They started toward the house as Spuds stepped out to ring the bell. “Thought I heard you ride in, Austin. Are the others close by?”
Buck shook his head. “They were checking the cattle over on the west side. I was dumping much from the stalls when I heard the heifer bawling something awful.” He dunked his head under the pump then scrubbed his hands.
Austin did the same. They dried themselves with the towels Spuds kept by the door.
Inside, Mina set the table. “What did you learn?”
“Nothing. Others were in asking the sheriff about the miners yesterday and this morning before I got there. He was tired of hearing about the subject.”
He hesitated and looked at his wife. He might as well be honest from the start. “I promised I wouldn’t confront them and I kept my word. But, I did ride that way and used my spyglass to watch them from a ridge. Hadn’t been there long before Ferguson saw me. He fired a couple of shots at me. I left and came home.”
She sat at the table. “Austin Wright, if you were close enough for him to see and shoot at you, that’s not exactly keeping your word.”
He took his seat next to her and turned to look her in the eye. “I didn’t ride up and confront him like I wanted to do because I promised you I wouldn’t. I stayed on Flying W Ranch land. Guess it’s just as well if he’d shoot at me for just watching them.”
Spuds set a platter on the table. “What were they doing?”
“Trying to set up that monitor. Didn’t look like either one knew what he was doing or that they were having much luck.”
Buck took his seat. “Maybe we’ll have the luck instead of them and they won’t get the thing running.”
Austin reached for the bread. “Naw, in their minds they’re gonna be rich as Midas. Nothing will keep them from working that mine.”
The next morning Austin had Thunder saddled to go out with his men when two other ranchers rode in.
Bob Parsons and Rick Sutter were ranchers whose land butted up to the other side of the Brazos River, same as Austin’s did on this side. Neither man dismounted.
Bob rested his arms on his pommel. “We’re going talk to the sheriff again about those miners. I’m gonna let him know that if he doesn’t do anything then we will. You in with us?”
Austin shook his head. “Sheriff won’t take kindly to threats. Men, I understand how you feel but I don’t hold with vigilante justice. I admit left unchecked those two can ruin our lives.”
Rick spit tobacco juice on the ground. “You better know it. We’ve got to do something and it has to be quick.”
Austin agreed. “Maybe the sheriff will go talk to them again. He has more authority than we do. Might even be able to convince them they’re wasting their time mining for gold.” He didn’t add that he doubted it.
Bob nodded then looked at Rick. “Let’s go see Sheriff Cornelius.”
Austin watched them ride toward the main road to town.
His cowboys waited for him.
Dusty shook his head. “You don’t hold much hope of the miners listening to the sheriff, do you?
“He’s already talked to them once.” Austin swung into Thunder’s saddle. “I do still hold out hope we can stop them peacefully—but it decreases daily. I’d sure hate to see a bunch of vigilantes take over in Palo Pinto County. There’d be killing for sure.”
“Sí, on both sides.” Chico guided his horse beside Austin’s.
Buck glanced back the way the two ranchers had ridden. “I don’t see how the matter’s gonna be settled without someone getting killed.”
Neither did Austin. He hoped the sheriff would at least agree to go talk to the miners again. That would go a long ways in restoring faith with the ranchers. Nothing would appease the other ranchers—or him—except the two miners packing up and leaving.
The next day at breakfast, Austin set down his coffee cup. “Mina, this would be a good day for your marksmanship lessons. What do you think?”
She hesitated. “I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed when you see I really know nothing about firearms.”
“You won’t learn unless you have a chance to try. We all had to start sometime.”
“Will we ride?”
“We will. I might even let you saddle your own horse this time.”
She laughed, her blue eyes sparkling. “You’re too generous. I’ll get changed into the clothes Spuds loaned me.”
He gathered everything they’d need, including a canteen of water.
Chapter Eleven
Austin was ready when she returned to the kitchen a few minutes later. “I’m ready if you are.”
“What are we waiting for?” He handed her the canteen to carry and called, “Spuds, count on us being back for lunch.”
Once they were in the barn he leaned his rifle against the wall near where the saddles were stored on barrel-like structures. “You remember how to start or would you prefer to watch again?”
“I’d prefer you watch me to see if I can do this on my own.”
He gave a slight bow and gestured toward where the saddles rested. “Have at it. I’ll stand here if you need help.”
She took three times as long as it would have taken him but she managed admirably. When she was finished, she faced him with a radiant smile.
“Good job.” He kissed her soundly then saddled Thunder. He slid his rifle in the scabbard on the saddle and tied a gunny sack to the rear even though Thunder didn’t like the noise.
She climbed in the saddle. “What’s in the gunny sack that’s upsetting your horse?”
“Your targets. Tin cans from the rubbish heap.” He swung into the saddle.
