the Trail West by Johnstone William W

Author:Johnstone, William W [Johnstone, William W]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

16

The next day was a Sunday, so Monahan was a little surprised when Buckshot Bob came stomping into the barn at six in the morning, serious as a heart attack, and began feeding and grooming the the six big bays stalled alongside the old cowboy’s sleeping place. Being understandably curious, he stretched his legs and arms, and sat up.

“Whatcha doin’ there, Buckshot Bob?” he asked softly, so as not to startle either the man or the horses.

Bob didn’t startle easily. Without missing a brushstroke, he said, “Now Dooley, what’s it look like I’m up to?” He chortled softly under his breath.

Monahan stood up. “Well, it appears to me like you’re tryin’ to brush all the bay off that gelding. What you expectin’ to find underneath?”

Buckshot Bob’s chortle turned into a guffaw. “You’re a real card, Dooley. If you gotta know, today’s a workday around here, just like every other Friday, Sunday, and Wednesday.”

Monahan’s face bunched up. He hadn’t noticed Bob giving the horses any special grooming on Friday. But then, he’d gone to bed late Thursday night and had let himself sleep in for a bit in the morning. Hell, it had been past nine when he woke. He looked closely at the bays. Come to think of it, these weren’t even the same horses!

Buckshot Bob finished with the first horse, and began to work on the second.

“I don’t mean to be buttin’ in, but you’re sure doin’ a bum job of it if you’re planning to take ’em out for a ride.”

Bob turned around and laughed right out loud. “Dooley, you really was down for the count on Friday mornin’! And here I was thinkin’ you was fakin’ it.”

Monahan opened up his mouth, then closed it again. Finally, he said, “Now, you really got me confuddled! What the hell you up to, Bob?”

Currycomb in one hand, body brush in the other, Bob paused and turned toward him. “Thought it was obvious, Dooley. I’m gettin’ these six ready for a quick switch out for when the stage comes in.”

Monahan let out a big chest full of air with an audible sigh. “Well, damn! Now that crappy groomin’ job you’re doin’ makes sense!” He found himself some brushes and went to work on the third horse, a leggy bay mare.

The two men, working in tandem, had all the horses groomed and turned out in a matter of minutes. Buckshot Bob had a look at his watch. One grizzled eyebrow shot up in question. “I think we about got time for a cuppa coffee before the stage comes roarin’ in here.”

Dooley nodded in response.

When they gained the house, Mae was already pouring them steaming cups of coffee. Buckshot Bob grinned at her when she shoved a mug into his hands. After taking a sip, he asked, “You spied us from the window, didn’t you?”

A quick nod and the hint of a smile indicated yes, she’d been spying on him, and yes, that’s why she had the coffee ready, and that he’d best drink it down if he expected to be ready when the stage pulled in.

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