COCHISE COWBOYS 3

while denton was saddling and packing his pack horse he was looking over its back at thecorpse laying in the camp area. he had no way to cover it or bury it. he felt guilty about possibly leaveing it there. it was going to foul the camp site for sure. he tied off the pack horse then mounted his saddle horse. he shook out a loop in his catch rope and dropped it over the dead outlaws feet. then he turned and takeing a dally around his saddle horn started dragging the corpse away. about a quarter of mile from the camp site the cienaga started riseing up at the base of a rocky hill. there he found a wash out that was 8 or 10 feet deep. into that he rolled the dead man.. when he got somewhere there was law he would tell them where it was. back at camp he untied his pack horse and went out to his steers. only now he had 15 head. he went around them and got them started walking to the west. he knew just before reaching gleeson a good trail turned north to pearce. from the soldier holes water to pearce he saw no other human. the cattle walked along peacefullyy and he actually enjoyed the trip. on reaching pearce he saw a open corral behind the general store. here he penned the steers and tied up his horses.. walking into the store he was met by the store keeper.. " i just put 15 steers in your corral back there. two of the mine owners has them contracted. are they around?"denton explained. the store keeper perked right up" their offices are right across the street. they been waitting on you.. ill run get them." he dashed out the door and across the street to a two story building with the sighn of a hotel over the door. in just amoment the store keeper and the two mine owners came bustling back to the store. " we are sure glad you made it. how many head did you bring?" the older of the two owners asked. " there is 1`5 head out there. i started with 25 but had some trouble if you still want the other ten ill try to make them up." denton told them. they walked over to the counter in the store" how much per head?"the miner was pulling a pouch from his coat pocket. " twenty two dollers per head, if thats agreeable" denton said. " more than agreeable" the miner pulled a scale across the counter and began pouring gold dust into the tray the store keeper was scratching on a note pad and finally looked up. " stop! your over 40 dollers." he pinched back some of the dust until the scale stopped wiggling. he took a small buckskin pouch and poured the gold dust into it and tied the neck closed and handed it to denton. " ime spending the night here as soon as i unsaddle my horses and care for them you hold this for me." he handed the pouch back. "ll be getting supplys before i leave tomorrow" he turned and walked out the door.

COCHISE COWBOYS 2

denton had just settled back down in his camp for the night. he had a good meal and was working on his second cup of coffee. from the south there came the unmistakable sound of cattle comming to water! then on the breeze the strong smell of cattle. the moon hadnt yet come up but he could see the outline of a mass of cattle and riders comming toward him. before he could grab a bridle for his horse a man rode right up into his camp. " good evening friend, we didnt expect to find anyone here this night.."the man was average height clad as any cowboy of the times, chaps and gear. the fact that he hadnt bathed in some time came perfectly clear as the wind came from behind him. " yeah ime on the way to pearce with some beef for the minors there. gime a minute and ill catch a horse and move my cattle out of the way so your herd can water out. i wouldnt want mine mixed with yours, cause more work in the morning sorting them out."denton was trying to be friendly and accomadateing. " dont worry about it, we will just pick up your cattle as we go through. we could use a few more."the rider sneered. denton was taken aback" i dont think you under stand.. they are already committed , ime not selling them anywhere short of pearce." " no. you dont understand, we arnt buying , we are takeing. so sit down and shut your mouth and we will leave you your saddle horses." the man was leaning on his saddle horn as he glared at denton. he was well armed. behind him and out in the dark denton could hear other riders working the herd in close to the water holes. "look mr. i need that little hand ful of steers, you got a good sized herd there. why do you think you gotta take mine?" denton was trying to slide his hand under his saddle to his rifle. he didnt think this rider could see what he was doing in the dark. " its what we do friend. its our job if you will. this herd is going north , yours are going along as a bonus. you get to live as a extra bonus. " the rider was being extra cocky. dentons cold temper was building. all the time he had putting his little ranch together and these men were going to take what little he had. he had his hand on the rifle stock. he sat back and seemed relaxed "well i guess your going to take them no matter what i got to say. so ill quit talking and start doing"denton looked up and the scrougy rider. the man seemed resighned and sat back in his saddle a sly grin on his face. it was then denton had retreaved the rifle and in one motion cocked it as he pointed it at the man. the rider grabbed for the pistol on his hip, but dentons rifle exploded and the man was flung back out of his saddle, his horse jumping forward and running off into the dark. out in the dark he could hear the other riders yelling at one another and trying to push their herd on north. denton hunkered down behind his saddle waitting for the others to come.. but they didnt. they drove their cattle on north yelling and whooping as they went. trouble was they took dentons steers at the same time. the rest of the night passed slowley. denton didnt dare sleep for fear the other riders would return. as day light came creeping out over the mountains in the east he could see the man he had shot laying sprawled in camp, a black stain under him. no other riders or cattle were in sight. denton slowley got up and looked all around,. he could see his saddle horses standing hip shot out away from camp. but no other animal was in evidence. he stepped over to the dead man and unbuckled the pistol belt from around his middle" you wont need this anymore mr cow theif."he then pulled the belt from the dead man and buckled it around his own waist. when he searched the mans pockets he found nothing but a scrap of paper with note scribbled on it it read,at the border, tuesday night. didnt tell a lot. he turnned and started out to where his horses stood. looking north he could see in the distance some cattle wandering back to him. when he was saddled he rode out to the cattle her could see. they were his fat gentle steers. about 12 head had turned back in the dark. they wernt the kind to stampede for any reason." well, its not atotal loss i guess."denton spoke to no one but the wind.