HEAD 'EM UP! MOVE 'EM OUT! - Chapter Two

Kid smiled. He had played that dumb ramrod perfectly. He had noticed Rowdy trying to discreetly watch him as he selected a fresh mount from the string of ready horses from the remuda picketed close to camp. He had intentionally picked the worst one. It was a flea bit gray with rear legs that were straight as posts, making a ride so rough it would have shook every bone in your body. Kid felt someone move in quickly behind him.

"My horse Jones. You know trail boss and ramrod have first pick of the string. Them's the rules."

Kid feigned annoyance and started to open his mouth to protest.

"Them's the rules," Rowdy said again, almost gleefully. With a free hand he pulled Kid's saddle and blanket off and dumped them unceremoniously on the ground.

Kid picked up his tack and walked away grumbling with a big grin on his face.

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It was a struggle not to laugh. The ramrod's 6' 4" frame on the slight gray was damn near comical. Kid watched as Rowdy shifted uncomfortably his saddle as the horse trotted off with his choppy gait.

Heyes walked up to Kid, as his eyes followed the ramrod bounce away. "You have anything to do with that?"

"Why Heyes? Why would you think that?" Kid said innocently.

Heyes gave Kid a hard look, before shaking his head and leading his fresh horse away.

Kid started saddling his mount when he noticed Mushy walking up and down the line of horses, searching for something.

"Mr. Jones…" Mushy started, his eyes still wandering over the horses as he craned his neck to keep looking. "You see a little gray horse?"

"Just left," Kid said as he finished cinching his saddle.

"Left?" Mushy stopped. He looked perplexed. "Left...like run off?"

"Nope...like rode off."

Mushy's confusion deepened. "Well who'd be dumb enough to ride Little Bill? He ain't nothing but a packing horse. Had to ride him in a pinch once and I couldn't sit the wagon for a week…Who'd did you say again was dumb enough?"

Kid gathered his reins and swung a leg up onto his mount.

"Well ya' just answered the question yourself…"

"I did?" The confused man said.

"Dumb...must be Rowdy."

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The drovers straggled in one by one, their bodies showing the wear of two brutal days. They made the final push of a forty mile dry drive to finally locate much needed water for the thirsty restless herd. Only after the herd had enough to drink and had settled in for the night did the men return to camp. Rowdy slowly trailed the end of the line, every step registering discomfort across his handsome face.

"Why in heaven's name would you ride a horse like that?" Wishbone asked, as he ladled some fresh stew into a bowl, tossing a piece of bread on top and handing it to the ramrod. "Ya lost ya mind? Guess I gave you more credit than you deserve. Anyone with a lick of sense would have seen that ain't no riding horse. I think you sucked in too much dirt riding drag and it clogged up your senses." Wishbone walked away shaking his head not waiting for Rowdy to sputter out a response.

Rowdy groaned as he took a painful step. His body ached from his head to his legs. He looked across the campfire to see Kid give him a smile and a tip of his hat. Kid saw anger flash across the ramrod's face, replaced with pain as he took a threatening step in Kid's direction, before retreating.

Heyes sat next to Kid watching the exchange before picking up his cup of coffee and moving away from his partner with a look of disgust. This was going to be an even longer drive, if Kid continued to prod Rowdy. He wished they would do one good dirt dance and be done with it. Being a full six inches taller than Kid, Heyes knew who he was putting his money on.

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Heyes and Kid took their dirty plates and utensils and placed them into the large metal tub. Both kept their cups to refill them with fresh coffee. They couldn't miss the exchange between Wishbone and young Mushy.

"Mr. Wishbone...I tried to do what ya asked, but I've scrubbed them pots n' pans. And all I see is my face. I know ya said to scrub them until ya could see your face. I tried…"

Wishbone stopped and stared at Mushy before shaking his head in disbelief.

"Boy...You rightly remember how many times you were dropped on your head as a baby?"

Mushy pushed back his battered Confederate cap, as his face screwed up in deep concentration.

"Nope...can't say that I do. But my Pa told me I was the clumsiest boy he'd ever seen. Said I was down more than up."

Heyes and Kid watched with an amused look on their faces.

"Wonder if he's related to Kyle." Kid said under his breath as he reached for the coffee pot warming over the fire.

"Never thought I'd say this...but darn near makes Kyle look like a genius." Heyes said, holding his empty cup out for Kid to refill it.

Wishbone hadn't missed the amused expressions on Kid and Heyes' faces.

"I swear…" Wishbone started, looking over his shoulder making sure Mushy wasn't in earshot, "if I didn't remind him to breathe...he'd forget."

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Heyes pulled his blue bandana off his face. His skin not covered by the cloth was covered in dust and dirt, that even caked his long eyelashes. Streaks of sweat combined dark with dirt striped his face like tiger stripes. He looked miserable and exhausted. His dark eyes were dull with weariness. Heyes wasn't even sure he wanted to expend the energy to eat. Maybe he would wash down the day's dirt, find a soft sandy spot and collapse. Sleep...That's all he could think of until…

Dammit Kid! Heyes silently cursed.

He wasn't in the mood to listen to another tirade about the ramrod.

Heyes had finally had enough.

"WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM?!" Heyes said through clenched teeth. "And do not tell me it's cuz you don't like Yates. We've crossed paths with plenty of people ya didn't like. You better put your mind into explaining to me why."

Kid stared at Heyes long and hard before he dropped his head and softly said, "Danny...He reminds me of Danny."

"Danny?! He ain't nothing like Danny."

"Ya just don't see it."

"No...no I don't. I think you're looking for something that ain't there."

"Why would I look for another Danny?! Once in a lifetime was enough." Kid said as he glared at Heyes, his jaw tightening in anger.

"I don't see Rowdy letting a man die or trying to kill two more over pure greed. Ya ain't thinking with your head...you're thinking with something else. I think it's jealousy."

"Jealousy?! Of what?! He's got a neck like a giraffe and an Adam's Apple that looks like he got something big stuck in his craw permanent. His face is so long you want to put a bit in his mouth."

"Appears if the ladies don't share your opinion. I think you just don't like the competition. Pure and simple."

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Author's note. As the story goes...early in Clint Eastwood's acting career he was not signed on by a major studio because an executive deemed his Adam's Apple to be too big.