Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1944-03-24
W.N.u.RElEASE

ing past the fire pit. They loaded
their tin plates with steaks and laid
praised ribs on top. At the table
they marked their places by drop
ping their hats on the bedrolls
drawn up for seats, came back to
the pit again for beans and corn
bread out of the Dutch ovens and
pickles from the chuck-wagon key.
They poured blackstrap molasses
over their bread and grinned when
the cook tossed each one can Of
sardines. But all talk soon died.
Eating was sober business.
Only Joy said, Lew, just like
Christmas!" and smiled at him, her
eyes lingering with steady warmth
as if to tell him something.
He didn't understand the look, but
this meal was like Christmas din
ner, that one time at home on the
Cross T when crew and family ate
together in the big front room. A
ruddy glow from the pit flooded the
bent dark and light and bald heads
as if from the fireplace of the room,
while branches of elm and oak
arched a roof above them.
He was halfway along the table
with Rebel John, his inevitable part
ner, at his right elbow. Tom Arnold
occupied one end, Joy the other.
He watched Tom.
This was their last meal on Texas
soil. He looked around the table
and knew that some of these men,
chances were, would never come
back to it. He saw Joy watching
him again.
whats the news from Doan's?"
she asked.
mot much" The dress she had
on tonight was suddenly familiar,
made of fine cream-colored linen
with high collar and long sleeves.
A narrow red ribbon drawn tight
above her waist shaped a woman's
full softness. She had worn that
when Clay Manning had told the
world she was going to be his wife.
"a dozen herds" he said, "held up
south by the flood. Hoe-men are
crowding in along the river. Saw a
troop of yellow-legs around" he add
ed but didn't say what they were
there for. No use bringing up about
the Dakota Cheyennes.
He saw Clay, around the corner
of the table at joys right, lift his
blond head. "What outfits did you
see?"
"Strangers mostly" He waited,
feeling there was another question
in Clay's mind. But Clay dropped
his head and went on eating.
1t was Steve, directly across the
table, who brought out casually,
Didn't see the Open A, did you?
Guess they're too far on"
NO." he said, don't think they
are, Steve" and watched a change
set instantly across the boys face.
"They didn't have enough start on
us. The rivers been higher than it
is now, maybe up for week. You
can tell that by ring marks on the
trees" He saw the tight look grow.
Were even with them, l figure,
and got a good chance to get
ahead"
He had been feeling better about
Steve these past days. The bounded
look of watching his back trail
seemed to have gone, as if Steve
felt easier somehow as they ap-
preached the north line of Texas.
But that look was there again now.
In some way the Indian Supply herd
being behind them, and not ahead,
made a difference.
Yet he was learning a mans
guard and that boyish giveaway
passed quickly. Only Tom Arnold
showed he had caught it. He paused
with coffee cup half lifted, his
puckered gaze fixed intently on his
son.
When Owl-Head had cut the pies
exactly in halves and had given each
man his piece he saw that the red
freckled kid was not the only one
who'd had plenty. Tom Arnold fin
ished part of his and sat there wait
ing, until the other plates ratified
empty again. He stood up.
Lew" he said, cts shame to
have anyone eat seconds at meal
like this. I'm going out to relieve
Moonlight and Splann." He looked
down at Steve. You want to come
along?"
"Say!" Steve objected. "Why me?
What's the rush anyway" His back
stiffened, his face going young and
truculent. Never was time, Lew
thought, when the pup didn't show
himself at his worst to his father.
He expected the old flare between
them.
Instead, gently, Tom urged,
"Come on, son. l want you to ride
with me-"
There was a moment of remain
ing stubbornness and challenge, and
then he felt that Steve could find no
way to meet his fathers strangely
quiet urging. In the outer rim of
freight the old man laid one arm
across his boys shoulder. They
vanished into the dark like that,
walking slowly.