“You two men did a wonderful job for me,” he said. “I watched the way you handled the IIIX herd, and the way you reacted during the stampede.”
“Thanks,” Cade and Jeter replied.
“This was my last trail drive. I’m too old to go through it again. So I’m offering you two an opportunity.”
“You want us to take up your next herd for you?” Cade asked.
“Yes, but it involves a little more than that. I think you boys should become drive contractors. As a contractor you would make all the arrangements, you hire the men, you buy the supplies, you schedule the drive, choose the route, deal with any problems in between, and when you reach Abilene . . . or wherever you wind up, you will make the deal with the cattle broker, or the buyer.”
“That’s quite a responsibility,” Cade said.
“Yes, it is,” Colonel Puckett said. “But you will be paid very well for that responsibility. Two dollars and fifty cents per cow, and that will be free and clear. I will pay all the expenses. What do you think about that?”
“Let me ask you something, Colonel. Would you have any objection to Jeter and me rounding up some of our own cows, and taking them up with your herd, just as we did with the IIIX cows this time?”
Colonel Puckett chuckled. “You do plan to register your own brand before the next drive, don’t you?”
“Yes, sir, and I’ve already got the brand figured out,” Cade said. “It will be the MW….but with the M on top of the W. We’ll only need one branding iron, all you have to do is turn it upside down.”
“Welcome to the cattle business, boys,” Colonel Puckett said, extending his hand.
Galveston, Texas
“Here’s your money,” Arabella said. “Fourteen hundred and twenty-seven dollars, which is exactly the amount of money I took from you. You can take your money and walk away, or, you could leave it as an investment.”
“What sort of an investment?”
“Why, in the Red House, of course.”
“How much of the Red House would fourteen hundred and twenty-seven dollars buy me?”
“One fourth?”
“How about I double that for one half?”
“You want to own half of the Red House?”
“Yes. We can use the money to make improvements.”
“What sort of improvements?”
“I think we could build on an addition that would add to the number of rooms. And we could have indoor plumbing, with a lavatory in each room,” Cade suggested.
“Oh, that would be marvelous!” Arabella said. “Why we could raise the rent and keep the place full.”
“I thought you might like the idea.”
“Do you know what I like most of all?” Arabella asked as, with a smile, she reached up to lay her hand on Cade’s cheek. “I like the idea of you being my partner, and being here with me to help me run the place.”
“Oh, Arabella, I can’t do that. I’ve made other commitments that I’ll have to honor in order to get established in the cattle business.”
“You mean you expect me to run this alone?”
“I’m sure it will bring in enough money for you to hire some help. And, in addition to your percentage of the profit, I would expect you to pay yourself a salary, since you’ll be working here, and I won’t.”
“All right,” Arabella said. “I wish you would be here with me but . . .”
“Oh, I will be here,” Cade said, interrupting her. “I intend to live here as long as I am in Galveston.”
“Oh?” Arabella said, brightening. “And how long will that be?”
“I’ll be here until next spring, when Jeter and I will start rounding up mavericks for our herd.”
“So you plan to take a room?”
“Yes.”
“That would be a foolish waste of a room, wouldn’t it? I mean, if you take a room, that will just be a room that we can’t rent.” She smiled. “On the other hand, I already have a room.”
Epilogue
Twin Creek Ranch, Howard County, Texas – 1927:
OWEN WISTER TYPED the last word, then rolled the platen up to remove the page and put it, face-down on the pile of papers that lay just to the right of the typewriter. He turned the pile right side up so he could see the title The Western Adventures of Cade McCall. He was finished, and picking the manuscript up, he held it, feeling its heft.
There was always something deeply satisfying about holding four hundred typed, and double-spaced pages. Here, in his hand, was an entire world, recreated tone and tint so that readers now, and one hundred years from now, would be able to leave their own time and place, and enter the world he, Owen Wister, had created.
“Mr. Wister?”
“Amanda,” Wister replied, greeting Cade’s granddaughter.
“Mama said dinner is ready if it is convenient for you to come now.”
Smiling, Wister held up the manuscript. “It is most convenient now,” he said.
“Are you going to let me read it?” Cade asked over the dinner table.
“Yes, of course. It’s your story, after all. At least, what I have told so far.”
“So far?”
“Cade, your life is the quintessential American story, our struggles, our ambitions, our defeats and our victories. I have only begun to tell it, there is much to come.”
“You mean you intend to write more?”
“Yes, if you will allow another visit, I would like to come back to continue the saga.”
II
Cade’s Revenge
Cade’s Revenge
The Western Adventures of Cade McCall, Book II
Kindle Edition
© Copyright 2016 by Robert Vaughan
Wolfpack Publishing
6032 Wheat Penny Avenue
Las Vegas, NV 89122
wolfpackpublishing.com
This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people or real places are used ficticiously. Other names, characters, places and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons living or dead is entirely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced by any means without the prior written consent of the publisher, other than brief quotes for reviews.
ISBN 978-1-62918-585-9
Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Epilogue
Prologue
Twin Creek Ranch, Howard County, Texas – 1927:
Owen Wister stepped off the porch of the ranch house belonging to Cade McCall. He walked across the lawn that was wet with dew as he made his way to the bunkhouse.
"Good morning, Mr. Wister. We thought you weren't coming this morning," one of the ranch hands said.
"You knew I'd be here," Wister said making his way to the coffeepot that sat on the back of the cook stove.
"Did you forget your cup again?" the cook asked as he pulled a pan of hot biscuits from the oven.
"I did," Wister said as he slapped his forehead. "It was setting right beside my typewriter. I'll go get it."
"No, no. We've got plenty," the cook said as he took a cup down from a hook. "I don't know how you remember anything with all those words swirling around in your head."
"This book is easy," Wister said
. "Your boss has a lot to say, and all I'm doing is recording his story."
"All of us want to read your book when it's done," one of the roustabouts who was sharing the bunkhouse said. "Leastwise those of us who can read." He threw a towel at one of the young men who was sitting quietly at the end of the table.
"Aw, come on now," the young man said. "I'm trying to learn real good."
A couple of the men laughed. "You can't fool us, Davey. You could read the minute you joined this outfit. It's your teacher you're after."
A broad smile crossed Davey's face. "Well now, you tell me, if you could find a way to spend time with Miss Amanda, wouldn't you do it?"
"I believe you've made your point," Wister said. "Mr. McCall's granddaughter is a charming young woman, and I'd want to find a way to spend time with her, too, if I were one of you."
"We'd all like to do that, but she's partial to the cow men. She don't seem to like to be around the oil men."
"Course not," Davey said. "You oil men stink."
"And cow men don't?" a roustabout asked.
"I think I'd better get back to the house," Wister said as he grabbed a biscuit, then put a slice of fried ham on it. "I don't want to be here when the argument heats up."
"Ah, we're just funnin’ with one another," Davey said. "We know the oil men make it possible for Twin Creek Ranch to pay its hands the best of any outfit around here."
"Yeah, it seems every ranch in Howard County's got oil money coming in, but it's the McCalls who take care of their help."
Owen Wister left the bunkhouse and made his way back to the main house. It was a two-story white clapboard house with a red roof and red shutters. He smiled. A chapter in the book he was writing about the life and adventures of Cade McCall came to mind. He hadn't thought about it, but he wondered if the red trim on the house was a way of paying homage to Arabella DuPree and her place of business known as The Red House.
He knew that Arabella, or Chantal as she was known in New Orleans, had played a significant role in Cade's life. It had been she who had caused him to be shanghaied and put on a ship bound for South America, and it had been his quest to find her that brought him to Galveston. And from Galveston, his reconnection with Jeter Willis, a friend who had been with Cade at the Battle of Franklin, got him into the cattle business.
Wister picked up his pace as he passed the wood fence that enclosed the yard of the house. He caught a scent of the roses that rambled over the rails, and he couldn't pass the bright red blooms by. He lifted a cluster to his nose and took in the aroma.
"That's why I fool with those things."
Wister looked toward the porch where he saw an elderly gentleman sitting in a porch swing.
"They're beautiful," Wister said as he continued up to the house.
"Did you get a lot done last night?" Cade asked.
"Yes. Are you ready to go to work?" Wister asked.
Cade McCall chuckled. "Work? All I'm doing is talking. I've never considered that work."
“I think I'm caught up and I'm ready to listen today. Have you thought about what you want to tell me?"
“I’ll just start talking and we’ll see what comes up,” Cade said.
1
The LP Ranch, Jackson County, Texas
Cade McCall, Jeter Willis, and several of the cowboys who had made the spring cattle drive to Abilene, passed under an arch that had a black lettered, white sign welcoming visitors to the premises.
LP RANCH
LINUS PUCKETT OWNER
CATTLE AND HORSES
"Get these horses into the corral and see to it that they get a good helping of oats; then put them out in the canyon pasture. Oh, and one of you had better ride out and make sure the tank has water in it,” Cade ordered. “Boo, you check the windmill. Make sure the pump is working."
A big smile crossed Boo Rollins’ face as he saluted Cade. "Yes sir, boss man. I'll get right on it, but it's only because I feel a responsibility to these here animals we been a livin' with all these days. Not because you told me to do it, ya understand."
Cade shook his head. "You're right. Technically, we were hired to get the herd to Abilene, and that we did. Now these horses are Mr. Puckett's responsibility."
"I see no reason why you should stop giving orders," a man said as he walked toward them. "You made good time getting the horses back."
"We had good weather," Cade said as he dismounted, offering his hand to Linus Puckett.
"That always helps. About you giving orders, Cade, I'm serious. My foreman had to go back East for who knows how long? Would you consider hiring on for that job, at least until Coley gets back?"
"He can't," Jeter said. "If he's going to be ranchin' he can stay right on the MW with me--course that will never be. He'll be high tailin' it to Galveston as soon as we clear the LP gate."
"I'm not leaving yet," Cade said. "I expect you'll be wanting to hear my report."
"That I do," Puckett said. "I got your telegram a while back and I couldn't be more pleased with what you got for my cows. You're a good man, Cade."
"I couldn't do it by myself. Jeter does just as much as I do, and we had an exceptional crew this time," Cade said.
"Exceptional. I'd say that might be an exaggeration," Jeter said. "If you think Ike Weldon was an exceptional cook, there's something wrong with your head."
"Well, that's true," Cade said, "but we all survived."
Puckett laughed. "That's why Agnes has a treat for you. Come on in. She's got hot crullers coming out of the grease right now."
"That's what I smell," Jeter said as he hurried toward the main house.
“I think you’ll be very pleased,” Cade said as he removed a satchel from his horse.
"What about Andy Miller? Did you get a chance to check up on him on the way back down?" Puckett asked.
"We didn't see him, but the fellows at Red River Station said they took him to Decatur. They said his spirits are up, but he'll never walk again. He took a nasty fall."
“Too bad. He was a nice kid," Puckett said as he opened the door.
The smell of freshly made pastries filled the house, and even though Cade wasn’t particularly hungry, he salivated in anticipation. Jeter was already sitting at the table, a plate filled with crullers in front of him.
"Oh, Cade, you look thin," Agnes Puckett said as she embraced him. "I've got a plate of crullers for you, too, just as soon as I can take them up."
"They certainly smell good, but I think I can only eat a couple," Cade said.
"Pooh," Agnes said. "We'll just see about that."
Cade sat down at the table and opened the satchel withdrawing several neatly-bound stacks of bills that he put on the table. He also took out a ledger book.
“We lost a hundred and thirty-seven cows, but we made up thirty of them with unbranded range cattle. We killed sixteen for meat and we traded off forty along the way--some to grangers for fresh vegetables, meat, eggs and such, and some we gave to Indians. Our biggest single losses were eighteen that were crushed in the mill after a hailstorm, and . . ." Cade stopped for a minute. ". . . and eleven that drowned when Andy was hurt at the Red River." Cade cleared his throat as he continued his report. "There were fewer than a dozen stampedes and the fifty-two remaining cows that were lost were either not recovered or else they just wandered off or died.
“We left here with thirty – three hundred head, and we reached Abilene with three thousand, one hundred and ninety-three. After deducting all expenses, including what Jeter and I will receive, you net $31,586.”
“Very good, boys!” Puckett said, rolling his eyes as he quickly calculated the figures in his head. "That comes close to ten dollars a head. Not bad for some cows that not too many months ago were roaming the brush of South Texas. You did a fine job.”
“More crullers?” Agnes asked as she exchanged an empty plate for a full one.
“I've not had anything this good since we left Abilene. There's a little restaurant up there that serves the
best pies. When we get back, I'll have to talk Mrs. Wagner into adding these to her menu," Jeter said, taking two more of the pastries.
"I'm glad you're planning on making another trip," Linus Puckett said as he began counting out sixty-five hundred dollars apiece for Cade and Jeter. "Can I count on you ramrodding for the LP again next year?"
"Yes, sir," Cade said. "It's a pleasure working for a man like you."
Caldwell, Kansas:
Amon Kilgore was having a drink in the Longhorn Saloon with Sid Gorman.
“Where are they now?” Gorman asked.
They’re in a gully, west of town, twelve hundred of them. I can let you have five hundred for twelve dollars a head,” Kilgore said.
“Huh, uh, that’s too much. I’ll give you five dollars.”
“Five dollars? Why would I do that? As it is, I’m gettin’ four dollars a head for deliverin’ ‘em, ‘n all I have to do is take ‘em on up to Abilene.”
“What are they paying in Abilene?” Gorman asked.
“Last word I had they was payin’ eighteen dollars, right now,” Kilgore said.
“I won’t be able to get that much for them. I’ll have to find someone who’s willin’ to take ‘em.”
“There’s no way you won’t find someone who’ll give you fifteen dollars.”
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