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EVERYONE IN SLAUGHTERS YARD STOOD WATCHING AS THE RUALES LONG TROTTED INTO THE YARD RAISEING A DUST CLOUD. KOSTERLINSKY RODE FORWARD WHEN ALL HAD STOPPED. " I SAY, I SAY EMILLIO, WHAT BRINGS YOU HERE?"slaughter almost yelled. " we found these body s back along the border, i thought maybe they belonged here." kosterlinsky pointed to two forms lashed to the backs of horses. slaughter walked past kosterlinsky as he sat his white horse and up to the first body. he looked long at the bloddy face revealed under the tarp. he looked back over his shoulder at denton " its wes." he said as he lowered the tarp. he walked to the next one and repeated the process" this one is pedro., both employed here and good men.how far were they from here?" he asked without looking up. " a little more than a mile. by the tracks with them the cattle they were driveing were taken."kosterlinsky said. " what direction did they go?"denton stepped up as he asked. "north, and by the sign not long past. its the reason we didnt pursue them.but we would place ourselves under your command to go after these murderes." kosterlinsky leaned forward to look at slaughter. slaughter looked around at denton then at some of his other cowboys. " you boys tend to these fellas. enrnesto , saddle my horse." denton had already started to the corral for his saddle horse. just as he got there inez caught up with him "mine too, please , ime going to change my clothes." denton looked her in the face and no longer found the sweet young woman he though that accompanied him, just a firce native woman with blood in her eye. he didnt argue a half hour later the possee made up of half ruales and half slaughter cowboys loped out of the san bernadino yard. denton and inez were in the group. ernesto turned to mrs. slaughter" i pity the bad men when they are caught. thats a bunch of angry men there." two hours ahead myles compton and five of his cochise cowboys were driveing a bunch of slaughters cows and calves. the smallest calves were give out, their toungs hanging out of their mouths. but they were given no rest, as the little calves played out the theives left them behind, forceing their mmothers on ahead. myles drove his cowboys as hard as they drove the cows.he knew they had to get away from that border fast. as the cattle slowed from exhaustion the cowboys took their ropes and beat them down the backs trying to hurry them along. to their right a narrow canyon opened, myles loped ahead and turned the leaders into it. it would be a good place to spend the night. they could rest the herd while guarding the entrence. myles felt confident he could handle the cowboy and apache who lived here.

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that morning on leaveing the canyon ranch inez had pulled on a pair of dentons canvas pants and shirt. she had folded her dress up into a small package and was tieing it behind her saddle when denton stepped up " it looked like you didnt use this ole horse to hard so i saddled him again. i hope thats alright?" inez nodded and smiled and led the horse out in the yard. the animal was on his tip toes but didnt hump up again. when she mounted he spun a tight circle and tried to buck, she picked his head up useing one rein pulled him around. looking at denton she smiled" ime ready." a few hours later they rode into the ranch yard at the san bernadino ranch of john slaughter.he can marching from the barn hand extended to denton. from the house his young wife almost ran to inez. and helped her untie her dress" i hardly ever have a woman to talk to!" she exclaimed"i have coffee in the house, come in!" inez looked over her shoulder as she was led away. denton smiled and nodded his approval. the sherrif led him over to a large shade tree with a olla hanging in the branches. a bench sat under the tree. they had a cool drink then sat down. "what brings this visit deputy?"the sherrif asks. denton started explaining his many concerns and with each one slaughter had a positive res olution. denton had relaxed and was laughing and jokeing with slaughter when mrrs. slaughter called out the kitchen door that lunch was ready. when denton and slaughter stepped into the kitchen they were greeted by inez in her dress, her black hair brushed and shinning and her brilliant smile . denton almost took a step back. slaughter turned to him"i see why you want to enlarge your cabin." denton went to inez and pulled a chair out for her. she looked at him with a question in her eyes. " its the gentelmanly thing to do my dear." slaughter said as he did the same for his wife. everyone laughed. after lunch denton and slaughter were back under the shade trree. slaughter was packing tobacco into apipe. " i know some mexican boys down at santa cruz village. they do excellent work with stone. ill send word to them. as for your ten steers emillio kosterlinsky brought them here. i didnt ask how he came by them nor did he say. i sent them to pearce.. heres the cash payment." john pulled it from his pocket and handed it to denton" it should just about pay for the labor on the addition to your cabin." as for the hundred head of cows you need i have thought it over, and here is my proposition, i will front you 150 cows, you pay me fifty percent of the calf crop for the first year. then you own them. is that agreeable?" " thats great for me, but is it enough for you?" denton was shocked. "ime over stocked right now. i need to lighten up my herd. if it will help you and that young woman ime glad to do it. ill have my boys bring the cows next week if thats ok?" slaughter was rambling. he was looking out across the flats toward the mountain as he talked" we are about to have more company. there comes the black hats and kosterlinsky."