CHAPTER THREE

''Well, hello, Cooper.'' Kate said, standing and holding out her hand, when Coop reached

them. '' I'm glad to see you made it back. Chris said you took the point quite a long ride ahead. How are you? How's the trail between here and South Pass looking?''

'' Hullo, Miss Kate.'' Coop answered, shaking Kate's hand, all the while hoping Chris didn't notice his startled reaction at finding Kate here. '' I - I pretty much took the point about as

far as I could in just a fortnight, or so. I'm fine. Figure Th' Platte and Th' Pass are still there, alright. Tribes in that part of the country seemed to be in a quiet mood, for once, I'm glad

to say.''

'' And we're glad to hear it.'' Kate nodded.

[ We're glad to hear it? ] Coop echoed to himself. [ What's she mean by that? ]

''Well, c'mon and get yourself some coffee! Sit down and take it easy, Cooper. We're just glad you didn't run into any particular trouble.''

[ There she goes with that 'we're glad' again! What Th' devil's goin on here? ] the scout wondered. He knew as well as anyone that Chris and Kate were close, longtime friends. But sometimes the freight-line boss still surprised him. Mostly that seemed to come when she was full of her trademark genially challenging manner

''No more than I am, I figure.'' Coop said, taking her suggestion and a cup of coffee, feeling decidedly awkward. [ Mind your temper, Coop. You were never taught to talk back to a lady. B'sides, Chris will have your guts for garters if you don't treat Kate the way he thinks is right. At least she can make coffee without burnin' it to a cinder. Mebbee that's why Charlie still doesn't cotton to her, that much. ]

'' Katie's taking a freight run up the trail ahead of us, Coop.'' Chris told his chief scout, sitting down again. ''So she wanted to hear your report as much I did.''

[ Alright, that explains, the 'we're glad' part, anyway. ] Coop decided, taking the bench across the watch-fire from Chris, as Kate stayed at the Wagonmaster's side.

'' Guess you'd already know you might have to watch for some of the younger Shoshone braves tryin' to raid your freight wagons, further along, on the way down trail from Fort Hall.''

'' Yes, we pretty much have to expect that. And I'd far rather they 'count coup' that way,

then the way their grandfathers might have done. I can afford to lose a few supplies off my wagons a lot more easily than a few scalps off my drivers. But what do you think, Chris?

Maybe I should hire this head scout of yours away from you, to keep my wagons safe? Cooper's smart. He knows the Trail and the off-Trail country like the back of his hand. He's tough and he's quicker with a repeating rifle than any wagon-boss I've ever had or known. '' Kate laughed, watching each man in turn for his reaction.

'' Sorry, Miss Kate, thanks. But 'm not interested in another job, just now.'' Coop shook his head, shifting his weight from leg to the other as she assessed him. '' I kinda like to finish one job at a time, make sure it's done, and done right; before I think about movin' on.''

''Katie can likely pay you more than I can.'' Hale suggested, folding his arms, refusing to give Kate the response she wanted, right now.

'' He's likely right about that, Cooper. Although I really shouldn't say so, when we're just starting to negotiate.'' Kate grinned.

[Why does she always call me 'Cooper' as if I was still in short pants? ] Coop wondered unhappy with the whole conversation, again. '' Sorry again, Miss Kate. I have a contract with Chris, and I don't break my word.'' Coop answered, as firmly as his upbringing allowed him to be with any woman, much less one who was his elder and his best friend's 'very good friend', besides.

'' I could have told you Coop would say just that, Katie.'' Chris said.

'' Could have and did.'' Kate answered, still having a bit of fun at the awkwardness she sensed from the scout.

'' Reckon that just means Chris knows me too danged well, by now.'' Coop said, shaking his dark head ruefully. ''Sorry to turn you down, Miss Kate.''

'' Oh, don't be, Cooper. A man's word should be something his friends can absolutely rely on, after all.'' Kate answered him, smiling as if they'd just been discussing the weather; not whether or not he'd stay with the train.

'' Yeah, that's what I've always thought, myself. Chris, if you're ready now, I thought you'd want to hear first about the trail between Kearny and the North Platte; and then what I saw further ahead, between there and South Pass.'' Coop said, shifting his weight on the bench and his focus to the Wagonmaster.

'' That'll do for a start.'' Chris agreed. But he knew Kate wasn't done with her tactics, yet, she still stood next to his chair, frowning at him, now.

'' Wait, please, Cooper. Chris, you look exhausted. And we both know Cooper must be just as tired!'' Kate protested, holding one hand out, all done with playing, truly concerned for her old friend, and his young friend, as well.

''Chris, if you're wantin' to hit the hay, that's fine with me. We can go over this after we get underway again, tomorrow. I'd have told you before this if I found any real trouble ahead.'' Coop offered, seeing his friend blinking and stifling a yawn.

''No, I'd like to hear at least a summary report now, Coop; so I can try to think on my feet when we do get back on the Trail.'' Hale insisted, scowling first at the scout, then at Kate.

''Sure, Chris.'' The scout nodded and after a quick glance meant to include Kate in their talk, went right into reporting conditions on the trail ahead. They might find some few creeks lower than usual, as a drought seemed to be gathering force through western Nebraska and up into Wyoming Territory this year. They might find some of the older settlements along the trail emptying out, these days, following the lure of land along the newer steam-engine train routes.

But the prairies themselves in the last forty years or so, wouldn't ever have changed; if not for the influx of homesteaders that picked up again, after the war. And some of Hale's passengers would be leaving the train as they got further into the Nebraska and Wyoming territories; to join that immense new movement of people settling the plains. They'd put down roots, work the land, and change it yet more, with their fences and rare, rough hewn wood cabins or sod houses dotting the plains. Those travelers and their companions were lucky this year; the trouble between settlers and Indians was up in the Dakotas, now.

'' They're headed for terrible trouble up there, from what I hear, as well.'' Kate agreed, when Coop gave that as the last part of his brief report. ''Thank you, Cooper. That was very helpful, and very succinct.''

''Umm, Miss Kate?'' the Texan asked, taking on a more formal tone and usage.

'' Yes. Cooper, what is it?'' Kate asked, turning to bestow a bright, wide smile on him.

'' D' you figure you could just call me 'Coop'? Hearin' 'Cooper' so much makes me think I'm in Dutch with my great aunt Meg, again, for makin off with another one of her peach cobblers. ''

'' Were they worth the trouble, Coop?'' Kate asked, wondering what more she didn't' know about the scout.

'' All of that and more.'' Coop nodded, with a sad smile at the memory.

'' I'll try to remember, unless of course you are in Dutch with me, fair enough?''

''Fair enough.'' Coop said, and stood up, ready to leave.

''Oh, and… Coop?'' Kate almost hated to stop him, seeing he was bone weary. ''Nobody calls me 'Miss Kate', these days except for Charlie; who's too old and set in his ways to change, and Barnaby, who's still learning the ropes. Please, call me Kate, won't you?''

'' Uh, surely, Kate.'' Coop agreed, wondering why, now, she seemed all business again, without a sign of gamesmanship in her manner. The scout turned back to Hale, and found

the Wagonmaster frowning in an uneasy fashion that Coop couldn't help worrying about, himself, and not one to hold off, he asked. ''What's the matter, Chris?''

'' Why? Does something have to be the matter for us to talk?'' Hale asked, more sharply

than he'd wanted to.

'' Well, no, there doesn't have to be, I guess. So, what's goin' on?'' Coop asked in turn.

''Chris was trying to answer a question I brought up, Coop.'' Kate said, as the Wagonmaster glared at her and then started to pace the width and length of the space beside his wagon. ''And in doing that, he seems to have come to the conclusion that you should hear that answer, too.''

''Well, what is it, then? What's the question and what's this answer?'' Coop asked Kate, as Chris went on pacing, muttering to himself .

'' Well, I've known Chris for some time; and now I've known you, Coop, for about five years and a little more. And it's occurred to me more than once to ask how two men as different as you and Chris came to work together, and came to be such friends.''

'' Couldn't say, myself. Of course I am real easy goin'; don't get drunk more n' twice or

three times a season, don't cheat at cards, not much, anymore these days, don't generally

go chasin' skirts, don't flirt with other fellow's ladies. And I'm the best scout in five territories and ten states around. Figure that's the real answer, right, Chris?'' Coop laughed.

'' You had me, Coop, right down to that last. '' Chris stopped pacing, and shook his head, finally managing a smile. '' Right down to that last.''

'' Well, 'figure it could be twelve or thirteen states, by this time.'' Coop offered, still wondering what the devil was going on with these two old friends tonight.

'' And how many territories?'' Kate asked, smiling herself

''How many y' got?'' Coop laughed, wondering why Chris wasn't joining in the fun as he usually would when the day's business was over.

'' Coop,'' Kate started, and then changed her mind so vividly Coop could read it in her face. '' This really is none of my business. I'm afraid I'm turning into almost as much of a busybody these days as Charlie Wooster!''

'' Nope, not possible. Charlie's got that title pegged down good and proper.'' Coop laughed.

'' In any case, I should go. Will you gentlemen please excuse me? I promised my current ramrod I'd check in with him before lights out.'' Kate nodded to them each and turned on

her heel, and left.

''Katie!'' Chris called after her; but she was already striding away, on the double-quick.