Joe hesitated. Certainly a hundred and fifty dollars more would be a godsend. It would assure them of enough money no matter what happened, but it took time to break mules properly. However, it would take less time if Joe could choose his own mules. He looked at the corral from which the gray had come.
"That your stock?"
"That's part of it."
"And I pick my own mules?"
"Any you want."
Joe said doubtfully, "I could wagon break six, but somebody else will have to polish 'em off."
Jake Favors looked narrowly at him. "What do you mean?"
"I'll break six to harness and teach them to pull together, gee, haw, stop, and back. It'll take more practice before they're really a fine team."
"Why can't you make 'em fine?"
Joe looked him straight in the eye. "I haven't got time."