Brothers in Blood by Dusty Richards

known that all along. Kinda worried me at the start, but they had to pay someone for their cattle. Glad it was my outfit.”
    â€œOh, you’ve helped a lot of local folks, buying their cattle, as well.”
    â€œI aim to do more of that. And when that family settles the Rankin estate, I plan to add that place to the rest of our holdings.”
    Tanner nodded. “Their lawyers here are very interested in you stepping in to manage it until it is settled. Would you do that?”
    â€œI think that would be like shooting myself in the foot. The way it’s run now is going to make that place less desirable, say to someone like me, who wants to buy it. What would I gain by fixing it and then buying it at some inflated price?”
    â€œI don’t blame you. But how have you managed to make your holdings work, as large as it has grown?”
    â€œDamn good people I managed to hire.”
    â€œYou willing to manage some more? I have some folks that could use you.”
    He shook his head. “I don’t need any more. Thanks.”
    â€œI’m keeping informed about any changes regarding the Rankin place, so you will get a chance to buy it.”
    â€œGood.”
    â€œYour land man is on the lookout, too. My, he is busy. I know you sobered him up. He was so deep in the bottle, I told my wife he’d never make it. But it worked.” He rose to shake Chet’s hand. “Good doing business with you, as always.”
    Chet left Tanner’s office feeling good. He was back on his feet, financially, and that situation would only get better. He buttoned his coat before setting out for the Palace Saloon to have lunch with his two men.
    They usually went to Jenn’s, but today their destination was the watering hole across from the courthouse. When he joined Cole and Jesus, they were already seated at a side table. All three ordered beer and a lunch of chicken-fried steak, German potatoes, and sourdough bread.
    â€œWhat’s new in town?”
    â€œFrye at the livery wants to see you about some draft horses,” Cole said.
    â€œGood. We’ll need lots of them.”
    â€œDid Tom tell you that John’s really making barbed wire at the Verde ranch?” Jesus asked.
    â€œYes. That should make Hampt and Tom happy.”
    â€œHow many years ’till you have all your places fenced?” Cole asked, setting down his beer mug and wiping foam off his upper lip with his kerchief.
    â€œA hundred, maybe? I don’t know, but it will become more and more a problem. Folks keep turning cattle loose ’cause they have no place or hay to winter them.”
    â€œTom mentioned that lots of years the cattle didn’t need hay up here. But after a dry fall like we had, hay’s important.”
    â€œLots of things to think about, ain’t they?” Cole looked at him with a grim nod.
    â€œLots to learn. This country is much drier than Texas. And I thought Texas was bad enough.”
    â€œNot tomorrow,” Cole said, “but some day, I’d like to know enough to be in a job like Tom or Hampt has. So I need to ask you lots of questions, when you have time to answer them.”
    â€œI’d love to do that. Ask me anytime, Cole. I sure don’t have all the answers, but we can work on them.”
    â€œMrs. Carmichael asked us about the Barbarossa stallion. I guess she never had a chance to ask you about him?”
    â€œNo, she didn’t.”
    â€œShe knew all about those horses and the place they came from. We were so busy with JD and everything happening, I guess she never had time to talk to you about breeding some mares to him.”
    â€œIt’s a long ways to bring mares, and he’s busy now.”
    â€œDid those men ever come from Mexico and get the Barb last fall?”
    â€œYes, kinda like the wind. They swept in here, got their reward, and left. I wasn’t there, but they impressed Susie. I’d almost forgot all