A few of the people seem to stir, they seem dazed and a bit confused.[ooc] I will allow occult rolls to see likely outcomes over that and what you witnessed.[/oocc]
"I say we get out of here right now, since people are starting to wake up. We've committed a crime here, and I for one don't want to be identified."
Flying Eagle pulls his now-dry bandana that was protecting him from the sleepy fumes up over his face to hide his features, and goes over to his horse, gets on, and says "Let's make tracks!"
The people are indeed staring to wake, they do seem confused. But they are unlikely to have identified you. You will have no problem leaving the remains of the caravan and making your way back to the city.
"Dunno how I'm gonna report this..."
"Does your organization recognize the existence of the supernatural? If not, I suggest you just don't file a report on this incident."
"The problem isn't ghosts and goblins, it's engaging in bandit-like destructive activity. Probably gonna lose my badge."
Tell then it was necessary. Besides wr did not take anything, and we did our best to avoid killing.
Plus it was needed to deal with a bad man.
"Yeah. We'll see what the home office says. I have a feeling that I'm gonna have to come back and clean up the mess left behind at some future point," says Winona wryly as she hoists into the saddle and takes the reins.
"Let's get outta here. Sooner the herd is on the move again, sooner we can get to the end o' this sordid trail tale."
You make your way away from the site and head back toward Denver. It is a rather event less ride back toward town. You can choose to head back to comfy beds, seek out Sutter, head back to the cattle camp or even strike out on your own,
Winona stops by the telegraph office to send a terse report to the territorial marshal's office about what happened, just so they know what actually happened when rumors start trickling out.
"Gents, let's get back to the herd, eh? I almost crave the reliability of the trail. But maybe we have a good meal in town before we leave and are back on canned beans and bacon."
"Where can we pick up some cowhands? And how can we tell if they're trustworthy? I suppose once we've met a few, before we hire them we could ask around town about their reputation."
Figure 2 more days, to try and recruit some cowhands, then return to the herd, and continue the long slow drive.
"Aight. What a day. Let's head to the saloon I guess, see if we can pick up any more trailhands. I'd say we could check the blacksmith and see who's having horses shoed, but any trail hand who owns a horse probably already has a job at a local ranch."
Its evening when you make it back to town in the evening. You can head over to where Sutter is staying, head for a motel or find some other way to relax after handling such a threat.
Well, I think relaxing for tomorrow, and then look for the cowhands before returning to the herd, might be an idea.
"I'm up for a few drinks, and some *very* good food - we deserve a reward for stopping that evil."
Flying Eagle will ask around for what establishment (saloon, hotel, etc.) has the best high-end food.
Rufus also walks around the city asking for a good restaurant/lounge where they can go for a good meal and a few drinks.
Rufus has no problem finding a nice place to eat or a Hotel. Denver is a growing and large city for the new state. In the morning you can choose to meet Sutter at his own Hotel or head back to the camp outside town.
The Morning finds Bill Sutter in a Saloon called the Gold Star, waiting for the Group with a china man. Bill Is an older man, well worn by the sun and wind. " Mr. Chin was it?" Sutter says "My Forman is handling some new cattle hands, but I got a group of trouble shooters that could use anther body. I'll pay you $30 a month, This drive is sadly gonna be longer than intended"
Chin takes a swig from his flask and says, "That sounds good to me. Why do you think it is going to be longer then intended? Have there been cattle thieves or something hitting your herd?"
"Turns out, we made it here a little late. With the herds coming down from Wyoming and the Texas herds hitting doge the price of beef is in the outhouse" Sutter says "They barely want to pay more than I was offered by them Bayou Vermilion varmints back in Texas. And it was a outrages borderline theft offer!" He says getting heated. "But I have had time to think on it a piece and I have a plan. "
"What is it, boss?"
"Got a backup money-maker, eh?"
Sutter Greats Flying Eagle and Winona "Good to see you! Rested up I hope. Now as to the plan, its both good and bad" He says with a bit of a chuckle. "Its bad that I wont be heading back to Texas, at lest not right way. It's good in that there was another herd that was here in a bad spot that I was able to buy up for a song. On top of that a fella sold me a land grant in Bighorn basin up in Wyoming that is a fair sight larger than my place on the Barzo" He says with a with a grin. He then sits back and shakes his head " I am sick of dealing with those Bayou Vermilion hooligans, so I sold by spread in Texas by Telegraph and took them up on their offer. Wyoming gives me a better spot at suppling the Maze with Beef. And you know those folks are always hungery"
He lights up a cigar and takes a drawl. "So, I plan to take both herds up north and start a new ranch. You folks have done right by me and Abby from the get go. To tell you the truth this deal and the new hires has put a dent in my wallet. I am willing to cut you three in for a tenth of the original, divided among yourselves in lieu of payment if you will stay on.'
"I'm only asking because the number will have a lot to do with my choice...about how much are we talking for each of us?"
"We made it to Denver with just over thirteen hundred cattle. That will give you a cut of about a 130 Beeves. With a good market that might give you 40 dollars a head, I wouldn't accept anything under $30 per head personally . It should bring you north of $4'000, hell as I said north of $'5'000 on a good day."
"This seems like a lot of cattle, since there are two herds and you are not doubling your cowhands. Perhaps some more might be in order." Chin says.
"Well, having some equity is a good motivator. Good reason to keep the cattle healthy and get 'em all to market," says Winona.
"I wouldn't say no, personally."
Sutter looks at Chin and shakes his head "I am hiring some new hands, gonna lose a few as well. But, you are gonna work with this bunch, so I am willing to offer you $40 a month as they get into a but more than most'. If they want to cut you in on the cattle deal after we get to the new place, that is upto them.
Well that seems fair to me, you can count me in.
"I will gladly continue to work with you, Sutter."
"That works for me." Chin says as he takes another big swig from his drink.
Sutter Nods "Then we have a deal then. Well eat up and then we will make our way to the camp. Luke and Abby have been in charge of new hires. We lost some old hands, but picked up 22 new hires, along with another chuck wagon and crew.'
"I'm curious to see if the chow is going to be better, or worse," says Winona with a wry grin.
"Let's get back to camp. I wanna check on my horse, give her a good rub-down."
"I need to do some shopping, I will go do that and then meet you back here before we head out." Chin says as he gets up and stumbles out.
After breakfast you make your way to the Camp, several miles outside of Denver. The camp seems busy, you notice the new chuck wagon and a couple of Black men loading supplies to it. Luke and Abby seem at the center of the chaos, a number of new hands can be seen, a mix of Chinamen, black, white and Mexicans can be seen in the expanded camp. A number of familiar faces are missing, Andrew Holderman and Bart Godfey are missing, hands who road out of Texas with you. And a few of the more recent hands are missing as well, Omar Ferguson, Irwin Albright , Carson Hebert and Vince Major.
Still, even with those hands gone you count over well over 30 hands. You see new bedrolls, and at lest three fires as the groups are getting to know each other and organizing the move out for the morning.
The flowing morning you get moving along on the drive, the new crew seem mostly experienced. It gives you time to get to know your new partner as well as see just why Sutter needed such a large group, because the heard has doubled.