Rawhide
Incident of the Sterling Fox
Chapter 3
It's not like Rowdy to break his word unless…Gil Favor shook his head and sighed. Pushing his hat back, he looked in the direction of Sterling Gap. Aw, he's probably met some girl and forgot the time. Night had fallen and the herd had been bedded down for the night. The crickets chirped songs to each other through the prairie grass. Clouds passed over the full moon casting eerie shadows over the herd and the glassy lake on the other side of the small stand of trees. The men were beginning to get restless and several had stopped to watch for Wishbone and the chuck wagon. Pete Nolan strolled over to where Favor was unsaddling his horse. His own horse, Spot, had already been rubbed down and was now grazing with the rest of the remuda.
"Any sign of em yet, Boss?" Pete asked. The scout had been scanning the east for the past hour and had seen no sign of the chuck wagon.
"Not yet - but if they don't get here in the next hour, I want you to go into town and see what's up." Gil Favor answered.
"Sure thing, Boss. Me and the boys are gonna break out a deck of cards that Quince found. You wanna join?"
The trail boss sighed again and proceeded in rubbing down his big bay. "No, not this time, Pete. But thanks, anyway."
Pete nodded. Just as he was turning to go tell Quince to deal him a hand, something to the east caught his eye. He squinted. Yes, there it was! Pete grabbed Favor's arm. "Boss! Is that what I think it is?" He asked excitedly.
Favor turned around to look where the scout was eagerly pointing. Sure enough, about half a mile away was Wishbone and Mushy driving the chuck wagon. Favor became confused. Where was Rowdy? As the wagon drew closer, he could see that neither Rowdy nor his horse were with Wishbone. "Something's wrong." He stated worriedly.
He hurried out to meet them with Pete fast on his heels. Wishbone reined the team to a stop at the edge of the stand of trees. The cook's face looked worried and tired. Suddenly, Wishbone looked older than ever. Mushy only smiled weakly at the scout and trail boss. Something was wrong. Terribly wrong.
"Where's my ramrod?" Gil Favor was not one to beat around the bush.
Wishbone heaved a heavy sigh and got down from the wagon seat. "Mr. Favor…"
"Yes?"
"I've got some bad news about your ramrod." Wishbone hesitated for a moment, then continued. "Well…while we were in town the bank was robbed-there was a gunfight."
"And what's this got to do with Rowdy? He was just supposed to mail some letters and get his horse shoed then come straight back here." Favor was beginning to get impatient.
"I'm getting' there. Just hold your horses. You see, in Sterling Gap, the post office is in the same building as the bank. Rowdy was there when it was robbed." Wishbone saw the worried look suddenly intensify on his boss's face. "Oh, he's not done for, Boss! Don't you worry none about that."
"But where is he? Was he hurt?"
"He's at the doc's place in town. They wouldn't let us take him back with us. Rowdy was still unconscious when we left town. Thought you oughta know and I'm sure these boys were getting a mite hungry." Mushy jumped down beside Wishbone. Pete noticed the cook's louse was wearing a new blue plaid shirt he had never seen before. He listened as Wishbone continued with his story. "A bullet grazed his head and he got another in the shoulder but the doc patched him up before we left." Wishbone had taken off his hat and fiddling with the brim. He glanced up at the trail boss. "You gonna go see him?"
"Yeah, why don't you go on, Mr. Favor? I can take charge here for a little while." Pete chimed in.
Gil Favor removed his hat and scratched his head. "I think I'd better. You keep an eye on things, Pete. Wish, you'd better hurry up and feed those men. They can be mighty irritable without their dinner." He winked at Wishbone.
"Don't you worry none, Mr. Favor. I can handle 'em. Come on, Mushy. Let's get this grub goin'." Wishbone turned around and started pushing Mushy towards the back of the wagon.
The trail boss turned to Pete. "I'll be back by morning. I'll probably stay over. Keep em in line, Pete."
Pete nodded. "Okay, boss. I'll do that." He smiled.
Favor nodded and gave a small smile. He went back to the picket line and saddled up his horse again. Mounting up, he waved goodbye to Pete and headed east to the town called Sterling Gap. The town where his ramrod was drifting in unconsciousness lying in a doctor's office.