Chapter 5

Once they got the herd moving good, Roy rode straight up to Joe.

“Frank says I can shadow you today, see what the job is like,” he said. “I told him I didn’t want to be molly-coddled on the drive.”

Joe’s eyebrows rose, but he held in his surprised exclamation. “You’re welcome to shadow me then. We’re riding point, making sure the herd arrives where Cookie and Frank want us to. You know the names of the different riders on a drive?”

“Not a blasted one. I’d flunk any exam you wanted to give me.”

Joe couldn’t help but chuckle at that. Roy did have a sense of humor after all. Joe pointed out the different cowboys back along the herd. “Right and left swing are just behind us. They help keep the herd pointed in the right direction. Then you’ve got right and left flank, keeping the slow beeves in line. And drag’s way back there behind the herd, moving the stragglers along.”

“I can remember that. I told Frank I’m going to try every job until I can do all of them properly.”