In reply to Randy Oldman (msg #6):

Joe Turner, as wide-eyed as ever despite these three months on the trail, listens to Randy's yarn as they head back to camp.

Ayasha looks a little worried while she follows the Major. When she hears his replies that basically contain no information at all, she snorts. "Great. So you have an agreement. Does that include Fielder's son? Because he will be back, you know."

Without waiting for an answer, she rides off to resume the night herding. If anyone close could understand Cheyenne, they would hear her curse about people being unable to talk.

Artemus returns to camp.

In reply to Travis Sunday (msg #4):

"Major, may I have a few words with you please? I've grown accustomed to your brevity but I think we should know the terms of your agreement with Fielder, otherwise we may undermine it inadvertently."

Art looks for his old friend Silas.

Night settles in on the Kansas plains. The longhorns have found peace in the hills, settling in to sleep after the events of the early evening.

Some of the cowboys--and the Indian--return to their duties on night herd. Others, including Rojas, return to camp.

JEB seeks out the Major, before returning to his shift on the night herd. The trail boss, who was just about to dismount, stares at the moon. "All right, sheriff," he says, riding further east.

Artemus Carson finds his old friend Silas Walker, taking care of the remuda.

“Silas, me old mate! It’s been a long time.” Artemus climbs down off of Caliber as begins to settle him for the night again, and extends his hand to his old friend.

Cole looks over Bess to make sure her earlier workout did not leave any lasting effects. He then seeks out his dog.

Now where did that dog get to?

Even if Randy were beside a train switching station, he'd be able to sleep.  Tonight is another of those times when his sleep is deep and he dreams of big women, big plates of food and big whiskeys.

"Well burn my britches. Look here, Edwin, it's our old friend Art." Silas puts out his hand. "Where you been hidin'?"

In reply to Cole Trayne (msg #14):

Cole finds his dog with Yellow Sanders and the hound named Travis. Jack's tongue his hanging so far out of his mouth, it looks like it might drag on the ground. Yellow rides back to camp with Cole. "What happened over yonder?" the cowboy asks.

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This message was last edited by the GM at 02:19, Fri 08 Apr 2011.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg #17):

Cole walks up to Jack and gives him a scratch or two behind his ears.

He then looks up at Yellow and shrugs.

From what I could tell, some of Fielder's men were trying to help us keep the beeves east of the trail. And, then some of his other folk started shooting.

Jeb and the boys defended themselves. Then the Major ordered JEB and Travis to shoot our own beeves. Not sure what that was about.

One of Fielder's men got shot up pretty bad. Between Ayasha and me, mostly her I admit, we managed to patch him up.

The Major and Fielder then went off and reached some kind of agreement. Don't know what that was, though. But, I gotta figure, deal or no deal, some of his men might be a little sore about their man getting a few holes put in him.

In my rush to get up there, me and Bess had to leave Jack behind. Poor dog, I'm sure he did his best to keep up.

Yellow nods, listening to Cole. "You seen the shootin'? Any of our boys take any lead?"

In reply to Yellow Sanders (msg #19):

Continuing to scratch Jack behind the ears, Cole shakes his head.

Nope. Didn't see exactly what happened.

I had one idea in my head, and that was to watch our boys back. I wasn't going to let what happened to Meri happen to one of ours, again. Least wise not without me and my Spencer having something to say about it.

Luckily, none of us caught any lead.

Still, I would like to know who tried to help and who tried to do otherwise. Damn curious. Seems like Fielder's men were of two minds.

 

Yellow scratches his head as they reach camp. He dismounts. "Joe told me there was fellers helpin' with the longhorns. How do ya know they was Fielder's men?"

In reply to Silas Walker (msg #16):

"Little bit of here, little bit of there. Walkabout mostly - like always." Art nods towards Caliber and gives him a pat on the neck, "Looks like a bit of 'rideabout' too!"

"So what do you know about Major Grey? He seems to be on pretty good terms with the Felder bloke. I'm not sure me an' the mates got the whole story 'bout this drive. One minute we're supposed to shoot any duffer what shoots a beeve, next we's shooting 'em ourselves."

Silas resumes his work with the horses while he listens to Art.

"Can't say as I know much about them other ranchers. But I've ridden with the Major for a spell now and I reckon he knows what he's doin'."

He turns aside. "What's that, Edwin? Oh. Nope I reckon not."

He turns again to face Artemus.

"Edwin says he don't recollect any orders to shoot people who shot beeves. But we been busy as bees with the horses ..." he adds, seeing Yellow Sanders bringing in his mount.

Yeah, well I've only been traveling with yous duffers for a few days, but under Boss Cole & his mates the plan was to return fire on the ranchers if they fired on us, man or beeve. And Boss Cole does work for the Major. . .

A serious look crosses the usually enigmatic face of Artemus Carson. He starts to ask his friend something, hesitates, and then proceeds,

Silas. . . do you mind asking Edwin if he's seen my Darling Lilly? I'd like to know that's she's alright. . .

In reply to Artemus Carson (msg #25):

"Huh? Edwin, why you didn't tell me you knew Art's darling Lilly?"

Silas just shakes his head as he examines Arliss, seeming to have already forgotten Art's question.

Major Gray and JEB ride back to camp, dismounting. Silas Walker tends to their mounts. Cole and Yellow have returned as have all of the cowboys except those on the night herd.

JEB chooses the only currently saddled horse; Cortez who remains as stalwart and sharp as ever, even after Randy's ride during all the commotion.

The Major moves to his tent and returns to the main camp carrying his guitar by the neck. Without a word, he takes a crate from the chuck wagon as he sees his Silas hasn't yet delivered his saddle.  He sits down and begins to strum a soothing tune. The chords drift over the Flint Hills and the herd of longhorns.

Travis, Ayasha and Quirley find the night herd a might easier now. The beeves have settled in. Things are calm. They'd swear they could hear music in the night.

In reply to Yellow Sanders (msg #21):

Cole shrugs.

I reckon I don't rightly know if they were with Fielder. Just a guess seein' how they was so close to Fielder and I didn't see anyone else who was close to callin' the shots out there for the strangers. Still you make a fair point. Could be another player out there.

Yellow bends down to scratch Travis' ear. The two men and their dogs rejoin the others at camp. Yellow shrugs when Cole says he had made a good point.

"I take that as a kindness, Cole, but I ain't pretendin' to know what's goin' on." He pauses now to scratch Travis' belly, as the hound rolls and squirms on his back once they settle in at the camp-site. "Just seems like a passel of guesswork goin' on 'round here and I figure we oughta cotton to the fact that our guesses could be all balled-up."

In reply to Yellow Sanders (msg #30):

Cole nods.

Agreed. It is all just guesswork, that is until the Major decides to clues us in on what he and Fielder talked about after the dust up.

Until then, seems to me it is business as usual. We defend the herd and watch each others' back.



Cole then smiles and shrugs.

I like to keep things simple.