of Apple Grove ventured into the infamously wild town, the women rarely joined them. If Luke didn’t come to the farm to collect his debt, she would not see him again.
Luke’s head cocked in surprise, but he made no comment on the change in their plans. “I’ll be staying over a few days to take care of some business and arrange for my next cattle drive. You can find me at the Howell House.”
His farewells made, he mounted his horse and turned it toward his camp. For a moment he paused outside the ring of firelight, a tall figure silhouetted by a narrow sliver of moon. Then he turned Bo toward the herd of cattle and galloped away. Emma fought a lingering sense of loss as she watched his shadow melt into the darkness.
It was a very good thing this Englisch man was gone from her life.
A very sad but good thing.
TWELVE
Morning saw the herd up and ready to move early. Luke’s sleep had been fitful after his watch, plagued by dreams of his boyhood farm and working alongside his ma, back before she died of consumption. The morning sun burned his tired eyes, and it was a good thing McCann’s coffee was strong enough to raise the dead this morning. As he filled his mug for the second time, he scanned the landscape behind them. A thin line of smoke rising into the sky told him the Switzers were up early. Today was Thursday, and the herd had lost yesterday. They had to cover considerable ground today. If they did, they would still arrive in Hays with a day to spare before the cattle train left on Monday.
After a hearty breakfast of biscuits and gravy, Luke took his place in the lead with Jesse and Kirk riding point. He pointed Bo toward the herd and watched his boys take up their positions. Griff, Kirk, and Morris stood ready at the flank positions. Vic whistled and clucked to his charges in the remuda, and they were ready to go. Charlie and Willie galloped toward the back of the herd, and as Luke watched, he couldn’t help taking a final glance toward the Switzers’ campsite. The smoke from their campfire had ceased, and that big hutch was an unmistakable landmark in the back of that wagon. The reddish hair of the oxen was also visible, yoked at the front of the wagon. The Switzers had broken camp and were on the move.
Right behind his herd.
“All right.” He whistled. “Move ’em out.”
The call went down the line, Griff shouting back toward Charlie and Willie. Full bellies, plenty of water, and an easy day had rendered the cattle cooperative. The lead cows surged ahead without much prodding, and the rest followed. In a short time, they had spread out wide on the prairie and settled into a comfortable gait. The day promised to be hot, with few clouds in the sky to break the sun’s heat. Luke decided not to push too hard, but set an easy pace.
A few hours into the day’s journey they left the river behind and headed northwest across a wide plain. Easy travel, because the only interruption to the landscape were stands of flowering persimmon, bittersweet berries that by fall would be a deep red, and tall black walnut trees. According to Luke’s map, by early evening they should be able to make up the ground lost by the stampede and pick up their previous route, the western variation of the Chisholm Trail that headed toward Hays. At that point the Switzers would veer off to the west and head home. He turned in the saddle to check their location.
Still there.
All morning they had kept up, and now it looked as though the wagon had gained a little on the herd.
Jesse rode up beside him, his expression dark. “What in tarnation is going on?”
“What?”
He jerked his head backward. “That Aim-ish bunch is following us.”
Rather than give his friend anything to harp about, he glanced over his shoulder and adopted an air of innocence. “They are? Well, I’ll be a monkey’s uncle.”
“You are a monkey’s uncle. You’ve been watching them all morning. Besides, Griff told me that you took supper to them last night.” His scowl deepened. “My pa always warned if you feed a stray, you’ve got him for life.”
Lifting an indifferent shoulder, Luke faced forward. “I figure tomorrow morning they’ll break off and head for home.”
“You figure, do you?” Jesse studied Luke through narrowed eyes, their horses