where headed towards the tree line where Bub and A.J. had camped. “Let’s get to the other side with our horses A.J.,” Bub said as he hurried towards where they had their camp. “We will wait on the other side there hidden by the trees and when they are close enough we will make them aware we see them crossing onto our land.”
They hurried as they gathered up their bedrolls and headed out the other side of the trees to their horses. They brought their horses into the tree line with them and took up some cover behind a few trees. Bub reached into his pocket and drew out some tobacco and stuffed into his pipe. They both unsheathed their rifles from their scabbards and waited for the riders to come into view.
8
Owen Farland stood on his porch as he watched his brother and three nephews ride towards his house. The four men tied their horses to the hitching rail and walked up towards the house. Jim Farland was Owens younger brother and he had brought his three sons with him, Mike who was twenty two, Luke who was twenty one, and Cole was seventeen. They all carried the same type of firearm his brothers family did, the Remington New Army and Spencer repeaters that were secured to their horses in rifle scabbards.
“Good evening brother,” Jim said to Owen. “Got your message and thought we would come see if we could help you out any.”
“Glad you did Jim. I think this will be beneficial to all of us little brother,” Owen replied. “Glad you brought your boys there too. We can use all the help we can get with my neighbors.”
“They got a lot of men over there that will give us problems?” Jim asked.
“No. Just the two boys left there on the ranch. They have one sister, but she’s nothing to worry about,” Owen replied.
Myra, Owens wife, stepped out onto the porch having been listening to the conversation between her husband and her relatives. “You leave Soph out of this!” Myra said angrily. “There is no need to get her involved in all of this. You just go about your plan of taking their cattle until they can’t afford to live on the land anymore,” She continued. “I don’t agree with what you’re doing but I have no choice but to back you in the matter husband. I can warn you though you all better leave that girl alone!” With that she stormed back into the house and slammed the wooden door shut behind her.
“Pay no attention to her,” Owen said. “Their sister isn’t going to be a problem anyways.”
“If she does become a problem we can take care of her,” Jim replied.
“My boys are out there on the side of the house. They are setting you all up a couple of tents your welcome to stay in Jim,” Owen said. “They will definitely keep you warmer in the cool night’s air we have been having lately. You go out there and make yourselves comfortable and I will get Myra to get you all something to eat.”
Jim and his three boys returned to their horses and dismounted their gear as Owen went back into the house to find them something to eat. It was nearing dusk now so the men hurried to get their stuff into the tents and get a fire started before it got to dark. About an hour had passed when Owen returned with beans and bacon to feed his relatives as they settled into their tents. Luke Farland had started a fire and the whole family outside of Myra sat at the fire to keep warm as they talked.
“What is it exactly your wanting us to do uncle?” Mike asked
“I had been kind of wondering that myself Owen,” Jim added
“The Davises dad had a bad injury in the war. I thought he wasn’t going to be able to keep that ranch going. I thought after he had spent his money down a ways I would give him a fair offer on the land and turn it into crops and a place there for my oldest boy,” Owen said. “However he turned it over to his boys and their sister when he moved to town. Now his boys have made the ranch quiet prosperous ruining my plans for a future here,” He continued. “My boys and I have been getting their cattle a little at a time until they can’t afford to live there any more or until they decide to sell.”
“So what are your plans for using us in all this Owen?” Jim asked.
“Would like you all to ride over there and introduce yourselves, maybe you all can spin the same stories I told them. Try and intimidate them some and maybe they will just leave that land,” Owen said.
“If that land was given to them by their father them boys aint gonna leave easy uncle,” Mike said. “They got something to prove to their father and to themselves.”
“Either way Mike,” Jim said to his boy angrily, “we are going to help your uncle out and do what needs to be done.”
“Good,” Owen replied. “My boys and I definitely appreciate you all helping us out. You get them to leave that land there will be some profit in it for you all also Jim.”
“We will do what we can big brother. I promise you that,” Jim said. “We will ride over there in the morning and see if we can’t stir them boys up some.”
After they all finished eating they cleaned up a bit, laid out their bedrolls inside the tents, and turned in for the night. As he lay there falling asleep Jim wondered to himself it was right of them to try and run them boys off their land. He wanted to do what was right, but he also wanted to help out his brother and his family as best he could. Something that his son Mike had said stuck in his mind as he fell asleep, “If that land was given to them by their father them boys aint gonna leave easy.”
Early the next morning Jim and his sons were awakened by Owen and Myra. Myra had fixed them all up some bacon and fresh biscuits to fill up on. Owen helped Jim and his nephews load up their horses for the trip over to the neighbors land. Jim and his boys mounted their horses and headed west across his brothers land towards the neighbors. “We will head across to the north of those trees there on the far side of the field,” Jim told his boys.
“Pop you think we are doing the right thing trying to run those boys off their land?” Cole asked.
“Son your uncle needs our help and I want us to help him. I don’t know if what he wants is right or wrong, but he is my brother and your uncle. I guess all I can say at this point is I feel we are walking into trouble, but we must do what we can for our family,” Jim replied.
“I understand pop,” Cole answered.
Jim and his boys crossed the field slowly but steadily. When they reached the other side he made sure they were all near him. “Now we are getting ready to cross onto another man’s land. Be mindful of your surroundings and if we happen to come onto the boys that own this land let me do the speaking.”
They all nodded their heads and verbally agreed with their dad as they crossed over onto the neighbors land. They had ridden about forty yards just passing the opposite side of the tree line when they heard two guns cock and a match struck and sizzle to life. They all stopped their horses as they looked to their left and seen two men pointing guns at them, one in a black Stetson hat lighting his pipe as he stared Jim and his three boys down.
9
Bub and A.J. had cocked their rifles as the group of four men just barely cleared the tree line. With one hand on his rifle Bub struck a match and lit his long awaited pipe. The four men stopped their horses and turned to face Bub and A.J., as they did Bub noticed they all carried the same kind of firearms as the Farlands did.
“Well, well, well,” Bub said in a sarcastic manner. “Who do we have here A.J.?”
“Looks like trespassers Bub,” A.J. replied.
“No…Looks like our cattle rustlers to me,” Bub said.
“We are no cattle rustlers,” Jim Farland said
“Then what the hell are you doing sneaking on to our land?” Bub asked.
“We are relatives of Owen Farland. I am his younger brother and these are my sons Mike, Luke, and Cole,” Jim replied.
“Now that we know who you are the question still remains what the hell you are doing on our land?” A.J. asked.
“We were just coming over to introduce ourselves to you and your sister,” Jim replied. “We were asked by my brother to come help him with some Indians he had problems with on h
is land,” Jim continued. “He asked us if we would come introduce ourselves to you all in case you seen us around the area.”
Bub took a big puff on his pipe, held the smoke in his lungs for a few brief seconds, and then calmly blew it out as he looked the group of men over cautiously.
“My brother also mentioned he had some problems with some of your cattle wondering over and eating on his crops,” Jim continued. “He wanted me to ask that you make sure they stay on your land.”
A.J. could tell Bubs anger was growing, as he looked at his brother, he could see him starting to chew on the pipe stem.
“Our cows aren’t a bunch of deer Mr. Farland. They don’t wonder all over everybody’s land,” A.J. calmly stated before his brother could say anything. “They won’t cross water unless they had been herded to.”
“I am just relaying what was told to me,” Jim said. “The Indians I had seen for myself about three nights ago on my brother’s land.”
A.J. looked over at Bub, he knew after that last statement there was no holding Bubs anger back any further.
“You know what I think Mr. Farland?” Bub asked.
“What is that?”
“I think you and your brother are nothing but liars!” Bub exclaimed as his face turned red with anger.
“That’s not necessary Mr. Davis,” Jim said. “It is…,” Jim started to say something else until Bub cut him off.
“I was always taught by my father to speak the truth. Yours must have taught your family how to be thieves and liars,” Bub said. “This is the only warning I am giving you and your family Mr. Farland,” he continued, “the next time any of you step foot on my families land without the law present my brother or I are going to shoot you as trespassers.”
The statement must have hit Jim Farland like a hard punch to the gut, which was its obvious intention by Bub. A.J. could plainly see all Jims boys immediately look to their father at what his next move would be. Jim’s anger could clearly be seen in the way his face twisted at hearing Bubs statement, but knowing A.J. and Bub already had them in their gun sights, Jim wisely chose to back down until another day.
“I think my boys and I understand Mr. Davis,” Jim said. “I will make sure and pass the message on to my brother.”
“Then see that you do,” Bub replied.
Jim and his three boys turned their horses slowly and headed east back towards his brother’s house. A.J. and Bub easily let the hammers down on their rifles and slid them into their horse’s scabbards. They both remounted their horses before either one of them said a thing about what had just happened.
“You think we have seen the last of them Bub?” A.J. asked.
“No I do not,” Bub said as he puffed on his pipe. “I get the feeling that this is far from over.”
“I kinda got that feeling too Bub. You think Owen Farland wants our land that bad for some reason?” A.J. asked.
“I’m not sure what reason he has for taking our cattle A.J.,” Bub replied, “whatever the reason he thinks it is worth sending his relatives to try and intimidate us.”
“They weren’t to intimidating Bub,” A.J. said.
“No I think we caught them off guard. Sure glad you had the idea of camping out here,” Bub said. “If we hadn’t I’m not sure what would of happened.”
“Let’s get home Bub,” A.J. said as he motioned his horse towards the west and they both headed back to the house.
10
Soph was up early the next morning cleaning up the rest of the breakfast she had made her brothers. A.J. and Bub had both stayed the night before and filled her in on what had happened with the Farlands. Both the boys filled up on her home made biscuits and jam. They then packed up extra food to last them a few days and headed back out onto the ranch to watch over their cattle.
Soph finished up her own breakfast and drank her coffee as she got herself around. She threw on a light blue pull over dress and her brown leather boots that Bub had made for her himself a few years back. It was a little cold this morning so she threw on a sweater jacket she had knitted during the summer for preparation of this year’s winter.
After she prepared herself for the morning chores she started to open the windows, as she did she noticed two riders with three horses heading up the field towards the house. “Who the hell is that?” she mumbled to herself. As the riders got closer she could tell it was a couple of the Farland boys and one of them was leading a third horse behind them.
Soph in a panic slammed the window back shut and ran for the fireplace. She picked up the shotgun from above the mantel. She had loaded it just a few days ago, but to reassure herself, she broke the shotgun open and confirmed the shells were securely placed in both of the chambers. She hurried back to the window as the riders drew closer to the house. When they were close enough one of the boys hollered out to her.
“Sophia! This is Will and Aaron Farland ma’am!” Will yelled. “Ma asked if we would bring you one of our horses that has gone sick.”
Soph made her way to the front door, with the shotgun still firmly grasped in her hand, and grabbed a few extra shells and placed them in the front pocket of her dress. She lifted the latch and opened the door just enough to put half of her body and the shotgun outside the door. “You all’s family has been causing us some grief around here lately. What makes your ma think I would be willing to help you all out?”
“Ma’am we haven’t been doing anything of the sort.” Will said. “Even if we had our Ma would never allow us to cause you any kind of trouble personally.”
“That may be boys,” Soph replied, “but you all taking our cattle does cause me trouble personally.”
“Either way ma’am everyone around here knows your kinship with animals,” Aaron said, “can we all put our personal differences aside and do what’s best for our horse please?”
Soph let out a big sigh, “What’s wrong with her?” Soph asked.
“She seems depressed and going partially blind.” Will answered. “It’s like she ate something poisonous.”
“Probably ate bracken fern be my guess,” Soph said. “It causes her to lack good minerals and vitamins, that’s what makes them feel sickly. How long she been like this?” Soph asked.
Will looked at his brother Aaron before saying anything. “About two day or so I would say,” Will replied as Aaron confirmed with a nod of his head.
“She doesn’t look that bad yet,” Soph said, “bring her over to the barn and I will see what I can do for her. I won’t promise she will be ok, I will just promise I will do what I can for her.”
“Thank you so much ma’am,” Aaron said, “Our Ma will sure appreciate it.”
With Sophs help the two Farland boys got the horse settled into the barn. “You boys might want to head south from the house there and down through the neighbors land, then back over to your families,” Soph said. “My brothers won’t take it too easy on you if they see you riding through our property.”
“Thank you ma’am,” Will said. “We will be sure and do just that.”
The boys did just as Soph suggested and headed south towards the neighbors land before cutting back east towards their families. “That was easier than I thought it would be,” Aaron said as they rode off.
“Even if we were the devil himself she wouldn’t have turned us down,” Will said. “She loves animals too much.”
Soph decided to go about feeding the other ranch animals first before attending to the Farlands horse. Besides just having cattle they had chickens, hogs, a few geese that often took up the water trough, and two goats. Soph spent the first part of the morning feeding and taking care of the animals she had there at the house and barn.
“Horse doesn’t seem very sick to me,” she stated to herself as she entered the barn to check on the horse. She felt the horse up and down to see if she could see any signs of illness. Soph looked into the horse’s eyes and held bits of treat up towards one eye then the other to see
if there were any signs of blindness, there was none, the horse could see perfectly fine.
“What are those boys playing at? This horse is perfectly fine,” Soph said to herself. “Well I will feed her for a few days, but if they want their horse back they can come get her,” she continued as she turned at headed back for the house.
11
Two days later the Farlands still hadn’t come to check on their horse. A.J. and Bub had returned the night before and were now eating flapjacks that Soph had made them all for breakfast that morning. Soph had already tended to the ranch animals and the Farlands horse that morning. She hadn’t yet told the boys about the Farlands horse the night before, but she told them all about the incident as they ate and drank coffee.
“Soph I think them boys are up to something,” A.J. said. “They would know if that horse was sick or not when they dropped it off here.”
“I will tell you this Soph, I’m not too happy with you agreeing to aid them in the first place,” Bub said. “I know you love animals, but dam you knew we were at differences with the Farlands,” Bub continued. “They are lucky I wasn’t here, sick horse or not, I had already done warned their family about coming on our land!”
“Bub you always have something to say to me to try and start a fight,” Soph replied, “You don’t run this property by yourself, there is two more people here helping you also, and mother and father didn’t leave you in charge. From what I remember they left me in charge as the oldest, so just shut your mouth or I will be sending you to go live with them.”
Bub laughed out loud as he lit his pipe, “And you would take care of the cattle that support this family? That’s a laugh,” Bub said.
“I am sure A.J. and I can manage just fine!” She exclaimed.
Bub just puffed on his pipe as he tried to think of something else to say.
“You two are like an old married couple. Quit fighting all the time,” A.J. said.
The rest of the meal everyone ate in silence. When they were done Bub continued to puff on his pipe as Soph cleaned up and filled everyone’s cup with what was left of the coffee. A.J. just stared out the window watching the two goats butt each other. He chuckled to himself as one finally walked away from the other. He figured the goat walking away had gotten a headache finally and was done. The two goats always butting their heads reminded him of his brother and sister always fighting.
As he stared out the window he noticed two riders coming across the grass from the southeast. A.J. stood up quickly and checked his rifle as he spoke, “Riders coming from the southeast.”
Bub jumped up to look as Soph grabbed the shotgun from over the mantel. She broke the shotgun open to check once again that it was loaded with two shells.
“Looks to be the sheriff Bub,” A.J. said. “That must be a deputy there with