Bret reached across the desk to shake hands with Colonel Raymond T. Jessup, commanding officer at Fort Yuma. "Have a seat, Mr. Delacroix. I understand you're working for Molly Hooper down in Yuma proper. What can I do for you?"
"Colonel, there's been some reaccurin' instances of what can best be described as harassment of Molly's ranch, and my partner and I are tryin' to find out why it continues to happen. You expressed some interest in her cross-breedin' efforts?"
"Quite a bit of interest, actually. The army has been looking for something to give us an advantage over the Indians – any kind of an advantage. I can see the long-term potential for what Miss Hooper is trying to produce – a horse with the stamina of the mustang but the speed and tolerance of the Arabian. Especially out here in the extreme heat that we endure. How are her endeavors going?"
"They seemed to be movin' along fine until a short while ago. Has anything changed in the fort's cattle or supply agreements recently?"
Colonel Jessup shook his head. "Not recently. We asked all three of the livestock suppliers to increase their deliveries to us, but that's been rather slow going, I'm afraid."
"Have they given you a reason for that?"
"Their herds aren't big enough at the present time, according to one of the ranchers. They need more land to support the increased herds, and they're having trouble obtaining it. Has someone been after Miss Hooper's ranch?"
Bret's face was grim as he nodded in answer to the colonel's question. "We kinda figured that's what all this was about. Someone tried to buy it, unsuccessfully; now they're tryin' to run her off it. Any information you can give me about the three ranchers the army's got agreements with?"
"You must know that's confidential information, Mr. Delacroix. I can tell you this – Jeremiah Bircken seems to be the driving force behind the group."
"Well, that's somethin'. Anybody here that can give me more answers?"
"Officially, no. Unofficially, try Sergeant McKinney. He's in charge of all livestock purchases made for this fort. Be sure and give Miss Hooper my best, would you, Mr. Delacroix? And tell her that I and the army are still interested in her efforts."
"Thanks, Colonel, I will. I appreciate the time." They shook hands again before Bret left.
His next stop was the Supply Sergeant's office, two buildings away. It was a much busier room than the Colonel's office, and he had to wait to see Sergeant McKinney. When he was the last one left, he introduced himself and explained to the Sergeant that Colonel Jessup had unofficially 'sent' him for more information.
"Not sure how helpful I can be, Delacroix. The requisitions are pretty well split between the three ranches. We get about fifty percent of our requirement from Bircken and the rest comes from Tesson and Wolcott. All three have been lagging behind our orders and we may have to go elsewhere for additional cattle. Bircken keeps complaining that he needs more land but doesn't seem to do anything about getting any."
"Who will you go to if you have to have more livestock? Have a ranch in mind?"
Sergeant McKinney gave a little laugh at that question. "Don't know right now. The Colonel's looked at some other ranchers, but most of them are in Braxton or Settler's Creek. There's nobody else big enough in Yuma. And if we go elsewhere for more cattle, Jessup's liable to cancel the agreements with the Yuma ranches and get everything from the new suppliers."
Sergeant McKinney's words rang in Bret's ears as he mounted his stallion. 'Jessup's liable to cancel the agreements with the Yuma ranches and get everything from the new suppliers.' That alone was enough reason for the three ranchers to step up their efforts to buy or steal Molly Hooper's ranch and the land she owned. As he headed away from the Sergeant's office, he was watched by a Lieutenant Archibald Fenton, who'd recently been put on Jeremiah Bircken's payroll. The gambler rode out of the fort as Fenton hurried to McKinney's office to find out just what the man had been there to discover.
XXXXXXXX
It was just past sunset when Bret arrived back at the Hooper ranch. He took Blackthorn to the barn and made sure the stallion had everything he required before heading for the house. Molly smiled when she saw who was at the door and opened it immediately. "You're back in one piece!" she exclaimed, which made little sense until he got into the room and saw the bandaged hand of his brother.
"A little brandin' mishap?" he chuckled before seeing Bart's dark expression.
"I wish," came the younger Maverick's quick reply.
Bret immediately got somber. "What happened?"
"Somebody tried to put a hole in me. Us. The mares. I ain't sure which. No, I didn't catch a bullet," he added hastily as Bret's expression changed. "They shattered a window in the barn and I ended up with a piece of glass. Molly was kind enough to play doctor for me."
"When did that happen?"
"When we were about halfway through with the brandin'. Sorry, Joe, we'll have to finish it tomorrow."
"What's this we, Miss Molly?" Bart asked. "I told you that Joe and I can finish it. I'd rather you weren't a target out there."
"Did any of the horses get hit?"
"Yeah, they nicked one a the mares. She'll be fine. And the barn window needs repair."
"That's easy enough to take care of. I agree with . . . Hancock, Molly. I don't think you should be out there. It'd be too easy to shoot you."
"You're both being too cautious. I'll be fine out there." She changed the subject. "Are you hungry? I've got supper for you."
"Yes, ma'am. I could stand some food. And then I'll tell you what I got from Colonel Jessup and his supply sergeant."
As soon as Bret finished his supper he went over both his conversations, and Molly and Bart paid rapt attention to every detail. When he'd finished, Bart spoke up again. "That's more than enough reason to sit out the rest of the brandin', Miss Hooper. Now do you understand why?"
She shook her head sadly. "I understand, but I don't like it one bit. Do you really think Jeremiah and his group are behind the attacks?"
"Everything I've heard points to it being them," Bret affirmed.
"Me, too," Bart answered. "Let's get the brandin' done tomorrow and I'll head for Braxton the day after. We need to get some hands down here to help with the herd."
"I agree. That alright with you, Molly?"
"Yes," the girl agreed. "I'll feel better once the mares are done. Then I can start planning for spring. It's not that far away. And it's going to be really busy for both the ranch and Galead. It will be his second full spring at stud and I don't want to overwork him." Both of the brothers laughed and exchanged looks. "What?" Molly asked.
"Just the idea . . . " Bret started.
"Of overworking a stud," Bart finished.
"That would be a problem worth having," Bret added, and both continued into fits of laughter.
"Men," was Molly's final comment on the subject.
XXXXXXXX
"Thought you were a better shot than that," Jeremiah chastised Nance.
"You told me I couldn't kill them. It throws off my aim."
"Did you hit anything?" Burns Wolcott questioned.
"One of the horses," Tesson answered.
"And got shot in return," Jeremiah pointed out.
"How was I supposed to know there was a gun in the dang barn? And then the foolhardy way that hotshot cowboy came runnin' out . . . He caught me by surprise."
"And put a bullet right through you, too," Burns pointed out.
"It's just my arm. It'll heal."
"That means you have to stay out of sight until it does, Nance," Burns pointed out.
"But . . . ," Tesson started.
"No. We can't afford to have anyone the wiser," Bircken reminded him.
"What about the next step?" Nance asked.
"Somebody else has to handle the next step," Conrad Sanders insisted. "What about Donny Worby? He's done 'enforcement' for you before."
"I suppose. When do we need him?"
"Soon, Nance, soon."