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.

COCHISE COWBOYS 1

he left the ranch in the dark. he pushed 25 fat steers in front of him while dragging a pack horse. west across the valley he could just make out a line of sky islands, his destination. the miners in pearce were beef hungry, and they paid in gold they had mined. the floor of the sulphur springs valley was a dry dust bowl he drove his steers slow so as not to raise a dust cloud. denton crouch had left the texas rangers a few years before. a friend, braxton starr had helped him homestead his little ranch is the rocky canyon of the chirichoua mountains and had staked him to a little bunch of cows. he had worked hard and built his rock cabin with his own hands, developed the small spring there for a water source and rode herd on his little bunch of cows. he was content. this twenty five steers would be his first income since he started. dragging the pack horse along made it hard but he was in no hurry and the steers were gentle. they grazed on the dry, dusty gramma grass as they ambled along. half way to pearce was a spot called soldier holes.. a series of pot holes where water surfaced made it a good camp spot. he planned on over nighting there then going on into pearce. his steers would fill up on the water, graze the surrounding area and bed down well. denton had a contented feeling. he didnt miss law enforcement in the least. the sky was over cast, the air was heavy and still. his saddle horse had broke a sweat as had denton. in the west a line of black clouds covered the sky line. rain was needed and it looked to be on the way. denton only hoped it would wait until he was into pearce. once his steers were sold he planned on going north east to willcox to buy supplys at the comercial general store there. then complete the circle back to his home in the rocky canyon. the fact that he was a loner didnt even enter his mind. while a ranger he had found he had a terrible temper.. not a hot one but acold calculating temper that he couldnt control.. staying by himself he found it didnt surface very often. if became lonley he could always ride down to the san benadino ranch and see his friend sheriff john slaughter. or even go up on the moutain to paradise and see braxton starr and his wife.. braxton had left law enforcement behind and had a good life. denton was wanting the same thing. the steers were slowing down. they wanted to shade up and lay down, they were full and being lazy. the soldier holes were still a couple of miles ahead. denton used the tail of his rope and popped it off the hind quarters of the steers to keep them moveing. the mid afternoon heat was bearing down he didnt blame the steers but wanted to make camp up ahead. dragging the pack horse was being a real hassle.. he knew if he turned the horse loose he wwouldnt follow, but turn back to the ranch. in a earlier time denton would have had a temper tantrum over the aggrivation. but now he gritted his teeth and just drug the reluctant animal along while he drove the steers. as the leaders in the little drive reached the holes they fell to drinking and filling up.. denton held back until all the steers had drank their fill. and as the drifted to the north side began to lay down and rest. the he came on into the area. he watered his horses then found a spot where others had camped before him, he unsaddled his horses and hobbled them out for the night. denton no longer carried a side arm but he did have a rifle and he had layed his saddle over on its side with the rifle underneth. he took note of it and shakeing his head he wouldnt have need of it here. there wasnt a sould in sight.. he kind of wished there would have been it would be nice to have some one to share the camp with and visit with. building a amall fire he began putting a meal together all was peaceful.