water.
“Here, let me do that,” Cal said, taking Mike’s handkerchief and dabbing lightly at his lip.
“Thanks, Cal,” Mike said.
“What was the fight about?”
“The soldier took some oats from Mr. Lambert’s livery. When I told him he had to pay for them, he called me a liar. One thing led to another and the next thing you know, we was fightin’.”
“Kennedy, you’re fired!” a man said, coming up to them then.
“Mr. Lambert, that soldier was stealin’ oats from you.”
“He said he wasn’t,” Lambert said.
“He was, I seen him do it.”
Lambert shook his head. “Well, that don’t matter none anyway,” he said. “What’s a nickel’s worth of oats? You get the army mad, we won’t get none of their business. All for a nickel’s worth of oats? It just ain’t good business, boy,” Lambert said. “’Bout the only way I can make up for it now is to fire you.”
“But Mr. Lambert, I need the job,” Mike said.
“Sorry, boy, but business is business. Besides, this ain’t the first time you’ve got into a fight. And I told you last time I wasn’t goin’ to put up with no more of it. You’re fired.”
A couple of the soldiers overheard the conversation, and they came back up to talk to the livery owner.
“Mr. Lambert, don’t take it out on the boy,” one of the soldiers said. “I don’t know whether Sergeant Caviness stole any oats or not, but I do know that Caviness is a hothead, and he hit the boy first.”
Lambert waved his hand. “Well, he wouldn’t have hit Kennedy if the boy hadn’t done somethin’ to provoke him. He’s fired, and that’s it.”
Lambert turned and started striding purposefully back to the livery.
“I’m sorry,” one of the soldiers said. “It ain’t right that you get fired for somethin’ Caviness done.”
“Ahh, don’t worry about it,” Mike said. “Truth is, I think Mr. Lambert was lookin’ for an excuse to fire me anyway. I know he’s been complainin’ about how much it costs to keep me on.”
“Yeah, well at least you taught Sergeant Caviness a lesson,” the other of the two soldiers said. “He’s a bully who hides behind his stripes. He knows that none of the soldiers he picks on can fight back without windin’ up in the stockade. That’s why there was so many of ’em cheerin’ for you.”
“I welcome the support,” Mike said. “But I still lost the job.”
“Pearlie, what do you think?” Cal asked.
Pearlie nodded. “I think yes,” he said.
“What are you two talking about?” Mike asked.
“You’re goin’ to be lookin’ for another job, right?” Pearlie asked.
“Yeah, I reckon I will be,” Mike answered.
“How’d you like to come work for the Sugarloaf?”
“What?” Mike asked, brightening considerably at the offer. “Are you serious?”
“Yes, I’m serious.”
“Do you think Mr. Jensen would hire me?”
“We’re hirin’ you,” Pearlie said.
“You?”
Cal nodded. “We’re fixin’ to drive a herd of cows up to Wyoming,” he said. “Smoke sent us into town to hire some men. If you want the job, it’s yours.”
“Yes, sir, I want the job!” Mike said excitedly. “You better believe I want it.”
“Good. Now we just need to find five more men.”
“Three,” one of the soldiers said.
“What do you mean I only need three more?” Pearlie asked.
“My name is Andy Wilson,” the soldier said. He pointed to the other soldier. “This here is Dooley Thomas. We’d be happy to come work for you if you’ll have us.”
Pearlie shook his head. “Huh-uh,” he said. “I’m afraid not.”
“Why not? We’re good workers,” Andy replied.
“You’re also in the army. I ain’t goin’ to hire no deserters, and I know Smoke won’t.”
Andy smiled broadly. “Well if that’s the only problem, then it ain’t a problem,” he said.
“And why isn’t it a problem?”
“’Cause we ain’t deserters,” Andy said. “Get your paper out, Dooley,” Andy said to his friend. As Dooley pulled out a piece of paper from his back pocket, Andy did the same. He showed the paper to Pearlie.
“What is this?”
