I've been out here for several days now. The weather has been severe and making tracking fresh sign impossible. However 2 days ago I come across a soddy built in a cut bank with a makeshift corral in the mouth of a coulee and, a small horse pen with 3 riding horses. Seems to be a relay station of some kind. My suspicions were confirmed when 2 riders come in with a small band of Remount horses yesterday... Sneeking in behind them later in the evening when smoke from cook stove got hot, I got a better look at the coulee. Not surprized There was several cow calf pairs and around 25 horses. All the brands had been doctored, these fellas are artist with a Running Iron. My missing pairs were among them
Wish I had known what I was getting into before I left Trinty's and Cherokee Jems and Delmonico's camp. My calves would be worth $15 a head this fall at the Rail head. I don't intend leaving here without them. There is probably paper hangin on these fellas with reward money, I am sure them fellas could use it. Jem is a good rider and those other fellas are some darn good shooters, and I sure would feel better about what I am going to do if they had my back.
I am going thru with my plan, before daybreak help or not. Thinking back, this may have somethin to do with the dead body back at the pards camp...................