapter Nine Rumors in Town
As they are talking both of them notice John Peters Sr. riding by the window with two of his ranch hands. Neither one of them says a word for a moment until he rides up the street.
Heather says, “I haven’t seen him in town for over six months. I wonder what is going on.”
“Don’t know, Heather, the only thing I know is that John Peters is always looking out for John Peters. Whatever he has in mind must be something he wants or wants done. He and that oldest son of his are two peas in a pod.”
“Maggie, thanks, and yes, I would like to be your friend. You’ve already made me feel a lot better. I think I should go over and see if Randy needs some help right now.”
“Go ahead, just remember we owe each other some time together and if you want down the road I could introduce you to Joan and Jessica.”
“That would be nice.”
Heather gets up from the table and runs across the street to their store.
Inside, Randy says, “Is Maggie all right?”
“Yes, she just saw me standing out front and invited me for coffee.”
“That’s neighborly of her. Did you see John Peters riding by?”
Heather says, “I haven’t seen him in town for over six months. I wonder what is going on.”
“Don’t know, Heather, the only thing I know is that John Peters is always looking out for John Peters. Whatever he has in mind must be something he wants or wants done. He and that oldest son of his are two peas in a pod.”
“Maggie, thanks, and yes, I would like to be your friend. You’ve already made me feel a lot better. I think I should go over and see if Randy needs some help right now.”
“Go ahead, just remember we owe each other some time together and if you want down the road I could introduce you to Joan and Jessica.”
“That would be nice.”
Heather gets up from the table and runs across the street to their store.
Inside, Randy says, “Is Maggie all right?”
“Yes, she just saw me standing out front and invited me for coffee.”
“That’s neighborly of her. Did you see John Peters riding by?”
Monday, December 13, 2010
Chapter Eight Viewing the Ranch
Mike goes off with his own assignment for the day. He will be working the southeast section of the ranch. Working a section means you check the herds grazing in the area, check water conditions, and check the fencing where there is fencing in case there is any need for repairs.
Joan is saddling up a roan mare who is around fifteen hands high. Tyler watches her and sees that she is very knowledgeable about handling horses.
Tyler gives Tequila a quick brushing and checks her hooves before putting her saddle blanket and saddle on her. Then he places her bit in her mouth and secures her head pieces. He and Joan mount up. Joan sits in a saddle like a man not sidesaddle. They ride out of the corral area and head north by northwest.
Riding side by side, Joan tells Tyler her plan is to show him the boundaries of their property and give him some insight to the size and condition of the cattle herd. Of course not all of the property is fenced in so there are occasional strays that wander on from neighboring lands and some of the Reynolds’ herd does likewise. His job in the future will be to gather those who are wandering and chase off those who don’t belong to them. His biggest responsibility will be to keep Scott appraised of what conditions are in every sector he rides.
“What conditions are you explicitly looking for, Joan?”
“Dad wants to know if you see an unusual amount of predator signs. We’ve lost a number of head to mountain lions in the past. If you spot those signs frequently, he will make a point in doing a hunt. A single lion can do a big number on a herd if left unchecked.
Joan is saddling up a roan mare who is around fifteen hands high. Tyler watches her and sees that she is very knowledgeable about handling horses.
Tyler gives Tequila a quick brushing and checks her hooves before putting her saddle blanket and saddle on her. Then he places her bit in her mouth and secures her head pieces. He and Joan mount up. Joan sits in a saddle like a man not sidesaddle. They ride out of the corral area and head north by northwest.
Riding side by side, Joan tells Tyler her plan is to show him the boundaries of their property and give him some insight to the size and condition of the cattle herd. Of course not all of the property is fenced in so there are occasional strays that wander on from neighboring lands and some of the Reynolds’ herd does likewise. His job in the future will be to gather those who are wandering and chase off those who don’t belong to them. His biggest responsibility will be to keep Scott appraised of what conditions are in every sector he rides.
“What conditions are you explicitly looking for, Joan?”
“Dad wants to know if you see an unusual amount of predator signs. We’ve lost a number of head to mountain lions in the past. If you spot those signs frequently, he will make a point in doing a hunt. A single lion can do a big number on a herd if left unchecked.
Monday, December 6, 2010
Chapter Seven Dinner at the S&R Ranch
As they eat, Scott, tells Mike about what happened in town and how Tyler happened to be hired.
With real concern on his face, Mike looks at Tyler and says, “The guy you just stood up to is the oldest son of the largest spread around here. He doesn’t like being put in his place. I would watch my back if I were you when he is around.”
“Thanks for the advice. I won’t go looking for any trouble with him; however, I won’t walk away from him either.”
Scott responds, “Tyler, what Mike just said is known by everyone around here. Unless you have a big need to go into town, I would rather you stay on the ranch property for a couple of weeks. Maybe, Johnny will cool his heels and go onto something else by then.”
“Dad’s right, Tyler. What you did was admirable. We only want to make sure that you don’t suffer having looked out for me.”
“I’m sure you have enough work to keep me busy for a couple of weeks and there really is no reason for me to go to town yet.”
Scott continues the conversation by asking Tyler to repeat what he saw at the Evan’s place.
After Tyler finishes, Joan says, “I don’t understand it. We haven’t had any trouble from the Indians for years. Why all of sudden do we have it now?”
Tyler interjects, “This may be a renegade raiding party and not a local tribe.”
“Why do you say that?” questions Mike looking surprised.
With real concern on his face, Mike looks at Tyler and says, “The guy you just stood up to is the oldest son of the largest spread around here. He doesn’t like being put in his place. I would watch my back if I were you when he is around.”
“Thanks for the advice. I won’t go looking for any trouble with him; however, I won’t walk away from him either.”
Scott responds, “Tyler, what Mike just said is known by everyone around here. Unless you have a big need to go into town, I would rather you stay on the ranch property for a couple of weeks. Maybe, Johnny will cool his heels and go onto something else by then.”
“Dad’s right, Tyler. What you did was admirable. We only want to make sure that you don’t suffer having looked out for me.”
“I’m sure you have enough work to keep me busy for a couple of weeks and there really is no reason for me to go to town yet.”
Scott continues the conversation by asking Tyler to repeat what he saw at the Evan’s place.
After Tyler finishes, Joan says, “I don’t understand it. We haven’t had any trouble from the Indians for years. Why all of sudden do we have it now?”
Tyler interjects, “This may be a renegade raiding party and not a local tribe.”
“Why do you say that?” questions Mike looking surprised.
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