Chapter 2 [A Week Later—High Chaparral's South Range]

Overcast patched with blue overhead. Brisk winds rustled the creosote bushes and grass. Fog hung low over the surrounding mountains.

Blue rode around the combined herds' side. He drew the poncho close about himself. Shiver stabbed through him. He frowned and coaxed Soapy onward. Even without looking at the respective brands, he had a general sense of each ranch's stock. He nudged a stray yearling back toward its mother. He tipped his canteen to his mouth.

"Everything seems good, Blue." Sam rode up beside him.

"Yeah." Blue held the canteen out. "Want some?"

"That'd be great. I sure got a powerful thirst." Sam drank a mouthful from the canteen. Then he returned it. "Thanks."

"You bet." Blue smiled. "Pa's increased his herd."

"He got some great deals with the Army." Sam glanced at his counterpart. "I would've thought Manolito had an eye on them too?"

"Yeah well. We've sure been busy up at Rivertree." Blue sucked in a deep breath. "Besides there's only so much grazing down here."

"Good point." Sam nodded. "Nice to see the boys getting back together up there. Ira, Reno and Chad Stonor are real good. That Wind kid seems a mite prickly though." He raised an eyebrow.

Blue no longer needed hints or clues to run a drive effectively. He talked with his own guys. Then he'd communicate with his father, Buck or Sam about some issue with the herd. He shrugged. "He just needs respect I guess. We had a rough first week. I talked with Wind. We worked it out. You should see him on cattle drives. Mano's got him tracking for us. He's really pulling his weight."

"Glad to hear it." Sam saw Ira and Joe riding toward them. "Looks like our relief."

"Yeah. I sure am ready!" Blue pushed his hat back on his head. "You both sure are a welcome sight!"

"Mrs. Cannon wants you back at the house with the others, Blue. That new priest from Tucson brought something?" Joe rode up beside Blue. "How's it looking?"

"Just guided the last stray back into position. They're good." Blue tipped his hat. His mouth watered at Victoria's cooking. "Thanks!" He urged Soapy onward toward the hacienda.

Ira shook his head. "Blue's sure come a long ways. I remember when he couldn't shoot straight or barely throw a punch in a barfight."

Sam laughed at the aborted fight between Blue and Ira at their first meeting in Tucson. "He still beat you, Ira. It cost me a round."

Ira coughed. "Blue had me fooled. Glad he did now. He's sure doing a good job."

"Everything okay up there at the Rancho?" Joe watched Blue disappear from view.

"Couldn't be better. Guess it helps that we all know each other. Most of us have worked together before. Manolito doesn't step in unless he has to. It's just like Big John. Mano still rides and works with us. He's letting Blue be the foreman. We all get along real good," Ira assessed.

Sam nodded. That was definitely what he wanted to hear.