A Distant Land by Matt Braun

Author:Matt Braun
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: St. Martin's Publishing Group
Published: 1988-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

Four cowhands worked the branding fire. Off in the distance, outriders circled a herd of shorthorns being held on a grassy swale. Bawling calves were lassoed and dragged to the fire, where they were thrown to the ground. The men on foot quickly branded them and castrated the bull calves.

Elizabeth and Brad watched from a nearby knoll. She was mounted on a grulla mare and Brad rode a sorrel cowpony. Her inspection of the roundup had brought her to a holding ground not far from the southern foothills. There she’d found Brad checking one of the many branding operations on Spur.

For a time they discussed routine affairs. Brad planned to start the gather for trail herds within the week. Extra men, who drifted from one outfit to another during trailing season, had already been hired. By the end of the month, the first herd would be driven north toward the railhead. From there, the cows would be shipped to eastern slaughterhouses.

Brad foresaw no problems with the trail drives. While attentive to his report, Elizabeth was preoccupied with other thoughts. She’d known for some time that he might quit Spur to build his own outfit on the Rio Felix. Yet now, more than ever, she needed him to stay on as foreman. With Morg distracted by other business interests, she simply couldn’t afford to lose Brad. She somehow had to ensure his loyalty to Spur.

“Not to change the subject,” she said now, “but I had a talk with Morg this morning. He has his mind set on starting a mining venture.”

“Yeah, I know,” Brad said, smiling. “He’s been bending my ear about it for the past week.”

“I’ve decided to go along with the idea. It sounds promising.”

“Well, Morg’s got a good head for business. I just suspect he’ll pull it off.”

Elizabeth tried to keep her voice casual. “With Morg gone so much, that means added responsibility for you. I was thinking we might work out a new arrangement.”

“Oh,” Brad said without much interest. “What’s that?”

“As a matter of fact, I was considering a bonus of some sort. Say ten percent on the increase over last year. How does that strike you?”

“Wouldn’t hurt my feelings,” Brad said absently. “I could always use the extra money.”

“What I’m asking—” Elizabeth hesitated, searching for words. “I need some assurance from you, Brad. I want to know you’ll stay on as foreman.”

Brad stared stonily ahead, his face blank. “I’ll stay on till the end of trailing season. I can’t promise anything after that.”

Elizabeth looked at him for a long moment. “Would more money change your mind? I’m agreeable to anything within reason.”

“It’s not the money,” Brad said in a faraway voice. “Tell you the truth, I’m sort of betwixt and between. I don’t know what I’m gonna do.”

“While you’re trying to decide, remember that we think of you as family. Spur wouldn’t be the same without you.”

“I’m not likely to forget.”

Elizabeth nodded, all too aware of his quandary. She reined her mare around and rode off. Fording the river, it occurred to her that the conversation had resolved nothing.

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