“Then, one day, I happened along by the water-hole and found some Greasers knocking the stuffing out of Bob. We beat them off, and after that, I went to the Caldwell’s. It was a nice, clean house and Mrs. Caldwell gave me a square meal, woman cooked.”
“My mother is the best cook in Texas,” Bob offered softly.
“Yes. That night I started to follow my father and I ran into Bob. We rode about and talked it over. Bob’s mother wanted him to go to school.”
“And Bob didn’t want to,” the officer suggested solemnly.
“Oh yes I did,” Bob replied quickly.
“But a mother, ranch, a string of horses and a pair of blue cranes, is a responsibility,” Jim offered, “Then, we rode to the house—”
“And found his father eating a piece of chocolate cake that I didn’t know anything about,” said Bob.
“And he’d eaten the last crumbs,” Jim added. “Then, we told them they were a pair of boobs. A week later the knots were tied that united the ranches and made us step-brothers. We were all at our place—”
“And Bob was to be sent to school?”
“Sure, but his mother said I had to go too,” Jim grinned.