Riding into the yard, they were met by the other two stable hands. Roger came up swiping off his hat, "Had us a mite worried. Your late by about 20 minutes. Run into any trouble?" Pete stood slightly behind him watching quietly. Mindy shook her head no while Jake explained, "Not at all. Saw the horses and picked out candidates for the roundup. Sorry bout being late. Will avoid it if we can." They headed in to tally their observations on the board.

The cook was baking up a storm. The kitchen was covered in flour. Mindy raised an eyebrow and with a laugh asked, "Mary darling, your gonna cook us out of house and land. What in tarnation got in your bonnet this morning?" The cook looked up and hughed, "A cut fence and my little girl running off out there like an open target during huntin season, thats what. Now you all sit and git some cider in you." She pulled mugs out and starting pouring rounds.