“The fence is yours,” Younger agreed. “Provided the other half-owners of any stretches are agreeable. Go get it.”
Lassiter assented instantly when Carver stated the proposition.
“I always did feel suffocated in a fence country,” he announced. “I was always so much opposed to seeing every fence go up that I figure it will be a real entertaining pastime to help tear ’em down.”
This spirit of optimism lasted during the two days required to hunt up other part owners of certain stretches and get their endorsement of the plan, his enthusiasm lasting through the first few days of actual work. They were out before sunrise and knocked off after dark, pulling posts, coiling wire and freighting the materials to the Half Diamond H home ranch. His interest lagged but he did not openly rebel until after two thirds of the fence had been salvaged. Carver roused him one morning for breakfast and Bart blinked sleepily at the smoky lantern that lighted the sod hut in which they had stayed overnight.
“We’ve got enough wire piled up to enclose the State of Texas,” he stated. “There’s thirty miles of three-wire fence we’ve collected if there’s a foot. That’s twenty-nine miles more than both of us will ever need. Let’s leave the rest of her set.”
“But we contracted to scrap the whole of it,” Carver dissented. “Another week will see us through.”
“A week!” Lassiter moaned. “I just can’t face it, honest. I’ve reformed. I hope I hang if I ever extract another staple.”
“A week’s not such a long stretch,” Carver urged.
“Donald, I’ll break down and cry if you lead me up to just one other measly fence post,” Lassiter announced. “You take my half and let me off. I’ve got to amble over to Crowfoot’s and draw my spring wages. Then, too, I’d ought to collect Molly and get her settled somewhere in Caldwell. She’s all alone over on Turkey Creek.”
“I’ll pay you thirty dollars for what time you’ve put in—sometime when I’ve got it—and take over your wire and finish the job myself,” Carver at last conceded. “You can locate Molly in my little plant in Caldwell; only mark me now! There’ll be no more balancing of Cherokee rations conducted on the premises. I’ll remonstrate with you at some length if I catch you at it again.”