On a nice day scout Pete Nolan ran into 2 boys. They walked on the prairie arguing so that the boys had to attract attention of someone. So that happened too. Pete saw the children and rode back to the camp and the herd where trail boss Gil Favor was. Ramrod Rowdy Yates was there too.
“Mr Favor, can you come along for a second?”, asked the scout.
“What is the matter Pete?”, the trail boss asked amazed.
“There is something you must see”, was the answer.
“Alright, I go with you. Rowdy, you stay with the herd”, said Favor.
Rowdy nodded. He saw Favor and Pete ride away.
Pete brought Favor to the spot where he had seen the boys. They were still there but were walking a bit closer.
“What are those children doing there. This is no place for them to hang around here”, Favor said amazed.
“I thought that too. That’s why I came to get you”, said Pete.
“We get them and take them to the camp. Perhaps we might get to know more”, said the trail boss.
But yet before there were there the boys fell down of exhausting. Favor and Pete took them to their camp where they came round a bit later on. Favor looked at the 2 boys.
“I am Gil Favor and that is Pete Nolan. Who are you?”, asked the trail boss.
“I am Nicky Smith”, said the oldest.
“My name is Frederick Smith”, was the answer of the 2nd boy.
“Nonsense. Your name is just Fred”, reacted Nicky.
“I am called Frederick and you Nicholas”, Fred said stately.
He gave Nicky a smack which he of course didn’t accept. They started to fight until Favor and Pete stepped in. they separated the fighting boys.
“Easy both of you. There will be no fighting in my camp!”, Favor said strict.
Nicky said, “Sorry Mr Favor.”
With reluctance Fred also apologized.
“Are you brothers?”, asked Pete.
“Fortunately not. Our fathers are brothers. I am 12 and he is 10. We were camping when soldiers bothering us. Luckily we could get away but we don’t know where our fathers are”, told Nicky.
“Where do you live?”, asked Favor.
“In Townville. My parents live in the better neighborhood”, said Fred.
“Yours are just more richer and stuck up than mine. We live in a simple neighborhood”, told his cousin.
“Townville is our next stop. Until then you stay with us. I want that you help along. There are enough chores that you can do. Can you ride a horse?”, asked Favor.
“I can”, said Nicky.
“I don’t get myself so lower to that. My parents always mover me in a carriage”, was het answer of Fred.
Favor looked at Pete.
“Nicky can help me looking for grass and water. Then Wishbone can let Fred help with the other chores in the camp”, the scout suggested.
“I don’t mind”, said Nicky.
“I never have to help at home so here neither”, said Fred.
He put demonstrative his arms across each other. Pete took Nicky along while Favor looked at Fred.
“In my camp goes the rule: who doesn’t work doesn’t get anything to eat either. You only have yourself with it”, spoke the trail boss.
Fred didn’t give a reaction. Favor left the boy and went to the field cook and his helper.
“Wishbone, from now on you have another helper. That lad there”, said Favor.
He pointed at Fred. Wishbone looked indignant right away.
“Mr Favor, so now I must keep 2 nuts busy? I already have my hands full with this one here”, said the field cook, pointing at Mushy.
“He and his cousin Nicky need our help. Nicky is with Pete and Fred, that one there, is for you. Have fun”, said Favor.
To avoid more awful remarks from Wishbone the trail boss made sure that he got away.
With supper Fred did difficult again. He saw what Nicky had on his plate and looked at it with a dirty face.
“What is that for stuff?”, asked Fred.
“Stew. It’s a daily meal here”, said Rowdy Yates.
“It’s delicious”, said Nicky.
Wishbone was glowing of pride.
“But my mother cooked much more delicious”, was the following passing sentence of Nicky.
All cattle drivers except Wishbone and Fred laughed. The field cook almost exploded.
Favor tried to calm him down with the words, “Wishbone, you know that there goes nothing above the cooking of a woman.”
But this also didn’t help. On the contrary: the cook became more angrier.
Fred said insulted to his cousin, “You see what you are doing now with your big mouth? Soon they kick us out of the camp.”
Nicky looked worried at Pete and Favor.
“Boys, don’t you worry because you stay with us for the time being. And Nicky, Wishbone is really not the most angriest person. Even though it often looks that way”, said Favor.
It was clear that the trail boss liked the eldest more than the youngest.
Quite soon the boys fell asleep.
Wishbone complained to the trail boss, “Mr Favor, I have a big problem and it’s not Mushy this time.”
Favor felt it coming already and asked sighing, “Out with it Wishbone.”
“I don’t mind to prepare the food and stuff like that. That’s why I am here for. But now to play babysitter for a spoiled brat of 10 years old. That goes too far for me. Do I have your permission to teach him a lesson in working hard?”, asked the field cook.
“Why?”, asked the trail boss amazed.
“That lad doesn’t do less that a lazy louse on Xmas Day. Even Mushy works harder”, was the answer
“Alright Wishbone. Let Fred do all the work of Mushy tomorrow. Mushy, from tomorrow on you are a temporary cattle driver”, said Favor.
Wishbone and Mushy were both pleased with this news.
“Nicky loves to be outside because sometimes he is more enthusiastic than I am”, said Pete.
“Then Mr Favor must take on Nicky as a scout”, Rowdy remarked.
“And why should I do that according to you?”, Favor wanted to know.
“Because Nicky is cheaper than Pete what salary is concerned”, answered Rowdy.
“Very funny Rowdy”, said Pete.
“Rowdy might be right but this is very heavy for us. Let alone for a few children of 10, 12 years old”, reacted Favor.
The next morning Wishbone woke Fred up very early.
“Get up lazybones. You must make breakfast and coffee for everyone”, the field cook said to Fred.
Fred yawned unreasonably and got up with reluctance.
“I never have to get up so early at home. Breakfast always gets prepared for me. Besides it’s not even daylight yet”, he grumbled.
“You are now not at home but on a cattle drivers camp. Go on, get to work with your lazy bottom”, said Wishbone.
He looked quite stern so that Fred went to work fast.
During breakfast Favor said, “Nicky, today you go with Pete again. Rowdy and I go to the sheriff in Townville and tell him that you and Fred are with us. Also how you ended up here.”
“Alright Mr Favor”, said Nicky.
Quickly they ate on.
Favor and Rowdy rode to Townville where they looked up the sheriff.
“Sheriff, I am Gil Favor, trail boss and this is my ramrod Rowdy Yates. We drive a herd via the Sedelia route. Our scout found 2 boys. They are called Nicky and Fred Smith. They are cousins from each other and respectively 12 and 10 years old. Nicky told us that they were camping with their fathers when soldiers bothered them. The boys could get away but their fathers didn’t. I have received the boys in my camp”, said Favor.
“Their missing been reported yesterday by the mother of Fred. Since as while Nicky doesn’t have a mother anymore and that’s why his father took him, Fred and his father out camping. I will find out what has happened. Till then the boys remain under your care. I must warn you for the very whimsical attitude of Fred. He is very lazy but that is because his mother is too soft for him and spoils him very much”, said sheriff Roy Clarke.
“We have already noticed that and I think that when Fred is home again he will be totally different”, answered Favor.
“Let’s hope that you are right”, said Roy.
“Thanks sheriff. Come Rowdy”, said Favor.
At their horses Molly smithy stood waiting.
“Gentlemen, do you happen to know where my sweet little son Frederick Smith is?”, she asked stately.
“Morning Mrs Smith. He is with us. Nicky is with us too. The sheriff has requested me to keep the boys with me until their fathers are found”, answered Favor.
“My little boy stays with a bunch of cattle drivers? Who knows he might learn rough language”, Molly said determined.
“Mrs Smith, I assure you that my men won’t teach the boys no rough language”, Favor said as polite as possible.
Rowdy looked at the ground for not to start laughing.
“Have a nice day Mrs Smith”, said the trail boss.
Favor and Rowdy mounted on their horses and went back to the others.
Exactly at the moment they were riding into the camp Wishbone was bawling at Fred. Of course this went with the necessary scolding and curses.
“Mr Favor, it’s just as good that Mrs Smith doesn’t hear this”, Rowdy whispered amused.
The trail boss nodded. They dismounted and walked to the field cook and the boy.
“What is the matter now Wishbone?”, asked Favor.
“Mr Favor, this featherbrain is even more useless than Mushy is. How that can be possible I don’t know but it’s so”, Wishbone answered indignant.
The trail boss now looked at Fred.
“Mr Favor, can I help it that I am clumsy?”, the boy asked fierce.
“What has happened?”, the trail boss wanted to know.
“He had to peel the potatoes but poured the peels into the pan and the raw potatoes in the bucket for the garbage”, Wishbone explained.
“Did you tell him how he had to do that?”, asked Favor.
“Everybody knows how you must peel potatoes?”, Wishbone asked a bit insulted.
“Wishbone, you do know that Fred never has to help with anything g at home? So then you can’t expect from him that he can really well peel potatoes. Just let him get the raw potatoes out of the garbage can and put the peels into the garbage can”, answered Favor.
“If he at least can do that”, reacted the field cook.
The trail boss didn’t react to it but went with Rowdy to the herd. Fred went to work grumbling under supervision of Wishbone.
“Mr Favor, there is a chance that Mrs Smith will join us now she knows that her little boy is here”, said Rowdy.
“If that happens Wishbone gets a ban on public speaking. Otherwise I probably must find another cook”, the trail boss remarked.
He kept silent for a moment and said then, “I dare to bet that Mrs Smith doesn’t even know what a soup spoon is.”
Meanwhile they reached the herd where the others were.
What Favor and Rowdy didn’t know was that Molly had followed them. She arrived in her carriage and saw to her big scare that Fred was working. The carriage got stopped and Molly climbed out of it.
“Leave my little boy alone, slave driver! My baby doesn’t need to work. And especially not in such a dirty camp as this!”, Molly snapped at Wishbone.
Fred looked up and recognized the visitor.
“Mother!”, he called excited.
He ran to her and Molly received him.
“I was so worried about you and Nicholas. Where is he?”, asked Molly.
“With our scout. They look for water and grass for our 3000 cows”, answered Wishbone.
Molly looked very dirty when she heard 3000 cows..
“The sheriff said to me that Mr Favor now is responsible for the boys until their fathers are away. Well, I just stay there as well”, Molly said determined.
Wishbone was so amazed that he didn’t know anything to say. For not to get more fights he went to work but Fred remained by his mother.
Meanwhile Pete and Nicky rode to the herd. The scout noticed that his little helper was bothering something.
“Nicky, what is the matter?”, asked the scout.
“Well, Mr Favor did go to town to tell the sheriff that Fred and I are here, didn’t he?”, asked Nicky.
Pete nodded.
“When aunty Molly, the mother of Fred, discovers that we are with you she comes too. Fred lives in a sort of golden cage. We live at the edge of town with a lot of chickens. Since mom has died she drops by everyday with Fred. Her excuse is that she wants to see how it goes with us, pa and me but the true reason is are the eggs of our chickens. First they weren’t good enough for them but now suddenly they are”, told Nicky.
“It looks like you accuse Mrs Smith of murder of your mother”, said Pete.
“That is so. On the day that mom died I was with her. Aunty Molly came by to say that she would send me to as boarding school in exchange for 10 fresh eggs each day. Mom refused that. A moment later I saw how mom got killed by aunty Molly. She doesn’t know this”, said Nicky.
“And that camping trip with your father, Fred and uncle?”, asked Pete.
“Pa and I do that a few times per year. But this time Fred and his father, uncle Jack, had to come too. Aunty Molly insisted. Uncle Jack liked it but Fred of course didn’t”, said Nicky.
“I will make sure that you can tell this to Mr Favor”, promised Pete.
Nicky felt much better now.
A bit later on Pete, Favor and Nicky were together at a deserted spot. Nicky told the trail boss what he had confessed to Pete earlier on.
“You stay with us because I am responsible for the 2 of you. Even if aunty Molly comes to visit us”, answered Favor.
“Have you met her already?”, asked Nicky.
“I have that indeed. Now I understand how Fred has become that way”, answered Favor.
When they rode into the camp Favor saw Molly with Fred. The trail boss was very amazed and suspected problems.
“Mr Favor, I demand your apology for letting work my little son here. Frederick has never done anything and here he gets treated like a slave”, Molly said insisting.
“Mrs Smith, I have the responsibility for Nicky and Fred. They are temporarily in my camp and then they shall work too. I am satisfied about Nicky but not about Fred”, answered Favor.
He dismounted, just like Pete and Nicky.
“Look Nicholas. My mother is here with me. Where is yours?”, Fred asked mocking.
Nicky looked at him for a moment and attacked him then. Fred began to scream like a skinny sucking pig.
“I demand that you step in!”, snapped Molly.
Favor didn’t listen but watched with the other cattle drivers. Molly decided to step in herself. She grabbed Nicky tight and hit him in the face.
“Are you going to kill me too like you have killed mom?”, Nicky asked indignant.
“Let my son go”, Mark said then.
Molly looked up and saw her boyfriend and brother-in-law standing with drawn revolvers.
“Pa. Uncle Jack”, Nicky said relieved.
He pulled himself loose and went to his father. Mark dismounted and took his son into his arms.
“Molly Dickerson! I never should have started something with you. Mark told me what you have done to Daisy. Now you can forget it because I break up our relationship”, said Jack.
Fred looked amazed and understood now why he got treated so rough by Jack.
“Then I shall have to kill you too”, said Molly.
She grabbed her revolver and wanted to shoot Jack, Nicky and Mark dead but Fred was the one who got hit. Favor shot Molly dead.
When everything was quiet again Mark told, “Uncle Jack and I were approached by those soldiers because the army wanted to make a deal with our chicken company. So that’s why we left you alone.”
“So uncle Jack now stays to live with us?”, asked Nicky.
“Yes, Fred isn’t your real cousin because when aunty Molly and I got something together he was already on his way”, Jack explained.
They said goodbye to Favor and the cattle drivers.
“Mr Favor, if Pete ever wants to stop with scouting, then you can always count on me”, said Nicky.
“I will remember it and Pete surely will do that too”, said Favor.
“Mr Favor, thanks for receiving the boys”, said Mark.
“You’re welcome”, said the trail boss.
Mark, Jack and Nicky went home again so that the cattle drivers could go on to Sedelia.
“Head them up. Move them out”, called Favor.