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WATCHING THE BONFIRE burn, Anna stood beside her sisters, Emma and Clara, and watched Charles set fire to the latest dead animal. Watching it go up in flames, Anna wondered how she going to add new blood to her aging herd now. Looking at the faces of her sisters, she knew they didn't need to know that fact. Although both were only a few years younger than her twenty-six, they'd allowed her take on the role of parent for them. Still mothering them even now, she hoped she could keep them in the dark for as long as possible.
"Couldn't we just have buried it, Charles?" Emma asked.
"Maybe," Charles replied. "But I'd rather we were overly cautious. Whatever ailed it is gone now and not festering in the ground. —Hopefully that's the last of it."
Anna nodded her head. "Charles is right, Emma. Once we get rid of all these sick cattle I'd imagine things will start to turn around." Getting a nod in return, Anna looked past her sister and got a look from the old ranch-hand. Knowing what she was doing, he confirmed what she'd said.
"This isn't something you or Clara need to worry your heads about. Your sister and I have everything in hand."
"Why don't you two go and get supper ready?" Anna said and then looked at Charles. "You want to join us tonight, Charles?"
Charles shook his head. "Nah, not tonight. I've got a few messages to do in town." Hearing a giggle from the girls as they walked away, he looked at Anna. "Something I said?"
Anna chuckled, knowing Charles code word for going drinking at Louis Cummins saloon. "Messages. You know they're not kids anymore, don't you?"
"Well, it's better than saying I'm going into town for a skin full," Charles said, slapping on his hat. "You want anything in town, big breeches?"
"A gold nugget about this size," Anna said, holding up her fist. “And less of the, big breeches.”
"And if I can't get one?"
"Just tell, Mary, I was asking for her," Anna said. "And I'll be in tomorrow with the girls."
"Fair enough," Charles nodded. Interrupted by another explosion, they both looked to the horizon. "They're getting close now. —You know the Kearney family sold out to them?"
"Really?" Anna asked, remembering how her neighbor had argued that they'd never see a rail set on his land.
"Three days ago. He didn't want to talk about it much when I asked him. He said that they made him an offer he couldn't refuse. —Things is, for a fella that said he'd made a healthy profit, he didn't seem very happy with it."
"Guess, I'll be next then," Anna replied.
"And I guess, I'll be looking for a new job then," Charles replied.
Anna turned to him. "You think I should sell to them?"
"Well, I would," Charles said. "I know what you're trying to do and all. But a young woman like yourself and the girls shouldn't be spending the rest of your days on a farm like this. You should be out there, seeing the world. Not here with an old coot like me, pulling dead calves from a river."
"The thought had crossed my mind, but Small Flats is home," Anna sighed. "And anyway, who else would give an old coot like you a job?"
"So, you'll be wanting me in the morning?" Charles asked, making his way toward his horse.
"That's unless you can find me a good looking ranch hand who can do your job," Anna grinned. "Just go easy on the whiskey."
Climbing on his horse, he grinned at her. "So, a gold nugget, and a handsome ranch hand. I'll see what I can do."
"You do that. And don't forget-"
"I know, tell Mary you'll drop by tomorrow," Charles said, turning his horse around and aiming it toward town. "I'll see you in the morning, Anna." Giving her a nod, he kicked his heels into his horse and rode off.
****
SMALL FLATS - LOUIS Cummins Saloon...
Tying his horse to the hitching post, Charles mounted the steps that lead to the door of the saloon and stretched his arms high over his head. Feeling a twinge in his back from all the labor he'd put in that day, he knew he'd feel it in the morning. His best cattle rustling days were behind him, something he and Anna would have to sit down and talk about. If she didn't sell to the railroad, she'd need a younger man to help out on the farm. Hearing the conversation and laughter inside, he knew that was for another day. Right now, his mind was on drinking. Opening the door and seeing Robert behind the bar, he gave the man a grin and a wave. "Set them up, Robert!"
Knocking back his third whiskey, Charles felt the alcohol do its job. Feeling it soothe his back pain, he looked around for anyone he knew and found a group of strangers knocking back the alcohol faster than he was. Waving the barman over, he pushed his glass out for a refill and nodded to the group.
"Who's that in the corner, Robert?"
"They're from the railroad," Robert answered. "Came in a few hours ago. They've been hitting it pretty hard since they came in, celebrating something or other. —You see the one in the middle?"
Turning on his stool, Charles looked over and turned back. "Yeah."
"That's John Williamson."
"And?" Robert shook his head.
"You do live a sheltered life, Charles. —Williamson? The rail road tycoon?
“Oh him.”
“Yes, him. But he’s dead now. That’s his son."
"His son."
"Yep," Robert said, putting the bottle of whiskey back under the counter. "Guess his father didn’t want him living it up and not working for his fortune."
"Guess so," Charles said and took a sip from his glass. "Wonder if he knows anything about cattle." Seeing Robert now confused, he smiled. "No. Something that Anna said. She asked me to bring back a good looking ranch hand." Looking back at the group, he added, "Wondering if he has any gold nuggets on him."
"You've lost me." Robert chuckled and shook his head. "Sure you haven't had too much to drink?"
Charles held up his glass and looked at the liquid inside it. "Of this? Never. —I said I'd show my face in the morning, but I think I'll have a few more before I go. Doesn't seem much of a rush getting up with what's been happening this past few days."
"What's that?"
"We've lost a few cattle, not much mind you. But enough to make Anna worried about selling up and moving on."
"I'm sorry to hear that," Robert said, and took the whiskey bottle out from its hiding place. Topping up the glass he nodded. "This one's on me."
"To your good health," Charles said, saluting him with his glass. "And a turn of good luck." Knocking back the whiskey, he gripped the bottle before Robert could take it away. "In case I forget. Will you tell Mary that Anna says hi and she'll be in tomorrow?"
"OK. —And this?" Robert nodded to the bottle in Charles hand.
"This little lady is staying here with me." Charles grinned, drunkenly. "It's for medicinal purposes."
Standing by his horse, Charles held it to steady himself. Grinning to himself as he took the reins, he looked at the stirrup that hung from his saddle and tried to focus his eyes on it. Closing one eye, he lifted his foot to it and missed. Falling forward and rebounding off his horse, he cursed it as he lost his balance and fell on the ground. Lying on his back and admiring the sky full of stars above him, he watched two heads come into view and look down on him.
"Lovely night, isssn't it?" Charles smirked. "You wouldn't mind helping an old man up, would you?"
"Is that him?"
"So he said."
Looking up, Charles watched the two men step either side of him. Thinking they were about to help him up, he held out his hands for them to take. Feeling the first kick in his ribs, he knew they weren't there to help him. Getting a second kick, he knew he'd have more than a sore back to worry about in the morning.