“Yeah, but what if there ain't? What if that little vein doesn't lead to a bigger one but just plays out? What then? We're going to need cattle then. And someone's got to keep that operation going. And I think that's Charlie. We make the cattle his job, and the three of us work the mine. He gets the whole share of the cattle operation, and we split the mine money three ways. That would work, wouldn't it?”

“Well, yeah. I guess it would.”

“Then that's the way it will be,” Tom said.

“You see, John. Charlie wants to be a rancher, while we want to be miners. And there's more money in mining than ranching. So if you throw in with me and the Old Man, everybody gets what he wants. If you side with Charlie, then Charlie's happy, and me and the Old Man are just left out in the cold. You don't want that, do you? Of course you don't. Our way works out for everyone. Charlie's just all for Charlie. Do you see what I mean?” Tom took a step back and cocked his head.

“That's not how Charlie sees it,” John said.

“Of course it ain't how Charlie sees it. Charlie's afraid he's going to lose his cows, and that ain't going to happen, because he's our brother. We're Powers, and the Powers stick together, don't they?”

“Yeah,” John agreed.

“So that's what we're doing. Sticking together. Our way keeps everyone in the family happy, and we all work together. Charlie's way has Charlie in the catbird's seat and all of us—you, me, the Old Man—working for Charlie, and that's going to break up the family. You see? You don't want the family broken up over this, do you?”

“No, Tom. I don't want us broken up.”

“Then you side with us. Charlie will have him one of his little fits, but he'll get over it and see that we all make out real good. All right?”

“All right.”

Three months later, Charlie left for New Mexico, where he started his own cattle company. The last word they had from him was that he had lost his hand in an accident.

Three days after they had paid C. P. Tucker $2,500 for his share of the mine, Jeff, John, and Tom were camped on Rattlesnake Mesa. They had a small string of horses they were taking to Willcox to replenish their supply of cash, and the horses were grazing the grass below the mesa before heading to market. Horses were bringing good money, and the Powers were more concerned with their cattle and mining operations. It seemed like a good time to get out of the horse business.