Chapter 2 - Sherman Ranch
The two brothers loaded the pack horse with their camping and fencing supplies. The early morning stage driver had reported Sherman stock blocking the stage road and a downed fence at the ranch's furthest Southern range. With the weather being cold one day and warm the next, Slim added warm clothing and extra blankets to their supplies.
Slim stood next to Jonesy, checking the pack horse. He looked over at his foreman.
"Jonesy, I'm hopin' we'll be able to round up the strays and get 'em off the road and secured before nightfall. We'll stay in my Pa's old homestead cabin tonight and finish the repairs tomorrow, if that fence isn't to far gone" Slim placed his large gloved hand on hisforeman's shoulder, "I sure hate leavin' you at the ranch by your lonesome."
"Can't be helped, Slim, ya know we can't afford to lose any stock. Money's tight right now. You two, get goin'. Sooner ya leave, sooner you'll be home. Your belly achin' and worryin' ain't gonna help any. I've handled the stages myself before."
"OK, OK, we're on our way." Slim laughed as he yanked his hat down tight against the stiff breeze. The two brothers took one last look about the ranch.
Andy mounted Cyclone and leaned down towards his friend. "Bye, Jonesy, you be careful of your back while we're gone."
The foreman patted the boy's knee. "Don't you worry Andy, just get those beefs off the stage road before somebody gets hurt."
Jonsey watched till the brothers had ridden out of sight, then hurried over to the barn to finish harnessing the stage team. Jonesy sighed, as he absently rubbed his aching back, Oh my, I'm getting' to old for this life I love, he thought.
The brothers followed the main stage road all morning. Finally, they spotted the loose cattle scattered along the sides of the road, grazing peacefully. Andy and Slim unhooked their lasso's, using them to guide the strays back through the gaping hole in the fence the cattle had escaped through. It took most of the day for the brothers to comb the foothills for all the strays and push them back onto Sherman property. Andy kept the cattle away from the downed fence line while Slim worked on getting the repairs completed. Andy and Cyclone had their work cut out for them as the cantankerous beefs kept trying to break their way through the downed fence and into the road slowing Slim's progress.
The brothers were amazed at the length of fence that was down. A large uprooted tree rested across the fence, having taken several smaller trees with it, causing a sizeable gap. They'd have to get an axe from the homestead to remove the tree and additional supplies to repair the fence. Slim, using Alamo and a rope, was able to drag the smaller downed trees and branches away from the fence line.
"Looks like we don't have enough fencing to complete the repairs, Andy. I'll string a top wire, and we'll call it a day. Hopefully, it will at least keep our cattle off the road till we set new poles and string new wire tomorrow. We'll have to chop this tree up and remove it before we can string a new fence line across this hill. It's not far to Pa's homestead from here. Jess and I stored some extra fencing supplies there last fall. I'm beat and ready for a hot meal. Let's get goin."
"Gee, that sounds swell, Slim." Andy agreed as he mounted Cyclone and reined up next to his brother. The tired riders followed the worn trail that once, long ago, had been the original entrance to the Sherman homestead. Slim and his Pa had built the cabin to live in 'til his Pa had saved enough money to build a barn and lastly the ranch house. They were riding through a stand of tall pines when a low branch caught Slim's hat. Slim looked up to retrieve his hat.
"Whoa boy." Slim reined Alamo in.
Andy watched his brother back up his big chestnut. Slim reached for his hat where it was dangling from a high branch. Slim's face took on a serious look.
"Look, up there, Andy, to the left of my hat, Our brand's been, burned into the bark. Musta been a long while ago, no one could reach that high now. Least ways, it sure looks like our brand. It's grown over some." Why place the brand so high? Slim pondered as he snitched his hat from the branch and placed it back on his head.
Andy rode over to take a look. "Slim, I remember, it was Pa. You were away in the army at the time. Pa was upset 'bout the Union soldiers always confiscating our cattle to feed the troops. Pa and I hid small herds of cattle deep in the canyons along the Southern border of the ranch. Figured the soldiers wouldn't bother searching for cattle in the high country. Gosh, I bet the first canyon can't be too far from here. Pa marked the trees so we'd be able to locate the cattle after the war. When Pa died, Ma was so heartbroken, I forgot all about the cattle we'd hid. You think they'd still be in the canyons after all these years? We blocked 'em off real good so they couldn't wonder back down to the lower meadows where the soldiers might find 'em."
'Only one way to find out little brother. Do you remember how many cattle Pa hid?"
"Gee, Slim, I was only 'bout six. Seems like we hid a lot of 'em. Took us a long time to drive 'em up here from the summer pastures. I remember'bout the cattle, but not so much where we hid 'em. Seems to me some of the trails was real narrow with lots of big rocks along the way. Pa broke the herds into small groups and we drove only a few cattle at a time into the canyons. Pa covered our tracks. He'd set me on the top of the big tree branches and drag em over our tracks to cover our trail. On the way home, I'd fall asleep in the saddle and Pa would carry me home in his arms. Pa told me, he couldn't of done it without my help." Andy sighed as he wiped a tear from his cheek.
"Over there, Slim." The boy pointed out another branded tree. "Guess we"re on the right track."
Slim stood in his saddle, reached up and ran a finger along the brand. Yep it was their brand alright, he thought to himself. The brothers rode on, weaving their way through the huge rocks lining the trail till they reached a dead end. Andy pointed out a narrow opening leading to a large meadow, the entrance blocked by a pile of boulders and large logs. Slim, dismounting, climbed up on top of the log pile. He could see a small stream cutting through the grassy meadow. Steam rose from a small hot springs along the edge of the meadow. A small herd of cattle could be seen peacefully grazing upon the lush grass. Slim grinned. He counted more than thirty head. A few of the long horn raised their large heads showing off their wide curved horns.
"Help me move these logs and boulders out of the way, Andy, so we can get in to 'em."
Andy dismounted to help his brother clear the debris away from the mouth of the canyon. Slim was thinking on how to move the cattle out of the canyon and down the narrow trail to the narrow road. It wouldn't be easy. Finally, he figured they'd be able to move maybe ten head at a time. The rancher smiled as he counted the cows and calves. There were six rangy long horns in the pasture with their calves bumping at their ma's udders impatiently as they nursed.
"We'll brand 'em here, Andy, that way, no one can steal 'em from us. Help me block off the exit again with these logs. We'll start with the calves."
"What about the homestead cabin and dinner, Slim?" Andy asked, his stomach rumbling.
"Your right, Andy, be easier to brand 'em there. That corral should be strong enough to hold 'em. I'll start herding out the first bunch. Once I get 'em going, you follow with the rest of 'em. It's not far to the homestead from here. I'll wait for ya where the trail head widens. We'll combined the herds and drive 'em down to the cabin."
Andy followed Slim down the narrow trail. Once they reached the trail head and exited the narrow canyon it didn't take long to get the cattle to the homestead. Reaching the cabin, they drove the cattle into the corral.
Slim and Andy walked the perimeter of the fence line. Once convinced the corral was in good shape and able to hold the cattle, the men unsaddled their horses and carried the supplies into the cabin.
It felt good to be out of the cold and once Slim got the fireplace blazing, the homestead was warm and comfortable. Andy fired up the stove and soon they had hot bacon and beans for dinner washed down with fresh coffee. Slim looked around his first home in Wyoming. Andy wasn't the only one doing the remembering.
After a good nights sleep the brothers were up early and ready to start branding the cattle. Andy cleaned up after breakfast while Slim headed over to the lean to and saddled their horses. We're branding 'em here Andy and save the castratin' for back at the ranch. We'll leave the cattle here and ride home to get Jess to help herd them home. I'll rope, you brand. Get a fire started."
Andy gathered the firewood and soon had the branding iron heating up. The youngster watched Slim separate a calf from its mother, rope its hind legs, and jump down from the saddle to put the calf down on it's side ready for Andy to brand. Slim released the calf as it ran bawling back to it's ma. The rancher remounted to rope another. After branding another bunch of calves, Slim rode up next to Andy. Pulling his bandanna from his pocket and wiping the sweat and dust from his eyes. Slim looked down at his brother.
"Ya know, Andy, if Jess was here to help us out, he'd sure make this brandin' a lot easier with the two of us doin' the ropin' ."
"Yeah, well he ain't here so get back to work." Andy teased his older brother.
It was late afternoon when they finished branding the calves and decided to take a break. Both were hungry and tired. Andy filled the coffee pot at the pump and placed it on the stove to brew. Slim heated up the stew Jonesy had packed for them. They both wolfed down their dinner, then decided to see how many more cattle they could brand before dark.
Slim lassoed a mama cow by her rear hooves. Alamo, kept the lasso taunt as Slim flipped the cow onto its side. Andy ran over to burn their brand into her rump. Slim jerked the lasso from the bawling animal's legs and jumped back into the saddle ready to rope the next one. Slim and Andy branded beefs till just about dark. Both were exhausted, dusty and smelly; but pleased they'd been able to brand most of the cattle. Luckily, the longhorns still sported the Sherman brand. They figured tomorrow to build a chute with the fencing supplies and brand the large young bulls. The bulls, Slim figured, to sell off, keeping the cows and calves to build up their herd.
Once the horses were fed and bedded down for the night, Andy banked the fire while Slim double checked the horses and cattle. As they settled for the night, Slim punched his pillow up under his head and turned on his side to speak to his younger brother.
"You did a man's work today, Andy," Slim reached over and pushed his brother's hair up so he could see his eyes. "I couldn't of done it without ya." Andy smiled back then closed his eyes seeking sleep.