Sam woke up at dawn and cooked herself a good, hot breakfast. She gave Thunderbolt his breakfast and his water, and then they started off down the trail. The day seemed to pass the same as the last, and the heat seemed even worse than before. They stopped at noon and then Samantha noticed something odd on the horizon. It almost seemed as if there was a cloud of smoke in the distance, or dust. Dust? Dust! Of course! Three thousand steers make a whole lot of dust, don't they? She smiled to herself and dismounted to care for Thunderbolt and eat lunch, and then she got going again. Samantha spurred Thunderbolt into a fast trot, and all the time they seemed to be gaining on them. The "chase" so to speak, continued on after nightfall. Sam continued to trail them after they camped, as she was determined to catch up with them that night.

---

"Well I think we should leave the trail and head for those Pine Springs waterholes."

"And I say we're stayin' right here on the trail and headin' for Rainy Creek. End of story. We are not, and I mean not, arguing about this anymore Jon."

"How can you be so sure there's water at Rainy Creek? Especially after Mr. Travers said it's bone dry there."

"I'm not sure, but Mr. Travers proved himself to be unreliable."

"Not to me he didn't."

Ezekiel Foster sighed and raised his hands in exasperation, "I'm not arguing anymore. Get out to the herd and check on the nighthawks."

"No!"

"So now you're having a tantrum until you get your way, is that it?"

"At least I ain't a dumb pushover that agrees with everything you say without a single thought of my own."

"You do have a point there, but sometimes I wish you was, because then I wouldn't have to deal with your monthly disagreements."

"What have you got against Pine Springs?"

"I don't have nothing against Pine Springs. Look, if you want to run an outfit, go get one yourself, but as long as you're employed under me I give the orders. Now unless you have something more to say, get out to the herd and check on the nighthawks!"

"I think you're wrong, but I don't have nothin' more to say," Foster's disagreeable young ramrod Jonathan Lakes replied.

Ezekiel Foster watched Lakes stalk off towards the remuda, and then turned with a shake of his head to see Jose Ramirez, his scout, ride into camp.

"How's the herd?" Ezekiel asked him easily as he pulled up.

"Very good, senore. I—" just then he was interrupted by a yell from one of the other hands who had just entered camp, "Hey boss! Somebody's tryin' to come in, should I let 'em?"

"Go ahead!" Foster replied heartily.

---

Samantha slowly rode into the strange camp with her hat pulled low. She firmly pulled Thunderbolt to a stop and then looked around at the few hands loafing around the camp. A tall, dark haired fellow who looked to be in his early forties stepped up to her horse and said, "Howdy ma'am, I'm Ezekiel Foster, Trail Boss. Is there anything we can do to help you?"

Samantha sized him up quickly and replied in a polite tone, "Hello Mr. Foster. I'm Samantha Saunders, and perhaps you can help me. Do you mind if I get down and talk with you over it?"

"Not at all. Would you like some help?"

"Oh no, I've gotten on and off horses plenty of times," she replied as she dismounted easily, and with confidence.

Foster signaled his horse wrangler over and said, "My man will take your horse. Would you like a cup of coffee?"

"I'd be grateful for the coffee, but I think the horse should stay with me. He can be dangerous to anyone else except me."

Ezekiel eyed the strong black stallion as he poured coffee, "Hmm, I don't doubt it. Well, you can tie him over there to that brush."

Sam tied her horse and then accepted the coffee gratefully. He motioned for her to sit down on one of the few blocks of wood scattered around and then he pulled one opposite her. Samantha blew carefully on the coffee and then she took a small sip. It was extremely bitter and it tasted like it had sawdust in it, but she politely thanked Foster, took a deep breath, and dove in, "Mr. Foster, I'll just say it bluntly. I came here to get a job."

He looked steadily at her for a moment, and then said, "Miss Saunders, you've got to understand that women and cattle drives usually just don't go together. It's a rough job, and it's hard on even men that do it, let alone women. And then, even if you are tough enough to take it, who knows how many different ways the other hands'll react, and most of those reactions won't be good. I'm sorry, but I just can't hire you."

"I've come an awful long way to join up with you. Could you at least test me for a couple of weeks to see how I can do at the job?"

He shook his head and said, "I'm sorry Miss Saunders, but I just can't do it."

"It might be wise for you to take me on. After all, you seem to be a little bit shorthanded. Look, give me a chance. I've done this before. I've gotten along well with the crews I've been with before. If you asked any of the trail bosses that ever hired me, they'd all tell you the same thing, that I can work circles around some of the men in their crew."

He looked away for what seemed to be eons, and then looked back to her. She could already tell from the look on his face what the answer was going to be before he even shook his head and said, "I'm sorry Miss Saunders."

Samantha felt anger well up deep inside her chest, but she checked herself and said, "Alright. Well, I'll get going then. Thanks for the coffee." Sam gulped the rest of the coffee and got up. She was just about to step into the stirrup when she heard Foster's voice not far behind her, "I could send one of my men to escort you back to Rio Tranquilo."

Samantha didn't even pause, but swung up over the horse and then said, "What makes you think I'm going back there?" She then gave Thunderbolt a stout kick in his right side and they trotted out of the camp and back into the dark, starry night.

It didn't take long for Sam to reach a suitable campsite, which was about a mile away from theirs. She dismounted easily and began to un-cinch the saddle, and then she proceeded to heave it off the horse's back and set it on the ground nearby. A long sigh escaped her lips as she began to brush the shining black coat before her. Thunderbolt, sensing his owner's frustration, gently nudged her hand with his snout. Samantha smiled rather weakly and rubbed his nose, "Oh, I guess I should have expected that, right? Well don't worry Thunder. I have a plan. I decided that I'll just ride along with 'em until they get so sick of seeing me that I get my fair crack at that job, Lord willing." The horse snorted a reply, then lazily walked over to her saddle and began to nose the feed bag. Samantha smirked and continued her brushing, then she fed and watered him, and prepared a simple meal. She would carry out her "pestering" the next day.