not willing to risk it.”
Jesse, whose injured leg had swollen despite the tight binding, picked at his food and grumbled loud enough to be heard by everyone, “A week ago we wouldn’t have let a handful of desperados get away with rustling our herd.”
Though he didn’t look in Emma’s direction, she felt the weight of his unspoken accusation. Jesse knew, like everyone else, that the Switzers—primarily she—were the reason behind Luke’s decision.
Maummi got up out of her chair and crossed to Jesse’s pallet to inspect his plate. She pointed an accusing finger at his huge portion of beans. “Eat! A foolish man refuses food, and wastes his doctor’s skills.”
Jesse’s grumble became a grunt. With an upward glare, he took a huge bite and chewed with determined purpose.
“You’d better eat what she gave you, son.” Griff climbed to his feet and grabbed the ladle from the pot of beans hanging over the campfire. “There aren’t going to be any left tonight. Best beans I’ve ever eaten.”
“Ain’t that the truth?” Vic joined him at the pot and refilled his own plate. “What’d you do different, McCann?”
“Same beans as always,” the cook insisted as he scraped the last of the thick soup into his mouth with a piece of flatbread.
“Well, they’re the best you ever made,” Charlie agreed.
McCann froze in the act of popping the bread in his mouth. He turned a suspicious glare toward Maummi, who had returned to her rocking chair and picked up her sewing. “Did you do something to my beans?”
There was no hesitation in her rocking or a pause in her mending as she answered. “Such a fuss over a pinch of salt.”
“You salted my beans?” McCann jumped to his feet, looking ready to explode. “Salt in my wounds, madam, that’s what you are. Salt in my wounds!” He stomped off and disappeared into the chuck wagon.
Emma exchanged a quiet grin with Rebecca while Maummi continued to rock, unconcerned.
When Luke had finished his supper, he set his plate in the grass and spoke to those gathered around the campfire. “Everybody needs to get some shut-eye tonight. I plan to leave at daybreak, and we’re going to push this herd harder than we have since we left El Paso. That means I’ll be pushing you harder too.” The stare that circled the campfire was grim. “We may show up in Hays light, but we’re not going to show up late. Griff, you and Vic take first watch, McCann and I will take second, and Charlie and Morris can pick up the third.” He turned his head and shouted over his shoulder. “You hear that, McCann?”
McCann’s voice growled from within the chuck wagon. “I hear you. I’ll be with you right after I hide the salt.”
Papa, who had been even quieter than usual this evening, spoke up. “I will take a watch too.”
Luke shook his head. “I’m sure you would, Jonas, but not tonight. You and Emma and Rebecca have worked hard today, and I know how difficult it is to spend a day in the saddle when you’re not used to it. You get some sleep so you’re fresh in the morning.” He smiled toward Maummi. “You too, ma’am. You’ve had the hardest job of all, I think, riding herd over that mule-headed cowboy over there.”
Jesse scowled but didn’t answer. Maummi simply nodded and continued to rock and sew.
When supper was over the men wandered away, either to their pallets or to the remuda to retrieve their night horses. McCann emerged from his wagon, grabbed the dishpan, and, with a scowl in Maummi’s direction, headed for a nearby stream to wash up the supper dishes.
“I’ll bet there’s not a speck of salt to be found,” Emma whispered to Rebecca, and the young girl grinned.
Emma decided to join the cook. There were hard feelings to soothe. She caught up with him at the stream’s edge and knelt by the bank beside him. Together they plunged their hands into the cold water.
“That grandma of yours is a piece of work.” The man didn’t look at her but focused on his chore.
Emma scrubbed at a stubborn speck of food. “She means well. She sees us helping and wants to do her part.” Beneath the gruff exterior, Emma was fairly certain that was the reason for Maummi’s meddling, though she did tend to take uninvited charge of all community meals back in Apple Grove. “She would not be much good on a horse.”
His shoulders heaved in a laugh. “I’d pay good money to