Chapter 13 – Anaplasmosis

Maudie stayed in her bedroom all day the next day. I could hear her periodically crying in there, but I left her alone. Her mother went in to talk to her once or twice; I didn't figure there was much I could do. After all, seeing me would just remind her that I was the villain that had done the deed. And in a way I guess I was.

She stayed in her room the day after that, too. The only difference – no crying could be heard. And when Lily Mae took a plate of food up in the afternoon, it came back clean.

On the morning of the third day, I walked past her bedroom on the way downstairs and the door was open, the room empty. "Doralice," I called, "do you know where Maudie is?"

"No, but I know that she got up early and left. Go check with Lucien."

So I went down to the barn to see Lucien. "All I can tell you, boss, is she came down here, saddled Zanzibar, and left. She rode out south like she was goin' to Benny's."

Ah, that made sense, I told myself as I walked back to the house. If she couldn't talk to me, she'd go to Benny's. Now all I could do was wait. Like that was gonna be easy.

She was gone most of the day, and when she returned she was in a decidedly different mood. She seemed more troubled than angry when she finally came in the house, and she came straight to me with a confused look on her face. "Dad, can I talk to you?"

"Sure, Maudie. Do you want to go in my office?"

"Yes, please."

Once we got in there she closed the door. "Daddy, Benny's cattle are sick. Some of them have died."

"What do you mean they're sick?"

"I don't know. I just know the whole herd looks sickly. He hasn't got any money for a vet. Can you send Dr. Wabach out to his ranch?"

Dr. Wabach had only been in town for about six months. "I can ask him to go out and take a look."

"Thank you." If that was all that was botherin' her she should have looked happier. I knew she was still grievin' over Spreckles, but there was somethin' else. Somethin' she wasn't tellin' me.

"Maudie, is there somethin' you're not tellin' me?"

She hesitated before answering and didn't look at me. "Uh, no. Daddy. Thank you."

I sent Slim into town to dispatch Dr. Wabach to Benny's ranch. "Dr. says he'll go out there first thing in the mornin'."

That seemed like a reasonable answer, so I said thank you and let it go at that. Maudie came down and ate supper with us that night, but she never said anything. The next morning I was in the barn watchin' Lucien put the Appaloosa through her paces. She was comin' along real fine, and I figured about the time Maudie got used to Spreckles bein' gone the filly would be ready. She was a bright and gentle girl, and I was happy with what Lucien had accomplished with her.

"Mr. Maverick?"

I turned to see the vet. "Dr. Wabach, come on in. What can you tell me about Benny's cattle?"

"Nothing good, I'm afraid. He's lost about half the herd and the other half is lookin' mighty sickly."

"Is there anything you can do for them?"

"No, I'm afraid not. The half that's still alive should be destroyed."

I shook my head. "That's tough Doc. What's wrong with 'em?"

"Well, the technical name is Anaplasmosis. It's a blood disease caused by ticks. You've probably heard it called yellow-fever."

"Did you tell Benny this?"

"I did and to say the least he was none too pleased. He was muttering something to himself that I couldn't quite understand."

"What do I owe you Doc?"

"Nothing Mr. Maverick. I can't charge somebody when I give them a diagnosis like that."

We shook hands. "Well, I appreciate that, Doc. Thanks for going out there."

"You're welcome."

I went back to the house to do some paperwork and Maudie caught up with me later in my office. "Did you hear from the vet Daddy?"

"I did. Come in and sit down Maudie."

She looked at me with something akin to terror in her eyes. "It's bad isn't it?"

"I'm afraid it is. There was nothing that the vet could do honey. He's probably gonna lose all of 'em."

She clapped her hands over her mouth. "Oh, no!"

"It's a tough break honey, but he can recover from it. I'm sure Beau would help him buy more cattle so he can start over."

"You don't understand Daddy." It seemed like she was gonna say more, but she cut herself off. "What is it you're not tellin' me, Maude?"

She shook her head. Nothing. Whatever it was she wasn't gonna tell me.