don’t it? I mean most folks around here have plenty of food. Why take the cattle unless you’re taking it to market except for food?” Bub asked looking at A.J. “You don’t take cattle to the market dead do you? So what other reason would they have to kill and take the cattle besides just for food? There has to be another reason.” Bub always had a no nonsense way of approaching things, and when he came up with a solution to a problem, it was usually right. A.J. just nodded his head in agreement knowing Bub was probably right about the cattle being taken for another reason other than money of food.
“Whatever is happening to them we are going to have to find a solution before winter hits,” Bub stated. “Fighting the elements will be hard enough this winter without something else thinning out our herd as well.”
After traveling a ways A.J. held up his horse to a stop and glanced back towards the west to where his camp was the night before. “This has to be pretty close to where I saw those two riders at Bub.”
“I will get down and take a look on foot then. Why don’t you work your way out from here in a circle. There is a lot better chance of finding tracks that way,” Bub said as he lit a match and held it to his pipe.
“I surely will.” A.J. replied
About half way around his sixth complete circle A.J. spotted what they were looking for. “Found them over here!” he yelled to Bub as he slid off his horse to the ground.
Bub hurried over to where A.J. was inspecting the ground at and looking at the hoof prints left behind he stated, “They are unshod prints A.J..”
“Well I can assure you they weren’t from Indians Bub. I could see their silhouettes clear enough to see that and how many Indians you ever heard of traveling in packs of two?”
“None that I have ever heard of,” Bub replied. “Well let’s follow them and see where they head,” Bub said as he threw his leg over his horse, grabbed up the reins, and started towards the east as he took a long pull on his pipe.
They followed the trail of hoof prints for about four and a half miles before they ran into Cow Creek. Cow Creek ran from south to northeast across the east third of their land. About half way across their land from the south it forked off into Split Creek which headed northeast off their land. From there Split Creek dumped into a small pound on the neighbors land then ran out the other side of it somewhere.
“Trail appears to lead into the creek there,” A.J. stated looking at Bub. “My guess is they walked the creek a ways and then comes out heading east on the other side somewhere.”
“That means they had to cross over into the Farlands land there to the east,” Bub replied still puffing on his pipe. “Pretty much means one of two things to me A.J..”
“Either the person killing our cattle and taking them is living on Farlands land somewhere unbeknownst to them,” A.J. concluded, “or it’s the Farlands themselves doing the killing.”
“Right. We never had any problems from the Farlands before though,” Bub stated “I would think if they had anyone hiding out on their land they would probably know it though.”
“Now we know where the tracks are heading to we better keep an eye out on the Farlands for a while,” A.J. stated
“Yeah I agree,” Bub said as he nodded his head slowly and pulled in a big draw on his pipe. Bub seemed deep in thought as he spoke, “Let’s head back to the house and get some provisions A.J.. It might be wise to camp out around here tonight and see if we can catch anyone slipping back and forth across the creek.”
“Sounds good to me buddy,” A.J. replied. “We better make a quick check on the cattle first and then get back to slaughter a hog before sis kicks us both out of the house for good.”
Bub chuckled out loud as they both turned their horses and headed south towards where he last had seen the cattle. As they headed south following Cow Creek they discussed how many of their cattle they would sell off this year before winter hit. Bub puffed at his pipe, which he frequently did, and A.J. did most of the talking.
They had gone only about a mile when they saw three riders cutting across the creek and up the embankment towards them. As they rode closer into view they noticed it was their neighbors Owen, Levi, and Aaron Farland. Bub leaned over slightly towards A.J. and whispered, “Be on the edge ready with that Schofield and let me do the talking.”
“Alright Bub I got us covered,” A.J. replied, “but be cautious in your words. We don’t know for sure it was them yet or not.”
As Bub sat back up straight in the saddle he nodded his head slightly showing he understood. As the three riders approached to within ten yards of them Bub and A.J. instinctively looked them over carefully. Owen Farland, who was the father, was about forty and he rode in between two of the three sons he had, Aaron who was seventeen and Levi who was twenty one. The only people missing from his group that day was his wife Myra, who was about three years younger than Owen, and Will who was eighteen. The family lived to the east of them and was farmers not ranchers like Bub and A.J.. All three carried Remington New Model Army revolvers that fired a .44 caliber round in a belt holster. Owen and Levi both had Spencer repeater rifles in scabbards attached to their horses under their legs. It caught both A.J. and Bubs eyes that all three horses were shoed, so they were not likely the horses they had been tracking earlier they didn’t suppose.
Bub took a long draw on his pipe and spoke to the three riders, “Hello there neighbors. What can we do for you all today?”
The two Farland kids nodded their heads as if to say hello as their father spoke, “Howdy Bub. We came to talk to you and your family about a few problems we have been having.”
“I see. Well A.J. and I are the ones that run the ranch now so you can inform us,” Bub replied.
“Well a few of your cattle have been roaming over to our property and eating on our crops,” Owen said. “We would appreciate it if you both could see to it that it doesn’t happen anymore.”
“I see,” Bub stated flatly as he glanced over at A.J. who hadn’t taken his eyes off the Farlands since they rode up. Bub noticed A.J. held his horse’s reins in his left hand as it rested on his right leg next to his holster. His right hand lay across his holster next to his left with his wrist resting lazily across the hammer of his Schofield. Bub knew from watching A.J. shoot in competitions before that if something did go down, it wouldn’t be if any of the Farlands died, but how many before their firearms even cleared their holsters.
“We also were seeing a few Indians cross our land from time to time. I just thought we would warn you of that while we were here,” Owen continued.
Bub took a big pull from the shaft of the pipe and slowly let it escape his lungs as he spoke, “Indians? Really?” he questioned in disbelief. “Well Mr. Farland if you keep the Indians at bay I will assure you my cattle won’t wonder onto your land any more sir,” with that Bub lifted his head and eyes from Mr. Farland towards the east as if to shoo them away back to their land. The three riders tipped their hats to Bub and A.J. as they turned their horses back east and crossed the creek. A.J. and Bub sat and watched them disappear.
A.J. kept his hand near his Schofield until the Farlands were out of sight. Once they were gone he relaxed his gaze and looked over at Bub, “What do ya think?” he asked.
“He’s a dammed liar,” Bub said as he turned his horse south again and headed towards were he had last seen the cattle grazing. “Let’s get these cows checked on and get home to butcher that hog.”
6
After checking on the cattle and slaughtering the hog A.J. and Bub filled in their sister Soph on what had progressed that day. They told her about the Farlands and reminded her to keep the shotgun loaded with extra shells nearby. She fixed them a nice dinner of ham and beans with fresh corn muffins. A.J. and Bub loaded up their bedrolls and provisions for a two night stay just in case. Bub wrapped up some salted pork and extra corn muffins for the trip and they both hugged their sister goodbye as they headed back out to camp where they last seen the cattle.<
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“Bub I have a feeling this is heading for one hell of a mess when we find out what’s going on for sure with our cattle,” A.J. said.
“I have the same feeling but we can’t allow this to continue. Our ranch will start losing profit and we will have to sell,” bub said. “Our folks trusted us by leaving us here to tend to the ranch, I’m not going to allow us to let them down buddy,” he continued. “I also won’t allow anyone to run us all off this land.”
“I am glad we are providing for mother and father and they are living a comfortable life in town, but I sure do miss them out here with us Bub,” A.J. replied
“Me too,” Bub said.
The sun had started to set behind them as they headed west from the house towards where the cattle usually grazed. “It won’t be long now until its dark. We better find a place soon to camp for the night,” Bub stated.
“Yep I agree. I think some place on the east side of that hill where you found that arrow at would be a good place Bub,” A.J. replied. “From there we can oversee the whole herd and see past the creeks and onto Farlands land.”
“Sounds good to me bud,” Bub said as he lit a match and put it to his pipe.
They continued to talk as they rode out to where the herd was grazing. As they topped the hill that overlooked the cattle, Bub was