The Mohave Gambler Story

Chapter 4

Learning the Law

The law books would be the Gambler's constant companion as he rode the line for the Davis Ranch.  He spent chilly days rounding up and tending to cattle.  He spent his frigid cold nights warming himself by the fire in a futile attempt to keep warm.  The fire not only gave him warmth, but it gave him light by which to read the law.

Reading the law was difficult for him at first.  The books didn't really explain the law, but presented as series of cases for him to study.  He had to learn the law by reading the logic and reasoning the judges had used in deciding cases.  Sometimes he could imagine himself seated in an English courtroom listening to the judge explain the decision. 

The law became clearer as he continued to read.  It didn't take long for him to realize that he was peering into the affairs of powerful men who had come into various conflicts in their struggles for power and wealth.  He learned that the law provides a pathway of organization to the world and the courts are only needed when the affairs of men move outside the behavior of normal men.  He wondered what made gentlemen stop being gentlemen and then come in conflict with the law.

Despite the fire, the nights were cold and lonely.  He often wondered what it might be like to have Kathleen sitting with him and warming herself by the fire.  He could imagine her long red hair glistening in the warm glow of the fire just as he had seen her that night a few weeks ago.  He would often think of her as he lay in his bedroll by the fire and drifted to sleep.

He regularly patrolled the west end of the Davis ranch and tended to the cattle that were hurt and herded those that strayed too far north.  Every week he would return to spend several days in the comfort and shelter of the cave.  His fire warmed the rocks and they radiated heat even when the fire was low.  The cave had a wide opening that quickly tapered in the first twenty feet, but enlarged again once inside the narrow door.  Sissie would not willingly enter the passage, but she would fit through.  Horses don't like confined spaces because it limits their ability to run from danger.

Sissie was loosing weight and The Gambler was concerned.  Horses can withstand very cold temperatures, but they burn fat quickly in order to remain warm.  Her weight loss meant she was not getting enough nourishment to get her through the cold winter nights.  He solved the problem by giving up a spare blanket provided by Mr. Davis.  He put the blanket over her and secured it with short sections of rope.  This held enough of her warmth in to reduce the weight loss. 

 Every few weeks he had to remove her steel shoes and file the horn of her hooves.  He used a hooked knife to deepen the sole of her hoof and would put the shoe back on using new nails.  Trimming her hooves was a part of their lives together since the early days and she had grown to accept this as part of her life.  He made a note to buy new shoes for her as the rocky ground was wearing away the steel and he was afraid a thin spot might fail.

Cattle rustling was not common in the area, but local Indians often migrated through the Davis Range.  From his vantage point in the cave, he would occasionally see a wagon or rider following the Colorado river looking for a good place to cross.  The Gambler allowed the Indians to take an occasional steer, but he watched the other migrant riders to make sure they did not attempt to settle on the Davis ranch. 

It was a cold winter afternoon and Robert was busy reading his law books.  He had been out riding the line for several days and had just caught up on his sleep.  Sissy was restless and making noises at the entrance of the cave, which usually meant someone was riding in the valley below.  Looking out from the cave entrance, he saw a lone rider slowly moving north along the river.

The Gambler saddled Sissie, slid his Henry repeating rifle into the scabbard, put on his two shoulder holsters with his 1851 Colt Navy revolvers, put on his coat to protect him from the cold weather, and slid the two Colt Walker revolvers in their pommel holsters.  He climbed into the saddle and squeezed his legs together as a signal to move forward.  He reined her down a path they share with the local wildlife and they rode slowly along the trail that leads north from the cave and down into the valley below.  Bobby would move in behind the rider and follow at a distance to observe is actions and judge his intent.

Riding a little behind the other rider, he approached slowly until he could see flowing red hair.   He assumed it was Kathleen out for a ride to check on this end of the large ranch.  Bobby concerned her as she realized she was being followed.  She was relieved to discover it was the Gambler.  She stopped and turned her horse as she allowed him to catch up to her.  They sat atop their horses and talked for several minutes before dismounting to let the horses rest.  Kathleen attached a leather hobble to the front legs of Harold, her sorrel gelding who was named after a friend from her younger days.

The air was brisk but the sun was warm as they made polite conversation.  Bobby finally made a small fire and they sat together and talked while the horses grazed on the brush.  Robert learned about her life growing up on a large cattle ranch and she learned about his life growing up on a Missouri farm and working for his uncle as a gunsmith.  He decided not to tell her about his days as as a bushwhacker in the border wars.