Chapter 25

I recalled Bill's words about having to fend off every male for counties around to win his wife. Caitlin was every bit the prize that her mother was, at least in looks. I excused myself from the table and returned to my cabin. Mentally I wished the two guys luck. I did envy them though. If Caitlin turned out to be the woman her mother was, who ever won her affections would be a lucky man.

The next day I took the pick up and rode the range. By the time I had made my rounds something didn't seem to add up. It was early enough that I went back and got Sam and we did a whirlwind tour of the ranch. There were a lot of cattle scattered over the ranch but he agreed that something didn't feel right. It just seemed like we were short a few head. We decided we would saddle up the next day and ride the hilly areas. We discussed it with Bill that night at supper and he agreed to our plan. It rained that night which would make finding tracks more difficult.

The next morning we loaded our horses