Cat?  Hell I feel like a grizzly dragged me in.  Good to see you Pard.

Travis extends his hand to Cole.

We're fresh from the trail.  Where should we be?
This message was last edited by the player at 11:26, Fri 18 Sept 2009.

OOC: The Judge is ruling that all three men are on the porch when Cole arrived. Travis had already exited and Silas half-way to the door. Cole came over because he saw Travis on the porch heading toward a couple of tied-off horses.

"Well hot diggity," Silas exclaims as he finishes walking out onto the porch, "you just saved us comin' lookin' for ya Cole."

As fate and fortune would have it, JEB and Meri gallop into town after a long month on the trail from Missouri to the panhandle just as their former brothers-in-arms gather on the porch of the saloon. Seeing the old gang, a wry smile hints at JEB’s amazement in this fortuitous encounter. While JEB and Meri dismount and approach the saloon, their former companions notice that JEB has cleaned up well in the intervening years. Neatly trimmed in a fancy suit and custom boots, and if not for the Stetson hat JEB would pass for a fine English gentleman like the sophisticated chap at his side.

JEB places one boot on the first step of the saloon porch while brushing the trail dust from his trousers with his gloves. Looking up he says matter-of-factly: Well, this is truly a miracle all you scalawags are still livin’. Imagine my surprise when I get a letter from Cole and before I read it I’m thinkin’ it’s a funeral notice, but instead it’s a job offer. I'm thankful to see all of you.

JEB laughs and gives each man a cordial handshake.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:53, Fri 18 Sept 2009.

Cole looks at his old friends.

It is good to see you all. Let's get down to it.

Then, motioning towards the inside of the saloon...

There will be plenty of time for that later.

I want to show you boys around, first. See'in how you all seem to have FINALLY found yourselves some horses, let's ride out to No Buffalo. I want to introduce you guys to the man that will be hiring you. It would be good to get all this settled as soon as possible.

In reply to Cole Trayne (msg #17):

JEB glances over at Meri and just shrugs his shoulders.

Hey there, pardner, we've been ridin' all day n'was hopin' to wash down the trail, but I see yer awful eager. Lead on then.

JEB and Meri mount their horses and follow Cole.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:23, Fri 18 Sept 2009.

Meriwether was also riding in style! Dressed in his fancy suit, complete with black frock coat & bowler hat. His polished English calvary boots, though dusty, still held a shine underneath it. He tipped his hat to his old companions. He had ridden with Travis on more than one occasion but he had not seen the rest of them in some time.

With a genuine smile he said "Tis good to be with you all once more. I dare say but you are all a sight for sore eyes. Simply astounding to be with you one & all."

Hearing that Cole wished them to be off so soon caused the Englishman's smile to retreat with abandon "Ride on what? "

He turned to Silas "You as well? They must be without whiskey in yon saloon!"

He then said a few things under his breath as he got back into the saddle...
This message was last edited by the player at 04:36, Sat 19 Sept 2009.

Cole fetches Buck from a nearby livery while the other four men re-aquaint themselves on the porch of Sam Smith's Saloon & Billiards. He leads the group out of town and to the south. After a short ride, with the sun bearing down on their right shoulders, the men see a large cleared patch in the mesquite, with 3 buildings and a sizable corral.

OOC: Feel free to continue conversing while riding to the ranch.

Days can get lost while riding long distances on the trail. Now that you've gathered in San Antonio, Cole notes that it's June 28th, 1871, one week before the drive is scheduled to start. He knows that the bosses have been rounding up the hands for the journey and while he received a telegram from Travis, he wasn't sure who else would show up and so he's eager to get the introductions made with Major Gray and Rojas, 'fore it's too late.

Silas mounts up on his horse and responds to Meri as they move along.

"Welp, left a few drops of whiskey in there," he says, "gotta leave sumthin' fer next time Meri. I be riddin' on my horse here, don't know what your gonna be ridin' on."

Meri gives Silas a side long glance as his frown grows into an all out grin "Tis hard to believe Silas ole chap, but I have sorely missed your wit all these years! Spot on I say. Touché ole friend."

He kicked his horse, aptly named Bonny Red Bess or Bess for short, into a trot as to keep up with the others...

Legs flailing a bit, Silas kicks his horse into a trot as well.

"Ain't never worked with no cattle before. Course we had us milk cows back in Arkansas, but they was just some ol' sad sacks that stood around, ett, crapped and made milk. Reckon this'll be different."

I hope the Major doesn't mind that I couldn't rope a steer if it were hogtied and I was standing next to it.

You still sporting that fancy two-gun rig Meri?

Meri gave Travis a broad grin "Here! Here! I shan't be required to rope a cow... shall I?"

The Shootist then looked down at his gunbelt & gave his old partner a nod "Yes ole chap. Tis good to see you old friend."

He chuckled a bit before replying "Some may say that the quantity of one's shooting may indeed aid one's quality of shooting in the end!"

Silas joins Meri in laughing.

"Yuppers, the more lead you can put in the air the better chance you have of hittin' sumthin'."

In reply to Silas Walker (msg #27):

JEB chuckles listening to his old friends: Now that's the spirit fellas, though I suspect we ain't gonna shoot much other than coyote. Got to admit I'm a bit uninformed about cattle drives, other than what I've read in the Kansas City Gazette. Seems like a big job takin' a thousand head of steer from one place to the next and what for I can't figure.

JEB prods his horse to catch up with Cole: So, what's all this about my old friend? Why'd you resurrect the Osterfeld gang when there's pleny of cowpokes 'round here?

In reply to James E. Beauregard (msg #28):

Cole glances at Jeb..

Yeah, there are plenty of 'pokes down here, but I've only really gotten to know one. There have been some issues down here with Indians and other trouble. My instincts tell me that guns will be needed on the next run. So, as I see it, if I'm going to have to part of a group mixing it up with some malcontents, then I want some boys by my side who I already trust. 'Sides, this job pays good money. And, from the looks of some of you boys, I'm guessing some cash might be a good thing.

So, what's Chance and Art's story? Are they coming?

During the ride to the ranch, and overhearing their concerns, Cole glances at Meri, Silas and Travis...


Don't worry about not knowing much about cattle drives. There is a lot more to running cattle than, running cattle. I'm sure we will discover that soon 'nough. I'll vouch for you all with the trail boss, that should be enough, I 'spect.

Anyway, I'm pretty good with animals, I'll have your backs.

Mer tipped his hat to Cole "I am most grateful to you Cole. For that & this opportunity for employ as well. Has anyone heard from Art by the way?"

In reply to Cole Trayne (msg #29):

Chance left Marshfield last fall. Heard he took a teachin' job at the University of Missouri. I suspect he got your letter, but is content to stay put for now. I don't know about Art.

JEB glances back at Silas and Meri: Well gunslingers, look's like there might be some shootin' after all.

Meri furrowed his brow "Shooting what? I say, are you in some sort of bother Cole? Town seems peaceful enough. Not at all like Laramie eh Jeb?"

The Englishman looked about him as if they were being ridden down...

"Reckon I'll do my best with figgerin' out the cattle, but if'n you need some shootin', me and Ol' Hank is still a ready."

"Who's this Major feller?"

Having ridden at a leisurely pace and jawing the whole time, the reunited companions follow Cole along a dirt trail through the mesquite. Some low rolling hills are off in the distance and a sizable lake lies just to the south of a sprawling ranch.

The three buildings are spaced out on the property, with the corral between them and the lake. Looks like a house, a bunk house and a barn. A sturdy two-post wooden sign comes into view. It reads:

 No Buffalo Ranch
   Major Gray
   Senor Rojas
   Proprietors

As the men ride up to the yard between the house and the bunkhouse, they witness two men standing toe-to-toe. A big man is throwing punches at what looks like a wiry boy.  The smaller cowboy ain't quick; the big man lands numerous blows.  The fighters are shirtless.  Dust cakes in sweat on their bodies.  The wiry cowboy lands a few jabs himself, which don't even nudge the big one; meanwhile, the boy doesn't seem fazed by the bigger man's punches, either.

Seeing the riders pulling up in the yard, the men pause and the big man slaps the wiry man on the shoulder.

"That's 'nuff for today, Joe. Looks like comp'ny."

Meri looked about, trying to gage his companion's reaction "I say! Fisticuffs is it? Do you think these fellows follow the Queensberry rules?"

The Englishman shouts up to Cole "Cole? This is quite a place indeed. How many cattle are we to... ah yes... drive before us then?"

It seems that the Duke of Death has been reduced in rank to the Count of Cows.