CHAPTER FIFTEEN
When Seaforth Bailey spotted the herd it was easy to see that Sequoia had been right on all counts. It looked to be five or six hundred head, and including the man on the chuckwagon, there was a crew of seven.
Sequoia had spotted the herd first, riding ahead of the rest of the raiders. When he rode back to fetch Seaforth they both rode on ahead, leaving the other ten men behind so the dozen raiders wouldn’t attract attention.
Sequoia didn’t bother pointing, since the herd was spread out ahead of them as they topped a rise and reined in.
“What do you think, Sequoia?” Seaforth asked.
“The herd is fit,” the breed said. “They have probably come from South Texas, and have not had time to lose weight on the drive.”
“And the men?”
“They seem to know what they do,” the breed commented. “I see two men who are very experienced, perhaps much older than the others.”
“Well,” Seaforth said, “if Gar is right, one of these fellas is called Big Jake Motley, and he’d be in his fifties or sixties.”
“Fifties, I think,” Sequoia said.
“Okay,” the Major said, “let’s go with that. Two of them in their fifties?”
“Yes.”
“The odds are in our favor, then,” Seaforth said. “Twelve to seven, and two of them are old codgers.”
Sequoia turned and stared at his boss.
“What?” Seaforth asked.
“The old codgers are the experienced men,” the breed said. “Do not underestimate them.”
“I don’t underestimate anyone,” Seaforth said. “You got anything else you want to tell me?”
“Yes.”
“What is it?” Seaforth asked impatiently.
Sequoia turned his attention back down to the men and the herd.
“They have seen us.”
Taco rode from drag all the way up front to where Jake was leading and fell in alongside him.
“On the ridge behind us, jefe,” he said.
“I see ’em,” Jake said. “Just two?”
“Sí, jefe,” Taco said, “but they might just be scouts. There will be more if they are from Three Rivers.”
At that moment Chance came riding up.
“See ’em?” he asked.
“Yeah,” Jake said, “we were just sayin’ there’s gotta be more than two.”
“Whadaya wanna do, Jake?” Chance asked.
“Let’s break out the pistols,” Jake said.
“Right,” Chance said.
“But tell the boys not to shoot unless you or I do,” Jake told Chance.
“That’s what I was thinkin’,” Chance said.
He rode on ahead to the chuckwagon, where they had all stored their pistols. He also gave the word to Carlito and Curly.
“Tell the others,” Jake said to Taco.
“Sí, señor.” He rode back to inform Dundee and his cousin, Desi, of the order.
Seaforth and Sequoia rode back to the rest of the men, fell into stride with them.
“What’d you see?” Garfield asked.
“Just what the breed said there would be,” Seaforth said. “Five, six hundred head, and seven men.”
“So what’s the plan?” Gar asked.
“Right now, we’ll just ride along behind them for a while.”
“Why?”
“They spotted us,” Seaforth said. “Now I want to give them time to think.”
“We might be giving them time to plan,” Garfield said.
“They can plan all they want,” Seaforth said. “They’re a cook and six cowpunchers, two of which are well past their prime.”
“But they’ve got guns, right?”
“So?”
“Anybody with a gun is dangerous,” Garfield said.
“We are twelve men who know how to use our guns,” Seaforth said. “I think we’ve got the upper hand, don’t you, Gar?”
“Whatever you say, Major,” Garfield said.
“That’s what I like to hear,” Seaforth said. “Now we’ll give them a few hours to think it over before we ride down and give them the opportunity to simply hand the cattle over with no bloodshed.”
“And do you think they’ll go for that?”
Seaforth grinned and said, “I certainly hope not.”
Where are they?” Chance asked, coming up alongside Jake again.
“They’re givin’ us time to think,” Jake said.
“Why would they wanna do that?”
“Because they think they’re gonna scare us.”
“Well,” Chance said, “I’m concerned, but I can’t say that I’m scared.”
“Me neither,” Jake said. “But a few hours might help us rather than hurt us.”
“In what way?” Chance asked.
Jake looked at Chance and said, “I don’t know. I’m thinkin’ about it.”
Sequoia rode up ahead again, and came back.
“They are still moving,” he said.
“Any change in their formation?” Seaforth asked.
“No,” Sequoia said, “the usual. Two on each flank, and one drag.”
“And the chuckwagon and remuda ahead?”
“Ahead,” Sequoia said, “but not so far ahead.”
“They’re stayin’ bunched, then,” Seaforth said. “Good. We can take ’em all at once.”
Garfield looked at his leader, and thought how much easier it would have been if they could have taken the chuckwagon and remuda first.
“You got somethin’ to say?” Seaforth asked him.
“Not a thing, Major,” Garfield said. “Not a thing.”
By midday Jake was wondering what the holdup was. Then Chance came riding up alongside him again. He and his friend both had pistols in their belts now, and wore them with equal discomfort.
“What are they waitin’ for?” Chance asked.
“For our nerves to get the best of us,” Jake said.
“Well, they’re gettin’ their way,” Chance said. “I don’t know about you, but my nerves are startin’ to get the better of me.”
“I know what you mean,” Jake said.
“Think they’ll wait until we make camp?”
“No, then they’d have to come in the dark. They’d be just as much at a disadvantage as we would.”
“Good thinkin’,” Chance said, “unless they figure that’s what we’d think.”
“Look, we’re gonna keep watch,” Jake said, “but I think they’ll wait at least until mornin’, maybe hit us before we start up for the day.”
“Or maybe they won’t hit us at all,” Chance said. “Maybe there was just the two of them.”
“Maybe, maybe,” Jake said, “but I doubt it.”
Seaforth had his raiders fall back about a mile and then camp.
“Let’s set a watch,” he said to Garfield, “just in case they send somebody back to take a look at us.”
“Right,” Garfield said.
“And I want them to be sharp.”
“I’ll start with Sequoia,” Garfield said.
“Good. And tell them I’ll shoot anybody who falls asleep on watch.”
Garfield knew that, after himself and Sequoia, they did have a few good men among the others. Major Seaforth Bailey, however, never acted that way. It was as if he always expected the men to fall down on the job. Garfield knew he could put together a crew of at least six from this band that could accomplish anything.
If he had to.
He went to find Sequoia and start the watch.