Following the dust-up at Pettinger’s Supply, Sutter is more determined than ever to get the herd on the trail. The next day is spent on final preparations, both for the herd and the cowboys themselves. For safety reasons, Sutter keeps all his hands close to the ranch.
Once the herd rolls out, everyone on the ranch is given a specific job on the drive. Sutter makes all the major decisions, but Luke, as the most knowledgeable on the route, is the trail boss. His job is not only to find the best trail for the herd, but also to ride out ahead and locate watering holes and campsites.

The Lazy S riders are split between riding point, swing, and flank. The point riders are the most experienced hands outside the trail boss. They have the coveted spot at the head of the herd and keep the lead steers headed in the right direction. They also set the pace for the drive.

You - figurin' that despite your recent efforts and encounters are still the least experienced amongst the cowboys of the Lazy S - are given the job of “riding drag” on the drive. Which means you follow directly behind it.

It's not an enviable position, as you'll have to keep an eye out for stragglers, while breathing in the dust kicked up by several thousand cows and bulls (not to forget their flatulence), but you have been hired for protection. And the rear is the most likely place for indians, cattle rustlers or other outlaws to attack the herd.

Abby stays close to the herd and helps you to change your mounts as needed, to give them some rest from carrying you around. She spends quite some time going back and forth on the trail, with you at the tail end and the chuck wagon (which carries supplies, particularly food ahead of the herd) as the extent of her pendulum.

((Alright, to get settled in for the first few days on the trail: Give me three riding rolls each, one per day. That will determine how well you're riding cattle.))

You don't ride cattle, you herd cattle!  Specifically, we are riding herd!  We should get a bonus for knowing words!

18:59, Today: Sister Deidre rolled 1,10 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,(6+4)10.  Riding.

18:59, Today: Sister Deidre rolled 5,3 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,3.  Riding.

18:59, Today: Sister Deidre rolled 5,2 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,2.  Riding.

OOC: Sister Deidre is so consistent...something I do not have in these rolls. :)

I'm gonna put both Lou and Jesse in this post!

Here are Lou's rolls--I wonder if I would be able to drop my PP for three or more uses of Boost Trait, to allow for the Raise on 9 on the final roll. (Results at -2: 17, 1, 7.)

"01:51, Today: Luo 'Lou' Jing rolled 3,9 using 1d4,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3,(6+3)9.  riding 3 (at -2).

01:51, Today: Luo 'Lou' Jing rolled 1,3 using 1d4,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,3.  riding 2 (at -2).

01:50, Today: Luo 'Lou' Jing rolled 19,5 using 1d4,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of (4+4+4+4+3)19,5.  riding 1 (at -2)."

Here are Jesse'e rolls, perfectly consistent but not outstanding on this occasion (6, 7, 7):

"01:58, Today: Jesse Belville rolled 6,7,1,5 using 1d8,1d6,1d8,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 6,(6+1)7,1,5.  riding 3.

01:58, Today: Jesse Belville rolled 6,7,7,4 using 1d8,1d6,1d8,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 6,(6+1)7,7,4.  riding 2.

01:57, Today: Jesse Belville rolled 4,3,6,3 using 1d8,1d6,1d8,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,3,6,3.  riding 1 (free reroll from edge)."

I think Jesse's probably keeping an eye out for any interference, you know?

Charles swaps fairly regularly between both his original steed and the new over the course of the trip, clearly wanting to get the newcomer used to him and vice versa. While his age does not help much with the slog his practice does and he occasionally lapses into tales of other such trips in the past to pass the time.

OOC: 4, 5 and 5. Dull as it comes

The first three days pass without much of an instance, with Jesse seemingly having the easiest time. Charles shows his experience here, too, while Deirdre does well enough to surprise the other cowboys - they certainly haven't expected as much from the weird-looking nun.

On the second day, the trail becomes a little harder to traverse and Lou has some difficulty with his mounts. When they finally tuck in for the night, he feels sore to the bone and is the target for some jokes from the more experienced riders. But the next morning, Irving adjust your stirrups for you, just a little bit, giving you more stability and shows you how to better hold the reigns and move with the horse.

While your behind is still sore, the third day passes a lot better for Lou - resting up an extra day in bed would probably be helpful, but at least it doesn't get any worse.

((Got some bumps and bruises, Lou, you're at Fatigue -1 until you can rest for a day))

The whole crew starts to settle in some sort of routine, but it's still rough around the edges. Abby, Irving, Luke Canton, and Ortega at the chuckwagon do their best to bring the newcomers into the overall group.

Every day, breakfast is spent to discuss the trail up ahead and to rotate a few of the herd riders around as needed.

The last two days, Luke did the talking, but today, Sutter chimes in as well.

"The next couple of days will be a bit more difficult. There's a brook nearby that was supposed to be one of our camps, but Leopold found it's run dry. So me, Luke, and a couple of guys will ride out ahead to find another watering hole. Might take us a day or two to come back, but don't worry. Javier got enough water on the wagon to tide us all over. The herd will suffer a bit but that can't be helped unless we find water. You just carry on. Abby's in charge while Luke and me are gone, got that?"

The Sister wasn't very cryptic this time.

"I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols.  I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. "

But she was a little cryptic.  She had to be.

What was a nun doing on a cattle drive anyway...

Looking up from the recumbent posture he had been favouring when out of the saddle and not standing Charlie winced slightly as he straightened upright and stood to get a better look at Sutter and Luke, still chewing away quietly on breakfast.

Swallowing the chunk of food while Deidre spoke he let the nun finish before speaking up himself, "No problems here boss, you all be take care though."

Lou nodded to the man, outwardly stoic but internally very glad at the opportunity to rest himself. He was unused to the ride and, his horse being what he was--absolutely mad--the ride was rougher than he was entirely prepared for. He figured that he would become accustomed to it sooner or later.

(He had, of course, taken the jesting in stride, although he really was quite sore.)

===

Jesse was a bit more actively affirmative here, speaking after several big bites. "Yes sir, Abby's in charge. Want to set down any blanket orders in case we spot that Phelps fellow or some of his gang?"
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 16:36, Fri 18 Feb 2022.

Sutter scratches his head.
"If them Bayou Vermins come at us, they'll do so without restraint. There's not much law to speak of back in the town, but out here, it comes down to whoever has the better aim and the quicker draw."

He pauses, seemingly for effect.

"That's why I hired you, after all. You do what you gotta do to protect the herd and the crew."

The Sister responded as only she would.  "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.

"There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.  God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.  The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.  The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

"Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations he hath made in the earth.  He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.  Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.  The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah."

She then added.

"And anyone that shows up here causing trouble is going to get a spanking."

At that last comment, Lou couldn't help but chuckle. It was a little odd, coming from a person like him--that is, a relatively serious fellow--but it seemed that the Sister's final comment tickled his funny bone.

Jesse, for his part, set about deciding where he ought to keep watch for interlopers.

OOC: The last week just flew by, geez!