The Roundup
Connie spent a half hour searching the streets for the man, and finally
abandoned the hunt. It was early afternoon by the time she reached
Rainbow Ranch. Lefty met her by the corral gate.
"Well, how did the guests like the cliff dwellings?" she inquired
cheerfully.
"Blakeman never took 'em there," the cowboy reported. "Instead they went
for a ride down to the Rainbow River."
"But there's nothing to see on that trail!" Connie exclaimed. "It's just
a tiresome, dusty ride! Why didn't he take the party to the cliffs as he
was supposed to do?"
"Guess he wanted to be contrary," Lefty replied. "He never has cottoned
to this dude idea. Can you stand some more bad news, Connie?"
"I've had so much already, I'm getting hardened to it. What is it this
time? You didn't pitch Cecil in the lake again?"
"No, he's been real decent to me ever since that duckin'."
"What is the bad news, Lefty?"
"The two school marms left a few minutes ago. They took their luggage
and went just as soon as they got back from the Rainbow River trip. Miss
Parker told me to give this to you."
He offered a check which was made out for the exact amount owed by the
women.
"But I thought they intended to stay at least two weeks more," Connie
murmured, staring at the check. "Maybe they didn't like the trip."
"That was part of it," Lefty agreed. "They came in lookin' pretty hot
and bothered."
"Do you know where they went?"
"Yes, to the Bradshaw Ranch. Said they had heard it was a lot better
place."
"Someone has been talking with them."
"Looks like it all right. Pop had the nerve to come for them himself."
"He's no friend of mine any more," Connie said indignantly. "I wish I
had been here."
"It wouldn't have done any good."
"No, I suppose not," Connie sighed. "I talked with the banker today,
Lefty."
"What did he say?"
"Oh, you might know he refused to extend my note. All the way home I
tried to think what I could do. Unless I sell there's only one way out.
I'll have a big roundup and dispose of every Longhorn I own. What do you
think of the idea?"
Lefty was silently chewing a blade of grass.
"We've been losin' money on cattle ever since Blakeman took over the
ranch," he said slowly. "I think it's a smart thing to do, Connie."
"Then I'll talk with Blakeman right now," the girl declared. "There's no
time to be lost. We'll start the roundup tomorrow."
Before broaching the subject to the foreman Connie asked the man for an
explanation of why he had taken the party of dudes to the Rainbow River
instead of the cliff dwellings.
"I figured it would prove more entertainin' to them," he replied with a
shrug.
"After this I wish you would carry out my orders, Mr. Blakeman. But I'll
say no more about it. I'd like your opinion now on another matter--I'm
planning a big roundup."
She went on to tell of her idea, and was surprised when the foreman
offered opposition.
"You couldn't sell your cattle at a worse time," he insisted. "And how
do you aim to round up the herd without more riders? You've kept Alkali
and Lefty pretty well tied up with the dudes."
"We'll let the guests help with the roundup," Connie declared gaily. "It
should prove an exciting experience for them."
"A lot of help they'd be. Especially Cecil."
"Anyway, it will be a means of keeping them entertained. As for riders,
we might get a few from the Slocer Ranch. Some of their cows will be
mixed with ours and they'll probably want to do their own cutting-out."
"A roundup would take a couple of days," the foreman frowned. "Some of
the cows have strayed into the canyons. It will be a hard job to round
them all up. How will you feed the men?"
"We'll get out Dad's old chuck wagon," Connie said, her eyes dancing.
"It hasn't been used in years, but it will be fun to see it roll once
more!"
"And will you have Marie do the cooking?" the foreman inquired
sarcastically.
Connie shook her head, refusing to take offense.
"We'll borrow Cookie from the Bar R Ranch and run everything in the
grand old style. It should be a real roundup."
"That's what I'd like to see," boomed a hearty voice behind them. "A
roundup!"
Connie turned to see Mr. Postil who had come up with his small
granddaughter.
"You'll certainly have an opportunity, Mr. Postil, if you don't mind
riding a horse," Connie laughed. "I'm going to start rounding up all my
cattle tomorrow."
"And will you brand them?" asked the little girl.
"Only a few of the calves which I may keep," Connie answered. "Branding
isn't as necessary as it was at one time, now that most of the free
range is gone."
"I've not been in a saddle for twenty years," Mr. Postil declared, "but
if you have a nice gentle horse I might try it."
"We have just the one for you," Connie promised.
"I'm going too," said the little girl.
"We'll let you ride in the chuck wagon with Cookie," Connie laughed.
"Then you'll be perfectly safe."
News of the coming roundup spread swiftly. Somewhat to the surprise of
everyone, Cecil and Helena both showed interest, and Mr. Grimes said he
would not miss it for anything.
Immensely cheered, Connie got out the car and drove to the Slocer Ranch
to ask the owners if she might borrow a few of their punchers for the
big drive.
"I can let you have two of the boys," George Slocer promised. "We're
short handed ourselves or I could give you more help."
"I'll get along all right with that number," Connie said. "That will
give me five dependable men."
Her next call was at the Bar R Ranch. In passing Pop Bradshaw's place,
Connie saw the two teachers and Enid sitting on the front veranda. She
pretended not to see them. Putting on a burst of speed she drove past,
her eyes glued on the ribbon of road.
Connie was cordially received at the Bar R. Cookie, the old colored man,
who had flipped flapjacks in many a chuck wagon, grinned from ear to ear
when he learned that his culinary services were needed for a roundup.
Connie took him with her to Red Gulch, there to select his own supplies
for the trip. It was long after supper before they returned to Rainbow
Ranch with the car loaded. However, the girl could not think of sleep,
for many things remained to be done.
"I'll have to get the chuck wagon up from the field," she told Cookie.
"I'll see about it now while you start unloading the car."
Connie looked about for one of the men, but Lefty and Alkali were both
busy pitching hay to the horses.
"Have you seen Blakeman?" she asked.
"He was around here a minute or two ago," said Alkali.
Connie went to the bunk house but she could not find the foreman.
"Oh, well, I'll get the chuck wagon myself," she decided. "It will be
easier than waiting for someone else to do it."
She went back to the barn for one of the work horses and harness. The
chuck wagon had been left in the south field and she was relieved to
find that standing in the weather had not damaged it. Hitching up, she
towed it back to the ranch house.
As Connie closed the gate behind her, she was surprised to observe Cecil
and Helena mounting horses.
"Are you going for a ride?" she asked as they came up. "It is a pretty
night."
"We're on our way to see those famous cliff dwellings by moonlight,"
Helena declared. "Ever since we arrived you've been promising us a close
glimpse of them. We've decided to do our own exploring."
"Oh, but it's so late to start out for the cliffs," Connie protested.
"And it isn't safe for you to go alone."
"Nonsense," replied Helena impatiently. "We're not children."
"It's very easy to become lost on the trail. Besides, if you're taking
part in the roundup you really should get some sleep. We'll have a hard
day tomorrow."
"You sound just like a Granny," Helena laughed. "Cecil and I know how to
take care of ourselves."
"Come on, Helena," urged the boy impatiently.
"If you're really determined to go, I'm going too," Connie said quietly.
"Then you'll have to catch up with us," Helena replied, digging her
heels into her steed's ribs.
Connie hurriedly turned the chuck wagon over to Cookie, and saddling
Silvertail, set off in pursuit of the boy and girl. She felt irritated
beyond measure. It did not seem to matter to them at all how much
trouble they caused. If left to themselves they would be sure to take a
wrong turn in the trail.
Connie soon overtook the reckless pair. She had very little to say as
the horses clattered over the stony road.
It was truly a beautiful night and soon Connie, falling under the spell
of the big moon, could bear no resentment. Often when she was a child
she and her father had visited the cliffs upon just such an evening. The
recollection of the remarkable sight had lingered long in her memory.
Connie selected the South trail because it would give the best view of
the cliff dwellings as they descended into the valley and climbed again
to the other side. Emerging from a screen of pines, she reined in her
horse and waited for Helena and Cecil who had fallen behind.
With a sweep of her arm she pointed across the canyon. In the moonlight
the white rocks shone weirdly, and the dark squares, each one marking
the prehistoric dwelling place of an ancient tribe, looked like somber
eyes peering across the valley.
"Why, it's beautiful," Helena murmured.
Even Cecil was deeply impressed by the sight. For a long moment no one
spoke.
Then Connie sat up very straight as she saw something move along the
face of the cliff opposite them. For just an instant she thought that it
might be a wild animal but the next moment she clearly distinguished the
form of a man. He crept along the cliff trail, making his way toward an
opening in the rocks.
"Who's there?" Connie shouted across the chasm.
There was no answer. With head bent low, the man fled into the dense
bushes which lined the narrow trail.