Triple K Ranch
Book 3 of the Kinkaid Series
by Richard Flanagan


EXCERPT

Chapter 1

The three Kincaid brothers were deep in thought as they sat around the table in Tal Kincaid’s kitchen. Tal, Ken and Billy were making plans for the upcoming cattle drive. The Kincaid brothers had banded together to build a large cattle ranch in Mystery, Texas. They would soon drive their herd to the railhead to the north of their ranch, for transport to the Chicago market. The War Between the States was over and demand for western beef was high. The agrarian life style of the South had been decimated in the long Civil War and the East was depending on western beef to feed the people.

“Tal, you recon we can drive that herd all the way to the railhead? We will have over five thousand head in the drive. That’s a lot of beef on the move. This will be our first drive and only a few of our men have ever been on a cattle drive before. How many miles you ‘spect that would be to the railhead? None of our people have ever been over the trail to the railhead before, and we really don’t know what lies ahead of us,” said Ken. Ken was the second oldest Kincaid and was married to a local girl, Tabitha. Tabitha and Ken were expecting their first child in a matter of weeks. The second oldest Kincaid owned the ranch adjoining the main ranch. The Triple K Ranch was owned jointly by the three brothers, but Ken managed his own ranch as part of the bigger ranch. Ken would add his stock to the main herd when they drove them to the railhead. Billy, the youngest of the Kincaids, worked the big ranch with Tal. He was not ready to start a ranch of his own.

“We have the best crew of cowhands in Texas. We can drive that herd all the way to Chicago, If’n we have to,” said Billy. In his early twenties, Billy was man grown now, and lived with Tal and his wife, Em. He was intelligent, and a credit to his two older brother’s assistance and guidance. He was a tall, muscular young man, thanks to Em’s cooking. Billy might be man grown, but he still liked to tussle with Tal’s young son, Tal junior, and pamper Tal’s eighteen month old daughter, Mary Cathrine.

Em filled the brother’s coffee cups with fresh coffee and returned to the living room to watch over her two children at play.

“We wouldn’t be driving a herd to market if it were not for you and your friends. Boys, I still can’t believe our good fortune. If you and your friends had not captured the outlaw that committed the killin’ over at the Circle C, I hesitate to think what might have happened to me. I might have just ended my days right there in Abilene, if’n y’all hadn’t gotten me free of that calaboose. I still can’t believe that I found the Spanish treasure on the way back to Mystery from Abilene to see Em. My good fortune allowed us to start this ranch,” said Tal. “It’s just remarkable how our lives have turned around, dirt poor one day, and the richest men in Texas the next.”

“GW Titus, the old Texas Ranger and his Indian friend, Bear, were a sight to see on the trail of that hombre, Bart Tilson,” said Ken. We would never have been able to capture that outlaw without the help of the Ranger, Bear and Isaac Trumble. Isaac seemed to be a greenhorn, but he showed us real quick that he was anything but a greenhorn. He may be a banker from back East, but he sure does know his way around the frontier. He has done a lot for Texas and was instrumental in helping Texas gain independence from Mexico.”

“They all have proven to be good friends and we owe them a great debt of gratitude. Isaac, through his bank in Boston, has been able to keep our fortune growing. We have a profitable cattle ranch and almost all of the treasure in tact at Isaac’s bank. GW, Bear and Amos, the Blackman they befriended, were the only reason I was able to get the treasure safely into the Abilene bank,” said Tal.

“They fought Indians, outlaws and Mexican Bandito’s to help us establish this ranch. I am glad that they are all well and enjoying life now, and we are fortunate enough to be able to help them. Bear is a rich man in his tribe since we sent him home with presents and horses. Amos, who we hired to handle the horses, is a great manager of livestock. There is not much he don’t know ‘bout horses. GW is a fine marshal for the growing town of Mystery. Last we heard, Bear is happy in his retirement, back with his people,” said Billy.

The three Kincaid brothers fell silent as each through back over the difficult times they had faced to get them to this point; they were three of the richest men in Texas and owned the largest cattle ranch in Texas. They had worked very hard over the last five years to build a ranch they could be proud of. Their herd was one of the finest in Texas, longhorn cattle with the tenacity to survive in the Texas heat. All they had to do now is continue the growth and prosperity of the ranch. Many people had had a hand in getting the Kincaid brothers to this comfortable place, it was now time to show them they were worthy of their help.

It was their intention to use some of the money from the sale of the cattle to improve the town of Mystery. Mystery was growing by leaps and bounds and it was time to think about what the town needed to become a thriving town, perhaps a volunteer fire department, or a school and library. Lord knows the Kincaid brothers could have used more schooling when they were growing up. Perhaps they could build a school and provide an education for the children of Mystery.

It had been a relatively mild winter for this part of Texas. The early spring had brought abundant, gentle rain for the growing grass. The Triple K herd was growing fat on the lush, green grass and would soon be ready for market. The herd now numbered over eight thousand head; the Kincaid brothers had continues to build their herd over the last five years. None of their steers had been sold. Their selective breeding program had resulted in fine, healthy cattle. The market for cattle was excellent and the Kincaid brothers were destined to make a huge profit from the sale of their herd. They first needed to drive the herd to the railhead north of the Triple K Ranch. As none of the men of the Triple K had been over this trail to the railhead, it would prove to be a challenging adventure, at best. The trip was fraught with danger. Walking Wolf, the Apache War Chief, was still causing havoc in and around Mystery and there were always desperados looking to steal cattle.

In his attempt to learn more about the trail to the railhead, Tal had purchased a map of the route from a passing cowpoke, but he wasn’t sure how accurate it was. The cowpoke looked a little shifty, but had assured Tal the map was accurate and showed the trail, good waterholes and where they would have to be on the alert for possible danger from desperados. This was all they had and would have to trust that it was accurate.

“Ken, I think the biggest problem we are going to have on the trail is finding water and keeping the cattle moving on the right trail towards the railhead. I sure wish we had some of our people who were familiar with this route. We could be in a lot of trouble if this map is not accurate. We don’t have time to travel to the railhead prior to when we would have to have our herd on the trail,” said Tal.

“I agree. We have to put our trust in the map the cowpoke sold to you. We don’t have anything else better. None of our people have ever been over that trail. If the map is inaccurate, we will jest have to make the best of it and push forward. I am a mite concerned about the water. With our big herd it will take a lot of water and grass to keep them healthy until we get them to the railhead. If we take a wrong turn and cain’t find good water, we will lose a lot of cattle.”

“I could take a couple of men and follow this map to check its authenticity,” said Billy.

“I wish we could, but we jest don’t have time. By the time you could travel to the railhead and back it would be past the time we need to get this herd on the trail. You wouldn’t have time to scout for water and the best route to avoid danger anyway. It would help if you could. I appreciate your offer to check the map, but it jest isn’t practical. We’re goin’ to have to have to trust to our luck if this map is wrong.”

The three men studied the map and tried to think of ways they could increase the odds of the success of the cattle drive. After three hours of study and talk, the men decided that there was no better answer. They would just have to get the cattle moving north and hope they were making the right decision. None of the men wanted to put their first cattle drive off until next year. Their herd numbered almost eight thousand already and they needed to get as many as possible to market.

The men folded up the map and moved from the living room of the house to the kitchen. It was time for some of Em’s fine coffee. Perhaps a thought would present itself while they were relaxing in the kitchen with their coffee. Tal, Ken and Billy talked about many things, but no better solution for the cattle drive was found. The coffee was tasteful, but provided no addition inspiration to their thought processes to solve their problem.

“Tal, have you checked in town to determine if anyone there has ever been over the trail to the railhead before?” asked Em. Em was baking a berry pie for tomorrow’s dinner and couldn’t help but overhear the men’s conversation.

“By golly, no I haven’t. I guess we jest thought of the people we have here on the ranch. I believe I’ll go into town tomorrow and talk to some of the people, they may know of some one who can help us. Good thinkin’ Em.”

The men all nodded in agreement and finished the last of their coffee.

“Well folks, it’s time for me to get home. I don’t like to leave Tabitha alone at the ranch too long, her expectin’ and all. I best saddle up and get home. If you would like, I will go into town with you tomorrow Tal,” said Ken.

“No you need to stay close to home. Tabitha ain’t due for a while yet, but you never know when a baby will show up, they seem to have their own timetable. Thanks for the offer, I’ll jest head into town by myself.”

“I would go in with you Tal, but I need to head out to the hills around the ranch and see if we can roundup some more young stock to add to the herd. Jesus and I will be leaving at first light with five of his men.

Ken left the house to return to his own ranch and Em put the pies in the oven to bake. Billy and Tal went back into the living room and sat down to discuss today’s accomplishments.

“Billy do you remember that big cat on the wall? I am glad that he didn’t do more harm when he jumped you in the barn. I like to have the skin hanging on the wall as a reminder that we live in a dangerous era. There are two legged varmints out there, as well as four legged ones.

“I sure do, Tal. If it hadn’t been for your fine shootin’, I might have met my Maker for sure,” said Billy.

“It was a lucky shot Billy; I’m jest happy you weren’t hurt.”

“Jesus, his men and I will search the hills for any young stock we might have missed in the general roundup last week. I know we must have missed a few. Amos has seven of those hosses broke in the last few days and should have the rest broke by the end of the week. It appears to me that we will have a fine ramuda to take with us on the drive. Amos is a caution when it comes to handlin’ livestock, and his son, Adam, seems to have the same skills. I wish I knew half as much as he does ‘bout hosses.”

“Don’t you worry Billy; you already know more about hosses than I ever did. You pay attention when you are around Amos and you soon will know as much as he does. I am real pleased with how you have taken on added responsibility and I want you to know, you are a real help to me on this ranch.”

“Tal, everything I know is due to you and Ken. I owe you both a lot. You two and Jesus raised me when Ma and Pa died. If it hadn’t been for y’all, I don’t know what would have happened.”

“Wal, ‘nough of that, I guess its time to get to bed, I want to be fresh in the mornin’ when I go to town. I’ll stop by and see GW while I’m in town. It’s been a while since I have had time to stop by and jaw with him. I’ll see you in the morning.

“Nite Tal. Jesus and I will be leaving right after breakfast and won’t be back ‘til late in the afternoon or early evening. We want to make sure there are no strays we missed in the roundup.”

“Nite Billy,” said Tal as the two separated to go to their rooms at the top of the stairs. Billy was living with Tal and Em, mainly because of Em’s cooking. He could well afford to have his own place, but if he did he would have to give up Em’s fine cooking and that would be a great loss.

Billy went into his room and was soon under the covers and fast asleep. His days were busy and he had little problem getting to sleep in the soft bed. The times he was on the trail, sleeping on the ground, was when he missed this soft bed the most. Soon he would spend many days sleeping on the ground. There would be no soft beds on the cattle drive.

Tal went into his and Em’s room. Em was already in bed and reading by the oil lamp. Em liked to read before she turned in for the night. Tal was not much of a reader, but Em made up for his lack of interest in reading. She read enough for both of them. She was very knowledgeable about many things, but seldom showed her superior intellect. She had learned early in life that many men were intimidated by an intelligent woman and as a result, unless asked, kept her thoughts to herself.

Tal finished his evening wash up and crawled into bed. He and Em talked for a while about the ranch and their children, but soon turned out the light and were quickly asleep. Em dreamt about the children and how much she enjoyed her life here on The Triple K Ranch. She did miss the boarding house and the people she met in town, but her two children more than compensated for this. Tal dreamt of the drive and the problems they might face. He was concerned about the authenticity of the map he had purchased and his dreams reflected his concern.

Tomorrow he would determine if anyone in town had ever been over the trail to the railhead. Tal felt that the cattle drive, being their first, would need all the help he could find. He wanted the drive to be a success.

 

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