Chapter 2- The Trail Drive
For the 15th time in as many seconds, the dark, wavy-haired cowboy took off his Stetson and wiped his face and neck with a very damp handkerchief. He shifted uncomfortably in his saddle. The sweat found a new path and trickled down his back pooling somewhere near his belt. The dust-filled haze and constant shuffling of the cattle was enough to drive a man crazy. He thought about taking a drink from his canteen but it was fairly empty and he figured his horse might need it more.
"Jack, Jack!" he turned his head and saw John Fitzgerald the Green Valley Pastures' foreman riding towards him.
"Boss said to tell you that water is up ahead!"
"Really," Jack scanned the scenery ahead of them. The sun filtered through the haze making his eyes water. He wasn't even aware that John was still talking.
"Hey, are you listening to me?"
"Oh, sorry" Jack said.
"We'll probably reach the water by nightfall, bed the beasts and then cross the river in the morning. The good news is that we're near the market too."
Jack nodded
"Say, have you decided what you want to do after the drive?"
Jack shook his head. Winter was coming on and he didn't relish being on his own in the ice and snow.
"Well, Mr. O'Brien's got an agreement with the Canadian Army to give them trained horses so he wanted me to ask you if you'd be interested."
"Me?"
"Yeah." John answered. "You're really good breaking horses and you'd get $20 a head for every horse they took."
Jack was astounded. He knew that Mr. O'Brien liked him. They'd taken such good care of him when they had found him bleeding from two bullet wounds in the back a few months ago.
"Can I tell you in the morning?"
"Sure," John assured him. "See you later," and he rode ahead.
Jack ate his dinner and spread out his bedroll near the fire. So many thoughts went through his mind. He looked up at the inky-black sky and remembered many other nights on a ranch with a blond-haired rancher – the best nights of his life. If anyone had walked closer to the cowboy that night, they would have seen the anguished face of Jess Harper reflected in the firelight.