Percy shifted in the saddle, trying to find a more comfortable spot. When he turned to check their back trail a moment later, he spotted a dozen riders off to the east and headed their way. He spurred his horse into a trot and rode forward to consult with his father.
“Think they’re looking for trouble?” Percy asked his father as he eased his rifle out.
“Naw,” Cyrus said. “I’m bettin’ they’re Montford Johnson’s boys. Looks like some Injuns and Mexis without a white man in the bunch.”
“How does that make ’em Johnson’s men?” Percy asked.
Cyrus looked over at Percy. “Montford is a full-blood Chickasaw and he struck a deal with the Kiowas and Comanches, tellin’ them he wouldn’t hire no white riders to herd his cattle. I hear them savages do a fair job of lettin’ him be ’cause of it.”
The riders drew to a stop about twenty yards away and Percy and Cyrus rode forward to meet them. Cyrus studied the group then smiled and pushed his hat back “How you doin’, Joe?” he asked the leader of the group.
“Good, Cyrus. You?” Joe asked as he removed his hat and wiped his brow with the sleeve of his shirt. “It’s hotter’n half-price day at the whorehouse.”
Cyrus chuckled. “That it is.”
“Whatcha doin’ up this way?” Joe asked as he put his hat back on.
“Lookin’ for a couple of rustlers. Stole two of my steers. You ain’t seen ’em, have ya?”
“Nope, but someone stole two of our horses day before last and we ain’t seen hide nor hair of ’em.”
“Probably your horses the rustlers are riding,” Cyrus said. “Bastard thieves.” He uncorked his canteen and took a swallow of water then pointed that canteen at Percy. “Joe, this here’s my oldest boy, Percy. Percy, meet Joe Twofeathers. He’s been ridin’ up in these parts forever.”
“Nice to meet you, Joe,” Percy said.
“Likewise,” Joe said. “I heard the name afore. Rode with the Rangers for a spell, didn’t ya?”
Percy nodded. “Been a while.” He pushed his rifle back into his scabbard and said, “Only thing I hunt after now is a few stray cattle or a rustler or two on occasion.” Although Percy had ridden across the river and into Indian Territory many times, it wasn’t his favorite place to loiter. His motto was to get in and get out as quick as possible.
Joe shifted in his saddle. “I wish you’d do a little more manhuntin’ while you was up here, Percy. All kinds of bad folk ridin’ round these parts.”
“Not my job anymore,” Percy replied. “Most of them will likely meet a bad end if they keep at it long enough. There’s always someone meaner and tougher.”
“I guess you’re right, there. It can’t be too soon for some of ’em.” Twofeathers turned to Cyrus. “Ride with a keen eye, Cy. Comanches and Kiowas is all riled up.”
“Ain’t they always?” Cyrus said.
“Not like this,” Twofeathers said. “Scent of blood’s in the wind. I can smell it.”
“What’s their issue this time?” Percy asked.
“Hell, ’bout half of ’em’s starvin’. Indian agent’s always cuttin’ their rations. And a hungry man will get real damn mean right quick,” Twofeathers said.
“Hell them Comanches are born mean. Sounds like they’s just lookin’ for an excuse to go raidin’, if you ask me,” Cyrus said.
“Maybe so,” Twofeathers said. “But some of ’em are hurtin’, for sure. Gonna be hard to keep ’em here if they’s hungry all the time.”
“They stealin’ your cattle?” Cyrus asked.
“Mr. Johnson gives ’em a few here and there. Helps to keep the stealin’ down some.”
“All right, Joe, we’ll keep an eye out,” Cyrus said.
“If you find our horses drop ‘em by on your way back. See you around, Cyrus. Nice to meet ya, Percy.” Twofeathers and his the men turned their horses and rode off.
“Think there’s anything to what he’s sayin’?” Percy asked.
“You surprised the government backed off on a promise they made?”
“No, not really,” Percy said. “I reckon them treaties ain’t worth the paper they’re written on.”
“Nope. And that goes for both sides. Let’s roll.”
CHAPTER 6
It had been a few hours since her argument with Seth, and Rachel was still concerned there had been a fundamental shift in their relationship. Deciding to walk down to the corral for some emotional mending, she stood, grabbed her short-brimmed sombrero off a peg by the door, and stepped out of the hot house into a furnace. The sun was merciless and, paired with the high humidity, it was suffocating. Rachel was drenched with sweat before she made it twenty feet from the porch. Gnats swarmed, cicadas hummed, and even the chickens had gone in search of shade.
Stepping into the shade of the barn, she nodded at two of the ranch hands who were busy mending saddles and walked on through to the corrals beyond. The stink of fresh cow manure hung like a blanket over the chewed-up dirt and a half a dozen horses stood, swishing their tails, in a skinny spot of shade at the far end of the corral. Trying to ignore the smell, which she’d always hated, she climbed up the fence rails and scanned for her son.
Her brother Eli had a calf snubbed to a post in the center of the other corral and, while two other ranch hands held it down, another stepped over with a red-hot iron and branded the Rocking R symbol on the calf’s left-rear flank. The calf bawled and snot flew as it swung its head, trying to get up while the mama cow stood on the other side of the fence, looking through the rails and bellowing. The scent of singed flesh reached Rachel’s nostrils as one of the ranch hands holding down the calf notched its ear then pulled off the rope. The calf lurched to its feet and stood on unsteady legs for a moment before moving off. Rachel walked over to the other corral, climbed the rails, and shouted, “Eli, where’s Seth?”
He took off his hat and used it to dust off his chaps as he walked over. He put the hat back on and propped a foot on a fence rail, his dirty shirt sagging with sweat. “I saw Seth ride out early this morning. He had his rifle, so I assumed he was going hunting.”
“Oh no, no, no. He didn’t go huntin’, damn it. He went chasin’ after his pa.”
“Why would he do that?” Eli asked.
“He was mad they wouldn’t let him go along with them. You have to go after him, Eli.”
“Why? I assume he’ll return home if he doesn’t find them or they’ll send him home if he does.”
Rachel said, “That’s a lot of assuming, Eli. And you know Seth’s never ridden across the river before.”
“He can follow a trail,
