THE LONE OLD TIMER 10

MONDAY MORNING BUCK MET WES at the sale barn to look at the dogie calves. walking down the ally to the corral wes comented on buck s header in the roping missing the last steer to win the roping. "i guess you cant win them all, and ive been on a pretty good roll so we will let some one else win a little."buck grinned. as they reached the corral buck looked through the bars on the gate he stood there a long time but finally backed away " well they could be mine but like i told you yesterday i havent found any bagged up cows. these calves arnt really bawling for their mommas. and they are one brand and its not my brand. how do you plan to hold them?" wes leaned on the fence as he answered"these people dont have any cows, none. and they cant show me where they aquired these cattle. ime going to let the judge decide what to do but as far as ime concerned some one some where is missing some calves. these folks make the ones at your out fit look like alice in wondr land. nasty folks. they live just off your permit line on treasure road." " ive seen that place from a distance. but never met the folks who live there." buck explained. as buck was leaveing town he drove by where cloe worked and went in. when she saw him she beamed all over. " its to early for lunch, and to late for breakfast. so your out of luck sweety." buck hugged her and explained his appearence as being lonley. " well i like hearing that better than getting a meal. besides you have put a few pounds on me. i need to miss a few meals." cloe laughed. " you in a hurry? i got a break comming, lets go sit on thhe bench out front on the side walk."cloe grabbed his hand and led him out the front door. on the bench she snuggled up close as he told her about the six calves at the sale barn for the next few minutes they made small talk just happy to be in each others company.then cloe stood up" i gotta get back but ive loved you stopping here when will you be back?" if not before for sure sunday i got to get even with that bunch at the arena. i cant leet them think they legitamatly beat me" he laughed back at the ranch he caught his second best horse little brother and jumped him in the trailer. ' i think we will go prowel around treasure road . its easy prowling and it will put my mind at ease." he told the horse as he closed the end gate on the trailer.

THE LONE OLD TIMER 9

sunday rolled around and buck was ready for a day with cloe. he got his chores done, shaved and showered then loaded baldy in the trailer. pulling up at cloes house he saw she was ready also as he never had to open his truck door, she hustled down the stepes and got in the truck. she was radient. her hair was styled her cloths were just right for a day at a ropeing and she had a fresh sweet smell. buck was mezmerized. "well? are we going or just gonna sit here?" she asked. buck put the truck in gear and got the truck rolling still speechless.at the arena he was unloading baldy and she was digging the curry comb and brush out of the truck. while she was brushing the horse buck was sorting out his best heel rope from the jumble in the truck bed. finally he couldnt hold it in any more and he asked her "why do you keep seeing me? you could do so much better. i probably give you night mares." " your looks dont meaan nothing to me. its whats inside that counts. i see a good man there. thats what ive been looking for. i hope you will be wanting to take our relationship to another level. but i have one question. your so level and resonable until you get here. then its like your mad or your going into a fight. why? buck looked at his feet for a moment then looked up at cloe" these guys call me the old timer. behind my back they make fun of my scares. well my answer is this , i ride a better horse, i take their money some times. they have no answer to that. now i do those things with a good looking woman at my side. i didnt plan on you. ever since the fire i had no intrest in women. but that night you drove me home to keep me from getting a ticket, that lit a little fire. all week i look forward to seeing you." buck was being honest, cloe was taken aback before cloe could answer wes walked up" buck i got a half dozen fresh branded calves seized down at the sale barn they look like your cattle, are you missing any?" " i dont think so, ive been rideing pretty steady when i find a pair i brand thhe calf put them up in the foot hills pasture. i havent found any bagged up cows or anything. but ill come look at the calves in the morning" buck replied. wes nodded, he turned to go get saddled . cloe reached into the truck bed and pulled her lawn chair out. " i got a hankering for mexican food tonite. win a bundle." buck grinned at her as she walked away. " well baldy we got our orders best we get to it." buck spoke to the good horse aa. he mountd.