The Cattleman Meets His Match

by Sherri Shackelford

  “I know that. My uncle said he’d come for me once he had money saved. Except the chaperone on the train stole my letter. That was my last chance at having a real family. At least that’s what I thought. I have another chance. That’s a good feeling and I’m not letting it go.”

  “This isn’t the solution.”

  “I also know what I’ve left behind,” she continued. “I’m not sure you do.”

  She turned away, leaving him in uneasy silence. He knew what they had to lose. He knew all too well. They were risking their very lives. That’s why he couldn’t let this cattle drive go forward.

  * * *

  “Are we going to jail?” Hazel asked. “Darcy says we’re going to jail.”

  “Darcy is wrong.” Moira cast a surreptitious glance over her shoulder.

  John and Pops were engaged in a heated conversation. Well, more specifically, John was involved in a heated conversation. Pops kept his head down, carefully packing the chuck wagon. He offered the occasional nod, never looking up, never speaking.

  Moira pulled a wad of bills from her pocket and let the folded edges unfurl in her hand. The meager offering represented everything she owned in the world. All of her possessions. She’d left everything else behind in a town that didn’t even have a proper name as far as she could tell. Who named a town Fool’s End, anyway?

  Her scarred leather valise remained in her room at the hotel. A change of clothes, a few toiletries, her sketchbook. It hadn’t seemed like much at the time. Except it was more than she had now. Nearly twenty-one years old and she had nothing to show for her life. Nothing. Hardly any money, no possessions, no sketches, no family.

  Her mother’s brush and mirror were in that bag. Moira tamped down the flood of sorrow.

  Sucking in a fortifying breath, she took the sight of the peacefully grazing cattle. She might not have anything of substance, but she had a plan. And that counted for something.

  She tipped back her head and offered up a quick prayer for guidance. She wasn’t a leader. She wasn’t anything. Yet the girls looked to her as though she was the answer to their prayers.

  She was just Moira O’Mara. Unfortunately, that didn’t count for much. “We’re not going to jail, but we can’t go back to town.”

  “Good riddance, I say,” Tony declared. “That town was full of nothing but thieves and criminals.”

  “You’d know,” Darcy sneered.

  “Hey!”

  Sarah brushed the hair from her forehead. “Leaving is fine by me. But what happens after we reach our destination?”

  “You heard her,” Tony spoke. “We’re gonna sell the herd and start over.”

  Darcy shook her head. “Impossible. We don’t know what we’re doing.”

  Sarah shrugged a shoulder. “It’s not complicated. Like Moira says, we just have to be smarter than the cattle.”

  Tony snorted. “Yeah. You think you can manage that, Darcy?”

  The older girl lunged and Moira snatched her by the collar. “This will never work if we waste our energy fighting. All we have right now is each other.”

  “If all we have to count on is each other, then this whole idea is doomed,” Darcy grumbled.

  “Goodbye, then.” Tony sketched a wave. “Those cattle are dollar signs for all of us. We’ve got nothing but our wits right now. With money I can find my uncle. I’m sure he’s looking for me now. We’ll start over.”

  Hazel stuck out her lower lip. “This doesn’t feel right. We can’t steal Mr. Elder’s cows. Not after everything he’s done for us already. He found Miss Molly.” She displayed her mud-splattered rag doll with its wilted yarn braids. “What’s he going to do without his cows?”

  Moira clenched her jaw. Mr. Elder had made his choice. Losing his cattle wasn’t her fault. She hadn’t asked to be kidnapped and she hadn’t asked to be rescued. She’d been minding her own business and now she was good and trapped. If Mr. Elder was too pigheaded to do the same, it wasn’t her problem. He had a willing and able crew camped out right beneath his nose, and he’d ignored their offer. He’d rather sacrifice his future than trust them, and that was his own downfall.

  They were useful. Someday maybe he’d see that.

  She leaned in and lowered her voice. The girls huddled closer. “Mr. Elder has made his choice. It’s not our responsibility to make that choice more palatable to him.”

  Hazel frowned. “What’s palatable?”

  “It means tasty,” Tony cut in.

  Moira sighed. “Close enough. We don’t have to make his decisions tasty for him. He might have helped us out last night, sure. I’m grateful. Things have gotten complicated, though. He’s done helping us now. We’re on our own.”

  “I still think it’s stealing,” Hazel grumbled.

  Tony rubbed her chin. “Those cattle are worth a lot of money if we sell them.”

  Moira’s stomach dropped. She hadn’t calculated the animals’ worth. “How much?”

  Tony named a sum that raised a gasp from her rapt audience.

  “Are you certain?” Moira’s hands trembled.

  “Maybe more. We’re in army country now. The rancher always liked army folks. Said they had deep pockets.”

  As she considered the tremendous sum of money, Moira hung her head. How could John Elder walk away from all that? Had he so little faith in their abilities that he wasn’t even willing to try?

  “I agree with Hazel.” Sarah remained somber. “It feels like we’re stealing. It’s not right.”

  Moira felt a flush of heat creep up her neck. They didn’t deserve that much if they only took the herd as far as Fort Preble. “What if we sell the herd and give the money to Mr. Elder? We’ll only take fair wages.” At a sudden loss, she faced Tony. “What is a fair wage?”

  “I heard the boys talking plenty of times back on the ranch. Fifty silver pieces for a drive, start to finish.”

  The girls gasped and Darcy’s eyes widened.

  “That’d take forever to earn.” Sarah spoke, her voice filled with wonder. “I worked in a hotel once. That was two bits a week.”

  Moira didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “This is more. A lot more.” With fifty silver dollars she could hire a Pinkerton detective. Or even two. They’d find Tommy for certain. “We’re not stealing. We’re helping him out. Like when we rode his horses back from the livery.”

  Sarah chewed her bottom lip. “I suppose if we give Mr. Elder the money from the cattle, it’s all right. You know, if we only kept our fair wages.”

  “Well, we may not have started this,” Moira said. “But we can finish. We’ll take our share of the pay and give the rest to Mr. Elder. That way we’re all in the clear. He can’t fault us for that.”

  Tony jerked a thumb over one shoulder. “I don’t think he wants our help.”‘

  John had saddled his horse. He mounted and kept his head low as he kicked his horse into a gentle canter.

  “See? He’s leaving.”

  Moira’s heart shattered. Without his expertise and guidance, the future loomed before her, bleak and foreboding. She’d known he was a loner. She’d known he didn’t want a bunch of orphans around beyond a certain reluctant obligation. Yet somewhere in her heart she’d hoped he was different. She’d hoped he’d stay.

  “Mr. Elder isn’t part of this anymore. It doesn’t matter how many people quit on us as long as we don’t quit on each other. Right?”

  Something passed between Tony and Darcy. A look Moira didn’t quite understand. Yet the odd exchange stirred the hairs on the back of her neck. The moment quickly passed and their expressions mirrored acknowledgment. Whatever bit of silent communication they’d shared seemed to have set them in accord.

  She’d keep an eye on those two. There was an undercurrent there. Moira returned her attention to the
other girls. If anyone dissented, the plan was lost. “Are we all in agreement? A show of hands.”

  Tony’s hand shot up first, followed immediately by Darcy, then Sarah, then Hazel. Moira felt the heat of excitement flowing through her limbs. Her blood pumped, invigorated. It felt good. Having a goal. Having a purpose.

  She glanced at the kick of dust John Elder had left in his wake and an unexpected ache settled in her heart, shadowing her excitement. She shook off the pall. There was no use wishing things had turned out any different. She refused to beg John Elder for help.

  Moira cleared her throat. “Mr. Elder might not believe in us, but that doesn’t matter. We believe in each other. We have each other. And that’s enough for me.”

  She shook off the cowboy’s rejection. They were doing something good. Something worthwhile. He could run as far as he wanted, but he couldn’t run from himself. She’d learned that truth the hard way. Some lessons were like that. He’d find out for himself.

  * * *

  John rode a safe distance away before stopping. Once out of view of the campsite, he dismounted and sat on a squat boulder. Nothing but red soil and the occasional shrub tree met his gaze. He glanced at Champion. The animal circled and whined.

  “Don’t look at me. It’s not my fault.” John snorted. “Don’t get that judgmental gleam in those brown eyes of yours. I suppose you’d have stayed, too.”

  Another high-pitched whine met his question.

  “Well, of course you’d rather stay with the girls. They’ve done nothing but coddle you the whole time. And feed you.”

  Champion nuzzled his hand.

  “Yeah. You’ve gone and let yourself go all right. But we can’t save them. We’ll follow from a safe distance. Then, when things go horribly wrong, and things are bound to go horribly wrong, we’ll be there.”

  Another whine.

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” Champion tilted his head to one side. John scoffed. “You don’t actually think they can do this, do you? What do a bunch of girls know about driving cattle? About riding the trail, about hardship....”

  He kept thinking of Moira’s haunted eyes. She wasn’t a quitter that was for certain. She could be married with a family of her own instead of searching for a brother she hadn’t seen in years.

  The thought led him to his own brothers. After Robert had lost his wife, their brother Jack, a Texas Ranger at the time, had set out to find the killer. He’d searched for over a year, never giving up, never slowing. The killer’s trail had led him right to a lovely widow and her newborn girl. Even when Jack had known the truth might break her heart, that the widow’s late husband had been a killer, he hadn’t quit. His perseverance had paid off. He and the widow were married and their family had grown with two more boys.

  John hung his head. Moira had questioned his honor. He was trying to save their lives and someday they’d thank him for it. Maybe not soon. But someday.

  Champion barked and padded in the direction of the herd, then glanced over one shoulder.

  “No. We’re not going yet. They have to see how hard this is. We can’t help yet.”

  The dog lifted both ears.

  “You won’t convince me.”

  Another bark.

  “You do what you want. I’m done with the lot of you.”

  John pushed himself upright. He glanced around and found Champion sitting in the same spot, staring in the direction of the herd.

  “Dog!”

  Nothing.

  “Champion.”

  Nothing.

  Of all the betrayals he’d felt that day, this one stung the worst.

  Chapter Seven

  Moira couldn’t stop looking over her shoulder, searching the horizon for any sign of John Elder. She missed the way his hat rode low on his forehead. The way his left hand curled on his thigh when he rode. She couldn’t help wishing he’d stayed.

  It was a foolish wish, and she was foolish for caring. Too bad her traitorous heart wouldn’t listen.

  The girls had saddled the horses and scouted the river for the lowest crossing. Pops had taken Hazel and crossed the water in the chuck wagon, scouting the next leg of the trail. When they’d discovered the point where the water stayed below the wheels, they marked the spot with a pile of stones.

  After gathering the group at camp, Tony sketched out their path in the dirt. Moira stood guard for any sign of dissent or rebellion. To her immense relief, once the girls had declared their allegiance, the planning had fallen into place. Only one piece left her uneasy. While Tony had the most experience, the girls looked toward Moira for the ultimate guidance.

  Which left her as the only adult in the group. The person in charge.

  Moira ducked her head and tied a scarf around her neck as modest protection against the sun. “It’s past noon, we should have left hours ago. We’ll have to make the best progress we can today.”

  Tony stuck out her chin. “The hardest part is crossing the river. Once we’re over, the rest will be easy.”

  Moira linked her hands behind her back and braced her feet apart. She’d gone over everything with Tony and Pops earlier. The instructions were simple, the execution deceptively straightforward. “Let’s go over this one more time. Pops has taken the wagon on ahead with Hazel. Tony will be the point man. I’ll take the right flank and watch the swing.”

  She paused and studied their reactions, breathing a sigh of relief when no one questioned her orders. “Once we drive the herd out of the gulley, we’ll turn them east toward the creek. Sarah will watch the left flank. That leaves Darcy as the drag man. It’s a small herd, and while we’ll lose sight of Pops and Hazel, we won’t lose sight of each other. Since we might not hear each other over the noise, don’t forget the signal. Pops gave us each a red bandanna. If you get into trouble, wave your bandanna. We’ll halt and regroup. Does anyone have any questions?”

  The girls remained silent, solemn. After a moment, Sarah spoke, “I feel like we should have a name.”

  “What kind of name?”

  “I dunno. For us. Something that says who we are.”

  Moira laughed. “How about the Calico Cowboys?”

  The girls exchanged slow grins.

  Sarah adjusted her bonnet. “We’re the Calico Cowboys.”

  “The Calico Cowboys,” Darcy repeated. “I like that, too.”

  Sarah closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “I think we should offer up a prayer.”

  The girls nodded.

  They clasped hands and formed a circle. With Darcy on her right and Tony on her left, Sarah began, “Dear Lord. Please keep us safe on our travels. Guide our feet and guide our thoughts toward the path of righteousness. Give us peace on our journey. Amen.”

  “Amen,” the girls spoke in unison.

  They took their places and scrambled onto their mounts without assistance. Moira led her mount near a large boulder and clambered astride. She’d been getting tips from Tony and she’d chosen the easiest mount, the one John had assigned her last evening. If she mostly let the horse have its way, it seemed to know what to do.

  Adjusting her skirts in the saddle, Moira recalled the previous night, how John had clasped her waist, his hands strong and sure. She quickly brushed the memory aside. He was gone now. They were on their own. For everything. Even something as simple as mounting a horse.

  With a last glance toward the group, Tony kicked her horse into a gentle canter toward the point. Sarah and Darcy took their positions. Moira heaved a sigh. It was all well and good hearing how things must be done. Listening and doing were two separate things. They had to make this happen with no practice.

  Moira swallowed around the lump in her throat. The cattle were enormous. They munched the grass, the horns occasionally clacking each other or a protruding rock.
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  She sat for a moment, nonplussed. Of all the things they’d planned for and discussed, she’d never once considered the mechanics of stirring the beasts into action.

  “He yaw!” Moira shouted. “Go.”

  The enormous bull nearest her lifted his head for a moment before resuming his unhurried grazing. “Go on, you lazy beast. We’ve got five miles before sunset.”

  The animal snorted.

  From the flank and the drag, Moira heard the faint echo of Sarah and Darcy joining her encouraging shouts. The cattle paid them no mind.

  Moira chewed her lip. This particular dilemma had never even occurred to her. That they wouldn’t even be able to start the herd. She hollered louder. Nothing happened. Well, one or two of the cattle wandered closer. If she didn’t know any better, she’d think they were mocking her. One enormous bull shook its horns left and right, jiggling the muscles along its neck. Oh, yes. That animal was most definitely mocking her.

  Sucking in a deep breath, she hollered again. And again. Exhausted, she shouted one last time. “Move, you stubborn bea—beasts!” her voice cracked.

  Darcy reined her horse closer. “At least the drummer won’t have any trouble finding us.”

  Moira brushed the hair from her forehead, wishing she had a hat. “We’ll figure it out. Take the flank again.”

  As a last-ditch effort, she decided to rein closer. The horse jerked right instead. Moira whipped around and realized someone held the bridle.

  John Elder met her astonished gaze. “I don’t recommend going any closer. It’s not safe.”

  “I suppose you’ve come to gloat at us.” Moira kept her gaze averted. The humiliation stung. “As you can probably see, we can’t even get them started.”

  The cowboy squinted into the distance. “Most tasks are more difficult than they appear.”

  “Is that what you came back to say? How encouraging. Thank you so much for the confidence. As you can tell, it’s going swimmingly thus far.”

  He kept his focus on the horizon. “I see that.”

  Moira remained stubbornly silent. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing her frustration. “You want us to quit now and save you the trouble.”