GO EN RODEO EN 11

the morning of july 4th found joe pouring coffee for ed and jerry. the horses still stood at the picket line. since the bull dogger had left they hadnt seen or talked to anyone. jerry thought maybe since dutch left he had spread the word about this being a armed camp. today was the last performance of the rodeo. the top 15 in each event would get to run at the top prize .ed had sauntered off to the rodeo office to look at the list of contestants in each event. . jerry was brushing their bulldogging horse when he heard joe grunt. he looked to joe who pointed down the slope to ed returnning. with him were two well dressed men. when they walked into camp ed motioned everyone around. "these fellas are arizona rangers.. they are looking for Dutch girvin."he explained. joe looked to jerry then back to ed. " they got three out of state warrents for him. we just came by his camp down there, he wasnt around."ed told them. " is that him yonder?"joe asked as he pointed to a tall man walking out of the trees . " by golly i think thats him " jerry almost shouted. the two rangers spun on their heels and started for dutch. one of the rangers drew a pistol from under his coat. " HALT DUTCH! YOUR UNDER ARREST!" DUTCH BROKE INTO A RUN AT THE SHOUT. THE RANGER WITH THE PISTOL DIDNT EVEN AIM, JUST POINTED AND PULLED THE TRIGGER. DUTCH TURNED A CARTWHEEL AS THE BULLETT TOOK HIS LEG OUT FROM UNDER HIM. BEFORE HE COULD SIT UP THE TWO RANGERS WERE KNEELING ON HIS BACK AND HAND CUFFING HIS HANDS BEHIND HIS BACK. " ill go get a ambulance and a wagon to haul this bum to jail"the taller of the two rangers stated as he stood up. ed turnned to his partners" all three of us made the short go in the calf roping... joe is leading the go in the steer ropeing. we all got day money coming. but today we run at the average money. that stocking legged tornado is makeing the difference!" he pointed towward sox. " and now we dont gotta watch out backs and we can concentrate on our business. they watched as the rangers loaded dutch in a wagon and headed toward town. " thats a load off my mind, i dont mind telling you!" jerry exclaimed as they hauled the dutch away. " lets get ready to rodeo boys"joe blurted as they turned back to camp. " after a few steps ed spoke"i better tell you , your houlahan trip in the bull dogging was good enough to make the short go in the bull dogging.. a bunch of guys pulled out because the steers were so big. i left you in. " joe turned his head to ed" i dont know if i should thank you or shoot you." " just get him throwed, you will get a check. your gonna need all you can win to start that cow outfit." jerry slapped him on the shoulder. joe just groaned.

GO EN RODEO EN 10

all evening joe didnt say to much as he cooked supper. when the meal was done and three men were sitting there enjoying a cup of coffee joe finally asked; " whats the big deal? i understand people wanting the horse but he is such a stand out......" "you dont get it , if they steal him it will be to resale him, to get him off the circuit. so we cant ride him. thats a down right crime. but what they probably will do is take him some place a ways away from here and turn him loose just long enough that we cant use him sunday. they would consider that a good natured prank. it gives them a better chance of winning some thing. those guys will see the rifle and forget it.. its the ones who will just steal him and resell him. that we really got to watch." ed explained. " this isnt the first time something like this has taken place. but between the three of us i think we can keep it from happening." joe ducked his head" i never dreamed something like this would happen. i figgured everyone entered here was straight up." " most are. but theres a certain amount of them who never were honest or could hold a steady job. that big bull dogger is one he is just down right mean. the only thing he respects is a gun. " jerry said under his breath. joe hadnt noticed it before but jerry had a bulge in the front of his shirt right at the waist band of his pants. it made joe shivver. that night ed took the first watch over the horses. his rifle laying ready. all around them the contestants camps were quiet. jerry took over at mid night then turned the watch over to joe with just a hour or so left until day light. when it got light enough to see joe took the horses to water. when he returned with them he hobbled both close to camp. the grass was short but there was still enough for them to fill up on. once he was satisfyed with the horses joe went on into camp and starte breakfast. he saw the coffee pot was already setting on the fresh made fire. he looked around and saw ed leaning against a pine tree watching the horses graze. his rifle leaned against the tree in easy reach.jerry had gone back to their camp and cared for their horses. as joe was pouring coffee for himself and ed he saw the big bull dogger trudging toward them. ed straightened up and picked up the rifle and layed in the crook of his left arm. he watched the mountain of a man comming toward them. when he had come in speaking distance of ed he waved and asked" hey ed, can i get a seat on your bulldogging horse?" ed glared at him with no friendlyness"no, we got three rideing him now i think thats enough." " you know anybody else got a horse i can get on? how bout one of those two yonder?"the big man asked. ed knew he was testing the air. " nope no dogging horses there. and besides they arnt mine. ill put the word around you need a ride."ed accepted the cup of coffee joe brought him.. joe made it a point to not offer the big man any, the last thing they needed was that guy sitting around their camp checking out what they had. before the bull dogger could turn to go jerry had walked up behind him and just stood there looking at the mans back. when he turned and saw jerry he almost fell over "excuse me " he said as he stepped around the quiet jerry. it was then everyone noticed jerry had his hand resting on the lump in his shirt front. ed caught jerrys eye and shook his head slowley the man left back towards camp. joe brought jerry a cup of coffee then turned to ed" i see what you were talking about, "