Dan laughed. “Good way to think,” he said. “Then with two first places you’ll have a hundred dollars plus the cattle. That’d make you a fine start on that ranch of yours. You could use the money to rebuild the cabin and fatten up a few of the cattle to sell off this fall to get you through the winter. With two hundred head, you could have three hundred by this time next year.”
“I’m selling all the cattle tonight, and as soon as I find a buyer for the ranch, I’m never coming back to this place.”
Dan played along. “I can understand that. You got a good ranch with water most of us would fight you for and a woman who looks at you like you’re about the grandest thing she’s ever seen. If I was in your shoes, I’d run as hard and fast as I could as well.”
Rowdy’s swear died on his lips as he turned and saw Laurel’s father and two of his men walking up the passage between the pens. The old man was headed straight for him.
He and Dan stood staring as if watching a storm moving in over open land. When the captain and his cowhands were within ten feet, Rowdy thought he heard the jangle of silver spurs. The bright day turned into a stormy night of memories, but he didn’t move a muscle.
“Rowdy Darnell,” Hayes began as if he wasn’t sure which man was which.
“Yes.” Rowdy didn’t offer his hand.
The captain straightened, allowing his years of army service to show. “I’m here, young man, with an offer I think you’ll want to hear.” He gave Dan a look that made it plain the conversation was only between them and the pig farmer should leave.
“We’re listening,” Rowdy said, silently letting everyone know that he wanted Dan to stay.
Dan looked like a bull shifting from one foot to the other. He, like everyone in town, knew the captain carried a great deal of weight, but Rowdy was one of Dan’s few friends.
Rowdy ended his indecision by adding, “Dan, I’d like you to stay. I’ve developed a worry over being alone out here after last night.”
Dan took the hint. He crossed his powerful arms and stood shoulder to shoulder with his friend.
Hayes, surprisingly, looked concerned. “Oh, why is that, Mr. Darnell? Did something happen last night?”
Rowdy looked at the cowhand whose spurs sparkled in the sunshine. “Nothing that mattered.” He lowered his voice. With the hint of a wild animal growling, he added, “Nothing that will ever happen again.”
Hayes seemed bored and drew Rowdy back to him by saying, “I’ve come with an offer for your ranch. Now I know it’s not worth much, never truly been built into anything, but out of respect for your father and my neighbor, I’m here to offer you a thousand dollars more than your father paid for it.”
Rowdy knew Dan would react and he did. “That’s not a fourth what it’s worth, Mr. Hayes, and you know it.”
“It’s Captain Hayes,” Laurel’s father corrected.
Dan shook his head. “Changing your handle don’t make any difference in what the ranch is worth.”
The captain looked bothered. “All right.” He smiled at Rowdy. “Your friend may be right. I haven’t priced anything for a while. I’ll up the offer by another two thousand but that is the best I can do. I don’t think you’ll find anyone around who’ll make you a better price.”
Dan huffed. “I would if I had the money.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Rowdy finally spoke, “because the ranch is not for sale at any price.”
“There’s always a price,” Hayes corrected.
“Not this time.” As angry as he was at Laurel, her last words echoed in his thoughts, warning him. He couldn’t make the pieces fit.
The captain didn’t look defeated. “You think about it, Darnell. For most here, you’re a stranger and it won’t be easy making a go of it. For the rest, you’re nothing but a jailbird. They’ll remember and never trust you. You’d be better off to take the money and move on.”
He started to leave, then turned back. “I just heard that you picked the wildest mount to ride today. Rumor is that horse has put more than one cowboy in a wheelchair.”
“A great ride could mean a win,” Rowdy said.
Hayes shook his head. “A good one would have made you the winner with a second or third place. But you picked the hardest to ride. I hear he can buck