The Ranch on the Beaver
by Andy Adams
The Acorn And The Oak
Forrest was advised of the purchase of the Albion remnant. To the alien mind it might look like a risk, while in reality absolute ownership of the brand was a necessity. To divide its possession was to invite trouble.
The march of the patient cattle across the ages proves their vitality. Their ability to weather summer drouth or winter storm was known, and when the elements drove them astray, those who knew them best put their faith in the sturdy cattle. In fact, it was the experience of every cowman that, given a chance, the cattle never disappoint.
Harvest was on. Joel returned to the Beaver, and for the month of August double trains were the order of the day. Many of them were routed direct to Chicago, the quality of the beeves justifying any market, and proving their finish on scale and in mart. The actual work fell to Dell, as the older brother was compelled to go to market, oversee shipments from the Arickaree, and both were tireless in the saddle or to any call of duty.
During the latter part of the month, the older boy touched on the Arickaree, to pass upon a shipment. It was the second one from the ranch, and was expected to classify as prime beef. Many of them were native to the range, with scarcely a trace of Texas blood, a full train, the flower of the ranch, and a matter of mutual pride to foreman and owners. McWilliams even joined in gathering the consignment.
'There's the best train of beef that ever left the Arickaree,' said the ex-foreman to Joel and Sargent. 'I've looked after them since their birth, and as this is farewell, I want to feast my eyes on them. They have reached their prime, and my calves and I have come to the parting of the ways.'
'Go to market with them,' urged the owner.
'I'm afraid of the trip. And you'll be hurrying back for the next shipment.'
'I'll quarter you at a good hotel, and call for you at the end of the beef harvest. You are not on our pay-roll, but you're worth any two men on the ranch, and for the next month I insist that you be my guest. Your calves will pay the reckoning. Boys, Mac's going with this shipment.'
The crippled foreman protested, but the other carried his point.
'It makes no difference whether you return to the Arickaree or the Beaver, your job's secure. You'll be old man Dan to the boys on the lower ranch the same as here. And any time you want to avoid a winter, I'll get you a pass to the new ranch on the Pease River. The boys there tell me that they often have quail pot-pie for dinner, and that about Christmas time, they sometimes have wild turkey. Think it over.'
Another question, of a different nature, came up for adjustment.
'You're going to take both herds of through stuff to the Beaver, I hear?' protested Sargent. 'Why not let me have the Albion cattle?'
'Because the lower ranch will ship two beeves to your one this harvest. We can't hold the Beaver under six thousand head. The beeves are there; they have reached their maturity, and we must run them to market.'
'What will the Arickaree harvest two years hence? Our own breeding, a single train of beef!'
'That's your misfortune. The Beaver has the range, and it's more convenient to market. The ranch must be restocked, and we have no other cattle.'
'The Arickaree is going to ship three thousand. That makes room for the Hat brand, the Albion stuff.'
'You may get them yet. Major Hunt is making a wide inquiry and he may locate some cattle for sale. I'm as anxious to restock the Arickaree as you are. But unless we can buy them, one or the other of our ranches must go half-stocked. Jack, if the cattle can be had. I'll give you the chance you want.'
'I want the Arickaree to be in the race,' earnestly protested the foreman. 'That's all. How can I make a showing with a half-stocked beef ranch?'
'If possible, this ranch will be restocked. We tested our credit for every hoof we could buy last spring, and if I can't furnish you other cattle, you can have the Albion string. Still, I would like to mature it and the Lazy H herd on the Beaver -- straight Pease River cattle.'
The marketing of a beef depended on his perfect maturity. When once natural growth had ceased in the physical animal, all the energies of prodigal nature were concentrated in the finishing tallow. Given the required age, three to four hundred pounds were taken on in as many months, and as an apple ripens, the animal reached its prime. When the perfect maturity, noticeable to the practical man, was in evidence, the beef was ripe for market. It was for this reason that the Arickaree and Beaver ranges must ship out every hoof that qualified as prime beef.
The Arickaree shipment was routed by way of Kansas City. It gave the consignment the advantage of two markets, admitted of locating McWilliams near the cattle yards, while another incident of value was the discovery of a herd of through cattle. Colorado had quarantined against Texas cattle; a single herd had crossed the line, and almost reached Trail City before being detected. The State authorities caused the arrest of the foreman, the herd was isolated, and the matter was under arbitration. The cattle were contracted for delivery in Montana, but, being unable to satisfy the quarantine officials, they were held under the strictest detention. The State was master of the situation, the surrounding country was vacated by local cattle, and the through herd enjoyed every advantage of range, except that it was unmovable.
Major Hunt saw an opportunity. 'Buy that herd,' said he to Joel. 'When quarantine lifts, there won't be time to trail it anywhere. The cattle have been under detention two months now, delivery day in Montana has already passed, and you are in a position to handle the herd. It runs full thirty-five hundred, and you can trail it to one of your ranges in a week. Ten days after the first frost falls, you can turn the herd loose on its winter range.'
The Arickaree train of beef was sent east, and the boy started for Trail City. The quarantined cattle were found on the same creek, same range, as that occupied by the Tin Cup herd the summer before. The boy spent a day at the camp and returned to the city.
'Well, I've seen the cattle,' he reported to Major Hunt. 'Pull the strings. I'll buy them.'
'Their quality?' said the old factor, with noticeable hesitancy. 'Are you satisfied with the quality of the cattle? The herd comes from Palo Pinto County.'
'Little pony, black-jack steers,' answered the boy. 'Come from the cross-timbers of Palo Pinto. Give me that herd two years, and some fine morning I'll top this market with a train or two of pony beeves. The herd was contracted as twos, but one fourth of them will run threes and fours. They have the age to fatten to the last ounce. You needn't let on that I'm wild about them, but I want those little blocky steers.'
The sale of the herd was in the hands of a commission firm, connected with the Kansas City yards. Major Hunt and his client thrashed over the details, ending by the old factor leaving the office with instructions to close a trade on the herd.
'Name October 1st, quarantine lifted or in force, as the day of delivery,' admonished the boy. 'We'll have an outfit free by that time, and I'm willing to hold them a week or two. And if Colorado refuses to let us have the herd after the first frost, we'll turn the cattle loose in the Arkansaw Valley and gather them the next spring during the round-up. I want that herd.'
The old factor returned within an hour. 'There are only two items in solution,' said he; 'secrecy of sale and place of payment. Damage suits are liable to arise for failure to deliver on the contract and liability on account of fever.'
'Not a case of fever in Colorado this summer,' vouched Joel.
'There's ample time yet; and if a cow dies of old age, that herd will be held liable. If the sale can be kept a secret until the cattle are delivered to you, with Fort Worth as the settlement point, I can close the deal in a minute.'
'Close it. I'll take any chance to get that herd. Have you agreed on the price?'
'The herd changes owners at fifteen dollars straight. There wasn't the difference of a word on that point.'
The sale was completed. The boy left for home, and within a few days was in consultation with Sargent. The latter, only, was taken into the former's confidence, and the two planned like pirates to get possession of the quarantined herd.
'I'll hold back the last shipment,' said the foreman, 'until after the first frost in the Arkansaw Valley. We'll drop down to Kit Carson and load out from there. After the shipments are off our hands, we'll lay around a few days awaiting the word. And if you order the outfit to report, along in the evening of October 1st. I'll know the reason why. Oh, we must get those pony steers!'
The harvest was nearing its end. Every ten days Dell came down from the Beaver with a thousand head, shipped them out, and returned for the next consignment. Near the end of September, both ranches had their last shipment in hand, with fine weather and not a harbinger of frost in sight. October was ushered in. On the first day of the month, not a stranger was seen on the deserted streets of Trail City. At the first station east, however, Joel Wells and the ex-foreman alighted from an early train, made inquiry for a ranch to the southwest, secured horses, and rode away. Early in the evening they arrived at the camp of the quarantined herd, to find the cattle bunched and ready. A short hour's work followed, and the cattle were counted.
'Bed them down,' said the boy to the foreman in charge, 'and night-herd them until relieved. Better keep your wagon mules and remuda in hand. It's going to be fine moonlight to-night, and I wouldn't be a bit surprised if a cow outfit looks you up between now and morning. In case one does, I want your outfit to start home within an hour; I want it to be twenty miles from here when the sun rises. Now, if you don't know why, don't ask any questions. You and I will send a wire in the morning, giving the count on the herd, and then you'd better overtake your outfit.'
'You needn't kick me on the shins to make me wise,' said the foreman blandly. 'Not long ago I had a dream that I would be relieved late to-night or early in the morning. From the looks of the stars, I wouldn't be a little bit surprised if my dream came true.'
A State deputy was supposed to keep an eye over the isolated herd. He was stationed at Trail City, visited the camp almost daily, satisfied himself, and returned to town. He had even paid his respects to the herd on the morning of the 1st, finding it scattered, as usual, jollied the outfit, and went his way.
As darkness fell, Joel and the Texan rode out several miles, and, before ten o'clock returned, piloting in Sargent and his outfit. The latter had crossed the river well above the abandoned trail town, and was groping his way, trusting to the rattle of his wagon and herd songs to attract the attention of those out on scout.
The guards changed on the sleeping herd, the trail outfit inspanned their team and stole away. The foreman, even, refused to remain.
'You don't need me to wire in the count on this herd. That was left open with me, and now that I think it all over, I have full confidence in you sending it in honestly. If a cow died to-day, from dry murrain, within fifty miles of here, they're liable to throw me in jail again, and I'm my mother's own dear boy and love my liberty. When the sun rises in the morning. I'll be in Kansas, traveling at the rate of seven miles an hour. Give my regards to that quarantine officer; quite a nice chap. Just because I forgot to say farewell this morning is no good reason that my folks didn't teach me manners. Remember me to him, and, if he insists on knowing where I am, risk an opinion that I'm about ninety-seven miles southeast of here, hitting the trail for Texas.'
Delivery of a herd between dark and dawn had occurred before. With possession of the cattle, Joel Wells could rest until quarantine was lifted. The herd was again freed on its own range, and word was left at camp for the deputy that the new owner was anxious to meet him. The boy left for town, the hired horses were returned, while Sargent busied himself riding the range.
As expected, the quarantine officer made his usual visit. No sooner had he reached the camp than strange men were noticed, one of whom was McWilliams.
'Yes,' said the latter to the State veterinary, 'the herd was sold some little time back, but we never could get around to receive it until last evening. The cattle are in the possession of the Wells boys this morning, and Mr. Joel wants to see you. Strange you didn't meet him on the trail.'
'A boy about twenty, riding a fine chestnut horse?'
''That's the lad. The foreman will be in soon.'
'Where is the through outfit?'
'Oh, they left for home at once. It seems that the Colorado authorities gave them some trouble over their cattle. They supposed their herd to be immune and entered the State, relying on a certificate of inspection issued by the inspector of brands of Palo Pinto County, Texas. Old Palo Pinto is safely above the Texas quarantine line; above the cross-timbers has always been recognized as safe cattle. The outfit felt that they were persecuted unjustly and left the jurisdiction of the State between dark and sunrise. The foreman begged to be remembered to you.'
The deputy was baffled by the report and rode to the herd. He and Sargent returned near noon, and shortly afterward Joel put in an appearance.
'I made inquiry for you around town,' said the boy to the quarantine official, 'and learned that you had left to look after some cattle in your charge. Being strangers, we passed one another within easy hailing distance. The herd changed owners yesterday, and you are welcome to hold it in quarantine to your own satisfaction. If these cattle impart fever within ten days of this date, we're responsible ranchmen and will pay any damage. We have taken the matter up with the State officials this morning, and you may look for orders within a week, releasing the herd. Until then, you will find this outfit law-abiding to the letter.'
The deputy admitted that he was wholly under orders. 'I'm just as willing to get away as you are,' said he. 'It will require orders from my superiors, with or without frost. Any other matters involved are of no concern to me. You boys appear reasonable, and I'll try and meet you halfway.'
The outfit relaxed. With nothing but loose day-herding, time hung heavy.
'Which herd do you want for the Arickaree?' inquired Joel of his foreman, a few days later. 'The Lazy H brand rightfully belongs on the Beaver, but you can have your choice of the other two.'
'Thanks,' cautiously replied Sargent. 'Now what's up your sleeve? Have I been promoted to general manager?'
'Some time ago you were uneasy about your beef harvest for two years hence. So take your choice of the two herds, these Palo Pinto ponies or the Albion cattle.'
'Why, I'll take the Hat cattle, the Albion brand. Panhandle bred, with six months on this upper range. Now, let me see your axe.'
'The axe I have to grind is merely the payment of an old debt. I've acknowledged it before, and now I'm going to pay it. When we ship the Hat twos, two years hence, one hundred head will be yours, net on the market. We'll not even brand or tally-mark them now. You will own that many beeves in any shipment you choose in that brand. I owe you for kicking me into buying the Arickaree Ranch, and that's an easy way of paying you: let you wait for your money. Now, keep your thanks to yourself, and an eye over the ranch. It's your just due, old boy.'
The release came within a week, with frost and official consent, and the cattle were moved to the Beaver. In the mean time Dell had gathered the Lazy H herd on their summer range and was trailing it to the lower ranch. After delivering the last cattle acquired, Sargent gathered the Hat brand, moving it to the Arickaree, and outside work came to an end, both ranges fully restocked.
Within the two years covered by this chronicle the brothers had gone forward with a sure step. At the close of the summer's operations, they found themselves in possession of three fine ranches. The beef harvest, just ended, had brought returns that placed the holdings of the boys on a sound financial footing. With hope beating high, come fair or foul weather, unflinchingly they faced the future.
The one clear note in the lives of Wells Brothers is, that they arose superior to all environment. With others failing and falling around them, they laid their foundations and built their house. With much to contend against in their occupation, the boys took root, like young oaks, and carved for themselves a sure place among their fellow cowmen.