HEAD 'EM UP! MOVE 'EM OUT! Chapter Four
The storm had passed as quickly as it had arrived, but the destruction it left was evident. Cattle were everywhere. It would take days of gruelling work to gather all the cows that had survived the rushing water with the dozen of less fortunate bobbing dead down river.
Thankfully cows weren't built to run long distances. Although scattered across miles, they were exhausted and easily caught. Small groups of cows were gathered together and by the time the drovers had lost all daylight, a substantial part of the herd had been assembled.
Heyes had not hesitated joining the other drovers rounding up the stray cattle. Kid hovered close, afraid to let Heyes out of his sight.
Heyes' breath caught in his throat and he felt a tightness in his chest as a cow momentarily crowded his horse, before moving off. Kid saw Heyes' body stiffen when the cow pushed too close, but by the end of the day Heyes moved through the cattle as if nothing had happened.
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Rowdy could feel a presence behind him.
"Might I have a word?"
"About?" Rowdy asked as his jaw tightened. Kid had to admit, no one had a stare like Rowdy.
"The other day...my partner. Been too busy rounding up loose steers...to thank you proper for saving his life." Kid cleared his throat, "I'll be the first to admit I'm slow to confess fault and at times hasty to act impulsive."
"Ya thanking me for doing my job?"
"I'm thanking you for…"
"I find that right insulting." Rowdy said, cutting him off.
Kid was taken aback., "Not trying to insult you…" He could feel his anger and frustration start to rise. Instead of trying to use words, Kid stuck his hand out to offer it in a handshake. Rowdy looked at it and turned away.
"Listen ya dumb son of bitch! I'm trying to thank you for saving my friend's life." Kid blurted out as he grabbed Rowdy's arm trying to stop him from walking away. Kid instantly knew it was a mistake as he felt his arm tense. Rowdy spun around, swinging with his opposite hand that was balled in a fist.
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"What the HELL is going on here?" Favor asked, with his hands on his hips, watching the two men tumble in the dirt.
Quince stuck his freshly rolled cigarette in his mouth, "Jones there is thanking Rowdy for saving his friend's life."
"Ain't taking it too well by the looks of it."
"Hope you ain't thinking of breaking it up Boss," Pete said. "Appears as if we won't be hitting a town soon...Well...me and the boys are kinda enjoying the entertainment."
Favor looked at Pete and slowly asked, "So who do you have your money on?"
A slow smile came to Pete's face, "I'm thinking Rowdy...being taller. But Jones is quick."
Favor stroked his chin, "Think I'll put a dollar on Jones...Don't tell Rowdy."
"Be our secret," Pete said with a wink.
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Favor watched the other drovers gather a safe distance from the two men that continued to roll around in the dirt. There were grunts of pain and cussing to the amusement of the fellow drovers who shouted support for either Kid or Rowdy, depending who their money was on.
Heyes walked up with a noticeable limp. He sighed. He was not surprised by the fight that was destined to happen the minute the two men met. He had hoped, after the events of the previous day, that Kid would have realized Rowdy was nothing like Danny. Heyes thought Kid said he was going to find Rowdy and apologize…guess it didn't go so well.
Heyes slowly settled in beside Pete, who gave him a cordial nod.
"Care to put some money down? It's been real even so you ain't got no advantage if ya like to put some money on your friend."
"Who says I'd bet on my friend?"
Pete laughed. "He's the first man I've seen hold his own with Rowdy. Being that he's so tall... usually has an advantage. So ya like to put some money in the pot?"
Heyes shook his head, "Think I'll pass." He rubbed a hand up and down his right leg that had been pinned against his saddle and the cow. Pete could see pain in Heyes' eyes.
"Getting pinched by that cow is better than a hip pocket of horns but don't mean it don't hurt neither. Go see Wishy. He'll set ya up with a good horse liniment or poultice. Here...," Pete said as he drew out a flask of whiskey, "...this will give you a good start."
Heyes smiled and took a long drink, feeling a warmness move through his body.
"I'd better hurry...looks like after the fight Wishbone is going to be doing some more doctoring." Heyes said, carefully standing up. He gave Kid a final look, before walking away shaking his head.
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Both bloodied and doubled over with exhaustion, Rowdy and Kid stood on wobbly legs. They barely had enough strength left to hold their fists up.
"Ya should have accepted my apology." Kid managed to gasp out.
"And you shouldn't have…" Rowdy said as he took a shaky step towards Kid. He swung wildly, missing Kid and landing in a heap on the ground. Kid had taken a step back, avoiding the punch, stumbled backwards and landed on his backside before collapsing spread eagle on the ground.
The drovers that had bet on Kid jumped up and pointed at his prone body.
"HE'S THE WINNER!"
"NO HE AIN'T!" Shouted the other drovers that had bet on Rowdy.
"IS TOO! ROWDY WENT DOWN BEFORE JONES!"
Both sides were nose to nose before someone swung at someone and all hell broke loose.
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Hearing the commotion, Gil Favor came running. He stared in disbelief before pulling his gun from his holster and firing one shot. All the men froze and turned their attention towards the trail boss. There were sheepish looks on their faces.
"If...you...men...have...all...this...energy. I can think of a better use for it." Favor said, pronouncing each word slowly illustrating his anger. "Now...saddle up!"
The men remained unmoving.
"NOW! We're calling this fight even. Now git!
Some of the men started to mumble but one cold look from Favor stopped their protests, as they shulked away.
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"It might smell but it'll help," Wishbone said as he mixed the apple cider vinegar with some fresh herbs into a moist paste. "Ya just lather it on and in a few days you'll be good as new."
He handed the bowl with the poultice to Heyes. "Recommend putting it on at night, so your pants don't rub it off. Want to keep it on as long as possible." Wishbone looked towards the direction of the fight.
"How bad?"
"Well...you don't need a shovel…" Heyes said with a small smile.
"A shovel might just work. One whack to each of their stubborn heads might knock some sense into them." Wishbone said with a smile. "Ya friend always so...beef-headed? Meaning no offense...merely an observation" Wishbone added quickly.
"No offense taken," Heyes said. "Thaddeus can dig his heels in pretty deep at times." Heyes continued without hesitation.
"Well if he digs them in any deeper might see some celestials poking their heads out of the hole." Wishbone said with a laugh. He stopped, cocked his head and listened. "Ain't hearing nothing. Sounds like the fun is over. Might need this to wake 'em up," he said as he picked up a bucket of water. "Mushy! Mushy!"
Mushy quickly appeared around the wagon, "Yes Mr. Wishbone?"
"Might need your young back to help me get Rowdy back here for some doctoring."
"Yes Sir!" Mushy paused, "What happened to Mr. Rowdy?"
Wishbone stopped and stared at Mushy "Boy, ya deaf?! Ya didn't hear all that shouting and ruckus?!
"Can't say I did." Mushy said with a bewildered look on his face. "What happened? What did I miss?"
Heyes paused before he set the poultice down and followed after Wishbone.
They passed Favor who nodded towards the bucket of water. "When you wake 'em up...tell them if they have all that energy they can spend it on watching sleeping cows. Looks like them cows are going to have plenty of company tonight."
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Wishbone wasn't sure if both men were unconscious or their eyes were closed because of sheer exhaustion. No matter he thought, as he threw half a bucket of cold water on each man.
"Must have just been resting their eyes," Wishbone said with a wink to Heyes.
Both men came up sputtering and cussing.
"WHAT THE HELL?!" Kid yelled.
"DAMMIT!" Rowdy said angrily.
They both obviously sat up too quickly, as each with a moan, slowly laid back down.
"Don't get too comfortable...Mr. Favor wanted me to pass along, iffin' ya got all that energy to dirt dance ya can spend it with the cows tonight."
Wishbone's comments made both men groan even louder.
Heyes stood over Kid with his hand out to help him up, while Wishbone did the same to Rowdy. Although there was blood coming out of his partner's nostrils, the corner of his mouth and split lips; Kid was in relatively good shape. One eye looked puffy and bright red marks on his face were sure to bruise by morning. Heyes was impressed that he had held his own with Rowdy, but he didn't let it show.
Kid took Heyes' hand and let him help him to a sitting position before he knelt beside his partner. He untied his bandana and started wiping the dirt and blood away from his face.
"If that was your way of apologizing..." Heyes said quietly.S
Kid glared at Heyes for a moment before grabbing Heyes by the wrist and snatching the bandana from his hand..
"I tried…but that big dumb son of a bitch…" Kid gave Rowdy a scowl. Wishbone and Mushy had managed to get the tall ramrod to his feet. He rubbed and manipulated his jaw several times, as a painful expression crossed his face. He jerked his arms free of Wishbone and Mushy and started to cross where Kid still sat on the ground.
"Rowdy!" Wishbone hissed.
When Kid saw Rowdy approach, he quickly struggled to his feet, drawing his fists up as he readied for another fight. Resigned, Heyes stepped away from his stubborn partner. Rowdy stopped several feet away from Kid and said:
"No one has ever fought me to a draw."
Kid was shocked. There was admiration in his voice.
"Good fight." Rowdy said, holding his hand out.
Kid stared at Rowdy's hand in disbelief. He wouldn't take his hand when he tried to thank him for saving Heyes, but he would for a good fight. These drovers were an odd bunch. He quickly looked over his shoulder at Heyes, who shrugged his shoulders then gave him a small nod of his head.
Kid cautiously reached his hand out and shook Rowdy's.
"See you out with the herd Jones," Rowdy turned and walked away.
All four men stared after Rowdy.
"Come on Mushy we got work to do…" Wishbone said as he headed back to the chuck wagon. Mushy remained in place, unmoving.
"Mr. Wishbone I ain't ever seen Rowdy...Ya think he's okay? Maybe he hit his head…"
"I'm going to hit your head iffin' ya don't git like I told ya to git. Now come on!"
Heyes had moved to Kid's side. Kid turned to face his partner.
"Heyes what just happened here? What the hell was that all about?"
"Don't know. Don't care. As long as you two get along it makes my life easier and everyone around you two. Ain't no explaining...just accept it."
"Must be some strange drover logic."
Heyes had already turned and started back to camp.
"Ya think…" Kid started.
"Don't care," Heyes over his shoulder.
"But don't ya think…"
"Don't care." Heyes repeated, "And you shouldn't either."
Kid watched Heyes walk away before grabbing his hat off the ground and slamming it on his head, before hurrying to catch up to his partner.
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Author's Notes:
Imagine as you read this story...when Rowdy stares at Kid, it's a "Man With No Name" stare...not a goofy Rowdy Yates' stare.
"Celestial" was a term that referred to the Chinese.