A Dream Unfolding (10 page)

He never traveled on the western trails, so water availability might be a problem.
 
While he could carry enough for the men in the wagons, he would never have enough room for water for the stock.
 
The letters to his father mentioned several watering areas between Santa Fe and his final destination.
 
But, he had no information about what the conditions would be like between here and Santa Fe.
 
What if there was no water?
 
The season had been unusually dry.
 
Could the Canadian River be dry in some areas further west?
 
How far did the Canadian flow?
 
This whole situation was madness.

Grunting under the weight of the last crate, Will dropped it into the supply wagon.
 
He just needed to keep moving forward.
 
Please, God, help me get this all done.

As Pedro pointed the loaded wagons back towards the ranch, Will mounted Jackson and directed him towards the Larson’s ranch.
 
Horses were the next obstacle and hopefully George Larson would be able to supply what he needed.
 
Larson Ranch maintained a well-deserved reputation for breeding the highest quality horses in north Texas—perhaps even the entire state.

Reining in Jackson by the stables, Will was greeted by his sister’s friend Caroline, the oldest of the Larson girls.

“Will, what brings you our way?” the young blonde asked, setting a full basket of eggs on the ground near her feet.

“I came to speak with George about purchasing some horses,” Will replied.
 
“Is he around?”

Caroline nodded towards the stables, “He’s is in the back.”
 
She paused, before asking, “How is Julia?”

“As well as can be expected.
 
You should come for dinner after church on Sunday.
 
I know she would welcome your company,” Will suggested.

Caroline smiled with excitement.
 
“Please tell her I plan to do just that.
 
Wait here while I fetch Papa.”

Seconds later, George Larson emerged from the stables trailed by his daughter.
 
Caroline stooped down to pick up the basket of eggs.
 
Waving at Will, she turned towards the house.

George Larson held out his hand in greeting.
 
“Caroline said you are looking for more horses.
 
I say that surprised me, given the number the Star C purchased just a few months ago.
 
How many are you looking for?”

Will shook the offered hand then explained his situation and the planned move to the Arizona Territory.
 
He finished by saying, “Since Reuben inherited the ranch, he has been throwing around his authority.
 
I have just over ten days left before he wants me off the land.”

George’s expression grew grim.
 
Having been close friends with Edward
Colter
for many years, he was no doubt troubled by Will’s news.

Will continued, “I need an additional twenty horses for the drive.”
 
At least that is how many he would need if he could hire all of the necessary men.
 
The pressure of the clock pushed heavier on his mind, ramping up his anxiety.

“I’m sorry, Will, but I don’t have that many,” George replied.
 
“Best I can do is five.
 
The others we have in training right now have been paid for by other ranchers.”

Will’s shoulders slumped at the news.
 
Five was a quarter of what he needed.
 
Forlorn, Will asked, “Is there any chance we could work out something with the other ranchers?
 
If they don’t need the horses right away, might they be willing to wait?”

George thought for a moment.
 
“Well, I might be able to get you one or two more if Wilson agrees to wait.
 
But, I can’t promise anything.
 
You know how much our horses are in demand, especially this time of year.”

Growing hopeful that the old rancher, Wilson, could be persuaded to wait, Will asked, “Do you think you could let me know by Sunday?”

“Sure.
 
I’ll talk with Wilson tomorrow.
 
Then we’ll let you know in church.”

Will thanked George for his compromise before taking his leave.
 
Five to seven horses was not what he hoped for.
 
He would have to settle for lesser quality animals from the livery for the remaining number, if he could even secure that many.
 
And those horses would not be accustomed to the cattle, which could pose a risk for his men—not that he enough men yet.

Pulling Jackson to a stop outside the corral, Will frowned.
 
Bates, the man he hired yesterday was just now saddling his horse.
 
He should have been out with the herd hours ago.

“Bates,” he called the cowboy to him.
 
“Why aren’t you out with the herd?”

The young man looked down, not meeting Will’s gaze.
 
“I was.
 
But…um...Mr. Reuben called me up to the house.”

“For what?” Will growled, suspecting he would not like the cowboy’s answer.

“Mr. Reuben…offered me a bigger lay if I hired on with him for the drive to market,” Bates replied before nudging his horse towards Reuben’s herd, not giving Will a chance to argue.

Clenching his fist tightly, Will envisioned punching his brother in the face.
 
Reuben’s treachery knew no limits.
 
Stealing his cattle.
 
Hiring men out from under him with the promise of more money.
 
Kicking him out with only two weeks’ notice.
 
What next?
 
Would he set fire to Will’s new wagon and supplies?
 
Would he make him sleep in the barn for the next ten days?
 
Why did he insist on making this more difficult than it already was?

Tying Jackson at the hitching post, Will stormed into the ranch house and directly into Reuben’s office.
 
He had to put a stop to this.
 
Now.

Reuben jumped as Will flung the door open so hard it slammed against the wall.

Not attempting to hide his irritation, Will demanded, “We need to talk.”

“Certainly, brother,” Reuben said in a patronizing tone.
 
“Have a seat.”

Will stood, arms crossed, behind the chair.
 
“What are you trying to prove, Reuben?”

Eyes wide with feigned innocence, Reuben replied, “I have no idea what you are talking about, William.
 
Perhaps you would care to explain?”

“I am talking about the cattle.
 
I am talking about hiring men that I have already contracted.
 
I am talking about your divisive tactics to sabotage me!”
 
Will glared at his brother, resisting the urge to connect his fist with his brother’s jaw.

“William, what a wild imagination you have,” Reuben said as he
propped
his elbows on his large walnut desk, tenting his fingers.
 
“You and I have already divided the herd.
 
If you are having a difficult time managing your half, that is not my concern.
 
As far as hiring your men away, I have some vacancies left from the men
you
have hired away from
me
.
 
It is not my problem if you refuse to offer a fair wage.”

Will’s nostrils flared as he took in a deep breath.
 
Of course Reuben twisted this all around on him.
 
He expected nothing less.
 
Seeing no peaceful resolution to their conflict, Will turned on his heel.

Pausing in the doorway, he muttered, “If you stopped interfering, I would be out of your way sooner.”

His brother’s laughter echoed down the hall behind him.
 
“Ten days, William, that’s all you have left!”

Chapter
5

The dust kicked up by the slowly moving cattle stuck to Will’s already coated face.
 
Three days into the drive and he longed for the cleanliness of home already.
 
But, he had no home.
 
Not yet.
 
Two months of travel, based on his best guess, stood between him and someplace that would not feel like home, but must become home.
 

Miraculously, by the end of Reuben’s two week deadline, Will was prepared enough to leave the Star C behind.
 
He hired eight men, a wrangler, and a cook.
 
Less than the ideal number, but enough.

Will snorted as his dark eyes darted across the horizon over the backs of longhorns munching on grass, oblivious to the long journey barely underway.
 
Less than ideal could describe just about every aspect of preparing for this drive.
 
Not the preferred number or quality of horses.
 
Not the perfect amount of supplies.
 
Not well informed about the route.
 
Not well prepared for the unexpected.
 
Not the most experienced men.

Eight men, a wrangler, and a cook.
 
And him.
 
The small number of men for this size of herd meant everyone would be working extra hard.
 
Other than his long time friend, Ben Shepherd, the crew was composed of some very young men, some very rough men, and some very inexperienced men.

The warm sun beat down on Will causing sweat to form beads on his brow.
 
Dabbing his forehead with his handkerchief, he tried not to dwell on the overwhelming challenges before him.
 
Whether he wanted it or not, he was now a full-fledged rancher—responsible for the lives of his hands and his stock.
 
He had done this many times before, but always under the security of his father’s guidance.
 
It was a burden shared among the three
Colter
men.
 
Now, this was his to bear alone.

Not alone.
 
The small quiet voice reminded him.
 
He was never alone.
 
He knew that promise well.
 
God just seemed a bit distant right now.

Sweeping his gaze over the herd and cowboys, Will’s eyes rested on the youngest hand, Jed Campbell.
 
So very young.
 
Just barely sixteen, hardly old enough for such a long drive across miles of wilderness.
 
Jed hadn’t even matured to the point of growing facial hair, Will thought as his lip turned up in a half smile.
 

Yet, when Jed showed up at the Star C asking for work four days before the departure, Will found it difficult to turn the young man away.
 
He had been swayed by Jed’s story.
 
Two years prior, he had been orphaned when his family was killed by raiding Indians.
 
At the much-too-young age of fourteen, Jed began working on a ranch in south Texas, learning the skills necessary to ride tall in his saddle as a cowboy.
 
When he heard of a rancher planning to head west, he made his way to north Texas to join Will’s group.

Jed stood half a foot shorter than Will.
 
His arms seemed so much thinner and weaker than the cowboys Will worked with for many years.
 
At first, Will thought the skinny kid might not be strong enough to rope a cow to the ground.
 
After putting Jed through several tests, he realized he was stronger than he first appeared.
 
He had potential and would make a good flank rider in the middle of the herd, paired with Elijah Malone, one of the more experienced men from the Star C.

“Shouldn’t you be sleeping?” Ben’s voice invaded Will’s thoughts.
 
“You’re not on for a few hours yet.”

Will grunted.
 
He always needed a few days to get used to the odd hours of the cattle drive.
 
Moving the cattle by night provided better conditions for grazing by day.
 
The entire crew moved alongside the cattle from eight at night until six in the morning, traveling in the cooler dark of night.
 
The first shift was on from six to one, while the second shift slept.
 
Then, at one in the afternoon, the second shift took over until the first crew joined them at eight.
 
The schedule, while best for the cattle, meant that the men had to sleep in full sunlight.