facing A.J. asking about any hunting he had done recently. A.J. stopped his horse suddenly and closed his eyes as he dropped his head slowly.
“What’s the matter? Hunting wasn’t that great or what A.J.?” Bub questioned.
As A.J. lifted his head and looked at Bub he spoke. “Look at the herd Bub,” he said solemnly.
Bub turned his head to look out over their cattle. Even though it was nearing dark, he could tell that at least a hundred of them were missing. A.J. could almost see Bubs jaw tighten up as the anger grew inside his brother. He could tell Bub was thinking over and processing everything before he spoke next. He almost thought Bub wasn’t going to say anything at all it had taken so long. Bub took several big puffs on his pipe before he finally spoke. “No two Indians could have killed or rustled that many heads of cattle in the amount of time we checked them last,” He said almost in a whisper. “The Farlands must take us for some kind of dammed fools thinking we bought into their story of our cattle wondering onto their land or Indians being around A.J,” Bub stated as the anger in his voice grew. “None of our cattle has ever crossed those creeks and the Indians moved north years ago.”
“What do you want to do little brother?” A.J. questioned
“I’m willing to bet there isn’t a hundred or so blood stains or arrows stuck in the ground down there,” Bub replied. “I’m also willing to bet there is about a hundred or so cow’s hove prints down there somewhere headed across that creek towards the Farlands. I would also be willing to wager the ranch that amongst them cow hove prints is quite a few unshod horse tracks,” He continued as he puffed on his pipe. “I say we make camp for tonight and find them in the morning since it is getting dark. It will just ease my mind to know without a doubt which direction our cattle are headed for sure.”
After dismounting their horses A.J. and Bub made camp on the east side of the hill that overlooked the east side of their land were their cattle usually grazed on the wild grass. A.J. built a campfire and Bub cooked their salted pork over the fire in a pan he had brought along. As they sat and ate neither of them said much about the day’s events. Once they finished eating they both felt full and worn out. They both fell lightly asleep on their bedrolls next to the fire.
The next morning they were both awoke early by their horses stomping on the brush close by as they grazed. A.J. and Bub had a quick breakfast of corn muffins, cleaned up their camp making sure the fire was out, and saddled up their horses. Bub lit his pipe and puffed on it as he mounted his horse. They both headed out to see if they could find the tracks left by the missing cattle from the previous day.
It didn’t take them long to find the tracks at the far end of the herd. “Even after letting the herd wonder across the field all night there is thousands of tracks here headed east towards the river A.J.,” Bub said.
“Even the unshod horse tracks are all over the place Bub,” A.J. replied. “There had to be at least three or four riders.”
“They rustled them across those creeks and took them onto Farlands land,” Bub said as he shook his head in disbelief. “Cattle rustling is still a hangable offense and I have a dammed good idea who the thieves are A.J.” Bub stated as he started to get angrier.
“Bub I agree with you, but the law aint going to back us on something we can’t prove,” A.J. said.
“What do you suggest then bud?” Bub asked.
Bub watched A.J. as they were both deep in thought on what to do. “I have an idea Bub,” A.J. finally said. “We have provisions for another night. Let’s tie up our horses on the west side of that grove of thick trees the Farlands planted for a windbreak on the southwest side of their crop field. I bet that’s the direction these tracks are leading to. We can hideout in the tree line there and watch for our cattle they took or anyone crossing back and forth there,” A.J. stated. “If we see our cattle one of us can have Soph ride to town to alert the sheriff. If we catch someone going back and forth with unshod horses we will know we have the thief ourselves.”
Bub puffed on his pipe as he thought about the idea. “Sounds like a pretty good idea to me. Have one interjection on it though.”
“What’s that Bub?”
“Just so we are clear now A.J. if I catch someone on our land taking the cattle there won’t be a need to alert the sheriff,” Bub stated angrily.
“Why is that Bub?” A.J. asked.
“Cause they will be dead.”
7
A.J. and Bub had crossed both creeks and rode the three miles to the group of about fifty trees that the Farlands used as a windbreak for their crop field. The trees were fairly dense and even though they were initially planted on Farlands land they ran over onto Bubs families as well. The shade from the growth of trees left little chance for much to grow along the ground but dirt and a few weeds.
“Let’s tie the horses up here and make our way through some of these trees to get a good view of the Farlands land,” A.J. said.
“We will be on the Farlands land by the time we get to where we can see on the other side there,” Bub replied.
“I didn’t really think that mattered to you Bub.”
Bub chuckled and nodded his head, “Nope sure doesn’t.”
They made their way to the other side of the tree line and set up camp about ten feet in from the Farlands side of the tree line. They sat, listened, and watched the Farlands land for any signs of their cattle or anyone headed towards their land. They would take turns crawling up to the edge of the tree line to see if they could spot anything up towards the Farlands house and barn on the other side of the field. After his second trip up to take a look Bub whispered to A.J., “Hey come see this.”
A.J. crept up to where Bub was watching the Farlands house. “What are those white things next to the house and barn Bub?”
“Look like some kind of tents,” Bub replied.
“Why would they need tents Bub?” A.J. asked.
“They must be either trying to hide something or they have people staying there,” Bub said.
“Tents don’t look big enough from here to keep our cattle in Bub. They must be people staying in those tents,” A.J. said
The two brothers sat and watched the Farlands house and the group of tents until the sun was starting to set behind them. They ate some of their muffins and cold salted pork for supper, as they ate A.J. noticed Bub squirming around chewing on his pipe stem.
“What’s the matter with you?” A.J. asked Bub.
“Dam I feel fidgety!” Bub answered. “I can’t have a fire because I’m afraid the Farlands will see us out here. Can’t have a hot meal cause we can’t have a fire. I’m afraid to have a pipe for fear they will smell the smoke if they come near,” Bub stated clearly agitated.
“It’s just for one night Bub. Put a pinch of your pipe tobacco in your lip that will probably help ya some,” A.J. replied
Bub rolled his eyes as he dug for a pinch of tobacco and put it in his lip as A.J. suggested. “Doubt it will help much A.J. chewing on it doesn’t warm my lungs like my pipe does.”
“I’m going to go check on the horses,” A.J. said. “They better be tended to before we bed down for the night.”
After A.J. made sure the horses were satisfied for the evening Bub and he set up their bedrolls for the night. They had spread their beds close together to help them keep warm for the night since there would be no fire for heat. A.J. quickly realized it would be a long night since the lack of tobacco and heat was already making Bub toss and turn next to him.
Early the next morning A.J. jumped up half awake as he felt like someone was attacking him. “It’s just me,” Bub whispered. “Come take a look at those tents now.”
A.J. crawled with Bub up to the side of the tree line that faced the Farlands field and house. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes as he peered out the trees and towards the tents next to the Farlands house. A.J. could make out there was a group of about seven or eight people standing between the two tents that
were setup next to the house. “Why are you up so early Bub?” A.J. asked half knowing the answer. “Who are all those people up there also?” He continued.
“Couldn’t sleep,” Bub replied. “Dam lack of my pipe and cold ground had me up all night!” Bub said clearly in a bad mood. “The Farlands have company staying with them I suppose. They must be planning on having them a while setting up those tents like that,” Bub said trying to hold back his bad attitude as best as he could.
A.J. didn’t take offense to it, but instead smiled as he could see Bub was having a hard time without his pipe. “They have to be planning something Bub. They are here to late in the year to help with crops,” A.J. said. “What do you think they are up to?”
Bub lowered his head and rubbed his forehead as if he was suffering from a migraine. “I don’t know bud, but with the lies Mr. Farland was telling us the other day, I feel it has something to do with us,” Bub started to get up to head back to where they were camping, “Let’s get our stuff and get out of here.”
As he started to stand A.J. quickly pulled Bub back to the ground where they had been sitting in the cover of the trees. “Hold up Bub!” A.J. said excitedly. “A Few of them have mounted their horses and are headed this way.”
Bub glanced in the direction A.J. was pointing towards the Farlands house. He noticed four of the riders had mounted up on horses and