Hank 77 Summary: Slim Chance is in a bad mood. In fact, he’s been in a bad mood for a few months now, and it looks like it might become a permanent condition. The ranch has been in the middle of one of the worst droughts it’s ever seen, and when the clouds do finally decide to let down a little rain, the last thing Slim wants to hear is that Deputy Kile got more rain than he did. Things are looking pretty bleak until Little Alfred asks his dad to take him fishing, and Slim winds up having to go in Loper’s place. However, to everyone’s surprise, the camping expedition turns out to be more exciting than Little Alfred had anticipated, including some great fishing and a bit of unexpected weather!
Woodrow, Slim's future father-in-law, is a man of few words. So, when he takes the trouble to warn Slim about an Arctic cold front that is about to descend on the Texas Panhandle, Hank knows the ranch is in for a rough time. In that kind of cold, everything quits working: pipes freeze, diesel pickups don't start, power lines break, cattle suffer, and stock tanks freeze over.
And, while the dogs in town might be able to spend that kind of week camped out in front of a warm fire, the Head of Ranch Security has to be sure that the cattle have access to food and water! Will Slim and Loper be able to keep the ice at bay, or will the stock tanks freeze solid and drive the herd mad with thirst? There's only one way to find out!
