CHAPTER FIVE

THE BEST-LAID PLANS

FRIDAY MORNING

But the final day of the drive didn't quite go as planned. First, drenching rain accompanied by high winds arrived just before daybreak. The campsite turned into one huge mudhole, and the holding area for the cattle became an above-ground cesspool. Then, the breakfast that was supposed to have been delivered by a restaurant in Sacramento didn't show.

Nick made a trip to town. His first stop was the restaurant that was to have catered the drovers. They swore they had no such order—and, since Heath had ordered it and held the receipt, Nick couldn't prove otherwise. Then, he stopped by the railroad depot. The livestock cars were there, but it took him a while to find the manager.

"We can't load in this weather," the manager said.

"I have fifteen hundred head of cattle in your holding area and a reservation. What do you mean you can't do it?"

"Sir, please come with me to the loading area."

Nick unhappily followed him to the area. The area had turned into one muddy lake.

"So what do we do?" Nick demanded.

The manager shrugged. "I suggest you take a day off and enjoy our fine town. Hopefully, this gulley washer is about done, and the sun will come out and dry it up, and we can load tomorrow."

Nick slammed his fist into his leg.

"And you should know that if you try to drive those critters in these conditions, you're gonna end up with injuries. Broken legs, who knows?"

Nick knew he was right. There was no use fighting about it. He headed back to camp, thinking the entire way there, taking it slow so his mount didn't get injured in the muck.

The men stood under a tarp by the chuckwagon. The only food available was hardtack and beef jerky, but at least they had coffee.

"Everybody here?" Nick bellowed when he got there. The rain had slowed a bit, but still poured off his hat.

Heath nodded, and the men quieted.

"I got bad news. We can't load today." The men could easily hear Nick over the pounding of the rain on the tarp. Nick waited for a few grumbles to quiet. "We also ain't gonna get our breakfast out here."

The grumbles grew.

Nick waved them quiet. "But, the good news is that we can have the day off."

Cheers went up.

"Now, I still don't want nobody getting drunk and rowdy or into bar fights or any kind of misbehavior. We're gonna have to be up early in the morning and move these critters. So, here's what we're gonna do. We're gonna go into town. We'll pass out half your pay so you can have some fun, and we'll give you a bonus so you can buy your own breakfast, lunch, and dinner." Nick pointed at Heath. "You figure out how much that will be so we can get the payroll started."

Heath nodded and motioned for Eugene to follow him to the covered wagon.

"I don't want nobody gettin' drunk, is that clear?"

Even though there were a few rumbles, most of the men nodded.

"And you're all to report back here no later than eight o'clock tonight. Anybody late or anybody comin' in drunk will be dealin' with me. Got it?"

Nick waited until he received a nod from each man.

"Make sure you eat before you do any drinking, and keep it to four drinks. And, if you can't count to four, keep it to three. Any questions?"

No one had any.

"Good. There ain't nuttin' but mud between here and there, so be sure to take it slow and keep your horses outta trouble." Nick motioned toward the wagon. "Go line up and Heath will hand out your pay. You'll get the rest of it when we get done tomorrow."

Nick hurried over to the wagon to help Heath and Eugene with the accounting. "How's it goin' over here?" he asked.

"Fine," Heath answered. "We copied the names from the payout form you had ready and took half of that and added a dollar for meals today."

Nick nodded. That was a bit generous, but it was fair.

"As soon as Eugene puts in the last two numbers, we'll be ready for 'em to come through and sign."

"You get the money out yet?"

"No," Heath said, checking what Eugene had tallied.

"I'll get it. They're lined up now." Nick hurried over to the locked chest where they kept the money bag and took it out.

Heath stood between Nick and Eugene. As each man walked in, he looked over Eugene's shoulder to see the pay due and told Nick how much to count out. Then Eugene handed them a pen so they could sign for the money. It didn't take long to get the men through the line.

"Everybody accounted for?" Nick asked.

"Looks like it," Heath said.

The rain had mostly stopped, but the sun hadn't shown its face to dry anything.

Nick finally smiled. "You fellas interested in a trip to town?"

XXXXX

"You know, Nick," Heath said as they rode into town. "You can't go off half-cocked, either. It sure wouldn't look good if you got drunk and disorderly."

Nick laughed. "Don't worry yourself, little brother. I know my limits, and I know I got to abide by what the men do." He looked at Heath. "And I got my priorities. First, breakfast. Then, a bath. Of course, my extra set of clothes is probably wringing wet, so maybe I'll have to go to the store and get some clothes next. THEN a bath. Then—"

"But then it will be lunch time," Eugene said.

Heath chuckled.

Nick shrugged. "They have sandwiches at the bar."

"So let me ask you," Heath said. "Do we go to a bar where most of the men are so we can keep an eye on them, or do we go to a bar where none of the men are so we'll have to keep an eye on you?"

"Eugene, what's your preference?"

"Well," Eugene said, thinking it over. "The men may not like it if we're watching them, but then again, maybe that would be better."

Nick grinned. "Still can't make up your mind about anything, can ya?"

"Made up my mind about one thing," Eugene said.

"What's that?"

"This is my last drive."

Nick laughed. "This is your first drive. And just an itty-bitty drive at that."

"I've seen enough," Eugene said. "One is enough for me."

The brothers reached town after the hands, but they found several of them when they walked into the first restaurant.

"Nick! Heath!" Perez yelled, waving.

Nick nodded, and the three brothers crowded around the table where three drovers already sat.

"That was a good speech you gave there this morning," Morgan said. "Scared me sober."

"Better've scared all of you sober. I meant it—I ain't gonna take too kindly of anyone showing up drunk tonight. We still got work to do."

"That's okay," Perez said. "I'm gonna find me a poker game and make me some money. I'll do my drinking when we're done tomorrow."

Nick nodded. "Good plan. Make sure to keep track of time."

"We will, boss. We will."

After breakfast, the Barkley boys went to the mercantile and purchased a set of clothes. "Let's get a room at the hotel and use the bath there," Nick said. "That way, all three of us can use it, and it probably wouldn't cost more than goin' separately." He headed in the direction of a hotel they'd passed that offered hot baths.

"As long as you don't jump in there first and take a two-hour soak," Heath said, running to catch up with Nick's long-legged stride.

"Let's put a twenty-minute limit on the tub," Eugene suggested. "Otherwise, we'll never get out of this hotel today."

"Plus ten minutes to wash our boots," Heath added.

Eugene rolled his eyes. "I want to go have some fun."

"Patience, boy, patience," Nick said.

"Nick, if you want to lollygag around in the tub, you're taking the last turn."

"Nope. We go in order of age. You're last, Genie boy."

"I'm not sitting in a hotel room all day waiting for you to get done!"

Nick shrugged. "Then get your own room."

"I think we should flip for it," Heath said.

"Yes!" Eugene jumped in front Nick. "That's what we're doing. We're flipping for it."

"Okay." Nick took out a coin, flipped it, and covered it with his left hand. "You call it."

"Heads!" Eugene yelled.

Nick peeked at the coin. "Nope. You lose." He snatched up the coin.

"But you didn't let us see it!" Eugene protested.

Nick put on his innocent face. "Surely you don't think I'd lie to you."

"Heath!" Eugene moved to his quiet brother. "Help me out, here."

Heath shrugged. "Just get used to it. Nick always ends up in the tub first."

"Not today!"

"Not worth the fight," Heath said. "Just let him go first."

"How can you say that?"

"Because we'll hold his clothes hostage, and if he's not out of there in time, we'll throw 'em out the window," Heath said quietly.

"I heard that!" Nick yelled.

"Then you have incentive to get out of the tub on time."

They were still arguing when they entered the hotel. The desk clerk was not amused. "May I help you?" he asked nasally.

"Yeah. We need a room with a bath."

"One room? Or three rooms?"

"One room," Nick said.

The clerk raised an eyebrow. "We don't allow funny people here."

"Funny people? What are you talkin' about?" Nick demanded.

Heath stepped up. "We're brothers. We've been on a cattle drive. We just need a bath. We'll be out of here before lunch."

The clerk eyed Heath. "You certainly do need a bath."

"How much?" Nick asked.

"Three of you in one room? Six dollars."

"Six dollars!" Nick slammed his fist on the counter.

Heath eyed the man. "How much if we get three rooms?"

"A buck and a half each."

"We'll take three rooms," Heath said and put a five-dollar gold piece on the counter.

The clerk handed him three keys and a fifty-cent piece.

Heath didn't bother to say thanks. He turned and passed out keys to his brothers. "Problem solved."

"Ain't you the big spender today," Nick said.

"It's worth it to me to have an hour of peace and quiet and a tub of my own. How about we meet down here in an hour?"

"An hour?" Nick and Eugene both blurted at the same time.

Heath rolled his eyes. "When do you want to meet?"

"Thirty minutes," Gene said at the same time Nick said, "Two hours."

Heath shook his head. "Both of you take whatever time you want. How about we meet at the saloon across the street whenever we're finished?"

They all agreed, and, finally, went to bathe.

XXXXX