They would follow the river until it turned west. There, they would turn the cattle east, dropping down onto the plains where they would follow the rails to the Double T Ranch.In past years, with two or three cowboys riding along with Angus, the drive had been accomplished in two days. Julia hoped they could accomplish it in the same amount of time. Bandit was a good herding dog and could be trusted to keep a lookout for cows who tried to double back. And Hugh, while not accomplished with a rope, rode well, and his gelding could turn quick.Julia had chosen to sell off just over half her mature cows. It was a gamble but one she was forced to take. And if Mr. Trent at the Double T gave her the price she expected — he’d always been fair — she would be all right. She could pay her taxes, her debt at the mercantile, and Hugh Brennan’s wages for a month’s work, plus have enough left over to see her through another year. As long as she didn’t lose any cattle over the winter to weather or predators and as long as she got a good crop of healthy calves next year, she would be all right.Why wasn’t she encouraged by that belief?
