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"It's Gritts!" exclaimed one fellow, taking off his hat and pointing it toward the mountain. "And he's caught hisself a rain cloud!"

From his vantage in the sky, Gritts could hear the cheers of the men below.

"General," muttered Gritts, who was too busy to take much notice of the cheering, "when this thing busts loose, we better hightail it outta here."

General whinnied and kicked his legs, ready to make their getaway. Gritts looked up at the cloud and bared his gleaming white teeth. Not wanting to be outdone by a mere cowpoke, the cloud rumbled and flashed with brilliant display of lights and sounds. Meeting the challenge, Gritts widened his grin, and shouted "Waaaahooooo!" and "Kiiiiiyaaaaay!" at the top of his lungs, until the entire mountain was filled with his calls. Livid, the cloud broke through it's side with a piercing bolt of lightning, causing a huge torrent of water to pour to the ground, just in back of Gritts and General.

With one flick of his knife, Gritts cut the rope, causing General to land on his feet running! A trail of dust followed them as they descended the mountain and back onto the open plains.

Gritts looked behind him only to see that the cloud was rapidly doubling itself, until it formed a large dark blanket, steadily rolling and rumbling, straight in their direction! It was raining so hard, that the clouds looked like they were falling onto the land, drenching it with the much needed rain. But Grits was too determined to outwit the rain, that he didn't notice it's beauty.

"Don't feel like gittin' wet, today," muttered Gritts, tightening his grip on General's reins. And with that, he urged General to go faster and faster, until he and the rain were in an all out race to reach the gates of the ranch.

"Would yuh look'it that!" cried one of the hands, seeing the torrent that was pursuing Gritts and General. "They're tryin' to outrun the downpour!"

Gritts looked back. The rain was gaining on them.

"Yah, General! Yah!" he shouted.

The ranch gates now came into view. If they could only make it a little longer, they could win. Gritts hunkered down in the saddle and bared his teeth in determination. General came galloping through the open gates and was headed straight to the safety of his dry stable, when a low hanging tree branch knocked Gritts out of the saddle and onto the ground. Just then, the torrent of rain passed overhead, drenching everyone and everything-- except General, who had made it to cover just in time!

In celebration, the ranch hands carried Gritts on their shoulders, as the range thirstily drank in the rain. And that is how a cowboy bulldogged a cloud and saved the Four Brother Ranch from drought.

"So, you see," finished Charlton, as the group struggled along the trail, "unless you're a quick thinking horse, you can run from the rain for only so long. Eventually, you're going to get wet!" The group laughed, rallying their spirits.

As the sun set over the mountainous horizon, Charlton's thoughts turned to making camp for the night. Since Charlton was so familiar with the terrain, a good camp site was quickly scouted out. The campers eagerly took off their backpacks and set about to dig a fire pit so dinner could be ready sooner, and not later. While dinner cooked, the group erected their tents and stowed their gear, ready for a night of rest under the darkening sky. As they gathered around the fire to eat, the light flickered on their faces, revealing seven spirited campers.

For a brief moment, Charlton forgot his troubles and joined in the hearty conversation. Then he remembered that Charlotte was the one who always tended the fire and cooked for his groups. The old pain returned, aided by memories of his daughter.

"She would have enjoyed today," thought Charlton, staring into the bright flames of the fire. "She missed the story. She never missed the story before." Then Charlton thought of a life full of landmarks, each setting the same lonely precedent: "Charlie wasn't here."

"Hey, gang," said Charlton, standing up and stretching out, "I'm pretty bushed. Think I'll turn in. Don't stay up too late," he admonished. "We have a busy day tomorrow." Everyone said goodnight to their guide as he left the friendly glow of the fire. Charlton had pitched his tent on the outskirts of the camp sight. He had desired to be alone but not by himself. As Charlton fell asleep, he could hear the campers singing exuberantly around the campfire.


It was early afternoon by the time any of the seven campers woke up. The day had already started and they were just waking up. Why hadn't their guide awakened them? They were wasting valuable daylight-- daylight they had paid for. Their voices edged on anger as they crossed the campsite to Charlton's tent. To their amazement, the flap door on the tent was unzipped and waving in the cool Montana breeze.

"Where is he?" asked one of the seven, looking around.

"Maybe he's hunting breakfast," suggested another.

"Not without me!" cried the first, running back to his tent to dress. Eager not to miss out on a single moment of "roughing it" the seven campers went in search of Charlton, who, undoubtedly, was busily getting their breakfast. The farther away from the campsite they grew, the more concerned they became.

"Do you think he left us?" asked Dick.

"Out in the middle of nowhere?!" exclaimed Ralph, his voice betraying panic.

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