Gus

by C. J. Petit

  Chapter 11

  Gus rose early and started packing for his trip. His cash was already in the saddle, but he took three bank drafts. He was going to be on the trail for most of the day, so he went downstairs and prepared a couple of sandwiches for his lunch. He wrapped them in butcher paper and set them aside.

  He waited for the cook to come in and start breakfast before he had his coffee. When Hank came in, Gus waved him over.

  “Hank, how many critters do you think we need. I was thinking six hundred.”

  “Sounds right.”

  “How are we progressing on the move?”

  “We pushed eight hundred through already, so we got another six hundred to go.”

  “So, they can start moving them here in spring with no problems.”

  “Except the Red will be swollen a bit.”

  “Do we wait until June?”

  “Might be better.”

  “All right. I’ll tell them to have them here in June if I can make the deal.”

  Gus had breakfast, went out to the barn, and saddled Belle. He wore a heavier jacket this time. He left the Double A at seven thirty. A little while later, he crossed the Red River and entered Texas. He rode at a decent pace, recalling how much had changed since he had left. There had been so much change; he found it hard to fathom.

  Around noon he pulled over and let Belle rest, have some water, and munch some grass. He ate one of his sandwiches and drank from his canteen. He got back on Belle and set off toward the Rocking C.

  Gus arrived at the access road and walked Belle toward the house. He could see activity outside the house. This ought to be interesting. It was Bryce Hatfield himself. He was chewing out one of the hands. It was Henry Owens. Henry was giving it right back, too. Gus smiled to himself.

  They finally noticed Gus. Belle was unmistakable, even if Gus wasn’t. Henry broke into a wide grin while Bryce scowled.

  “Morning, Henry. How’s the world treatin’ ya?”

  “Great to see you again, Gus.”

  “Come begging for your job back, Matthews?”, Bryce sneered.

  “Why, no, I’m not, Mr. Hatfield. I have come to solicit a sizeable purchase of bovine from Mr. Croft. Perchance, could I have a moment of his time?”

  Henry was smiling, but holding back the laughter boiling inside.

  “He ain’t gonna see the likes of you, Matthews. You ain’t never gonna set foot on this place.”

  “Why, Mr. Hatfield. I admit that I am distressed at your confrontational attitude. I do believe that I shall endeavor to circumvent your attempted interruption into the realm of commerce and speak directly to the fine owner of this ranch.”

  Gus took off his Stetson and made a long sweep as he bowed. Henry finally couldn’t hold it in. He was laughing so hard his hat fell off, and he didn’t care.

  “Matthews, you get off this here ranch.”

  “Mr. Hatfield, your rude behavior demands only one comment. Go screw yourself, Bryce, you low-life, skirt-chasing, dress-wearing bastard.”

  With that definitive statement, Gus stepped down and walked to the house. Henry was still laughing, with tears rolling down his cheeks. Bryce Hatfield turned on Henry and shouted, “You’re fired, Owens.”

  “It was worth it, you dress-wearin’ bastard,” Henry answered between laughs.

  Gus stopped and motioned Henry over. Henry walked over as Bryce stepped closer to hear what Gus was going to say, although he would never admit it.

  “You need a job, Henry?”

  “I think so, Gus.”

  “You still making forty dollars and found here?”

  “Yup.”

  “Well, I’ll pay you fifty dollars and found to come and work on the Double A.”

  Henry was more than surprised. Bryce thought it was nonsense.

  “I’ll get my gear, Gus.”

  “Good. I’ll be talking to Arvin for a while.”

  “Thanks, Gus. You need any more hands?”

  “Nope. Just hired two more a couple of weeks ago. I’m full up now.”

  “Okay. I’ll see you in a little while.”

  “Just look for Belle.”

  Henry waved as he jogged back to the bunkhouse.

  Gus knew he could use a hand with Henry’s experience and good nature. Henry deserved better than working for Bryce. He knocked on the door. Bryce walked up loudly behind him. Gus ignored him.

  The door opened, and Arvin Croft saw Gus and smiled.

  “Gus! Never thought I’d see you again. What brings you back to the Rocking C?”

  “Good to see you again, Arvin. Came to see about buying some cattle.”

  “Come on in. Tell me, what have you been doing?”

  Gus walked in, closely followed by Bryce Hatfield.

  Gus and Arvin had a seat.

  “Well, for one thing, I had to shoot Louis Feldman. He caused quite a ruckus up in Oklahoma. Killed a man, shot another, robbed some places, and raped a young girl. He finally broke into a spread I was working on and threatened the folks. I put one between his eyes. But what I need is to buy some cattle.”

  “Starting your own spread?”

  “More restarting the place. I’m moving all of the critters off there now and will be restocking late spring.”

  “How many are you looking for?”

  “The total will be about six hundred head.”

  Bryce was wondering what Gus was pulling.

  “You can handle that many?”

  “I’d pay for delivery, and I’d like as many as possible branded with the Double A brand. Do you think you could handle that many?”

  “How far are we talking?”

  “I left at seven thirty this morning, so I’m guessing around forty miles.”

  “That’s not bad. Can you lend me some hands for the move?”

  “Sure. I had six, but after Bryce over there just fired Henry Owens, I’ve got seven now.”

  Arvin wheeled at Bryce. “You fired Henry Owens? He’s the best hand we’ve got since Gus left.”

  “I’ll go tell him that I was just mad for a minute and he can stay.”

  “Good luck with that, Bryce. If I had the choice of working for you or Gus, I’d be leaving too.”

  “So, Arvin, can we do a deal?”

  “Sure. I can let you have them for twenty-one dollars a head. I’ll brand and deliver, and you’ll send me, what, four hands?”

  “That’ll work. Do you want a draft now?”

  “Nope. You can pay when they’re delivered. So how did you get a ranch?”

  Gus turned to Bryce. “Goodbye, Bryce. I’ll need to talk with Arvin for a while.”

  Bryce looked at Arvin, whose look told him he’d better leave five minutes ago.

  He left, and Gus spent twenty minutes telling Arvin what had happened. He even told him about his eight-minute marriage. Arvin told him the big news. Helen was expecting. Gus didn’t laugh as much as he wanted to. He could tell that Arvin had very mixed feelings about it.

  Finally, they shook on the deal.

  “Tell Ed to feed you and Henry before you leave.”

  “Thanks, Arvin. You’re a good man.”

  “Gus, you always were the best man I ever knew.”

  They shook hands once more, and Gus left the house.

  He found Henry waiting for him, his saddlebags packed.

  “Henry, Arvin said to have Ed feed us before leaving. I think that’s a good idea.”

  Henry nodded. They found Ed, who had started cooking about thirty minutes earlier. He was delighted to see Gus and angry that Henry had been fired. He gave them a huge dinner.

  Gus and Henry hit the road at five o’clock. It was already growing dark.

  “Did you hear the big news, Henry?”

  “What’s that, about you?”

  “No. That Helen’s pregnant. They’re gonna have a little Bryce.”

  Henry went into paroxysms again, and Gus joined him.

  They rode for another hour before finding a
campsite.

  After the horses were unsaddled and they were sitting next to a good fire, Gus explained what had happened since he had arrived in Oklahoma.

  Not talking about Sara was a conscious decision. As the trip had progressed, he’d found himself thinking that Sara would find this funny or saying to himself “wait till Sara hears this.” He kept wishing that Sara could have seen some of the same things he had seen. Not talking about Sara with Henry meant that there was one less man who knew about her.

  They were up in the morning and preparing to head north when Gus remembered his last trip to Texas.

  “Henry, we need to make a side trip to Wichita Falls.”

  “What do ya need?”

  “A little payback.”

  “This oughta be interestin’.”

  Gus and Henry shifted to a southwestern path, reaching Wichita Falls three hours later. Gus didn’t have to ask directions this time. They rode to the corner of Tenth and Indiana.

  Both men stepped down and approached the house. Gus left his gloves on, but Henry didn’t notice.

  Gus knocked on the door and waited. The door opened, and a sleepy-eyed Will Brannon opened the door. Gus wondered whether he ever worked at all.

  “You back again? You find Sara?”

  “Yep. She seemed unhappy with you, Will. And if Sara is unhappy, then I am right peeved.”

  With no warning whatsoever, Gus hauled back and hit Will Brannon flush in the mouth. He staggered back, then leaned forward, spitting teeth.

  “You bathdard!” he yelled, spitting blood everywhere.

  “You’re the bastard, Brannon. You’re lucky I’m in a hospitable mood. Now, you’ll be in pain for a long time, but nowhere near enough for what you did to Sara. Go to sleep, Brannon. If you can.”

  Gus nodded to Henry, and they mounted up and left.

  Gus said to Henry, “Let’s get some good chow,” and he led to the Railway Eating House.

  As they were sitting, enjoying their steaks, Henry asked the obvious question.

  “What was that all about, Gus?”

  Gus explained about Sara and what Brannon had done.

  “You’re right, Gus. It wasn’t enough. Ain’t no room on this earth for men like that.”

  “Nope. Henry, don’t tell anyone what I just told you. Sara lives near the ranch, and I don’t want anyone causing her more pain. She’s very special.”

  “Just between us, Gus.”

  “Good.”

  Henry had an inkling that Sara was more than just a best friend. He thought Gus was in love with her.

  After lunch, they headed north again. As they rode, Gus needed to tell Henry about the old Aronson ranch, and its new occupants.

  “I just want to give you a little background about Emma and Ethyl Powers. During his rampage, Lou Feldman did some nasty work at Emma’s house, including violating Ethyl. I’ve done all I can to help her return to normal childhood, and she’s doing very well. They’re both good folks. Emma’s about your age and a good-looking lady with a lot of class. She’s taking care of the house for me.”

  “I understand, Gus.”

  “I knew you would, Henry.”

  A couple of hours later, they pulled up to the house, and stepped down. The two puppies, who were noticeably larger than they were when Gus first picked them, came trotting out to see him.

  “This is Ralph, and that’s Marge.”

  “They’re kinda different. Look at those ears. Look a little like bloodhounds, but they ain’t got no legs.”

  “They’re Basset Hounds. Friendliest creatures I’ve ever seen.”

  The front door opened, and Emma stepped out. She was wearing one of her new dresses and had recently brushed her hair. She smiled at Gus and then looked at Henry, who was already looking at Emma.

  “Emma, this is my old friend, Henry Owens. He’ll be working here.”

  Emma smiled at Henry and said, “Good morning, Henry. Welcome to the Double A.”

  “Oh. Hello, Emma. Pleased to meet you.”

  “Emma, you wouldn’t happen to have any food available, would you? We just got in from Texas.”

  “I have some cold chicken and biscuits, if that would do.”

  “That’s perfect. And thank you for the food and the pie the other night.”

  “You’re welcome. I knew you’d be in late.”

  They all walked into the kitchen. Gus had noticed Henry’s loss of focus.

  “Ethyl in school, I assume?”

  “She’ll be home in an hour. Short day today. The schoolmarm needs to go somewhere. Ethyl started riding Princess to school two days ago. She said that the other children were all petting her and begging for rides. She’s very popular.”

  Gus smiled as he ate his early lunch. Henry was distracted.

  “Well, I’m going to head back and talk to Hank about the deal. Henry, Emma can show you how to get there. I’ll be in the office.”

  Henry turned and answered, “Okay, Gus. Be there in a bit.”

  Gus smiled and left the kitchen with a wave to Emma.

  As he was stepping up on Belle, he smiled and wondered how that was going to work out. He thought that he’d have to tell Sara of this development. He was curious whether she had taken some time to ride her new horse.

  ____

  Sara had taken the time. The day after Gus left for Texas, she took her first ride. She was tentative at first, not having ridden in some time and never on such a tall horse. But the gelding was all that Abe Greene had promised Gus and then some. He was very sensitive to her light touch. She had gone right after lunch and ridden south, straight through town. She was a magnificent sight to the unbiased observer, but there weren’t many of those. Most wished she just stayed in her room. But she didn’t care. She was free, and the cool air rushed past her face as she set the gelding to a canter. Her light-brown hair flowed out the back under her Stetson as the horse accelerated out of town. She slowed him down to a medium trot and rode past Kinnick until she reached the Red River. She stepped down, let the horse drink and eat some grass as she removed her Stetson and scanned the area. She climbed back on and patted the gelding on the neck.

  “I’m going to give you a king’s name. A wise king. Solomon. Do you like that?” She laughed because she had almost expected an answer. When the gelding suddenly nodded his head, she wasn’t sure that he hadn’t.

  She made the ride each day. She and Solomon developed a quick bond. She found herself talking to him on every ride. She needed to talk. Gus wasn’t there.

  ____

  Gus was in his office when Hank stopped in.

  “Afternoon, Hank. Have a chair. I’ll fill you in.”

  Hank seemed a little uneasy as he sat. Gus noticed.

  “What’s up, Hank? You seem out of sorts.”

  “Well, Gus, it’s just this. I appreciate you makin’ me foreman and all, but I just ain’t cut out for the job. I don’t cotton to tellin’ the boys to do things. I’d just as soon do ’em myself. I’d rather just be one of the guys. Can I do that?”

  “You’re a good man, Hank. Most men would have just taken the pay and done a bad job. You’ll keep the pay and just be a top hand. Okay?”

  Hank cheered up. “I am thankin’ you, Gus. But who’s gonna be foreman? I know one of the new guys, Joe Carroll, is itching for the job, but I think he’d be trouble.”

  “I’ve got a good friend that I hired down in Texas. Known him for years. He’d be ideal for the job. He was on the top of the list at the Rocking C behind me if Bryce Hatfield hadn’t wiggled his way in. Just pass the word that they’ll be meeting their new foreman shortly. Also, Hank, let them know that the deal is set and that in early June, four of you will be headed down to the Rocking C to help them move the six hundred head. Should only take a couple of days.”

  “I’ll do that, boss. Thanks again.” Hank trotted out of the office.