CHAPTER ELEVEN
The first week went without incident.
They all got into a rhythm with each other, doing their jobs well whether they were riding flank or drag, standing their watches over the herd at night, bringing stragglers back into the fold. They lost a few head to injury, but Carlito turned them into meals, and kept proving his worth not only as a cook, but as a scout for their campsites.
Curly proved his worth as wrangler, keeping the remuda in good condition, having a fresh mount ready for each rider when they needed one.
The work was grueling, there was no doubt, but Jake and Chance found themselves dealing with it in better and better fashion following each day. Even when the youngsters, Dundee and Curly, complained at night about how tired they were, they only received sympathy from Desi and Taco.
Desi was an experienced vaquero, but still found the work taxing. Taco had not been on a drive in some time, and his body seemed to be protesting each night.
“You are both older than I,” he said to Jake and Chance one night. “How is it I am more worn out than you, señores?”
“Don’t worry, Taco,” Jake replied. “We’re feelin’ every mile of it. But for me, I’ve been off the trail for so long this is really like comin’ home.”
“Our bodies are gettin’ used to it,” Chance said. “I didn’t think I’d take to the saddle again, but I have, even at this age.”
“Well,” Dundee said, from across the fire, “I don’t know if my body’s ever gonna be the same again.”
“Don’t worry,” Jake said, “you’ll get used to it. I tell ya what. Chance and I will take a watch on the herd tonight.”
“Sure,” Chance said. “That’ll give you time for some much-needed rest, but believe me, after a few weeks on the trail, you’ll start to feel better.”
“I hope so,” Dundee said. “My body’s never hurt this much before.”
“Well,” Jake said, “finish eatin’ and get some rest.”
They all applied themselves to Carlito’s latest concoction of meats known as SOB stew, with beans that he called pecos strawberries and biscuits that were known as sourdough bullets.
After supper, Dundee groaned and turned in, while Curly offered to stand first watch with Desi. They seemed to be the two who were in the best condition.
Jake and Chance drank some more of Carlito’s thick, black coffee while both the cook and Taco turned in.
“You know this ain’t gonna last, don’t you?” Chance said.
Jake knew exactly what Chance meant.
“These younger men are gonna start feelin’ it less, while we start feelin’ it more,” Jake admitted.
“I think it’s just that we missed this,” Chance said. “Once we’re used to it again, all those old aches and pains are gonna set back in.”
“Maybe not as bad, though,” Jake said. “We’re gonna need to find some balance between how we felt in the beginning, how we feel now, and how we’re gonna feel later.”
“These kids are gonna be used to it, and our bones are gonna be achin’,” Chance said. “But I gotta admit, right now I feel younger than I have in years. I’m not even cravin’ a drink.”
“That’s good,” Jake said. “Hopefully, it’ll stay that way for you.”
“Desi and Curly are doin’ fine,” Chance said.
“Well, Desi’s an experienced cowboy, and Curly’s the youngest. Taco’s been guarding whores for too long, but he’ll come around.”
“And Dundee’s young enough to bear these first aches and pains,” Chance said. “I think we’ve got a good crew here, Jake. Carlito is sure livin’ up to his part of the deal. His food is great.”
“We’ll have to check with him and see how his supplies are doin’,” Jake said. “We should be outside of Three Rivers in a couple of days. We can pick up more supplies there.”
“Good idea,” Chance said. “Let’s check with him in the mornin’.”
“Let’s get some sleep now. Remember, we volunteered to take a watch.”
Volunteering turned out to be a bad idea.
Sitting in the saddle for four hours, hardly moving, turned out to be more taxing than four hours in the saddle on the trail. By the time the smell of Carlito’s bacon—“chuckwagon chicken”—came to them, announcing breakfast, their backs were aching. Chance’s butt was also sore, indicating he hadn’t gotten as much of his “seat” back as he thought.
At breakfast Dundee was more bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, ready for the day.
“I appreciate the extra rest you fellas gave me,” he said to Jake and Chance. “Thanks.”
“Don’t get used to it,” Chance said sullenly. “It ain’t gonna happen again.”
“Yeah, well,” Dundee said, “I’ll be okay after this.”
“Since you’re feelin’ so much better,” Jake said, “you take drag today.”
Riding drag was usually more of a punishment on the trail than anything else. But Dundee said, “Sure, okay.”
“I’ll get the horses ready,” Curly said, after he finished his breakfast.
“I will help,” Desi said. The two men seemed to be getting along pretty good.
Taco quietly had a second helping of bacon and coffee.
“Carlito,” Jake said, “how are supplies?”
“We can use some more bacon and beans, señor,” he said, “but we could get by if we had to.”
“Chance and me were thinkin’ about stoppin’ near Three Rivers tomorrow night. Then we could go in the next mornin’ and pick up some things.”
“Sí, señor,” Carlito said, “I will make a list.”
“You could come in with us,” Chance suggested.
“Sí, señor, I will do that,” the cook said, “but I will still make a list.”
“Fine,” Jake said.
Taco finished his breakfast and helped Carlito load the chuckwagon. By then Curly came over, leading the horses, and they all mounted up. Carlito climbed up onto the seat of the wagon and snapped his reins at his mules to get them started. Curly followed with the remuda.
Jake, Chance, Taco, Desi, and Dundee rode out to the herd, took up their positions, and got the cows moving.
The next two days proved a little more difficult.
For one thing they came to a rather wide stream. It didn’t help that it had started to rain, with loud claps of thunder and blinding bursts of lightning.
The cattle got skittish with the thunder and lightning, and the men had to do what they could to keep them from panicking. Jake still felt he had enough men to drive this herd, but if a stampede occurred there would be a problem.
With all the rain, the stream was deeper than usual, with water that was flowing fairly quickly. Some of the cattle didn’t seem to want to cross, and even the horses showed some resistance. In the end they had to drive the herd into the water, where they had no choice but to continue on to the other side or drown. The men had to swim across, holding on to their horses’ reins at the same time, almost towing the animals behind them. Everybody needed a rest by the time they got the entire herd across, but Jake decided to keep them moving. Once they camped for the night the men could all dry off by a fire and get some coffee into them. The herd could huddle together for warmth from the cool night air, until their coats dried.
By the second night, with all the rain and reluctance, they were not as close to Three Rivers as they would have liked to be.
“So we cannot ride in for supplies?” Carlito asked, during supper.
“We should keep the herd movin’,” Jake said. “By midday we might be close enough.”
“We could keep them moving while the two of you go into town, jefe,” Taco offered. “When you are finished you can catch up to us.”
“That won’t work,” Jake said. “There’ll only be four of you, and one of you would have to drive Carlito’s chuckwagon.”
“I thought he’d take the wagon into town with you,” Dundee commented.
“That would slow us down,” Jake said. “We just wanna ride in quick and pick up some supplies, then get back on the trail.”
“Señores,” Carlito said, “I could give you my list, then I can continue to drive the wagon while the others drive the herd.”
“Yeah,” Curly said, “the four of us can handle it. I can pitch in and hitch the remuda to the back of the wagon for a few miles.”
Chance looked at the sky.
“Looks like the storm’s passed, Jake,” he said. “They could probably handle it.”
“I tell you what, Chance,” Jake said. “Why don’t you stay with them? I’ll take Dundee with me. Together we could carry the supplies back on our horses, and you could make sure there’s no trouble while I’m gone.”
Chance frowned, but said, “Yeah, okay, I could do that.”
“Good,” Jake said. “Dundee and me, we’ll stick with the herd until we’re close enough to Three Rivers to ride in easy.”
“Fine,” Chance said, and they all went back to eating.
After Desi and Taco rode out to watch the herd, Carlito cleaned up and turned in along with Curly and Dundee. Jake and Chance sat at the fire as they had been doing, drinking some coffee before retiring.
“So, you don’t want me to ride into town ’cause you’re afraid I’ll drink?” Chance asked sullenly.
“What?” Jake asked. “Where’d you get that idea, Chance?”
“Then why are you takin’ Dundee instead of me?” Chance asked.
“I told you,” Jake said. “I’d feel better if you were with the herd. I think they can handle it with you directin’ them. Dundee and me, we’ll be back quick.”
“After a few drinks?”
“I’m not havin’ any drinks, Chance,” Jake said. “Remember, we said not till after the herd’s delivered.”
“But you’ll let the kid have a drink, won’t ya?” Chance demanded.
“I toldja from the beginning,” Jake said. “I don’t want anybody gettin’ liquored up. What’s bringin’ this up?” he asked.
“Nothin’,” Chance said. “Nothin’ at all. Let’s just ferget I said anythin’.” He dumped the remnants of his coffee into the fire. “I’m turnin’ in.”
Jake watched his friend go, wondering if Chance was having more trouble staying off the whiskey than he had first thought. Maybe it was a good idea, after all, not to take him into town, where there would be temptation.
After Jake and Dundee left, Chance McCandless decided this was his opportunity to show his friend Big Jake that he was as reliable as ever.
The night before, the thirst for whiskey had crept up on him, just when he thought it was all gone. Then, when Jake decided to take Dundee to town with him and not Chance, he had almost exploded. But he slept good and woke feeling refreshed. The coffee and breakfast had gone down well, and he was looking forward to Jake leaving for a while.
Once they were gone he called the others around him.
“Jake’s gotta feel that this ain’t all on him, boys,” he said. “So we gotta show him that drivin’ this herd ain’t a hardship.”
“Sí, Señor Chance,” Taco said. “We can do that.”
“Desi, you take drag,” Chance said. “I’ll take point. That leaves flank to you guys.” Taco and Curly both nodded. “I’ll help out when I have to.”
“Sounds good to me,” Curly said.
“Tie the remuda to the back of Carlito’s wagon, Curly,” Chance said. “Carlito, if you start draggin’, don’t worry about it and don’t fight it. We’ll make up the time when Jake gets back.”
“Sí, patrón,” Carlito said. Chance felt good about the “patrón” since they’d been calling Jake “jefe” all along. It showed that he had some authority.
“All right,” he said, “let’s get it done!”