Homesteader's War by Doug Bluth

Author:Doug Bluth [Bluth, Doug]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Robert Hale
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

When he woke up the cows were still milling around, only there were more of them. Ned stood up and checked one to see if it was branded. It was, so then he wondered who they belonged to. Then it hit him, there’s cattle here on a drive, and where there’s a herd of cattle, there will be cowboys. The lack of food and water must have gone to his head. Ned kept close to the cattle, praying he was right that they were part of a drive and not strays.

Soon enough a low rumbling followed, the sound of many hoofs pounding on the ground, and the occasional mooing. Interspersed with those sounds a horse neighed and a man whistled. Ned didn’t know what direction they were coming from, so he just yelled as loud as he could. He spooked the cows near him, and some of them turned and ran, causing a mini stampede. He heard the shouts of more men as they tried to contain the whole herd and keep them from bolting. Finally most of the cattle were under control. Ned breathed a big sigh of relief as he watched two cowboys ride over to him. He waved his hat in the air so they knew he was friendly.

‘We heard some shouting over here, nearly spooked our cattle. Everything OK, partner?’ said the lead cowboy.

‘Everything is fine now. I just had a little trouble with some outlaws,’ said Ned.

‘Where’s your horse?’

‘Well, that’s part of the trouble,’ Ned said, an endearing smile on his face.

The cowboys laughed. ‘Where you from?’

‘Colorado. I own the Flying W ranch up there.’

‘No kidding, you’re a drover?’

‘Yup, do my fair share of punching; it’s a small ranch though.’

‘What brings you down here?’

Ned was getting tired of this question, but answered it succinctly, ‘Trouble.’

‘All right, mister. . . .’

‘Bracken, Ned Bracken, call me Ned though.’

‘All right, Ned, my name’s Ralph, this here is Tim, he don’t talk much. We’ve got an extra horse if you’re willing to help out with the herding.’ He handed Ned his canteen.

Ned took a big drink and said, ‘Much obliged, I’ll help as much as I can.’

‘We came out of west Texas a week ago. Had one fellow run off, scared of the Comanche, so it’s been slow going ever since,’ said Ralph.

Ned walked beside Ralph as the other man chatted about the cattle drive, and his life in Texas as a cowboy. There were ten cowboys and a cook altogether driving 1,500 head to Denver. Ned picked up the spare horse and helped herd up some wandering steers. Ralph rode alongside him.

‘You’re pretty handy with that rope, Ned,’ said Ralph.

‘Thanks, I’ve had a few years of practice. My own herd is small but I only have two hands, so I get to spend a lot of time ahorse. My boy . . .’ Ned paused, his throat constricted as he thought of his son. He didn’t want to think about that, not yet. He stopped talking and Ralph didn’t respond, letting the silence remain.

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