Rawhide
Incident of the Sterling Fox
Chapter 7
"I don't know, Hey Soos-" Rowdy began. He scratched his head and studied the horse.
"Oh, but, SeñorRowdy, she is a good mare. She has the heart of a lover, and the swiftness of an eagle. But she is young and has yet much to learn." Hey Soos, the wrangler, stroked the palomino mare's gently sloping withers. "Si, Lolita, she would make a good partner for you. She is young but you will find her very charming."
Rowdy sighed half in frustration and half in weariness. So far, he and Hey Soos had disagreed on just about every horse in the remuda. The Mexican wrangler had shown him the horses that he thought would best match Rowdy's wishes, but so far Rowdy had turned down all of them. All Rowdy wanted was to have Fox back. No horse could match his own horse's talents and cunning, in his mind.
Just then, Gil Favor walked up to the pair who were debating on the mare. "Well, Rowdy? Have you picked a mount yet?"
Rowdy hooked his battered hat on the back of his head and pulled the brim forward, shaking his head. "Boss, I don't know. I-"
"Now I know you hate losing Fox, boy, but you gotta face facts. He ain't comin' back and we're certainly not gonna go blazing around on the trail after those bank robbers. We've got a herd to move!"
Rowdy clenched his teeth. Maybe we won't be goin' after 'em, but I am! He promised silently.
Gil Favor continued, "You better have a horse picked before tomorrow mornin', cause we're movin' out at dawn. The beeves have had their fill and we've got a schedule to keep. We've held 'em up long enough." After giving Rowdy a look that said he meant it, the trail boss wandered over to where Wishbone was starting the stew and sourdough biscuits.
Rowdy turned back to Hey Soos and the mare. The golden mare's coat shone in the fading sunlight and the shadows from the leaves above picked out every gleaming dapple. Her brownish-gold tipped ears pricked towards Rowdy and she nickered her approval. Hey Soos smiled at her and scratched a special spot under her mane. She groaned with pleasure and her eyelids relaxed so that her eyes were almost closed.
"You say her name's Lolita?" Rowdy asked rubbing the palomino's forehead with his free hand.
"Si, but she has never really liked it." Hey Soos answered. At the same time, the mare shook her mane as if to agree. Rowdy grinned slightly. He was still thinking of Fox, though.
"Let me think about it and I'll let you know which horse tonight, Hey Soos, okay?"
"Of course, I believe I understand. A loved one can never be replaced, but maybe you will find a space in your heart for another." With a sad but understanding glance to Rowdy, Hey Soos led the mare back to the remuda. Rowdy watched as she nuzzled Hey Soos's neck and playfully danced on the end of her lead.
'A loved one can never be replaced' , What Hey Soos had said echoed in Rowdy's mind later as they ate Wishbone's stew and the cowboys joshed the cook about his awful food, even though they ate it like ravenous wolves, 'Maybe you will find a space in your heart for another'. Rowdy picked around in his stew and finally finished after almost everyone was done eating. He left the dented tin plate with Mushy, who was doing the last of the dishwashing, and sat against a tree in a secluded spot away from the fire. Wishbone had deemed it safe for Rowdy to take off the sling just before supper, as long as he didn't strain his arm. Yates was glad to be free of the clumsy cloth that had hindered his movement. His shoulder was still sore but not as bad as it had been earlier. Wishbone announced that Rowdy had a slight fever but he assured the young ramrod that he'd be fine in no time.
The drovers good-naturedly insulted one another and laughter arose occasionally as some poor greenie fell for an old joke, while Rowdy's mind was a million miles away. Guitar chords were strummed softly and sweetly by Pete, and, having finished the dishes, Mushy played his harmonica in harmony to the guitar. Pete's voice rose melodiously in the still, silent night as he sang a song.
"What you doin' over here all by yourself?" Rowdy startled. He hadn't heard the trail boss come up behind him.
Rowdy looked down and pulled a few blades of the dried prairie grass beside him and threw them back down. "Just thinkin' is all." He replied.
Sensing that his ramrod needed to be alone, Favor shrugged and walked back over to the fire where his crew was listening to Pete finish his song.
"Goodbye, old Paint, I'm a-leavin' Cheyenne,
Goodbye, old Paint, I'm a-leavin' Cheynne;
I'm a-leavin' Cheyenne, I'm off to Montana,
Goodbye, old Paint, I'm a-leavin' Cheyenne.
My foot in the stirrup, my pony won't stand,
Goodbye, old Paint, I'm a-leavin' Cheyenne."
Rowdy listened as the last notes of the song lingered and trailed off into the night, catching on the breeze and traveling through the night air. He watched as the drovers around the fire clapped and someone requested the song Sweet Betsy from Pike. Pete and Mushy got up and bowed to each other dramatically. Pete nodded to the rhythm as he strummed out the chords that began the well-known tune. This time, though, Mushy set aside his harmonica and sang along with the other drovers.
Surprisingly, Mushy sang this song well and his face shone with delight as they went farther into the song.
Everyone had their attention on Pete and Mushy. Now's my chance, Rowdy thought urgently. It was now or never if he was ever going to get Fox back. Silently and cautiously, keeping one eye on the men surrounding the fire and another on where he was going, Rowdy slipped behind the trees and managed to make it to the remuda without being noticed. Or so he thought.
"Senor Rowdy, what are you doing?" The small whisper had come from Hey Soos. He was peering curiously over the back of the horse in front of Rowdy.
Rowdy jumped at the sudden voice. "I can't sit around while those crooks have Fox. He's missing a shoe and they might shoot him if he goes lame. I've got to get him back. And you're not gonna stop me." He whispered sharply back to the wrangler.
Hey Soos looked hurt for a moment. "I did not plan on stopping you, Senor Rowdy. I know how much it means to you. You would have found a way to go after him later anyway. It is better that you go while we are near." He held up a finger motioning for Rowdy to wait. "Wait here." He disappeared into the shadows of the herd of horses.
Rowdy cast an anxious glance over his shoulder as he waited impatiently for Hey Soos's return. The soft thump of hooves hitting soft earth came closer and Hey Soos reappeared with the palomino mare, Lolita, being led quietly beside him. She was already saddled and her eyes seemed to question what was going on. Why was the man who took care of them saddling her up this time of night? He always made sure she had plenty of graze at the end of the day if there was any to be found. She stomped her hoof and nickered questioningly.
"I thought you might try to leave to look for Fox so I had her ready for you. You like her, no?" Hey Soos waited for an answer, smiling.
Rowdy gaped at him and it was a few moments before words came from his mouth. "I-I-" Rowdy managed to stammer. "Of course, I do! Thanks, Hey Soos. You're one in a million."
Hey Soos smiled with pleasure and handed Rowdy the reins as the ramrod mounted up. "But promise me one thing, Senor Rowdy."
Rowdy looked down from his position on the mare's broad back. "Yeah, what's that?"
"Promise me, that if it becomes to risky to rescue your horse, you will get help. You would be up against four desperate men, senor. Please promise me."
"Hey Soos, I-." Rowdy hesitated. If he wasted time getting help Fox might already be gone and the thieves would be too. He looked down at Hey Soos's worried and serious face. "Alright, I promise." He promised reluctantly.
Hey Soos nodded firmly. "Gracias. But if you are not back before dawn, I will tell Senor Favor where you have gone." He let go of Lolita's cheek strap and went nearer to her flank He slapped her rump. "Now go!"
Yates saluted the wrangler and trotted Lolita quietly away from the remuda. He headed northeast toward the mountains north of town. If he had just robbed a bank, he would head for the hills. It seemed the most logical place to start. It also seemed the most likely to run into trouble. He was right about both.