“She’s chomping at the bit now,” Danielle said. “She’s likely to do something foolish.”
“I reckon,” said Tuck. “Has any woman ever done anything else, when it comes to a man? She’ll likely be wantin’ to share your blankets before we reach Abilene.”
“Tuck Carlyle, that’s no way to speak of your sister,” Danielle said heatedly.
“Whoa,” said Tuck. “Don’t go jumping on me. It was you that suggested she’s after you like an old hen after a grasshopper. If she aims to bed down with some hombre, then I hope it’s you, instead of one of the Dumont, Baldwin, Chadman, or Flagg boys.”
“Sorry,” Danielle said, “but I’m not beddin’ with anybody until I’ve found and disposed of my pa’s killers. Why don’t you talk to Carrie, and give her some advice?”
“She’d tell me where to stick my advice,” said Tuck. “She always has before. If you promised to come back here, it might keep her out of trouble.”
“I can’t use a lie to protect her,” Danielle said. “Before my search ends, I could be dead. Besides, after I’m gone, she’ll forget. The Dumont, Baldwin, Chadman, and Flagg boys may begin to look a little more promising.”
Tuck laughed. “All any of them want is to take her somewhere and get her clothes off. Ain’t you old enough to figure that out?”
“I reckon,” said Danielle, holding on to her temper. “While you’re in Abilene, buy her some of those cast-iron underpants with the money, and throw away the key.”
That silenced him, and for a long time, neither of them spoke.
“There’s more clouds over yonder to the west. Unless it rains itself out before it gets to us, there could be more rain late tonight,” Tuck finally said.
“Oh, damn it,” Danielle said, “we’ll never get to Abilene. We may never get back to your ranch.”
But the rain ceased before it reached them, and the following morning Tuck came up with an idea.
“Why don’t we hitch up the teams and see how far we can get today? I don’t think I can stand another day sittin’ on that wagon tongue, discussing cast-iron underpants for my sister, Carrie.”
Danielle laughed. “Maybe I’ll tell her that’s what you aim to buy for her in Abilene.”
“I don’t care a damn,” said Tuck. “I’ve done told her everything a girl should know, and maybe more. I told her if she wants a snot-nose kid before she’s seventeen, to just do anything that strikes her fancy. I got cussed out for my efforts.”
Despite the still muddy ground, Tuck and Danielle harnessed the teams and began their journey to the north. Tuck drove, steering the teams away from low places and keeping to high ground.
“You’re good with a team and wagon,” Danielle said.
“I’m good at most everything I’ve tried,” said Tuck. “Of course,” he said, winking, “I got a few things I ain’t tried.”
“One of them being Katrina, I suppose,” Danielle said.
“Hell, I can dream, can’t I?” said Tuck. “I saw her watching you while we were there at the Chadmans. Chadman’s impressed with you. By the time we get to Abilene, you may have already been inside those underpants.”
“Maybe,” Danielle said, for once not blushing, “but I’ll tell everybody else what I’ve told you and Carrie. My pa’s killers come first.”
Despite the mud, Tuck’s expert handling of the teams managed to keep the wagon on high ground. He continued on until after sundown before unharnessing the tired mules.
“I figure we’re not more than thirty-five miles from the ranch,” said Tuck. “If all goes well, we’ll be there late tomorrow. Not bad, three days to Dallas and four back, returning with a loaded wagon.”
“Where are they, Ma?” Carrie complained. “They’ve been gone a week today.”
Mrs. Carlyle laughed. “Who are you missing? Tuck or Daniel?”
“I miss them both,” said Carrie. “The rest of the ranchers have gathered their five hundred head, and they’re waiting on us.”
“They’ve also promised to help Tuck and Daniel with our herd,” Mrs. Carlyle said. “It shouldn’t be more than a day, with so many riders.”
“There was a full night of rain to the south of here, night before last,” said Carrie. “The mud may be deep. They may still be three days away.”
“We’ll just have to wait and see,” Mrs. Carlyle replied. “I’m sure they’ll be here as soon as they can.”
The Carlyle Ranch. North Texas. August 18, 1870.
It was late in the evening, sundown not more than an hour away. Despite the scolding of Mrs. Carlyle, Carrie stayed rooted to her spot, continuing to look to the south as far as she could see. Finally, on the horizon, a moving speck became visible. It eventually turned into two teams of mules and a wagon.
“They’re coming, Ma! They’re coming!” Carrie shouted, running for the house.
Mrs. Carlyle and Carrie were waiting on the porch when Tuck reined up the tired and sweating teams. He was alone on the wagon box.
“Where’s Daniel?” Carrie inquired in a quavering voice.
“Oh, he met a girl in Dallas and decided to spend a few days with her.”
“No,” Carrie cried, bursting into tears.
“Tuck,” Mrs. Carlyle scolded, “don’t tease your sister. Daniel’s horse is still out there in our barn.”
The joke was over, and Danielle managed to squeeze out of the wagon, where she had concealed herself.
“Damn you, Tuck Carlyle, I hate you,” Carrie shouted.
“It was partly my idea,” said Danielle.
“Then I hate you too,” Carrie snarled.
“We got to find her a man somewhere, Ma,” said Tuck, apparently deadly serious, “else there’s no tel lin’ what will be takin’ her to the hayloft.”
It was more than Carrie could stand. Speechless, her face flaming red, she ran into the house.
Chapter 4
The Carlyle Ranch. North Texas. August 19, 1870.
“The first thing we’d better do,” Tuck said, “is get the word to Dumont, Baldwin, Chadman, and Flagg that we’re back. If they’ll help us gather our herd, we’ll be on the trail to Abilene tomorrow.”
“They promised,” said Mrs. Carlyle.
“Maybe we’d better remind them we’re ready to begin,” Danielle said.
“Then let’s go,” said Tuck. “We’re losing more time.”
Only Carrie said nothing, but stared vacantly out the window.
Tuck and Danielle weren’t even off the Carlyle spread when they met Barney Dumont.
“I was just comin’ to see if you’d made it back,” Barney said. “Pa said if you was back that I’m to take the word to Baldwin, Chadman, and Flagg. We can start your gather today, getting on the trail that much quicker.”
“We’re ready,” said Tuck, “and we have the needed parts for the Colts, besides the wagonload of provisions and ammunition.”
“Then I’ll tell the others to get on over to your place just as quick as they can,” said Barney.
“Bueno,” Tuck said. “It’s the moment of truth. We’ll have to find out if we have cows enough to make the drive.”
At Upton Wilks’s ranch, Wilks was receiving a report from Kazman, his segundo.
“They’re gettin’ ready for a drive,” said Kazman. “Four of the outfits has rounded up at least five hundred head. There’s nobody left ’cept the Carlyles.”
“Why not the Carlyles?”
“Tuck and the young gent stayin’ with ’em took off south a week ago, in old man Flagg’s wagon. Today they come back. From the tracks, I’d say the wagon’s loaded to the bows. They likely been to Dallas, buyin’ food and ammunition.”