CHAPTER 11

“Are you sure you know where you’re going?” Alex leaned on a nearby boulder.

Bobbie sat beside her. “Like I said, it’s a shortcut.”

“I hope it beats your last shortcut.”

“Give me a break. How was I supposed to know that canyon would be full of running water? I didn’t know it had rained that hard up here.”

“How soon before we get to this ‘Turkey Roost,’ anyway?”

“Not long. Just over the next ridge.”

“What makes you think that’s where the cows are?”

“The Bledsoes wouldn’t take them home because it would be too easy for them to get caught. They’re not smart enough to think of using the box canyon. So that leaves the Turkey Roost. It’s the only other place on this whole mountain with even a piece of a fence that will hold cattle.”

Alex stood up. “If we’re that close, let’s get going.”

Bobbie’s shoulders drooped. Her ankle was starting to throb and she noticed that her breathing was a little ragged. “I can’t remember the last time I walked this far.”

“That’s because you’re spoiled. Every time you step out of the house you probably jump on a horse.”

Bobbie thought about telling Alex a thing or two about being spoiled. Then she remembered the morning she had actually tried to do her chores while riding Sonny. She half smiled and decided to save it for another time.

“Listen.” Alex held up her hand. “Do you hear that?”

Wolf’s ears were up. He was alert and started for the next ridge.

Bobbie called him back. She tried to get a grip on her breathing. “It’s the cattle. They’re bawling because those idiots have them penned up with no water.”

Alex stayed low and climbed to the top of the ridge. She could see the cows. They were in a small clearing just on the other side of some trees. Diablo wasn’t with them. The Bledsoe boys had made camp and were sitting near the fire laughing about something.

Bobbie crawled up behind her. “I don’t see the horses or the bull.”

Alex worked her way around a stand of pine trees. She motioned for Bobbie to follow and pointed to a spot on the other side of the cattle. “The horses are over there. They’re not even tied up.” She spoke in a low voice. “They must not be too worried about us coming after them.”

“They need to start worrying.” Bobbie squared her shoulders and headed down the hill.

“Hold on.” Alex grabbed the back of Bobbie’s shirt. “We need a plan.”

“Why? Aren’t you the one who said they were my cows and I should just go get them?”

“If you go rushing down there, who knows what those two might do? They could turn the cattle loose and we’d wind up chasing them all over again.”

The corner of Bobbie’s mouth twitched furiously. “I know one thing, we’re not going to get them back by standing around here talking about it all day.”

“Right.” Alex picked up the saddlebags and moved under a tree and sat down. She rummaged inside and pulled out a can of tomatoes. “Yechh. Don’t you eat anything besides beans, peaches, and tomatoes?”

“You’re going to eat at a time like this?”

Alex nodded. “Those guys aren’t going anywhere. Besides, it will give us time to make our plan.”