Who is Beech Cartwright from Short Story Masterpieces and what is their importance?

Beech Cartwright is a sixteen-years-old. He is hired to help herd horses for a rancher. Inexperienced, Beech believes that his job is merely about money, and that anything he isn't paid for isn't worth bothering with. In the beginning, Beech only follows Apling out of fear of repercussion. As the story unfolds, however, it becomes clear that Beech has listened to Apling, and his refusal to sell out Apling to the ranchers illustrates his new sense of responsibility.