THE RUNNING IRON 6

on the second day after the vet had been at the ranch mike was up on the fence line between him and brooks. that the fence was rickety was no question. mike was rideing along slowley when he came to a set of tracks. they crossed the fence from brooks side and returned at the same place. the fence was propped up. mike sat there a moment. there were no cow tracks to be seen. there was no apparent reason for brooks to come over that fence. mike reined his horse around and followed the horse tracks. down below he could see emily pokeing along but watching him. she stopped mike followed the horse tracks until he came to a peice of ground that had been tore up. a disturbance of some kind had happened here but he found no reason for it.setting there he saw emily picking her way up country toward him. when she got there he explained what he had found.they both rode a big circle but found nothing but one horse track and a cow track. no ashes from a fire or any other evidence. with nothing to work with they rode on to finish their circle. but mike filed the incident away for later use. back at the ranch when they rode into the yard mike saw the corral gate standing open when he rode up to it he saw tire tracks where a trailer had been backed up to it. some one had loaded the ladder cow and calf. they were gone. emily sat there on her horse but didnt say a word.mike was starting to boil. she was waitting for the explosian. but mike rode past and started unsaddling his horse with out looking up he said"when i get done here i think i need to call that brand inspecter.. you wanna come along?" emily pulled the latigo through the cinch ring on her saddle" no, i better stay here and cook something for later." mike nodded and carrried his saddle inside and put it on a rack.turning he almost bumped into emily comming in with hers" you wont go off half cocked will you?" emily asked. " no, ill keep it cool. but if we have to follow the rules brooks needs to also. what he was doing up on the fence line is a mystery to me. now this, he is going to take all this too far some day." mike had gotten a hold of his temper. "well, let the law handle him, please?" emily begged. "i will, but he needs to get in line. if the law cant handle him i will." mike made it plain. a little bit later he drove out of the yard. emily stood on the porch and watched him go worried about what he would do. at the river side mike dialed the inspecters private number. when he came on the line mike explained his call. but half way through the inspecter told him to go home. he would be there with a update soon. he didnt sound happy.

THE RUNNING IRON 5

the next morning at 8 a.m a blue ford pick up with a vets box mounted on the back came into the yard a dark haired dark complexioned woman got out mike was a bit taken back when she said she ws vet sent by the state. but in just a moment he recovered and introduced himself and emily. " my name is victoria , the state is so short handed that they are hireing lots of us to fill in the gaps."she was pulling on a pair of cover alls . she fished in the vet box for things you could hear clattering into a container. she stepped back and had a stainless steel bucket in hand. in the buucket was various instrements."i need some water please." she asked. emily took her to a spigot at the corner of the barn. she filled the bucket half full. the disinfectant in the bucket foamed. mike had run the calf into the chute and squeezed him until he stood still. victoria looked the wound over and agree ed it looked like a screw worm. takeing forceps she care fully started to dig in the hole. the calf bawled.in just a second she pulled a yellow looking worm with black teeth from the wound. she produced a test tube from a pocket and asked emily to hold it open. she then put the worm in the bottle and emily capped it. "thats a screw worm larvae. there are probably more in there but ill treat the hole with a spray and give the calf a injection of ivermectine. that should take care of them"the vet said. while she was prepareing the injection the brand inspecters pick up rolled into theyard followed by a black dodge four wheel drive pick up with new mexico plates. the driver of the dodge got out and jenson escorted him into the corral up to the squeeze chute. jenson introduced everyoneand said that this was mr. brooks. brooks didnt apearpleased to be there. but he shook mikes hand and tipped his hat to the women. jenson asked victoria what she had found. she held up the test tube and said it was the real deal. brooks asked" when can i get my cow back?" he was demanding. " not for a while. this whole peice of country is quaranteened. nothing moves without a inspection and a clearence from the vet. now on issue number two" jenson started to say more. "what issue? this is a bunch of bull crap!" brooks stood straight and puffed out his chest. "the issue is, you branded one of mikes calves. it could have been a honest mistake but ime putting yoou on notice it better not happen again. you got that?" jenson was firm. brooks turned and stormed out of the yard and got in his truck and left.mike looked at jenson
" that was pretty hard wasnt it? sure made him mad." mike asked " i checked on mr. brooks when he was in new mexico. he left there under suspicion of running iron theft. he just got out by the skin of his teeth. if the law didnt get him his neighbors would have. but to tell you the truth i dont think he learned his lesson. waatch you cows close. and check this calf daily victoria will be back in a couple of days unless you call her. ok?"jenson laid the whole story out. he turned to leave. victoria had injected the calf and sprayed the hole with a foul smelling spray. when mike turned the calf out from the chute he stood back shakeing his head. victoria told emily the hole should scab over in a day or so. if it keeps bleeding to call her. check manure piles and use fly spray on every animal here, dogs and horses and cattle. the state will make a drop of sterol flies in a day or so." she had shed the cover alls and was getting in the truck " ill se you soon."