The H&R Cattle Company by Doug Bowman Page B

began to ease the Colt in and out of its holster, cocking the hammer with his thumb each time the gun cleared leather. Finally, he nodded and buckled the belt around his waist. Then he put an extra box of shells in his pocket and tied the holster to his leg. Then, more than a little impressed with what he had seen from Rollins, Zack headed for the woods. By god, if Bret could do it.…

8
    Rollins visited the ranch again two weeks later and informed Zack that he was leaving for Austin. “I’ve heard that there’s plenty of loose money around there,” he said. “I can’t even get a pool game in Lampasas anymore, and the card players play for nickels and dimes. If I don’t like Austin, maybe I’ll try Waco. I hear there’s some big money floating around that town.”
    â€œI’m sure there is, and I suppose you’ll get it, Bret.” Zack stood at the corral watching Rollins saddle the roan. “I hope you’ll at least come back to see me occasionally.”
    â€œCount on it, Zack. I won’t be gone more than a month.” The men shook hands, then Rollins rode away. Zack stood in his tracks watching till he was out of sight. He would miss Rollins for sure, but he would not worry. Bret knew how to take care of himself. And if there was an easy fortune to be had, he would probably find it.
    An hour later, Hunter hitched his team to the wagon and headed for Lampasas. He needed food and a few other things for the kitchen, and grain and hay for the horses. It was close to noon when he arrived in town, so he stopped at the livery stable to feed and water his horses. “I’ve been thinking about you for the past few days,” Oscar Land said. “You got the ranch up and running?”
    â€œNo, no,” Zack said, shaking his head. “I’m out there by myself, so I guess I’ll have to find me some help before I start thinking about cattle.”
    â€œFigured you probably needed some help, and that’s what I was coming to. You see, a distant cousin of mine is in town and he’s needing some work. Don’t guess he’d be too particular right now, either. He’s still got a good horse and saddle, but I know for a fact that he’s mighty short on money. He’s a good boy, Mister Hunter.”
    â€œBoy?”
    Land chuckled. “Well, I still call him a boy, but he’s actually a twenty-one-year-old man. Got more muscles than you and me put together, and he knows how to do anything you’re gonna need done. He’s spent his whole life on ranches, and has even made a cattle drive or two north to the rails.”
    Zack stood thoughtful for a few moments, then asked the logical question: “Why is he out of work, Oscar?”
    â€œSaid he got sick of South Texas. I don’t think he liked his boss too much, either.”
    Zack set a bucket of water under the nose of each of the horses, then turned to the liveryman. “This cousin of yours staying at the hotel?”
    Land shook his head. “He sleeps here at the stable, and I’ve been paying the freight for his meals over at Toby’s. I guess he’s over there right now having dinner.”
    Zack climbed aboard the wagon. “If your cousin happens to be around the stable later in the afternoon, I guess I’d be willing to talk to him, Oscar.” He slapped the horses with the reins.
    â€œI’ll make sure he’s here,” Land called as Zack drove the team down the street.
    All of the hitching rails in the vicinity of Toby’s T-Bone were taken, for it was the noon hour. Zack tied his team a block away, then returned to the restaurant on foot. He took a table in the center of the room, ordered his meal and began to look around.
    Oscar Land’s cousin was easy to spot. Sitting at the counter picking at a plate of food, the youth made a handsome picture. He turned his head and gave Zack the once-over, then continued to