The next day dawned bright and cheery, but the cowmen in the camp gave it a fleeting thought as they set about their work. Hop-Sing could be heard yelling in Chinese at two cowhands who hadn't cleaned up before they came to get breakfast. Men were breaking down their camps and tending to the animals. Thankfully none had been lost over night. A rider was sent off to the Walker's ranch to inform them that the Ponderosa Cattle was here. All in all it was a normal morning for the men.
By noon, all the chores had been done and the men sat dozing in the sunshine. Only a few were up to keep watch, and those few included Ben and Adam.
"What's taking Walker so long?" Ben asked nobody.
"I don't know Pa," Adam responded, more to say anything then out of necessity. A few more moments of silence passed between them before Adam spoke up, "What's Joe's favorite dime novel?"
"What?" Ben asked, surprised.
"I want to get him something, to apologize," Adam said, a little begrudgingly.
"Well, can't you get him something other then that trash?" Ben grumbled, though secretly he was pleased.
"Yeah, but I figured he'd take anything else as a slap in the face."
"You're probably right," Ben said with a chuckle, "He likes the White Rat right now."
"The White Rat?" Adam asked confused.
"Yes, it's about a boy a little bit younger then Joe who gets lost in the wilderness and adopted by some Indianans. They named him White Rat because of how small he was and they raise him as an Indian. It's actually one of the better dime novels, they don't make the Indianans' out as savages, and the writer is better then the others."
Adam smiled and asked with a chuckle, "And how do you know this?"
Ben blushed some, "He left one on the coffee table and I picked it up. I guess I wanted to see what had him so enthralled. Here comes Jimmy now." With that the conversation was over and Ben made his way towards the in coming riders, leaving a laughing Adam to catch up.
There were several riders coming in, but only three broke away to enter the camp. One was Jud, the hand Ben had sent out to get Walker, one was Walker, and the other was a man Ben hadn't seen before.
"Howdy Ben!" Walker said cheerfully as he dismounted. Walker was a handsome man, with graying hair and a good, healthy build. It was simple to tell that he was a hard working man by the lines in his face, but it was also simple to tell that he was a caring man by the wide, warm smile.
"I see you have Hoss and Adam, but no Joe? When does the wild horse start coming on these trips?" Walker commented as the two boys come up to flank their father.
"When I can tame him," Ben said with a smile as he took the offered hand. "It's good to see you Jimmy. Jud, glad to see you safe, go on and get lunch."
"Already had some sir. Mrs. Walker fed me while we were waiting for the doc," the hand replied as he took hold of the newly freed horses. "I'll take care of the horses sir." With that he was gone, but there was something in his manor that made Ben nervous.
"What's this about a doctor, Jim?"
Walker moved to the side to allow an elderly man to walk up. The man was a friendly looking gentleman, much like Paul, except that he was a bit bigger around. "Ben, this is Phil, he's one of them vet's from out east. The Cattle Board has hired him to inspect all Virginian beef."
"Mr. Cartwright, I promise it'll only take me an hour or two to clear your cattle for sale," the man said as he shock hands with Ben.
"I don't understand Jim. I mean, yes we've had a wave of sickness among the herds, but an inspection?"
"The dieses spreads to human's and can cause a town wide epidemic. It happened in several places near us, whole families wiped out. They think it's because of the meat. It's a nasty way to go Ben, I've seen the results. I was the one who recommended the inspections to the Board," Jim said, seriously.
"But how can it spread from cook meat?" Adam asked.
"It's not the cooked meat I'm worried about, it's the meat that's stored and the slughtering that has me worried. All that fresh blood, not only does it get everywhere on the butcher but it attracks flies. The flies spread it everywhere. All it takes is one bite from an enfected fly and that's it. then it spreads like fire through out a whole town. That's what I'm worried about," the doctor said.
"Aint there nothing to be done for 'em?" Hoss asked.
"Seems not," Walker said, "See you don't even know you have it until you're to weak to help yourself and by then you've spread it to others. The best way to stop it is to prevent it."
"Then by all means. What do you need us to do?" Ben agreed.
"Oh, just take a couple of your hands and send me a bovine one at a time. Won't take long," the doctor reassured.
The doctor was true to his word and with in three hours he had examined all the cattle. Besides the three that Ben had set aside, he had pulled out four more, but other then that he was satisfied.
"You were right to isolate those three, it would have been worse if you hadn't. Now, I'd like to ask if I could buy them off you. Those eight could tell me more about this whole thing and help me save some of the cattle around here. I'm willing to pay three quarters price for them."
"That sounds fair Pa," Adam spoke up. He was tired and sweaty after assisting the doctor with the examines, but he was pleased to have had the chance to talk to someone from Boston again.
"It does. They're all yours," Ben agreed and he turned to Walker. "Are you still willing to buy the herd?"
"Yes, and for the same price as always. Provided you and you're boys can help herd them home. Maggie's been cooking all day; she's bound to have a feast for the Army whipped up by now."
"Sounds good ta me, I'm plum near starved," Hoss said with his wide gapped tooth grin causing the other's to laugh.