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Brimley, Hurd and Corman chatted for a while, watching the campfire. None of the three had a nightwatch tonight, so they could relax a bit. Marc played the odd tune with his flute. The conversation was not about something specific, just sharing memories and future plans. All three men had a woman waiting for them back home. Hurd was hoping to register the plot of land of his small farm to his name, and maybe one day marry Laura. Marc and Brimley were thinking of “leaving the cattle drives to the younger cowboys” next year.

Before long, they all hit the sack for the night…

-BACON IN THE PAN, COFFEE IN THE POT!, the familiar sound woke Hurd and the other cowboys. The Cookie or Old Lady as Corman liked to call Hitchins, was up early every morning. While the cowboys broke down the camp, put out the campfire, packed the wagon, chose their horses and prepared themselves before the cattle started moving, the cook prepared breakfast.

They were into their fifth week on the trail, and Hitchins had some bad news: -As from now, we´re down to half ration for corn, bacon and coffee.

Hitchins got the expected slack and moans from the men, but mostly everyone was in high spirits.

On the trail, the Cook also made use of some home-remedies for different illnesses. Coal oil was used to combat lice, and prickly-pear poultices were thought to help wounds heal. Flowers of the bachelor's button plant were used to cure diarrhea, salt and bison tallow were used for piles, and bison-meat juice was drunk as a general tonic.

The second river crossing had been fairly routine, and according to the route Vernon had in mind, they should be OK the last part of the drive. However, the food was scarce for the cowboys, and hungry stomachs were not good allies…

-This side of the Kiowa there is plenty of grass for the beevers. We will double the speed to chop a few days off. I wanna get to Fort Worth in a week or so.

The cowboys pushed the cattle to move faster than usual on the dusty trail, calling them out. –Get along, little doggie! C´mon! Yeehaw!!

By now, they knew the leaders by name. Also, the coordination amongst the cowboys was excellent. For many, this had been the first cattle drive. For others, such as Brimley and Corman, maybe one of the last they would do. But they all agreed, Vernon Adams had been one helluva trail boss. They might have had some doubts originally, but Vern had guided them through some pretty tough places, and the cattle was in a very good shape.

Then, on the 41st day of the cattle drive, they finally saw their destination. Fort Worth, and the huge shipping pens of the Fort Worth Stockyards.

In 1876, the Texas and Pacific railway arrived in Fort Worth, causing a boom and- transforming the Fort Worth Stockyards into a premier railhead and the westernmost transit point for cattle shipment. This started an era of growth for the town, as migrants from the devastated war-torn South continued to swell the population. The town was soon nicknamed “Queen City of the Prairies”.

With the boom times came some problems. Fort Worth had a knack for separating cattlemen from their money. Cowboys took full advantage of their last brush with civilization before the long drive home. They stocked up on provisions from local merchants, visited the colorful saloons for a bit of gambling and carousing, then galloped northward with their cattle only to whoop it up again on their way back. The town soon became home to Hell's Half Acre, the biggest collection of bars, dance halls and bawdy houses south of Dodge City giving Fort Worth another nickname: "The Paris of the Plains".

Crime was rampant, and certain sections of town were off-limits for proper citizens. Shootings, knifings, muggings and brawls became a nightly occurrence. Local citizens had become alarmed at the level of crime and violence in their city. In 1876 Timothy Isaiah "Longhair Jim" Courtright was elected city marshal. He cracked down on violence and general rowdiness by sometimes putting as many as 30 people in jail on a Saturday night, but allowed the gamblers to operate unmolested.

The Trail Boss smiled next to Hurd. –We´ve made it, Hurd. Job well done. I will sort out the papers for the cattle, and give the night off to the Jenkins, Lon, Razor, Hitchins, Conrad… They can have their fun tonight, while we wait here with the cattle. Corman can go too, he likes the White Elephant saloon. Brimley will take care of them, so they don´t get into too much trouble.

He looked at Hurd, expecting to see a hint of disappointment. -Tomorrow, the rest will ride back to Sabbath. But you, me and Sinta we will hit a town called Bannock on our way back. And then we´ll celebrate!

There was a silly smile on Hurd's face and he couldn't do a thing about it. It'd been a long time since he had been to a place so splendid and beaming with life. It reminded him of home, his old home back East. He couldn't wait to take a walk around and visit some civilized shops and places after more than a month of fields, dust and sun. He had played along with Brimley about the whiskey and party, but what he really was looking forward to was a bath and a bed.

- They can have their fun tonight, while we wait here with the cattle. - Vern's words killed his enthusiasm in one stroke. He tried to hide his frustration, with little success. - Tomorrow, the rest will ride back to Sabbath. But you, me and Sinta we will hit a town called Bannock on our way back. And then we´ll celebrate!

He gazed at Vern. Always the sensible, level-headed man. He always seemed to know what to do, and thanks to that they were finally there, goal accomplished. Now a brighter future awaited Hurd. He would be able to pay off his debt with Mr. Bronson and keep building a life for Laura and himself. And it was Vern's trust in him that had made it possible. He smiled back at his friend.

- O'course, Vern. We got a lot to celebrate!

Vernon came back with a sack on his shoulders, and holding some papers. He took out a few cans of beans and some bacon. Nothin´ special, but Sinta and Hurd had not eaten ever since they ran out of supplies a few days ago, and they were starving!

Vernon sat down and watched his friends eat. -They´ve deemed our beef as “Good” at the Stockyards, Vern said with a broad smile going through the papers. That meant $10 more per head and in a herd of that size, it was a huge deal. –I got a downpayment already, and the rest will be sorted out in Bannock with a wire transfer. Mr. Bronson will be there waiting for us!

He looked around to make sure they were alone, and handed the monies in an envelope. It felt heavy to Hurd…

A cowboys word was his bond. The true men were no braggerts. But they also liked to deal business openly. So it was fairly common for everyone to know what the others were earning on a job, since every man had to earn their wages.

Vernon was happy to pay out the wages. A total of $1,100. He considered 45 days of cattle drive instead of 41, and the salaries were $60 for himself, and $45 for the cook and the veteran cowboys Brimley and Corman. The tenderfoots (Jenkins brothers and Conrad the horse wrangler) got $30 wages and some nice experience. Also Crowe who left midway through the drive. The rest, $45 as salary. But that was not all. It was common to give some sort of a bonus for a succesful cattle drive. Vernon had agreed to give a bonus according to the quality of beef. So everyone at Fort Worth got the value of one head of cattle. Vernon three heads, and Hitchins, Corman and Brimley two ($60).

Vernon looked at Hurd as his friend counted the bills. –I´ve given you two heads´ value, Hurd. You´v earned it. And an extra ten dollars, and the guys who went to Fort Worth tonight got a bit of spending money also.

So the total for Hurd was $115.