Hiring drovers for the next trip up the trail from Llano, Texas, to Ellsworth, Kansas, the foreman of Double K Bar ranch was interviewing prospective cowboys he could trust. A few were back from last years drive. In this year, 1881, there would not be many more drives that far north as railroads were building into Texas. So far, Jace McCown had hired ten men. He needed maybe a couple more to finish his crew. He was seated in a folding chair under a big live oak tree next to the corrals where 30 horses milled around, future mounts and extras supplied by the ranch. The cowboys had to provide their own saddle and ropes. A tall lanky man with a salt and pepper moustache walked up to where McCown was interviewing. Looks like hes seen better days, said McCown to himself. Heard you was hiring, said J.W. Coles standing hat in hand. He hated this part of cowboying. He hated selling himself. I am. Experienced men only. I aint got time to nurse maid nobody. You got experience from the looks of you. Well, if 15 years of stepping in cow stuff and falling off of boogered broncs counts, then I reckon so. You aint running from the law are you? Not this week. Funny man. You from around here? Raised around Goliad. Just come off a winter job riding fence for J.T. Waggoner up by the Red. I dont take drunks or gamblers. They cause too much trouble. I aint neither one, mister. My pappy wouldnt allow it. Or my Momma. You afraid of crossing rivers? Ive had men quit me before because a river was running too wild I just hang on to my horses tail. He does all the swimming. Well, you seem to be qualified enough. I pay $30 a month at the railhead. You quit me anywhere before that, you dont get paid. I work for $40. No less. Think highly of yourself, dont you? Well, a man who dont aint worth spit on a long drive. Who knows. We might not get along. You kind of act like something special sitting there holding mens futures , and maybe their lives, in your hands. I dont think I like you. But Ill do $40 a month because you make me curious. Start in the morning. First light. You do get up that early I take it? Ill keep the coffee warm for you until you show up The foreman had to crack a small smile at that. One more thing. My 17 year old son is coming with us. His first trip. Ill take it as a kindness if you will help me keep an eye on him. He can break broncs and aint afraid of nothing. But he never saw or been through a stampede or crossed an overflowing river. Coles stuck out his hand and McCown grasped it. And Coles said, Is he anything like you, Jace? Except for the wrinkles and limp, we could be carbon copies. Well, that dont recommend him much. But Ill watch him like he was my own. Thanks, J.W. He means a lot to me. I get the same horses as last year? I didnt care for the gray too much. Tossed me in some briars once. You got your pick of the remuda. Guess Ill see you in the morning. The two old friends had known each other since childhood and always enjoyed the good natured ribbing of the interview each season. J.W. Coles caught up the reins of his buckskin gelding and mounted. He knew this might be the last long drive north. Well. he had one more left in him. One more stampede. One more raging river, or two, to swim. But he had eaten enough beans and stringy beef and over cooked biscuits to last a lifetime. Maybe longer.
Posted on: Wed, 21 Jan 2015 14:17:00 +0000
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