Haven of the Ranch

It was an extra early start to the morning for the crew and I. We had to pick up the extra slack from a few boys that had left us. They weren't worth working for us.

I started the coffee on the stove and got dressed and ready for the day. I poured two cups. One for me, and one for the boss.

I noticed that Ryan was in the kitchen, grilling bacon with some biscuits already half gone. Damn boys. I know he usually cooks for everyone in the mornings before coming out to work, but we would need him today since we've lost some.

Two boys decided to walk out on us, not that we fought them. We know if they leave, they ain't coming back because we would never want them back.

They weren't even branded anyway.

"Ryan." I greeted him. He turned around from the crackling of the bacon, getting done browning and getting a little singed on the ends.

"Hey Rip." He said, placing the cast iron down on the table with an old oven cover under it.

"Listen do you think you can come out and work with us right now? I know you usually don't, and this is part of your job in the mornings, but we could use it today at least." I asked him as he wiped the grease off his hands and put the milk away from the boys leaving it out.

"Yeah, I mean I'm done with everything but buttering some toast, but by the time we get back it'll be cold from the extra work." He said, placing the rag he had in his hand down and walking over to his boots.

"'Preciate it." I said, passing him and heading out the door as he pulled his jacket over him and walked out behind me.

I stopped at my truck for a second, grabbing out my trail saddle from the bed of the truck. We had to go patrol the area and I'm not doing that on a hardback saddle.

Once I got to the fence, I handed the thermos to John before lunging the saddle up onto the fence.

"Thanks." He said and checked the heat before taking a small sip.

"So, after them warming up, you suppose we get out and move the cattle, then get our trail ride in after lunch?" I asked, watching the boys do their rounds around the corral.

"That sounds like it. I have a meeting later tonight, you think you can hold down the fort?" He asked me. More like telling me. I practically run these boys, and he knows I don't go anywhere.

"Of course." I said. I knew not to push asking what the meeting was about. It wasn't my business, and I knew Beth would come talking about it to me later tomorrow.

"Let's get this day started." He said, and walked away to his own horse. I watched for a minute at the horses before I went to get my own horse.

As I was just finishing getting my mare warmed up, I hear Lloyd yell for me. He wasn't panicking but he was walking pretty fast.

"Did you or Ryan leave the milk out?" He asked me, coming to the fence as I slowed down.

"What, Lloyd?" I asked him, confused as ever. I called Ryan who strolled over with his horse.

"Did you leave the milk out?" I asked him.

"Huh? No you were there with me you saw me put it away." He said.

"You sure?" I asked, looking down to recollect my thoughts. He did put it away, I remember.

"Well did you shut the fridge door?" Lloyd asked Ryan. Ryan looked at him, then back at me. I was in there with him, he did shut it.

"Of course I did. Rip was there, everything was put away." Ryan defended. I knew he didn't do it. Lloyd did too.

"What are you saying Lloyd?" I asked him, hopping down from my horse and holding her reins.

"I'm saying that the milk was left out, the fridge door was cracked open, and the bread bag was open inside the fridge. And you both had just left from the bunkhouse only five minutes after I entered to get Jimmy's bandana." He said, concerned for what could've been in there.

Without another word, Lloyds, Ryan and I headed to the bunkhouse. The door creaked open as we all stepped in. Lloyd was right. Everything was out like he said it was, and the fridge door was open.

"What the hell?" Ryan muttered under his breath. What the hell is right.

"Ask the boys if anyone else came in here in the last five minutes. We can't have anything stealing our food." I told him, wrapping up the bread bag and shutting the fridge.

"Maybe it's a raccoon or something. I'll ask them though." Ryan said, while walking out the door.

"Some raccoon." Lloyd muttered.