The Gathering Ch. 03

"Don't talk with your mouthful Red," Nancy told him. Turning to Oso and Ethan she offered them the plate of cookies. "How's Sarah and the boys Red? And Josh and his family?"

Red swallowed, took a sip of coffee and said, "Everyone's just fine Mrs. Larson. Josh took Dillon and his family over to look at the Anderson spread." He smiled as he grabbed another cookie. "We might just have some new neighbors if they can get together with Tom and Julie on a price."

Bill Sanders said, "It'd be nice to see that place be a working ranch again. I know Tom's heart hasn't been in it since his boy was killed."

"Guess you'll be headed back to Fountain in a couple of months when school starts, Mrs. Larson." Red explained to Oso and Ethan that Nancy Larson had taken over the teaching job when Sarah and he got married.

"Not really looking forward to another year of it," Nancy replied. "It's been eight years now and I told them last year to find another teacher but they haven't had any luck. I agreed to teach one last year; but this is the last one. I want to travel a little and spend some time out here on the ranch too."

"My Ma was a teacher," Ethan said. "She says she wants to be one again; she don't much care for ranchin."

"What brings you boys to my place?" Sanders asked. "I'm glad to see you Red but I know you didn't ride all the way over here just to get some of Nancy's cookies."

"Don't be too sure about that Bill. They'd be worth the ride all by themselves." Red chuckled in response. "Came to see you about those two big horses you got that's eating you out of house and home. Need a couple of mounts for my little friend here," he said nodding toward Oso.

"Let's head down to the lower corral; I keep those two there."

On the way to the corral Sanders explained that his sister had adopted a draft horse from the freight company. The animal was going to be put down because of its age. Somehow the big horse had got into the paddock where the mares in season were kept.

"These two here are the result," Sanders said pointing to the horses in the corral.

One of the horses was a bay in color and the other was buckskin. Even though they had different dames the two colts were similar in size. They didn't look heavy and massive like their sire but both were very large animals. The bay was seventeen hands at the shoulder and the buckskin was about a tad shorter. Their legs were long and very muscular.

As the men walked up to the corral both horses came over to greet them. "They're nothing but a couple of pets now; everybody feeds and spoils them," Sanders said with a small grin. "I'd be happy to make you a good deal on them Oso."

Oso went into the corral and looked over the horses, running his hands over their chest and legs. "Fine animals Mr. Sanders. They're strong and spirited. Why would you want to get rid of them?"

"They're good animals but a mite too slow of foot to make good cow ponies," Sanders answered.

Red stood back as Oso and Sanders began horse trading. Ethan watched as the two men went back and forth until a deal was made. Sanders threw in a saddle and tack. Oso paid him, tied the horses off to the rear of the wagon and they started back to Red's ranch.

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Josh and Dillon rode in the lead toward Anderson's ranch with Elizabeth and Eleanor following. They rode through white oak and pines trees; the streams they crossed were lined with cottonwoods. "Lots of good timber here and up on those mountains," Josh said. "Be easy to cut enough for those cabins you'll need on the homesteads."

Dillon nodded. "There's plenty to help enlarge the ranch house too."

As they came into the clearing in front of the ranch house, Tom and Julie Anderson came out to greet them. "Thought you might be back young feller," Tom said. "Y'all get down and stretch a bit."

Dillon introduced Elizabeth and Eleanor to the Andersons. "Thought we might take a look around, if it's alright with you Mr. Anderson."

"Tom's good enough Dillon. I'll saddle up and ride with you and point out the property lines and such."

Eleanor and Elizabeth stayed at the ranch house with Mrs. Anderson. "The men know more about ranching and ranch land than I do," Eleanor said. "I'd rather talk to you Julie about your day to day life out here."

Dillon, Josh, and Tom Anderson rode along the borders of the ranch. Tom pointed out the survey markers on each corner of his land. When they got to the cut or pass through the mountains, the three rode up to the crest and looked down into the next valley.

"There's just over 300 acres in the original parcel and we homestead that quarter section in '63," Anderson said pointing to the land leading up to the pass. "Own right up to the crest of this cut here. It's the only way through these mountain for better than 20 miles in any direction."

Dillon glanced at Josh, now understanding his idea of homesteading on the far side of the mountains west of the spread. He motioned to the other two and rode down into the far valley for a closer look. They rode around the land for about an hour taking note of the grassy plains, timber and stream before they headed back over the pass.

"I think your idea's a good one Josh," Dillon said. "We could homestead a full section over there; that'd give us better than a thousand acres, just like you said."

Turning to Anderson he asked, "Why didn't you claim the land in that next valley Tom?"

"Too much work for me," he replied with a smile. "I worked for 20 years for the railroad back in Pennsylvania and retired. My Julie was very frugal, hell she was tighter with a dollar than anyone I even met. She saved most of my wages and added hers to the stake. So we lived pretty good all these years without havin to work our tails off."

Anderson stopped for a minute, hanging his head. "We'd just started to think about turning the place into a real cattle ranch to leave our son when he was killed on that damn cattle drive. After that we didn't much care to stay here." He lifted his head and smiled. "Gonna go to California and live by the ocean."

The men returned to the ranch house and dismounted. Elizabeth and Eleanor came out to meet Dillon and Josh. They stepped off the porch and joined Dillon as he walked around the clearing. He told the ladies about the ranch and the plans to expand it. Elizabeth and Eleanor could tell by the excitement in his voice and the gleam in his eyes that he wanted to buy the Anderson spread.

"It's not that far into town," Eleanor offered. "We could get our shopping done and back home in one day easy."

"What do you think Elizabeth?" Dillon asked his wife.

Smiling Elizabeth replied, "I told you before, whither thou goest, I will go; whither thou lodgest, I will lodge." Then she giggled. "I think it would be a fine place to live, Honey."

Dillon chuckled and said, "Now you're going make quotes at me too? Guess I started something didn't I?" He paused and asked, "Well ladies should we make Mr. Anderson an offer on the ranch or should we keep looking?"

First Eleanor nodded and then Elizabeth did also. "Remember what you told young Cassidy, Dillon," Eleanor said. At his puzzled look she continued, "You told him not to try and horse trade with me; just give me his best offer. I think the same thing applies here. Ask Mr. Anderson what he wants and if it's reasonable give it to him."

Dillon agreed with her and the three of them walked back to the house. Stepping onto the porch Dillon said, "What do you want for the place Tom?"

"Well I reckon we could let it go for three thousand dollars," he answered. "I'm not trying to get rich here but I think the place is worth that much; maybe more. But we'd don't want to sit around waitin on a buyer with deep pockets. We'd like to head for California before the winter sets in."

Dillon thought for a minute. "I'd like to talk it over with my partners here," he said pointing to Elizabeth and Eleanor with a grin. "We'll discuss it tonight and get back to you in the morning. Is that agreeable?"

"That'll be fine Dillon. See you tomorrow morning; come early for breakfast if you've a mind too."

Josh, Dillon and the ladies mounted and rode back to Josh's place. When they got back to the ranch, Danni and Sarah insisted that they stay the night. After supper Josh, Dillon, and Eleanor sat on the front porch talking about the Anderson ranch. Oso joined them, listening to the description of the land. Ethan stayed inside playing big brother to the children and keeping them out from under foot as the women cleaned up after supper.

"Three thousand might sound a bit steep Dillon," Josh said. "There's a lot of open prairie around here; just there for the takin. Problem is that most of it is almost high chaparral." Noticing Eleanor's puzzled looked he added, "It's almost desert; there's not much water. Hard place to raise cattle or horses."

Dillon nodded; he'd seen plenty of high chaparral in Texas and in his travels to Arizona. Josh continued, "I think Tom's place is worth the askin price; what with the good water and timber on the property. If you look at homesteading like we talked about you'd be getting over a thousand acres for that price. Course you have to add the filing fees for the homestead but it's still a lot of good land at a good price."

Red came out to join them. "Sarah just plumb run me out of the kitchen. Said I was just getting in the way."

"How about you Red? What do you think?" Josh asked his partner.

Red paused before he answered. "If we were lookin to add to the CBC, I'd buy the place myself. The place can be made into a fine ranch Dillon. Course you might want to dicker with that old horse thief Tom a bit."

Elizabeth, Danni, and Sarah joined the group on the porch; each of them standing next to their own husband. Dillon hugged Elizabeth, nodded at Eleanor and said, "Let's get up early and join the Andersons for breakfast; I think we've got some business to discuss with them."

To be continued